赫尔克里·波洛的丰功伟绩45

时间：2024-12-31 11:23:54

（单词翻译:单击）

V
Mrs. Larkin’s room was full of people.
Mrs. Larkin herself was mixing cocktails2 at a side table. She was a tall woman with pale
auburn hair rolled into the back of her neck. Her eyes were greenish-grey with big, black pupils.
She moved easily, with a kind of sinister3 grace. She looked as though she were in the early thirties.
Only a close scrutiny4 revealed the lines at the corners of the eyes and hinted that she was ten years
older than her looks.
Hercule Poirot had been brought here by a brisk, middle-aged5 woman, a friend of Lady
Carmichael’s. He found himself given a cocktail1 and further directed to take one to a girl sitting in
the window. The girl was small and fair—her face was pink and white and suspiciously angelic.
Her eyes, Hercule Poirot noticed at once, were alert and suspicious.
He said:
“To your continued good health, Mademoiselle.”
She nodded and drank. Then she said abruptly6:
“You know my sister.”
“Your sister? Ah, you are then one of the Miss Grants?”
“I’m Pam Grant.”
“And where is your sister today?”
“She’s out hunting. Ought to be back soon.”
“I met your sister in London.”
“I know.”
“She told you?”
Pam Grant nodded. She said abruptly:
“Was Sheila in a jam?”
“So she did not tell you everything?”
The girl shook her head. She asked:
“Was Tony Hawker there?”
Before Poirot could answer, the door opened and Hawker and Sheila Grant came in. They
were in hunting kit7 and Sheila had a streak8 of mud on her cheek.
“Hullo, people, we’ve come in for a drink. Tony’s flask9 is dry.”
Poirot murmured:
“Talk of the angels—”
Pam Grant snapped:
“Devils, you mean.”
Poirot said sharply:
“Is it like that?”
Beryl Larkin had come forward. She said:
“Here you are, Tony. Tell me about the run? Did you draw Gelert’s Copse?”
She drew him away skilfully10 to a sofa near the fireplace. Poirot saw him turn his head and
glance at Sheila before he went.
Sheila had seen Poirot. She hesitated a minute, then came over to the two in the window. She
said abruptly:
“So it was you who came to the house yesterday?”
“Did your father tell you?”
She shook her head.
“Abdul described you. I—guessed.”
Pam exclaimed: “You went to see Father?”
Poirot said:
“Ah—yes. We have—some mutual11 friends.”
Pam said sharply:
“I don’t believe it.”
“What do you not believe? That your father and I could have a mutual friend?”
The girl flushed.
“Don’t be stupid. I meant—that wasn’t really your reason—”
She turned on her sister.
“Why don’t you say something, Sheila?”
Sheila started. She said:
“It wasn’t—it wasn’t anything to do with Tony Hawker?”
“Why should it be?” asked Poirot.
Sheila flushed and went back across the room to the others.
Pam said with sudden vehemence12 but in a lowered voice:
“I don’t like Tony Hawker. There—there’s something sinister about him—and about her—
Mrs. Larkin, I mean. Look at them now.”
Poirot followed her glance.
Hawker’s head was close to that of his hostess. He appeared to be soothing13 her. Her voice
rose for a minute.
“—but I can’t wait. I want it now!”
Poirot said with a little smile:
“Les femmes—whatever it is—they always want it now, do they not?”
But Pam Grant did not respond. Her face was cast down. She was nervously14 pleating and
repleating her tweed skirt.
Poirot murmured conversationally15:
“You are quite a different type from your sister, Mademoiselle.”
She flung her head up, impatient of banalities. She said:
“M. Poirot. What’s the stuff Tony’s been giving Sheila? What is it that’s been making her—
different?”
He looked straight at her. He asked:
“Have you ever taken cocaine16, Miss Grant?”
She shook her head.
“Oh no! So that’s it? Cocaine? But isn’t that very dangerous?”
Sheila Grant had come over to them, a fresh drink in her hand. She said:
“What’s dangerous?”
Poirot said:
“We are talking of the effects of drug taking. Of the slow death of the mind and spirit—the
destroying of all that is true and good in a human being.”
Sheila Grant caught her breath. The drink in her hand swayed and spilled on the floor. Poirot
went on:
“Dr. Stoddart has, I think, made clear to you just what that death in life entails17. It is so easily
done—so hard to undo18. The person who deliberately19 profits from the degradation20 and misery21 of
other people is a vampire22 preying23 on flesh and blood.”
He turned away. Behind him he heard Pam Grant’s voice say: “Sheila!” and caught a whisper
—a faint whisper—from Sheila Grant. It was so low he hardly heard it.
“The flask . . .”
Hercule Poirot said goodbye to Mrs. Larkin and went out into the hall. On the hall table was a
hunting flask lying with a crop and a hat. Poirot picked it up. There were initials on it: A.H.
Poirot murmured to himself:
“Tony’s flask is empty?”
He shook it gently. There was no sound of liquor. He unscrewed the top.
Tony Hawker’s flask was not empty. It was full—of white powder. . . .
VI
Hercule Poirot stood on the terrace of Lady Carmichael’s house and pleaded with a girl.
He said:
“You are very young, Mademoiselle. It is my belief that you have not known, not really
known, what it is you and your sisters have been doing. You have been feeding, like the mares of
Diomedes, on human flesh.”
Sheila shuddered24 and gave a sob25. She said:
“It sounds horrible, put like that. And yet it’s true! I never realized it until that evening in
London when Dr. Stoddart talked to me. He was so grave—so sincere. I saw then what an awful
thing it was I had been doing . . . Before that I thought it was—Oh! rather like drink after hours—
something people would pay to get, but not something that really mattered very much!”
Poirot said:
“And now?”
Sheila Grant said:
“I’ll do anything you say. I—I’ll talk to the others,” she added . . . “I don’t suppose
Dr. Stoddart will ever speak to me again. . . .”
“On the contrary,” said Poirot. “Both Dr. Stoddart and I are prepared to help you in every
way in our power to start afresh. You can trust us. But one thing must be done. There is one
person who must be destroyed—destroyed utterly26, and only you and your sisters can destroy him.
It is your evidence and your evidence alone that will convict him.”
“You mean—my father?”
“Not your father, Mademoiselle. Did I not tell you that Hercule Poirot knows everything?
Your photograph was easily recognized in official quarters. You are Sheila Kelly—a persistent27
young shoplifter who was sent to a reformatory some years ago. When you came out of that
reformatory, you were approached by the man who calls himself General Grant and offered this
post—the post of a ‘daughter.’ There would be plenty of money, plenty of fun, a good time. All
you had to do was to introduce the ‘snuff’ to your friends, always pretending that someone else
had given it to you. Your ‘sisters’ were in the same case as yourself.”
He paused and said:
“Come now, Mademoiselle—this man must be exposed and sentenced. After that—”
“Yes, afterwards?”
Poirot coughed. He said with a smile:
“You shall be dedicated28 to the service of the Gods. . . .”

