赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩35

时间：2024-12-31 11:20:33

（单词翻译:单击）

IV
That evening, Harold went to his room a little after ten. The English maid had arrived and he had
received a number of letters, some of which needed immediate1 answers.
He got into his pyjamas2 and a dressing3 gown and sat down at the desk to deal with his
correspondence. He had written three letters and was just starting on the fourth when the door was
suddenly flung open and Elsie Clayton staggered into the room.
Harold jumped up, startled. Elsie had pushed the door to behind her and was standing4
clutching at the chest of drawers. Her breath was coming in great gasps5, her face was the colour of
chalk. She looked frightened to death.
She gasped6 out: “It’s my husband! He arrived unexpectedly. I—I think he’ll kill me. He’s
mad—quite mad. I came to you. Don’t—don’t let him find me.”
She took a step or two forward, swaying so much that she almost fell. Harold put out an arm
to support her.
As he did so, the door was flung open and a man stood in the doorway7. He was of medium
height with thick eyebrows8 and a sleek9, dark head. In his hand he carried a heavy car spanner. His
voice rose high and shook with rage. He almost screamed the words.
“So that Polish woman was right! You are carrying on with this fellow!”
Elsie cried:
“No, no, Philip. It’s not true. You’re wrong.”
Harold thrust the girl swiftly behind him, as Philip Clayton advanced on them both. The latter
cried:
“Wrong, am I? When I find you here in his room? You she-devil, I’ll kill you for this.”
With a swift, sideways movement he dodged10 Harold’s arm. Elsie, with a cry, ran round the
other side of Harold, who swung round to fend11 the other off.
But Philip Clayton had only one idea, to get at his wife. He swerved12 round again. Elsie,
terrified, rushed out of the room. Philip Clayton dashed after her, and Harold, with not a moment’s
hesitation13, followed him.
Elsie had darted14 back into her own bedroom at the end of the corridor. Harold could hear the
sound of the key turning in the lock, but it did not turn in time. Before the lock could catch Philip
Clayton wrenched15 the door open. He disappeared into the room and Harold heard Elsie’s
frightened cry. In another minute Harold burst in after them.
Elsie was standing at bay against the curtains of the window. As Harold entered Philip
Clayton rushed at her brandishing16 the spanner. She gave a terrified cry, then snatching up a heavy
paper-weight from the desk beside her, she flung it at him.
Clayton went down like a log. Elsie screamed. Harold stopped petrified17 in the doorway. The
girl fell on her knees beside her husband. He lay quite still where he had fallen.
Outside in the passage, there was the sound of the bolt of one of the doors being drawn18 back.
Elsie jumped up and ran to
Harold.
“Please—please—” Her voice was low and breathless. “Go back to your room. They’ll come
—they’ll find you here.”
Harold nodded. He took in the situation like lightning. For the moment, Philip Clayton was
hors de combat. But Elsie’s scream might have been heard. If he were found in her room it could
only cause embarrassment19 and misunderstanding. Both for her sake and his own there must be no
scandal.
As noislessly as possible, he sprinted20 down the passage and back into his room. Just as he
reached it, he heard the sound of an opening door.
He sat in his room for nearly half an hour, waiting. He dared not go out. Sooner or later, he
felt sure, Elsie would come.
There was a light tap on his door. Harold jumped up to open it.
It was not Elsie who came in but her mother and Harold was aghast at her appearance. She
looked suddenly years older. Her grey hair was dishevelled and there were deep black circles
under her eyes.
He sprang up and helped her to a chair. She sat down, her breath coming painfully. Harold
said quickly:
“You look all in, Mrs. Rice. Can I get you something?”
She shook her head.
“No. Never mind me. I’m all right, really. It’s only the shock. Mr. Waring, a terrible thing has
happened.”
Harold asked:
“Is Clayton seriously injured?”
She caught her breath.
“Worse than that. He’s dead . . .”
V
The room spun21 round.
A feeling as of icy water trickling22 down his spine23 rendered Harold incapable24 of speech for a
moment or two.
He repeated dully:
“Dead?”
Mrs. Rice nodded.
She said, and her voice had the flat level tones of complete exhaustion25:
“The corner of that marble paperweight caught him right on the temple and he fell back with
his head on the iron fender. I don’t know which it was that killed him—but he is certainly dead. I
have seen death often enough to know.”
Disaster—that was the word that rang insistently26 in Harold’s brain. Disaster, disaster,
disaster. . . .
He said vehemently27:
“It was an accident . . . I saw it happen.”
Mrs. Rice said sharply:
“Of course it was an accident. I know that. But—but—is anyone else going to think so? I’m
