福尔摩斯-孤身骑车人 The Solitary Cyclist
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The Solitary1 Cyclist
Arthur Conan Doyle
From the years 1894 to 1901 inclusive Mr. Sherlock Holmes was a very busy man. It is safe to say that there was no public case of any difficulty in which he was not consulted during those eight years, and there were hundreds of private cases, some of them of the most intricate and extraordinary character, in which he played a prominent part. Many startling successes and a few unavoidable failures were the outcome of this long period of continuous work. As I have preserved very full notes of all these cases, and was myself personally engaged in many of them, it may be imagined that it is no easy task to know which I should select to lay before the public. I shall, however, preserve my former rule, and give the preference to those cases which derive3 their interest not so much from the brutality5 of the crime as from the ingenuity6 and dramatic quality of the solution. For this reason I will now lay before the reader the facts connected with Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist of Charlington, and the curious sequel of our investigation7, which culminated8 in unexpected tragedy. It is true that the circumstances did not admit of any striking illustration of those powers for which my friend was famous, but there were some points about the case which made it stand out in those long records of crime from which I gather the material for these little narratives9.
On referring to my note-book for the year 1895 I find that it was upon Saturday, the 23rd of April, that we first heard of Miss Violet Smith. Her visit was, I remember, extremely unwelcome to Holmes, for he was immersed at the moment in a very abstruse10 and complicated problem concerning the peculiar11 persecution12 to which John Vincent Harden, the well-known tobacco millionaire, had been subjected. My friend, who loved above all things precision and concentration of thought, resented anything which distracted his attention from the matter in hand. And yet without a harshness which was foreign to his nature it was impossible to refuse to listen to the story of the young and beautiful woman, tall, graceful14, and queenly, who presented herself at Baker15 Street late in the evening and implored16 his assistance and advice. It was vain to urge that his time was already fully17 occupied, for the young lady had come with the determination to tell her story, and it was evident that nothing short of force could get her out of the room until she had done so. With a resigned air and a somewhat weary smile, Holmes begged the beautiful intruder to take a seat and to inform us what it was that was troubling her.
“At least it cannot be your health,” said he, as his keen eyes darted18 over her; “so ardent19 a bicyclist must be full of energy.”
She glanced down in surprise at her own feet, and I observed the slight roughening of the side of the sole caused by the friction20 of the edge of the pedal.
“Yes, I bicycle a good deal, Mr. Holmes, and that has something to do with my visit to you to-day.”
My friend took the lady's ungloved hand and examined it with as close an attention and as little sentiment as a scientist would show to a specimen21.
“You will excuse me, I am sure. It is my business,” said he, as he dropped it. “I nearly fell into the error of supposing that you were typewriting. Of course, it is obvious that it is music. You observe the spatulate finger-end, Watson, which is common to both professions? There is a spirituality about the face, however”—he gently turned it towards the light—“which the typewriter does not generate. This lady is a musician.”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes, I teach music.”
“In the country, I presume, from your complexion22.”
“Yes, sir; near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey.”
“A beautiful neighbourhood and full of the most interesting associations. You remember, Watson, that it was near there that we took Archie Stamford, the forger23. Now, Miss Violet, what has happened to you near Farnham, on the borders of Surrey?”
The young lady, with great clearness and composure, made the following curious statement:—
“My father is dead, Mr. Holmes. He was James Smith, who conducted the orchestra at the old Imperial Theatre. My mother and I were left without a relation in the world except one uncle, Ralph Smith, who went to Africa twenty-five years ago, and we have never had a word from him since. When father died we were left very poor, but one day we were told that there was an advertisement in the Times inquiring for our whereabouts. You can imagine how excited we were, for we thought that someone had left us a fortune. We went at once to the lawyer whose name was given in the paper. There we met two gentlemen, Mr. Carruthers and Mr. Woodley, who were home on a visit from South Africa. They said that my uncle was a friend of theirs, that he died some months before in great poverty in Johannesburg, and that he had asked them with his last breath to hunt up his relations and see that they were in no want. It seemed strange to us that Uncle Ralph, who took no notice of us when he was alive, should be so careful to look after us when he was dead; but Mr. Carruthers explained that the reason was that my uncle had just heard of the death of his brother, and so felt responsible for our fate.”
“Excuse me,” said Holmes; “when was this interview?”
“Last December—four months ago.”
“Pray proceed.”
“Mr. Woodley seemed to me to be a most odious24 person. He was for ever making eyes at me—a coarse, puffy-faced, red-moustached young man, with his hair plastered down on each side of his forehead. I thought that he was perfectly25 hateful—and I was sure that Cyril would not wish me to know such a person.”
“Oh, Cyril is his name!” said Holmes, smiling.
The young lady blushed and laughed.
“Yes, Mr. Holmes; Cyril Morton, an electrical engineer, and we hope to be married at the end of the summer. Dear me, how did I get talking about him? What I wished to say was that Mr. Woodley was perfectly odious, but that Mr. Carruthers, who was a much older man, was more agreeable. He was a dark, sallow, clean-shaven, silent person; but he had polite manners and a pleasant smile. He inquired how we were left, and on finding that we were very poor he suggested that I should come and teach music to his only daughter, aged2 ten. I said that I did not like to leave my mother, on which he suggested that I should go home to her every week-end, and he offered me a hundred a year, which was certainly splendid pay. So it ended by my accepting, and I went down to Chiltern Grange, about six miles from Farnham. Mr. Carruthers was a widower26, but he had engaged a lady-housekeeper, a very respectable, elderly person, called Mrs. Dixon, to look after his establishment. The child was a dear, and everything promised well. Mr. Carruthers was very kind and very musical, and we had most pleasant evenings together. Every week-end I went home to my mother in town.
“The first flaw in my happiness was the arrival of the red-moustached Mr. Woodley. He came for a visit of a week, and oh, it seemed three months to me! He was a dreadful person, a bully27 to everyone else, but to me something infinitely28 worse. He made odious love to me, boasted of his wealth, said that if I married him I would have the finest diamonds in London, and finally, when I would have nothing to do with him, he seized me in his arms one day after dinner—he was hideously30 strong—and he swore that he would not let me go until I had kissed him. Mr. Carruthers came in and tore him off from me, on which he turned upon his own host, knocking him down and cutting his face open. That was the end of his visit, as you can imagine. Mr. Carruthers apologized to me next day, and assured me that I should never be exposed to such an insult again. I have not seen Mr. Woodley since.
“And now, Mr. Holmes, I come at last to the special thing which has caused me to ask your advice to-day. You must know that every Saturday forenoon I ride on my bicycle to Farnham Station in order to get the 12.22 to town. The road from Chiltern Grange is a lonely one, and at one spot it is particularly so, for it lies for over a mile between Charlington Heath upon one side and the woods which lie round Charlington Hall upon the other. You could not find a more lonely tract13 of road anywhere, and it is quite rare to meet so much as a cart, or a peasant, until you reach the high road near Crooksbury Hill. Two weeks ago I was passing this place when I chanced to look back over my shoulder, and about two hundred yards behind me I saw a man, also on a bicycle. He seemed to be a middle-aged31 man, with a short, dark beard. I looked back before I reached Farnham, but the man was gone, so I thought no more about it. But you can imagine how surprised I was, Mr. Holmes, when on my return on the Monday I saw the same man on the same stretch of road. My astonishment32 was increased when the incident occurred again, exactly as before, on the following Saturday and Monday. He always kept his distance and did not molest33 me in any way, but still it certainly was very odd. I mentioned it to Mr. Carruthers, who seemed interested in what I said, and told me that he had ordered a horse and trap, so that in future I should not pass over these lonely roads without some companion.
“The horse and trap were to have come this week, but for some reason they were not delivered, and again I had to cycle to the station. That was this morning. You can think that I looked out when I came to Charlington Heath, and there, sure enough, was the man, exactly as he had been the two weeks before. He always kept so far from me that I could not clearly see his face, but it was certainly someone whom I did not know. He was dressed in a dark suit with a cloth cap. The only thing about his face that I could clearly see was his dark beard. To-day I was not alarmed, but I was filled with curiosity, and I determined34 to find out who he was and what he wanted. I slowed down my machine, but he slowed down his. Then I stopped altogether, but he stopped also. Then I laid a trap for him. There is a sharp turning of the road, and I pedalled very quickly round this, and then I stopped and waited. I expected him to shoot round and pass me before he could stop. But he never appeared. Then I went back and looked round the corner. I could see a mile of road, but he was not on it. To make it the more extraordinary, there was no side road at this point down which he could have gone.”
Holmes chuckled35 and rubbed his hands. “This case certainly presents some features of its own,” said he. “How much time elapsed between your turning the corner and your discovery that the road was clear?”
“Two or three minutes.”
“Then he could not have retreated down the road, and you say that there are no side roads?”
“None.”
“Then he certainly took a footpath36 on one side or the other.”
“It could not have been on the side of the heath or I should have seen him.”
“So by the process of exclusion37 we arrive at the fact that he made his way towards Charlington Hall, which, as I understand, is situated38 in its own grounds on one side of the road. Anything else?”
“Nothing, Mr. Holmes, save that I was so perplexed39 that I felt I should not be happy until I had seen you and had your advice.”
Holmes sat in silence for some little time.
“Where is the gentleman to whom you are engaged?” he asked, at last.
“He is in the Midland Electrical Company, at Coventry.”
“He would not pay you a surprise visit?”
“Oh, Mr. Holmes! As if I should not know him!”
“Have you had any other admirers?”
“Several before I knew Cyril.”
“And since?”
“There was this dreadful man, Woodley, if you can call him an admirer.”
“No one else?”
Our fair client seemed a little confused.
“Who was he?” asked Holmes.
“Oh, it may be a mere40 fancy of mine; but it has seemed to me sometimes that my employer, Mr. Carruthers, takes a great deal of interest in me. We are thrown rather together. I play his accompaniments in the evening. He has never said anything. He is a perfect gentleman. But a girl always knows.”
“Ha!” Holmes looked grave. “What does he do for a living?”
“He is a rich man.”
“No carriages or horses?”
“Well, at least he is fairly well-to-do. But he goes into the City two or three times a week. He is deeply interested in South African gold shares.”
“You will let me know any fresh development, Miss Smith. I am very busy just now, but I will find time to make some inquiries41 into your case. In the meantime take no step without letting me know. Good-bye, and I trust that we shall have nothing but good news from you.”
“It is part of the settled order of Nature that such a girl should have followers,” said Holmes, as he pulled at his meditative42 pipe, “but for choice not on bicycles in lonely country roads. Some secretive lover, beyond all doubt. But there are curious and suggestive details about the case, Watson.”
“That he should appear only at that point?”
“Exactly. Our first effort must be to find who are the tenants43 of Charlington Hall. Then, again, how about the connection between Carruthers and Woodley, since they appear to be men of such a different type? How came they both to be so keen upon looking up Ralph Smith's relations? One more point. What sort of a menage is it which pays double the market price for a governess, but does not keep a horse although six miles from the station? Odd, Watson—very odd!”
“You will go down?”
“No, my dear fellow, you will go down. This may be some trifling45 intrigue46, and I cannot break my other important research for the sake of it. On Monday you will arrive early at Farnham; you will conceal47 yourself near Charlington Heath; you will observe these facts for yourself, and act as your own judgment48 advises. Then, having inquired as to the occupants of the Hall, you will come back to me and report. And now, Watson, not another word of the matter until we have a few solid stepping-stones on which we may hope to get across to our solution.”
