借镜杀人23

时间：2025-10-10 07:08:42

（单词翻译:单击）

Fourteen
1
Mrs. Strete fitted into the library very much better than Gina Hudd had
done. There was nothing exotic about Mrs. Strete. She wore black with
onyx beads1, and she wore a hairnet over carefully arranged grey hair.
She looked, Inspector2 Curry3 reflected, exactly as the relict of a canon of
the Established Church should look—which was almost odd, because so
few people ever did look like what they really were.
Even the tight line of her lips had an ascetic4 ecclesiastical flavour. She
expressed Christian5 Endurance, and possibly Christian Fortitude6. But not,
Curry thought, Christian Charity.
Moreover it was clear that Mrs. Strete was offended.
“I should have thought that you could have given me some idea of when
you would want me, Inspector. I have been forced to sit around waiting all
the morning.”
It was, Curry judged, her sense of importance that was hurt. He
hastened to pour oil on the troubled waters.
“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Strete. Perhaps you don’t quite know how we set
about these things. We start, you know, with the less important evidence—
get it out of the way, so to speak. It’s valuable to keep to the last a person
on whose judgement we can rely—a good observer—by whom we can
check what has been told us up to date.”
Mrs. Strete softened8 visibly.
“Oh, I see. I hadn’t quite realised….”
“Now you’re a woman of mature judgement, Mrs. Strete. A woman of
the world. And then this is your home—you’re the daughter of the house,
and you can tell me all about the people who are in it.”
“I can certainly do that,” said Mildred Strete.
“So you see that when we come to the question of who killed Christian
Gulbrandsen, you can help us a great deal.”
“But is there any question? Isn’t it perfectly9 obvious who killed my
brother?”
Inspector Curry leant back in his chair. His hand stroked his small neat
moustache.
“Well—we have to be careful,” he said. “You think it’s obvious?”
“Of course. That dreadful American husband of poor Gina’s. He’s the
only stranger here. We know absolutely nothing about him. He’s probably
one of these dreadful American gangsters10.”
“But that wouldn’t quite account for his killing11 Christian Gulbrandsen,
would it? Why should he?”
“Because Christian had found out something about him. That’s what he
came here for so soon after his last visit.”
“Are you sure of that, Mrs. Strete?”
“Again it seems to me quite obvious. He let it be thought his visit was in
connection with the Trust—but that’s nonsense. He was here for that only
a month ago. And nothing of importance has arisen since. So he must have
come on some private business. He saw Walter on his last visit, and he
may have recognised him—or perhaps made inquiries12 about him in the
States—naturally he has agents all over the world—and found out some-
thing really damaging. Gina is a very silly girl. She always has been. It is
just like her to marry a man she knows nothing about—she’s always been
man mad! A man wanted by the police, perhaps, or a man who’s already
married, or some bad character in the underworld. But my brother Chris-
tian wasn’t an easy man to deceive. He came here, I’m sure, to settle the
whole business. Expose Walter and show him up for what he is. And so,
naturally, Walter shot him.”
Inspector Curry, adding some out-sized whiskers to one of the cats on
his blotting13 pad, said:
“Ye—es.”
“Don’t you agree with me that that’s what must have happened?”
“It could be—yes,” admitted the Inspector.
“What other solution could there be? Christian had no enemies. What I
can’t understand is why you haven’t already arrested Walter?”
“Well, you see, Mrs. Strete, we have to have evidence.”
“You could probably get that easily enough. If you wired to America—”
“Oh yes, we shall check up on Mr. Walter Hudd. You can be sure of that.
But until we can prove motive14, there’s not very much to go upon. There’s
opportunity, of course—”
“He went out just after Christian, pretending the lights had fused—”
“They did fuse.”
“He could easily arrange that.”
“True.”
“That gave him his excuse. He followed Christian to his room, shot him
and then repaired the fuse and came back to the Hall.”
“His wife says he came back before you heard the shot from outside.”
“Not a bit of it! Gina would say anything. The Italians are never truthful15.
And she’s a Roman Catholic, of course.”
