It was exactly five minutes to four when Virginia Revel2, rendered punctualby a healthy curiosity, returned to the house in Pont Street. She openedthe door with her latchkey, and stepped into the hall to be immediatelyconfronted by the impassive Chilvers.
“I beg pardon, ma’am, but a—a person has called to see you—”
For the moment, Virginia did not pay attention to the subtle phraseologywhereby Chilvers cloaked his meaning.
“Mr. Lomax? Where is he? In the drawing room?”
“Oh, no, ma’am, not Mr. Lomax.” Chilvers’ tone was faintly reproachful.
“A person—I was reluctant to let him in, but he said his business was mostimportant — connected with the late Captain, I understood him to say.
Thinking therefore that you might wish to see him, I put him—er—in thestudy.”
Virginia stood thinking for a minute. She had been a widow now forsome years, and the fact that she rarely spoke4 of her husband was takenby some to indicate that below her careless demeanour was a still-achingwound. By others it was taken to mean the exact opposite, that Virginiahad never really cared for Tim Revel, and that she found it insincere toprofess a grief she did not feel.
“I should have mentioned, ma’am,” continued Chilvers, “that the manappears to be some kind of foreigner.”
Virginia’s interest heightened a little. Her husband had been in the Dip-lomatic Service, and they had been together in Herzoslovakia just beforethe sensational5 murder of the King and Queen. This man might probablybe a Herzoslovakian, some old servant who had fallen on evil days.
“You did quite right, Chilvers,” she said with a quick, approving nod.
“Where did you say you put him? In the study?”
She crossed the hall with her light buoyant step, and opened the door ofthe small room that flanked the dining room.
The visitor was sitting in a chair by the fireplace. He rose on her en-trance and stood looking at her. Virginia had an excellent memory forfaces, and she was at once quite sure that she had never seen the man be-fore. He was tall and dark, supple6 in figure, and quite unmistakably a for-eigner; but she did not think he was of Slavonic origin. She put him downas Italian or possibly Spanish.
“You wish to see me?” she asked. “I am Mrs. Revel.”
The man did not answer for a minute or two. He was looking her slowlyover, as though appraising7 her narrowly. There was a veiled insolence8 inhis manner which she was quick to feel.
“Will you please state your business?” she said, with a touch of impa-tience.
“You are Mrs. Revel? Mrs. Timothy Revel?”
“Yes. I told you so just now.”
“Quite so. It is a good thing that you consented to see me, Mrs. Revel.
Otherwise, as I told your butler, I should have been compelled to do busi-ness with your husband.”
Virginia looked at him in astonishment9, but some impulse quelled10 theretort that sprang to her lips. She contented11 herself by remarking dryly:
“You might have found some difficulty in doing that.”
“I think not. I am very persistent12. But I will come to the point. Perhapsyou recognize this?”
He flourished something in his hand. Virginia looked at it without muchinterest.
“Can you tell me what it is, madame?”
“It appears to be a letter,” replied Virginia, who was by now convincedthat she had to do with a man who was mentally unhinged.
“And perhaps you note to whom it is addressed,” said the man signific-antly, holding it out to her.
“I can read,” Virginia informed him pleasantly. “It is addressed to a Cap-tain O’Neill at Rue13 de Quenelles No. 15 Paris.”
The man seemed searching her face hungrily for something he did notfind.
“Will you read it, please?”
Virginia took the envelope from him, drew out the enclosure andglanced at it, but almost immediately she stiffened14 and held it out to himagain.
“This is a private letter—certainly not meant for my eyes.”
The man laughed sardonically15.
“I congratulate you, Mrs. Revel, on your admirable acting16. You play yourpart to perfection. Nevertheless, I think that you will hardly be able todeny the signature!”
“The signature?”
Virginia turned the letter over—and was struck dumb with astonish-ment. The signature, written in a delicate slanting17 hand, was VirginiaRevel. Checking the exclamation18 of astonishment that rose to her lips, sheturned again to the beginning of the letter and deliberately19 read the wholething through. Then she stood a minute lost in thought. The nature of theletter made it clear enough what was in prospect20.
“Well, madame?” said the man. “That is your name, is it not?”
“Oh, yes,” said Virginia. “It’s my name.”
“But not my handwriting,” she might have added.
Instead she turned a dazzling smile upon her visitor.
