赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩39

时间：2024-12-31 11:21:49

（单词翻译:单击）

II
It was Hugh Chandler’s magnificent physique that impressed Hercule Poirot more than anything
else. Tall, magnificently proportioned, with a terrific chest and shoulders, and a tawny1 head of
hair. There was a tremendous air of strength and virility2 about him.
On their arrival at Diana’s house, she had at once rung up Admiral Chandler, and they had
forthwith gone over to Lyde Manor3 where they had found tea waiting on the long terrace. And
with the tea, three men. There was Admiral Chandler, white haired, looking older than his years,
his shoulders bowed as though by an overheavy burden, and his eyes dark and brooding. A
contrast to him was his friend Colonel Frobisher, a dried-up, tough, little man with reddish hair
turning grey at the temples. A restless, irascible, snappy, little man, rather like a terrier—but the
possessor of a pair of extremely shrewd eyes. He had a habit of drawing down his brows over his
eyes and lowering his head, thrusting it forward, whilst those same shrewd little eyes studied you
piercingly. The third man was Hugh.
“Fine specimen4, eh?” said Colonel Frobisher.
He spoke5 in a low voice, having noted6 Poirot’s close scrutiny7 of the young man.
Hercule Poirot nodded his head. He and Frobisher were sitting close together. The other three
had their chairs on the far side of the tea table and were chatting together in an animated8 but
slightly artificial manner.
Poirot murmured: “Yes, he is magnificent—magnificent. He is the young Bull—yes, one
might say the Bull dedicated9 to Poseidon . . . A perfect specimen of healthy manhood.”
“Looks fit enough, doesn’t he?”
Frobisher sighed. His shrewd little eyes stole sideways, considering Hercule Poirot. Presently
he said:
“I know who you are, you know.”
“Ah that, it is no secret!”
Poirot waved a royal hand. He was not incognito10, the gesture seemed to say. He was
travelling as Himself.
After a minute or two Frobisher asked: “Did the girl get you down—over this business?”
“The business—?”
“The business of young Hugh . . . Yes, I see you know all about it. But I can’t quite see why
she went to you . . . Shouldn’t have thought this sort of thing was in your line—meantersay it’s
more a medical show.”
“All kinds of things are in my line . . . You would be surprised.”
“I mean I can’t see quite what she expected you could do.”
“Miss Maberly,” said Poirot, “is a fighter.”
Colonel Frobisher nodded a warm assent11.
“Yes, she’s a fighter all right. She’s a fine kid. She won’t give up. All the same, you know,
there are some things that you can’t fight. . . .”
His face looked suddenly old and tired.
Poirot dropped his voice still lower. He murmured discreetly12:
“There is—insanity, I understand, in the family?”
Frobisher nodded.
“Only crops up now and again,” he murmured. “Skips a generation or two. Hugh’s
grandfather was the last.”
Poirot threw a quick glance in the direction of the other three. Diana was holding the
conversation well, laughing and bantering13 Hugh. You would have said that the three of them had
not a care in the world.
“What form did the madness take?” Poirot asked softly.
“The old boy became pretty violent in the end. He was perfectly14 all right up to thirty—normal
as could be. Then he began to go a bit queer. It was some time before people noticed it. Then a lot
of rumours15 began going around. People started talking properly. Things happened that were
hushed up. But—well,” he raised his shoulders, “ended up as mad as a hatter, poor devil!
Homicidal! Had to be certified16.”
He paused for a moment and then added:
“He lived to be quite an old man, I believe . . . That’s what Hugh is afraid of, of course.
That’s why he doesn’t want to see a doctor. He’s afraid of being shut up and living shut up for
years. Can’t say I blame him. I’d feel the same.”
“And Admiral Chandler, how does he feel?”
“It’s broken him up completely,” Frobisher spoke shortly.
“He is very fond of his son?”
“Wrapped up in the boy. You see, his wife was drowned in a boating accident when the boy
was only ten years old. Since then he’s lived for nothing but the child.”
“Was he very devoted17 to his wife?”
“Worshipped her. Everybody worshipped her. She was—she was one of the loveliest women
I’ve ever known.” He paused a moment and then said jerkily, “Care to see her portrait?”
“I should like to see it very much.”
Frobisher pushed back his chair and rose. Aloud he said:
“Going to show M. Poirot one or two things, Charles. He’s a bit of a connoisseur18.”
The Admiral raised a vague hand. Frobisher tramped along the terrace and Poirot followed
him. For a moment Diana’s face dropped its mask of gaiety and looked an agonized19 question.
Hugh, too, raised his head, and looked steadily20 at the small man with the big black moustache.
Poirot followed Frobisher into the house. It was so dim at first coming in out of the sunlight
