顺水推舟33

时间：2025-01-30 17:30:37

（单词翻译:单击）

Four
The Inquest was held in the Cornmarket.
The coroner, Mr. Pebmarsh, was a small fussy1 man with glasses and a considerable sense of his
own importance.
Beside him sat the large bulk of Superintendent2 Spence. In an unobtrusive seat was a small
foreign-looking man with a large black moustache. The Cloade family: the Jeremy Cloades, the
Lionel Cloades, Rowley Cloade, Mrs. Marchmont and Lynn—they were all there. Major Porter sat
by himself, fidgeting and ill at ease. David and Rosaleen arrived last. They sat by themselves.
The coroner cleared his throat and glancing round the jury of nine local worthies3, started
proceedings4.
Constable5 Peacock—
Sergeant6 Vane….
Dr. Lionel Cloade….
“You were attending a patient professionally at the Stag, when Gladys Aitkin came to you.
What did she say?”
“She informed me that the occupant of No. 5 was lying on the floor dead.”
“In consequence you went up to No. 5?”
“I did.”
“Will you describe what you found there?”
Dr. Cloade described. Body of a man…face downwards…head injuries…back of skull7…fire
tongs8.
“You were of opinion, that the injuries were inflicted10 with the tongs in question?”
“Some of them unquestionably were.”
“And that several blows had been struck?”
“Yes. I did not make a detailed11 examination as I considered that the police should be called
before the body was touched or its position altered.”
“Very proper. The man was dead?”
“Yes. He had been dead for some hours.”
“How long in your opinion had he been dead?”
“I should hesitate to be very definite about that. At least eleven hours—quite possibly thirteen
or fourteen—let us say between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. the preceding evening.”
“Thank you, Dr. Cloade.”
Then came the police surgeon—giving a full and technical description of the wounds. There
was an abrasion12 and swelling13 on the lower jaw14 and five or six blows had been struck on the base
of the skull, some of which had been delivered after death.
“It was an assault of great savagery15?”
“Exactly.”
“Would great strength have been needed to inflict9 these blows?”
“N-no, not exactly strength. The tongs, grasped by the pincers end, could be easily swung
without much exertion16. The heavy steel ball which forms the head of the tongs makes them a
formidable weapon. Quite a delicate person could have inflicted the injuries if, that is to say, they
were struck in a frenzy17 of excitement.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Details as to the condition of the body followed—well nourished, healthy, age about forty-five.
No signs of illness or disease—heart, lungs, etc., all good.
Beatrice Lippincott gave evidence of the arrival of the deceased. He had registered as Enoch
Arden, Cape18 Town.
“Did deceased produce a ration19 book?”
“No, sir.”
“Did you ask him for one?”
“Not at first. I did not know how long he was staying.”
“But you did eventually ask him?”
“Yes, sir. He arrived on the Friday and on Saturday I said if he was staying more than five
days would he please let me have his ration book.”
“What did he say to that?”
“He said he would give it to me.”
“But he did not actually do so?”
“No.”
“He did not say that he had lost it? Or had not got one?”
“Oh, no. He just said, ‘I’ll look it out and bring it along.’”
“Miss Lippincott, did you, on the night of Saturday, overhear a certain conversation?”
With a good deal of elaborate explanation as to the necessity she was under of visiting No. 4,
Beatrice Lippincott told her tale. The coroner guided her astutely20.
“Thank you. Did you mention this conversation you had overheard to anybody?”
“Yes, I told Mr. Rowley Cloade.”
“Why did you tell Mr. Cloade?”
“I thought he ought to know.” Beatrice flushed.
A tall thin man (Mr. Gaythorne) rose and asked permission to put a question.
“In the course of the conversation between the deceased and Mr. David Hunter did the
deceased at any time mention definitely that he himself was Robert Underhay?”
“No—no—he didn’t.”
“In fact he spoke21 of ‘Robert Underhay’ as though Robert Underhay was quite another
person?”