Inspector Curry sidestepped the ecclesiastical angle.
“You think his wife was in it with him?”
Mildred Strete hesitated for a moment.
“No — no, I don’t think that.” She seemed rather disappointed not to
think so. She went on, “That must have been partly the motive—to prevent
Gina’s learning the truth about him. After all, Gina is his bread and but-
ter.”
“And a very beautiful girl.”
“Oh yes. I’ve always said Gina is good-looking. A very common type in
Italy, of course. But if you ask me, it’s money that Walter Hudd is after.
That’s why he came over here and has settled down living on the Serro-
colds.”
“Mrs. Hudd is very well off, I understand?”
“Not at present. My father settled the same sum on Gina’s mother, as he
did on me. But, of course, she took her husband’s nationality (I believe the
law is altered now) and what with the war and his being a Fascist16, Gina
has very little of her own. My mother spoils her, and her American aunt,
Mrs. Van Rydock, spent fabulous17 sums on her and bought her everything
she wanted during the war years. Nevertheless, from Walter’s point of
view, he can’t lay his hands on much until my mother’s death when a very
large fortune will come to Gina.”
“And to you, Mrs. Strete.”
A faint colour came into Mildred Strete’s cheek.
“And to me, as you say. My husband and myself always lived quietly. He
spent very little money except on books—he was a great scholar. My own
money has almost doubled itself. It is more than enough for my simple
needs. Still one can always use money for benefit of others. Any money
that comes to me, I shall regard as a sacred trust.”
“But it won’t be in a Trust, will it?” said Curry, wilfully18 misunderstand-
ing. “It will come to you, absolutely.”
“Oh yes—in that sense. Yes, it will be mine absolutely.”
Something in the ring of that last word made Inspector Curry raise his
head sharply. Mrs. Strete was not looking at him. Her eyes were shining,
and her long thin mouth was curved in a triumphant19 smile.
Inspector Curry said in a considering voice:
“So in your view—and, of course, you’ve had ample opportunities of
judging—Mr. Walter Hudd wants the money that will come to his wife
when Mrs. Serrocold dies. By the way, she’s not very strong is she, Mrs.
Strete?”
“My mother has always been delicate.”
“Quite so. But delicate people often live as long or longer than people
who have robust20 health.”
“Yes, I suppose they do.”
“You haven’t noticed your mother’s health failing just lately?”
“She suffers from rheumatism21. But then one must have something as
one grows older. I’ve no sympathy with people who make a fuss over inev-
itable aches and pains.”
“Does Mrs. Serrocold make a fuss?”
Mildred Strete was silent for a moment. She said at last:
“She does not make a fuss herself, but she is used to being made a fuss
of. My stepfather is far too solicitous22. And as for Miss Bellever, she makes
herself positively23 ridiculous. In any case, Miss Bellever has had a very bad
influence in this house. She came here many years ago, and her devotion
to my mother, though admirable in itself, has really become somewhat of
an infliction24. She literally25 tyrannises over my mother. She runs the whole
house and takes far too much upon herself. I think it annoys Lewis some-
times. I should never be surprised if he told her to go. She has no tact26—no
tact whatever, and it is trying for a man to find his wife completely domin-
ated by a bossy27 woman.”
Inspector Curry nodded his head gently.
“I see … I see….”
He watched her speculatively28.
“There’s one thing I don’t quite get, Mrs. Strete. The position of the two
Restarick brothers?”
“More foolish sentiment. Their father married my poor mother for her
money. Two years afterwards, he ran away with a Yugoslavian singer of
the lowest morals. He was a very unworthy person. My mother was soft-
hearted enough to be sorry for these two boys. Since it was out of the
question for them to spend their holidays with a woman of such notorious
morals, she more or less adopted them. They have been hangers-on here
ever since. Oh yes, we’ve plenty of spongers in this house, I can tell you
that.”
“Alex Restarick had an opportunity of killing Christian Gulbrandsen. He
was in his car alone—driving from the lodge29 to the house—what about
Stephen?”
