THE DOOR OPENED and the jester Norbert stood there, bent¹ over a bowl, picking his teeth with a hazel twig². His jaw³ dropped as if he had seen a ghost.

Gads⁴...Hugh! You've come back after all.

He grinned broadly, then shuffled⁵ up to me with that sideways gait of his. What a joy to see you, lad.

And you, Norbert, I replied, embracing him with my good arm.

Woundedagain ? You're like a human target, son, he cried. But come in, I'm glad to see you back. I want to hear it all.

The jester yanked out a low stool for me to sit on. Then he poured a cup of wine and sat facing me. I can see in your eyes you've not come here with much cheer. So tell me... Did you find her? What is the fate of your Sophie?

I lowered my eyes from those of my friend.

You were right, Norbert. It was just a dream to think she had somehow survived. I am sure she is dead.

He nodded, then leaned across and squeezed me in a fatherly way. A man's allowed to dream every once in a while. We little people live on it. I'm sorry for your loss, Hugh.

Norbert shuddered⁶, letting out a gravelly cough.

You're ill? I asked with concern.

Just under the weather. He waved me off. Too many years of crawling around with the beetles⁷ down here. He cleared his throat again. Tell me this-how did it go at court with Baldwin? Did you get the job?

I finally could smile at something. Idid , just as we planned. In fact, I think I was a success.

I knew it! The jester leaped up. I knew you would be. I taught you well, boy, didn't I? Tell me. I have to know it all.

Suddenly the weariness in my body seemed to recede⁸; my face blushed brightly with the memories of entertaining the court. I told him everything. How I had managed my way into the castle, how I had seized upon the moment to go before the court. The jokes I had used... How the duke had sent away poor Palimpost.

点击收听单词发音  

1 bent
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。 We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

2 twig
n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解
参考例句：
He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。 The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

3 jaw
n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训
参考例句：
He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。 A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

4 gads
v.闲逛( gad的第三人称单数 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺
参考例句：
He gads about a lot. 他到处游荡。 来自辞典例句 He gads about Europe a lot. 他常到欧洲漫游。 来自辞典例句

5 shuffled
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》

6 shuddered
v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动
参考例句：
He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 beetles
n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》 This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 recede
vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进
参考例句：
The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。 He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

9 hopped
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花
参考例句：
He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。 He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

10 virtue
n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力
参考例句：
He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。 You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

11 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。

12 miserable
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。 Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

13 lugging
超载运转能力
参考例句：
I would smile when I saw him lugging his golf bags into the office. 看到他把高尔夫球袋拖进办公室，我就笑一笑。 来自辞典例句 As a general guide, S＄1 should be adequate for baggage-lugging service. 一般的准则是，如有人帮你搬运行李，给一新元就够了。 来自互联网

14 garb
n.服装，装束
参考例句：
He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。 Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

15 jingled
喝醉的
参考例句：
The bells jingled all the way. 一路上铃儿叮当响。 Coins in his pocket jingled as he walked. 走路时，他衣袋里的钱币丁当作响。