The first person that Anthony saw as he alighted from his train on the following afternoon was
Superintendent1 Battle. His face broke into a smile.
“I’ve returned according to contract,” he remarked. “Did you come down here to assure yourself of the fact?”
Battle shook his head.
“I wasn’t worrying about that, Mr. Cade. I happen to be going to London, that’s all.”
“You have such a trustful nature, Battle.”
“Do you think so, sir?”
“No. I think you’re deep—very deep. Still waters, you know, and all that sort of thing. So you’re going to London?”
“I am, Mr. Cade.”
“I wonder why.”
The detective did not reply.
“You’re so chatty,” remarked Anthony. “That’s what I like about you.”
A far-off twinkle showed in Battle’s eyes.
“What about your own little job, Mr. Cade?” he inquired. “How did that go off?”
“I’ve
drawn4 blank, Battle. For the second time I’ve been proved hopelessly wrong.
Galling5, isn’t it?”
“What was the idea, sir, if I may ask?”
“I suspected the French governess, Battle. A: Upon the grounds of her being the most unlikely person, according to the canons of the best fiction. B: Because there was a light in her room on the night of the tragedy.”
[Pg 160]
“That wasn’t much to go upon.”
“You are quite right. It was not. But I discovered that she had only been here a short time, and I also found a suspicious Frenchman spying round the place. You know all about him, I suppose?”
“You mean the man who calls himself M. Chelles? Staying at the Cricketers? A traveller in silk.”
“That’s it, is it? What about him? What does Scotland Yard think?”
“His actions have been suspicious,” said Superintendent Battle expressionlessly.
点击
收听单词发音
1
superintendent
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n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长 |
参考例句: |
- He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
- He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
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2
urn
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n.(有座脚的)瓮;坟墓;骨灰瓮 |
参考例句: |
- The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
- She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。
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3
ass
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n.驴;傻瓜,蠢笨的人 |
参考例句: |
- He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
- An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。
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4
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 |
参考例句: |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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5
galling
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adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 |
参考例句: |
- It was galling to have to apologize to a man she hated. 令人恼火的是得向她憎恶的男人道歉。
- The insolence in the fellow's eye was galling. 这家伙的傲慢目光令人恼怒。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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6
decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 |
参考例句: |
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
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7
fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 |
参考例句: |
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
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8
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 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
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9
complexion
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n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 |
参考例句: |
- Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
- Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
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10
eyelids
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n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 );眼睛也不眨一下;不露声色;面不改色 |
参考例句: |
- She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了,眼睑开始往下垂。
- Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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11
dowdy
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adj.不整洁的;过旧的 |
参考例句: |
- She was in a dowdy blue frock.她穿了件不大洁净的蓝上衣。
- She looked very plain and dowdy.她长得非常普通,衣也过时。
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12
eyebrows
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眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
- His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
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13
celebrated
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adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 |
参考例句: |
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
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14
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 |
参考例句: |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
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15
peculiar
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adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 |
参考例句: |
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
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16
epidemic
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n.流行病;盛行;adj.流行性的,流传极广的 |
参考例句: |
- That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
- The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。
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17
beckoning
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adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
- He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
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18
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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19
chamber
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n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 |
参考例句: |
- For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
- The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
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20
determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 |
参考例句: |
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
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21
pontifical
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adj.自以为是的,武断的 |
参考例句: |
- His words criticizing modern society just right indicate his pontifical character.他用以批评现代社会的言论恰好反映了他自大武断的性格。
- The lawyer,with pontifical gravity,sat on a high chair.那律师摆出一副威严庄重的样子,坐在一把高脚椅上。
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22
dismantling
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(枪支)分解 |
参考例句: |
- The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
- The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。
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23
armour
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(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 |
参考例句: |
- His body was encased in shining armour.他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
- Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour.防弹车护有装甲。
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24
dignified
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a.可敬的,高贵的 |
参考例句: |
- Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
- He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
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25
retired
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adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 |
参考例句: |
- The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
- Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
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26
amateurish
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n.业余爱好的,不熟练的 |
参考例句: |
- The concert was rather an amateurish affair.这场音乐会颇有些外行客串的味道。
- The paintings looked amateurish.这些画作看起来只具备业余水准。
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27
strenuous
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adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 |
参考例句: |
- He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
- You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。
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28
revel
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vi.狂欢作乐,陶醉;n.作乐,狂欢 |
参考例句: |
- She seems to revel in annoying her parents.她似乎以惹父母生气为乐。
- The children revel in country life.孩子们特别喜欢乡村生活。
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29
confidential
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adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的 |
参考例句: |
- He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
- We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
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30
promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 |
参考例句: |
- He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
- She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
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31
concealed
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a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 |
参考例句: |
- The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
- I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
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32
conceal
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v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 |
参考例句: |
- He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
- He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
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33
inmate
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n.被收容者;(房屋等的)居住人;住院人 |
参考例句: |
- I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
- The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。
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34
crouching
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v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
- A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
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35
cramped
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a.狭窄的 |
参考例句: |
- The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤,但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
- working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作
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36
stiffened
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加强的 |
参考例句: |
- He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去,这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
- She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。
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37
smote
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v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) |
参考例句: |
- Figuratively, he could not kiss the hand that smote him. 打个比方说,他是不能认敌为友。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- \"Whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully.\" 珠儿会毫不留情地将这些\"儿童\"踩倒,再连根拔起。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
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38
intermittently
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adv.间歇地;断断续续 |
参考例句: |
- Winston could not intermittently remember why the pain was happening. 温斯顿只能断断续续地记得为什么这么痛。 来自英汉文学
- The resin moves intermittently down and out of the bed. 树脂周期地向下移动和移出床层。 来自辞典例句
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39
stifled
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(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 |
参考例句: |
- The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
- The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。
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40
doorway
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n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 |
参考例句: |
- They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
- Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
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41
prostrate
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v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的 |
参考例句: |
- She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
- The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。
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42
foe
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n.敌人,仇敌 |
参考例句: |
- He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
- A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌,友是友,必须分清界限。
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43
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
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44
credentials
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n.证明,资格,证明书,证件 |
参考例句: |
- He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
- Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。
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45
exclamation
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n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 |
参考例句: |
- He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
- The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号,以引起读者的注意。
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46
astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 |
参考例句: |
- They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
- I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
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