“Supposing,” she said sweetly, “we sit down and talk it over?”
He was puzzled. Not so had he expected her to behave. His instinct toldhim that she was not afraid of him.
“First of all, I should like to know how you found me out?”
“That was easy.”
He took from his pocket a page torn from an illustrated21 paper, andhanded it to her. Anthony Cade would have recognized it.
She gave it back to him with a thoughtful little frown.
“I see,” she said. “It was very easy.”
“Of course you understand, Mrs. Revel, that that is not the only letter.
There are others.”
“Dear me,” said Virginia, “I seem to have been frightfully indiscreet.”
Again she could see that her light tone puzzled him. She was by nowthoroughly enjoying herself.
“At any rate,” she said, smiling sweetly at him, “it’s very kind of you tocall and give them back to me.”
There was a pause as he cleared his throat.
“I am a poor man, Mrs. Revel,” he said at last, with a good deal of signi-ficance in his manner.
“As such you will doubtless find it easier to enter the Kingdom ofHeaven, or so I have always heard.”
“I cannot afford to let you have these letters for nothing.”
“I think you are under a misapprehension. Those letters are the prop-erty of the person who wrote them.”
“That may be the law, madame, but in this country you have a saying‘Possession is nine points of the law.’ And, in any case, are you prepared toinvoke the aid of the law?”
“The law is a severe one for blackmailers,” Virginia reminded him.
“Come, Mrs. Revel, I am not quite a fool. I have read these letters—theletters of a woman to her lover, one and all breathing dread24 of discoveryby her husband. Do you want me to take them to your husband?”
“You have overlooked one possibility. Those letters were written someyears ago. Supposing that since then—I have become a widow.”
He shook his head with confidence.
“In that case—if you had nothing to fear—you would not be sitting heremaking terms with me.”
Virginia smiled.
“What is your price?” she asked in a businesslike manner.
“For one thousand pounds I will hand the whole packet over to you. It isvery little that I am asking there; but, you see, I do not like the business.”
“I shouldn’t dream of paying you a thousand pounds,” said Virginia withdecision.
“Madame, I never bargain. A thousand pounds, and I will place the let-ters in your hands.”
Virginia reflected.
“You must give me a little time to think it over. It will not be easy for meto get such a sum together.”
“A few pounds on account perhaps—say fifty—and I will call again.”
Virginia looked up at the clock. It was five minutes past four, and shefancied that she had heard the bell.
“Very well,” she said hurriedly. “Come back tomorrow, but later thanthis. About six.”
She crossed over to a desk that stood against the wall, unlocked one ofthe drawers, and took out an untidy handful of notes.
“There is about forty pounds here. That will have to do for you.”
He snatched at it eagerly.
“And now go at once, please,” said Virginia.
He left the room obediently enough. Through the open door, Virginiacaught a glimpse of George Lomax in the hall, just being ushered25 upstairsby Chilvers. As the front door closed, Virginia called to him.
“Come in here, George. Chilvers, bring us tea in here, will you please?”
She flung open both windows, and George Lomax came into the room tofind her standing26 erect27 with dancing eyes and windblown hair.
“I’ll shut them in a minute, George, but I felt the room ought to be aired.
Did you fall over the blackmailer23 in the hall?”
“The what?”
“Blackmailer, George. B-L-A-C-K-M-A-I-L-E-R: blackmailer. One whoblackmails.”
“My dear Virginia, you can’t be serious!”
“Oh, but I am, George.”
“But who did he come here to blackmail?”
“Me, George.”
“But, my dear Virginia, what have you been doing?”
“Well, just for once, as it happens, I hadn’t been doing anything. Thegood gentleman mistook me for someone else.”
“You rang up the police, I suppose?”
“No, I didn’t. I suppose you think I ought to have done so.”
“Well—” George considered weightily. “No, no, perhaps not—perhapsyou acted wisely. You might be mixed up in some unpleasant publicity28 inconnexion with the case. You might even have had to give evidence—”
“I should have liked that,” said Virginia. “I would love to be summoned,and I should like to see if judges really do make all the rotten jokes youread about. It would be most exciting. I was at Vine Street the other day tosee about a diamond brooch I had lost, and there was the most perfectlylovely inspector—the nicest man I ever met.”
George, as was his custom, let all irrelevancies pass.