—frankly, I’m frightened, Harold! This isn’t England.”
Harold said slowly:
“I can confirm Elsie’s story.”
Mrs. Rice said:
“Yes, and she can confirm yours. That—that is just it!”
Harold’s brain, naturally a keen and cautious one, saw her point. He reviewed the whole
thing and appreciated the weakness of their position.
He and Elsie had spent a good deal of their time together. Then there was the fact that they
had been seen together in the pinewoods by one of the Polish women under rather compromising
circumstances. The Polish ladies apparently28 spoke29 no English, but they might nevertheless
understand it a little. The woman might have known the meaning of words like “jealousy30” and
“husband” if she had chanced to overhear their conversation. Anyway it was clear that it was
something she had said to Clayton that had aroused his jealousy. And now—his death. When
Clayton had died, he, Harold, had been in Elsie Clayton’s room. There was nothing to show that
he had not deliberately31 assaulted Philip Clayton with the paperweight. Nothing to show that the
jealous husband had not actually found them together. There was only his word and Elsie’s.
Would they be believed?
A cold fear gripped him.
He did not imagine—no, he really did not imagine—that either he or Elsie was in danger of
being condemned32 to death for a murder they had not committed. Surely, in any case, it could be
only a charge of manslaughter brought against them. (Did they have manslaughter in these foreign
countries?) But even if they were acquitted33 of blame there would have to be an inquiry—it would
be reported in all the papers. An English man and woman accused—jealous husband—rising
politician. Yes, it would mean the end of his political career. It would never survive a scandal like
that.
He said on an impulse:
“Can’t we get rid of the body somehow? Plant it somewhere?”
Mrs. Rice’s astonished and scornful look made him blush. She said incisively34:
“My dear Harold, this isn’t a detective story! To attempt a thing like that would be quite
crazy.”
“I suppose it would.” He groaned35. “What can we do? My God, what can we do?”
Mrs. Rice shook her head despairingly. She was frowning, her mind working painfully.
Harold demanded:
“Isn’t there anything we can do? Anything to avoid this frightful36 disaster?”
There, it was out—disaster! Terrible—unforeseen—utterly37 damning.
They stared at each other. Mrs. Rice said hoarsely38:
“Elsie—my little girl. I’d do anything . . . It will kill her if she has to go through a thing like
this.” And she added: “You too, your career—everything.”
Harold managed to say:
“Never mind me.”
But he did not really mean it.
Mrs. Rice went on bitterly:
“And all so unfair—so utterly untrue! It’s not as though there had ever been anything
between you. I know that well enough.”
Harold suggested, catching39 at a straw:
“You’ll be able to say that at least—that it was all perfectly40 all right.”
Mrs. Rice said bitterly:
“Yes, if they believe me. But you know what these people out here are like!”
Harold agreed gloomily. To the Continental41 mind, there would undoubtedly42 be a guilty
connection between himself and Elsie, and all Mrs. Rice’s denials would be taken as a mother
lying herself black in the face for her daughter.
Harold said gloomily:
“Yes, we’re not in England, worse luck.”
“Ah!” Mrs. Rice lifted her head. “That’s true . . . It’s not England. I wonder now if something
could be done—”
“Yes?” Harold looked at her eagerly.
Mrs. Rice said abruptly43:
“How much money have you got?”
“Not much with me.” He added, “I could wire for money, of course.”
Mrs. Rice said grimly:
“We may need a good deal. But I think it’s worth trying.”
Harold felt a faint lifting of despair. He said:
“What is your idea?”
Mrs. Rice spoke decisively.
“We haven’t a chance of concealing44 the death ourselves, but I do think there’s just a chance
of hushing it up officially!”
“You really think so?” Harold was hopeful but slightly incredulous.
“Yes, for one thing the manager of the hotel will be on our side. He’d much rather have the
thing hushed up. It’s my opinion that in these out of the way curious little Balkan countries you
can bribe46 anyone and everyone—and the police are probably more corrupt47 than anyone else!”
Harold said slowly:
“Do you know, I believe you’re right.”
Mrs. Rice went on:
“Fortunately, I don’t think anyone in the hotel heard anything.”
“Who has the room next to Elsie’s on the other side from yours?”
“The two Polish ladies. They didn’t hear anything. They’d have come out into the passage if
they had. Philip arrived late, nobody saw him but the night porter. Do you know, Harold, I believe
it will be possible to hush45 the whole thing up—and get Philip’s death certified48 as due to natural
causes! It’s just a question of bribing49 high enough—and finding the right man—probably the
Chief of Police!”
Harold smiled faintly. He said:
“It’s rather Comic Opera, isn’t it? Well, after all, we can but try.”

