CHAPTER 9 The Bexhill-on-Sea Murder
I still remember my
awakening1 on the morning of the 25th of July. Itmust have been about seven-thirty.
Poirot was
standing2 by my bedside gently shaking me by the shoul-der.
One glance at his face brought me from semiconsciousness intofull possession of my
faculties3.
"What is it?" I demanded, sitting up rapidly.
His answer came quite simply, but a wealth of emotion lay behindthe three words he uttered.
"It has happened. "
"What?" I cried. "You mean--but to-day is the 25th. ""It took place last night--or rather in the early hours of thismorn-ing. ' '
As I sprang from bed and made a rapid toilet, he recounted brieflywhat he had j ust learnt over the telephone.
"The body of a young girl has been found on the beach at Bexhi! l.
She has been identified as Elizabeth Barnard, a waitress in one of thecafts, who lived with her parents in a little recently built
bungalow5.
Medical evidence gave the time of death as between 11: 30 and 1 A. M. ""They' re quite sure that this is the crime?" I asked, as I hastilylath-eredmy face.
"An A. B. C. open at the trains to Bexhill was found actually underthe body. "I shivered.
"This is horrible! "
"Faites attention, Hastings. I do not want a second tragedy i tvrooms! " Iwiped the blood from my chin rather ruefully.
"What is our plan of campaignT' I asked.
"The car will call for us in a few moments' time. I will bring youcup of coffee here so that there will be no delay in starting. "Twenty minutes later we were in a fast police car crossing theThames on our way out of London.
With us was
Inspector6 Crome, who had been present at the conferencethe other day, and who was officially in charge of the case.
Crome was a very different type of officer from Japp. A much youngerman, he was the silent, superior type. Well educated and well read,he was, for my taste, several shades too pleased with himself. He hadlately gained
kudos7
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收听单词发音
1
awakening
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n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的 |
参考例句: |
- the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
- People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。
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2
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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3
faculties
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n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 |
参考例句: |
- Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬,但头脑仍然清晰。
- All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中,你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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4
briefly
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adv.简单地,简短地 |
参考例句: |
- I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
- He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
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5
bungalow
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n.平房,周围有阳台的木造小平房 |
参考例句: |
- A bungalow does not have an upstairs.平房没有上层。
- The old couple sold that large house and moved into a small bungalow.老两口卖掉了那幢大房子,搬进了小平房。
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6
inspector
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n.检查员,监察员,视察员 |
参考例句: |
- The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
- The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
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7
kudos
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n.荣誉,名声 |
参考例句: |
- He received kudos from everyone on his performance.他的表演受到大家的称赞。
- It will acquire no kudos for translating its inner doubts into hesitation.如果由于内心疑虑不安而在行动上举棋不定,是得不到荣誉的。
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8
deferred
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adj.延期的,缓召的v.拖延,延缓,推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 );服从某人的意愿,遵从 |
参考例句: |
- The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
- a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划
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9
mentality
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n.心理,思想,脑力 |
参考例句: |
- He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
- Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。
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10
layman
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n.俗人,门外汉,凡人 |
参考例句: |
- These technical terms are difficult for the layman to understand.这些专门术语是外行人难以理解的。
- He is a layman in politics.他对政治是个门外汉。
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11
sane
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adj.心智健全的,神志清醒的,明智的,稳健的 |
参考例句: |
- He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
- He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。
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12
conversational
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adj.对话的,会话的 |
参考例句: |
- The article is written in a conversational style.该文是以对话的形式写成的。
- She values herself on her conversational powers.她常夸耀自己的能言善辩。
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13
conversationally
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adv.会话地 |
参考例句: |
- I am at an unfavourable position in being conversationally unacquainted with English. 我由于不熟悉英语会话而处于不利地位。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The findings suggest that happy lives are social and conversationally deep, rather than solitary and superficial. 结论显示,快乐的生活具有社会层面的意义并与日常交谈有关,而并不仅仅是个体差异和表面现象。 来自互联网
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14
haven
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n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所 |
参考例句: |
- It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后,这真是一个安乐窝。
- The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。
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15
fathom
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v.领悟,彻底了解 |
参考例句: |
- I really couldn't fathom what he was talking about.我真搞不懂他在说些什么。
- What these people hoped to achieve is hard to fathom.这些人希望实现些什么目标难以揣测。
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16
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 |
参考例句: |
- He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
- He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
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17
outspoken
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adj.直言无讳的,坦率的,坦白无隐的 |
参考例句: |
- He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
- She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。
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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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detailed
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adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 |
参考例句: |
