The Thirty-nine Steps
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Chapter VIII The Coming of the Black Stone

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 I came down to breakfast next morning, after eight hours of blessed dreamless sleep, to find Sir Walter decoding1 a telegram in the midst of muffins and marmalade. His fresh rosiness2 of yesterday seemed a thought tarnished3.
“I had a busy hour on the telephone after you went to bed,” he said. “I got my Chief to speak to the First Lord and the Secretary for War, and they are bringing Royer over a day sooner. This wire clinches4 it. He will be in London at five. Odd that the code word for a Sous-chef d’état Major-General should be ‘Porker.’”
He directed me to the hot dishes and went on.
“Not that I think it will do much good. If your friends were clever enough to find out the first arrangement they are clever enough to discover the change. I would give my head to know where the leak is. We believed there were only five men in England who knew about Royer’s visit, and you may be certain there were fewer in France, for they manage these things better there.”
While I ate he continued to talk, making me to my surprise a present of his full confidence.
“Can the dispositions5 not be changed?” I asked.
“They could,” he said. “But we want to avoid that if possible. They are the result of immense thought, and no alteration6 would be as good. Besides, on one or two points change is simply impossible. Still, something could be done, I suppose, if it were absolutely necessary. But you see the difficulty, Hannay. Our enemies are not going to be such fools as to pick Royer’s pocket or any childish game like that. They know that would mean a row and put us on our guard. Their aim is to get the details without any one of us knowing, so that Royer will go back to Paris in the belief that the whole business is still deadly secret. If they can’t do that they fail, for, once we suspect, they know that the whole thing must be altered.”
“Then we must stick by the Frenchman’s side till he is home again,” I said. “If they thought they could get the information in Paris they would try there. It means that they have some deep scheme on foot in London which they reckon is going to win out.”

