In the absence of Clyde, the impressions taken by Mr. Mason of the world in which he moved here,complementing and confirming those of Lycurgus and Sharon, were sufficient to sober him in regard to the ease(possibly) with which previously1 he had imagined it might be possible to convict him. For about him was such ascene as suggested all the means as well as the impulse to quiet such a scandal as this. Wealth. Luxury. Importantnames and connections to protect no doubt. Was it not possible that the rich and powerful Griffiths, their nephewseized in this way and whatever his crime, would take steps to secure the best legal talent available, in order toprotect their name? Unquestionably--and then with such adjournments as it was possible for such talent tosecure, might it not be possible that long before he could hope to convict him, he himself would automatically bedisposed of as a prosecutor2 and without being nominated for and elected to the judgeship he so craved3 andneeded.
Sitting before the circle of attractive tents that faced the lake and putting in order a fishing-pole and reel, wasHarley Baggott, in a brightly-colored sweater and flannel4 trousers. And through the open flies of several tents,glimpses of individuals--Sondra, Bertine, Wynette and others--busy about toilets necessitated5 by the recentswim. Being dubious6 because of the smartness of the company as to whether it was politically or socially wise toproclaim openly the import of his errand, he chose to remain silent for a time, reflecting on the differencebetween the experiences of his early youth and that of Roberta Alden and these others. Naturally as he saw it aman of this Griffiths' connections would seek to use a girl of Roberta's connections thus meanly and brutally7 andhope to get away with it. Yet, eager to make as much progress as he could against whatever inimical fates mightnow beset8 him, he finally approached Baggott, and most acidly, yet with as much show of genial9 andappreciative sociability10 as he could muster11, observed:
"A delightful12 place for a camp, eh?""Yeh, we think so.""Just a group from the estates and hotels about Sharon, I suppose?""Yeh. The south and west shore principally.""Not any of the Griffiths, other than Mr. Clyde, I presume?""No, they're still over at Greenwood, I think.""You know Mr. Clyde Griffiths personally, I suppose?""Oh, sure--he's one of the party.""You don't happen to know how long he's been up here this time, I presume--up with the Cranstons, I mean.""Since Friday, I think. I saw him Friday morning, anyhow. But he'll be back here soon and you can ask himyourself," concluded Baggott, beginning to sense that Mr. Mason was a little too inquisitive13 and in addition notof either his or Clyde's world.
And just then, Frank Harriet, with a tennis racquet under his arm, striding across the foreground.
"Where to, Frankie?""To try those courts Harrison laid out up here this morning.""Who with?""Violet, Nadine and Stuart.""Any room for another court?""Sure, there's two. Why not get Bert, and Clyde, and Sondra, and come up?""Well, maybe, after I get this thing set."And Mason at once thinking: Clyde and Sondra. Clyde Griffiths and Sondra Finchley--the very girl whose notesand cards were in one of his pockets now. And might he not see her here, along with Clyde--possibly later talkto her about him?
But just then, Sondra and Bertine and Wynette coming out of their respective tents. And Bertine calling: "Oh,say, Harley, seen Nadine anywhere?""No, but Frank just went by. He said he was going up to the courts to play with her and Violet and Stew14.""Yes? Well, then, come on, Sondra. You too, Wynette. We'll see how it looks."Bertine, as she pronounced Sondra's name, turned to take her arm, which gave Mason the exact information andopportunity he desired--that of seeing and studying for a moment the girl who had so tragically15 and no doubt allunwittingly replaced Roberta in Clyde's affections. And, as he could see for himself, more beautiful, more richlyappareled than ever the other could have hoped to be. And alive, as opposed to the other now dead and in amorgue in Bridgeburg.
But even as he gazed, the three tripping off together arm in arm, Sondra calling back to Harley: "If you seeClyde, tell him to come on up, will you?" And he replying: "Do you think that shadow of yours needs to betold?"Mason, impressed by the color and the drama, looked intently and even excitedly about. Now it was all so plainwhy he wanted to get rid of the girl--the true, underlying16 motive17. That beautiful girl there, as well as this luxuryto which he aspired18. And to think that a young man of his years and opportunities would stoop to such a horribletrick as that! Unbelievable! And only four days after the murder of the other poor girl, playing about with thisbeautiful girl in this fashion, and hoping to marry her, as Roberta had hoped to marry him. The unbelievablevillainies of life!
Now, half-determining since Clyde did not appear, that he would proclaim himself and proceed to search for andseize his belongings19 here, Ed Swenk re-appearing and with a motion of the head indicating that Mason was tofollow him. And once well within the shadow of the surrounding trees, indicating no less an individual thanNicholas Kraut, attended by a slim, neatly-dressed youth of about Clyde's reported years, who, on the instant andbecause of the waxy20 paleness of his face, he assumed must be Clyde. And at once he now approached him, asmight an angry wasp21 or hornet, only pausing first to ask of Swenk where he had been captured and by whom-thengazing at Clyde critically and austerely22 as befitted one who represented the power and majesty23 of the law.
"So you are Clyde Griffiths, are you?""Yes, sir.""Well, Mr. Griffiths, my name is Orville Mason. I am the district attorney of the county in which Big Bittern andGrass Lake are situated24. I suppose you are familiar enough with those two places by now, aren't you?"He paused to see the effect of this sardonic25 bit of commentary. Yet although he expected to see him wince26 andquail, Clyde merely gazed at him, his nervous, dark eyes showing enormous strain. "No, sir, I can't say that Iam."For with each step through the woods thus far back, there had been growing within him the utter and unshakableconviction that in the face of whatever seeming proof or charges might now appear, he dared not tell anything inregard to himself, his connection with Roberta, his visit to Big Bittern or Grass Lake. He dared not. For thatwould be the same as a confession27 of guilt28 in connection with something of which he was not really guilty. Andno one must believe--never--Sondra, or the Griffiths, or any of these fine friends of his, that he could ever have been guilty of such a thought, even. And yet here they were, all within call, and at any moment might approachand so learn the meaning of his arrest. And while he felt the necessity for so denying any knowledge inconnection with all this, at the same time he stood in absolute terror of this man--the opposition29 and irritatedmood such an attitude might arouse in him. That broken nose. His large, stern eyes.