We had ascertained49 from the lady that she went down upon the Monday by the train which leaves Waterloo at 9.50, so I started early and caught the 9.13. At Farnham Station I had no difficulty in being directed to Charlington Heath. It was impossible to mistake the scene of the young lady's adventure, for the road runs between the open heath on one side and an old yew50 hedge upon the other, surrounding a park which is studded with magnificent trees. There was a main gateway51 of lichen-studded stone, each side pillar surmounted52 by mouldering53 heraldic emblems54; but besides this central carriage drive I observed several points where there were gaps in the hedge and paths leading through them. The house was invisible from the road, but the surroundings all spoke55 of gloom and decay.
The heath was covered with golden patches of flowering gorse, gleaming magnificently in the light of the bright spring sunshine. Behind one of these clumps56 I took up my position, so as to command both the gateway of the Hall and a long stretch of the road upon either side. It had been deserted58 when I left it, but now I saw a cyclist riding down it from the opposite direction to that in which I had come. He was clad in a dark suit, and I saw that he had a black beard. On reaching the end of the Charlington grounds he sprang from his machine and led it through a gap in the hedge, disappearing from my view.
A quarter of an hour passed and then a second cyclist appeared. This time it was the young lady coming from the station. I saw her look about her as she came to the Charlington hedge. An instant later the man emerged from his hiding-place, sprang upon his cycle, and followed her. In all the broad landscape those were the only moving figures, the graceful girl sitting very straight upon her machine, and the man behind her bending low over his handle-bar, with a curiously59 furtive60 suggestion in every movement. She looked back at him and slowed her pace. He slowed also. She stopped. He at once stopped too, keeping two hundred yards behind her. Her next movement was as unexpected as it was spirited. She suddenly whisked her wheels round and dashed straight at him! He was as quick as she, however, and darted off in desperate flight. Presently she came back up the road again, her head haughtily61 in the air, not deigning62 to take any further notice of her silent attendant. He had turned also, and still kept his distance until the curve of the road hid them from my sight.
I remained in my hiding-place, and it was well that I did so, for presently the man reappeared cycling slowly back. He turned in at the Hall gates and dismounted from his machine. For some few minutes I could see him standing63 among the trees. His hands were raised and he seemed to be settling his necktie. Then he mounted his cycle and rode away from me down the drive towards the Hall. I ran across the heath and peered through the trees. Far away I could catch glimpses of the old grey building with its bristling64 Tudor chimneys, but the drive ran through a dense65 shrubbery, and I saw no more of my man.
However, it seemed to me that I had done a fairly good morning's work, and I walked back in high spirits to Farnham. The local house-agent could tell me nothing about Charlington Hall, and referred me to a well-known firm in Pall66 Mall. There I halted on my way home, and met with courtesy from the representative. No, I could not have Charlington Hall for the summer. I was just too late. It had been let about a month ago. Mr. Williamson was the name of the tenant44. He was a respectable elderly gentleman. The polite agent was afraid he could say no more, as the affairs of his clients were not matters which he could discuss.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes listened with attention to the long report which I was able to present to him that evening, but it did not elicit67 that word of curt68 praise which I had hoped for and should have valued. On the contrary, his austere69 face was even more severe than usual as he commented upon the things that I had done and the things that I had not.
“Your hiding-place, my dear Watson, was very faulty. You should have been behind the hedge; then you would have had a close view of this interesting person. As it is you were some hundreds of yards away, and can tell me even less than Miss Smith. She thinks she does not know the man; I am convinced she does. Why, otherwise, should he be so desperately70 anxious that she should not get so near him as to see his features? You describe him as bending over the handle-bar. Concealment71 again, you see. You really have done remarkably72 badly. He returns to the house and you want to find out who he is. You come to a London house-agent!”
“What should I have done?” I cried, with some heat.
“Gone to the nearest public-house. That is the centre of country gossip. They would have told you every name, from the master to the scullery-maid. Williamson! It conveys nothing to my mind. If he is an elderly man he is not this active cyclist who sprints73 away from that athletic74 young lady's pursuit. What have we gained by your expedition? The knowledge that the girl's story is true. I never doubted it. That there is a connection between the cyclist and the Hall. I never doubted that either. That the Hall is tenanted by Williamson. Who's the better for that? Well, well, my dear sir, don't look so depressed75. We can do little more until next Saturday, and in the meantime I may make one or two inquiries myself.”
Next morning we had a note from Miss Smith, recounting shortly and accurately76 the very incidents which I had seen, but the pith of the letter lay in the postscript77:
“I am sure that you will respect my confidence, Mr. Holmes, when I tell you that my place here has become difficult owing to the fact that my employer has proposed marriage to me. I am convinced that his feelings are most deep and most honourable78. At the same time my promise is, of course, given. He took my refusal very seriously, but also very gently. You can understand, however, that the situation is a little strained.”
“Our young friend seems to be getting into deep waters,” said Holmes, thoughtfully, as he finished the letter. “The case certainly presents more features of interest and more possibility of development than I had originally thought. I should be none the worse for a quiet, peaceful day in the country, and I am inclined to run down this afternoon and test one or two theories which I have formed.”
Holmes's quiet day in the country had a singular termination, for he arrived at Baker Street late in the evening with a cut lip and a discoloured lump upon his forehead, besides a general air of dissipation which would have made his own person the fitting object of a Scotland Yard investigation. He was immensely tickled79 by his own adventures, and laughed heartily80 as he recounted them.
“I get so little active exercise that it is always a treat,” said he. “You are aware that I have some proficiency81 in the good old British sport of boxing. Occasionally it is of service. To-day, for example, I should have come to very ignominious82 grief without it.”
I begged him to tell me what had occurred.
“I found that country pub which I had already recommended to your notice, and there I made my discreet83 inquiries. I was in the bar, and a garrulous84 landlord was giving me all that I wanted. Williamson is a white-bearded man, and he lives alone with a small staff of servants at the Hall. There is some rumour85 that he is or has been a clergyman; but one or two incidents of his short residence at the Hall struck me as peculiarly unecclesiastical. I have already made some inquiries at a clerical agency, and they tell me that there was a man of that name in orders whose career has been a singularly dark one. The landlord further informed me that there are usually week-end visitors—‘a warm lot, sir’—at the Hall, and especially one gentleman with a red moustache, Mr. Woodley by name, who was always there. We had got as far as this when who should walk in but the gentleman himself, who had been drinking his beer in the tap-room and had heard the whole conversation. Who was I? What did I want? What did I mean by asking questions? He had a fine flow of language, and his adjectives were very vigorous. He ended a string of abuse by a vicious back-hander which I failed to entirely86 avoid. The next few minutes were delicious. It was a straight left against a slogging ruffian. I emerged as you see me. Mr. Woodley went home in a cart. So ended my country trip, and it must be confessed that, however enjoyable, my day on the Surrey border has not been much more profitable than your own.”
The Thursday brought us another letter from our client.
You will not be surprised, Mr. Holmes [said she] to hear that I am leaving Mr. Carruthers's employment. Even the high pay cannot reconcile me to the discomforts87 of my situation. On Saturday I come up to town and I do not intend to return. Mr. Carruthers has got a trap, and so the dangers of the lonely road, if there ever were any dangers, are now over.
As to the special cause of my leaving, it is not merely the strained situation with Mr. Carruthers, but it is the reappearance of that odious man, Mr. Woodley. He was always hideous29, but he looks more awful than ever now, for he appears to have had an accident and he is much disfigured. I saw him out of the window, but I am glad to say I did not meet him. He had a long talk with Mr. Carruthers, who seemed much excited afterwards. Woodley must be staying in the neighbourhood, for he did not sleep here, and yet I caught a glimpse of him again this morning slinking about in the shrubbery. I would sooner have a savage88 wild animal loose about the place. I loathe89 and fear him more than I can say. How can Mr. Carruthers endure such a creature for a moment? However, all my troubles will be over on Saturday.
“So I trust, Watson; so I trust,” said Holmes, gravely. “There is some deep intrigue going on round that little woman, and it is our duty to see that no one molests90 her upon that last journey. I think, Watson, that we must spare time to run down together on Saturday morning, and make sure that this curious and inconclusive investigation has no untoward91 ending.”
I confess that I had not up to now taken a very serious view of the case, which had seemed to me rather grotesque92 and bizarre than dangerous. That a man should lie in wait for and follow a very handsome woman is no unheard-of thing, and if he had so little audacity93 that he not only dared not address her, but even fled from her approach, he was not a very formidable assailant. The ruffian Woodley was a very different person, but, except on one occasion, he had not molested94 our client, and now he visited the house of Carruthers without intruding95 upon her presence. The man on the bicycle was doubtless a member of those week-end parties at the Hall of which the publican had spoken; but who he was or what he wanted was as obscure as ever. It was the severity of Holmes's manner and the fact that he slipped a revolver into his pocket before leaving our rooms which impressed me with the feeling that tragedy might prove to lurk96 behind this curious train of events.
A rainy night had been followed by a glorious morning, and the heath-covered country-side with the glowing clumps of flowering gorse seemed all the more beautiful to eyes which were weary of the duns and drabs and slate-greys of London. Holmes and I walked along the broad, sandy road inhaling97 the fresh morning air, and rejoicing in the music of the birds and the fresh breath of the spring. From a rise of the road on the shoulder of Crooksbury Hill we could see the grim Hall bristling out from amidst the ancient oaks, which, old as they were, were still younger than the building which they surrounded. Holmes pointed98 down the long tract of road which wound, a reddish yellow band, between the brown of the heath and the budding green of the woods. Far away, a black dot, we could see a vehicle moving in our direction. Holmes gave an exclamation99 of impatience100.
“I had given a margin101 of half an hour,” said he. “If that is her trap she must be making for the earlier train. I fear, Watson, that she will be past Charlington before we can possibly meet her.”
From the instant that we passed the rise we could no longer see the vehicle, but we hastened onwards at such a pace that my sedentary life began to tell upon me, and I was compelled to fall behind. Holmes, however, was always in training, for he had inexhaustible stores of nervous energy upon which to draw. His springy step never slowed until suddenly, when he was a hundred yards in front of me, he halted, and I saw him throw up his hand with a gesture of grief and despair. At the same instant an empty dog-cart, the horse cantering, the reins102 trailing, appeared round the curve of the road and rattled103 swiftly towards us.
“Too late, Watson; too late!” cried Holmes, as I ran panting to his side. “Fool that I was not to allow for that earlier train! It's abduction, Watson—abduction! Murder! Heaven knows what! Block the road! Stop the horse! That's right. Now, jump in, and let us see if I can repair the consequences of my own blunder.”
We had sprung into the dog-cart, and Holmes, after turning the horse, gave it a sharp cut with the whip, and we flew back along the road. As we turned the curve the whole stretch of road between the Hall and the heath was opened up. I grasped Holmes's arm.
“That's the man!” I gasped104.
A solitary cyclist was coming towards us. His head was down and his shoulders rounded as he put every ounce of energy that he possessed105 on to the pedals. He was flying like a racer. Suddenly he raised his bearded face, saw us close to him, and pulled up, springing from his machine. That coal-black beard was in singular contrast to the pallor of his face, and his eyes were as bright as if he had a fever. He stared at us and at the dog-cart. Then a look of amazement106 came over his face.
“Halloa! Stop there!” he shouted, holding his bicycle to block our road. “Where did you get that dog-cart? Pull up, man!” he yelled, drawing a pistol from his side pocket. “Pull up, I say, or, by George, I'll put a bullet into your horse.”
Holmes threw the reins into my lap and sprang down from the cart.
“You're the man we want to see. Where is Miss Violet Smith?” he said, in his quick, clear way.
“That's what I am asking you. You're in her dog-cart. You ought to know where she is.”
“We met the dog-cart on the road. There was no one in it. We drove back to help the young lady.”
“Good Lord! Good Lord! what shall I do?” cried the stranger, in an ecstasy107 of despair. “They've got her, that hellhound Woodley and the blackguard parson. Come, man, come, if you really are her friend. Stand by me and we'll save her, if I have to leave my carcass in Charlington Wood.”
