Tuppence turned sharply, but the words hovering1 on the tip of her tongueremained unspoken for the man’s appearance and manner did not bearout her first and most natural assumption. She hesitated. As if he read herthoughts, the man said quickly:
“I can assure you I mean no disrespect.”
Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him in-stinctively, she was inclined to acquit3 him of the particular motive4 whichshe had at first attributed to him. She looked him up and down. He was abig man, clean-shaven, with a heavy jowl. His eyes were small and cun-ning, and shifted their glance under her direct gaze.
“Well, what is it?” she asked.
The man smiled.
“I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young gen-tleman in Lyons’.”
“Well—what of it?”
“Nothing—except that I think I may be of some use to you.”
Another inference forced itself into Tuppence’s mind.
“You followed me here?”
“I took that liberty.”
“And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?”
The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a bow.
Tuppence took it and scrutinized5 it carefully. It bore the inscription6 “Mr.
Edward Whittington.” Below the name were the words “Esthonia Glass-ware Co.,” and the address of a city office. Mr. Whittington spoke2 again:
“If you will call upon me tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock, I will laythe details of my proposition before you.”
“At eleven o’clock?” said Tuppence doubtfully.
“At eleven o’clock.”
Tuppence made up her mind.
“Very well. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you. Good evening.”
He raised his hat with a flourish, and walked away. Tuppence remainedfor some minutes gazing after him. Then she gave a curious movement ofher shoulders, rather as a terrier shakes himself.
“The adventures have begun,” she murmured to herself. “What does hewant me to do, I wonder? There’s something about you, Mr. Whittington,that I don’t like at all. But, on the other hand, I’m not the least bit afraid ofyou. And as I’ve said before, and shall doubtless say again, little Tuppencecan look after herself, thank you!”
And with a short, sharp nod of her head she walked briskly onward7. Asa result of further meditations8, however, she turned aside from the directroute and entered a post office. There she pondered for some moments, atelegraph form in her hand. The thought of a possible five shillings spentunnecessarily spurred her to action, and she decided9 to risk the waste ofninepence.
Disdaining10 the spiky11 pen and thick, black treacle12 which a beneficentGovernment had provided, Tuppence drew out Tommy’s pencil which shehad retained and wrote rapidly: “Don’t put in advertisement. Will explaintomorrow.” She addressed it to Tommy at his club, from which in oneshort month he would have to resign, unless a kindly13 fortune permittedhim to renew his subscription14.
“It may catch him,” she murmured. “Anyway it’s worth trying.”
After handing it over the counter she set out briskly for home, stoppingat a baker’s to buy three-pennyworth of new buns.
Later, in her tiny cubicle15 at the top of the house she munched16 buns andreflected on the future. What was the Esthonia Glassware Co., and whatearthly need could it have for her services? A pleasurable thrill of excite-ment made Tuppence tingle17. At any rate, the country vicarage had re-treated into the background again. The morrow held possibilities.
It was a long time before Tuppence went to sleep that night, and, whenat length she did, she dreamed that Mr. Whittington had set her to wash-ing up a pile of Esthonia Glassware, which bore an unaccountable resemb-lance to hospital plates!
It wanted some five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached theblock of buildings in which the offices of the Esthonia Glassware Co. weresituated. To arrive before the time would look over eager. So Tuppence de-cided to walk to the end of the street and back again. She did so. On thestroke of eleven she plunged18 into the recesses19 of the building. The Es-thonia Glassware Co. was on the top floor. There was a lift, but Tuppencechose to walk up.
Slightly out of breath, she came to a halt outside the ground glass doorwith the legend painted across it: “Esthonia Glassware Co.”
Tuppence knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned thehandle and walked into a small, rather dirty office.
A middle-aged20 clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the win-dow and came towards her inquiringly.
“I have an appointment with Mr. Whittington,” said Tuppence.
“Will you come this way, please.” He crossed to a partition door with“Private” on it, knocked, then opened the door and stood aside to let herpass in.
Mr. Whittington was seated behind a large desk covered with papers.
Tuppence felt her previous judgment21 confirmed. There was somethingwrong about Mr. Whittington. The combination of his sleek22 prosperityand his shifty eye was not attractive.
He looked up and nodded.
“So you’ve turned up all right? That’s good. Sit down, will you?”
Tuppence sat down on the chair facing him. She looked particularlysmall and demure23 this morning. She sat there meekly24 with downcast eyeswhilst Mr. Whittington sorted and rustled26 amongst his papers. Finally hepushed them away, and leaned over the desk.
