Fourteen THE WILLETTS

Fourteen THE WILLETTS

At the same moment that Charles and Emily started out to visit MajorBurnaby, Inspector¹ Narracott was seated in the drawing room of SittafordHouse, trying to formulate² an impression of Mrs. Willett.
He had not been able to interview her sooner as the roads had been im-passable until this morning. He had hardly known what he had expectedto find, but certainly not what he had found. It was Mrs. Willett who hadtaken charge of the situation, not he.
She had come rushing into the room, thoroughly³ businesslike and effi-cient. He saw a tall woman, thin-faced and keen-eyed. She was wearingrather an elaborate knitted silk jumper suit that was just over the borderline of unsuitability for country wear. Her stockings were of very expens-ive gossamer⁴ silk, her shoes high-heeled patent leather. She wore severalvaluable rings and rather a large quantity of very good and expensive im-itation pearls.
“Inspector Narracott?” said Mrs. Willett. “Naturally, you want to comeover the house. What a shocking tragedy! I could hardly believe it. Weonly heard about it this morning, you know. We were terribly shocked. Sitdown, won’t you, Inspector? This is my daughter, Violet.”
He had hardly noticed the girl who had followed her in, and yet, she wasa very pretty girl, tall and fair with big blue eyes.
Mrs. Willett herself took a seat.
“Is there any way in which I can help you, Inspector? I knew very littleof poor Captain Trevelyan, but if there is anything you can think of—”
The Inspector said slowly:
“Thank you, madam. Of course, one never knows what may be useful orwhat may not.”
“I quite understand. There may possibly be something in the house thatmay throw light upon this sad business, but I rather doubt it. CaptainTrevelyan removed all his personal belongings⁵. He even feared I shouldtamper with his fishing rods, poor, dear man.”
She laughed a little.
“You were not acquainted with him?”
“Before I took the house, you mean? Oh! no. I’ve asked him here severaltimes since, but he never came. Terribly shy, poor dear. That was whatwas the matter with him. I’ve known dozens of men like it. They are calledwomen haters and all sorts of silly things, and really all the time it’s onlyshyness. If I could have got at him,” said Mrs. Willett with determination,“I’d soon have got over all that nonsense. That sort of man only wantsbringing out.”
Inspector Narracott began to understand Captain Trevelyan’s stronglydefensive attitude towards his tenants⁶.
“We both asked him,” continued Mrs. Willett. “Didn’t we, Violet?”
“Oh! yes, Mother.”
“A real simple sailor at heart,” said Mrs. Willett. “Every woman loves asailor, Inspector Narracott.”
It occurred to Inspector Narracott at this juncture⁷ that the interview sofar had been run entirely⁸ by Mrs. Willett. He was convinced that she wasan exceedingly clever woman. She might be as innocent as she appeared.
On the other hand she might not.
“The point I am anxious to get information about is this,” he said andpaused.
“Yes, Inspector?”
“Major Burnaby, as you doubtless know, discovered the body. He wasled to do so by an accident that occurred in this house.”
“You mean?”
“I mean, the table-turning. I beg your pardon—”
He turned sharply.
A faint sound had come from the girl.
“Poor Violet,” said her mother. “She was terribly upset—indeed we allwere! Most unaccountable. I’m not superstitious⁹, but really it was the mostunaccountable thing.”
“It did occur then?”
Mrs. Willett opened her eyes very wide.
“Occur? Of course it occurred. At the time I thought it was a joke—amost unfeeling joke and one in very bad taste. I suspected young RonaldGarfield—”
“Oh! no, Mother. I’m sure he didn’t. He absolutely swore he didn’t.”
“I’m saying what I thought at the time, Violet. What could one think itbut a joke?”
“It was curious,” said the Inspector slowly. “You were very upset, Mrs.
Willett?”
“We all were. Up to then it had been, oh, just lighthearted fooling. Youknow the sort of thing. Good fun on a winter’s evening. And then suddenly—this! I was very angry.”
“Angry?”
“Well, naturally. I thought someone was doing it deliberately¹⁰ — for ajoke, as I say.”
“And now?”
“Now?”
“Yes, what do you think now?”
Mrs. Willett spread her hands out expressively¹¹.
“I don’t know what to think. It—it’s uncanny.”
“And you, Miss Willett?”
“I?”
The girl started.
“I—I don’t know. I shall never forget it. I dream of it. I shall never dareto do table-turning again.”
“Mr. Rycroft would say it was genuine, I suppose,” said her mother. “Hebelieves in all that sort of thing. Really I’m inclined to believe in it myself.
What other explanation is there except that it was a genuine messagefrom a spirit?”
The Inspector shook his head. The table-turning had been his red her-ring. His next remark was most casual sounding.
“Don’t you find it very bleak¹² here in winter, Mrs. Willett?”
“Oh, we love it. Such a change. We’re South Africans, you know.”
Her tone was brisk and ordinary.
“Really? What part of South Africa?”
“Oh! the Cape¹³. Violet has never been in England before. She is en-chanted with it—finds the snow most romantic. This house is really mostcomfortable.”