that he could hardly distinguish one article from another. But he realized that the house was full of
old and beautiful things.
Colonel Frobisher led the way to the Picture Gallery. On the panelled walls hung portraits of
dead and gone Chandlers. Faces stern and gay, men in court dress or in Naval21 uniform. Women in
satin and pearls.
Finally Frobisher stopped under a portrait at the end of the gallery.
“Painted by Orpen,” he said gruffly.
They stood looking up at a tall woman, her hand on a greyhound’s collar. A woman with
auburn hair and an expression of radiant vitality22.
“Boy’s the spitting image of her,” said Frobisher. “Don’t you think so?”
“In some things, yes.”
“He hasn’t got her delicacy—her femininity, of course. He’s a masculine edition—but in all
the essential things—” He broke off. “Pity he inherited from the Chandlers the one thing he could
well have done without. . . .”
They were silent. There was melancholy23 in the air all around them—as though dead and gone
Chandlers sighed for the taint24 that lay in their blood and which, remorselessly, from time to time,
they passed on. . . .
Hercule Poirot turned his head to look at his companion. George Frobisher was still gazing up
at the beautiful woman on the wall above him. And Poirot said softly:
“You knew her well. . . .”
Frobisher spoke jerkily.
“We were boy and girl together. I went off as a subaltern to India when she was sixteen . . .
When I got back—she was married to Charles Chandler.”
“You knew him well also?”
“Charles is one of my oldest friends. He’s my best friend—always has been.”
“Did you see much of them—after the marriage?”
“Used to spend most of my leaves here. Like a second home to me, this place. Charles and
Caroline always kept my room here—ready and waiting . . .” He squared his shoulders, suddenly
thrust his head forward pugnaciously25. “That’s why I’m here now—to stand by in case I’m wanted.
If Charles needs me—I’m here.”
Again the shadow of tragedy crept over them.
“And what do you think—about all this?” Poirot asked.
Frobisher stood stiffly. His brows came down over his eyes.
“What I think is, the least said the better. And to be frank, I don’t see what you’re doing in
this business, M. Poirot. I don’t see why Diana roped you in and got you down here.”
“You are aware that Diana Maberly’s engagement to Hugh Chandler has been broken off?”
“Yes, I know that.”
“And you know the reason for it?”
Frobisher replied stiffly:
“I don’t know anything about that. Young people manage these things between them. Not my
business to butt26 in.”
Poirot said:
“Hugh Chandler told Diana that it was not right that they should marry, because he was going
out of his mind.”
He saw the beads27 of perspiration28 break out on Frobisher’s forehead. He said:
“Have we got to talk about the damned thing? What do you think you can do? Hugh’s done
the right thing, poor devil. It’s not his fault, it’s heredity—germ plasm—brain cells . . . But once
he knew, well, what else could he do but break the engagement? It’s one of those things that just
has to be done.”
“If I could be convinced of that—”
“You can take it from me.”
“But you have told me nothing.”
“I tell you I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why did Admiral Chandler force his son to leave the Navy?”
“Because it was the only thing to be done.”
“Why?”
Frobisher shook an obstinate29 head.
Poirot murmured softly:
“Was it to do with some sheep being killed?”
The other man said angrily:
“So you’ve heard about that?”
“Diana told me.”
“That girl had far better keep her mouth shut.”
“She did not think it was conclusive30.”
“She doesn’t know.”
“What doesn’t she know?”
Unwillingly31, jerkily, angrily, Frobisher spoke:
“Oh well, if you must have it . . . Chandler heard a noise that night. Thought it might be
someone got in the house. Went out to investigate. Light in the boy’s room. Chandler went in.
Hugh asleep on bed—dead asleep—in his clothes. Blood on the clothes. Basin in the room full of
blood. His father couldn’t wake him. Next morning heard about sheep being found with their
throats cut. Questioned Hugh. Boy didn’t know anything about it. Didn’t remember going out—
and his shoes found by the side door caked in mud. Couldn’t explain the blood in the basin.
Couldn’t explain anything. Poor devil didn’t know, you understand.
“Charles came to me, talked it over. What was the best thing to be done? Then it happened
again—three nights later. After that—well, you can see for yourself. The boy had got to leave the
service. If he was here, under Charles’ eye, Charles could watch over him. Couldn’t afford to have
a scandal in the Navy. Yes, it was the only thing to be done.”
Poirot asked: “And since then?”
Frobisher said fiercely, “I’m not answering any more questions. Don’t you think Hugh knows
his own business best?”
Hercule Poirot did not answer. He was always loath32 to admit that anyone could know better
than Hercule Poirot.

