The Sprawling¹ 185-acre estate of Chateau² Villette was located twenty-five minutes northwest ofParis in the environs of Versailles. Designed by Fran.ois Mansart in 1668 for the Count of Aufflay,it was one of Paris's most significant historical chateaux. Complete with two rectangular lakes andgardens designed by Le N.tre, Chateau Villette was more of a modest castle than a mansion³. Theestate fondly had become known as la Petite Versailles.

　　Langdon brought the armored truck to a shuddering⁴ stop at the foot of the mile-long driveway.

　　Beyond the imposing⁵ security gate, Sir Leigh Teabing's residence rose on a meadow in thedistance. The sign on the gate was in English: PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO TRESPASSING⁶.

　　As if to proclaim his home a British Isle⁷ unto itself, Teabing had not only posted his signs inEnglish, but he had installed his gate's intercom entry system on the right-hand side of thetruck—the passenger's side everywhere in Europe except England.

　　Sophie gave the misplaced intercom an odd look. "And if someone arrives without a passenger?""Don't ask." Langdon had already been through that with Teabing. "He prefers things the way theyare at home."Sophie rolled down her window. "Robert, you'd better do the talking."Langdon shifted his position, leaning out across Sophie to press the intercom button. As he did, analluring whiff of Sophie's perfume filled his nostrils⁸, and he realized how close they were. Hewaited there, awkwardly prone⁹, while a telephone began ringing over the small speaker.

　　Finally, the intercom crackled and an irritated French accent

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1 sprawling
adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）
参考例句：
He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。 a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

2 chateau
n.城堡，别墅
参考例句：
The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。 The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

3 mansion
n.大厦，大楼；宅第
参考例句：
The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。 The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

4 shuddering
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动
参考例句：
'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕，”她发着抖，说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记 She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤，深深吸了口气。 来自飘（部分）

5 imposing
adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的
参考例句：
The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。 He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

6 trespassing
[法]非法入侵
参考例句：
He told me I was trespassing on private land. 他说我在擅闯私人土地。 Don't come trespassing on my land again. 别再闯入我的地界了。

7 isle
n.小岛，岛
参考例句：
He is from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。 The boat left for the paradise isle of Bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。

8 nostrils
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。 The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

9 prone
adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的
参考例句：
Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。 He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

10 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。

11 sprawled
v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）
参考例句：
He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。 He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

12 braces
n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来
参考例句：
The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃，因为支架全松了。 You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带，就用不着吊带了。

13 predilection
n.偏好
参考例句：
He has a predilection for rich food.他偏好油腻的食物。 Charles has always had a predilection for red-haired women.查尔斯对红头发女人一直有偏爱。

14 groaned
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦
参考例句：
He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。 The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 beverage
n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料
参考例句：
The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。 Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

16 Oxford
n.牛津（英国城市）
参考例句：
At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。 This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

17 travesty
n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化
参考例句：
The trial was a travesty of justice.这次审判嘲弄了法律的公正性。 The play was,in their view,a travesty of the truth.这个剧本在他们看来是对事实的歪曲。