He ran distractedly, his pistol in his hand, towards a gap in the hedge. Holmes followed him, and I, leaving the horse grazing beside the road, followed Holmes.
“This is where they came through,” said he, pointing to the marks of several feet upon the muddy path. “Halloa! Stop a minute! Who's this in the bush?”
It was a young fellow about seventeen, dressed like an ostler, with leather cords and gaiters. He lay upon his back, his knees drawn108 up, a terrible cut upon his head. He was insensible, but alive. A glance at his wound told me that it had not penetrated109 the bone.
“That's Peter, the groom110,” cried the stranger. “He drove her. The beasts have pulled him off and clubbed him. Let him lie; we can't do him any good, but we may save her from the worst fate that can befall a woman.”
We ran frantically111 down the path, which wound among the trees. We had reached the shrubbery which surrounded the house when Holmes pulled up.
“They didn't go to the house. Here are their marks on the left—here, beside the laurel bushes! Ah, I said so!”
As he spoke a woman's shrill112 scream—a scream which vibrated with a frenzy113 of horror—burst from the thick green clump57 of bushes in front of us. It ended suddenly on its highest note with a choke and a gurgle.
“This way! This way! They are in the bowling114 alley,” cried the stranger, darting115 through the bushes. “Ah, the cowardly dogs! Follow me, gentlemen! Too late! too late! by the living Jingo!”
We had broken suddenly into a lovely glade116 of greensward surrounded by ancient trees. On the farther side of it, under the shadow of a mighty117 oak, there stood a singular group of three people. One was a woman, our client, drooping118 and faint, a handkerchief round her mouth. Opposite her stood a brutal4, heavy-faced, red-moustached young man, his gaitered legs parted wide, one arm akimbo, the other waving a riding-crop, his whole attitude suggestive of triumphant119 bravado120. Between them an elderly, grey-bearded man, wearing a short surplice over a light tweed suit, had evidently just completed the wedding service, for he pocketed his prayer-book as we appeared and slapped the sinister121 bridegroom upon the back in jovial122 congratulation.
“They're married!” I gasped.
“Come on!” cried our guide; “come on!” He rushed across the glade, Holmes and I at his heels. As we approached, the lady staggered against the trunk of the tree for support. Williamson, the ex-clergyman, bowed to us with mock politeness, and the bully Woodley advanced with a shout of brutal and exultant123 laughter.
“You can take your beard off, Bob,” said he. “I know you right enough. Well, you and your pals124 have just come in time for me to be able to introduce you to Mrs. Woodley.”
Our guide's answer was a singular one. He snatched off the dark beard which had disguised him and threw it on the ground, disclosing a long, sallow, clean-shaven face below it. Then he raised his revolver and covered the young ruffian, who was advancing upon him with his dangerous riding-crop swinging in his hand.
“Yes,” said our ally, “I am Bob Carruthers, and I'll see this woman righted if I have to swing for it. I told you what I'd do if you molested her, and, by the Lord, I'll be as good as my word!”
“You're too late. She's my wife!”
“No, she's your widow.”
His revolver cracked, and I saw the blood spurt125 from the front of Woodley's waistcoat. He spun126 round with a scream and fell upon his back, his hideous red face turning suddenly to a dreadful mottled pallor. The old man, still clad in his surplice, burst into such a string of foul127 oaths as I have never heard, and pulled out a revolver of his own, but before he could raise it he was looking down the barrel of Holmes's weapon.
“Enough of this,” said my friend, coldly. “Drop that pistol! Watson, pick it up! Hold it to his head! Thank you. You, Carruthers, give me that revolver. We'll have no more violence. Come, hand it over!”
“Who are you, then?”
“My name is Sherlock Holmes.”
“Good Lord!”
“You have heard of me, I see. I will represent the official police until their arrival. Here, you!” he shouted to a frightened groom who had appeared at the edge of the glade. “Come here. Take this note as hard as you can ride to Farnham.” He scribbled128 a few words upon a leaf from his note-book. “Give it to the superintendent129 at the police-station. Until he comes I must detain you all under my personal custody130.”
The strong, masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic131 scene, and all were equally puppets in his hands. Williamson and Carruthers found themselves carrying the wounded Woodley into the house, and I gave my arm to the frightened girl. The injured man was laid on his bed, and at Holmes's request I examined him. I carried my report to where he sat in the old tapestry-hung dining-room with his two prisoners before him.
“He will live,” said I.
“What!” cried Carruthers, springing out of his chair. “I'll go upstairs and finish him first. Do you tell me that that girl, that angel, is to be tied to Roaring Jack132 Woodley for life?”
“You need not concern yourself about that,” said Holmes. “There are two very good reasons why she should under no circumstances be his wife. In the first place, we are very safe in questioning Mr. Williamson's right to solemnize a marriage.”
“I have been ordained,” cried the old rascal133.
“And also unfrocked.”
“Once a clergyman, always a clergyman.”
“I think not. How about the license134?”
“We had a license for the marriage. I have it here in my pocket.”
“Then you got it by a trick. But in any case a forced marriage is no marriage, but it is a very serious felony, as you will discover before you have finished. You'll have time to think the point out during the next ten years or so, unless I am mistaken. As to you, Carruthers, you would have done better to keep your pistol in your pocket.”
“I begin to think so, Mr. Holmes; but when I thought of all the precaution I had taken to shield this girl—for I loved her, Mr. Holmes, and it is the only time that ever I knew what love was—it fairly drove me mad to think that she was in the power of the greatest brute135 and bully in South Africa, a man whose name is a holy terror from Kimberley to Johannesburg. Why, Mr. Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but ever since that girl has been in my employment I never once let her go past this house, where I knew these rascals136 were lurking137, without following her on my bicycle just to see that she came to no harm. I kept my distance from her, and I wore a beard so that she should not recognise me, for she is a good and high-spirited girl, and she wouldn't have stayed in my employment long if she had thought that I was following her about the country roads.”
“Why didn't you tell her of her danger?”
“Because then, again, she would have left me, and I couldn't bear to face that. Even if she couldn't love me it was a great deal to me just to see her dainty form about the house, and to hear the sound of her voice.”
“Well,” said I, “you call that love, Mr. Carruthers, but I should call it selfishness.”
“Maybe the two things go together. Anyhow, I couldn't let her go. Besides, with this crowd about, it was well that she should have someone near to look after her. Then when the cable came I knew they were bound to make a move.”
“What cable?”
Carruthers took a telegram from his pocket.
“That's it,” said he.
It was short and concise138:
The old man is dead.
“Hum!” said Holmes. “I think I see how things worked, and I can understand how this message would, as you say, bring them to a head. But while we wait you might tell me what you can.”
The old reprobate139 with the surplice burst into a volley of bad language.
“By Heaven,” said he, “if you squeal140 on us, Bob Carruthers, I'll serve you as you served Jack Woodley. You can bleat141 about the girl to your heart's content, for that's your own affair, but if you round on your pals to this plain-clothes copper142 it will be the worst day's work that ever you did.”
“Your reverence143 need not be excited,” said Holmes, lighting144 a cigarette. “The case is clear enough against you, and all I ask is a few details for my private curiosity. However, if there's any difficulty in your telling me I'll do the talking, and then you will see how far you have a chance of holding back your secrets. In the first place, three of you came from South Africa on this game—you Williamson, you Carruthers, and Woodley.”
“Lie number one,” said the old man; “I never saw either of them until two months ago, and I have never been in Africa in my life, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Busybody Holmes!”
“What he says is true,” said Carruthers.
“Well, well, two of you came over. His reverence is our own home-made article. You had known Ralph Smith in South Africa. You had reason to believe he would not live long. You found out that his niece would inherit his fortune. How's that—eh?”
Carruthers nodded and Williamson swore.
“She was next-of-kin, no doubt, and you were aware that the old fellow would make no will.”
“Couldn't read or write,” said Carruthers.
“So you came over, the two of you, and hunted up the girl. The idea was that one of you was to marry her and the other have a share of the plunder145. For some reason Woodley was chosen as the husband. Why was that?”
“We played cards for her on the voyage. He won.”
“I see. You got the young lady into your service, and there Woodley was to do the courting. She recognised the drunken brute that he was, and would have nothing to do with him. Meanwhile, your arrangement was rather upset by the fact that you had yourself fallen in love with the lady. You could no longer bear the idea of this ruffian owning her.”
“No, by George, I couldn't!”
“There was a quarrel between you. He left you in a rage, and began to make his own plans independently of you.”
“It strikes me, Williamson, there isn't very much that we can tell this gentleman,” cried Carruthers, with a bitter laugh. “Yes, we quarreled, and he knocked me down. I am level with him on that, anyhow. Then I lost sight of him. That was when he picked up with this cast padre here. I found that they had set up house-keeping together at this place on the line that she had to pass for the station. I kept my eye on her after that, for I knew there was some devilry in the wind. I saw them from time to time, for I was anxious to know what they were after. Two days ago Woodley came up to my house with this cable, which showed that Ralph Smith was dead. He asked me if I would stand by the bargain. I said I would not. He asked me if I would marry the girl myself and give him a share. I said I would willingly do so, but that she would not have me. He said, ‘Let us get her married first, and after a week or two she may see things a bit different.’ I said I would have nothing to do with violence. So he went off cursing, like the foul-mouthed blackguard that he was, and swearing that he would have her yet. She was leaving me this week-end, and I had got a trap to take her to the station, but I was so uneasy in my mind that I followed her on my bicycle. She had got a start, however, and before I could catch her the mischief146 was done. The first thing I knew about it was when I saw you two gentlemen driving back in her dog-cart.”
Holmes rose and tossed the end of his cigarette into the grate. “I have been very obtuse147, Watson,” said he. “When in your report you said that you had seen the cyclist as you thought arrange his necktie in the shrubbery, that alone should have told me all. However, we may congratulate ourselves upon a curious and in some respects a unique case. I perceive three of the county constabulary in the drive, and I am glad to see that the little ostler is able to keep pace with them; so it is likely that neither he nor the interesting bridegroom will be permanently148 damaged by their morning's adventures. I think, Watson, that in your medical capacity you might wait upon Miss Smith and tell her that if she is sufficiently149 recovered we shall be happy to escort her to her mother's home. If she is not quite convalescent you will find that a hint that we were about to telegraph to a young electrician in the Midlands would probably complete the cure. As to you, Mr. Carruthers, I think that you have done what you could to make amends150 for your share in an evil plot. There is my card, sir, and if my evidence can be of help to you in your trial it shall be at your disposal.”
In the whirl of our incessant151 activity it has often been difficult for me, as the reader has probably observed, to round off my narratives, and to give those final details which the curious might expect. Each case has been the prelude152 to another, and the crisis once over the actors have passed for ever out of our busy lives. I find, however, a short note at the end of my manuscripts dealing153 with this case, in which I have put it upon record that Miss Violet Smith did indeed inherit a large fortune, and that she is now the wife of Cyril Morton, the senior partner of Morton & Kennedy, the famous Westminster electricians. Williamson and Woodley were both tried for abduction and assault, the former getting seven years and the latter ten. Of the fate of Carruthers I have no record, but I am sure that his assault was not viewed very gravely by the Court, since Woodley had the reputation of being a most dangerous ruffian, and I think that a few months were sufficient to satisfy the demands of justice.

