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Chapter 5 Murder谋杀
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Chapter 5 Murder
The following day was the 30th June.
It was just half-past nine when we were told that Inspector1 Japp was below and anxious to see us.
It was some years since we had seen anything of the Scotland Yard inspector.
‘Ah! ce bon Japp,’ said Poirot. ‘What does he want, I wonder?’
‘Help,’ I snapped. ‘He’s out of his depth over some case and he’s come to you.’
I had not the indulgence for Japp that Poirot had. It was not so much that I minded his picking Poirot’s brains – after all, Poirot enjoyed the process, it was a delicate flattery. What did annoy me was Japp’s hypocritical pretence2 that he was doing nothing of the kind. I liked people to be straightforward3. I said so, and Poirot laughed.
‘You are the dog of the bulldog breed, eh, Hastings? But you must remember that the poor Japp he has to save his face. So he makes his little pretence. It is very natural.’
I thought it merely foolish and said so. Poirot did not agree.
‘The outward form – it is a bagatelle4 – but it matters to people. It enables them to keep the amour propre.’
Personally I thought a dash of inferiority complex would do Japp no harm, but there was no point in arguing the matter. Besides, I was anxious to learn what Japp had come about.
He greeted us both heartily5.
‘Just going to have breakfast, I see. Not got the hens to lay square eggs for you yet, M. Poirot?’
This was an allusion6 to a complaint from Poirot as to the varying sizes of eggs which had offended his sense of symmetry.
‘As yet, no,’ said Poirot smiling. ‘And what brings you to see us so early, my good Japp?’
‘It’s not early – not for me. I’ve been up and at work for a good two hours. As to what brings me to see you – well, it’s murder.’
‘Murder?’
Japp nodded.
‘Lord Edgware was killed at his house in Regent Gate last night. Stabbed in the neck by his wife.’
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1
inspector
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n.检查员,监察员,视察员 | |
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2
pretence
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n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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3
straightforward
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adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的 | |
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4
bagatelle
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n.琐事;小曲儿 | |
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5
heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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6
allusion
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n.暗示,间接提示 | |
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7
callous
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adj.无情的,冷淡的,硬结的,起老茧的 | |
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8
judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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9
concealment
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n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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10
cistern
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n.贮水池 | |
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mischief
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n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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12
incapable
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adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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impulsive
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adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的 | |
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inquisitively
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过分好奇地; 好问地 | |
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15
motive
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n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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stolidly
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adv.迟钝地,神经麻木地 | |
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fixed
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adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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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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flopped
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v.(指书、戏剧等)彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 );(因疲惫而)猛然坐下;(笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地)移动或落下;砸锅 | |
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acting
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n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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blandly
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adv.温和地,殷勤地 | |
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winked
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v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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groaned
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v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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solicitor
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n.初级律师,事务律师 | |
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solicitors
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初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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guilt
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n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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temperament
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n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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oyster
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n.牡蛎;沉默寡言的人 | |
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30
sneaking
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a.秘密的,不公开的 | |
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esteem
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n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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meticulously
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adv.过细地,异常细致地;无微不至;精心 | |
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exclamation
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n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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curiously
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adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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Chapter 5 Murder谋杀
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