顺水推舟03

时间：2025-01-30 17:09:55

（单词翻译:单击）

II
Hercule Poirot was sitting at his neat writing desk on a pleasant May morning when his
manservant George approached him and murmured deferentially1:
“There is a lady, sir, asking to see you.”
“What kind of a lady?” Poirot asked cautiously.
He always enjoyed the meticulous2 accuracy of George’s descriptions.
“She would be aged3 between forty and fifty, I should say, sir. Untidy and somewhat artistic4 in
appearance. Good walking shoes, brogues. A tweed coat and skirt—but a lace blouse. Some
questionable5 Egyptian beads6 and a blue chiffon scarf.”
Poirot shuddered8 slightly.
“I do not think,” he said, “that I wish to see her.”
“Shall I tell her, sir, that you are indisposed?”
Poirot looked at him thoughtfully.
“You have already, I gather, told her that I am engaged on important business and cannot be
disturbed?”
George coughed again.
“She said, sir, that she had come up from the country specially9, and did not mind how long she
waited.”
Poirot sighed.
“One should never struggle against the inevitable,” he said. “If a middle-aged10 lady wearing
sham11 Egyptian beads has made up her mind to see the famous Hercule Poirot, and has come up
from the country to do so, nothing will deflect12 her. She will sit there in the hall till she gets her
way. Show her in, George.”
George retreated, returning presently to announce formally:
“Mrs. Cloade.”
The figure in the worn tweeds and the floating scarf came in with a beaming face. She advanced
to Poirot with an outstretched hand, all her bead7 necklaces swinging and clinking.
“M. Poirot,” she said, “I have come to you under spirit guidance.”
Poirot blinked slightly.
“Indeed, Madame. Perhaps you will take a seat and tell me—”
He got no further.
“Both ways, M. Poirot. With the automatic writing and with the ouija board. It was the night
before last. Madame Elvary (a wonderful woman she is) and I were using the board. We got the
same initials repeatedly. H.P. H.P. H.P. Of course I did not get the true significance at once. It
takes, you know, a little time. One cannot, on this earthly plane, see clearly. I racked my brains
thinking of someone with those initials. I knew it must connect up with the last séance—really a
most poignant13 one, but it was some time before I got it. And then I bought a copy of Picture Post
(Spirit guidance again, you see, because usually I buy the New Statesman) and there you were—a
picture of you, and described, and on account of what you had done. It is wonderful, don’t you
think, M. Poirot, how everything has a purpose? Clearly, you are the person appointed by the
Guides to elucidate14 this matter.”
Poirot surveyed her thoughtfully. Strangely enough the thing that really caught his attention was
that she had remarkably15 shrewd light-blue eyes. They gave point, as it were, to her rambling16
method of approach.
“And what, Mrs.—Cloade—is that right?” He frowned. “I seem to have heard the name
some time ago—”
She nodded vehemently17.
“My poor brother-in-law—Gordon. Immensely rich and often mentioned in the press. He was
killed in the Blitz over a year ago—a great blow to all of us. My husband is his younger brother.
He is a doctor. Dr. Lionel Cloade…Of course,” she added, lowering her voice, “he has no idea
that I am consulting you. He would not approve. Doctors, I find, have a very materialistic18 outlook.
The spiritual seems to be strangely hidden from them. They pin their faith on Science—but what I
say is…what is Science—what can it do?”
There seemed, to Hercule Poirot, to be no answer to the question other than a meticulous and
painstaking19 description embracing Pasteur, Lister, Humphry Davy’s safety lamp — the
convenience of electricity in the home and several hundred other kindred items. But that,
naturally, was not the answer Mrs. Lionel Cloade wanted. In actual fact her question, like so many
questions, was not really a question at all. It was a mere20 rhetorical gesture.
Hercule Poirot contented21 himself with inquiring in a practical manner:
“In what way do you believe I can help you, Mrs. Cloade?”
“Do you believe in the reality of the spirit world, M. Poirot?”
“I am a good Catholic,” said Poirot cautiously.
Mrs. Cloade waved aside the Catholic faith with a smile of pity.
“Blind! The Church is blind—prejudiced, foolish—not welcoming the reality and beauty of
the world that lies behind this one.”
“At twelve o’clock,” said Hercule Poirot, “I have an important appointment.”
It was a well-timed remark. Mrs. Cloade leaned forward.
“I must come to the point at once. Would it be possible for you, M. Poirot, to find a missing
person?”
Poirot’s eyebrows22 rose.
“It might be possible—yes,” he replied cautiously. “But the police, my dear Mrs. Cloade,
could do so a great deal more easily than I could. They have all the necessary machinery23.”
Mrs. Cloade waved away the police as she had waved away the Catholic Church.