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
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inquiries
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n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 |
参考例句: |
- He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
- I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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21
fingerprints
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n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
- They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套,以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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tout
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v.推销,招徕;兜售;吹捧,劝诱 |
参考例句: |
- They say it will let them tout progress in the war.他们称这将有助于鼓吹他们在战争中的成果。
- If your case studies just tout results,don't bother requiring registration to view them.如果你的案例研究只是吹捧结果,就别烦扰别人来注册访问了。
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23
ginger
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n.姜,精力,淡赤黄色;adj.淡赤黄色的;vt.使活泼,使有生气 |
参考例句: |
- There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
- Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。
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situated
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adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 |
参考例句: |
- The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
- She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
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scrambled
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v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞 |
参考例句: |
- Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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shrimps
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n.虾,小虾( shrimp的名词复数 );矮小的人 |
参考例句: |
- Shrimps are a popular type of seafood. 小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I'm going to have shrimps for my tea. 傍晚的便餐我要吃点虾。 来自辞典例句
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27
bleated
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v.(羊,小牛)叫( bleat的过去式和过去分词 );哭诉;发出羊叫似的声音;轻声诉说 |
参考例句: |
- The lost lamb bleated. 迷路的小羊咩咩的叫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She bleated her disapproval of her son's marriage to Amy. 她用颤抖的声音表示不赞成儿子与艾米的婚事。 来自辞典例句
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distressed
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痛苦的 |
参考例句: |
- He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
- The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
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distressing
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a.使人痛苦的 |
参考例句: |
- All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
- It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。
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wispy
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adj.模糊的;纤细的 |
参考例句: |
- Grey wispy hair straggled down to her shoulders.稀疏的灰白头发披散在她肩头。
- The half moon is hidden behind some wispy clouds.半轮月亮躲在淡淡的云彩之后。
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nervously
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adv.神情激动地,不安地 |
参考例句: |
- He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
- He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
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positively
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adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 |
参考例句: |
- She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
- The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
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depressed
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adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的 |
参考例句: |
- When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
- His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
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aloofly
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冷淡的; 疏远的; 远离的 |
参考例句: |
- He has remained largely aloof from the hurly-burly of parliamentary politics. 他基本上一直对喧嚣的议会政治漠不关心。
- The aloof composer neither worried nor cared about public opinion. 这位超然的作曲家对舆论既不担心,也不在意。
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feline
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adj.猫科的 |
参考例句: |
- As a result,humans have learned to respect feline independence.结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。
- The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness.这种醒觉,简直和猫的脚步一样地轻悄。
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gingery
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adj.姜味的 |
参考例句: |
- You can tell that it' s root ginger, cause It'smells really gingery. 你可以分辨出姜块,因为它闻起来有很重的姜味。 来自互联网
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mimicked
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v.(尤指为了逗乐而)模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 );酷似 |
参考例句: |
- He mimicked her upper-class accent. 他模仿她那上流社会的腔调。 来自辞典例句
- The boy mimicked his father's voice and set everyone off laughing. 男孩模仿他父亲的嗓音,使大家都大笑起来。 来自辞典例句
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rosy
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adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 |
参考例句: |
- She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作,生活看上去很美好。
- She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。
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goggling
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v.睁大眼睛瞪视, (惊讶的)转动眼珠( goggle的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
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buxom
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adj.(妇女)丰满的,有健康美的 |
参考例句: |
- Jane is a buxom blond.简是一个丰满的金发女郎.
- He still pictured her as buxom,high-colored,lively and a little blowsy.他心中仍旧认为她身材丰满、面色红润、生气勃勃、还有点邋遢。
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persistently
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ad.坚持地;固执地 |
参考例句: |
- He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。
- She persistently asserted her opinions. 她果断地说出了自己的意见。
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qualified
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adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 |
参考例句: |
- He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
- We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
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intimacy
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n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 |
参考例句: |
- His claims to an intimacy with the President are somewhat exaggerated.他声称自己与总统关系密切,这有点言过其实。
- I wish there were a rule book for intimacy.我希望能有个关于亲密的规则。
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