“Yes—yes, he did.”
“Thank you, Mr. Coroner, that was all I wanted to get clear.”
Beatrice Lippincott stood down and Rowley Cloade was called.
He confirmed that Beatrice had repeated the story to him and then gave his account of his
interview with the deceased.
“His last words to you were, ‘I don’t think you’ll prove that without my cooperation?’
‘That’—being the fact that Robert Underhay was still alive.”
“That’s what he said, yes. And he laughed.”
“He laughed, did he? What did you take those words to mean?”
“Well—I just thought he was trying to get me to make him an offer, but afterwards I got
thinking—”
“Yes, Mr. Cloade—but what you thought afterwards is hardly relevant. Shall we put it that as
a result of that interview you set about trying to find some person who was acquainted with the
late Robert Underhay? And that, with certain help, you were successful.”
Rowley nodded.
“That’s right.”
“What time was it when you left the deceased?”
“As nearly as I can tell it was five minutes to nine.”
“What made you fix on that time?”
“As I went along the street I heard the nine o’clock chimes through an open window.”
“Did the deceased mention at what time he was expecting this client?”
“He said ‘At any minute.’”
“He did not mention any name?”
“No.”
“David Hunter!”
There was just a faint soft buzz as the inhabitants of Warmsley Vale craned their necks to look
at the tall thin bitter-looking young man who stood defiantly22 facing the coroner.
The preliminaries went rapidly. The coroner continued:
“You went to see the deceased on Saturday evening?”
“Yes. I received a letter from him asking for assistance and stating he had known my sister’s
first husband in Africa.”
“You have got that letter?”
“No, I don’t keep letters.”
“You have heard the account given by Beatrice Lippincott of your conversation with the
deceased. Is that a true account?”
“Quite untrue. The deceased spoke of knowing my late brother-in-law, complained of his own
bad luck and of having come down in the world, and begged for some financial assistance which,
as is usual, he was quite confident of being able to repay.”
“Did he tell you that Robert Underhay was still alive?”
David smiled:
“Certainly not. He said, ‘If Robert were still alive I know he would help me.’”
“That is quite different from what Beatrice Lippincott tells us.”
“Eavesdroppers,” said David, “usually hear only a portion of what goes on and frequently
get the whole thing wrong owing to supplying the missing details from their own fertile
imaginations.”
Beatrice flounced angrily and exclaimed, “Well, I never—” The coroner said repressively,
“Silence, please.”
“Now, Mr. Hunter, did you visit the deceased again on the night of Tuesday—”
“No, I did not.”
“You have heard Mr. Rowley Cloade say that the deceased expected a visitor?”
“He may have expected a visitor. If so, I was not that visitor. I’d given him a fiver before. I
thought that was quite enough for him. There was no proof that he’d ever known Robert
Underhay. My sister, since she inherited a large income from her husband, has been the target of
every begging letter writer and every sponger in the neighbourhood.”
Quietly he let his eyes pass over the assembled Cloades.
“Mr. Hunter, will you tell us where you were on the evening of Tuesday?”
“Find out!” said David.
“Mr. Hunter!” The coroner rapped the table. “That is a most foolish and ill-advised thing to
say.”
“Why should I tell you where I was, and what I was doing? Time enough for that when you
accuse me of murdering the man.”
“If you persist in that attitude it may come to that sooner than you think. Do you recognize
this, Mr. Hunter?”
Leaning forward, David took the gold cigarette lighter23 into his hand. His face was puzzled.
Handing it back, he said slowly: “Yes, it’s mine.”
“When did you have it last?”
“I missed it—” He paused.
“Yes, Mr. Hunter?” The coroner’s voice was suave24.
Gaythorne fidgeted, seemed about to speak. But David was too quick for him.
“I had it last Friday—Friday morning. I don’t remember seeing it since.”
Mr. Gaythorne rose.
“With your permission, Mr. Coroner. You visited the deceased Saturday evening. Might you
not have left the lighter there then?”