“But what did you do about this scoundrel?”
“Well, George, I’m afraid I let him do it.”
“Do what?”
“Blackmail me.”
George’s face of horror was so poignant29 that Virginia had to bite her un-derlip.
“You mean—do I understand you to mean—that you did not correct themisapprehension under which he was labouring?”
Virginia shook her head, shooting a sideways glance at him.
“Good heavens, Virginia, you must be mad.”
“I suppose it would seem that way to you.”
“But why? In God’s name, why?”
“Several reasons. To begin with, he was doing it so beautifully—black-mailing me, I mean—I hate to interrupt an artist when he’s doing his jobreally well. And then, you see, I’d never been blackmailed—”
“I should hope not, indeed.”
“And I wanted to see what it felt like.”
“I am quite at a loss to comprehend you, Virginia.”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“You did not give him money, I hope?”
“Just a trifle,” said Virginia apologetically.
“How much?”
“Forty pounds.”
“Virginia!”
“My dear George, it’s only what I pay for an evening dress. It’s just as ex-citing to buy a new experience as it is to buy a new dress—more so, infact.”
George Lomax merely shook his head, and Chilvers appearing at thatmoment with the tea urn3, he was saved from having to express his out-raged feelings. When tea had been brought in, and Virginia’s deft30 fingerswere manipulating the heavy silver teapot, she spoke again on the subject.
“I had another motive31 too, George—a brighter and better one. We wo-men are usually supposed to be cats, but at any rate I’d done another wo-man a good turn this afternoon. This man isn’t likely to go off looking foranother Virginia Revel. He thinks he’s found his bird all right. Poor littledevil, she was in a blue funk when she wrote that letter. Mr. Blackmailerwould have had the easiest job in his life there. Now, though he doesn’tknow it, he’s up against a tough proposition. Starting with the great ad-vantage of having led a blameless life, I shall toy with him to his undoing—as they say in books. Guile32, George, lots of guile.”
George still shook his head.
“I don’t like it,” he persisted. “I don’t like it.”
“Well, never mind, George dear. You didn’t come here to talk aboutblackmailers. What did you come here for, by the way? Correct answer:
‘To see you!’ Accent on the you, and press her hand with significance un-less you happen to have been eating heavily buttered muffin, in whichcase it must all be done with the eyes.”
“I did come to see you,” replied George seriously. “And I am glad to findyou alone.”
“ ‘Oh, George, this is so sudden.’ Says she, swallowing a currant.”
“I wanted to ask a favour of you. I have always considered you, Virginia,as a woman of considerable charm.”
“Oh, George!”
“And also as a woman of intelligence!”
“Not really? How well the man knows me.”
“My dear Virginia, there is a young fellow arriving in England tomorrowwhom I should like you to meet.”
“All right, George, but it’s your party—let that be clearly understood.”
“You could, I feel sure, if you chose, exercise your considerable charm.”
Virginia cocked her head a little on one side.
“George dear, I don’t ‘charm’ as a profession, you know. Often I likepeople—and then, well, they like me. But I don’t think I could set out incold blood to fascinate a helpless stranger. That sort of thing isn’t done,George, it really isn’t. There are professional sirens who would do it muchbetter than I should.”
“That is out of the question, Virginia. This young man, he is a Canadian,by the way, of the name of McGrath—”
“ ‘A Canadian of Scottish descent.’ Says she, deducing brilliantly.”
“Is probably quite unused to the higher walks of English society. Ishould like him to appreciate the charm and distinction of a real Englishgentlewoman.”
“Meaning me?”
“Exactly.”
“Why?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said why? You don’t boom the real English gentlewoman with everystray Canadian who sets foot upon our shores. What is the deep idea,George? To put it vulgarly, what do you get out of it?”
“I cannot see that that concerns you, Virginia.”
“I couldn’t possibly go out for an evening and fascinate unless I knew allthe whys and wherefores.”
“You have a most extraordinary way of putting things, Virginia. Anyonewould think—”
“Wouldn’t they? Come on, George, part with a little more information.”
“My dear Virginia, matters are likely to be a little strained shortly in acertain Central European nation. It is important, for reasons which are im-material, that this—Mr.—er—McGrath should be brought to realize thatthe restoring of the monarchy33 in Herzoslovakia is imperative34 to the peaceof Europe.”