“No, M. Poirot—it is to you I have been guided—by those beyond the veil. Now listen. My
brother Gordon married some weeks before his death, a young widow—a Mrs. Underhay. Her first
husband (poor child, such a grief to her) was reported dead in Africa. A mysterious country—
Africa.”
“A mysterious continent,” Poirot corrected her. “Possibly. What part—”
She swept on.
“Central Africa. The home of voodoo, of the zombie—”
“The zombie is in the West Indies.”
Mrs. Cloade swept on:
“—of black magic—of strange and secret practices—a country where a man could disappear
and never be heard of again.”
“Possibly, possibly,” said Poirot. “But the same is true of Piccadilly Circus.”
Mrs. Cloade waved away Piccadilly Circus.
“Twice lately, M. Poirot, a communication has come through from a spirit who gives his name
as Robert. The message was the same each time. Not dead…We were puzzled, we knew no
Robert. Asking for further guidance we got this. ‘R.U. R.U. R.U.—then Tell R. Tell R.’ ‘Tell
Robert?’ we asked. ‘No, from Robert. R.U.’ ‘What does the U. stand for?’ Then, M.
Poirot, the most significant answer came. ‘Little Boy Blue. Little Boy Blue. Ha ha ha!’ You
see?”
“No,” said Poirot, “I do not.”
She looked at him pityingly.
“The nursery rhyme Little Boy Blue. ‘Under the Haycock fast asleep’—Underhay—you
see?”
Poirot nodded. He forbore to ask why, if the name Robert could be spelt out, the name
Underhay could not have been treated the same way, and why it had been necessary to resort to a
kind of cheap Secret service spy jargon24.
“And my sister-in-law’s name is Rosaleen,” finished Mrs. Cloade triumphantly25. “You
see? Confusing all these Rs. But the meaning is quite plain. ‘Tell Rosaleen that Robert Underhay
is not dead.’”
“Aha, and did you tell her?”
Mrs. Cloade looked slightly taken aback.
“Er—well—no. You see, I mean—well, people are so sceptical. Rosaleen, I am sure, would be
so. And then, poor child, it might upset her—wondering, you know, where he was—and what he
was doing.”
“Besides projecting his voice through the ether? Quite so. A curious method, surely, of
announcing his safety?”
“Ah, M. Poirot, you are not an initiate26. And how do we know what the circumstances are?
Poor Captain Underhay (or is it Major Underhay) may be a prisoner somewhere in the dark
interior of Africa. But if he could be found, M. Poirot. If he could be restored to his dear young
Rosaleen. Think of her happiness! Oh, M. Poirot, I have been sent to you—surely, surely you will
not refuse the behest of the spiritual world.”
Poirot looked at her reflectively.
“My fees,” he said softly, “are very expensive. I may say enormously expensive! And the
task you suggest would not be easy.”
“Oh dear—but surely—it is most unfortunate. I and my husband are very badly off—very
badly off indeed. Actually my own plight27 is worse than my dear husband knows. I bought some
shares—under spirit guidance—and so far they have proved very disappointing—in fact, quite
alarming. They have gone right down and are now, I gather, practically unsaleable.”
She looked at him with dismayed blue eyes.
“I have not dared to tell my husband. I simply tell you in order to explain how I am situated28.
But surely, dear M. Poirot, to reunite a young husband and wife—it is such a noble mission—”
“Nobility, chère Madame, will not pay steamer and railway and air travel fares. Nor will it
cover the cost of long telegrams and cables, and the interrogations of witnesses.”
“But if he is found—if Captain Underhay is found alive and well—then—well, I think I may
safely say that, once that was accomplished29, there—there would be no difficulty about—er—
reimbursing30 you.”
“Ah, he is rich, then, this Captain Underhay?”
“No. Well, no…But I can assure you—I can give you my word—that—that the money
situation will not present difficulties.”
Slowly Poirot shook his head.
“I am sorry, Madame. The answer is No.”
He had a little difficulty in getting her to accept that answer.
When she had finally gone away, he stood lost in thought, frowning to himself. He remembered
now why the name of Cloade was familiar to him. The conversation at the club the day of the air
raid came back to him. The booming boring voice of Major Porter, going on and on, telling a story
to which nobody wanted to listen.
He remembered the rustle31 of a newspaper and Major Porter’s suddenly dropped jaw32 and
expression of consternation33.
But what worried him was trying to make up his mind about the eager middle-aged lady who
had just left him. The glib34 spiritualistic patter, the vagueness, the floating scarves, the chains and
amulets35 jingling36 round her neck—and finally, slightly at variance37 with all this, that sudden shrewd
glint in a pair of pale-blue eyes.
“Just why exactly did she come to me?” he said to himself. “And what, I wonder, has been
going on in”—he looked down at the card on his desk—“Warmsley Vale?”

