借镜杀人7

时间：2025-10-10 07:00:35

（单词翻译:单击）

Five
1
Gently eluding1 her hostess the next morning, Miss Marple went out into
the gardens. Their condition distressed2 her. They had once been an ambi-
tiously set-out achievement. Clumps3 of rhododendrons, smooth slopes of
lawn, massed borders of herbaceous plants, clipped box-hedges surround-
ing a formal rose garden. Now all was largely derelict, the lawns raggedly4
mown, the borders full of weeds with tangled5 flowers struggling through
them, the paths moss-covered and neglected. The kitchen gardens on the
other hand, enclosed by red brick walls, were prosperous and well
stocked. That, presumably, was because they had a utility value. So, also, a
large portion of what had once been lawn and flower garden, was now
fenced off and laid out in tennis courts and a bowling6 green.
Surveying the herbaceous border, Miss Marple clicked her tongue vex-
edly and pulled up a flourishing plant of groundsel.
As she stood with it in her hand, Edgar Lawson came into view. Seeing
Miss Marple, he stopped and hesitated. Miss Marple had no mind to let
him escape. She called him briskly. When he came she asked him if he
knew where any gardening tools were kept.
Edgar said vaguely7 that there was a gardener somewhere who would
know.
“It’s such a pity to see this border so neglected,” twittered Miss Marple.
“I’m so fond of gardens.” And since it was not her intention that Edgar
should go in search of any necessary implement8 she went on quickly:
“It’s about all an old and useless woman can find to do. Now I don’t sup-
pose you ever bother your head about gardens, Mr. Lawson. You have so
much real and important work to do. Being in a responsible position here,
with Mr. Serrocold. You must find it all most interesting.”
He answered quickly, almost eagerly:
“Yes—yes—it is interesting.”
“And you must be of the greatest assistance to Mr. Serrocold.”
His face darkened.
“I don’t know. I can’t be sure. It’s what’s behind it all—”
He broke off. Miss Marple watched him thoughtfully. A pathetic under-
sized young man, in a neat dark suit. A young man that few people would
look at twice, or remember if they did look….
There was a garden seat nearby and Miss Marple drifted towards it and
sat. Edgar stood frowning in front of her.
“I’m sure,” said Miss Marple brightly, “that Mr. Serrocold relies on you a
great deal.”
“I don’t know,” said Edgar. “I really don’t know.” He frowned and al-
most absently sat down beside her. “I’m in a very difficult position.”
“Yes?” said Miss Marple.
The young man Edgar sat staring in front of him.
“This is all highly confidential,” he said suddenly.
“Of course,” said Miss Marple.
“If I had my rights—”
“Yes?”
“I might as well tell you … you won’t let it go any further I’m sure?”
“Oh no.” She noticed he did not wait for her disclaimer.
“My father—actually, my father is a very important man.”
This time there was no need to say anything. She had only to listen.
“Nobody knows except Mr. Serrocold. You see, it might prejudice my
father’s position if the story got out.” He turned to her. He smiled. A sad,
dignified9 smile. “You see, I’m Winston Churchill’s son.”
“Oh,” said Miss Marple. “I see.”
And she did see. She remembered a rather sad story in St. Mary Mead—
and the way it had gone.
Edgar Lawson went on, and what he said had the familiarity of a stage
scene.
“There were reasons. My mother wasn’t free. Her own husband was in
an asylum—there could be no divorce—no question of marriage. I don’t
really blame them. At least, I think I don’t … He’s done, always, everything
he could. Discreetly10, of course. And that’s where the trouble has arisen.
He’s got enemies—and they’re against me, too. They’ve managed to keep
us apart. They watch me. Wherever I go, they spy on me. And they make
things go wrong for me.”
Miss Marple shook her head.
“Dear, dear,” she said.
“In London I was studying to be a doctor. They tampered11 with my ex-
ams—they altered the answers. They wanted me to fail. They followed me
about the streets. They told things about me to my landlady12. They hound
me wherever I go.”
“Oh, but you can’t be sure of that,” said Miss Marple soothingly13.
“I tell you I know! Oh they’re very cunning. I never get a glimpse of them
or find out who they are. But I shall find out … Mr. Serrocold took me
away from London and brought me down here. He was kind—very kind.
But even here, you know, I’m not safe. They’re here, too. Working against
me. Making the others dislike me. Mr. Serrocold says that isn’t true—but
Mr. Serrocold doesn’t know. Or else—I wonder—sometimes I’ve thought
—”
He broke off. He got up.
“This is all confidential,” he said. “You do understand that, don’t you?
But if you notice anyone following me—spying, I mean—you might let me
know who it is!”
He went away, then—neat, pathetic, insignificant14. Miss Marple watched
him and wondered….
A voice spoke15.
“Nuts,” it said. “Just nuts.”
Walter Hudd was standing16 beside her. His hands were thrust deep in his