孤身骑车人
 
从一八九四年到一九○一年期间,歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生异常繁忙。完全可以说,这八年来各种公办的疑难著名案件,没有一件不请教福尔摩斯的。还有千百件私人案件,其中许多是十分错综复杂并具有特色的,福尔摩斯也在其中起了重要作用。许多惊人的成就和一些不可避免的失败是这一漫长时期连续工作的结果。由于我对这些案件有闻必录,其中的许多案件我自己也亲身参加过,可以想象,要弄清我应该选择哪些来公之于众,这不是一件容易的事。然而,我可以按照我从前的作法,优先选择那些不是以犯罪的凶残著称,而是以结案的巧妙和戏剧一性一而引人入胜的案件。由于这个原因,我就选择了有关维奥莱特·史密斯小一姐,查林顿的孤身骑车人一事,以及我们调查到的奇异结局,这个结局以出人意料的悲剧而告终。现在我就把情况介绍给读者。诚然,这些事对我朋友那因以扬名的才能并没有增添什么异彩,可是这件案子却有几点非常突出,不同于我从中收集资料写成了这些小笔事的那些长期犯罪记录。
我翻阅了一八九五年的笔记,查出是四月二十三日,星期六,我们第一次听维奥莱特·史密斯谈自己的事。我记得福尔摩斯对她的来访极不欢迎,因为那时他正全神贯注于一件十分难解的错综复杂的问题,这个问题涉及著名的烟草大王约翰·文森特·哈登所遭遇的特殊难题。我的朋友最喜欢的事就是准确和思想集中,在办手头的事情时,最厌烦别的事来打扰他。尽避如此,但他生一性一并不固执生硬,不可能拒绝那位身材苗条、仪态万方、神色庄重的美貌姑一娘一来讲述她的遭遇,何况她又是在这么晚的晚上亲自来贝克街恳请他帮助和指点的。尽避福尔摩斯声明时间已经排满,但也无济于事,因为那姑一娘一下定决心非讲不可。很明显,她不达到目的,要想使她离开除非动武。福尔摩斯显出无可奈何的神色,勉强地笑了笑,请那位美丽的不速之客坐下,把她遇到的麻烦事如实地讲给我们听。
“至少不会是一件有碍你身一体健康的事,"福尔摩斯用那双敏锐的眼睛把她周身打量了一番说道,“象你这样一爱一骑车的人,一定是一精一力充沛的。”
她惊异地看看自己的双脚,我也发现了她鞋底一边被脚蹬子边缘磨得起一毛一了。
“是的,我经常骑自行车,福尔摩斯先生,我今天来拜访你,正是和骑车的事情有关系呢。”
我的朋友拿起这姑一娘一没戴手套的那只手,象科学家看标本那样,全神贯注而不动声色地检查着。
“我相信,你会原谅我的。这是我的业务,"福尔摩斯把姑一娘一的手放下,说道,"我几乎错把你当成打字员了。显而易见,你当然是一位音乐家。华生,你注意到那两种职业所共有的勺形指端吗?不过,她脸上有一种风采,"那女子平静地把脸转向亮处,"那是打字员所不具备的。所以,这位女士是音乐家。”
“是的,福尔摩斯先生,我教音乐。”
“从你的脸色来看,我想你是在乡下教音乐。”
“是的,先生,靠近法纳姆,在萨里边界。”
“是一个好地方,可以使人联想到许多有趣的事情。华生,你一定记得我们就是在那附近拿获了伪造货币犯阿尔奇·斯坦福德。嗯,维奥莱特小一姐,靠近法纳姆,在萨里边界,你遇到什么事了?”
那位姑一娘一十分清楚明白、镇静自若地说出下面这一段古怪离奇的事情来:
“福尔摩斯先生,我父亲已经去世了。他叫詹姆斯·史密斯,是老帝国剧院的乐队指挥。我和母亲在世上举目无亲,我只有一个叔父,他名叫拉尔夫·史密斯,于二十五年前到非洲去了,从那时期音信全无。父亲死后,我们一譬如洗,可是有一天人家告诉我们,《泰晤士报》登了一则广告,询问我们的下落。你可以想象我们是多么激动啊,因为我们想这是有人给我们留下遗产了。我们立即按报上登的姓名去找那位律师,在那里又遇到了两位先生,卡拉瑟斯和伍德利,他们是从南非回来探家的。他们说我叔父是他们的朋友,几个月以前在十分贫困中死于约翰内斯堡。我叔父临终之前,请他们去找他的亲属,并务必使他的亲属不至穷困潦倒。这似乎使我们很奇怪,我叔父拉尔夫活着的时候,并不关心我们,而在他死时却那么一精一心关照我们。可是卡拉瑟斯先生解释说,因为我叔父刚刚听到他哥哥的死讯,所以感到对我们的命运负有重大责任。”
“请原谅,"福尔摩斯说道,"你们是什么时候见面的?”
“去年十二月,已有四个月了。”
“请继续讲下去吧。”
“我看伍德利先生讨厌得很,他是一个面孔虚胖、一脸红一胡一子的粗一暴的青年,头发披散在额头两边,总是向我挤眉弄眼。我认为他十分可憎,我相信西里尔一定不乐意我认识这个人。”
“噢,西里尔是他的名字!"福尔摩斯笑容满面地说道。
那姑一娘一满面通红,笑了笑。
“是的,福尔摩斯先生,西里尔·莫顿,是一个电气工程师,我们希望在夏末结婚。哎呀,我怎么扯其他来了呢?我想说伍德利先生十分讨厌,而那位年纪老些的卡拉瑟斯先生可比较有礼貌。虽然他脸色土黄,脸刮得光光的,沉默寡言,但举止文雅,笑容可掬。他询问了我们的境况,发现我们很穷困,便要我到他那里教他那十岁的独生女儿。我说我不愿离开母亲,他说我可以在每周末回家去看她。他答应给我每年一百镑,这当然是十分优厚的酬金了。所以最后我答应了,来到离法纳姆六英里左右的奇尔特恩农庄。卡拉瑟斯先生丧妻鳏居,他雇用了一个叫狄克逊太太的女管家来照料家事,这位老妇人老成持重,令人品敬。那个孩子也很可一爱一,一切也都如意。卡拉瑟斯先生十分和善,热衷于音乐,我们晚上在一起过得很高兴,每逢周末我回城里家中看望母亲。
“在我的快乐生活中,头一件不顺心的事就是一脸红一胡一子的伍德利先生的到来。他来访一个星期,哎呀!对我来说简直如同三个月。他是一个可怕的人,对别人横行霸道,对我更肆无忌惮。他作了许多丑态表示一爱一我,吹嘘他的财富,说如果我嫁给他,我就可以得到伦敦最漂亮的钻石。最后,当我始终对他不加理睬时,有一天饭后他抓住我把我抱在怀里——他有可恶的牛劲——发誓说如果我不吻他,他就不放手。这时正好卡拉瑟斯先生进屋,把他从我身边拉开。为了这事,伍德利和东道主翻了脸,把卡拉瑟斯打倒在地,脸上弄出个大口子。伍德利的来访至此结束,第二天卡拉瑟斯先生向我道歉,并保证绝不让我再受这样的凌一辱。从那以后我再没见到伍德利先生。
“现在,福尔摩斯先生,我终于谈到今天来向你请教的具体事情上了。你一定知道,我每星期六上午骑车到法纳姆车站,赶十二点二十二分的火车进城。我从奇尔特恩农庄出来,那条路很偏僻,有一段尤其荒凉,这一段有一英里多长,一边是查林顿石南灌木地带,另一边是查林顿庄园外圈的树林。你再也找不到比这段路更荒凉的地方了。在你没有到达靠近克鲁克斯伯里山公路以前,极难遇到一辆马车、一个农民。两星期以前,我从这地方经过,偶然回头一望,见身后两百码左右有个男人在骑车,看起来是个中年人,蓄着短短的黑一胡一子。在到法纳姆以前,我又回头一看,那人已经消失,所以我也没再想这件事。不过,福尔摩斯先生,我星期一返回时又在那段路上看到那个人。你可想而知我该多么惊奇了。而下一个星期六和星期一,又和上次丝毫不差,这事又重演了一遍,我愈发惊异不止了。那个人始终保持一定距离,决不打扰我,不过这毕竟十分古怪。我把这事告诉了卡拉瑟斯先生,他看来十分重视我说的事,告诉我他已经订购了一骑马和一辆轻便马车,所以将来我再过那段偏僻道路时,不愁没有伴侣了。
“马和轻便马车本来应该在这个星期就到,可不知什么原因,卖主没有一交一货,我只好还是骑车到火车站。这是今天早晨的事。我来到查林顿石南灌木地带,向远处一看,一点也不错,那人就在那地方,和两个星期以前一模一样。他总是离我很远,我看不清他的脸,但肯定不是我认识的人。他穿一身黑衣服,戴布帽。我只能看清他脸上的黑一胡一子。今天我不害怕了,而是满腹疑一团一,我决心查明他是什么人,要干什么事。我放慢了我的车速,他也放慢了他的车速。后来我停车不骑了,他也停车不骑了。于是我心生一计来对付他。路上有一处急转弯,我便紧蹬一阵拐过弯去,然后停车等候他。我指望他很快拐过弯来,并且来不及停车,超到我前面去。但他根本没露面。我便返回去,向转弯处四处张望。我可以望见一英里的路程,可是路上不见他的踪影。尤其令人惊异的是,这地方并没有岔路,他是无法走开的。”
福尔摩斯轻声一笑,一搓一着双手。"这件事确实有它的特色,"他说道,"从你转过弯去到你发现路上无人,这中间有多久?”
“二、三分钟吧。”
“那他来不及从原路退走,你说那里没有岔路吗?”
“没有。”
“那他肯定是从路旁人行小径走开的。”
“不可能从石南灌木地段那一侧,不然我早就看到他了。”
“那么,按照排除推理法,我们就查明了一个事实,他向查林顿庄园那一侧去了,据我所知,查林顿庄园宅基就在大路一侧。还有其它情况吗?”
“没有了,福尔摩斯先生,只是我十分惶惑莫解,感到极不愉快,所以才来见你,求得你的指点。”
福尔摩斯默默不语地坐了一会儿。
“和你订婚的那位先生在什么地方?"福尔摩斯终于问道。
“他在考文垂的米得兰电气公司。”
“他不会出其不意地来看你吧?”
“噢,福尔摩斯先生!难道我还不认识他!”
“还有其他一爱一慕你的男人吗?”
“在我认识西里尔以前有过几个。”
“从那时以后呢?”
“假如你把伍德利也算做一个一爱一慕我的人的话,那就是那个可怕的人了。”
“没有别的人了吗?”
我们那位美丽的委托人似乎有点为难。
“他是谁呢?"福尔摩斯问道。
“噢,可能纯粹是我一胡一思乱想;可是有时我似乎觉得我的雇主卡拉瑟斯先生对我十分有意。我们经常相遇,晚上我给他伴奏,他从来没说过什么。他是一位很好的先生,可是一个姑一娘一总是心里明白的。”
“哈!"福尔摩斯显得十分严肃,"他以什么为生呢?”
“他是一个富有的人。”
“他没有四轮马车或者马匹吗?”
“啊,至少他生活相当富裕。他每星期进城两三次,十分关心南非的黄金股票。”
“史密斯小一姐,你要把新发现的一切情况告诉我。现在我很忙,不过我一定一抽一时间来查办你这件案子。在这期间,不要没通知我就采取行动。再见,我相信我们会得到你的好消息。”
“这样的一位姑一娘一会有一些追求者,这是很自然的,"福尔摩斯沉思地一抽一着烟斗说道,“不过不要选偏僻村路骑自行车去追逐嘛。毫无疑问是一个偷偷一爱一上她的人。可是这件案子里有一些颇为奇怪和引人深思的细节,华生。”
“你是说他竟然只在那个地方出现吗?”
