One mile away, the hulking albino named Silas limped through the front gate of the luxurious¹ brownstone residence on Rue² La Bruyère. The spiked³ cilice belt that he wore around his thigh⁴ cut into his flesh, and yet his soul sang with satisfaction of service to the Lord.

Pain is good.

His red eyes scanned the lobby as he entered the residence. Empty. He climbed the stairs quietly, not wanting to awaken⁵ any of his fellow numeraries. His bedroom door was open; locks were forbidden here. He entered, closing the door behind him.

The room was spartan—hardwood floors, a pine dresser, a canvas mat in the corner that served as his bed. He was a visitor here this week, and yet for many years he had been blessed with a similar sanctuary⁶ in New York City.

The Lord has provided me shelter and purpose in my life.

Tonight, at last, Silas felt he had begun to repay his debt. Hurrying to the dresser, he found the cell phone hidden in his bottom drawer and placed a call.

"Yes?" a male voice answered.

"Teacher, I have returned."

"Speak," the voice commanded, sounding pleased to hear from him.

"All four are gone. The three sénéchaux... and the Grand Master himself."

There was a momentary⁷ pause, as if for prayer. "Then I assume you have the information?"

"All four concurred⁸. Independently."

"And you believed them?"

"Their agreement was too great for coincidence."

An excited breath. "Excellent. I had feared the brotherhood⁹'s reputation for

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1 luxurious
adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的
参考例句：
This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。 The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

2 rue
n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔
参考例句：
You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。 You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

3 spiked
adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的
参考例句：
The editor spiked the story. 编辑删去了这篇报道。 来自《简明英汉词典》 They wondered whether their drinks had been spiked. 他们有些疑惑自己的饮料里是否被偷偷搀了烈性酒。 来自辞典例句

4 thigh
n.大腿；股骨
参考例句：
He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。 The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

5 awaken
vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起
参考例句：
Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。 Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

6 sanctuary
n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区
参考例句：
There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。 Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

7 momentary
adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的
参考例句：
We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。 I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

8 concurred
同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
Historians have concurred with each other in this view. 历史学家在这个观点上已取得一致意见。 So many things concurred to give rise to the problem. 许多事情同时发生而导致了这一问题。

9 brotherhood
n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊
参考例句：
They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。 They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

10 secrecy
n.秘密，保密，隐蔽
参考例句：
All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。 Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

11 prospect
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。 The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

12 gleaned
v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗
参考例句：
These figures have been gleaned from a number of studies. 这些数据是通过多次研究收集得来的。 A valuable lesson may be gleaned from it by those who have eyes to see. 明眼人可从中记取宝贵的教训。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 legendary
adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）
参考例句：
Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。 Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

14 intake
n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口
参考例句：
Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。 There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

15 lore
n.传说；学问，经验，知识
参考例句：
I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他，向他讨教他的渊博的学问。 Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。

16 engraved
v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）
参考例句：
The silver cup was engraved with his name. 银杯上刻有他的名字。 It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back. 此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 desperately
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。

18 spoke
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
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

19 retrieve
vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索
参考例句：
He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。 The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

20 fortress
n.堡垒，防御工事
参考例句：
They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。 The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

21 tingled
v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
My cheeks tingled with the cold. 我的脸颊冻得有点刺痛。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The crowd tingled with excitement. 群众大为兴奋。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

22 anticipation
n.预期，预料，期望
参考例句：
We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。 The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

23 penance
n.（赎罪的）惩罪
参考例句：
They had confessed their sins and done their penance.他们已经告罪并做了补赎。 She knelt at her mother's feet in penance.她忏悔地跪在母亲脚下。

24 purge
n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁
参考例句：
The new president carried out a purge of disloyal army officers.新总统对不忠诚的军官进行了清洗。 The mayoral candidate has promised to purge the police department.市长候选人答应清洗警察部门。

25 followers
追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件
参考例句：
the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者 The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

26 strap
n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎
参考例句：
She held onto a strap to steady herself.她抓住拉手吊带以便站稳。 The nurse will strap up your wound.护士会绑扎你的伤口。

27 barbs
n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛
参考例句：
She slung barbs at me. 她说了些讥刺我的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I would no longer uncomplainingly accept their barbs or allow their unaccountable power to go unchallenged. 我不会再毫无怨言地洗耳恭听他们带刺的话，或让他们的不负责任的权力不受到挑战。 来自辞典例句

28 reminder
n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示
参考例句：
I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。 It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

29 counteract
vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消
参考例句：
The doctor gave him some medicine to counteract the effect of the poison.医生给他些药解毒。 Our work calls for mutual support.We shouldn't counteract each other's efforts.工作要互相支持，不要互相拆台。

30 requisite
adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品
参考例句：
He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。 Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。

31 buckle
n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲
参考例句：
The two ends buckle at the back.带子两端在背后扣起来。 She found it hard to buckle down.她很难专心做一件事情。

32 notch
n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级
参考例句：
The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。 He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

33 wincing
赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 )
参考例句：
She switched on the light, wincing at the sudden brightness. 她打开了灯，突如其来的强烈光线刺得她不敢睜眼。 "I will take anything," he said, relieved, and wincing under reproof. “我什么事都愿意做，"他说，松了一口气，缩着头等着挨骂。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

34 exhaling
v.呼出，发散出( exhale的现在分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气
参考例句：
Take a deep breath inhaling slowly and exhaling slowly. 深呼吸，慢慢吸进，慢慢呼出。 来自互联网 Unclasp your hands and return to the original position while exhaling. 呼气并松开双手恢复到原位。 来自互联网

35 savored
v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝
参考例句：
We savored the barbed hits in his reply. 我们很欣赏他在回答中使用的带刺的俏皮话。 来自《简明英汉词典》 We savored, (the pleasures of) mountain life to the full. 我们充分体会了山居生活的乐趣。 来自辞典例句

36 cleansing
n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词
参考例句：
medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉 Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

37 mortification
n.耻辱，屈辱
参考例句：
To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。 The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

38 neatly
adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地
参考例句：
Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。 The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

39 slashing
adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减
参考例句：
Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句 He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

40 lashed
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥
参考例句：
The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。 The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》