pockets and he was frowning as he stared after Edgar’s retreating figure.
“What kind of a joint17 is this, anyway?” he said. “They’re all bughouse,
the whole lot of them.”
Miss Marple said nothing and Walter went on.
“That Edgar guy—what do you make of him? Says his father’s really
Lord Montgomery. Doesn’t seem likely to me! Not Monty! Not from all I’ve
heard about him.”
“No,” said Miss Marple. “It doesn’t seem very likely.”
“He told Gina something quite different—some bunk18 about being really
the heir to the Russian throne—said he was some Grand Duke’s son or
other. Hell, doesn’t the chap know who his father really was?”
“I should imagine not,” said Miss Marple. “That is probably just the
trouble.”
Walter sat down beside her, dropping his body onto the seat with a slack
movement. He repeated his former statement.
“They’re all bughouse here.”
“You don’t like being at Stonygates?”
The young man frowned.
“I simply don’t get it—that’s all! I don’t get it. Take this place—the house
—the whole setup. They’re rich, these people. They don’t need dough19—
they’ve got it. And look at the way they live. Cracked antique china and
cheap plain stuff all mixed up. No proper upper class servants—just some
casual hired help. Tapestries20 and drapes and chaircovers all satin and bro-
cade and stuff—and it’s falling to pieces! Big silver tea urns21 and what do
you know—all yellow and tarnished22 for want of cleaning. Mrs. Serrocold
just doesn’t care. Look at that dress she had on last night. Darned under
the arms, nearly worn out—and yet she could go to a store and order what
she liked. Bond Street or whatever it is. Dough? They’re rolling in dough.”
He paused and sat, deliberating.
“I understand being poor. There’s nothing much wrong with it. If you’re
young and strong and ready to work. I never had much money, but I was
all set to get where I wanted. I was going to open a garage. I’d got a bit of
money put by. I talked to Gina about it. She listened. She seemed to under-
stand. I didn’t know much about her. All those girls in uniform, they look
about the same. I mean you can’t tell from looking at them who’s got
dough and who hasn’t. I thought she was a cut above me, perhaps, educa-
tion and all that. But it didn’t seem to matter. We fell for each other. We
got married. I’d got my bit put by and Gina had some too, she told me. We
were going to set up a gas station back home—Gina was willing. Just a
couple of crazy kids we were—mad about each other. Then that snooty
aunt of Gina’s started making trouble … And Gina wanted to come here to
England to see her grandmother. Well, that seemed fair enough. It was her
home, and I was curious to see England anyway. I’d heard a lot about it.
So we came. Just a visit—that’s what I thought.”
The frown became a scowl23.
“But it hasn’t turned out like that. We’re caught up in this crazy busi-
ness. Why don’t we stay here—make our home here—that’s what they say.
Plenty of jobs for me. Jobs! I don’t want a job feeding candy to gangster24
kids and helping25 them play at kids’ games … what’s the sense of it all? This
place could be swell26—really swell—don’t people who’ve got money under-
stand their luck? Don’t they understand that most of the world can’t have
a swell place like this and that they’ve got one? Isn’t it plain crazy to kick
your luck when you’ve got it? I don’t mind working if I’ve got to. But I’ll
work the way I like and at what I like—and I’ll work to get somewhere.
This place makes me feel I’m tangled up in a spider’s web. And Gina—I
can’t make Gina out. She’s not the same girl I married over in the States. I
can’t—dang it all—I can’t even talk to her now. Oh hell!”
Miss Marple said gently:
“I quite see your point of view.”
Wally shot a swift glance at her.
“You’re the only one I’ve shot my mouth off to so far. Most of the time I
shut up like a clam27. Don’t know what it is about you—you’re English right
enough, really English—but in the durndest way you remind me of my
aunt Betsy back home.”
“Now that’s very nice.”
“A lot of sense she had,” Wally continued reflectively. “Looked as frail28 as
though you could snap her in two, but actually she was tough—yes, sir, I’ll
say she was tough.”
He got up.
“Sorry talking to you this way,” he apologised. For the first time, Miss
Marple saw him smile. It was a very attractive smile and Wally Hudd was
suddenly transfigured from an awkward sulky boy into a handsome and
appealing young man. “Had to get things off my chest, I suppose. But too
bad picking on you.”
“Not at all, my dear boy,” said Miss Marple. “I have a nephew of my own
—only, of course, a great deal older than you are.”
Her mind dwelt for a moment on the sophisticated modern writer Ray-
mond West. A greater contrast to Walter Hudd could not have been ima-
gined.
“You’ve got other company coming,” said Walter Hudd. “That dame29
doesn’t like me. So I’ll quit. So long, ma’am. Thanks for the talk.”
He strode away and Miss Marple watched Mildred Strete coming across
the lawn to join her.

