黑麦奇案11

时间：2025-10-10 08:13:08

（单词翻译:单击）

Chapter Nine
“Sounds like the wife to me,” said the assistant commissioner1. He had
been listening attentively2 to Inspector3 Neele’s report.
It had been an admirable précis of the case. Short, but with no relevant
detail left out.
“Yes,” said the AC. “It looks like the wife. What do you think yourself,
Neele, eh?”
Inspector Neele said that it looked like the wife to him too. He reflected
cynically4 that it usually was the wife—or the husband as the case might
be.
“She had the opportunity all right. And motive5?” The AC paused. “There
is motive?”
“Oh, I think so, sir. This Mr. Dubois, you know.”
“Think he was in it, too?”
“No, I shouldn’t say that, sir.” Inspector Neele weighed the idea. “A bit
too fond of his own skin for that. He may have guessed what was in her
mind, but I shouldn’t imagine that he instigated6 it.”
“No, too careful.”
“Much too careful.”
“Well, we mustn’t jump to conclusions, but it seems a good working hy-
pothesis. What about the other two who had opportunity?”
“That’s the daughter and the daughter-in-law. The daughter was mixed-
up with a young man whom her father didn’t want her to marry. And he
definitely wasn’t marrying her unless she had the money. That gives her a
motive. As to the daughter- in- law, I wouldn’t like to say. Don’t know
enough about her yet. But any of the three of them could have poisoned
him, and I don’t see how anyone else could have done so. The parlour-
maid, the butler, the cook, they all handled the breakfast or brought it in,
but I don’t see how any of them could have been sure of Fortescue himself
getting the taxine and nobody else. That is, if it was taxine.”
The AC said: “It was taxine all right. I’ve just got the preliminary report.”
“That settles that, then,” said Inspector Neele. “We can go ahead.”
“Servants seem all right?”
“The butler and the parlourmaid both seem nervous. There’s nothing
uncommon8 about that. Often happens. The cook’s fighting mad and the
housemaid was grimly pleased. In fact all quite natural and normal.”
“There’s nobody else whom you consider suspicious in any way?”
“No, I don’t think so, sir.” Involuntarily, Inspector Neele’s mind went
back to Mary Dove and her enigmatic smile. There had surely been a faint
yet definite look of antagonism9. Aloud he said, “Now that we know it’s tax-
ine, there ought to be some evidence to be got as to how it was obtained or
prepared.”
“Just so. Well, go ahead, Neele. By the way, Mr. Percival Fortescue is
here now. I’ve had a word or two with him and he’s waiting to see you.
We’ve located the other son, too. He’s in Paris at the Bristol, leaving today.
You’ll have him met at the airport, I suppose?”
“Yes, sir. That was my idea… .”
“Well, you’d better see Percival Fortescue now.” The AC chuckled10.
“Percy Prim11, that’s what he is.”
Mr. Percival Fortescue was a neat fair man of thirty odd, with pale hair
and eyelashes and a slightly pedantic12 way of speech.
“This has been a terrible shock to me, Inspector Neele, as you can well
imagine.”
“It must have been, Mr. Fortescue,” said Inspector Neele.
“I can only say that my father was perfectly13 well when I left home the
day before yesterday. This food poisoning, or whatever it was, must have
been very sudden?”
“It was very sudden, yes. But it wasn’t food poisoning, Mr. Fortescue.”
Percival stared and frowned.
“No? So that’s why—” he broke off.
“Your father,” said Inspector Neele, “was poisoned by the administra-
tion of taxine.”
“Taxine? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Very few people have, I should imagine. It is a poison that takes effect
very suddenly and drastically.”
The frown deepened.
“Are you telling me, Inspector, that my father was deliberately14 poisoned
by someone?”
“It would seem so, yes, sir.”
“That’s terrible!”
“Yes indeed, Mr. Fortescue.”
Percival murmured: “I understand now their attitude in the hospital—
their referring me here.” He broke off. After a pause he went on, “The fu-
neral?” He spoke15 interrogatively.
“The inquest is fixed16 for tomorrow after the postmortem. The proceed-
ings at the inquest will be purely17 formal and the inquest will be ad-
journed.”
“I understand. That is usually the case?”
“Yes, sir. Nowadays.”
“May I ask, have you formed any ideas, any suspicions of who could—
Really, I—” again he broke off.