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1 cocktail Jw8zNt     
n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物
参考例句：
  • We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
  • At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。
2 cocktails a8cac8f94e713cc85d516a6e94112418     
n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物
参考例句：
  • Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
  • Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句
3 sinister 6ETz6     
adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的
参考例句：
  • There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
  • Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。
4 scrutiny ZDgz6     
n.详细检查，仔细观察
参考例句：
  • His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
  • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
5 middle-aged UopzSS     
adj.中年的
参考例句：
  • I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
  • The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
6 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。
7 kit D2Rxp     
n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物
参考例句：
  • The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
  • The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。
8 streak UGgzL     
n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动
参考例句：
  • The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
  • Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？
9 flask Egxz8     
n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱
参考例句：
  • There is some deposit in the bottom of the flask.这只烧杯的底部有些沉淀物。
  • He took out a metal flask from a canvas bag.他从帆布包里拿出一个金属瓶子。
10 skilfully 5a560b70e7a5ad739d1e69a929fed271     
adv. (美skillfully)熟练地
参考例句：
  • Hall skilfully weaves the historical research into a gripping narrative. 霍尔巧妙地把历史研究揉进了扣人心弦的故事叙述。
  • Enthusiasm alone won't do. You've got to work skilfully. 不能光靠傻劲儿，得找窍门。
11 mutual eFOxC     
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
  • We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
  • Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
12 vehemence 2ihw1     
n.热切；激烈；愤怒
参考例句：
  • The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
  • She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。
13 soothing soothing     
adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的
参考例句：
  • Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
  • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
14 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地，不安地
参考例句：
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
15 conversationally c99513d77f180e80661b63a35b670a58     
adv.会话地
参考例句：
  • I am at an unfavourable position in being conversationally unacquainted with English. 我由于不熟悉英语会话而处于不利地位。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The findings suggest that happy lives are social and conversationally deep, rather than solitary and superficial. 结论显示，快乐的生活具有社会层面的意义并与日常交谈有关，而并不仅仅是个体差异和表面现象。 来自互联网
16 cocaine VbYy4     
n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）
参考例句：
  • That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
  • Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。
17 entails bc08bbfc5f8710441959edc8dadcb925     
使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需
参考例句：
  • The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
  • This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。
18 undo Ok5wj     
vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销
参考例句：
  • His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
  • I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。
19 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。
20 degradation QxKxL     
n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变
参考例句：
  • There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
  • Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。
21 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
22 vampire 8KMzR     
n.吸血鬼
参考例句：
  • It wasn't a wife waiting there for him but a blood sucking vampire!家里的不是个老婆，而是个吸人血的妖精！
  • Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampire.由于听过许多有关吸血鬼的传说，孩子们晚上不敢去睡觉。
23 preying 683b2a905f132328be40e96922821a3d     
v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生
参考例句：
  • This problem has been preying on my mind all day. 这个问题让我伤了整整一天脑筋。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • For a while he let his eyes idly follow the preying bird. 他自己的眼睛随着寻食的鸟毫无目的地看了一会儿。 来自辞典例句
24 shuddered 70137c95ff493fbfede89987ee46ab86     
v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动
参考例句：
  • He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣
参考例句：
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
26 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。
27 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。
28 dedicated duHzy2     
adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的
参考例句：
  • He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
  • His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

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