“Now, my dear young lady, let us come to business.” His large facebroadened into a smile. “You want work? Well, I have work to offer you.
What should you say now to ?100 down, and all expenses paid?” Mr.
Whittington leaned back in his chair, and thrust his thumbs into the arm-holes of his waistcoat.
Tuppence eyed him warily27.
“And the nature of the work?” she demanded.
“Nominal28—purely nominal. A pleasant trip, that is all.”
“Where to?”
Mr. Whittington smiled again.
“Paris.”
“Oh!” said Tuppence thoughtfully. To herself she said: “Of course, iffather heard that he would have a fit! But somehow I don’t see Mr. Whit-tington in the r?le of the gay deceiver.”
“Yes,” continued Whittington. “What could be more delightful29? To putthe clock back a few years—a very few, I am sure—and re-enter one ofthose charming pensionnats de jeunes filles with which Paris abounds—”
Tuppence interrupted him.
“A pensionnat?”
“Exactly. Madame Colombier’s in the Avenue de Neuilly.”
Tuppence knew the name well. Nothing could have been more select.
She had had several American friends there. She was more than everpuzzled.
“You want me to go to Madame Colombier’s? For how long?”
“That depends. Possibly three months.”
“And that is all? There are no other conditions?”
“None whatever. You would, of course, go in the character of my ward,and you would hold no communication with your friends. I should have torequest absolute secrecy30 for the time being. By the way, you are English,are you not?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you speak with a slight American accent?”
“My great pal31 in hospital was a little American girl. I daresay I picked itup from her. I can soon get out of it again.”
“On the contrary, it might be simpler for you to pass as an American.
Details about your past life in England might be more difficult to sustain.
Yes, I think that would be decidedly better. Then—”
“One moment, Mr. Whittington! You seem to be taking my consent forgranted.”
Whittington looked surprised.
“Surely you are not thinking of refusing? I can assure you that MadameColombier’s is a most high- class and orthodox establishment. And theterms are most liberal.”
“Exactly,” said Tuppence. “That’s just it. The terms are almost too lib-eral, Mr. Whittington. I cannot see any way in which I can be worth thatamount of money to you.”
“No?” said Whittington softly. “Well, I will tell you. I could doubtless ob-tain someone else for very much less. What I am willing to pay for is ayoung lady with sufficient intelligence and presence of mind to sustainher part well, and also one who will have sufficient discretion32 not to asktoo many questions.”
Tuppence smiled a little. She felt that Whittington had scored.
“There’s another thing. So far there has been no mention of Mr. Beres-ford. Where does he come in?”
“Mr. Beresford?”
“My partner,” said Tuppence with dignity. “You saw us together yester-day.”
“Ah, yes. But I’m afraid we shan’t require his services.”
“Then it’s off!” Tuppence rose. “It’s both or neither. Sorry—but that’show it is. Good morning, Mr. Whittington.”
“Wait a minute. Let us see if something can’t be managed. Sit downagain, Miss—” He paused interrogatively.
Tuppence’s conscience gave her a passing twinge as she rememberedthe archdeacon. She seized hurriedly on the first name that came into herhead.
“Jane Finn,” she said hastily; and then paused openmouthed at the effectof those two simple words.
All the geniality33 had faded out of Whittington’s face. It was purple withrage, and the veins35 stood out on the forehead. And behind it all therelurked a sort of incredulous dismay. He leaned forward and hissed36 sav-agely:
“So that’s your little game, is it?”
Tuppence, though utterly37 taken aback, nevertheless kept her head. Shehad not the faintest comprehension of his meaning, but she was naturallyquick-witted, and felt it imperative38 to “keep her end up” as she phrased it.
Whittington went on:
“Been playing with me, have you, all the time, like a cat and mouse?
Knew all the time what I wanted you for, but kept up the comedy. Is thatit, eh?” He was cooling down. The red colour was ebbing39 out of his face.
He eyed her keenly. “Who’s been blabbing? Rita?”
Tuppence shook her head. She was doubtful as to how long she couldsustain this illusion, but she realized the importance of not dragging anunknown Rita into it.
“No,” she replied with perfect truth. “Rita knows nothing about me.”
His eyes still bored into her like gimlets.
“How much do you know?” he shot out.
