赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩06

时间：2024-12-31 10:16:51

（单词翻译:单击）

V
Hercule Poirot went up in the lift to Sir Joseph Hoggin’s office. He sent in his card and was told
that Sir Joseph was engaged at the moment but would see him presently. A haughty1 blonde sailed
out of Sir Joseph’s room at last with her hands full of papers. She gave the quaint2 little man a
disdainful glance in passing.
Sir Joseph was seated behind his immense mahogany desk. There was a trace of lipstick3 on
his chin.
“Well, Mr. Poirot? Sit down. Got any news for me?”
Hercule Poirot said:
“The whole affair is of a pleasing simplicity4. In each case the money was sent to one of those
boarding houses or private hotels where there is no porter or hall attendant and where a large
number of guests are always coming and going, including a fairly large preponderance of ex-
Service men. Nothing would be easier than for any one to walk in, abstract a letter from the rack,
either take it away, or else remove the money and replace it with blank paper. Therefore, in every
case, the trail ends abruptly5 in a blank wall.”
“You mean you’ve no idea who the fellow is?”
“I have certain ideas, yes. It will take a few days to follow them up.”
Sir Joseph looked at him curiously6.
“Good work. Then, when you have got anything to report—”
“I will report to you at your house.”
Sir Joseph said:
“If you get to the bottom of this business, it will be a pretty good piece of work.”
Hercule Poirot said:
“There is no question of failure. Hercule Poirot does not fail.”
Sir Joseph Hoggin looked at the little man and grinned.
“Sure of yourself, aren’t you?” he demanded.
“Entirely with reason.”
“Oh well.” Sir Joseph Hoggin leaned back in his chair. “Pride goes before a fall, you know.”
VI
Hercule Poirot, sitting in front of his electric radiator7 (and feeling a quiet satisfaction in its neat
geometrical pattern) was giving instructions to his valet and general factotum8.
“You understand, Georges?”
“Perfectly9, sir.”
“More probably a flat or maisonette. And it will definitely be within certain limits. South of
the Park, east of Kensington Church, west of Knightsbridge Barracks and north of Fulham Road.”
“I understand perfectly, sir.”
Poirot murmured.
“A curious little case. There is evidence here of a very definite talent for organization. And
there is, of course, the surprising invisibility of the star performer—the Nemean Lion himself, if I
may so style him. Yes, an interesting little case. I could wish that I felt more attracted to my client
—but he bears an unfortunate resemblance to a soap manufacturer of Liège who poisoned his wife
in order to marry a blonde secretary. One of my early successes.”
Georges shook his head. He said gravely:
“These blondes, sir, they’re responsible for a lot of trouble.”

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1 haughty 4dKzq     
adj.傲慢的，高傲的
参考例句：
  • He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
  • They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
2 quaint 7tqy2     
adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的
参考例句：
  • There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
  • They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
3 lipstick o0zxg     
n.口红，唇膏
参考例句：
  • Taking out her lipstick,she began to paint her lips.她拿出口红，开始往嘴唇上抹。
  • Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics.口红和护发素都是化妆品。
4 simplicity Vryyv     
n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯
参考例句：
  • She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
  • The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。
5 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地，出其不意地
参考例句：
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
6 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。
7 radiator nTHxu     
n.暖气片，散热器
参考例句：
  • The two ends of the pipeline are connected with the radiator.管道的两端与暖气片相连接。
  • Top up the radiator before making a long journey.在长途旅行前加满散热器。
8 factotum tlWxb     
n.杂役；听差
参考例句：
  • We need a factotum to take care of the workshop.我们需要一个杂役来负责车间的事情。
  • I was employed as housekeeper,nanny,and general factotum.我是管家、保姆和总勤杂工。
9 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

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