And then Mason, eyeing him as one might an unheard-of and yet desperate animal and irritated also by hisdenial, yet assuming from his blanched30 expression that he might and no doubt would shortly be compelled toconfess his guilt, continuing with: "You know what you are charged with, Mr. Griffiths, of course.""Yes, sir, I just heard it from this man here.""And you admit it?""Why, no sir, of course I don't admit it," replied Clyde, his thin and now white lips drawn31 tight over his eventeeth, his eyes full of a deep, tremulous yet evasive terror.
"Why, what nonsense! What effrontery32! You deny being up to Grass Lake and Big Bittern on last Wednesdayand Thursday?""Yes, sir.""Well, then," and now Mason stiffened33 himself in an angry and at the same time inquisitorial way, "I supposeyou are going to deny knowing Roberta Alden--the girl you took to Grass Lake, and then out on Big Bittern inthat boat last Thursday--the girl you knew in Lycurgus all last year, who lived at Mrs. Gilpin's and worked underyou in your department at Griffiths & Company--the girl to whom you gave that toilet set last Christmas! Isuppose you're going to say that your name isn't Clyde Griffiths and that you haven't been living with Mrs.
Peyton in Taylor Street, and that these aren't letters and cards from your trunk there--from Roberta Alden andfrom Miss Finchley, all these cards and notes." And extracting the letters and cards as he spoke34 and waving thembefore Clyde. And at each point in this harangue35, thrusting his broad face, with its flat, broken nose andsomewhat aggressive chin directly before Clyde's, and blazing at him with sultry, contemptuous eyes, while thelatter leaned away from him, wincing36 almost perceptibly and with icy chills running up and down his spine37 andaffecting his heart and brain. Those letters! All this information concerning him! And back in his bag in the tentthere, all those more recent letters of Sondra's in which she dwelt on how they were to elope together this comingfall. If only he had destroyed them! And now this man might find those--would--and question Sondra maybe, andall these others. He shrunk and congealed38 spiritually, the revealing effects of his so poorly conceived andexecuted scheme weighing upon him as the world upon the shoulders of an inadequate39 Atlas40.
And yet, feeling that he must say something and yet not admit anything. And finally replying: "My name's ClydeGriffiths all right, but the rest of this isn't true. I don't know anything about the rest of it.""Oh, come now, Mr. Griffiths! Don't begin by trying to play fast and loose with me. We won't get anywhere thatway. You won't help yourself one bit by that with me, and besides I haven't any time for that now. Rememberthese men here are witnesses to what you say. I've just come from Lycurgus--your room at Mrs. Peyton's--and Ihave in my possession your trunk and this Miss Alden's letters to you--indisputable proof that you did know this girl, that you courted and seduced41 her last winter, and that since then--this spring--when she became pregnant onyour account, you induced her first to go home and then later to go away with you on this trip in order, as youtold her, to marry her. Well, you married her all right--to the grave--that's how you married her--to the water atthe bottom of Big Bittern Lake! And you can actually stand here before me now, when I tell you that I have allthe evidence I need right on my person, and say that you don't even know her! Well, I'll be damned!"And as he spoke his voice grew so loud that Clyde feared that it could be clearly heard in the camp beyond. Andthat Sondra herself might hear it and come over. And although at the outrush and jab and slash42 of such doomingfacts as Mason so rapidly outlined, his throat tightened43 and his hands were with difficulty restrained from closingand clinching44 vise-wise, at the conclusion of it all he merely replied: "Yes, sir.""Well, I'll be damned!" reiterated45 Mason. "I can well believe now that you would kill a girl and sneak46 away injust such a way as you did--and with her in that condition! But then to try to deny her own letters to you! Why,you might as well try to deny that you're here and alive. These cards and notes here--what about them? I supposethey're not from Miss Finchley? How about those? Do you mean to tell me these are not from her either?"He waved them before Clyde's eyes. And Clyde, seeing that the truth concerning these, Sondra being within call,was capable of being substantiated47 here and now, replied: "No, I don't deny that those are from her.""Very good. But these others from your trunk in the same room are not from Miss Alden to you?""I don't care to say as to that," he replied, blinking feebly as Mason waved Roberta's letters before him.
"Tst! Tst! Tst! Of all things," clicked Mason in high dudgeon. "Such nonsense! Such effrontery! Oh, very well,we won't worry about all that now. I can easily prove it all when the time comes. But how you can stand thereand deny it, knowing that I have the evidence, is beyond me! A card in your own handwriting which you forgotto take out of the bag you had her leave at Gun Lodge48 while you took yours with you. Mr. Carl Graham, Mr.
Clifford Golden, Mr. Clyde Griffiths,--a card on which you wrote 'From Clyde to Bert, Merry Xmas.' Do youremember that? Well, here it is." And here he reached into his pocket and drew forth49 the small card taken fromthe toilet set and waved it under Clyde's nose. "Have you forgotten that, too? Your own handwriting!" And thenpausing and getting no reply, finally adding: "Why, what a dunce you are!-- what a poor plotter, without even thebrains not to use your own initials in getting up those fake names you had hoped to masquerade under--Mr. CarlGraham--Mr. Clifford Golden!"At the same time, fully50 realizing the importance of a confession and wondering how it was to be brought abouthere and now, Mason suddenly--Clyde's expression, his frozen-faced terror, suggesting the thought that perhapshe was too frightened to talk at once changed his tactics--at least to the extent of lowering his voice, smoothingthe formidable wrinkles from his forehead and about his mouth.
"You see, it's this way, Griffiths," he now began, much more calmly and simply. "Lying or just foolishthoughtless denial under such circumstances as these can't help you in the least. It can only harm you, and that'sthe truth. You may think I've been a little rough so far, but it was only because I've been under a great strainmyself in connection with this case, trying to catch up with some one I thought would be a very different typefrom yourself. But now that I see you and see how you feel about it all--how really frightened you are by what has happened--it just occurs to me that there may be something in connection with this case, some extenuatingcircumstances, which, if they were related by you now, might throw a slightly different light on all this. Ofcourse, I don't know. You yourself ought to be the best judge, but I'm laying the thought before you for what it'sworth. For, of course, here are these letters. Besides, when we get to Three Mile Bay to-morrow, as we will, Ihope, there will be those three men who met you the other night walking south from Big Bittern. And not onlythose, but the innkeeper from Grass Lake, the innkeeper from Big Bittern, the boatkeeper up there who rentedthat boat, and the driver who drove you and Roberta Alden over from Gun Lodge. They will identify you. Doyou think they won't know you--not any of them--not be able to say whether you were up there with her or not,or that a jury when the time comes won't believe them?"And all this Clyde registered mentally like a machine clicking to a coin, yet said nothing,--merely staring, frozen.
