“Tommy, old thing!”
“Tuppence, old bean!”
The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and momentar-ily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The adjective “old” wasmisleading. Their united ages would certainly not have totalled forty-five.
“Not seen you for simply centuries,” continued the young man. “Whereare you off to? Come and chew a bun with me. We’re getting a bit unpopu-lar here—blocking the gangway as it were. Let’s get out of it.”
The girl assenting1, they started walking down Dover Street towards Pic-cadilly.
“Now then,” said Tommy, “where shall we go?”
The very faint anxiety which underlay3 his tone did not escape the astuteears of Miss Prudence4 Cowley, known to her intimate friends for somemysterious reason as “Tuppence.” She pounced5 at once.
“Tommy, you’re stony6!”
“Not a bit of it,” declared Tommy unconvincingly. “Rolling in cash.”
“You always were a shocking liar,” said Tuppence severely7, “though youdid once persuade Sister Greenbank that the doctor had ordered you beeras a tonic8, but forgotten to write it on the chart. Do you remember?”
Tommy chuckled9.
“I should think I did! Wasn’t the old cat in a rage when she found out?
Not that she was a bad sort really, old Mother Greenbank! Good old hos-pital—demobbed like everything else, I suppose?”
Tuppence sighed.
“Yes. You too?”
Tommy nodded.
“Two months ago.”
“Gratuity?” hinted Tuppence.
“Spent.”
“Oh, Tommy!”
“No, old thing, not in riotous10 dissipation. No such luck! The cost of living—ordinary plain, or garden living nowadays is, I assure you, if you do notknow—”
“My dear child,” interrupted Tuppence, “there is nothing I do not knowabout the cost of living. Here we are at Lyons’, and we will each of us payfor our own. That’s that!” And Tuppence led the way upstairs.
The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table, catch-ing odds11 and ends of conversation as they did so.
“And—do you know, she sat down and cried when I told her she couldn’thave the flat after all.” “It was simply a bargain, my dear! Just like the oneMabel Lewis brought from Paris—”
“Funny scraps12 one does overhear,” murmured Tommy. “I passed twoJohnnies in the street today talking about someone called Jane Finn. Didyou ever hear such a name?”
But at that moment two elderly ladies rose and collected parcels, andTuppence deftly13 ensconced herself in one of the vacant seats.
Tommy ordered tea and buns. Tuppence ordered tea and buttered toast.
“And mind the tea comes in separate teapots,” she added severely.
Tommy sat down opposite her. His bared head revealed a shock of ex-quisitely slicked-back red hair. His face was pleasantly ugly—nondescript,yet unmistakably the face of a gentleman and a sportsman. His brown suitwas well cut, but perilously14 near the end of its tether.
They were an essentially15 modern-looking couple as they sat there. Tup-pence had no claim to beauty, but there was character and charm in theelfin lines of her little face, with its determined16 chin and large, wide-apartgrey eyes that looked mistily17 out from under straight, black brows. Shewore a small bright green toque over her black bobbed hair, and her ex-tremely short and rather shabby skirt revealed a pair of uncommonlydainty ankles. Her appearance presented a valiant18 attempt at smartness.
The tea came at last, and Tuppence, rousing herself from a fit of medita-tion, poured it out.
“Now then,” said Tommy, taking a large bite of bun, “lets’s get up todate. Remember, I haven’t seen you since that time in hospital in 1916.”
“Very well.” Tuppence helped herself liberally to buttered toast.
“Abridged biography of Miss Prudence Cowley, fifth daughter of Archdea-con Cowley of Little Missendell, Suffolk. Miss Cowley left the delights (anddrudgeries) of her home life early in the war and came up to London,where she entered an officers’ hospital. First month: Washed up six hun-dred and forty-eight plates every day. Second month: Promoted to dryingaforesaid plates. Third month: Promoted to peeling potatoes. Fourthmonth: Promoted to cutting bread and butter. Fifth month: Promoted onefloor up to duties of wardmaid with mop and pail. Sixth month: Promotedto waiting at table. Seventh month: Pleasing appearance and nice man-ners so striking that am promoted to waiting on the Sisters! Eighth month:
Slight check in career. Sister Bond ate Sister Westhaven’s egg! Grand row!
Wardmaid clearly to blame! Inattention in such important matters cannotbe too highly censured19. Mop and pail again! How are the mighty20 fallen!
Ninth month: Promoted to sweeping21 out wards2, where I found a friend ofmy childhood in Lieutenant22 Thomas Beresford (bow, Tommy!), whom Ihad not seen for five long years. The meeting was affecting! Tenth month:
Reproved by matron for visiting the pictures in company with one of thepatients, namely: the aforementioned Lieutenant Thomas Beresford. Elev-enth and twelfth months: Parlourmaid duties resumed with entire suc-cess. At the end of the year left hospital in a blaze of glory. After that, thetalented Miss Cowley drove successively a trade delivery van, a motorlorry and a general. The last was the pleasantest. He was quite a younggeneral!”
