赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩19

时间：2024-12-31 11:14:47

（单词翻译:单击）

III
Ambrose Vandel, diverted from his enthusiastic account of the décor he was designing for a
forthcoming ballet, supplied information easily enough.
“Sanderfield? George Sanderfield? Nasty fellow. Rolling in money but they say he’s a crook1.
Dark horse! Affair with a dancer? But of course, my dear—he had an affair with Katrina. Katrina
Samoushenka. You must have seen her? Oh, my dear—too delicious. Lovely technique. The Swan
of Tuolela—you must have seen that? My décor! And that other thing of Debussy or is it Mannine
‘La Biche au Bois?’ She danced it with Michael Novgin. He’s so marvellous, isn’t he?”
“And she was a friend of Sir George Sanderfield?”
“Yes, she used to weekend with him at his house on the river. Marvellous parties I believe he
gives.”
“Would it be possible, mon cher, for you to introduce me to Mademoiselle Samoushenka?”
“But, my dear, she isn’t here any longer. She went to Paris or somewhere quite suddenly.
You know, they do say that she was a Bolshevik spy or something—not that I believed it myself—
you know people love saying things like that. Katrina always pretended that she was a White
Russian—her father was a Prince or a Grand Duke—the usual thing! It goes down so much
better.” Vandel paused and returned to the absorbing subject of himself. “Now as I was saying, if
you want to get the spirit of Bathsheba you’ve got to steep yourself in the Semitic tradition. I
express
it by—”
He continued happily.
IV
The interview that Hercule Poirot managed to arrange with Sir George Sanderfield did not start too
auspiciously2.
The “dark horse,” as Ambrose Vandel had called him, was slightly ill at ease. Sir George was
a short square man with dark coarse hair and a roll of fat in his neck.
He said:
“Well, M. Poirot, what can I do for you? Er—we haven’t met before, I think?”
“No, we have not met.”
“Well, what is it? I confess, I’m quite curious.”
“Oh, it is very simple—a mere3 matter of information.”
The other gave an uneasy laugh.
“Want me to give you some inside dope, eh? Didn’t know you were interested in finance.”
“It is not a matter of les affaires. It is a question of a certain lady.”
“Oh, a woman.” Sir George Sanderfield leant back in his armchair. He seemed to relax. His
voice held an easier note.
Poirot said:
“You were acquainted, I think, with Mademoiselle Katrina Samoushenka?”
Sanderfield laughed.
“Yes. An enchanting4 creature. Pity she’s left London.”
“Why did she leave London?”
“My dear fellow, I don’t know. Row with the management, I believe. She was
temperamental, you know—very Russian in her moods. I’m sorry that I can’t help you but I
haven’t the least idea where she is now. I haven’t kept up with her at all.”
There was a note of dismissal in his voice as he rose to his feet.
Poirot said:
“But is not Mademoiselle Samoushenka that I am anxious to trace.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No, it is a question of her maid.”
“Her maid?” Sanderfield stared at him.
Poirot said:
“Do you—perhaps—remember her maid?”
All Sanderfield’s uneasiness had returned. He said awkwardly:
“Good Lord, no, how should I? I remember she had one, of course . . . Bit of a bad lot, too, I
should say. Sneaking5, prying6 sort of girl. If I were you I shouldn’t put any faith in a word that girl
says. She’s the kind of girl who’s a born liar7.”
Poirot murmured:
“So actually, you remember quite a lot about her?”
Sanderfield said hastily:
“Just an impression, that’s all . . . Don’t even remember her name. Let me see, Marie
something or other—no, I’m afraid I can’t help you to get hold of her. Sorry.”
Poirot said gently:
“I have already got the name of Marie Hellin from the Thespian8 Theatre—and her address.
But I am speaking, Sir George, of the maid who was with Mademoiselle Samoushenka before
Marie Hellin. I am speaking of Nita Valetta.”
Sanderfield stared. He said:
“Don’t remember her at all. Marie’s the only one I remember. Little dark girl with a nasty
look in her eye.”
Poirot said:
“The girl I mean was at your house Grasslawn last June.”
Sanderfield said sulkily:
“Well, all I can say is I don’t remember her. Don’t believe she had a maid with her. I think
you’re making a mistake.”
Hercule Poirot shook his head. He did not think he was making a mistake.

分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 crook NnuyV     
v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处)
参考例句：
  • He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子，他要我向他认错。
  • She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。
2 auspiciously By7zh6     
adv.吉利； 繁荣昌盛； 前途顺利； 吉祥
参考例句：
  • He started his new job auspiciously on his birthday. 他在他生日那天找到了新工作，真是幸运。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The year began auspiciously with good trade figures for January. 一月份贸易额可观，今年一开头就前景光明。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 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。
4 enchanting MmCyP     
a.讨人喜欢的
参考例句：
  • His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑，活脱儿象他父亲。
  • Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方，我又向往又害怕。
5 sneaking iibzMu     
a.秘密的，不公开的
参考例句：
  • She had always had a sneaking affection for him. 以前她一直暗暗倾心于他。
  • She ducked the interviewers by sneaking out the back door. 她从后门偷偷溜走，躲开采访者。
6 prying a63afacc70963cb0fda72f623793f578     
adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开
参考例句：
  • I'm sick of you prying into my personal life! 我讨厌你刺探我的私生活！
  • She is always prying into other people's affairs. 她总是打听别人的私事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 liar V1ixD     
n.说谎的人
参考例句：
  • I know you for a thief and a liar!我算认识你了，一个又偷又骗的家伙！
  • She was wrongly labelled a liar.她被错误地扣上说谎者的帽子。
8 thespian fIXzO     
adj.戏曲的；n.演员；悲剧演员
参考例句：
  • If you enjoy acting in plays,join your school's thespian club.如果你喜欢戏剧表演，就加入你学校的戏剧社团。
  • The actress demonstrated thespian talents at her first audition.这位女演员第一次试镜就展现出戏剧天分。

©2005-2010英文阅读网