分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 deferentially 90c13fae351d7697f6aaf986af4bccc2     
adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地
参考例句：
  • "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来，让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着，彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网
2 meticulous A7TzJ     
adj.极其仔细的，一丝不苟的
参考例句：
  • We'll have to handle the matter with meticulous care.这事一点不能含糊。
  • She is meticulous in her presentation of facts.她介绍事实十分详细。
3 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
4 artistic IeWyG     
adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的
参考例句：
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
5 questionable oScxK     
adj.可疑的，有问题的
参考例句：
  • There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
  • Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。
6 beads 894701f6859a9d5c3c045fd6f355dbf5     
n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链
参考例句：
  • a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
  • Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。
7 bead hdbyl     
n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠
参考例句：
  • She accidentally swallowed a glass bead.她不小心吞下了一颗玻璃珠。
  • She has a beautiful glass bead and a bracelet in the box.盒子里有一颗美丽的玻璃珠和手镯。
8 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》
9 specially Hviwq     
adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地
参考例句：
  • They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
  • The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
10 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。
11 sham RsxyV     
n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)
参考例句：
  • They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
  • His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。
12 deflect RxvxG     
v.(使)偏斜，(使)偏离，(使)转向
参考例句：
  • Never let a little problem deflect you.决不要因一点小问题就半途而废。
  • They decided to deflect from the original plan.他们决定改变原计划。
13 poignant FB1yu     
adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的
参考例句：
  • His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
  • It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。
14 elucidate GjSzd     
v.阐明，说明
参考例句：
  • The note help to elucidate the most difficult parts of the text.这些注释有助于弄清文中最难懂的部分。
  • This guide will elucidate these differences and how to exploit them.这篇指导将会阐述这些不同点以及如何正确利用它们。
15 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地，相当地
参考例句：
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
16 rambling MTfxg     
adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的
参考例句：
  • We spent the summer rambling in Ireland. 我们花了一个夏天漫游爱尔兰。
  • It was easy to get lost in the rambling house. 在布局凌乱的大房子里容易迷路。
17 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。
18 materialistic 954c43f6cb5583221bd94f051078bc25     
a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的
参考例句：
  • She made him both soft and materialistic. 她把他变成女性化而又实际化。
  • Materialistic dialectics is an important part of constituting Marxism. 唯物辩证法是马克思主义的重要组成部分。
19 painstaking 6A6yz     
adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的
参考例句：
  • She is not very clever but she is painstaking.她并不很聪明，但肯下苦功夫。
  • Through years of our painstaking efforts,we have at last achieved what we have today.大家经过多少年的努力，才取得今天的成绩。
20 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。
21 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的，安心的，知足的
参考例句：
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
22 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。
23 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械，机器；机构
参考例句：
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
24 jargon I3sxk     
n.术语，行话
参考例句：
  • They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
  • It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.
25 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地
参考例句：
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
26 initiate z6hxz     
vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入
参考例句：
  • A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
  • They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。
27 plight 820zI     
n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定
参考例句：
  • The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
  • She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。
28 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
29 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
30 reimbursing cd301bee798fe7fb862d8f4009a8c221     
v.偿还，付还( reimburse的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • All banking charges outside Korea and reimbursing are for account of beneficiary. 所有韩国以外的用度及偿付行用度由受益人承担。 来自互联网
  • A reimbursing bank's charges are for the account of the issuing bank. 然而，如果费用系由受益人承担，则开证行有责任在信用证和偿付授权书中予以注明。 来自互联网
31 rustle thPyl     
v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声
参考例句：
  • She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
  • He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。
32 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训
参考例句：
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
33 consternation 8OfzB     
n.大为吃惊，惊骇
参考例句：
  • He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
  • Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。
34 glib DeNzs     
adj.圆滑的，油嘴滑舌的
参考例句：
  • His glib talk sounds as sweet as a song.他说的比唱的还好听。
  • The fellow has a very glib tongue.这家伙嘴油得很。
35 amulets f77e48fcf4600f8cbb307bca4e363b32     
n.护身符( amulet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Amulets,\"guards,\" as they are popularly called, intended to ward off evil spirits. 护身符――或者象他们普遍的叫法：“警卫”用来抵御妖魔鬼怪。 来自辞典例句
  • However, all oval amulets in a single game are the same. 当然，所有的魔法用品也有类似的情形。 来自互联网
36 jingling 966ec027d693bb9739d1c4843be19b9f     
叮当声
参考例句：
  • A carriage went jingling by with some reclining figure in it. 一辆马车叮当驶过，车上斜倚着一个人。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Melanie did not seem to know, or care, that life was riding by with jingling spurs. 媚兰好像并不知道，或者不关心，生活正马刺丁当地一路驶过去了呢。
37 variance MiXwb     
n.矛盾，不同
参考例句：
  • The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance. 妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。
  • It is unnatural for brothers to be at variance. 兄弟之间不睦是不近人情的。

©2005-2010英文阅读网