“The part about the peace of Europe is all bosh,” said Virginia calmly,“but I’m all for monarchies35 every time, especially for a picturesque36 peoplelike the Herzoslovakians. So you’re running a king in the HerzoslovakianStakes, are you? Who is he?”
George was reluctant to answer, but did not see his way to avoid thequestion. The interview was not going at all as he had planned. He hadforeseen Virginia as a willing, docile37 tool, receiving his hints gratefully,and asking no awkward questions. This was far from being the case. Sheseemed determined38 to know all about it and this George, ever doubtful offemale discretion39, was determined at all costs to avoid. He had made amistake. Virginia was not the woman for the part. She might, indeed,cause serious trouble. Her account of her interview with the blackmailerhad caused him grave apprehension22. A most undependable creature, withno idea of treating serious matters seriously.
“Prince Michael Obolovitch,” he replied, as Virginia was obviously wait-ing for an answer to her question. “But please let that go no further.”
“Don’t be absurd, George. There are all sorts of hints in the papersalready, and articles cracking up the Obolovitch dynasty and talking aboutthe murdered Nicholas IV as though he were a cross between a saint and ahero instead of a stupid little man besotted by a third-rate actress.”
George winced40. He was more than ever convinced that he had made amistake in enlisting41 Virginia’s aid. He must stave her off quickly.
“You are right, my dear Virginia,” he said hastily, as he rose to his feet tobid her farewell. “I should not have made the suggestion I did to you. Butwe are anxious for the Dominions42 to see eye to eye with us on thisHerzoslovakian crisis, and McGrath has, I believe, influence in journalisticcircles. As an ardent43 monarchist, and with your knowledge of the country,I thought it a good plan for you to meet him.”
“So that’s the explanation, is it?”
“Yes, but I daresay you wouldn’t have cared for him.”
Virginia looked at him for a second and then she laughed.
“George,” she said, “you’re a rotten liar44.”
“Virginia!”
“Rotten, absolutely rotten! If I had had your training, I could have man-aged a better one than that—one that had a chance of being believed. But Ishall find out all about it, my poor George. Rest assured of that. The Mys-tery of Mr. McGrath. I shouldn’t wonder if I got a hint or two at Chimneysthis weekend.”
“At Chimneys? You are going to Chimneys?”
George could not conceal45 his perturbation. He had hoped to reach LordCaterham in time for the invitation to remain unissued.
“Bundle rang up and asked me this morning.”
George made a last effort.
“Rather a dull party, I believe,” he said. “Hardly in your line, Virginia.”
“My poor George, why didn’t you tell me the truth and trust me? It’s stillnot too late.”
George took her hand and dropped it again limply.
“I have told you the truth,” he said coldly, and he said it without a blush.
“That’s a better one,” said Virginia approvingly. “But it’s still not goodenough. Cheer up, George, I shall be at Chimneys all right, exerting myconsiderable charm—as you put it. Life has become suddenly very muchmore amusing. First a blackmailer, and then George in diplomatic diffi-culties. Will he tell all to the beautiful woman who asks for his confidenceso pathetically? No, he will reveal nothing until the last chapter. Good-bye,George. One last fond look before you go? No? Oh, George, dear, don’t besulky about it!”
Virginia ran to the telephone as soon as George had departed with aheavy gait through the front door.
She obtained the number she required and asked to speak to LadyEileen Brent.
“Is that you, Bundle? I’m coming to Chimneys all right tomorrow. What?
Bore me? No, it won’t. Bundle, wild horses wouldn’t keep me away! Sothere!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
blackmail
|
|
| n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
revel
|
|
| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
urn
|
|
| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
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： |
|
|
|
|
5
sensational
|
|
| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
supple
|
|
| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
appraising
|
|
| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
quelled
|
|
| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
persistent
|
|
| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sardonically
|
|
| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
slanting
|
|
| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
illustrated
|
|
| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
blackmailer
|
|
| 敲诈者，勒索者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
poignant
|
|
| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
deft
|
|
| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
guile
|
|
| n.诈术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
monarchy
|
|
| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
imperative
|
|
| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
monarchies
|
|
| n. 君主政体, 君主国, 君主政治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
docile
|
|
| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
winced
|
|
| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
enlisting
|
|
| v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的现在分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dominions
|
|
| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |