H庄园的午餐37

时间：2024-11-06 07:57:58

（单词翻译:单击）

Seven
In the offices of Messrs Seddon, Blatherwick & Seddon, Hercule Poirot was received withextreme caution, not to say distrust.
Mr. Seddon, a forefinger1 stroking his closely shaven chin, was noncommittal and his shrewdgrey eyes appraised2 the detective thoughtfully.
“Your name is familiar to me, M. Poirot, of course. But I am at a loss to understand yourposition in this case.”
Hercule Poirot said:
“I am acting3, Monsieur, in the interests of your client.”
“Ah—indeed? And who—er—engaged you in that capacity?”
“I am here at the request of Dr. Lord.”
Mr. Seddon’s eyebrows4 rose very high.
“Indeed! That seems to me very irregular—very irregular. Dr. Lord, I understand, has beensubpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution5.”
Hercule Poirot shrugged6 his shoulders.
“Does that matter?”
Mr. Seddon said:
“The arrangements for Miss Carlisle’s defence are entirely7 in our hands. I really do not think weneed any outside assistance in this case.”
Poirot asked:
“Is that because your client’s innocence8 will be so easily proved?”
Mr. Seddon winced9. Then he became wrathful in a dry legal fashion.
“That,” he said, “is a most improper10 question. Most improper.”
Hercule Poirot said:
“The case against your client is a very strong one….”
“I really fail to see, M. Poirot, how you know anything about it.”
Poirot said:
“Although I am actually retained by Dr. Lord, I have here a note from Mr. Roderick Welman.”
He handed it over with a bow.
Mr. Seddon perused11 the few lines it contained and remarked grudgingly12:
“That, of course, throws a new complexion13 on the matter. Mr. Welman has made himselfresponsible for Miss Carlisle’s defence. We are acting at his request.”
He added with visible distaste:
“Our firm does very little in—er—criminal procedure, but I felt it my duty to my—er—lateclient—to undertake the defence of her niece. I may say we have already briefed Sir EdwinBulmer, K.C.”
Poirot said, and his smile was suddenly ironic14:
“No expense will be spared. Very right and proper!”
Looking over his glasses, Mr. Seddon said:
“Really, M. Poirot—”
Poirot cut into his protest.
“Eloquence and emotional appeal will not save your client. It will need more than that.”
Mr. Seddon said drily:
“What do you advise?”
“There is always the truth.”
“Quite so.”
“But in this case will the truth help us?”
Mr. Seddon said sharply:
“That, again, is a most improper remark.”
Poirot said:
“There are certain questions to which I should like answers.”
Mr. Seddon said cautiously:
“I cannot, of course, guarantee to answer without the consent of my client.”
“Naturally. I understand that.” He paused and then said, “Has Elinor Carlisle any enemies?”
Mr. Seddon showed a faint surprise.
“As far as I know, none.”
“Did the late Mrs. Welman, at any period of her life, make a will?”
“Never. She always put it off.”
“Has Elinor Carlisle made a will?”
“Yes.”
“Recently? Since her aunt’s death?”
“Yes.”
“To whom has she left her property?”
“That, M. Poirot, is confidential15. I cannot tell you without authorization16 from my client.”
Poirot said:
“Then I shall have to interview your client!”
Mr. Seddon said with a cold smile:
“That, I fear, will not be easy.”
Poirot rose and made a gesture.
“Everything,” he said, “is easy to Hercule Poirot.”
 

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句：
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
2 appraised 4753e1eab3b5ffb6d1b577ff890499b9     
v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 )；估计；估量；评价
参考例句：
  • The teacher appraised the pupil's drawing. 老师评价了那个学生的画。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He appraised the necklace at ￡1000. 据他估计，项链价值1000英镑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的
参考例句：
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。
4 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
5 prosecution uBWyL     
n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营
参考例句：
  • The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
  • He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。
6 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 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。
8 innocence ZbizC     
n.无罪；天真；无害
参考例句：
  • There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
  • The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。
9 winced 7be9a27cb0995f7f6019956af354c6e4     
赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
  • He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。
10 improper b9txi     
adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的
参考例句：
  • Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
  • Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
11 perused 21fd1593b2d74a23f25b2a6c4dbd49b5     
v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字）
参考例句：
  • I remained under the wall and perused Miss Cathy's affectionate composition. 我就留在墙跟底下阅读凯蒂小姐的爱情作品。 来自辞典例句
  • Have you perused this article? 你细读了这篇文章了吗？ 来自互联网
12 grudgingly grudgingly     
参考例句：
  • He grudgingly acknowledged having made a mistake. 他勉强承认他做错了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Their parents unwillingly [grudgingly] consented to the marriage. 他们的父母无可奈何地应允了这门亲事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 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。
14 ironic 1atzm     
adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的
参考例句：
  • That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
  • People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。
15 confidential MOKzA     
adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的
参考例句：
  • He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
  • We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
16 authorization wOxyV     
n.授权，委任状
参考例句：
  • Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
  • You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

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