“不错。我们要做的第一件事就是查明谁租用了查林顿庄园。然后再查明卡拉瑟斯和伍德利究竟是什么关系,因为他俩是完全不同类型的人啊。他俩为什么急于查访拉尔夫·史密斯的亲属呢?还有一点,卡拉瑟斯家离车站六英里远,连一骑马都不买,却偏偏要出两倍代价来雇一名家庭女教师,这是一种什么样的治家之道呢?奇怪,华生,十分奇怪!”
“你下去调查吗?”
“不,我亲一爱一的朋友,你下去调查好了。这可能是一件无足挂齿的小一一谋,我不能为它中断别的重大调查工作。星期一你一早到法纳姆去,要隐藏在查林顿石南地带附近,亲自观察这些事实。根据自己的判断见机行一事,然后,查明是谁住在查林顿庄园,回来向我报告。现在,华生,在弄到几件可靠的证据,有希望用于结案前,我对这件事没有别的话好讲的了。”
那姑一娘一告诉我们她星期一九点五十分从滑铁卢车站乘车出发,所以我便提早出发赶乘九点十三分的火车。到法纳姆车站,我毫不费力地问明了查林顿地带。要错过那姑一娘一的遇险地带是不可能的,因为那段路一边是开阔的石南灌木地带,另一边是老紫杉树篱,环绕着一座花园,花园里巨树参天。庄园有个长满地衣的石子路,大门两侧的石柱上满是破烂的纹章图案。除了中间行车的石子路之外,我发现几处树篱有豁口,有小路穿入。从路上看不到宅院,四周的环境都显得一一暗、衰颓。
石南地带开满一丛丛的黄色金雀花,在灿烂的春日骄一栆幌律辽练⒐狻N以诠嗄敬院笱『靡身之Γ员慵饶芄鄄熳按竺牛帜芸吹搅奖叱こさ囊淮蠖温贰N依肟舐肥保飞峡瘴抟蝗耍衷谟懈鋈似纷懦荡佣悦嫦蛭依吹姆较虮既ァK┳藕谏装,我见他蓄有黑一胡一子。他来到查林顿宅地⊥罚鲁道矗殉低平骼榈囊淮砜冢谖业氖酉咧邢Я恕�
过了一刻钟,第二个骑自行车的人出现了。这次是那位姑一娘一从火车站来。我见她骑到查林顿树篱时四下张望。过了一会儿,那男人从藏身处走出来,跳上自行车,尾随着她。在那辽阔的如画风景中,只有这两个人影在活动。那位仪态端庄的姑一娘一笔直地A骑在车上,她身后的男人却低伏一在车把上,一举一动都带有莫名其妙的鬼鬼祟祟的形迹。她回头看到他,便放慢了速度。他也放慢了速度。姑一娘一下了车,他也立即下车,在她身后有二百码的距离。那姑一娘一的下一步动作却是出奇不意地迅猛,她突然扭转车头紧蹬一阵,径直向他冲了过去。然而,他也象那姑一娘一一样迅速,不顾一切拼命地逃脱了。她又立刻返回大路,傲然地昂着头,不屑再去置理那不声不响的尾随者了。他也转过身来,依然保持着那段距离,直到转过大路我看不到他们为止。
我依然呆在藏身之处,这样作是很恰当的,因为那个男人马上又露面了,他不慌不忙地骑车返回来。他拐进庄园大门,下了车。我看他在树丛中站了几分钟,举起双手,似乎在整理他的领带。然后又上车从我身旁经过,向对着庄园的车道骑去。我跑出石南灌木地带,从树林缝隙望过去,可以隐约看到远处那座古老的灰楼和它那些矗一立的都铎式烟囱,可惜那条车道穿过一片浓密的灌木丛,我再也看不到那个人了。
不过,我看我已经作了一件漂亮事,便兴致勃勃地徒步走回法纳姆。关于查林顿庄园,当地房产经纪人什么也说不出来,只好把我介绍到帕尔马尔的一家著名的公司。我在回家途中到那里停留了一阵,受到经纪人的殷勤接待。不行,我不能租用查林顿庄园避暑了,我来得太晚了,庄园一个月以前已经租出去,租给了一个叫威廉森先生的人。他是一个体面的老先生。那位颇有礼貌的经纪人客气地说他不能再告诉我什么了,因为他不能议论他顾主的事。
那天晚上,歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生注意地倾听了我向他作的冗长的报告。我本来期望受到称赞,而且很重视他的称赞,可是连一句赞许的话也没有听到。恰恰相反,在他评论我做过的事和没有做到的事时,他那严峻的面容甚至比平时更加严肃。
“我亲一爱一的华生,你那藏身之地是非常失算的。你本来应该藏到树篱后面,仔细看看那位有趣的人。事实上,你藏的地方离那儿几百码,告诉我的情况甚至比史密斯小一姐还要少。她认为她不认识那个人,我确信她是认识的。要不然,他为什么那样拼死拼活地担心,生怕那姑一娘一走近他,看清了他的面貌呢?你说他伏身在自行车把上,你看,这不又是为了隐藏面目吗?你确实作得十分不妙。他回到了那所宅院,你要查明他是谁,却跑到一个伦敦房产经纪人那里!”
“那我应该怎么办呢?"我有点头脑发一热地高声喊道。
“到离那儿最近的酒店里去,那里是村上扯闲话的中心。人家会告诉你每一个人的名字,从主人到帮厨的女仆。至于威廉森吗,我一点印象也没有。假如他是老年人,那么他就不是那个灵敏的骑车人,不是在那个姑一娘一迅速敏捷的追赶下翩然逃脱的人。你这次远行的收获是什么呢?知道了那姑一娘一所讲的是真事,这我从来都不怀疑。知道了骑车人和庄园有关系这我同样不曾怀疑过。知道了那庄园是由威廉森租用的。谁又能为这作保证呢?好了,好了,我亲一爱一的先生,不要显得那么灰心丧气。星期六以前我们还可以多干点事,这段时间我还可以亲自做一两次调查。”
第二天早晨,我们接到史密斯小一姐一封短信,简要而又准确地重述了我亲眼看到的那件事,可是信的主旨却留在附言中。
当我告诉你我在这里的处境已经变得很困难时,我相信你会考虑我所吐露的秘密,这是由于我的雇主已经向我求婚这样一个事实。我相信他的感情是十分深厚而且高尚的。这时,我当然把我已经订婚的事告诉了他。他把我的拒绝看得非常严重,但又十分和气。然而,你可以理解,我的处境是有些尴尬了。
“我们的年轻朋友看起来陷入了困境,"福尔摩斯看完信后,若有所思地说道,"这件案子肯定比我原来设想的有趣得多,发展的可能一性一也多得多。我还是应当到乡下去过一天安静太平日子,我打算今天下午就去,并且把我所形成的一两点想法检验一下。”
福尔摩斯在乡下度过的安静日子,结局是很奇特的,因为他晚间很晚才回到贝克街,嘴唇划破了,额头上还青肿了一大块,还有那种狼狈样子,好象是一个苏格兰场调查的对象。他对自己的历险感到非常高兴,一边讲述,一边出自内心地哈哈大笑。
“积极的锻炼总是有用的,可惜我锻炼的不多。"福尔摩斯说道,"你知道,我一精一通一些优秀的英国旧式拳击运动,并且偶尔用得上它,比如说,今天,要是没有这一手,那我就要遭到非常可耻的惨败了。”
我请他告诉我发生了什么事。
“我到了请你注意过的那个乡村酒店,在那里小心谨慎地进行调查。在酒吧间里,饶舌的店主把我所要知道的一切都告诉了我。威廉森是一个白一胡一子老头,他和少数几个仆人住在庄园里。传说他现在是或过去当过牧师,可是在庄园这段短时间,有一两件小事使我觉得他很不象牧师。我查询过一个牧师机构,他们告诉我,曾经有一个叫这名字的牧师,但他过去的行径极不光彩。那店主接着告诉我,庄园里每到周末总有一些来客——'是一伙下流坯,先生'——特别是一个蓄红一胡一子的人,名叫伍德利的,总少不了他。我们正谈到这里,那位伍德利先生竟然走了过来,他一直在酒吧间喝啤酒,把我们的话全都听去了。他问我是什么人?我要干什么?我问这些问题是什么意思?他口若悬河,修饰语满口都是。他最后谩骂了一通,凶恶地反手一击,我没有来得及躲避。后来的几分钟就很有趣了。我给那凶恶的暴徒一连串的打击。我就成了你看到的这种样子。伍德利先生乘车回去了。我这场乡村旅行也就这样告终了。必须承认,不管多么有趣,我这一天萨里边界之行并不比你的收获大。”
星期四那天我们又收到那位委托人的一封信。她写道:
福尔摩斯先生,你听到我就要辞去卡拉瑟斯先生的雇聘,不会感到惊奇吧。即使报酬优厚,我也不甘心忍受这尴尬的处境。我在星期六回城里,不打算再回来了。卡拉瑟斯先生已备好一辆马车,因此,如果说过去路上有什么危险的话,那么偏僻车路上的危险现在已经不存在了。
至于我辞聘的具体原因,不单是我和卡拉瑟斯先生的尴尬处境,而且是那个令人嫌恶的人伍德利先生又来了。他本来可怕,现在的嘴脸更可怕了。因为他好象出了什么事,所以更加不象样子了。我是从窗子里面看到他的,我很高兴说,我并没有碰上他。他和卡拉瑟斯先生谈了很长时间,从此以后卡拉瑟斯先生非常激动。伍德利一定居住在附近,因为他并没有住在卡拉瑟斯家里。今早我又看到他在灌木丛中鬼鬼祟祟地活动。我不久就会在这地方碰到这头凶猛的吃人野兽,简直说不出是多么憎恨和害怕了。卡拉瑟斯先生怎么竟能容忍这样的一个家伙?一刻也容忍不得啊!不过,我的一切麻烦到星期六就要结束了。
“我相信是这样的,华生,我相信是这样的,"福尔摩斯严肃地说道,“围绕着这位小泵一娘一正进行着一场极为隐秘的一一谋,我们有责任去一趟,不让任何人在她最后一次旅行中一}一扰她。华生,我想星期六早晨我们一定一抽一时间一起去,以便保证我们这次奇异而广泛的调查不致遭受不幸的结局。”
我承认直到现在我还没有十分看重这件案子,在我看来其中并没有什么危险,只不过有些荒诞、古怪而已。男人埋伏着等待漂亮的女人并且尾随她,这并不是什么闻所未闻的事,如果他只有那么一点点放肆,不仅不敢向她求一爱一,而在她接近他的时候,反而逃跑,那他就不是十分可怕的暴徒。那个恶棍伍德利则又当别论。可是,除了那一次之外,他再没有一}一扰过我们的委托人,近来他到过卡拉瑟斯家,可也没有闯到她面前。那个骑车人无疑是酒店老板所说的周末聚会的成员。可他是什么人呢,他要干什么呢?却依然模糊不清。福尔摩斯的严肃表情,他离开我们房间以前,把一只手槍塞到衣袋里,这些都使我感到,这一连串怪事后面可能隐藏着悲剧。
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“我差了半个小时,"福尔摩斯说道,“假如这是她的马车,她一定是在赶乘早些的列车。华生,恐怕我们来不及会她,她早就经过查林顿了。”
这时,我们过了大路高处,已经看不到那辆马车了,可是我们加速向前赶路,速度之快,使我开始露出平日安坐为生的坏处,因而不得不落到后面。然而,福尔摩斯一直锻炼有素,因为他有用之不竭的旺盛一精一力。他那轻快的脚步一直没有放慢,突然,他在我前面一百码的地方停止了脚步。我看见他举起一只手作了一个失败而绝望的手势。与此同时,一辆空马车拐过大路的转弯处,那骑马缰绳拖地,慢步小跑,马车吱吱嘎嘎地向我们迎面驶来。
“太晚了,华生,太晚了!"在我气喘吁吁地跑到福尔摩斯身旁时,他大声喊道,"我真愚蠢,怎么没有想到她要赶那趟早些的列车!一定是劫持,华生,是劫持!是谋杀!天知道是什么!把路挡上!把马拦住!这就对了。喂,跳上车,看看我们能否补救自己的大错造成的后果。”
我们跳上马车,福尔摩斯调过马头,狠狠给了那马一鞭子,我们便顺大路往回疾驰。在我们转过弯时,庄园和石南地段间的整个大路都展现在眼前。我抓住了福尔摩斯的胳膊。
“就是那个人!"我气喘吁吁地说。
一个无伴骑车人向我们冲过来。他低着头,双肩滚一圆,把全身气力都用在脚蹬子上,象赛车的人一样蹬得飞快。突然他抬起满是一胡一子的脸,见我们近在眼前,便停下车,从自行车上跳下来,他那乌黑的一胡一子和苍白的脸色形成鲜明的对照。他双目闪亮,仿佛正在极度兴奋之中。他瞪眼瞅着我们和那辆马车,然后脸上显出惊异的神色。
“喂!停下!"他大声喊道,用他的自行车把我们的路挡住,"你们在哪儿弄到的这辆马车?嗨,停下!"他从侧面口袋中掏出手槍咆哮道,"告诉你,停下,要不然,我可真的要赏你那骑马一颗子弹了。”
福尔摩斯把缰绳扔到我腿上,从马车上跳下来。
“你正是我们要见的人,维奥莱特·史密斯小一姐在哪里?”福尔摩斯连忙清晰地问道。
“我正要问你们呢。你们坐的是她的马车,应当知道她在哪儿。”
“我们在路上碰到这辆马车,上面没有人,我们才把车赶回来去救那位姑一娘一。”
“天哪!天哪!我怎么办哪?"那个陌生人绝望地喊道,"他们把她抓走了,那个该死的伍德利和那个恶棍牧师!快来,先生,假如你们真是她的朋友,那就快来。帮我一同搭救她吧,我横一尸一查林顿森林也在所不惜!”
