赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩21

时间：2024-12-31 11:15:30

（单词翻译:单击）

VII
Hercule Poirot stood in the Campo Santo at Pisa and looked down on a grave.
So it was here that his quest had come to an end—here by this humble1 mound2 of earth.
Underneath3 it lay the joyous4 creature who had stirred the heart and imagination of a simple
English mechanic.
Was this perhaps the best end to that sudden strange romance? Now the girl would live
always in the young man’s memory as he had seen her for those few enchanted5 hours of a June
afternoon. The clash of opposing nationalities, of different standards, the pain of disillusionment,
all that was ruled out for ever.
Hercule Poirot shook his head sadly. His mind went back to his conversation with the Valetta
family. The mother, with her broad peasant face, the upright grief-stricken father, the dark hard-
lipped sister.
“It was sudden, Signor, it was very sudden. Though for many years she had had pains on and
off . . . The doctor gave us no choice—he said there must be an operation immediately for the
appendicitis7. He took her off to the hospital then and there . . . Si, si, it was under the anæsthetic
she died. She never recovered consciousness.”
The mother sniffed8, murmuring:
“Bianca was always such a clever girl. It is terrible that she should have died so young. . . .”
Hercule Poirot repeated to himself:
“She died young. . . .”
That was the message he must take back to the young man who had asked his help so
confidingly9.
“She is not for you, my friend. She died young.”
His quest had ended—here where the leaning Tower was silhouetted10 against the sky and the
first spring flowers were showing pale and creamy with their promise of life and joy to come.
Was it the stirring of spring that made him feel so rebelliously11 disinclined to accept this final
verdict? Or was it something else? Something stirring at the back of his brain—words—a phrase
—a name? Did not the whole thing finish too neatly—dovetail too obviously?
Hercule Poirot sighed. He must take one more journey to put things beyond any possible
doubt. He must go to Vagray les Alpes.
VIII
Here, he thought, really was the world’s end. This shelf of snow—these scattered12 huts and shelters
in each of which lay a motionless human being fighting an insidious13 death.
So he came at last to Katrina Samoushenka. When he saw her, lying there with hollow cheeks
in each of which was a vivid red stain, and long thin emaciated14 hands stretched out on the coverlet,
a memory stirred in him. He had not remembered her name, but he had seen her dance—had been
carried away and fascinated by the supreme15 art that can make you forget art.
He remembered Michael Novgin, the Hunter, leaping and twirling in that outrageous16 and
fantastic forest that the brain of Ambrose Vandel had conceived. And he remembered the lovely
flying Hind17, eternally pursued, eternally desirable—a golden beautiful creature with horns on her
head and twinkling bronze feet. He remembered her final collapse18, shot and wounded, and
Michael Novgin standing19 bewildered, with the body of the slain20 deer in his arms.
Katrina Samoushenka was looking at him with faint curiosity. She said:
“I have never seen you before, have I? What is it you want of me?”
Hercule Poirot made her a little bow.
“First, Madame, I wish to thank you—for your art which made for me once an evening of
beauty.”
She smiled faintly.
“But also I am here on a matter of business. I have been looking, Madame, for a long time for
a certain maid of yours—her name was Nita.”
“Nita?”
She stared at him. Her eyes were large and startled. She said:
“What do you know about—Nita?”
“I will tell you.”
He told her of the evening when his car had broken down and of Ted6 Williamson standing
there twisting his cap between his fingers and stammering21 out his love and his pain. She listened
with close attention.
She said when he had finished:
“It is touching22, that—yes, it is touching. . . .”
Hercule Poirot nodded.
“Yes,” he said. “It is a tale of Arcady, is it not? What can you tell me, Madame, of this girl?”
Katrina Samoushenka sighed.
“I had a maid—Juanita. She was lovely, yes—gay, light of heart. It happened to her what
happens so often to those the gods favour. She died young.”
They had been Poirot’s own words—final words—irrevocable words—Now he heard them
again—and yet he persisted. He asked:
“She is dead?”
“Yes, she is dead.”
Hercule Poirot was silent for a minute, then he said:
“There is one thing I do not quite understand. I asked Sir George Sanderfield about this maid
of yours and he seemed afraid. Why was that?”
There was a faint expression of disgust on the dancer’s face.
“You just said a maid of mine. He thought you meant Marie—the girl who came to me after
Juanita left. She tried to blackmail23 him, I believe, over something that she found out about him.
She was an odious24 girl—inquisitive, always prying25 into letters and locked drawers.”
Poirot murmured:
“Then that explains that.”
He paused a minute, then he went on, still persistent26:
“Juanita’s other name was Valetta and she died of an operation for appendicitis in Pisa. Is
that correct?”
He noted27 the hesitation28, hardly perceptible but nevertheless there, before the dancer bowed
her head.
“Yes, that is right. . . .”
Poirot said meditatively29:
“And yet—there is still a little point—her people spoke30 of her, not as Juanita but as Bianca.”
Katrina shrugged31 her thin shoulders. She said: “Bianca—Juanita, does it matter? I suppose
her real name was Bianca but she thought the name of Juanita was more romantic and so chose to
call herself by it.”
“Ah, you think that?” He paused and then, his voice changing, he said: “For me, there is
another explanation.”
“What is it?”
Poirot leaned forward. He said:
“The girl that Ted Williamson saw had hair that he described as being like wings of gold.”
He leaned still a little further forward. His finger just touched the two springing waves of
Katrina’s hair.
“Wings of gold, horns of gold? It is as you look at it, it is whether one sees you as devil or as
angel! You might be either. Or are they perhaps only the golden horns of the stricken deer?”
Katrina murmured:
“The stricken deer . . .” and her voice was the voice of one without hope.
Poirot said:
“All along Ted Williamson’s description has worried me—it brought something to my mind
—that something was you, dancing on your twinkling bronze feet through the forest. Shall I tell
you what I think, Mademoiselle? I think there was a week when you had no maid, when you went
down alone to Grasslawn, for Bianca Valetta had returned to Italy and you had not yet engaged a
new maid. Already you were feeling the illness which has since overtaken you, and you stayed in
the house one day when the others went on an all day excursion on the river. There was a ring at
the door and you went to it and you saw—shall I tell you what you saw? You saw a young man
who was as simple as a child and as handsome as a god! And you invented for him a girl—not
Juanita—but Incognita—and for a few hours you walked with him in
Arcady. . . .”
There was a long pause. Then Katrina said in a low hoarse32 voice:
“In one thing at least I have told you the truth. I have given you the right end to the story.
Nita will die young.”
“Ah non!” Hercule Poirot was transformed. He struck his hand on the table. He was suddenly
prosaic33, mundane34, practical.
He said:
“It is quite unnecessary! You need not die. You can fight for your life, can you not, as well as
another?”
She shook her head—sadly, hopelessly—
“What life is there for me?”
“Not the life of the stage, bien entendu! But think, there is another life. Come now,
Mademoiselle, be honest, was your father really a Prince or a Grand Duke, or even a General?”
She laughed suddenly. She said:
“He drove a lorry in Leningrad!”
“Very good! And why should you not be the wife of a garage hand in a country village? And
have children as beautiful as gods, and with feet, perhaps, that will dance as you once danced.”
Katrina caught her breath.
“But the whole idea is fantastic!”
“Nevertheless,” said Hercule Poirot with great self-satisfaction, “I believe it is going to come
true!”

