Dean had left the breakfast-table the next morning, and was considering what would be the next stage of his journey when Dr. Thorp was announced.
"Mr. Dunham," he said, "I have come to thank you for your warning of last evening."
"I hope it was of service to you, sir."
"It was of essential service. Your old acquaintance had planned to rob me of a sum of money and a quantity of government bonds, but being on my guard I was able to
frustrate1 his designs."
"How did it happen?" asked Mr. Gunnison, his curiosity excited.
"In the middle of the night, or rather a little after midnight, I heard some one going downstairs softly. I followed unobserved, and caught my guest opening the drawers in my cabinet."
"Where is he now?"
186
"I ordered him out of the house. He stood not upon the order of his going, but went at once. Where he is now I cannot inform you, but presume he has placed several miles between himself and Carterville. Fortunately he went empty-handed, and my money and bonds are still in my possession. But for our young friend here I should hardly be able to say that."
"You are indebted to me for bringing him to Carterville, Dr. Thorp," said Mr. Gunnison in a jocular tone. "How much are you going to allow me?"
"You are amply repaid by his services," said the doctor, "judging from the comments I have heard upon his performance. I am under obligations to him, however, which I ought to acknowledge. Mr. Dunham," he continued, taking from his pocket a small gold watch and chain, "I see you have no watch. Please accept this with my best wishes."
It was an Elgin gold watch of neat pattern which he offered to Dean.
"It is not quite new," proceeded the doctor. "I bought it of a young man in need of money, and having paid him its full value I have no
scruple2 in giving it away."
"Thank you very much," said Dean, his face showing the satisfaction he felt. "I have felt the need of a watch ever since I began to travel, but never187 dreamed of anything better than a silver one. I shall be very proud of this one."
"And I am very glad to give it to you. In what direction do you propose to journey!"
"
Westward3, sir. I haven't any very clear ideas further than that."
"Shall you go as far as Colorado?"
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收听单词发音
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1
frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 |
参考例句： |
- But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
- They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。
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2
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 |
参考例句： |
- It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
- He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。
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3
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 |
参考例句： |
- We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
- Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。
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4
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 |
参考例句： |
- Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
- Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
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5
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 |
参考例句： |
- We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
- He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。
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6
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
- His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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7
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 |
参考例句： |
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
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8
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 |
参考例句： |
- Your solicitude was a great consolation to me.你对我的关怀给了我莫大的安慰。
- He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.他对我妹妹满心牵挂。
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9
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 |
参考例句： |
- I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
- I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。
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10
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 |
参考例句： |
- I descry a sail on the horizon.我看见在天水交接处的轮船。
- In this beautiful sunset photo,I seem to descry the wings of the angel.在美丽日落照片中，我好像看到天使的翅膀。
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11
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 |
参考例句： |
- He gripped the wheel until his knuckles whitened. 他紧紧握住方向盘，握得指关节都变白了。
- Her thin hands were twisted by swollen knuckles. 她那双纤手因肿大的指关节而变了形。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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12
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的
动词shuffle的现在分词形式 |
参考例句： |
- Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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13
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 |
参考例句： |
- He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
- I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
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14
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 |
参考例句： |
- The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
- Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
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15
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 |
参考例句： |
- His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
- Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
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16
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 |
参考例句： |
- He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
- He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。
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17
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 |
参考例句： |
- From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
- His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
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18
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 |
参考例句： |
- It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
- His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。
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19
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 |
参考例句： |
- Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
- The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。
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20
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 |
参考例句： |
- He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
- She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
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21
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 |
参考例句： |
- There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
- She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。
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22
covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 |
参考例句： |
- She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
- He raised his head,with a look of unrestrained greed in his covetous eyes.他抬起头来，贪婪的眼光露出馋涎欲滴的神情。
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23
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 |
参考例句： |
- Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
- Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
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24
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] |
参考例句： |
- The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
- The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。
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25
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 |
参考例句： |
- Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
- He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 |
参考例句： |
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 |
参考例句： |
- She is as timorous as a rabbit.她胆小得像只兔子。
- The timorous rabbit ran away.那只胆小的兔子跑开了。
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