他提着手槍向树篱的一个豁口疯狂跑去,福尔摩斯紧跟在后,我把马放到路旁吃草,也跟在福尔摩斯身后跑过去。
“他们是从这儿穿过去的,"陌生人指着泥泞小路上的足迹说道,"喂!停一下!编木丛里是什么人?”
那是个十七八岁的小伙子,衣着象马夫,穿着皮裤,打着绑腿。他仰面躺着,双膝蜷曲,头上有一道可怕的伤口,已经失去知觉,不过还有气息。我把他的伤口看了一眼,知道没有伤到骨头。
“这就是马夫彼得,"陌生人喊道,"他就是给那姑一娘一赶车的。那些畜生把他拉下车来用棍棒打伤了。让他先躺在这儿吧,我们反正救不了他,可是我们却可以从可能落到一个女人身上的最坏厄运中把她搭救出来。”
我们发疯一般向林中盘曲小径奔去,一到环绕着宅院的灌木丛,福尔摩斯就站住了。
“他们没有进宅院。左边有他们的脚印,在这儿,在月桂树丛旁边。啊!我说得不错。”
他正说着,传来一阵女人的尖声哀叫,一种带着极度惊恐的颤声狂呼从我们面前一片浓密的绿色灌木丛中传出来。突然尖声高叫停止了,接着是一阵窒息的咯咯声。
“这边!这边!他们在滚球场,"那陌生人闯过灌木丛,说道,"啊,这些胆小表!苞我来,先生们!哎呀!太迟了!太迟了!”
我们猛然闯进古树环绕的一片林间绿草地。草地那一边,在一棵大橡树的树荫下站着三个人。一个是女人,就是我们的委托人,她垂着头,半昏厥过去,嘴上蒙着手帕。她对面站着面貌凶残的红一胡一子年青人,腿上扎着绑腿,大叉腿站着,一只手叉腰,另一只手里晃动着马鞭,他的整个神情显示出一种洋洋得意的架式。这两个人中间站着一个花白一胡一子的老家伙,穿浅色花呢衣服,外罩白色短法衣,显然刚做完结婚仪式,因为我们一到,他就把一本祈祷书装进衣袋,并且轻轻拍着那一一险的新郎的后背,兴致勃勃地向他祝福。
“他们在举行婚礼!"我气喘吁吁地说道。
“来!"我们的领路人喊道,"来!"他冲过林中空地,福尔摩斯和我紧紧跟随。在我们冲到姑一娘一跟前时,她摇摇晃晃地靠在树干上以免摔倒。前牧师威廉森向我们嘲弄地鞠了一躬,而暴徒伍德利却野蛮地大吼一声,得意忘形地狂笑着,向我们冲来。
“你可以把你的一胡一子摘掉,鲍勃,"他说道,"我认识你,一点不含糊。喂,你和你的同伙来得正是时候,我正好给你们介绍一下伍德利夫人。”
我们那带路人的回答很特别。他一把拉掉用以伪装的黑一胡一子,把它扔到地上,露出刮得光光的浅黄色长脸。然后举起手槍,对准了那年轻的暴徒,这时,那暴徒正好手挥致命的马鞭向他冲来。
“是的,"我们的伙伴说道,"我就是鲍勃·卡拉瑟斯,我要看到这姑一娘一安然无恙,否则我只好上吊了。我告诉过你,假如你一}一扰了她,我准备怎么办。皇天在上,我说到做到。”
“你太晚了,她已经是我妻子了。”
“不对,她是你的寡妻。”
槍声响了,我看到血从伍德利前心喷一出来。他尖一叫一声转了一下一身一子就仰面倒下了,那丑陋的红脸霎时变成斑驳而又苍白,十分吓人。那老头子依然披着白色的法衣,此时破口大骂,那骂不绝口的肮脏话语,我真是闻所未闻的。他掏出他自己的手槍来,但还没来得及举槍,就看见福尔摩斯的槍口已经对准他了。
“够了,"我的朋友冷冷地说道,"把槍扔下!华生,你把槍拣起来!把槍对准他的头!谢谢你。还有你,卡拉瑟斯,把你的槍也给我。我们用不着再动武了。来,把槍缴了!”
“那么,你是谁?”
“我叫歇洛克·福尔摩斯。”
“啊呀!”
“我看得出,你们早知道我的名字了。在官方警探来到以前,我只好代劳了。喂,你!埃尔摩斯向林中空地那边一个吓坏了的马夫喊道,纳姆去。"福尔摩斯从笔记本上撕下一页纸,草草写了几句话,"把这送到警察署一交一给警长。在他来到之前,我只好代劳来监护你们了。”
福尔摩斯那坚强的主宰一切的一性一格在支配着这幕惨剧的场面,所有的人都同样乖乖地听他的摆一布。威廉森和卡拉瑟斯把受伤的伍德利抬进屋去,我也扶着那受惊的姑一娘一。伤者放在一床一上,我应福尔摩斯的要求对伤者进行了检查。当我向他报告检查结果时,他正坐在挂有壁毯的老式饭厅里,面前坐着受他监护的威廉森和卡拉瑟斯。
“他可以活下来,"我报告说。
“什么!"卡拉瑟斯高声喊道,从椅子上跳下来,"我首先上楼把他结果了再说。你们不是对我说,那个小天使般的姑一娘一要一辈子受狂徒伍德利的约束吗?”
“这用不着你过问,"福尔摩斯说道,"她根本不成其为他的妻室,这有两条非常充分的理由。第一,我们完全有把握怀疑威廉森主持婚礼的权利。”
“我受任过圣职,"那老无赖喊道。
“早就免去圣职了。”
“一旦做牧师,终身是牧师。”
“我看不行。那么结婚证书呢?”
“我们有结婚证书,就在我衣袋里。”
“照此看来,你们是靠一一谋诡计弄来的。不管怎样来的,反正强迫婚姻绝对不是婚姻,而是十分严重的罪行。在你们完蛋以前,你会悟出这一点的。除非我弄错了,在今后十年左右,你是有时间想通这一点的。至于你,卡拉瑟斯,要是你不从衣袋里掏出槍来,你本来可以干得好一些的。”
“我现在才开始这样想,福尔摩斯先生,可是在我想到我为保护那姑一娘一所采取的一切预防措施时——因为我一爱一她,福尔摩斯先生,而这是我有生以来头一次知道什么叫做一爱一——想到她落入那个南非最残忍的暴徒的魔掌之中,而此人的名字从金伯利到约翰内斯堡人人惧怕,这简直使我发狂。啊,①福尔摩斯先生,你很难相信这些,我知道这些无赖潜伏一在这所宅子里,可是自从那姑一娘一受我聘请以来,她经过这所房子时,我没有一次不骑车护送她,亲眼看她不致受到伤害。我和她保持着一定距离,我戴上了一胡一子,以便使她认不出我来,因为她是一位善良而气质高贵的姑一娘一,如果她想到是我在村①金伯利及约翰内斯堡均为南非地名。——译者注路上尾随她,她就不会长期受我雇聘了。”
“你为什么不把危险告诉她呢?”
“因为那样一来,她还是要离开我的,可是我不愿意有这样的事。即使她不一爱一我,只要我能在家里看到她那秀丽的容貌,听到她的声音,那我就知足了。”
“喂,"我说道,"你把这叫做一爱一,卡拉瑟斯先生。可是我却把这叫做利己主义。”
“可能两者兼而有之。不管怎样,我不能让她离开。再说,她周围有这伙人,最好还是有人在身边照顾她好一些。后来,接到电报,我知道他们一定要有所行动了。”
“什么电报?”
卡拉瑟斯从口袋里拿出一份电报来。
“就是这个,"他说道。
电文非常简单明了:
老儿已死。
“哼!"福尔摩斯说道,"我想我知道这是怎么回事了,并且我也明白,象你所说的,这封电报会引其他们走向极端。你们可以一边等,一边尽你所知全部告诉我。”
那个穿白色法衣的老恶棍破口骂出一连串肮脏话。
“皇天在上!"他说道,"假如你泄露我们的秘密,鲍勃,我就要用你对付杰克·伍德利的手段来对付你。你可以随一心一所一欲地把那姑一娘一的事说得天花乱坠,那是你们自己的事,可是你要把你的朋友出卖给这个便衣警察,那你就要自找倒霉了。”
“尊敬的牧师阁下用不着激动,"福尔摩斯点燃香烟,说道,"这件案子对你们不利,这是十分清楚的。我不过出于个人好奇,问几个细节问题而已。不过,假如你们不便见告,那么我就来说一说,然后你们就会明白你们还能隐瞒住什么秘密了。首先,你们三个人从南非来玩这场把戏——你威廉森,你卡拉瑟斯,还有伍德利。”
“头号的谎言,"那老家伙说道,"两个月以前,我连他们见也没见过,而且我生来也没到过非洲,所以你可以把这谎言放进烟斗里一起烧掉,一爱一管闲事的福尔摩斯先生。”
“他说的是实话,"卡拉瑟斯说道。
“好了,好了,你们两个是从远方来的。这位尊敬的牧师是我们自己的本国货。你们在南非结识了拉尔夫·史密斯。你们有理由相信他不会活得很久了,你们发现他的侄女要继承他的遗产。我这话怎么样?嗯?”
卡拉瑟斯点点头,威廉森咒骂不止。
“毫无疑问,她是最近的亲属,你们知道那个老人不会留下遗嘱。”
“他不认字也不会写,"卡拉瑟斯说道。
“所以你们两人不远万里而来,到处查寻这位姑一娘一。你们打的主意是,一个人娶她,另一个人分一部分赃款。由于某种原因,伍德利选上做丈夫。那原因是什么呢?”