"And not only that," went on Mason, very softly and most ingratiatingly, "but there's Mrs. Peyton. She saw metake these letters and cards out of that trunk of yours in your room and from the top drawer of your chiffonier.
Next, there are all those girls in that factory where you and Miss Alden worked. Do you suppose they're notgoing to remember all about you and her when they learn that she is dead? Oh, what nonsense! You ought to beable to see that for yourself, whatever you think. You certainly can't expect to get away with that. It makes a sortof a fool out of you. You can see that for yourself."He paused again, hoping for a confession. But Clyde still convinced that any admission in connection withRoberta or Big Bittern spelled ruin, merely stared while Mason proceeded to add:
"All right, Griffiths, I'm now going to tell you one more thing, and I couldn't give you better advice if you weremy own son or brother and I were trying to get you out of this instead of merely trying to get you to tell the truth.
If you hope to do anything at all for yourself now, it's not going to help you to deny everything in the way youare doing. You are simply making trouble and condemning51 yourself in other people's eyes. Why not say that youdid know her and that you were up there with her and that she wrote you those letters, and be done with it? Youcan't get out of that, whatever else you may hope to get out of. Any sane52 person--your own mother, if she werehere--would tell you the same thing. It's too ridiculous and indicates guilt rather than innocence53. Why not comeclean here and now as to those facts, anyhow, before it's too late to take advantage of any mitigatingcircumstances in connection with all this--if there are any? And if you do NOW, and I can help you in any way, Ipromise you here and now that I'll be only too glad to do so. For, after all, I'm not out here just to hound a man todeath or make him confess to something that he hasn't done, but merely to get at the truth in the case. But ifyou're going to deny that you even knew this girl when I tell you I have all the evidence and can prove it, whythen--" and here the district attorney lifted his hands aloft most wearily and disgustedly.
But now as before Clyde remained silent and pale. In spite of all Mason had revealed, and all that this seeminglyfriendly, intimate advice seemed to imply, still he could not conceive that it would be anything less thandisastrous for him to admit that he even knew Roberta. The fatality54 of such a confession in the eyes of theseothers here. The conclusion of all his dreams in connection with Sondra and this life. And so, in the face of this-silence,still. And at this, Mason, irritated beyond measure, finally exclaiming: "Oh, very well, then. So you'vefinally decided55 not to talk, have you?" And Clyde, blue and weak, replied: "I had nothing to do with her death.
That's all I can say now," and yet even as he said it thinking that perhaps he had better not say that--that perhapshe had better say--well, what? That he knew Roberta, of course, had been up there with her, for that matter--but that he had never intended to kill her--that her drowning was an accident. For he had not struck her at all, exceptby accident, had he? Only it was best not to confess to having struck her at all, wasn't it? For who under suchcircumstances would believe that he had struck her with a camera by accident. Best not to mention the camera,since there was no mention anywhere in the papers that he had had one with him.
And he was still cogitating56 while Mason was exclaiming: "Then you admit that you knew her?""No, sir.""Very well, then," he now added, turning to the others, "I suppose there's nothing for it but to take him back thereand see what they know about him. Perhaps that will get something out of this fine bird--to confront him with hisfriends. His bag and things are still back there in one of those tents, I believe. Suppose we take him down there,gentlemen, and see what these other people know about him."And now, swiftly and coldly he turned, while Clyde, already shrinking at the horror of what was coming,exclaimed: "Oh, please, no! You don't mean to do that, do you? Oh, you won't do that! Oh, please, no!"And at this point Kraut speaking up and saying: "He asked me back there in the woods if I wouldn't ask you notto take him in there." "Oh, so that's the way the wind blows, is it?" exclaimed Mason at this. "Too thin-skinned tobe shown up before ladies and gentlemen of the Twelfth Lake colony, but not even willing to admit that youknew the poor little working-girl who worked for you. Very good. Well, then, my fine friend, suppose you comethrough with what you really do know now, or down there you go." And he paused a moment to see what effectthat would have. "We'll call all those people together and explain just how things are, and then see if you will bewilling to stand there and deny everything!" But noting still a touch of hesitation57 in Clyde he now added: "Bringhim along, boys." And turning toward the camp he proceeded to walk in that direction a few paces while Krauttaking one arm, and Swenk another, and beginning to move Clyde he ended by exclaiming:
"Oh, please, no! Oh, I hope you won't do anything like that, will you, Mr. Mason? Oh, I don't want to go backthere if you don't mind. It isn't that I'm guilty, but you can get all my things without my going back there. Andbesides it will mean so much to me just now." Beads58 of perspiration59 once more burst forth on his pale face andhands and he was deadly cold.
"Don't want to go, eh?" exclaimed Mason, pausing as he heard this. "It would hurt your pride, would it, to have'em know? Well, then, supposing you just answer some of the things I want to know--and come clean and quick,or off we go--and that without one more moment's delay! Now, will you answer or won't you?" And again heturned to confront Clyde, who, with lips trembling and eyes confused and wavering, nervously60 and emphaticallyannounced:
"Of course I knew her. Of course I did. Sure! Those letters show that. But what of it? I didn't kill her. And Ididn't go up there with her with any intention of killing61 her, either. I didn't. I didn't, I tell you! It was all anaccident. I didn't even want to take her up there. She wanted me to go--to go away with her somewhere,because--because, well you know--her letters show. And I was only trying to get her to go off somewhere byherself, so she would let me alone, because I didn't want to marry her. That's all. And I took her out there, not tokill her at all, but to try to persuade her, that's all. And I didn't upset the boat--at least, I didn't mean to. The wind blew my hat off, and we--she and I--got up at the same time to reach for it and the boat upset--that's all. And theside of it hit her on the head. I saw it, only I was too frightened the way she was struggling about in the water togo near her, because I was afraid that if I did she might drag me down. And then she went down. And I swamashore. And that's the God's truth!"His face, as he talked, had suddenly become all flushed, and his hands also. Yet his eyes were tortured, terrifiedpools of misery62. He was thinking--but maybe there wasn't any wind that afternoon and maybe they would findthat out. Or the tripod hidden under a log. If they found that, wouldn't they think he hit her with that? He was wetand trembling.
But already Mason was beginning to question him again.