“Stephen was in the Hall with us. I don’t approve of Alex Restarick—he
is getting to look very coarse and I imagine he leads an irregular life—but
I don’t really see him as a murderer. Besides, why should he kill my
brother?”
“That’s what we always come back to, isn’t it?” said Inspector Curry gen-
ially. “What did Christian Gulbrandsen know—about someone—that made
it necessary for that someone to kill him?”
“Exactly,” said Mrs. Strete triumphantly30. “It must be Walter Hudd.”
“Unless it’s someone nearer home.”
Mildred said sharply:
“What did you mean by that?”
Inspector Curry said slowly:
“Mr. Gulbrandsen seemed very concerned about Mrs. Serrocold’s health
whilst he was here.”
Mrs. Strete frowned.
“Men always fuss over Mother because she looks fragile. I think she
likes them to! Or else Christian had been listening to Juliet Bellever.”
“You’re not worried about your mother’s health yourself, Mrs. Strete?”
“No. I hope I’m sensible. Naturally Mother is not young—”
“And death comes to all of us,” said Inspector Curry. “But not ahead of
its appointed time. That’s what we have to prevent.”
He spoke31 meaningly. Mildred Strete flared32 into sudden animation33.
“Oh it’s wicked—wicked. No one else here really seems to care. Why
should they? I’m the only person who was a blood relation to Christian. To
Mother, he was only a grown-up stepson. To Gina, he isn’t really any rela-
tion at all. But he was my own brother.”
“Half brother,” suggested Inspector Curry.
“Half brother, yes. But we were both Gulbrandsens in spite of the differ-
ence in age.”
Curry said gently, “Yes—yes, I see your point….”
Tears in her eyes, Mildred Strete marched out. Curry looked at Lake.
“So she’s quite sure it’s Walter Hudd,” he said. “Won’t entertain for a
moment the idea of its being anybody else.”
“And she may be right.”
“She certainly may. Wally fits. Opportunity—and motive. Because if he
wants money quick, his wife’s grandmother would have to die. So Wally
tampers34 with her tonic35, and Christian Gulbrandsen sees him do it — or
hears about it in some way. Yes, it fits very nicely.”
He paused and said:
“By the way, Mildred Strete likes money … She mayn’t spend it, but she
likes it. I’m not sure why … She may be a miser—with a miser’s passion.
Or she may like the power that money gives. Money for benevolence36, per-
haps7? She’s a Gulbrandsen. She may want to emulate37 Father.”
“Complex, isn’t it?” said Sergeant38 Lake, and scratched his head.
Inspector Curry said:
“We’d better see this screwy young man, Lawson, and after that we’ll go
to the Great Hall and work out who was where—and if and why—and
when … we’ve heard one or two rather interesting things this morning.”

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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。
2 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员，监察员，视察员
参考例句：
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
3 curry xnozh     
n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革
参考例句：
  • Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
  • Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。
4 ascetic bvrzE     
adj.禁欲的；严肃的
参考例句：
  • The hermit followed an ascetic life-style.这个隐士过的是苦行生活。
  • This is achieved by strict celibacy and ascetic practices.这要通过严厉的独身生活和禁欲修行而达到。
5 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
6 fortitude offzz     
n.坚忍不拔；刚毅
参考例句：
  • His dauntless fortitude makes him absolutely fearless.他不屈不挠的坚韧让他绝无恐惧。
  • He bore the pain with great fortitude.他以极大的毅力忍受了痛苦。
7 haps 7226286636a9a1dc4226df0e47f52e59     
n.粗厚毛披巾；偶然，机会，运气( hap的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • He recorded all the little haps and mishaps of his life. 他记录了下他生命中的所有小祸小福。 来自互联网
  • Per haps he's never run up against any walls. 这家伙大概没有碰过钉子吧？ 来自互联网
8 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰
参考例句：
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
9 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。
10 gangsters ba17561e907047df78d78510bfbc2b09     
匪徒，歹徒( gangster的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The gangsters offered him a sum equivalent to a whole year's earnings. 歹徒提出要给他一笔相当于他一年收入的钱。
  • One of the gangsters was caught by the police. 歹徒之一被警察逮捕。
11 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财
参考例句：
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
12 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 blotting 82f88882eee24a4d34af56be69fee506     
吸墨水纸
参考例句：
  • Water will permeate blotting paper. 水能渗透吸水纸。
  • One dab with blotting-paper and the ink was dry. 用吸墨纸轻轻按了一下，墨水就乾了。
