CHAPTER FIVE
FOURTH MONTH OF INUNDATION¹ 5 TH DAY
Imhotep breathed a sigh of satisfaction as he finished his ceremonial du-ties as Mortuary Priest. The ritual had been observed with meticulous² de-tail–for Imhotep was in every respect a most conscientious³ man. He hadpoured the libations, burnt incense⁴, and offered the customary offeringsof food and drink.
Now, in the cool shade of the adjacent rock chamber⁵ where Hori waswaiting for him, Imhotep became once more the land-owner and the manof affairs. Together the two men discussed business matters, prevailingprices, and the profits resulting from crops, cattle, and timber.
After half an hour or so, Imhotep nodded his head with satisfaction.
‘You have an excellent head for business, Hori,’ he said.
The other smiled.
‘I should have, Imhotep. I have been your man of affairs for many yearsnow.’
‘And a most faithful one. Now, I have a matter to discuss with you. Itconcerns Ipy. He complains that his position is subordinate.’
‘He is still very young.’
‘But he shows great ability. He feels that his brothers are not always fairto him. Sobek, it seems, is rough and over-bearing–and Yahmose’s con-tinual caution and timidity irk him. Ipy is high-spirited. He does not liketaking orders. Moreover he says that it is only I, his father, who have theright to command.’
‘That is true,’ said Hori. ‘And it has struck me, Imhotep, that that is aweakness here on the estate. May I speak freely?’
‘Certainly, my good Hori. Your words are always thoughtful and wellconsidered.’
‘Then I say this. When you are away, Imhotep, there should be someonehere who has real authority.’
‘I trust my affairs to you and to Yahmose–’
‘I know that we act for you in your absence–but that is not enough. Whynot appoint one of your sons as a partner–associate him with you by alegal deed of settlement?’
Imhotep paced up and down frowning.
‘Which of my sons do you suggest? Sobek has an authoritative

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1 inundation
n.the act or fact of overflowing
参考例句：
Otherwise, inundation would ensue to our dismay. 若不疏导，只能眼巴巴看着它泛滥。 Therefore this psychology preceded the inundation of Caudillo politics after independence. 在独立后，这一心态助长了考迪罗主义的泛滥。

2 meticulous
adj.极其仔细的，一丝不苟的
参考例句：
We'll have to handle the matter with meticulous care.这事一点不能含糊。 She is meticulous in her presentation of facts.她介绍事实十分详细。

3 conscientious
adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的
参考例句：
He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。 He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

4 incense
v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气
参考例句：
This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。 In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。

5 chamber
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。

6 authoritative
adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的
参考例句：
David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。 Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。

7 disposition
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。 He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

8 eldest
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。 The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

9 devoted
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。 We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

10 curiously
adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地
参考例句：
He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。 He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

11 barge
n.平底载货船，驳船
参考例句：
The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。 Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

12 fussily
adv.无事空扰地，大惊小怪地，小题大做地
参考例句：
She adjusted her head scarf fussily. 她小题大做地整了整头巾。 来自辞典例句 He spoke to her fussily. 他大惊小怪地对她说。 来自互联网

13 commotion
n.骚动，动乱
参考例句：
They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。 Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

14 superstitious
adj.迷信的
参考例句：
They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。 These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。

15 supple
adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺
参考例句：
She gets along well with people because of her supple nature.她与大家相处很好，因为她的天性柔和。 He admired the graceful and supple movements of the dancers.他赞扬了舞蹈演员优雅灵巧的舞姿。

16 despatch
n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道
参考例句：
The despatch of the task force is purely a contingency measure.派出特遣部队纯粹是应急之举。 He rushed the despatch through to headquarters.他把急件赶送到总部。

17 consultation
n.咨询；商量；商议；会议
参考例句：
The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。 The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

18 gist
n.要旨；梗概
参考例句：
Can you give me the gist of this report?你能告诉我这个报告的要点吗？ He is quick in grasping the gist of a book.他敏于了解书的要点。

19 purveyor
n.承办商，伙食承办商
参考例句：
Silence, purveyor of gossip, do not spread that report. 快别那样说，新闻记者阁下，别散布那个消息。 来自互联网 Teaching purpose: To comprehensively understand the role function and consciousness composition of a news purveyor. 教学目的：全面深入的理解新闻传播者的角色功能和意识构成。 来自互联网

20 contrived
adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的
参考例句：
There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。 The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。

21 stewards
（轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家
参考例句：
The stewards all wore armbands. 乘务员都戴了臂章。 The stewards will inspect the course to see if racing is possible. 那些干事将检视赛马场看是否适宜比赛。

22 immediate
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。 We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

23 discretion
n.谨慎；随意处理
参考例句：
You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。 Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

24 attentive
adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的
参考例句：
She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。 The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

25 partnership
n.合作关系，伙伴关系
参考例句：
The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。 Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

26 curbs
v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句 Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

27 enjoined
v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The embezzler was severely punished and enjoined to kick back a portion of the stolen money each month. 贪污犯受到了严厉惩罚，并被责令每月退还部分赃款。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else. 她严令我不准告诉其他任何人。 来自辞典例句

28 enjoin
v.命令；吩咐；禁止
参考例句：
He enjoined obedience on the soldiers.他命令士兵服从。 The judge enjoined him from selling alcohol.法官禁止他卖酒。

29 cringing
adj.谄媚，奉承
参考例句：
He had a cringing manner but a very harsh voice.他有卑屈谄媚的神情，但是声音却十分粗沙。 She stepped towards him with a movement that was horribly cringing.她冲他走了一步，做出一个低三下四，令人作呕的动作。

30 abruptness
n. 突然，唐突
参考例句：
He hid his feelings behind a gruff abruptness. 他把自己的感情隐藏在生硬鲁莽之中。 Suddenly Vanamee returned to himself with the abruptness of a blow. 伐那米猛地清醒过来，象挨到了当头一拳似的。

31 toil
vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事
参考例句：
The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。 Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

32 devotedly
专心地； 恩爱地； 忠实地； 一心一意地
参考例句：
He loved his wife devotedly. 他真诚地爱他的妻子。 Millions of fans follow the TV soap operas devotedly. 千百万观众非常着迷地收看这部电视连续剧。

33 standing
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。

34 malevolent
adj.有恶意的，恶毒的
参考例句：
Why are they so malevolent to me?他们为什么对我如此恶毒？ We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。

35 glided
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔
参考例句：
The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。 They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

36 shrill
adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫
参考例句：
Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。 The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。

37 chuckle
vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑
参考例句：
He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。 I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个，我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。

38 discreetly
ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地
参考例句：
He had only known the perennial widow, the discreetly expensive Frenchwoman. 他只知道她是个永远那么年轻的寡妇，一个很会讲排场的法国女人。 Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. 安德鲁觉得莉莲想同西莉亚单独谈些什么，有意避开了。

39 abruptly
adv.突然地，出其不意地
参考例句：
He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。 I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

40 upwards
adv.向上，在更高处...以上
参考例句：
The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。 The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。