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1 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
2 mound unCzhy     
n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫
参考例句：
  • The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
  • The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。
3 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面
参考例句：
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。
4 joyous d3sxB     
adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的
参考例句：
  • The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
  • They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。
5 enchanted enchanted     
adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
  • He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
6 ted 9gazhs     
vt.翻晒，撒，撒开
参考例句：
  • The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
  • She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。
7 appendicitis 4Nqz8     
n.阑尾炎，盲肠炎
参考例句：
  • He came down with appendicitis.他得了阑尾炎。
  • Acute appendicitis usually develops without relation to the ingestion of food.急性阑尾炎的发生通常与饮食无关。
8 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说
参考例句：
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 confidingly 5bd41445bb4f60819825713e4d46e324     
adv.信任地
参考例句：
  • She watched him confidingly and without any fear, faintly wagging her tail. 木木信任地望着自己最新近的主人，不但没有畏惧，还轻轻地摇着尾巴。 来自互联网
10 silhouetted 4f4f3ccd0698303d7829ad553dcf9eef     
显出轮廓的，显示影像的
参考例句：
  • We could see a church silhouetted against the skyline. 我们可以看到一座教堂凸现在天际。
  • The stark jagged rocks were silhouetted against the sky. 光秃嶙峋的岩石衬托着天空的背景矗立在那里。
11 rebelliously cebb4afb4a7714d3d2878f110884dbf2     
adv.造反地，难以控制地
参考例句：
  • He rejected her words rebelliously. 他极力反对她的观点。 来自互联网
12 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。
13 insidious fx6yh     
adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧
参考例句：
  • That insidious man bad-mouthed me to almost everyone else.那个阴险的家伙几乎见人便说我的坏话。
  • Organized crime has an insidious influence on all who come into contact with it.所有和集团犯罪有关的人都会不知不觉地受坏影响。
14 emaciated Wt3zuK     
adj.衰弱的，消瘦的
参考例句：
  • A long time illness made him sallow and emaciated.长期患病使他面黄肌瘦。
  • In the light of a single candle,she can see his emaciated face.借着烛光，她能看到他的被憔悴的面孔。
15 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
16 outrageous MvFyH     
adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的
参考例句：
  • Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
  • Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
17 hind Cyoya     
adj.后面的，后部的
参考例句：
  • The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
  • Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。
18 collapse aWvyE     
vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷
参考例句：
  • The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
  • The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
19 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。
20 slain slain     
杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)
参考例句：
  • The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
  • His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。
21 stammering 232ca7f6dbf756abab168ca65627c748     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • He betrayed nervousness by stammering. 他说话结结巴巴说明他胆子小。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"Why,\" he said, actually stammering, \"how do you do?\" “哎呀，\"他说，真的有些结结巴巴，\"你好啊？” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
22 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
23 blackmail rRXyl     
n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓
参考例句：
  • She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
  • The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。
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 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》
26 persistent BSUzg     
adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的
参考例句：
  • Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
  • She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。
27 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
28 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫，踌躇
参考例句：
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
29 meditatively 1840c96c2541871bf074763dc24f786a     
adv.冥想地
参考例句：
  • The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语，看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
  • "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
30 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。
31 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》
32 hoarse 5dqzA     
adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的
参考例句：
  • He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
  • He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。
33 prosaic i0szo     
adj.单调的，无趣的
参考例句：
  • The truth is more prosaic.真相更加乏味。
  • It was a prosaic description of the scene.这是对场景没有想象力的一个描述。
34 mundane F6NzJ     
adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的
参考例句：
  • I hope I can get an interesting job and not something mundane.我希望我可以得到的是一份有趣的工作，而不是一份平凡无奇的。
  • I find it humorous sometimes that even the most mundane occurrences can have an impact on our awareness.我发现生活有时挺诙谐的，即使是最平凡的事情也能影响我们的感知。

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