“What blighter was that?” inquired Tommy. “Perfectly23 sickening theway those brass24 hats drove from the War Office to the Savoy, and from theSavoy to the War Office!”
“I’ve forgotten his name now,” confessed Tuppence. “To resume, thatwas in a way the apex25 of my career. I next entered a Government office.
We had several very enjoyable tea parties. I had intended to become aland girl, a postwoman, and a bus conductress by way of rounding off mycareer—but the Armistice26 intervened! I clung to the office with the truelimpet touch for many long months, but, alas27, I was combed out at last.
Since then I’ve been looking for a job. Now then—your turn.”
“There’s not so much promotion28 in mine,” said Tommy regretfully, “anda great deal less variety. I went out to France again, as you know. Thenthey sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, andwent into hospital out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armisticehappened, kicked my heels there some time longer, and, as I told you, fi-nally got demobbed. And, for ten long, weary months I’ve been job hunt-ing! There aren’t any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldn’t give ’em tome. What good am I? What do I know about business? Nothing.”
Tuppence nodded gloomily.
“What about the colonies?” she suggested.
Tommy shook his head.
“I shouldn’t like the colonies—and I’m perfectly certain they wouldn’tlike me!”
“Rich relations?”
Again Tommy shook his head.
“Oh, Tommy, not even a great-aunt?”
“I’ve got an old uncle who’s more or less rolling, but he’s no good.”
“Why not?”
“Wanted to adopt me once. I refused.”
“I think I remember hearing about it,” said Tuppence slowly. “You re-fused because of your mother—”
Tommy flushed.
“Yes, it would have been a bit rough on the mater. As you know, I wasall she had. Old boy hated her—wanted to get me away from her. Just a bitof spite.”
“Your mother’s dead, isn’t she?” said Tuppence gently.
Tommy nodded.
Tuppence’s large grey eyes looked misty29.
“You’re a good sort, Tommy. I always knew it.”
“Rot!” said Tommy hastily. “Well, that’s my position. I’m just about des-perate.”
“So am I! I’ve hung out as long as I could. I’ve touted30 round. I’veanswered advertisements. I’ve tried every mortal blessed thing. I’vescrewed and saved and pinched! But it’s no good. I shall have to go home!”
“Don’t you want to?”
“Of course I don’t want to! What’s the good of being sentimental31?
Father’s a dear—I’m awfully32 fond of him—but you’ve no idea how I worryhim! He has that delightful33 early Victorian view that short skirts andsmoking are immoral34. You can imagine what a thorn in the flesh I am tohim! He just heaved a sigh of relief when the war took me off. You see,there are seven of us at home. It’s awful! All housework and mothers’
meetings! I have always been the changeling. I don’t want to go back, but—oh, Tommy, what else is there to do?”
Tommy shook his head sadly. There was a silence, and then Tuppenceburst out:
“Money, money, money! I think about money morning, noon and night!
I daresay it’s mercenary of me, but there it is!”
“Same here,” agreed Tommy with feeling.
“I’ve thought over every imaginable way of getting it too,” continuedTuppence. “There are only three! To be left it, to marry it, or to make it.
First is ruled out. I haven’t got any rich elderly relatives. Any relatives Ihave are in homes for decayed gentlewomen! I always help old ladies overcrossings, and pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in case they should turnout to be eccentric millionaires. But not one of them has ever asked me myname—and quite a lot never said ‘Thank you.’ ”
There was a pause.
“Of course,” resumed Tuppence, “marriage is my best chance. I made upmy mind to marry money when I was quite young. Any thinking girlwould! I’m not sentimental, you know.” She paused. “Come now, you can’tsay I’m sentimental,” she added sharply.
“Certainly not,” agreed Tommy hastily. “No one would ever think of sen-timent in connexion with you.”
“That’s not very polite,” replied Tuppence. “But I daresay you mean it allright. Well, there it is! I’m ready and willing—but I never meet any richmen! All the boys I know are about as hard up as I am.”
“What about the general?” inquired Tommy.
“I fancy he keeps a bicycle shop in time of peace,” explained Tuppence.
“No, there it is! Now you could marry a rich girl.”
“I’m like you. I don’t know any.”
“That doesn’t matter. You can always get to know one. Now, if I see aman in a fur coat come out of the Ritz I can’t rush up to him and say: ‘Lookhere, you’re rich. I’d like to know you.’ ”
“Do you suggest that I should do that to a similarly garbed35 female?”
“Don’t be silly. You tread on her foot, or pick up her handkerchief, orsomething like that. If she thinks you want to know her she’s flattered,and will manage it for you somehow.”