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1 eluding 157b23fced3268b9668f3a73dc5fde30     
v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到
参考例句：
  • He saw no way of eluding Featherstone's stupid demand. 费瑟斯通的愚蠢要求使他走投无路。 来自辞典例句
  • The fox succeeded in eluding the hunters. 这狐狸成功地避过了猎手。 来自辞典例句
2 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句：
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
3 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》
4 raggedly 5f9192030b180c441f6cd872cea42c73     
破烂地，粗糙地
参考例句：
  • The crowd was shouting raggedly now, instead of in chorus as at first. 群众杂乱地喊着，比第一次的口号稍稍见得不整齐。 来自子夜部分
  • I took the cigarette he offered, drawing at it raggedly. 我接过他给的烟，在上面胡乱地画起来。
5 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了，我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
6 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？
7 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地，暖昧地
参考例句：
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。
8 implement WcdzG     
n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行
参考例句：
  • Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
  • The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。
9 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的，高贵的
参考例句：
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
10 discreetly nuwz8C     
ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地
参考例句：
  • He had only known the perennial widow, the discreetly expensive Frenchwoman. 他只知道她是个永远那么年轻的寡妇，一个很会讲排场的法国女人。
  • Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. 安德鲁觉得莉莲想同西莉亚单独谈些什么，有意避开了。
11 tampered 07b218b924120d49a725c36b06556000     
v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄
参考例句：
  • The records of the meeting had been tampered with. 会议记录已被人擅自改动。 来自辞典例句
  • The old man's will has been tampered with. 老人的遗嘱已被窜改。 来自辞典例句
12 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东，女地主
参考例句：
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
13 soothingly soothingly     
adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地
参考例句：
  • The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 insignificant k6Mx1     
adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的
参考例句：
  • In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
  • This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。
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 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。
17 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
18 bunk zWyzS     
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话
参考例句：
  • He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
  • Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。
19 dough hkbzg     
n.生面团；钱，现款
参考例句：
  • She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
  • The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。
20 tapestries 9af80489e1c419bba24f77c0ec03cf54     
n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
  • The wall of the banqueting hall were hung with tapestries. 宴会厅的墙上挂有壁毯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The rooms were hung with tapestries. 房间里都装饰着挂毯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 urns 6df9129bd5aa442c382b5bd8a5a61135     
n.壶( urn的名词复数 )；瓮；缸；骨灰瓮
参考例句：
  • Wine utensils unearthed include jars, urns, pots, bowls and cups. 发掘出的酒器皿有瓶、瓮、罐、壶、碗和杯子。 来自互联网
  • Ernie yearned to learn to turn urns. 呕尼渴望学会转咖啡壶。 来自互联网
22 tarnished e927ca787c87e80eddfcb63fbdfc8685     
（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏
参考例句：
  • The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
  • His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。
23 scowl HDNyX     
vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容
参考例句：
  • I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
  • The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色，清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。
24 gangster FfDzH     
n.匪徒，歹徒，暴徒
参考例句：
  • The gangster's friends bought off the police witness.那匪徒的朋友买通了警察方面的证人。
  • He is obviously a gangster,but he pretends to be a saint.分明是强盗，却要装圣贤。
25 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的
参考例句：
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
26 swell IHnzB     
vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强
参考例句：
  • The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
  • His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。
27 clam Fq3zk     
n.蛤，蛤肉
参考例句：
  • Yup!I also like clam soup and sea cucumbers.对呀！我还喜欢蛤仔汤和海参。
  • The barnacle and the clam are two examples of filter feeders.藤壶和蛤类是滤过觅食者的两种例子。
28 frail yz3yD     
adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的
参考例句：
  • Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
  • She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。
29 dame dvGzR0     
n.女士
参考例句：
  • The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
  • If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

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