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1 tawny tIBzi     
adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色
参考例句：
  • Her black hair springs in fine strands across her tawny,ruddy cheek.她的一头乌发分披在健康红润的脸颊旁。
  • None of them noticed a large,tawny owl flutter past the window.他们谁也没注意到一只大的、褐色的猫头鹰飞过了窗户。
2 virility JUKzS     
n.雄劲，丈夫气
参考例句：
  • He wanted his sons to become strong,virile,and athletic like himself.他希望他的儿子们能长得像他一样强壮、阳刚而又健美。
  • He is a tall,virile man with rugged good looks.他是个身材高大、体魄健壮、相貌粗犷英俊的男子。
3 manor d2Gy4     
n.庄园，领地
参考例句：
  • The builder of the manor house is a direct ancestor of the present owner.建造这幢庄园的人就是它现在主人的一个直系祖先。
  • I am not lord of the manor,but its lady.我并非此地的领主，而是这儿的女主人。
4 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本，标本
参考例句：
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
5 spoke XryyC     
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。
6 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
7 scrutiny ZDgz6     
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。
8 animated Cz7zMa     
adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的
参考例句：
  • His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
  • We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。
9 dedicated duHzy2     
adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
参考例句：
  • He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
  • His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。
10 incognito ucfzW     
adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的
参考例句：
  • He preferred to remain incognito.他更喜欢继续隐姓埋名下去。
  • He didn't want to be recognized,so he travelled incognito.他不想被人认出，所以出行时隐瞒身分。
11 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可
参考例句：
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
12 discreetly nuwz8C     
ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地
参考例句：
  • He had only known the perennial widow, the discreetly expensive Frenchwoman. 他只知道她是个永远那么年轻的寡妇，一个很会讲排场的法国女人。
  • Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. 安德鲁觉得莉莲想同西莉亚单独谈些什么，有意避开了。
13 bantering Iycz20     
adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄
参考例句：
  • There was a friendly, bantering tone in his voice. 他的声音里流露着友好诙谐的语调。
  • The students enjoyed their teacher's bantering them about their mistakes. 同学们对老师用风趣的方式讲解他们的错误很感兴趣。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
14 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
15 rumours ba6e2decd2e28dec9a80f28cb99e131d     
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传
参考例句：
  • The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
  • Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。
16 certified fw5zkU     
a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的
参考例句：
  • Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
  • The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。
17 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
18 connoisseur spEz3     
n.鉴赏家，行家，内行
参考例句：
  • Only the real connoisseur could tell the difference between these two wines.只有真正的内行才能指出这两种酒的区别。
  • We are looking for a connoisseur of French champagne.我们想找一位法国香槟酒品酒专家。
19 agonized Oz5zc6     
v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦
参考例句：
  • All the time they agonized and prayed. 他们一直在忍受痛苦并且祈祷。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She agonized herself with the thought of her loss. 她念念不忘自己的损失，深深陷入痛苦之中。 来自辞典例句
20 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地
参考例句：
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
21 naval h1lyU     
adj.海军的，军舰的，船的
参考例句：
  • He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
  • The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。
22 vitality lhAw8     
n.活力，生命力，效力
参考例句：
  • He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
  • He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。
23 melancholy t7rz8     
n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的
参考例句：
  • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
  • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。
24 taint MIdzu     
n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染
参考例句：
  • Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
  • Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。
25 pugnaciously 32e00e0b40732bc150b0f136b73dc4e8     
参考例句：
26 butt uSjyM     
n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶
参考例句：
  • The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
  • He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。
27 beads 894701f6859a9d5c3c045fd6f355dbf5     
n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链
参考例句：
  • a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
  • Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。
28 perspiration c3UzD     
n.汗水；出汗
参考例句：
  • It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
  • The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。
29 obstinate m0dy6     
adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的
参考例句：
  • She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
  • The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。
30 conclusive TYjyw     
adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的
参考例句：
  • They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
  • Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。
31 unwillingly wjjwC     
adv.不情愿地
参考例句：
  • He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
  • Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。
32 loath 9kmyP     
adj.不愿意的；勉强的
参考例句：
  • The little girl was loath to leave her mother.那小女孩不愿离开她的母亲。
  • They react on this one problem very slow and very loath.他们在这一问题上反应很慢，很不情愿。

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