“I might have, I suppose,” David said slowly. “I certainly don’t remember seeing it after
Friday—” He added: “Where was it found?”
The coroner said:
“We shall go into that later. You can stand down now, Mr. Hunter.”
David moved slowly back to his seat. He bent25 his head and whispered to Rosaleen Cloade.
“Major Porter.”
Hemming26 and hawing a little, Major Porter took the stand. He stood there, an erect27 soldierly
figure, as though on parade. Only the way he moistened his lips showed the intense nervousness
from which he was suffering.
“You are George Douglas Porter, late Major of the Royal African Rifles?”
“Yes.”
“How well did you know Robert Underhay?”
In a parade-ground voice Major Porter barked out places and dates.
“You have viewed the body of the deceased?”
“Yes.”
“Can you identify that body?”
“Yes. It is the body of Robert Underhay.”
A buzz of excitement went round the court.
“You state that positively28 and without the least doubt?”
“I do.”
“There is no possibility of your being mistaken?”
“None.”
“Thank you, Major Porter. Mrs. Gordon Cloade.”
Rosaleen rose. She passed Major Porter. He looked at her with some curiosity. She did not even
glance at him.
“Mrs. Cloade, you were taken by the police to see the body of the deceased?”
She shivered.
“Yes.”
“You stated definitely that it was the body of a man completely unknown to you?”
“Yes.”
“In view of the statement just made by Major Porter would you like to withdraw or amend29
your own statement?”
“No.”
“You still assert definitely that the body was not that of your husband, Robert Underhay?”
“It was not my husband’s body. It was a man I had never seen in my life.”
“Come now, Mrs. Cloade, Major Porter has definitely recognized it as the body of his friend
Robert Underhay.”
Rosaleen said expressionlessly:
“Major Porter is mistaken.”
“You are not under oath in this court, Mrs. Cloade. But it is likely that you will be under oath
in another court shortly. Are you prepared then to swear that the body is not that of Robert
Underhay but of an unknown stranger?”
“I am prepared to swear that it is not the body of my husband but of a man quite unknown to
me.”
Her voice was clear and unfaltering. Her eyes met the coroner unshrinkingly.
He murmured: “You can stand down.”
Then, removing his pince-nez, he addressed the jury.
They were there to discover how this man came to his death. As to that, there could be little
question. There could be no idea of accident or suicide. Nor could there be any suggestion of
manslaughter. There remained only one verdict—wilful30 murder. As to the identity of the dead
man, that was not clearly established.
They had heard one witness, a man of upright character and probity31 whose word could be relied
upon, say that the body was that of a former friend of his, Robert Underhay. On the other hand
Robert Underhay’s death from fever in Africa had been established apparently32 to the satisfaction
of the local authorities and no question had then been raised. In contradiction of Major Porter’s
statement, Robert Underhay’s widow, now Mrs. Gordon Cloade, stated positively that the body
was not that of Robert Underhay. These were diametrically opposite statements. Passing from the
question of identity they would have to decide if there was any evidence to show whose hand had
murdered the deceased. They might think that the evidence pointed33 to a certain person, but a good
deal of evidence was needed before a case could be made out — evidence and motive34 and
opportunity. The person must have been seen by someone in the vicinity of the crime at the
appropriate time. If there was not such evidence the best verdict was that of Wilful Murder
without sufficient evidence to show by whose hand. Such a verdict would leave the police free to
pursue the necessary inquiries35.
He then dismissed them to consider their verdict.
They took three quarters of an hour.
They returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against David Hunter.