“我们在航途打牌,用那个姑一娘一作注,伍德利赢了。”
“我明白了。你把姑一娘一骗到你家里,好让伍德利到你家向她求一爱一。可是她看得出伍德利是个酗酒的恶棍,不愿和他来往。同时,你自己也一爱一上了这位姑一娘一,这就完全打乱了你们的安排。你想到那个恶棍要占有这姑一娘一,便再也不能容忍了。”
“对,的确,我不能再容忍了。”
“于是你们争吵起来。他一怒之下就走了,把你起在一边,自己打主意了。”
“威廉森,我看,我们要说的这位先生都说了,已经所剩无几了,"卡拉瑟斯苦笑着大声喊道,"对,我们争吵过,他把我打倒了。不管怎样,在打架方面,我和他是不相上下的。后来我就见不到他了。原来那时他在这里结识了这位被免职的牧师。我发现他们俩在这儿租了房子,这正是她去车站的必经之路。在这以后我就留心照料她,因为我知道风声邪恶啊。我一次又一次地去看他们,因为很想知道他们在追求什么。两天以前伍德利带着这封电报到我家来,电报说拉尔夫·史密斯已经去世。伍德利问我是不是遵守讲好的一交一易条件。我说我不愿意。他问我是不是自己想娶那姑一娘一,然后分给他一部分财产。我说我倒是愿意这么办,可是姑一娘一不答应。伍德利说,'让我们先把她娶到手,过一两个星期,她对事情的看法就会有所不同了。'我说我不愿意动用武力。所以他就现出那出言下流的无赖本色,骂骂咧咧地走了,并且发誓说,一定要把她弄到手。她打算这个周末离开我,我弄到一辆轻便马车送她去车站,可总是放心不下,所以骑自行车赶来。然而,她已经动身了,还没等我追上她,祸事就发生了。我一看到你们两位先生把她乘坐的马车赶回来,我就立即知道情况不妙了。”
福尔摩斯站起来,把烟蒂扔进壁炉。"我的感觉一直很迟钝,华生,"他说道,"当你报告说你见骑车人好象在灌木丛中整理领带,光是这一件事就早已向我说明了一切。不过,我们还可以庆幸我们通到这样一桩希奇古怪的、在某些方面又是独一无二的案子。我看见车道上来了三名区警察,我很高兴看到那个小马夫也能跟他们走得一样快,所以,看来,不管是牧师,还是那个有趣的新郎,由于他们今天早晨的非法行动,将永无出头之日了。华生,我想,凭你的医务能力,你可以拜访史密斯小一姐,告诉她,假如她恢复了健康,我们就送她回一娘一家去。如果她还没有完全复原,你可以暗示说,我们准备给米得兰公司的一位年轻电学家打电报,这多半可以把她治愈。至于你,卡拉瑟斯先生,我想你对你参加的罪恶一一谋活动,已经力所能及地进行了补救。这是我的名片,先生,如果在审判你的时候,我的证词对你有益的话,请随意使用好了。”
在我们那层出不穷的活动中,读者可能已经察觉,我往往很难对我的记叙文加以润色,并且写出读者可能期望的那些希奇古怪的最终详细情节。每一案件都是另一案件的序幕,而决定一性一时刻一过,那些登台人物就从我们的忙乱生活中永远退场。然而,我找到了我记叙这件案子的手稿,手稿的结尾有一段简要的记载,我在记载中报告说,维奥莱特·史密斯小一姐果真继承了一大笔遗产,现在她已经是莫顿和肯尼迪公司的大股东,著名的威斯敏斯特电学家西里尔·莫顿的妻子。威廉森和伍德利两个人都因诱拐和伤害罪受审,威廉森被判七年徒刑,伍德利被判十年徒刑。我没有得到卡拉瑟斯结果如何的报告,不过我相信,既然伍德利是一个声名狼藉的十分危险的恶棍,法庭是不会十分严重地看待卡拉瑟斯所犯的伤害罪的,我想法官判他几个月监禁也就足够了。



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
2 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的,陈年的
参考例句:
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了,也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老,然而记忆力还好。
3 derive hmLzH     
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自
参考例句:
  • We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
  • We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。
4 brutal bSFyb     
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
参考例句:
  • She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
  • They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼,骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
5 brutality MSbyb     
n.野蛮的行为,残忍,野蛮
参考例句:
  • The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
  • a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军
6 ingenuity 77TxM     
n.别出心裁;善于发明创造
参考例句:
  • The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
  • I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。
7 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
8 culminated 2d1e3f978078666a2282742e3d1ca461     
v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
  • The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 narratives 91f2774e518576e3f5253e0a9c364ac7     
记叙文( narrative的名词复数 ); 故事; 叙述; 叙述部分
参考例句:
  • Marriage, which has been the bourne of so many narratives, is still a great beginning. 结婚一向是许多小说的终点,然而也是一个伟大的开始。
  • This is one of the narratives that children are fond of. 这是孩子们喜欢的故事之一。
10 abstruse SIcyT     
adj.深奥的,难解的
参考例句:
  • Einstein's theory of relativity is very abstruse.爱因斯坦的相对论非常难懂。
  • The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them.该教授的课程太深奥了,学生们纷纷躲避他的课。
11 peculiar cinyo     
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。
12 persecution PAnyA     
n. 迫害,烦扰
参考例句:
  • He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
  • Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。
13 tract iJxz4     
n.传单,小册子,大片(土地或森林)
参考例句:
  • He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
  • He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。
14 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
15 baker wyTz62     
n.面包师
参考例句:
  • The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
  • The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。
16 implored 0b089ebf3591e554caa381773b194ff1     
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
  • She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
17 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
18 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
参考例句:
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
20 friction JQMzr     
n.摩擦,摩擦力
参考例句:
  • When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后,他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
  • Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体,并使其停止。
21 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。
22 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
23 forger ji1xg     
v.伪造;n.(钱、文件等的)伪造者
参考例句:
  • He admitted seven charges including forging passports.他承认了7项罪名,其中包括伪造护照。
  • She alleged that Taylor had forged her signature on the form.她声称泰勒在表格上伪造了她的签名。
24 odious l0zy2     
adj.可憎的,讨厌的
参考例句:
  • The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。
  • His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。
25 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。
26 widower fe4z2a     
n.鳏夫
参考例句:
  • George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
  • Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后,他终于决定二婚了。
27 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
28 infinitely 0qhz2I     
adv.无限地,无穷地
参考例句:
  • There is an infinitely bright future ahead of us.我们有无限光明的前途。
  • The universe is infinitely large.宇宙是无限大的。
29 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的
参考例句:
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
30 hideously hideously     
adv.可怕地,非常讨厌地
参考例句:
  • The witch was hideously ugly. 那个女巫丑得吓人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Pitt's smile returned, and it was hideously diabolic. 皮特的脸上重新浮现出笑容,但却狰狞可怕。 来自辞典例句
31 middle-aged UopzSS     
adj.中年的
参考例句:
  • I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
  • The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
32 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
33 molest 7wOyH     
vt.骚扰,干扰,调戏
参考例句:
  • If the man continues to molest her,I promise to keep no measures with the delinquent.如果那人继续对她进行骚扰,我将对他这个违法者毫不宽容。
  • If I were gone,all these would molest you.如果没有我,这一切都会来骚扰你。
34 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
35 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。
36 footpath 9gzzO     
n.小路,人行道
参考例句:
  • Owners who allow their dogs to foul the footpath will be fined.主人若放任狗弄脏人行道将受处罚。
  • They rambled on the footpath in the woods.他俩漫步在林间蹊径上。
37 exclusion 1hCzz     
n.拒绝,排除,排斥,远足,远途旅行
参考例句:
  • Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
  • He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球,其他运动一概不参加。
38 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的
参考例句:
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
39 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
40 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
41 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》
42 meditative Djpyr     
adj.沉思的,冥想的
参考例句:
  • A stupid fellow is talkative;a wise man is meditative.蠢人饶舌,智者思虑。
  • Music can induce a meditative state in the listener.音乐能够引导倾听者沉思。
43 tenants 05662236fc7e630999509804dd634b69     
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 );佃户;占用者;占有者
参考例句:
  • A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
  • Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
44 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
45 trifling SJwzX     
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的
参考例句:
  • They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
  • So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利,不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。
46 intrigue Gaqzy     
vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋
参考例句:
  • Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
  • The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。
47 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
48 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
49 ascertained e6de5c3a87917771a9555db9cf4de019     
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
50 yew yew     
n.紫杉属树木
参考例句:
  • The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.紫杉树叶会令牛中毒。
  • All parts of the yew tree are poisonous,including the berries.紫杉的各个部分都有毒,包括浆果。
51 gateway GhFxY     
n.大门口,出入口,途径,方法
参考例句:
  • Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
  • A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。
52 surmounted 74f42bdb73dca8afb25058870043665a     
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上
参考例句:
  • She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。
  • I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。
53 mouldering 4ddb5c7fbd9e0da44ea2bbec6ed7b2f1     
v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 );腐烂,崩塌
参考例句:
  • The room smelt of disuse and mouldering books. 房间里有一股长期不用和霉烂书籍的味道。
  • Every mouldering stone was a chronicle. 每块崩碎剥落的石头都是一部编年史。 来自辞典例句
54 emblems db84ab479b9c05c259ade9a2f3414e04     
n.象征,标记( emblem的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • His emblems are the spear and the burning torch. 他佩带的徽记是长矛和燃烧着的火炬。 来自辞典例句
  • Crystal prize, Crystal gift, Crystal trophy, Champion cup, Emblems. 水晶奖牌、水晶礼品、水晶纪念品、奖杯、金属奖牌。 来自互联网
55 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。
56 clumps a9a186997b6161c6394b07405cf2f2aa     
n.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的名词复数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声v.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声
参考例句:
  • These plants quickly form dense clumps. 这些植物很快形成了浓密的树丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The bulbs were over. All that remained of them were clumps of brown leaves. 这些鳞茎死了,剩下的只是一丛丛的黃叶子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
57 clump xXfzH     
n.树丛,草丛;vi.用沉重的脚步行走
参考例句:
  • A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
  • It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
58 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
59 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
60 furtive kz9yJ     
adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的
参考例句:
  • The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为。
  • His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。
61 haughtily haughtily     
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地
参考例句:
  • She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
  • Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯,走到二楼,我刚好站在那儿。
62 deigning 1b2657f2fe573d21cb8fa3d44bbdc7f1     
v.屈尊,俯就( deign的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • He passed by without deigning to look at me. 他走过去不屑看我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
63 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。
64 bristling tSqyl     
a.竖立的
参考例句:
  • "Don't you question Miz Wilkes' word,'said Archie, his beard bristling. "威尔克斯太太的话,你就不必怀疑了。 "阿尔奇说。他的胡子也翘了起来。
  • You were bristling just now. 你刚才在发毛。
65 dense aONzX     
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的
参考例句:
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
66 pall hvwyP     
v.覆盖,使平淡无味;n.柩衣,棺罩;棺材;帷幕
参考例句:
  • Already the allure of meals in restaurants had begun to pall.饭店里的饭菜已经不像以前那样诱人。
  • I find his books begin to pall on me after a while.我发觉他的书读过一阵子就开始对我失去吸引力。
67 elicit R8ByG     
v.引出,抽出,引起
参考例句:
  • It was designed to elicit the best thinking within the government. 机构的设置是为了在政府内部集思广益。
  • Don't try to elicit business secrets from me. I won't tell you anything. 你休想从我这里套问出我们的商业机密, 我什么都不会告诉你的。
68 curt omjyx     
adj.简短的,草率的
参考例句:
  • He gave me an extremely curt answer.他对我作了极为草率的答复。
  • He rapped out a series of curt commands.他大声发出了一连串简短的命令。
69 austere GeIyW     
adj.艰苦的;朴素的,朴实无华的;严峻的
参考例句:
  • His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。
  • The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。
70 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
71 concealment AvYzx1     
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒
参考例句:
  • the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
  • Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来,待危险过去后再出来。
72 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
73 sprints 617aabe05f387ce10003edf8f6a91925     
n.短距离的全速奔跑( sprint的名词复数 )v.短距离疾跑( sprint的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • You can run sprints only so long before you're out of breath. 你死命地跑,只能跑那么一段时间,到了喘不上气的时候,只好停下来。 来自辞典例句
  • The cheetah finds the open grasslands ideal footing for its lightning-quick sprints. 非洲猎豹把开阔的草原作为它们闪电猎食的理想处所。 来自互联网
74 athletic sOPy8     
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的
参考例句:
  • This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
  • He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
75 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
76 accurately oJHyf     
adv.准确地,精确地
参考例句:
  • It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
  • Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。
77 postscript gPhxp     
n.附言,又及;(正文后的)补充说明
参考例句:
  • There was the usual romantic postscript at the end of his letter.他的信末又是一贯的浪漫附言。
  • She mentioned in a postscript to her letter that the parcel had arrived.她在信末附笔中说包裹已寄到。
78 honourable honourable     
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的
参考例句:
  • I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号,我可担当不起。
  • I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。
79 tickled 2db1470d48948f1aa50b3cf234843b26     
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐
参考例句:
  • We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友,我们高兴极了。
  • I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚,使她发笑。
80 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
81 proficiency m1LzU     
n.精通,熟练,精练
参考例句:
  • He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺,技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
  • How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何?
