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Chapter 19 Poirot Produces a Play 波洛导演的戏
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Chapter 19 – Poirot Produces a Play
It was a curious gathering1 that met that night at End House.
I had hardly seen Poirot all day. He had been out for dinner but had left me a message that I was to be at End House at nine o'clock. Evening dress, he had added, was not necessary.
The whole thing was like a rather ridiculous dream.
On arrival I was ushered2 into the dining-room and when I looked round I realized that every person on Poirot's list from A. to I. (J. was necessarily excluded, being in the Mrs Harris-like position of 'there ain't no such person') was present.
Even Mrs Croft was there in a kind of invalid4 chair. She smiled and nodded at me.
'This is a surprise, isn't it?' she said, cheerfully. 'It makes a change for me, I must say. I think I shall try and get out now and again. All M. Poirot's idea. Come and sit by me, Captain Hastings. Somehow I feel this is rather a gruesome business-but Mr Vyse made a point of it.'
'Mr Vyse?' I said, rather surprised.
Charles Vyse was standing6 by the mantelpiece. Poirot was beside him talking earnestly to him in an under-tone.
I looked round the room. Yes, they were all there. After showing me in (I had been a minute or two late) Ellen had taken her place on a chair just beside the door. On another chair, sitting painfully straight and breathing hard, was her husband. The child, Alfred, squirmed uneasily between his father and mother.
The rest sat round the dining-table. Frederica in her black dress, Lazarus beside her, George Challenger and Croft on the other side of the table. I sat a little away from it near Mrs Croft. And now Charles Vyse, a final nod of the head, took his place at the head of the table, and Poirot slipped unobtrusively into a seat next to Lazarus.
Clearly the producer, as Poirot had styled himself, did not propose to take a prominent part in the play. Charles Vyse was apparently7 in charge of the proceedings8. I wondered what surprises Poirot had in store for him.
The young lawyer cleared his throat and stood up. He looked just the same as ever, impassive, formal and unemotional.
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1 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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2 ushered | |
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
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4 invalid | |
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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5 valid | |
adj.有确实根据的;有效的;正当的,合法的 | |
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6 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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7 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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8 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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9 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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10 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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11 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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12 precedent | |
n.先例,前例;惯例;adj.在前的,在先的 | |
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13 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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14 attested | |
adj.经检验证明无病的,经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 );证实;声称…属实;使宣誓 | |
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15 testament | |
n.遗嘱;证明 | |
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16 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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17 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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18 rumours | |
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 );风闻;谣言;谣传 | |
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19 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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20 elation | |
n.兴高采烈,洋洋得意 | |
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21 propitious | |
adj.吉利的;顺利的 | |
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22 resolutely | |
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
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23 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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24 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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25 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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26 stertorous | |
adj.打鼾的 | |
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27 unbearable | |
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的 | |
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28 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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29 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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30 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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31 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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32 gasping | |
adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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33 shrieked | |
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34 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 | |
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35 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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36 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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37 forger | |
v.伪造;n.(钱、文件等的)伪造者 | |
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38 spine | |
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 | |
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39 forgery | |
n.伪造的文件等,赝品,伪造(行为) | |
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40 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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41 spurt | |
v.喷出;突然进发;突然兴隆 | |
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42 hiss | |
v.发出嘶嘶声;发嘘声表示不满 | |
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43 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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44 trickle | |
vi.淌,滴,流出,慢慢移动,逐渐消散 | |
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Chapter 20 J. “第十”
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