“You overrate my manly36 charms,” murmured Tommy.
“On the other hand,” proceeded Tuppence, “my millionaire would prob-ably run for his life! No—marriage is fraught37 with difficulties. Remains—to make money!”
“We’ve tried that, and failed,” Tommy reminded her.
“We’ve tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try the unortho-dox. Tommy, let’s be adventurers!”
“Certainly,” replied Tommy cheerfully. “How do we begin?”
“That’s the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people mighthire us to commit crimes for them.”
“Delightful,” commented Tommy. “Especially coming from a clergy-man’s daughter!”
“The moral guilt,” Tuppence pointed38 out, “would be theirs—not mine.
You must admit that there’s a difference between stealing a diamondnecklace for yourself and being hired to steal it?”
“There wouldn’t be the least difference if you were caught!”
“Perhaps not. But I shouldn’t be caught. I’m so clever.”
“Modesty always was your besetting39 sin,” remarked Tommy.
“Don’t rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a businesspartnership?”
“Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?”
“That was only an illustration. Let’s have a—what do you call it in book-keeping?”
“Don’t know. Never did any.”
“I have—but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit entries on thedebit side, and vice40 versa—so they fired me out. Oh, I know—a joint41 ven-ture! It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middleof musty old figures. It’s got an Elizabethan flavour about it—makes onethink of galleons42 and doubloons. A joint venture!”
“Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that youridea, Tuppence?”
“It’s all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something in it.”
“How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be employers?”
“Advertisement,” replied Tuppence promptly43. “Have you got a bit of pa-per and a pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we have hairpinsand powder puffs44.”
Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppencebegan writing busily.
“Shall we begin: ‘Young officer, twice wounded in the war—’ ”
“Certainly not.”
“Oh, very well, my dear boy. But I can assure you that that sort of thingmight touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she might adopt you, andthen there would be no need for you to be a young adventurer at all.”
“I don’t want to be adopted.”
“I forgot you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging you! The pa-pers are full up to the brim with that type of thing. Now listen—how’sthis? ‘Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go any-where. Pay must be good.’ (We might as well make that clear from thestart.) Then we might add: ‘No reasonable offer refused’—like flats andfurniture.”
“I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a prettyunreasonable one!”
“Tommy! You’re a genius! That’s ever so much more chic46. ‘No unreason-able offer refused—if pay is good.’ How’s that?”
“I shouldn’t mention pay again. It looks rather eager.”
“It couldn’t look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right. Now I’llread it straight through. ‘Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to doanything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No unreasonable45 offer refused.’
How would that strike you if you read it?”
“It would strike me as either being a hoax47, or else written by a lunatic.”
“It’s not half so insane as a thing I read this morning beginning ‘Petunia’
and signed ‘Best Boy.’ ” She tore out the leaf and handed it to Tommy.
“There you are. The Times, I think. Reply to Box so-and-so. I expect it willbe about five shillings. Here’s half a crown for my share.”
Tommy was holding the paper thoughtfully. His face burned a deeperred.
“Shall we really try it?” he said at last. “Shall we, Tuppence? Just for thefun of the thing?”
“Tommy, you’re a sport! I knew you would be! Let’s drink to success.”
She poured some cold dregs of tea into the two cups.
“Here’s to our joint venture, and may it prosper48!”
“The Young Adventurers, Ltd.!” responded Tommy.
They put down the cups and laughed rather uncertainly. Tuppence rose.
“I must return to my palatial49 suite50 at the hostel51.”
“Perhaps it is time I strolled round to the Ritz,” agreed Tommy with agrin. “Where shall we meet? And when?”
“Twelve o’clock tomorrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that suit you?”
“My time is my own,” replied Mr. Beresford magnificently.
“So long, then.”
“Good-bye, old thing.”
The two young people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence’s hostelwas situated52 in what was charitably called Southern Belgravia. For reas-ons of economy she did not take a bus.
She was halfway53 across St. James’s Park, when a man’s voice behind hermade her start.
“Excuse me,” it said. “But may I speak to you for a moment?”
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收听单词发音
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1
assenting
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| 同意，赞成( assent的现在分词 ) | |
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wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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6
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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perilously
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| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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mistily
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| adv.有雾地，朦胧地，不清楚地 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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armistice
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| n.休战，停战协定 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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touted
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| v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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immoral
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| adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的 | |
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garbed
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| v.（尤指某类人穿的特定）服装，衣服，制服( garb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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besetting
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| adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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41
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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galleons
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| n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 ) | |
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43
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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45
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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chic
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| n./adj.别致(的)，时髦(的)，讲究的 | |
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hoax
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| v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧 | |
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48
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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49
palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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50
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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51
hostel
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| n.（学生）宿舍，招待所 | |
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52
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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