Chapter 23 Journey To Scotland（3）

III
Dr McCulloch looked round him, a little uncertain of what he was going todo or say next. The evening had been a somewhat unusual experience forhim.
Lisa Neumann came to him and set a glass by his side.
‘A hot toddy,’ she said.
‘I always knew you were a woman in a thousand, Lisa.’ He sipped¹ ap-preciatively.
‘I must say I’d like to know what all this has been about–but I gather it’sthe sort of thing that’s so hush²-hush that nobody’s going to tell me any-thing.’
‘The Professor–he’s all right, isn’t he?’
‘The Professor?’ He looked at her anxious face, kindly³. ‘He’s fine. If youask me, it’s done him a world of good.’
‘I thought perhaps the shock–’
‘I’m quite all right,’ said Shoreham. ‘Shock treatment is what I needed. Ifeel–how shall I put it–alive again.’ He looked surprised.
McCulloch said to Lisa, ‘Notice how much stronger his voice is? It’sapathy really that’s the enemy in these cases–what he wants is to workagain–the stimulation⁴ of some brain work. Music is all very well–it’s kepthim soothed⁵ and able to enjoy life in a mild way. But he’s really a man ofgreat intellectual power–and he misses the mental activity that was the es-sence of life to him. Get him started on it again if you can.’
He nodded encouragingly at her as she looked doubtfully at him.
‘I think, Dr McCulloch,’ said Colonel Munro, ‘that we owe you a few ex-planations of what happened this evening, even though, as you surmise,the powers- that- be will demand a hush- hush policy. Lord Altamount’sdeath–’ He hesitated.
‘The bullet didn’t actually kill him,’ said the doctor, ‘death was due toshock. That hypodermic would have done the trick–strychnine. The youngman–’
‘I only just got it away from him in time,’ said Horsham.
‘Been the fly in the ointment⁶ all along?’ asked the doctor.
‘Yes–regarded with trust and affection for over seven years. The son ofone of Lord Altamount’s oldest friends–’
‘It happens. And the lady–in it together, do I understand?’
‘Yes. She got the post here by false credentials⁷. She is also wanted by thepolice for murder.’
‘Murder?’
‘Yes. Murder of her husband, Sam Cortman, the American Ambassador.
She shot him on the steps of the Embassy–and told a fine tale of youngmen, masked, attacking him.’
‘Why did she have it in for him? Political or personal?’
‘He found out about some of her activities, we think.’
‘I’d say he suspected infidelity,’ said Horsham. ‘instead he discovered ahornets’ nest of espionage⁸ and conspiracy⁹, and his wife running the show.
He didn’t know quite how to deal with it. Nice chap, but slow-thinking–and she had the sense to act quickly. Wonderful how she registered griefat the Memorial Service.’
‘Memorial–’ said Professor Shoreham.
Everyone, slightly startled, turned round to look at him.
‘Difficult word to say, memorial–but I mean it. Lisa, you and I are goingto have to start work again.’
‘But, Robert–’
‘I’m alive again. Ask the doctor if I ought to take things easy.’
Lisa turned her eyes inquiringly on McCulloch.
‘If you do, you’ll shorten your life and sink back into apathy–’
‘There you are,’ said Shoreham. ‘Fash-fashion–medical fashion today.
Make everyone, even if they’re–at–death’s door–go on working–’
Dr McCulloch laughed and got up.
‘Not far wrong. I’ll send you some pills along to help.’
‘I shan’t take them.’
‘You’ll do.’
At the door the doctor paused. ‘Just want to know–how did you get thepolice along so quickly?’
‘Squadron Leader Andrews,’ said Munro, ‘had it all in hand. Arrived onthe dot. We knew the woman was around somewhere, but had no idea shewas in the house already.’
‘Well–I’ll be off. Is all you’ve told me true? Feel I shall wake up anyminute, having dropped off to sleep half way through the latest thriller¹⁰.
Spies, murders, traitors¹¹, espionage, scientists–’
He went out.
There was a silence.
Professor Shoreham said slowly and carefully:
‘Back to work–’
Lisa said as women have always said:
‘You must be careful, Robert–’
‘Not–not careful. Time might be short.’
He said again:
‘Memorial–’
‘What do you mean? You said it before.’
‘Memorial? Yes. To Edward. His Memorial! Always used to think he hadthe face of a martyr¹².’
Shoreham seemed lost in thought.
‘I’d like to get hold of Gottlieb. May be dead. Good man to work with.
With him and with you, Lisa–get the stuff out of the bank–’
‘Professor Gottlieb is alive–in the Baker¹³ Foundation, Austin, Texas,’ saidMr Robinson.
‘What are you talking of doing?’ said Lisa.
‘Benvo, of course! Memorial to Edward Altamount. He died for it, didn’the? Nobody should die in vain.’

1 sipped   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
• I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句

2 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

3 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

4 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

5 soothed   

v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦

参考例句：

• The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
• The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 ointment   

n.药膏，油膏，软膏

参考例句：

• Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.敷用这药膏后，你的脚会感到舒服些。
• This herbal ointment will help to close up your wound quickly.这种中草药膏会帮助你的伤口很快愈合。

7 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

8 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

9 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

10 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

11 traitors   

卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人

参考例句：

• Traitors are held in infamy. 叛徒为人所不齿。
• Traitors have always been treated with contempt. 叛徒永被人们唾弃。

12 martyr   

n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲

参考例句：

• The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
• The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。

13 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。