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1 decoding b888b2fd35f4dd1fafb025cc18212418     
n.译码，解码v.译（码），解（码）( decode的现在分词 )；分析及译解电子信号
参考例句：
  • We cannot add any other memory to this system without further decoding. 如果不增加译码，就不能使系统的存贮容量有任何扩展。 来自辞典例句
  • Examples using the 8250 will be presented in hardware section to clarify full-decoding schemes. 在硬件一节中有应用说明全译码方案8250的例子。 来自辞典例句
2 rosiness 0cfd60579ff98627d8440dbbbe047849     
n.玫瑰色；淡红色；光明；有希望
参考例句：
  • There is a kind of musical-comedy rosiness about the novel. 那本小说有一种音乐喜剧的愉快气氛。 来自辞典例句
  • She was flushed like the dawn, with a kind of luminous rosiness all about her. 她满脸象朝霞一样的通红，浑身上下有一种玫瑰色的光彩。 来自辞典例句
3 tarnished e927ca787c87e80eddfcb63fbdfc8685     
（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏
参考例句：
  • The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
  • His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。
4 clinches 049223eeee9c08d4d676fd67ea4012c0     
n.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的名词复数 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的第三人称单数 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）
参考例句：
  • Pass argy-bargy one time, both sides clinches a deal with 6000 yuan. 经过一番讨价还价，双方以6000元成交。 来自互联网
  • That clinches the argument. 那件事澄清了这项议论。 来自互联网
5 dispositions eee819c0d17bf04feb01fd4dcaa8fe35     
安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质
参考例句：
  • We got out some information about the enemy's dispositions from the captured enemy officer. 我们从捕获的敌军官那里问出一些有关敌军部署的情况。
  • Elasticity, solubility, inflammability are paradigm cases of dispositions in natural objects. 伸缩性、可缩性、易燃性是天然物体倾向性的范例。
6 alteration rxPzO     
n.变更，改变；蚀变
参考例句：
  • The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
  • He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。
7 miscarriage Onvzz3     
n.失败，未达到预期的结果；流产
参考例句：
  • The miscarriage of our plans was a great blow.计划的失败给我们以巨大的打击。
  • Women who smoke are more to have a miscarriage.女性吸烟者更容易流产。
8 chauffeur HrGzL     
n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车
参考例句：
  • The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
  • She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。
9 prim SSIz3     
adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地
参考例句：
  • She's too prim to enjoy rude jokes!她太古板，不喜欢听粗野的笑话！
  • He is prim and precise in manner.他的态度一本正经而严谨
10 wry hMQzK     
adj.讽刺的；扭曲的
参考例句：
  • He made a wry face and attempted to wash the taste away with coffee.他做了个鬼脸，打算用咖啡把那怪味地冲下去。
  • Bethune released Tung's horse and made a wry mouth.白求恩放开了董的马，噘了噘嘴。
11 edified e67c51943da954f9cb9f4b22c9d70838     
v.开导，启发( edify的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He must be edified by what he sees. 他耳濡目染，一定也受到影响。 来自辞典例句
  • For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 你感谢的固然是好，无奈不能造就别人。 来自互联网
12 promptly LRMxm     
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。
13 exculpation f0601597fedd851044e47a01f6072879     
n.使无罪，辩解
参考例句：
  • For they are efforts at exculpation. 因为这是企图辩解。 来自互联网
  • Self-exculpation, hyperactivity (contrasted with alleged Tory inertia), homes and hope: that is Labour's political strategy. 自我辩解、活动过度（与保守党所谓的惰性相比）、住宅和信心：是工党的政治策略。 来自互联网
14 arrears IVYzQ     
n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作
参考例句：
  • The payments on that car loan are in arrears by three months.购车贷款的偿付被拖欠了三个月。
  • They are urgent for payment of arrears of wages.他们催讨拖欠的工钱。
15 curiously 3v0zIc     
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。
16 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴，午餐，便宴
参考例句：
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
17 villas 00c79f9e4b7b15e308dee09215cc0427     
别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅
参考例句：
  • Magnificent villas are found throughout Italy. 在意大利到处可看到豪华的别墅。
  • Rich men came down from wealthy Rome to build sea-side villas. 有钱人从富有的罗马来到这儿建造海滨别墅。
18 impending 3qHzdb     
a.imminent, about to come or happen
参考例句：
  • Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
  • The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。
19 calamity nsizM     
n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件
参考例句：
  • Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
  • The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。
20 avert 7u4zj     
v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)
参考例句：
  • He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
  • I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。
21 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废
参考例句：
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
22 gentry Ygqxe     
n.绅士阶级，上层阶级
参考例句：
  • Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
  • Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。
23 flatten N7UyR     
v.把．．．弄平，使倒伏；使(漆等)失去光泽
参考例句：
  • We can flatten out a piece of metal by hammering it.我们可以用锤子把一块金属敲平。
  • The wrinkled silk will flatten out if you iron it.发皱的丝绸可以用熨斗烫平。
24 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒，恼怒，生气
参考例句：
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
25 abominable PN5zs     
adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的
参考例句：
  • Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
  • The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
26 conceit raVyy     
n.自负，自高自大
参考例句：
  • As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。
  • She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。
27 gutter lexxk     
n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟
参考例句：
  • There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
  • He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活，并成为贵妇。
28 constable wppzG     
n.(英国)警察，警官
参考例句：
  • The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
  • The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。
29 wigging 2c84e57f60a25363cb220219ab136b80     
n.责备，骂，叱责
参考例句：
  • He got a wigging for being out late last night. 他昨晚因回来太迟而被骂了一顿。 来自互联网
30 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰
参考例句：
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。
31 exasperation HiyzX     
n.愤慨
参考例句：
  • He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
  • She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。
32 wrenched c171af0af094a9c29fad8d3390564401     
v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛
参考例句：
  • The bag was wrenched from her grasp. 那只包从她紧握的手里被夺了出来。
  • He wrenched the book from her hands. 他从她的手中把书拧抢了过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 pall hvwyP     
v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕
参考例句：
  • Already the allure of meals in restaurants had begun to pall.饭店里的饭菜已经不像以前那样诱人。
  • I find his books begin to pall on me after a while.我发觉他的书读过一阵子就开始对我失去吸引力。
34 dodged ae7efa6756c9d8f3b24f8e00db5e28ee     
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避
参考例句：
  • He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》
35 spurt 9r9yE     
v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆
参考例句：
  • He put in a spurt at the beginning of the eighth lap.他进入第八圈时便开始冲刺。
  • After a silence, Molly let her anger spurt out.沉默了一会儿，莫莉的怒气便迸发了出来。
36 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的
参考例句：
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
37 drawn MuXzIi     
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。
38 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
39 alcove EKMyU     
n.凹室
参考例句：
  • The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.书架正好放得进壁凹。
  • In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.火炉两边的凹室里是书架。
40 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
41 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
42 flicker Gjxxb     
vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现
参考例句：
  • There was a flicker of lights coming from the abandoned house.这所废弃的房屋中有灯光闪烁。
  • At first,the flame may be a small flicker,barely shining.开始时，光辉可能是微弱地忽隐忽现，几乎并不灿烂。
43 maze F76ze     
n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑
参考例句：
  • He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
  • She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。
44 conspicuous spszE     
adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的
参考例句：
  • It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
  • Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。
46 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
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。
47 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒，生气，烦恼
参考例句：
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
48 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
49 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

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