"Now, let's see as to this a minute. You say you didn't take her up there with any intention of killing her?""No, sir, I didn't.""Well, then, how was it that you decided to write your name two different ways on those registers up there at BigBittern and Grass Lake?""Because I didn't want any one to know that I was up there with her.""Oh, I see. Didn't want any scandal in connection with the condition she was in?""No, sir. Yes, sir, that is.""But you didn't mind if her name was scandalized in case she was found afterwards?""But I didn't know she was going to be drowned," replied Clyde, slyly and shrewdly, sensing the trap in time.
"But you did know that you yourself weren't coming back, of course. You knew that, didn't you?""Why, no, sir, I didn't know that I wasn't coming back. I thought I was.""Pretty clever. Pretty clever," thought Mason to himself, but not saying so, and then, rapidly: "And so in order tomake everything easy and natural as possible for you to come back, you took your own bag with you and lefthers up there. Is that the way? How about that?""But I didn't take it because I was going away. We decided to put our lunch in it.""We, or you?""We.""And so you had to carry that big bag in order to take a little lunch along, eh? Couldn't you have taken it in a paper, or in her bag?""Well, her bag was full, and I didn't like to carry anything in a paper.""Oh, I see. Too proud and sensitive, eh? But not too proud to carry a heavy bag all the way, say twelve miles, inthe night to Three Mile Bay, and not ashamed to be seen doing it, either, were you?""Well, after she was drowned and I didn't want to be known as having been up there with her, and had to goalong--"He paused while Mason merely looked at him, thinking of the many, many questions he wanted to ask him--somany, many more, and which, as he knew or guessed, would be impossible for him to explain. Yet it was gettinglate, and back in the camp were Clyde's as yet unclaimed belongings--his bag and possibly that suit he had wornthat day at Big Bittern--a gray one as he had heard--not this one. And to catechize him here this way in the dusk,while it might be productive of much if only he could continue it long enough, still there was the trip back, anden route he would have ample time to continue his questionings.
And so, although he disliked much so to do at the moment, he now concluded with: "Oh, well, I tell you,Griffiths, we'll let you rest here for the present. It may be that what you are saying is so--I don't know. I mostcertainly hope it is, for your sake. At any rate, you go along there with Mr. Kraut. He'll show you where to go."And then turning to Swenk and Kraut, he exclaimed: "All right, boys. I'll tell you how we'll do. It's getting lateand we'll have to hurry a little if we expect to get anywhere yet tonight. Mr. Kraut, suppose you take this youngman down where those other two boats are and wait there. Just halloo a little as you go along to notify the sheriffand Sissel that we're ready. And then Swenk and I'll be along in the other boat as soon as we can."And so saying and Kraut obeying, he and Swenk proceeded inward through the gathering63 dusk to the camp,while Kraut with Clyde went west, hallooing for the sheriff and his deputy until a response was had.
梅森在克莱德不在场时，对此人在这儿的活动天地所获得的印象，补充和证实了他在莱柯格斯和沙隆早已获得的印象，足以使他头脑清醒，不象当初那样认为很容易就能给此人定罪。因为，克莱德周围的一切，说明他们既有强烈的愿望，也有种种办法，要把这一类丑事掩盖过去。财富。奢华。还有当然要尽力保护的那些声名煊赫的门族和高贵的社会关系。难道说有钱有势的格里菲思家族获悉他们的侄子这样被抓走，也不管他犯的是什么罪，就不延请才华出众的律师来维护他们家族的名声吗?
这是毫无疑问的……而且司法界这类辩才确有办法，能让此案一再拖延下去。也许在他想给犯人定罪以前，他本人早就自然而然地既当不成检察官，又不能被提名并进而当选为他梦寐以求的法官这一职位了。
坐在正面对着湖围成一圈的漂亮帐篷前，正在整理鱼竿和线轴的，是身穿色彩鲜艳的运动衫和法兰绒裤子的哈利。巴戈特。从好几座帐篷敞开的门帘，隐约可见一些人……有桑德拉。伯蒂娜和威南特等人……他们刚游过泳，正忙着化妆哩。由于这班俊男倩女如此时髦潇洒，梅森不由得犯疑了，真不知道如果公开宣布他的来意，从政治或社会视角来看，是不是很明智。他觉得不妨暂时保持缄默为好，同时思考此人青少年时期的生活经历，跟罗伯达。奥尔登这一类人的生活经历有何不同之处。他认为，一个依仗格里菲思家族这样背景的人，如此卑鄙。残忍地对待类似罗伯达这样出身的姑娘，而且想要逍遥法外，本来就是很自然的事。不过，他一心想让工作取得更大进展，不管所有敌对力量可能给他设置种种障碍。梅森最终还是走到巴戈特跟前，非常酸溜溜地，但又尽量装得和蔼可亲。平易近人地说:
"好一个宿营地，嗯?
""是啊，我们也是这么想的。""依我看，你们全是来自沙隆那一带别墅和旅馆，是吧。""是啊。主要是来自南岸和西岸。""我想，除了克莱德先生以外，格里菲思家里别人没有来吧?
""没有，我想，他们大概还都在格林伍德湖那边吧。""依我看，也许您个人跟克莱德。格里菲思先生很熟吧?
""哦，当然罗……他就是跟我们一块儿来的。""您知不知道这次他上这儿来……我是说他在克兰斯顿家已待了多久?
""好象他是星期五来的。反正我是星期五早上看见他的。不过，他马上就要回来了，您自个儿问他就得了，"巴戈特就这样结束了谈话。他开始觉得:
梅森先生有点儿打破沙锅问到底似的，因此，这人显然不是象他和克莱德圈子里头的人。
正在这时，弗兰克。哈里特腋下夹着一个网球拍，大步流星走了过来。
"上哪儿去，弗兰克?
""今儿个早上哈里森在这儿开辟了球场，我这是去试试看呗。""还有谁一块去?
""维奥莱特。纳丁和斯图尔特。""有空地再辟一个球场，好吗?
""当然罗，那儿已有两个球场哩。干吗不找伯蒂娜。克莱德。桑德拉一块去?
""得了吧，也许等我把这事忙完了再说。"梅森马上想到:
克莱德和桑德拉。克莱德。格里菲思和桑德拉。芬奇利……此刻他口袋里正有这位姑娘的信和卡片哩。说不定他会在这儿见到她跟克莱德在一起……也许不妨等一会儿跟她谈谈有关他的事。
不料就在这时，桑德拉。伯蒂娜。威南特正从她们各自的帐篷里走了出来。
伯蒂娜还在大声喊道:
"喂，喂，哈里特，你看见纳丁了没有?
