Barry Tuxford listened
attentively1 to
Jack2's story of the stolen pearl, and when it was ended said, "There is no doubt in my mind that one of those black fellows Amos Hooker engaged for you, stole it during the night. It was cleverly done, and I am surprised he was successful. Such a pearl as you have described ought to be worth four or five thousand pounds, probably more, if we found the right customer. Someone who possesses one pearl of the sort would give a stiff sum to get a pair."
"Do you think you will be able to recover it?" asked Jack, anxiously.
"It's a toss up whether we do or not. If Amos Hooker has it, I think it can be managed, but it will have to be very carefully worked. It will be better to say nothing at all about it, and make no
inquiries3. Amos will keep it for some time before he tries to dispose of it, and if we leave him alone he may get careless. Black pearls are very scarce, and one the shape and size of ours will be easily recognised. On the whole, I think it may be recovered, but it will cost money."
Jack was relieved to hear this, and said, when he and Barry were alone,—
"I have a particular reason for wishing to recover that pearl. Do you know what I intended doing if we had brought it here safely?"
"No."
"I intended asking you to buy it for me, and allow me to pay for it when I had the money."
Barry looked surprised as he said,—
"What do you require such a valuable pearl for? You could do a great deal better with your money."
"I wished to send it home as a present to a great friend of mine."
"A lady, of course," said Barry smiling. "I see; it would be a very valuable gift, and she ought to think a lot of it, if ever she receives it."
"She would," replied Jack, "but more on account of my finding it than for its actual value."
"I'll try and get it for you," said Barry, "and if I succeed, you shall have it at a fair price. Ah, here's Silas, I thought he would not be able to wait until my return."
Silas Filey walked anxiously about, waiting for Barry Tuxford, and as the time passed, became impatient.
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收听单词发音
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1
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 |
参考例句： |
- She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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2
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 |
参考例句： |
- I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
- He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
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3
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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4
aggravate
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| vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火 |
参考例句： |
- Threats will only aggravate her.恐吓只能激怒她。
- He would only aggravate the injury by rubbing it.他揉擦伤口只会使伤势加重。
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5
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 |
参考例句： |
- The schooner was driven ashore.那条帆船被冲上了岸。
- The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at an equal rate.急流正以同样的速度将小筏子和帆船一起冲向南方。
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6
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 |
参考例句： |
- The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
- He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。
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7
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 |
参考例句： |
- I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
- All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。
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8
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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9
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 |
参考例句： |
- The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
- The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
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10
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 |
参考例句： |
- \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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11
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 |
参考例句： |
- There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
- The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。
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12
curiously
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| 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。
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13
perfectly
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| 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。
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14
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 |
参考例句： |
- The sun was shining with uncommon lustre.太阳放射出异常的光彩。
- A good name keeps its lustre in the dark.一个好的名誉在黑暗中也保持它的光辉。
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15
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) |
参考例句： |
- an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
- My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。
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16
surmising
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的现在分词 )；揣测；猜想 |
参考例句： |
- Fanny's heart beat quick, and she felt quite unequal to surmising or soliciting any more. 范妮的心跳得快了起来，她不敢猜测她往下讲些什么，也不敢求她再往下讲。 来自辞典例句
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17
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 |
参考例句： |
- She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
- People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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18
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 |
参考例句： |
- Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
- Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
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19
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 |
参考例句： |
- Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
- Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
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20
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 |
参考例句： |
- He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
- Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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21
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 |
参考例句： |
- He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. 有报道称他反对军队参与，对此他很是恼火。 来自柯林斯例句
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