“What led you to come to this part of the world?”
There was just gentle curiosity in his voice.
“We’ve read so many books on Devonshire, and especially on Dartmoor.
We were reading one on the boat—all about Widdecombe Fair. I’ve al-ways had a hankering to see Dartmoor.”
“What made you fix on Exhampton? It’s not a very well known littletown.”
“Well—we were reading these books as I told you, and there was a boyon board who talked about Exhampton—he was so enthusiastic about it.”
“What was his name?” asked the Inspector. “Did he come from this partof the world?”
“Now, what was his name? Cullen—I think. No—it was Smythe. Howstupid of me. I really can’t remember. You know how it is on board ship,Inspector, you get to know people so well and plan to meet again—and aweek after you’ve landed, you can’t even be sure of their names!”
She laughed.
“But he was such a nice boy—not good-looking, reddish hair, but a de-lightful smile.”
“And on the strength of that you decided¹⁴ to take a house in these parts?”
said the Inspector smiling.
“Yes, wasn’t it mad of us?”
“Clever,” thought Narracott. “Distinctly clever.” He began to realize Mrs.
Willett’s methods. She always carried the war into the enemy’s country.
“So you wrote to the house agents and inquired about a house?”
“Yes—and they sent us particulars of Sittaford. It sounded just what wewanted.”
“It wouldn’t be my taste at this time of year,” said the Inspector with alaugh.
“I daresay it wouldn’t be ours if we lived in England,” said Mrs. Willettbrightly.
The Inspector rose.
“How did you know the name of a house agent to write to in Exhamp-ton?” he asked. “That must have presented a difficulty.”
There was a pause. The first pause in the conversation. He thought hecaught a glimpse of vexation, more, of anger in Mrs. Willett’s eyes. He hadhit upon something to which she had not thought out the answer. Sheturned towards her daughter.
“How did we, Violet? I can’t remember.”
There was a different look in the girl’s eyes. She looked frightened.
“Why, of course,” said Mrs. Willett. “Delfridges. Their information bur-eau. It’s too wonderful. I always go and inquire there about everything. Iasked them the name of the best agent here and they told me.”
“Quick,” thought the Inspector. “Very quick. But not quite quick enough.
I had you there, madam.”
He made a cursory¹⁵ examination of the house. There was nothing there.
No papers, no locked drawers or cupboards.
Mrs. Willett accompanied him talking brightly. He took his leave, thank-ing her politely.
As he departed he caught a glimpse of the girl’s face over her shoulder.
There was no mistaking the expression on her face.
It was fear he saw on her countenance¹⁶. Fear written there plainly at thismoment when she thought herself unobserved.
Mrs. Willett was still talking.
“Alas. We have one grave drawback here. The domestic problem, In-spector. Servants will not stand these country places. All of mine havebeen threatening to leave us for some time, and the news of the murderseems to have unsettled them utterly¹⁷. I don’t know what I shall do. Per-haps men servants would answer the case. That is what the Registry Officein Exeter advised.”
The Inspector answered mechanically. He was not listening to her flowof talk. He was thinking of the expression he had surprised on the girl’sface.
Mrs. Willett had been clever—but not quite clever enough.
He went away cogitating¹⁸ on his problem.
If the Willetts had nothing to do with Captain Trevelyan’s death, whywas Violet Willett afraid?
He fired his last shot. With his foot actually over the threshold of thefront door he turned back.
“By the way,” he said, “you know young Pearson, don’t you?”
There was no doubt of the pause this time. A dead silence of about asecond. Then Mrs. Willett spoke¹⁹:
“Pearson?” she said. “I don’t think—”
She was interrupted. A queer sighing breath came from the room be-hind her and then the sound of a fall. The Inspector was over thethreshold and into the room in a flash.
Violet Willett had fainted.
“Poor child,” cried Mrs. Willett. “All this strain and shock. That dreadfultable-turning business and the murder on the top of it. She isn’t strong.
Thank you so much, Inspector. Yes, on the sofa please. If you would ringthe bell. No, I don’t think there is anything more you can do. Thank you somuch.”
The Inspector went down the drive with his lips set in a grim line.
Jim Pearson was engaged, he knew, to that extremely charming-lookinggirl he had seen in London.
Why then should Violet Willett faint at the mention of his name? Whatwas the connection between Jim Pearson and the Willetts?
He paused indecisively as he emerged from the front gate. Then he tookfrom his pocket a small notebook. In it was entered a list of the inhabit-ants of the six bungalows²¹ built by Captain Trevelyan with a few brief re-marks against each name. Inspector Narracott’s stubby forefinger²² pausedat the entry against No. 6 The Cottages.
“Yes,” he said to himself. “I’d better see him next.”
He strode briskly down the lane and beat a firm rat-tat on the knockerof No. 6—the bungalow²⁰ inhabited by Mr. Duke.