82 ignominious qczza     
adj.可鄙的,不光彩的,耻辱的
参考例句:
  • The marriage was considered especially ignominious since she was of royal descent.由于她出身王族,这门婚事被认为是奇耻大辱。
  • Many thought that he was doomed to ignominious failure.许多人认为他注定会极不光彩地失败。
83 discreet xZezn     
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的
参考例句:
  • He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
  • It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。
84 garrulous CzQyO     
adj.唠叨的,多话的
参考例句:
  • He became positively garrulous after a few glasses of wine.他几杯葡萄酒下肚之后便唠唠叨叨说个没完。
  • My garrulous neighbour had given away the secret.我那爱唠叨的邻居已把秘密泄露了。
85 rumour 1SYzZ     
n.谣言,谣传,传闻
参考例句:
  • I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
  • There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来,一直有谣言产生,对他进行中伤。
86 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
87 discomforts 21153f1ed6fc87cfc0ae735005583b36     
n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 );不愉快,苦恼
参考例句:
  • Travellers in space have to endure many discomforts in their rockets. 宇宙旅行家不得不在火箭中忍受许多不舒适的东西 来自《用法词典》
  • On that particular morning even these discomforts added to my pleasure. 在那样一个特定的早晨,即使是这种种的不舒适也仿佛给我增添了满足感。 来自辞典例句
88 savage ECxzR     
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人
参考例句:
  • The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
  • He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
89 loathe 60jxB     
v.厌恶,嫌恶
参考例句:
  • I loathe the smell of burning rubber.我厌恶燃着的橡胶散发的气味。
  • You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时,你会厌恶油腻的气味。
90 molests 7f5e3b30a6352ea2478b8fc81fc522d9     
n.骚扰( molest的名词复数 );干扰;调戏;猥亵v.骚扰( molest的第三人称单数 );干扰;调戏;猥亵
参考例句:
  • A dog that molests sheep has to be killed. 骚扰羊群的狗要被杀掉。 来自辞典例句
91 untoward Hjvw1     
adj.不利的,不幸的,困难重重的
参考例句:
  • Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.有些不幸的事件使我不能在这欢庆的时刻和你在一起。
  • I'll come if nothing untoward happens.我要是没有特殊情况一定来。
92 grotesque O6ryZ     
adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物)
参考例句:
  • His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。
  • Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。
93 audacity LepyV     
n.大胆,卤莽,无礼
参考例句:
  • He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
  • He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。
94 molested 8f5dc599e4a1e77b1bcd0dfd65265f28     
v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 );干扰;调戏;猥亵
参考例句:
  • The bigger children in the neighborhood molested the younger ones. 邻居家的大孩子欺负小孩子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He molested children and was sent to jail. 他猥亵儿童,进了监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
95 intruding b3cc8c3083aff94e34af3912721bddd7     
v.侵入,侵扰,打扰( intrude的现在分词);把…强加于
参考例句:
  • Does he find his new celebrity intruding on his private life? 他是否感觉到他最近的成名侵扰了他的私生活?
  • After a few hours of fierce fighting,we saw the intruding bandits off. 经过几小时的激烈战斗,我们赶走了入侵的匪徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
96 lurk J8qz2     
n.潜伏,潜行;v.潜藏,潜伏,埋伏
参考例句:
  • Dangers lurk in the path of wilderness.在这条荒野的小路上隐伏着危险。
  • He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address.他觉得自己看见有人在演讲时潜藏在会议厅顶上。
97 inhaling 20098cce0f51e7ae5171c97d7853194a     
v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
  • The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网
98 pointed Il8zB4     
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。
99 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。
100 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
101 margin 67Mzp     
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘
参考例句:
  • We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
102 reins 370afc7786679703b82ccfca58610c98     
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带
参考例句:
  • She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
  • The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。
103 rattled b4606e4247aadf3467575ffedf66305b     
慌乱的,恼火的
参考例句:
  • The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里,窗户都格格作响。
104 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
105 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
106 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
107 ecstasy 9kJzY     
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷
参考例句:
  • He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
  • Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具,高兴得说不出话来。
108 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
109 penetrated 61c8e5905df30b8828694a7dc4c3a3e0     
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
  • They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。
110 groom 0fHxW     
vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁
参考例句:
  • His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
  • George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作,乔治已在接受专门的培训。
111 frantically ui9xL     
ad.发狂地, 发疯地
参考例句:
  • He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
  • She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。
112 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
113 frenzy jQbzs     
n.疯狂,狂热,极度的激动
参考例句:
  • He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
  • They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。
114 bowling cxjzeN     
n.保龄球运动
参考例句:
  • Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
  • Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动,高尔夫还是保龄球?
115 darting darting     
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • Swallows were darting through the clouds. 燕子穿云急飞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Swallows were darting through the air. 燕子在空中掠过。 来自辞典例句
116 glade kgTxM     
n.林间空地,一片表面有草的沼泽低地
参考例句:
  • In the midst of a glade were several huts.林中的空地中间有几间小木屋。
  • The family had their lunch in the glade.全家在林中的空地上吃了午饭。
117 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
118 drooping drooping     
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词
参考例句:
  • The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
  • The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。
119 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。
120 bravado CRByZ     
n.虚张声势,故作勇敢,逞能
参考例句:
  • Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
  • He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。
121 sinister 6ETz6     
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的
参考例句:
  • There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
  • Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值,而且包藏祸心。
122 jovial TabzG     
adj.快乐的,好交际的
参考例句:
  • He seemed jovial,but his eyes avoided ours.他显得很高兴,但他的眼光却避开了我们的眼光。
  • Grandma was plump and jovial.祖母身材圆胖,整天乐呵呵的。
123 exultant HhczC     
adj.欢腾的,狂欢的,大喜的
参考例句:
  • The exultant crowds were dancing in the streets.欢欣的人群在大街上跳起了舞。
  • He was exultant that she was still so much in his power.他仍然能轻而易举地摆布她,对此他欣喜若狂。
124 pals 51a8824fc053bfaf8746439dc2b2d6d0     
n.朋友( pal的名词复数 );老兄;小子;(对男子的不友好的称呼)家伙
参考例句:
  • We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。
  • CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网
125 spurt 9r9yE     
v.喷出;突然进发;突然兴隆
参考例句:
  • He put in a spurt at the beginning of the eighth lap.他进入第八圈时便开始冲刺。
  • After a silence, Molly let her anger spurt out.沉默了一会儿,莫莉的怒气便迸发了出来。
126 spun kvjwT     
v.纺,杜撰,急转身
参考例句:
  • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
  • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
127 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
128 scribbled de374a2e21876e209006cd3e9a90c01b     
v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 );乱画;草草地写;匆匆记下
参考例句:
  • She scribbled his phone number on a scrap of paper. 她把他的电话号码匆匆写在一张小纸片上。
  • He scribbled a note to his sister before leaving. 临行前,他给妹妹草草写了一封短信。
129 superintendent vsTwV     
n.监督人,主管,总监;(英国)警务长
参考例句:
  • He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
  • He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
130 custody Qntzd     
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留
参考例句:
  • He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
  • He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后,他立即被押了起来。
131 tragic inaw2     
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的
参考例句:
  • The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
  • Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
132 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
133 rascal mAIzd     
n.流氓;不诚实的人
参考例句:
  • If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
  • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
134 license B9TzU     
n.执照,许可证,特许;v.许可,特许
参考例句:
  • The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
  • The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。
135 brute GSjya     
n.野兽,兽性
参考例句:
  • The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
  • That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲,它咬人。
136 rascals 5ab37438604a153e085caf5811049ebb     
流氓( rascal的名词复数 ); 无赖; (开玩笑说法)淘气的人(尤指小孩); 恶作剧的人
参考例句:
  • "Oh, but I like rascals. "唔,不过我喜欢流氓。
  • "They're all second-raters, black sheep, rascals. "他们都是二流人物,是流氓,是恶棍。
137 lurking 332fb85b4d0f64d0e0d1ef0d34ebcbe7     
潜在
参考例句:
  • Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的,想干什么?
  • There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
138 concise dY5yx     
adj.简洁的,简明的
参考例句:
  • The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.这部词典里的释义简明扼要。
  • I gave a concise answer about this.我对于此事给了一个简要的答复。
139 reprobate 9B7z9     
n.无赖汉;堕落的人
参考例句:
  • After the fall,god begins to do the work of differentiation between his elect and the reprobate.人堕落之后,上帝开始分辨选民与被遗弃的人。
  • He disowned his reprobate son.他声明与堕落的儿子脱离关系。
140 squeal 3Foyg     
v.发出长而尖的声音;n.长而尖的声音
参考例句:
  • The children gave a squeal of fright.孩子们发出惊吓的尖叫声。
  • There was a squeal of brakes as the car suddenly stopped.小汽车突然停下来时,车闸发出尖叫声。
141 bleat OdVyE     
v.咩咩叫,(讲)废话,哭诉;n.咩咩叫,废话,哭诉
参考例句:
  • He heard the bleat of a lamb.他听到小羊的叫声。
  • They bleat about how miserable they are.他们诉说他们的生活是多么悲惨。
142 copper HZXyU     
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的
参考例句:
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
143 reverence BByzT     
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬
参考例句:
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统,但不被传统所束缚。
144 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
145 plunder q2IzO     
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠
参考例句:
  • The thieves hid their plunder in the cave.贼把赃物藏在山洞里。
  • Trade should not serve as a means of economic plunder.贸易不应当成为经济掠夺的手段。
146 mischief jDgxH     
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹
参考例句:
  • Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
  • He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
147 obtuse 256zJ     
adj.钝的;愚钝的
参考例句:
  • You were too obtuse to take the hint.你太迟钝了,没有理解这种暗示。
  • "Sometimes it looks more like an obtuse triangle,"Winter said.“有时候它看起来更像一个钝角三角形。”温特说。
148 permanently KluzuU     
adv.永恒地,永久地,固定不变地
参考例句:
  • The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
  • The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
149 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
150 amends AzlzCR     
n. 赔偿
参考例句:
  • He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花,为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
  • This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。
151 incessant WcizU     
adj.不停的,连续的
参考例句:
  • We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
  • She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。
152 prelude 61Fz6     
n.序言,前兆,序曲
参考例句:
  • The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
  • The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。
153 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
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