""没有，不过，弗兰克刚刚走过。他说上球场去，是跟她，还有维奥莱特和斯图尔特一块打球。""原来是这样啊?
那末，好吧，桑德拉，我们就一块去。威南特，你也去。我们去看看球场到底怎么样。"伯蒂娜一面直呼其名，一面转过身来挽住桑德拉的胳臂，这样正给了梅森一个求之不得的机会，有幸得以一睹这位姑娘如此悲剧性地，而且，毫无疑问，连她自己都不知道，把罗伯达从克莱德情怀里挤走了。他亲眼目睹，她长得更美，衣着更为华丽……远不是另一个姑娘所能企求的。而且，这一位姑娘还活着，而那一个早已死了，停放在布里奇伯格认尸所。
就在这时，她们三个姑娘手挽手地打从两眼直盯住她们的梅森身边一闪而过;桑德拉还回过头来冲着哈利高声喊道:
"你要是看见克莱德，招呼一声，让他就过来，好吗?
"他回答说:
"你说，你的那个影子还用得着别人招呼他吗?
"梅森被眼前这一幕绘声绘色的表演所震惊，更加仔细。乃至于十分激动地观察周围一切。现在梅森才完全闹清楚了:
克莱德为什么要摆脱掉那个姑娘……其真正的内在动机是在哪里。那就是……他一心追求的那一个美丽的姑娘，以及这种豪华生活。试想，象他这样年纪。这样有前途的年轻人，竟然甘心堕落，干出如此骇人听闻的丑事!
简直令人不可置信!
而且，在那个可怜的姑娘惨遭杀害后仅仅四天，他就跟这个美丽的姑娘这样一起玩儿，还希望能跟她结婚，如同当初罗伯达希望能跟他结婚一样。生活里常有这种令人难以置信的邪恶!
梅森看到克莱德并没有露面，几乎打算亮明自己身份，动手搜缴他留在这里的行李物品。可是，就在这时，埃特。斯温克又出现了，并且点了一下头，示意梅森跟他走。梅森一走进树林子，马上看见在浓密的树荫底下，正好就是尼古拉斯。克劳特，在他身边还有一个身材细长。衣着整洁的年轻人，与外貌特征中所说的克莱德年龄相仿。梅森一看此人脸色有如白蜡一般，马上断定这就是克莱德，随即如同一头凶恶的马蜂或是大黄蜂似的冲他扑了过去，只不过梅森先向斯温克问了一下，犯人是在什么地方抓住的，是谁抓住的……然后，用庄严强大的法律的化身所不可缺少的那种锐利而严厉的目光审视着克莱德。
"这么说来，你就是克莱德。格里菲思先生，是吧?
""是的，先生。""嗯，格里菲思先生，我的名字叫奥维尔。梅森。大比腾。草湖所属的那个县的地方检察官。我想，这两处地方，你恐怕是很熟悉，是不是?
"他顿住了一会儿，想看看这句讥刺的话儿产生什么效果。可是跟他预料相反，克莱德并没有吓得瑟瑟发抖，只是两眼直瞪住他。这时，克莱德的黑眼睛里流露出极度紧张的神色。"不，先生，我可不能说我很熟悉。"要知道他在克劳特押送下，从树林子里走回来时，每走一步就越发坚定了他心中那个完全不可动摇的信念，那就是说:
不管从表面上看证据，或是罪名如何如何，凡是有关本人问题，他和罗伯达的关系，以及他的大比腾或是草湖之行，他决没有胆量说出一个字来。他可没有这种胆量。因为这么一来，无异于供认他犯了他实际上并没有犯的罪行。谁都不可以……决不可以……不管是桑德拉也好，或是格里菲思一家人也好，或是他在上流社会里那些朋友中的哪一位也好，认为他甚至仅仅是有过这么一种有罪的念头。不过，现在他们全在这里，一呼唤他们就能听见，随时都有可能走拢来，会了解到他被捕的原因。虽然他觉得必须矢口否认跟这一切有任何干系，但他同时确实非常害怕这个人……他这种态度可能激起这个人更大反感和敌意。瞧他那破了相的鼻子……还有他的那双严酷的大眼睛。
梅森见他这样矢口否认感到很恼火，就瞅了他一眼，如同瞅着一头过去从没听说过。目前却在拚命挣扎的野兽一般。不过，从他那煞白的脸色来看，可以断定:
也许他有可能，而且，毫无疑问，马上就会被迫供认自己的罪行。因此，梅森就继续说道:
"当然罗，格里菲思先生，人家告发你犯了什么罪，你自己心里明白。""是的，先生，刚才我从这儿这个人口里听说过了。""那你自己承认了吗?
""当然罗，先生，我不承认，"克莱德回答说。他那两片薄薄的。这时变得惨白的嘴唇，紧紧地把他那一口匀称平整的牙齿闭得严丝密缝似的;他的那双眼睛充满了一种深沉的。但又不可捉摸的恐惧。
"嘿，多荒唐!
多无耻!
你否认上星期三。上星期四到过草湖和大比腾?
""是的，我否认，先生。""那末，好吧，"这时梅森挺直腰板，用一种恼火的。审问的口气说道。"我想，你还打算否认你认识罗伯达。奥尔登……这个姑娘是你先把她带到草湖，然后在上星期四，你和她在大比腾一块坐了船出去的……这个姑娘，你在莱柯格斯已认识，有整整一个年头了，她住在吉尔平太太家里，在格里菲思公司你的那个部门做工……这个姑娘，你在去年圣诞节还送给她一套化妆用品哩!
我想，你还打算否认你的名字叫克莱德。格里菲思，说你并不是住在泰勒街的佩顿太太家里，说你住处箱子里压根儿没有这些信件和明信片……这些是罗伯达。奥尔登寄来的，芬奇利小姐寄来的，所有这些信件和明信片。"他一边说，一边把这些信件和明信片都掏了出来，在克莱德面前直晃悠。他在叱责时每说一句话，便让他的那张大脸盘，连同又塌又破的鼻子和有点儿爱吵架的下巴颏儿，越来越凑近克莱德面前，而且眼里还充满了炽烈的。蔑视的闪光。克莱德只好尽量避开他，显然一个劲儿往后退缩，一阵阵透骨的寒气从他背脊上掠过，最后渗入他的脑际和心窝。这些信件!