1 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

2 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

3 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

4 gossamer   

n.薄纱，游丝

参考例句：

• The prince helped the princess,who was still in her delightful gossamer gown.王子搀扶着仍穿著那套美丽薄纱晚礼服的公主。
• Gossamer is floating in calm air.空中飘浮着游丝。

5 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

6 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

7 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 superstitious   

adj.迷信的

参考例句：

• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
• These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。

10 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

11 expressively   

ad.表示(某事物)地；表达地

参考例句：

• She gave the order to the waiter, using her hands very expressively. 她意味深长地用双手把订单递给了服务员。
• Corleone gestured expressively, submissively, with his hands. "That is all I want." 说到这里，考利昂老头子激动而谦恭地表示：“这就是我的全部要求。” 来自教父部分

12 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

13 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 cursory   

adj.粗略的；草率的；匆促的

参考例句：

• He signed with only a cursory glance at the report.他只草草看了一眼报告就签了名。
• The only industry mentioned is agriculture and it is discussed in a cursory sentence.实业方面只谈到农业,而且只是匆匆带了一句。

16 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

17 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

18 cogitating   

v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Then he tossed the marble away pettishly, and stood cogitating. 于是他一气之下扔掉那个弹子，站在那儿沉思。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• He sat silently cogitating. 他静静地坐着沉思。 来自辞典例句

19 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

20 bungalow   

n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房

参考例句：

• A bungalow does not have an upstairs.平房没有上层。
• The old couple sold that large house and moved into a small bungalow.老两口卖掉了那幢大房子，搬进了小平房。

21 bungalows   

n.平房( bungalow的名词复数 )；单层小屋，多于一层的小屋

参考例句：

• It was a town filled with white bungalows. 这个小镇里都是白色平房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We also seduced by the reasonable price of the bungalows. 我们也确实被这里单层间的合理价格所吸引。 来自互联网

22 forefinger   

n.食指

参考例句：

• He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
• He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。