“Very little indeed,” answered Tuppence, and was pleased to note thatWhittington’s uneasiness was augmented40 instead of allayed41. To have boas-ted that she knew a lot might have raised doubts in his mind.
“Anyway,” snarled42 Whittington, “you knew enough to come in here andplump out that name.”
“It might be my own name,” Tuppence pointed43 out.
“It’s likely, isn’t it, that there would be two girls with a name like that?”
“Or I might just have hit upon it by chance,” continued Tuppence, intox-icated with the success of truthfulness44.
Mr. Whittington brought his fist down upon the desk with a bang.
“Quit fooling! How much do you know? And how much do you want?”
The last five words took Tuppence’s fancy mightily45, especially after ameagre breakfast and a supper of buns the night before. Her present partwas of the adventuress rather than the adventurous46 order, but she did notdeny its possibilities. She sat up and smiled with the air of one who hasthe situation thoroughly47 well in hand.
“My dear Mr. Whittington,” she said, “let us by all means lay our cardsupon the table. And pray do not be so angry. You heard me say yesterdaythat I proposed to live by my wits. It seems to me that I have now proved Ihave some wits to live by! I admit I have knowledge of a certain name, butperhaps my knowledge ends there.”
“Yes—and perhaps it doesn’t,” snarled Whittington.
“You insist on misjudging me,” said Tuppence, and sighed gently.
“As I said once before,” said Whittington angrily, “quit fooling, and cometo the point. You can’t play the innocent with me. You know a great dealmore than you’re willing to admit.”
Tuppence paused a moment to admire her own ingenuity48, and then saidsoftly:
“I shouldn’t like to contradict you, Mr. Whittington.”
“So we come to the usual question—how much?”
Tuppence was in a dilemma49. So far she had fooled Whittington withcomplete success, but to mention a palpably impossible sum mightawaken his suspicions. An idea flashed across her brain.
“Suppose we say a little something down, and a fuller discussion of thematter later?”
Whittington gave her an ugly glance.
“Blackmail, eh?”
Tuppence smiled sweetly.
“Oh no! Shall we say payment of services in advance?”
Whittington grunted50.
“You see,” explained Tuppence sweetly, “I’m not so very fond ofmoney!”
“You’re about the limit, that’s what you are,” growled51 Whittington, witha sort of unwilling52 admiration53. “You took me in all right. Thought youwere quite a meek25 little kid with just enough brains for my purpose.”
“Life,” moralized Tuppence, “is full of surprises.”
“All the same,” continued Whittington, “someone’s been talking. You sayit isn’t Rita. Was it—? Oh, come in?”
The clerk followed his discreet54 knock into the room, and laid a paper athis master’s elbow.
“Telephone message just come for you, sir.”
Whittington snatched it up and read it. A frown gathered on his brow.
“That’ll do, Brown. You can go.”
The clerk withdrew, closing the door behind him. Whittington turned toTuppence.
“Come tomorrow at the same time. I’m busy now. Here’s fifty to go onwith.”
He rapidly sorted out some notes, and pushed them across the table toTuppence, then stood up, obviously impatient for her to go.
The girl counted the notes in a businesslike manner, secured them inher handbag, and rose.
“Good morning, Mr. Whittington,” she said politely. “At least au revoir, Ishould say.”
“Exactly. Au revoir!” Whittington looked almost genial34 again, a reversionthat aroused in Tuppence a faint misgiving55. “Au revoir, my clever andcharming young lady.”
Tuppence sped lightly down the stairs. A wild elation56 possessed57 her. Aneighbouring clock showed the time to be five minutes to twelve.
“Let’s give Tommy a surprise!” murmured Tuppence, and hailed a taxi.
The cab drew up outside the Tube station. Tommy was just within theentrance. His eyes opened to their fullest extent as he hurried forward toassist Tuppence to alight. She smiled at him affectionately, and remarkedin a slightly affected58 voice:
“Pay the thing, will you, old bean? I’ve got nothing smaller than a five-pound note!”
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收听单词发音
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1
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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disdaining
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| 鄙视( disdain的现在分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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spiky
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| adj.长而尖的，大钉似的 | |
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treacle
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| n.糖蜜 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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cubicle
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| n.大房间中隔出的小室 | |
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munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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18
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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26
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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31
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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39
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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41
allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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43
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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44
truthfulness
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| n. 符合实际 | |
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45
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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46
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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47
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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48
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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49
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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50
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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51
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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52
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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53
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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54
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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55
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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56
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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57
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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