还有这一切有关他的情况!
再说，在帐篷那儿他的手提箱里，还有桑德拉最近寄给他的全部信件，她在信里谈到他们打算策划在今年秋天私奔。要是他把这些信件早就销毁该有多好!
可是现在，这个人说不定会发现这些信件……而且也一定会发现的……说不定他还要盘问桑德拉，以及所有其他的人。他畏缩成一团，浑身直哆嗦。他的这个计谋，原是他亲自构思和亲自完成，殊不知其效果竟是如此之蹩脚，如今使他心情万分沉重，有如地球落在体力不支的阿特拉斯(阿特拉斯:
古希腊神话中双肩掮天的巨神。)肩头上一样。
不过，他觉得自己还得说一些话，但是又要一概都不承认。最后，他终于回答说:
"我的名字是叫克莱德。格里菲思，一点儿也不错。但除此以外，所有一切都不是真实的。我一点儿都不知道。""啊，得了吧，格里菲思先生!
别来跟我耍花腔吧。这样不会有什么结果的。
你这么对我耍赖，反正对你自己一点儿好处都没有。再说，眼前我也没有这么多闲工夫。别忘了，这儿所有的人，都是见证人，你说的话他们全听到了。我刚从莱柯格斯来……从佩顿太太家你那个房间来……而且，你的那只箱子，还有这位奥尔登小姐寄给你的那些信，如今都掌握在我手里……这是毋庸争辩的证据。它证明你确实认识这个姑娘;去年冬天你向她求爱，诱奸过她;打那以后……今年春天起……她因为你的缘故怀了孕，你先是骗她回老家，随后，这一回又骗她跟你一块出去玩儿……为的是(正如你告诉她说)要跟她结婚。是啊，亏你说得出跟她结婚!
……落到坟墓里去了……你就是这么跟她结的婚……沉到大比腾湖底去了!
现在我告诉你，我手里掌握着全部证据，可你竟然当着我的面，还说你压根儿都不认得她!
嘿，真见你的鬼去吧!
"他说话时嗓门儿越来越大，克莱德深怕宿营地那儿都能听得一清二楚。说不定桑德拉听见了，就会走过来。当梅森说话象连珠炮似的历数那些必将使他置于死地的事实，劈头盖脸地向他横扫过来时，克莱德感到嗓子眼直抽紧，好歹沉住了气，才没有老是来回掰手。不过到头来，他还是只好回答说:
"是的，先生。""嘿，真见你的鬼去吧!
"梅森又发话了。"现在我很相信，你确实很有能耐，可以把一个姑娘活活弄死，便偷偷地溜掉……特别是在她有了身孕的时候!
可你还想否认她寄给你的这些信!
嘿，也许你还有能耐否认你自己在这里，否认你自己活着哩。瞧这些明信片和信件……你就说说怎么回事呢?
我想你要说它们不是芬奇利小姐寄给你的，是不是?
喂，那你来说说吧?
难道是你想对我说，这些信也不是她寄给你的吗?
"他把这些信在克莱德眼前直晃悠。克莱德意识到，桑德拉近在咫尺之间，有关这些信的来龙去脉，马上就可以把她叫来，在此时此地作证，于是回答说:
"不，我并没有否认这些信是她寄来的。""那很好。可是在同一个房间你那只箱子里那些信，都不是奥尔登小姐寄给你的吗?
""这个……我可不打算谈它，"克莱德回答时，由于梅森在他面前直晃动罗伯达这些信件，就禁不住眨起眼来。
"Ｔｓｔ!
……Ｔｓｔ!
……Ｔｓｔ!
真是，"梅森勃然大怒，咂着舌头说。"太荒唐!
太无耻!
啊，那好吧，这些现在我们不必多费口舌了。反正到时候，这一切我很容易就能证实的。不过，你明明知道我证据确凿，怎么还敢在这里矢口否认……这真的叫我闹不明白了!
还有你亲笔写的一张小卡片。你拿走了自己的手提箱，把她的手提包寄放在冈洛奇车站，这时你却忘了把这张小卡片从她的手提包里取出来。卡尔。格雷厄姆先生……克利福德。戈尔登先生!
你在这张小卡片上写着:
'
''''克莱德赠给伯特，祝圣诞快乐，。这个你还记得吗?
得了，它就在这儿。
"他摸了一下口袋，把化妆盒上那张小卡片掏了出来，在克莱德鼻尖底下晃动了一下。"那你也忘了吗?
明明是你自己亲笔写的!
"然后，顿住了片刻还是不见回答，最后梅森才又补充说:
"嘿，你这个人笨蛋!
好一个蹩脚的阴谋家，希望用假名字……卡尔。格雷厄姆先生……克利福德。戈尔登先生……来掩人耳目，怎么没好好想想千万不能用自己名字的英文缩写呢!
"不过，梅森又充分意识到此事取得克莱德的供认至关重要，因此心里琢磨怎样促使他在此时此地自己招认不讳。梅森突然见到克莱德冰冷的脸上露出恐惧的神色，马上联想到:
也许他吓坏了，这才哑口无言吧。于是，梅森立刻改变策略……至少嗓门儿要压低些，嘴角边和额角上骇人的皱纹也应舒展开来。
"你听着，格里菲思，是这么回事，"梅森说道，口气要比刚才平静和利索得多了，"根据现在情况，撒谎也好，还是愚蠢地。轻率地加以否认，对你来说，一点儿好处都没有。说实话，这只会害了你。也许你认为刚才我有点儿太粗暴了。但这就是因为，我接办这个案子后神经也真的太紧张了。我以为我拚命追缉的那个人跟你是类型完全不同的。不过，现在我见到了你是怎么个人，了解你此时此刻的心情……说真的，你被已经发生的事态给吓懵了……刚才我想到，也许这个案子还可能有些情况……有些情有可原的情况，现在要是你把这些情况告诉我，说不定会使人们对这件事有略微不同的看法。当然罗，我一点儿也不知道。这事你自己应该能作出最好的判断，我只不过是毫不隐瞒地把这个想法告诉你就是了。因为，不满你说，这些信就在这儿。再说，当我们到了三英里湾……因为我们明天将会到达那里，我希望……那里还有你那天晚上从大比腾往南走时碰到过的那三个人。而且不止这些人，还有草湖旅社掌柜。大比腾客栈老板。出租那条游船的人，以及从冈洛奇站开车送你和罗伯达。奥尔登的那个司机。他们个个都认得你。难道说你以为他们都认不出你……一个都认不出你……都说不准那时你是不是跟她在一块?
