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Chapter 15. The Midnight Mission.
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De Catinat in the meanwhile was perfectly1 aware of the importance of the mission which had been assigned to him. The secrecy2 which had been enjoined3 by the king, his evident excitement, and the nature of his orders, all confirmed the rumours4 which were already beginning to buzz round the court. He knew enough of the intrigues5 and antagonisms6 with which the court was full to understand that every precaution was necessary in carrying out his instructions. He waited, therefore, until night had fallen before ordering his soldier-servant to bring round the two horses to one of the less public gates of the grounds. As he and his friend walked together to the spot, he gave the young American a rapid sketch7 of the situation at the court, and of the chance that this nocturnal ride might be an event which would affect the future history of France.
“I like your king,” said Amos Green, “and I am glad to ride in his service. He is a slip of a man to be the head of a great nation, but he has the eye of a chief. If one met him alone in a Maine forest, one would know him as a man who was different to his fellows. Well, I am glad that he is going to marry again, though it’s a great house for any woman to have to look after.”
De Catinat smiled at his comrade’s idea of a queen’s duties.
“Are you armed?” he asked. “You have no sword or pistols?”
“No; if I may not carry my gun, I had rather not be troubled by tools that I have never learned to use. I have my knife. But why do you ask?”
“Because there may be danger.”
“And how?”
“Many have an interest in stopping this marriage. All the first men of the kingdom are bitterly against it. If they could stop us, they would stop it, for to-night at least.”
“But I thought it was a secret?”
“There is no such thing at a court. There is the dauphin, or the king’s brother, either of them, or any of their friends, would be right glad that we should be in the Seine before we reach the archbishop’s house this night. But who is this?”
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1
perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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2
secrecy
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n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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3
enjoined
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v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
rumours
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n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 );风闻;谣言;谣传 | |
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5
intrigues
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n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 );神秘气氛;引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 );激起…的好奇心 | |
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6
antagonisms
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对抗,敌对( antagonism的名词复数 ) | |
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7
sketch
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n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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8
loom
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n.织布机,织机;v.隐现,(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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9
loomed
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v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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10
dangling
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悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口 | |
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11
regiment
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n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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12
chafing
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n.皮肤发炎v.擦热(尤指皮肤)( chafe的现在分词 );擦痛;发怒;惹怒 | |
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13
fiery
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adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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14
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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15
whim
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n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想 | |
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16
rein
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n.疆绳,统治,支配;vt.以僵绳控制,统治 | |
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17
sardonic
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adj.嘲笑的,冷笑的,讥讽的 | |
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18
galloped
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(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 | |
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19
westward
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n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
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rifts
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n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 );裂隙;分裂;不和 | |
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21
heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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22
reins
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感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
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23
sputtering
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n.反应溅射法;飞溅;阴极真空喷镀;喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 );发劈啪声;喷出;飞溅出 | |
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rogue
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n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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straps
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n.带子( strap的名词复数 );挎带;肩带;背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 );用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带 | |
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mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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shrugged
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vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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mighty
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adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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flinch
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v.畏缩,退缩 | |
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30
insolent
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adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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punctilious
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adj.谨慎的,谨小慎微的 | |
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rigid
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adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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clumps
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n.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的名词复数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声v.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声 | |
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shimmering
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v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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hoofs
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n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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hurled
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v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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