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1 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
2 pyjamas 5SSx4     
n.（宽大的）睡衣裤
参考例句：
  • This pyjamas has many repairs.这件睡衣有许多修补过的地方。
  • Martin was in his pyjamas.马丁穿着睡衣。
3 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料
参考例句：
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
4 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。
5 gasps 3c56dd6bfe73becb6277f1550eaac478     
v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要
参考例句：
  • He leant against the railing, his breath coming in short gasps. 他倚着栏杆，急促地喘气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • My breaths were coming in gasps. 我急促地喘起气来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要
参考例句：
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
7 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径
参考例句：
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
8 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。
9 sleek zESzJ     
adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢
参考例句：
  • Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
  • The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。
10 dodged ae7efa6756c9d8f3b24f8e00db5e28ee     
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避
参考例句：
  • He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 fend N78yA     
v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开
参考例句：
  • I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
  • He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。
12 swerved 9abd504bfde466e8c735698b5b8e73b4     
v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
  • The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅，司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 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。
14 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔
参考例句：
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 wrenched c171af0af094a9c29fad8d3390564401     
v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛
参考例句：
  • The bag was wrenched from her grasp. 那只包从她紧握的手里被夺了出来。
  • He wrenched the book from her hands. 他从她的手中把书拧抢了过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 brandishing 9a352ce6d3d7e0a224b2fc7c1cfea26c     
v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀
参考例句：
  • The horseman came up to Robin Hood, brandishing his sword. 那个骑士挥舞着剑，来到罗宾汉面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife. 他挥舞着一把小刀，出现在休息室里。 来自辞典例句
17 petrified 2e51222789ae4ecee6134eb89ed9998d     
adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
  • I'm petrified of snakes. 我特别怕蛇。
  • The poor child was petrified with fear. 这可怜的孩子被吓呆了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
19 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
参考例句：
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
20 sprinted cbad7fd28d99bfe76a3766a4dd081936     
v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He sprinted for the line. 他向终点线冲去。
  • Sergeant Horne sprinted to the car. 霍恩中士全力冲向那辆汽车。 来自辞典例句
21 spun kvjwT     
v.纺，杜撰，急转身
参考例句：
  • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
  • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
22 trickling 24aeffc8684b1cc6b8fa417e730cc8dc     
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动
参考例句：
  • Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。
  • The engine was trickling oil. 发动机在滴油。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 spine lFQzT     
n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊
参考例句：
  • He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
  • His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
24 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的，不能做某事的
参考例句：
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
25 exhaustion OPezL     
n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述
参考例句：
  • She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
  • His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。
26 insistently Iq4zCP     
ad.坚持地
参考例句：
  • Still Rhett did not look at her. His eyes were bent insistently on Melanie's white face. 瑞德还是看也不看她，他的眼睛死死地盯着媚兰苍白的脸。
  • These are the questions which we should think and explore insistently. 怎样实现这一主体性等问题仍要求我们不断思考、探索。
27 vehemently vehemently     
adv. 热烈地
参考例句：
  • He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
  • Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。
28 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
29 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。
30 jealousy WaRz6     
n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌
参考例句：
  • Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
  • I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
31 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地
参考例句：
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
32 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。
33 acquitted c33644484a0fb8e16df9d1c2cd057cb0     
宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现
参考例句：
  • The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
  • Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。
34 incisively af4848b0f0c0a4cc2ff16c4dcb88bdac     
adv.敏锐地，激烈地
参考例句：
  • Incisively, she said, "I have no idea." 斩截地：“那可不知道。” 来自汉英文学 - 围城
  • He was incisively critical. 他受到了尖锐的批评。 来自互联网
35 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦
参考例句：
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 frightful Ghmxw     
adj.可怕的；讨厌的
参考例句：
  • How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
  • We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。
37 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地，绝对地
参考例句：
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
38 hoarsely hoarsely     
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句：
  • "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
  • Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
39 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住
参考例句：
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
40 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。
41 continental Zazyk     
adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的
参考例句：
  • A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
  • The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。
42 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地，无疑地
参考例句：
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
43 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。
44 concealing 0522a013e14e769c5852093b349fdc9d     
v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善，我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定，还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产
45 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静
参考例句：
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！
46 bribe GW8zK     
n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通
参考例句：
  • He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
  • He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。
47 corrupt 4zTxn     
v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的
参考例句：
  • The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
  • This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。
48 certified fw5zkU     
a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的
参考例句：
  • Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
  • The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。
49 bribing 2a05f9cab5c720b18ca579795979a581     
贿赂
参考例句：
  • He tried to escape by bribing the guard. 他企图贿赂警卫而逃走。
  • Always a new way of bribing unknown and maybe nonexistent forces. 总是用诸如此类的新方法来讨好那不知名的、甚或根本不存在的魔力。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻

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