也许你还以为到时候陪审团都会不相信他们?
"这一切，克莱德都一件件记在心上了，就象扔入一枚钱币咯登一响的自动收银器似的，但还是一声不吭……浑身冻僵似的，只是瞪着两眼直望着前方。
"而且还不止这样，"梅森以非常柔和讨好的口吻继续说道。"还有佩顿太太。
她亲眼看我从你房间那一只箱子和你壁橱顶格里把这些信件和明信片取出来。
还有你和奥尔登小姐工作的那个厂里所有的姑娘们。她们一知道她死了，难道就不会回想起你跟她的全部关系吗?
唉，真是太愚蠢!
不管你怎么想，这些最简单的道理，你自己就应该很明白。当然罗，你也别指望这样你就能逃脱惩罚。看来你真的要变成一个大傻瓜了。这你自己心里就得闹明白才好。"他又顿住片刻，希望克莱德自己坦白招认。可克莱德还是坚信，有关罗伯达或大比腾的事，只要一承认，就会把他完全毁了。所以，他依然两眼瞪着，但梅森却继续说道:
"好吧，格里菲思，现在我就再告诉你一件事。即使你是我的亲儿子或是亲兄弟，我对你也提不出比这更好的忠告了，因为我是拚命想要设法挽救你，而不是仅仅想把你的真话套出来。现在你要是真的想多少改善一下自己的处境，那末，你象刚才那样一味否认，说真的，对你一点儿好处都没有。在别人看来，你只不过是自找麻烦，到头来还是害了自己。为什么不说:
你是认识她的，你是跟她一块去大比腾的，这些信就是她写给你的……为什么不肯痛痛快快，一说出来就完事?
反正这事你怎么也躲不掉，哪怕是你希望证明自己并没有沾边也不行。凡是头脑清醒的人……就算是你的慈母吧，只要她在这里……也照样会这样劝你。你的这种表现，简直太可笑了。这反而说明你有罪，而不是你没有罪。
为什么不在此时此地把这些事实……如果说真是有的话……通通谈清楚呢?
为什么不趁早谈出来，不是多少可以减轻罪状吗?
而且，要是你现在就这么做，我多少可以帮帮你的忙，那末，我将在此时此地向你保证:
我一定非常乐意帮你的忙。
因为，说到底，我上这儿来，并不是要把一个人置于死地，或是逼他供认他并没有干过的事;我只不过是要让此案真相大白罢了。可是，当我告诉你，说我手里已掌握了全部证据，并且可以得到佐证时，你甚至连认识这个姑娘一事还想抵赖，那就……"说到这里，这位地方检察官两手便向空中高高举起，表示非常厌烦和无比嫌恶。
可是这时，克莱德依然脸色煞白，一声不吭。尽管这一切梅森都向他亮明了，还说出了看来友好。出于善意。似乎含意很深的忠告，可他依然坚信，倘若他一承认自己认识罗伯达，那就无异于给自己招来了灭顶之灾。只要一承认，在宿营地一行人心目中，他也就永远抬不起头来了。他对桑德拉和辉煌生活寄予的全部梦想，也全都化为泡影了。因此，不管怎么样……他还是一声不吭。
可梅森反而恼羞成怒，终于大声嚷嚷:
"啊，那末，很好。这就是说，你已最后决定闭口不谈了，是吗?
"这时，克莱德没精打采。有气无力地回答说:
"我跟她的死一点儿都不沾边。现在我能说的，也就全说了。"但即使他在回话时，心里还在暗自揣摸:
也许他最好不这么说……也许他最好是说……啊，到底该怎么说呀?
说他当然认识罗伯达，甚至还跟她一块去大比腾湖的……不过，他从来没打算把她弄死……她的溺死是一起不幸事故。因为，他压根儿没有砸过她，如果说砸过的话，也只是出于无意，可不是吗?
不过，也许最好还是完全不供认他砸过她，可不是吗?
因为，在如此复杂的情况下，有谁会相信他用照相机砸她只是出于无意呢?
最好压根儿连照相机也别提了，反正各报迄今都没提到他身边携有照相机。
当他心中还在琢磨的时候，梅森却大声喊道:
"那末，你承认你是认识她的?
""不认识，先生。""那好吧，"梅森转过身去对他手下的那些人说，"在这种情况下，依我看，没有办法了，我们只好把他带回宿营地去，看看他们是不是了解他的情况。也许那样可以从这个家伙身上挤出一点东西来，让他去跟他那些朋友当面对质去。
我相信，他的手提箱和一些东西还在那边一个帐篷里。诸位先生，我们就把他带回宿营地去吧，看看他们是不是知道有关他的其他事情。"随后，他马上冷冰冰地转过身要去宿营地，这时克莱德想到即将等待他的是什么而吓得浑身发抖，便大声嚷嚷:
"啊，求求您，千万别这样!
难道说您是真要把我带到那儿去吗?
啊，请您千万别这样做!
啊，求求您，千万别这样!
"这时克劳特才开了腔，说:
"他在树林子里就问过我，能不能跟您谈谈不要把他带到宿营地去。""啊，原来是在摸摸动向，是吧?
"梅森一听就大声叫了起来。
"脸皮子太薄，不敢在第十二号湖上那些小姐。先生跟前露面。可是你甚至连在自己手下做工的那个可怜的小女工都不肯承认。真是妙极了。那末，好吧，我的朋友，要么把你确实知道的事情全都抖搂出来，要么就干脆回到宿营地去。"他顿住了一会儿，看看这句话对克莱德发生什么效果。"我们会把宿营地那边的人通通召集拢来，向他们说明这是怎么回事，那时候看你还愿不愿意站在那里，矢门否认一切!
"但他发觉克莱德犹豫不决，便继续说下去:
"把他带走，伙计们。
"梅森转过身去，朝宿营地方向踱了几步，这时，克劳特和斯温克分别架住克莱德的胳膊，把他推推搡搡向前走去。不料，克莱德突然大声喊叫说:
"啊，求求您，千万别这样!
啊，请您千万别把我带到那儿，好吗，梅森先生?
啊，求求您，我可不能再回到那儿去。这并不是说我真的有罪，不过，就是我不回去，我在那边的东西您照样可以拿走。再说，现在回到那里，对我简直太难堪了。"瞧他那惨白的脸上和手上又是大豆汗出。他浑身上下象死人似的全都冰凉了。
"你不想去，嗯?
