顺水推舟37

时间：2025-01-30 17:30:44

（单词翻译:单击）

Eight
It was getting late, but there was still one more call that Poirot wanted to make. He went along to
Jeremy Cloade’s house.
There he was shown into Jeremy Cloade’s study by a small, intelligent-looking maid.
Left alone, Poirot gazed interestedly round him. All very legal and dry as dust, he thought, even
in his home. There was a large portrait of Gordon Cloade on the desk. Another faded one of Lord
Edward Trenton on a horse, and Poirot was examining the latter when Jeremy Cloade came in.
“Ah, pardon.” Poirot put the photo frame down in some confusion.
“My wife’s father,” said Jeremy, a faint self-congratulatory note in his voice. “And one of
his best horses, Chestnut1 Trenton. Ran second in the Derby in 1924. Are you interested in
racing2?”
“Alas, no.”
“Runs away with a lot of money,” said Jeremy dryly. “Lord Edward came a crash over it—
had to go and live abroad. Yes, an expensive sport.”
But there was still the note of pride in his voice.
He himself, Poirot judged, would as soon throw his money in the street as invest it in horseflesh,
but he had a secret admiration3 and respect for those who did.
Cloade went on:
“What can I do for you, M. Poirot? As a family, I feel we owe you a debt of gratitude—for
finding Major Porter to give evidence of identification.”
“The family seems very jubilant about it,” said Poirot.
“Ah,” said Jeremy dryly. “Rather premature4 to rejoice. Lot of water’s got to pass under
the bridge yet. After all, Underhay’s death was accepted in Africa. Takes years to upset a thing
of this kind—and Rosaleen’s evidence was very positive—very positive indeed. She made a
good impression you know.”
It seemed almost as though Jeremy Cloade was unwilling5 to bank upon any improvement in his
prospects6.
“I wouldn’t like to give a ruling one way or the other,” he said. “Couldn’t say how a
case would go.”
Then, pushing aside some papers with a fretful, almost weary gesture, he said:
“But you wanted to see me?”
“I was going to ask you, Mr. Cloade, if you are really quite certain your brother did not leave a
will? A will made subsequent to his marriage, I mean?”
Jeremy looked surprised.
“I don’t think there’s ever been any idea of such a thing. He certainly didn’t make one
before leaving New York.”
“He might have made one during the two days he was in London.”
“Gone to a lawyer there?”
“Or written one out himself.”
“And got it witnessed? Witnessed by whom?”
“There were three servants in the house,” Poirot reminded him. “Three servants who died
the same night he did.”
“H’m—yes—but if by any chance he did do what you suggest, well, the will was destroyed
too.”
“That is just the point. Lately a great many documents believed to have perished completely
have actually been deciphered by a new process. Incinerated inside home safes, for instance, but
not so destroyed that they cannot be read.”
“Well, really, M. Poirot, that is a most remarkable7 idea of yours…Most remarkable. But I
don’t think—no, I really don’t believe there is anything in it…So far as I know there was no
safe in the house in Sheffield Terrace. Gordon kept all valuable papers, etc., at his office—and
there was certainly no will there.”
“But one might make inquiries8?” Poirot was persistent9. “From the A.R.P. officials, for
instance? You would authorize10 me to do that?”
“Oh, certainly—certainly. Very kind of you to offer to undertake such a thing. But I haven’t
any belief whatever, I’m afraid, in your success. Still—well, it is an offchance, I suppose. You—
you’ll be going back to London at once, then?”
Poirot’s eyes narrowed. Jeremy’s tone had been unmistakably eager. Going back to
London…Did they all want him out of the way?
Before he could answer, the door opened and Frances Cloade came in.
Poirot was struck by two things. First, by the fact that she looked shockingly ill. Secondly11, by
her very strong resemblance to the photograph of her father.
“M. Hercule Poirot has come to see us, my dear,” said Jeremy rather unnecessarily.
She shook hands with him and Jeremy Cloade immediately outlined to her Poirot’s suggestion
about a will.
Frances looked doubtful.
“It seems a very outside chance.”
“M. Poirot is going up to London and will very kindly12 make inquiries.”
“Major Porter, I understand, was an Air Raid Warden13 in that district,” said Poirot.
A curious expression passed over Mrs. Cloade’s face. She said:
“Who is Major Porter?”
Poirot shrugged14 his shoulders.
“A retired15 Army officer, living on his pension.”
“He really was in Africa?”
Poirot looked at her curiously16.
“Certainly, Madame. Why not?”
She said almost absently, “I don’t know. He puzzled me.”
“Yes, Mrs. Cloade,” said Poirot. “I can understand that.”
She looked sharply at him. An expression almost of fear came into her eyes.
Turning to her husband she said:
“Jeremy, I feel very much distressed17 about Rosaleen. She is all alone at Furrowbank and she
must be frightfully upset over David’s arrest. Would you object if I asked her to come here and
stay?”
“Do you really think that is advisable, my dear?” Jeremy sounded doubtful.
“Oh—advisable? I don’t know! But one is human. She is such a helpless creature.”
“I rather doubt if she will accept.”
“I can at any rate make the offer.”
The lawyer said quietly: “Do so if it will make you feel happier.”
“Happier!”
The word came out with a strange bitterness. Then she gave a quick doubtful glance at Poirot.
Poirot murmured formally:
“I will take my leave now.”
She followed him out into the hall.
“You are going up to London?”
“I shall go up tomorrow, but for twenty-four hours at most. And then I return to the Stag—
where you will find me, Madame, if you want me.”
She demanded sharply:
“Why should I want you?”
Poirot did not reply to the question, merely said:
“I shall be at the Stag.”
Later that night out of the darkness Frances Cloade spoke18 to her husband.
“I don’t believe that man is going to London for the reason he said. I don’t believe all that
about Gordon’s having made a will. Do you believe it, Jeremy?”
A hopeless, rather tired voice answered her:
“No, Frances. No—he’s going for some other reason.”
“What reason?”
“I’ve no idea.”
Frances said, “What are we going to do, Jeremy? What are we going to do?”
Presently he answered:
“I think, Frances, there’s only one thing to be done—”

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1 chestnut XnJy8     
n.栗树，栗子
参考例句：
  • We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
  • In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。
2 racing 1ksz3w     
n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的
参考例句：
  • I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
  • The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
3 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
4 premature FPfxV     
adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的
参考例句：
  • It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
  • The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。
5 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句：
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
6 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望，前途(恒为复数)
参考例句：
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
7 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
8 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》
9 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。
10 authorize CO1yV     
v.授权，委任；批准，认可
参考例句：
  • He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
  • Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
11 secondly cjazXx     
adv.第二，其次
参考例句：
  • Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
  • Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。
12 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
13 warden jMszo     
n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人
参考例句：
  • He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
  • The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。
14 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》
15 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
16 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地
参考例句：
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
17 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句：
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
18 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。

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