“It’s rather early days for that, Mr. Fortescue,” murmured Neele.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“All the same it would be helpful to us, Mr. Fortescue, if you could give
us some idea of your father’s testamentary dispositions18. Or perhaps you
could put me in touch with his solicitor19.”
“His solicitors20 are Billingsby, Horsethorpe & Walters of Bedford Square.
As far as his will goes, I think I can more or less tell you its main disposi-
tions.”
“If you will be kind enough to do so, Mr. Fortescue. It’s a routine that
has to be gone through, I’m afraid.”
“My father made a new will on the occasion of his marriage two years
ago,” said Percival precisely21. “My father left the sum of £100,000 to his
wife absolutely and £50,000 to my sister, Elaine. I am his residuary leg-
atee. I am already, of course, a partner in the firm.”
“There was no bequest22 to your brother, Lancelot Fortescue?”
“No, there is an estrangement23 of long standing24 between my father and
my brother.”
Neele threw a sharp glance at him—but Percival seemed quite sure of
his statement.
“So as the will stands,” said Inspector Neele, “the three people who stand
to gain are Mrs. Fortescue, Miss Elaine Fortescue and yourself?”
“I don’t think I shall be much of a gainer.” Percival sighed. “There are
death duties, you know, Inspector. And of late my father has been—well,
all I can say is, highly injudicious in some of his financial dealings.”
“You and your father have not seen eye to eye lately about the conduct
of the business?” Inspector Neele threw out the question in a genial25 man-
ner.
“I put my point of view to him, but alas26 —” Percival shrugged27 his
shoulders.
“Put it rather forcibly, didn’t you?” Neele inquired. “In fact, not to put
too fine a point on it, there was quite a row about it, wasn’t there?”
“I should hardly say that, Inspector.” A red flush of annoyance28 mounted
to Percival’s forehead.
“Perhaps the dispute you had was about some other matter then, Mr.
Fortescue?”
“There was no dispute, Inspector.”
“Quite sure of that, Mr. Fortescue? Well, no matter. Did I understand
that your father and brother are still estranged29?”
“That is so.”
“Then perhaps you can tell me what this means?”
Neele handed him the telephone message Mary Dove had jotted30 down.
Percival read it and uttered an exclamation31 of surprise and annoyance.
He seemed both incredulous and angry.
“I can’t understand it, I really can’t. I can hardly believe it.”
“It seems to be true, though, Mr. Fortescue. Your brother is arriving
from Paris today.”
“But it’s extraordinary, quite extraordinary. No, I really can’t under-
stand it.”
“Your father said nothing to you about it?”
“He certainly did not. How outrageous32 of him. To go behind my back
and send for Lance.”
“You’ve no idea, I suppose, why he did such a thing?”
“Of course I haven’t. It’s all on a par7 with his behaviour lately—Crazy!
Unaccountable. It’s got to be stopped—I—”
Percival came to an abrupt33 stop. The colour ebbed34 away again from his
pale face.
“I’d forgotten—” he said. “For the moment I’d forgotten that my father
was dead—”
Inspector Neele shook his head sympathetically.
Percival Fortescue prepared to take his departure—as he picked up his
hat he said:
“Call upon me if there is anything I can do. But I suppose—” he paused
—“you will be coming down to Yewtree Lodge35?”
“Yes, Mr. Fortescue—I’ve got a man in charge there now.”
Percival shuddered36 in a fastidious way.
“It will all be most unpleasant. To think such a thing should happen to
us—”
He sighed and moved towards the door.
“I shall be at the office most of the day. There is a lot to be seen to here.
But I shall get down to Yewtree Lodge this evening.”
“Quite so, sir.”
Percival Fortescue went out.
“Percy Prim,” murmured Neele.
Sergeant37 Hay who was sitting unobtrusively by the wall looked up and
said “Sir?” interrogatively.
Then as Neele did not reply, he asked, “What do you make of it all, sir?”
“I don’t know,” said Neele. He quoted softly, “ ‘They’re all very unpleas-
ant people.’ ”
Sergeant Hay looked somewhat puzzled.
“Alice in Wonderland,” said Neele. “Don’t you know your Alice, Hay?”
“It’s a classic, isn’t it, sir?” said Hay. “Third Programme stuff. I don’t
listen to the Third Programme.”