14 motive GFzxz     
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
15 truthful OmpwN     
adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的
参考例句：
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
16 fascist ttGzJZ     
adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子
参考例句：
  • The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
  • They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。
17 fabulous ch6zI     
adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的
参考例句：
  • We had a fabulous time at the party.我们在晚会上玩得很痛快。
  • This is a fabulous sum of money.这是一笔巨款。
18 wilfully dc475b177a1ec0b8bb110b1cc04cad7f     
adv.任性固执地；蓄意地
参考例句：
  • Don't wilfully cling to your reckless course. 不要一意孤行。 来自辞典例句
  • These missionaries even wilfully extended the extraterritoriality to Chinese converts and interfered in Chinese judicial authority. 这些传教士还肆意将"治外法权"延伸至中国信徒，干涉司法。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
19 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的
参考例句：
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
20 robust FXvx7     
adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的
参考例句：
  • She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
  • China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。
21 rheumatism hDnyl     
n.风湿病
参考例句：
  • The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
  • The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
22 solicitous CF8zb     
adj.热切的，挂念的
参考例句：
  • He was so solicitous of his guests.他对他的客人们非常关切。
  • I am solicitous of his help.我渴得到他的帮助。
23 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实
参考例句：
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
24 infliction nbxz6     
n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚
参考例句：
  • Don't immerse yourself in the infliction too long.不要长时间沉浸在痛苦经历中。
  • Instead of rivets there came an invasion,an infliction,and a visitation.但是铆钉并没有运来，来的却是骚扰、混乱和视察。
25 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实
参考例句：
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。
26 tact vqgwc     
n.机敏，圆滑，得体
参考例句：
  • She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
  • Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。
27 bossy sxdzgz     
adj.爱发号施令的，作威作福的
参考例句：
  • She turned me off with her bossy manner.她态度专橫很讨我嫌。
  • She moved out because her mother-in-law is too bossy.她的婆婆爱指使人,所以她搬出去住了。
28 speculatively 6f786a35f4960ebbc2f576c1f51f84a4     
adv.思考地，思索地；投机地
参考例句：
  • He looked at her speculatively. 他若有所思的看着她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She eyed It'speculatively as a cruel smile appeared on her black lips. 她若有所思地审视它，黑色的嘴角浮起一丝残酷的微笑。 来自互联网
29 lodge q8nzj     
v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆
参考例句：
  • Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
  • I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
30 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地
参考例句：
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
31 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。
32 Flared Flared     
adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
  • The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭，但它突然又燃烧起来。
33 animation UMdyv     
n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作
参考例句：
  • They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
  • The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。
34 tampers 3f9b662037e98e362f880382ae2cdcd1     
n.捣棒( tamper的名词复数 )；打夯机；夯具；填塞者v.窜改( tamper的第三人称单数 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄
参考例句：
  • If anyone tampers with this door it trips the alarm. 要是有人撬这扇门，就会触响警报器。 来自辞典例句
  • I do not approve of anything which tampers with natural ignorance. 我不赞成损害与生俱来的愚昧的任何事物。 来自互联网
35 tonic tnYwt     
n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的
参考例句：
  • It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
  • Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。
36 benevolence gt8zx     
n.慈悲，捐助
参考例句：
  • We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
  • He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。
37 emulate tpqx9     
v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿
参考例句：
  • You must work hard to emulate your sister.你必须努力工作，赶上你姐姐。
  • You must look at the film and try to emulate his behavior.你们必须观看这部电影，并尽力模仿他的动作。
38 sergeant REQzz     
n.警官，中士
参考例句：
  • His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
  • How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

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