"梅森一听见他这么说，就大声嚷道，随后停了下来。"他们要是全知道了，让你丢了面子，是吧?
那末，好吧，现在你就回答我想了解的一些事情……而且要迅速，要彻底……要不然，我们连一分钟也不耽搁，就干脆到宿营地去!
现在，你是打算回答呢，还是不回答?
"他身子又侧转过来，走到克莱德跟前。这时，克莱德茫然不知所措，嘴唇直哆嗦，眼里露出困惑不定的神色。他终于忐忑不安地说:
"当然罗，我认识她。当然我认识。那是不用说的!
这从信里就看得出来。不过，那又怎样呢?
我并没有害死她。就是我跟她一块去那儿，也不是存心要害死她。我压根儿就没有。我就是没有。我跟您说!
这完全是一起不幸事故。当时我甚至并不想要把她带到那儿去的。是她要我去的……要我带她一块到那儿去的，因为……因为，嗯，反正你也知道……从她那些信上一看也都明白了。而我一个劲儿说服她一个人到什么地方去，好让我清静些，因为我并不想跟她结婚。
原来就是这样。我把她带到那儿，压根儿不想害死她，只不过是一个劲儿要说服她……就是这么一回事。再说，我并没有把那条小船翻掉……至少我不是存心要翻掉。风把我的帽子给刮跑了，我们……她和我……同时站了起来去捡帽子，小船就翻掉了……就是这么一回事。她的头部还跟船舷相撞了。这个我是看见的。但一看见她在湖水里拚命挣扎的样子，我吓坏了，不敢游到她那边去，因为我深怕一游过去，说不定连我也要被她拖下去。接着，她就沉下去了。我游到了岸边。这都是千真万确的，我指着老天起誓!
"他说话时，脸突然胀得通红，双手也是这样。他那痛苦。恐怖的眼睛里充满了绝望。他在暗自寻思……也许那天下午几乎没有什么风，说不定人们会发现这一点。说不定藏在圆木头底下的照相机三脚架，也会被发现的。人们要是一找到，会不会认为他就是拿了这东西砸了她呢?
他浑身直冒冷汗，瑟瑟发抖。
但这时梅森却又开始盘问他。
"那末，让我们再想一想。你说你把她带到那里去并不是存心要害死她，是吧?
""是的，先生。""好吧，那末，你为什么要在大比腾和草湖旅社登记时申报两个不同的名字?
""因为我不想让人知道我跟她一块去过那里。""啊，我明白了。是不愿意因为她怀孕闹出什么丑闻来?
""不愿意，先生。是的，先生，正是这样。""不过，要是以后她的尸体被发现，因而她声名扫地了，那你就反而无所谓吗?
""但我并不知道她会淹死啊，"克莱德回答得既狡猾又机警，马上发觉了圈套。
"不过，你当然知道，你自己是不会回到那儿了。这你心里很明白，可不是吗?
""怎么啦，不，先生，这个我可压根儿不知道啊。我想我会回来的。""很机灵，很机灵。"梅森暗自思忖道，但没有说出来，接着冷不防突然开口问:
"所以，正是为了你回来的时候尽可能显得从容。自然，你就把自己的手提箱随身带走，让她的手提包寄放在火车站。难道你不是这样做的吗?
这个你又该怎么解释呢?
""不过，我把它带走，并不是因为我要逃跑。我们决定把午餐点心放在里头。
""'
''''我们，，还是你?
""我们。""这么说来，为了带上一点儿午餐点心，你就非得提一只大皮箱，嗯?
难道说你不能把它包在一张纸里，或是干脆放到她的手提包里呢?
""是啊，您不知道，她的手提包装满了东西，而我从不喜欢拿着任何纸包的。
""啊，我明白了。你太骄傲，太敏感了，嗯?
不过，那天晚上，拖着一只笨重的提箱，足足有十二英里地，一直步行到三英里湾，你倒是不认为有失自己身份，即便给别人看见，也不觉得难为情，是吧?
""是啊，她落水以后，我不愿意别人知道我跟她一块到过那儿，所以，我不得不步行……"他又顿住不说了。梅森只是对他望了一眼，心里想到许多许多要向他提出的问题……许多许多问题，据他知道或是揣想，全是克莱德没法解释清楚的。
不过，天色不早了，帐篷里还有克莱德的。但没有来提取的东西……他的手提箱，可能还有那天他在大比腾穿的那套衣服……据他听说，是一套灰色的……不是他眼前身上这一套。值此黄昏时分，如此这般盘问他，只要继续下去，本来也许可以得到更多收获，但毕竟还得踏上归途;好在一路上，梅森还可以有充裕时间盘问他。
所以，尽管梅森非常不乐意在这个时刻结束谈话，但到头来他还是这样说:
"哦，好吧，我跟你说，格里菲思。我们暂时先让你说到这里吧。也许你刚才说的都是实在的……可我不清楚。当然罗，我衷心希望一切都是真实的，为了你自己着想。不管怎么说，现在你就跟克劳特先生一块走。他会把你领到某个地方去的。"稍后，他转过身去，对斯温克和克劳特说:
"得了，伙计们。我告诉你们现在该怎么办。天色不早了。今晚我们要是想上哪儿宿夜，那就得赶紧一些才好。
克劳特先生，你先把这个年轻人带到那两条船停靠的地方，就在那儿等我们。
路上只要稍微喊几声，执法官和西塞尔就知道我们要上路了。斯温克跟我马上就会赶来，登上另外那一条船。"梅森吩咐过以后，克劳特就照办去了。梅森和斯温克就在暮色四合中朝宿营地走去。克劳特押着克莱德往西走，路上还向执法官及其助手大声呼喊，直至听到了他们的应答声为止。
收听单词发音 |
1
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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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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sociability
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| n.好交际，社交性，善于交际 | |
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muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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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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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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waxy
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| adj.苍白的；光滑的 | |
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wasp
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| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
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austerely
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| adv.严格地，朴质地 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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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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harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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congealed
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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atlas
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| n.地图册，图表集 | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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42
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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43
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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44
clinching
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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47
substantiated
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| v.用事实支持（某主张、说法等），证明，证实( substantiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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49
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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50
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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51
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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52
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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53
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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54
fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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55
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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56
cogitating
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| v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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57
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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58
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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59
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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60
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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61
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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62
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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63
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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