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 commissioner gq3zX     
n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员
参考例句：
  • The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
  • He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
2 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神
参考例句：
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 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。
4 cynically 3e178b26da70ce04aff3ac920973009f     
adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地
参考例句：
  • "Holding down the receiver,'said Daisy cynically. “挂上话筒在讲。”黛西冷嘲热讽地说。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
  • The Democrats sensibly (if cynically) set about closing the God gap. 民主党在明智（有些讽刺）的减少宗教引起的问题。 来自互联网
5 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。
6 instigated 55d9a8c3f57ae756aae88f0b32777cd4     
v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The government has instigated a programme of economic reform. 政府已实施了经济改革方案。
  • He instigated the revolt. 他策动了这次叛乱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
7 par OK0xR     
n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的
参考例句：
  • Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
  • I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。
8 uncommon AlPwO     
adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的
参考例句：
  • Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
  • Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。
9 antagonism bwHzL     
n.对抗，敌对，对立
参考例句：
  • People did not feel a strong antagonism for established policy.人们没有对既定方针产生强烈反应。
  • There is still much antagonism between trades unions and the oil companies.工会和石油公司之间仍然存在着相当大的敌意。
10 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
11 prim SSIz3     
adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地
参考例句：
  • She's too prim to enjoy rude jokes!她太古板，不喜欢听粗野的笑话！
  • He is prim and precise in manner.他的态度一本正经而严谨
12 pedantic jSLzn     
adj.卖弄学问的；迂腐的
参考例句：
  • He is learned,but neither stuffy nor pedantic.他很博学，但既不妄自尊大也不卖弄学问。
  • Reading in a pedantic way may turn you into a bookworm or a bookcase,and has long been opposed.读死书会变成书呆子，甚至于成为书橱，早有人反对过了。
13 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。
14 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地
参考例句：
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
15 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。
16 fixed JsKzzj     
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。
17 purely 8Sqxf     
adv.纯粹地，完全地
参考例句：
  • I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
  • This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。
18 dispositions eee819c0d17bf04feb01fd4dcaa8fe35     
安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质
参考例句：
  • We got out some information about the enemy's dispositions from the captured enemy officer. 我们从捕获的敌军官那里问出一些有关敌军部署的情况。
  • Elasticity, solubility, inflammability are paradigm cases of dispositions in natural objects. 伸缩性、可缩性、易燃性是天然物体倾向性的范例。
19 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师，事务律师
参考例句：
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
20 solicitors 53ed50f93b0d64a6b74a2e21c5841f88     
初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Most solicitors in England and Wales are in private practice . 英格兰和威尔士的大多数律师都是私人执业者。
  • The family has instructed solicitors to sue Thomson for compensation. 那家人已经指示律师起诉汤姆森，要求赔偿。
21 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
22 bequest dWPzq     
n.遗赠；遗产，遗物
参考例句：
  • In his will he made a substantial bequest to his wife.在遗嘱里他给妻子留下了一大笔遗产。
  • The library has received a generous bequest from a local businessman.图书馆从当地一位商人那里得到了一大笔遗赠。
23 estrangement 5nWxt     
n.疏远，失和，不和
参考例句：
  • a period of estrangement from his wife 他与妻子分居期间
  • The quarrel led to a complete estrangement between her and her family. 这一争吵使她同家人完全疏远了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
25 genial egaxm     
adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的
参考例句：
  • Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
  • He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。
26 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句：
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
27 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒，生气，烦恼
参考例句：
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
29 estranged estranged     
adj.疏远的，分离的
参考例句：
  • He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
  • The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。
30 jotted 501a1ce22e59ebb1f3016af077784ebd     
v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下
参考例句：
  • I jotted down her name. 我匆忙记下了她的名字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The policeman jotted down my address. 警察匆匆地将我的地址记下。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
31 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词
参考例句：
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。
32 outrageous MvFyH     
adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的
参考例句：
  • Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
  • Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
33 abrupt 2fdyh     
adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的
参考例句：
  • The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
  • His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
34 ebbed d477fde4638480e786d6ea4ac2341679     
（指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落
参考例句：
  • But the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped. 不过这次痛已减退，寒战也停止了。
  • But gradually his interest in good causes ebbed away. 不过后来他对这类事业兴趣也逐渐淡薄了。
35 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。
36 shuddered 70137c95ff493fbfede89987ee46ab86     
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》
37 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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