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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 fussy Ff5z3     
adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的
参考例句：
  • He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
  • The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。
2 superintendent vsTwV     
n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长
参考例句：
  • He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
  • He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。
3 worthies 5d51be96060a6f2400cd46c3e32cd8ab     
应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征
参考例句：
  • The world is peopled with worthies, and workers, useful and clever. 世界上住着高尚的人，劳动的人，有用又聪明。
  • The former worthies have left us a rich cultural heritage. 前贤给我们留下了丰富的文化遗产。
4 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
5 constable wppzG     
n.(英国)警察，警官
参考例句：
  • The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
  • The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。
6 sergeant REQzz     
n.警官，中士
参考例句：
  • His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
  • How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？
7 skull CETyO     
n.头骨；颅骨
参考例句：
  • The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
  • He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。
8 tongs ugmzMt     
n.钳；夹子
参考例句：
  • She used tongs to put some more coal on the fire.她用火钳再夹一些煤放进炉子里。
  • He picked up the hot metal with a pair of tongs.他用一把钳子夹起这块热金属。
9 inflict Ebnz7     
vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担
参考例句：
  • Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
  • Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。
10 inflicted cd6137b3bb7ad543500a72a112c6680f     
把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
  • Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。
11 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的
参考例句：
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
12 abrasion xypz3     
n.磨（擦）破，表面磨损
参考例句：
  • Diamonds have extreme resistance to abrasion.钻石极抗磨损。
  • This analysis is helpful to the research of derailment and abrasion machenism.该分析有助于脱轨和磨耗机理的探讨。
13 swelling OUzzd     
n.肿胀
参考例句：
  • Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
  • There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。
14 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。
15 savagery pCozS     
n.野性
参考例句：
  • The police were shocked by the savagery of the attacks.警察对这些惨无人道的袭击感到震惊。
  • They threw away their advantage by their savagery to the black population.他们因为野蛮对待黑人居民而丧失了自己的有利地位。
16 exertion F7Fyi     
n.尽力，努力
参考例句：
  • We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。
  • She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。
17 frenzy jQbzs     
n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动
参考例句：
  • He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
  • They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。
18 cape ITEy6     
n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风
参考例句：
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
19 ration CAxzc     
n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应
参考例句：
  • The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
  • We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。
20 astutely df129d9348bcb9a62edf51a3de71f1b5     
adv.敏锐地；精明地；敏捷地；伶俐地
参考例句：
  • That was what Ada Quonsetf astutely intended. 这正是艾达·昆赛脱狡狯之处。 来自辞典例句
  • Freemantle had an idea that the TV session, astutely managed, might well develop into a show. 弗里曼特却自有主意，只要安排得巧妙，电视采访完全可以变成一次示威。 来自辞典例句
21 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。
22 defiantly defiantly     
adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地
参考例句：
  • Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 lighter 5pPzPR     
n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级
参考例句：
  • The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
  • The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
24 suave 3FXyH     
adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的
参考例句：
  • He is a suave,cool and cultured man.他是个世故、冷静、有教养的人。
  • I had difficulty answering his suave questions.我难以回答他的一些彬彬有礼的提问。
25 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
26 hemming c6fed4b4e8e7be486b6f9ff17821e428     
卷边
参考例句：
  • "Now stop hemming and hawing, and tell me about it, Edward. "别再这个那个的啦，跟我说说吧，爱德华。 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
  • All ideas of stopping holes and hemming in the German intruders are vicious. 一切想要堵塞缺口和围困德国侵略军的办法都是错误的。
27 erect 4iLzm     
n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的
参考例句：
  • She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
  • Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。
28 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实
参考例句：
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
29 amend exezY     
vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿
参考例句：
  • The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
  • You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。
30 wilful xItyq     
adj.任性的，故意的
参考例句：
  • A wilful fault has no excuse and deserves no pardon.不能宽恕故意犯下的错误。
  • He later accused reporters of wilful distortion and bias.他后来指责记者有意歪曲事实并带有偏见。
31 probity xBGyD     
n.刚直；廉洁，正直
参考例句：
  • Probity and purity will command respect everywhere.为人正派到处受人尊敬。
  • Her probity and integrity are beyond question.她的诚实和正直是无可争辩的。
32 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。
33 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
34 motive GFzxz     
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
35 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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