山核桃大街谋杀案（22）

时间：2025-03-03 03:20:51

（单词翻译:单击）

Chapter Twenty-one
“I haven’t seen you for a long time,” said old Mr. Endicott to Hercule Poirot. He peered at the
other keenly. “It’s very nice of you to drop in.”
“Not really,” said Hercule Poirot. “I want something.”
“Well, as you know, I’m deeply in your debt. You cleared up that nasty Abernethy business for
me.”
“I am surprised really to find you here. I thought you had retired1.”
The old lawyer smiled grimly. His firm was a most respectable and old-established one.
“I came in specially2 today to see a very old client. I still attend to the affairs of one or two old
friends.”
“Sir Arthur Stanley was an old friend and client, was he not?”
“Yes. We’ve undertaken all his legal work since he was quite a young man. A very brilliant
man, Poirot—quite an exceptional brain.”
“His death was announced on the six o’clock news yesterday, I believe.”
“Yes. The funeral’s on Friday. He’s been ailing3 some time. A malignant4 growth, I understand.”
“Lady Stanley died some years ago?”
“Two and a half years ago, roughly.”
The keen eyes below the bushy brows looked sharply at Poirot.
“How did she die?”
The lawyer replied promptly5.
“Overdose of sleeping stuff. Medinal as far as I remember.”
“There was an inquest?”
“Yes. The verdict was that she took it accidentally.”
“Did she?”
Mr. Endicott was silent for a moment.
“I won’t insult you,” he said. “I’ve no doubt you’ve got a good reason for asking. Medinal’s a
rather dangerous drug, I understand, because there’s not a big margin6 between an effective dose
and a lethal7 one. If the patient gets drowsy8 and forgets she’s taken a dose and takes another—well,
it can have a fatal result.”
Poirot nodded.
“Is that what she did?”
“Presumably. There was no suggestion of suicide, or suicidal tendencies.”
“And no suggestion of—anything else?”
Again that keen glance was shot at him.
“Her husband gave evidence.”
“And what did he say?”
“He made it clear that she did sometimes get confused after taking her nightly dose and ask for
another.”
“Was he lying?”
“Really, Poirot, what an outrageous9 question. Why should you suppose for a minute that I
should know?”
Poirot smiled. The attempt at bluster10 did not deceive him.
“I suggest, my friend, that you know very well. But for the moment I will not embarrass you by
asking you what you know. Instead I will ask you for an opinion. The opinion of one man about
another. Was Arthur Stanley the kind of man who would do away with his wife if he wanted to
marry another woman?”
Mr. Endicott jumped as though he had been stung by a wasp11.
“Preposterous12,” he said angrily. “Quite preposterous. And there was no other woman. Stanley
was devoted13 to his wife.”
“Yes,” said Poirot. “I thought so. And now—I will come to the purpose of my call upon you.
You are the solicitors14 who drew up Arthur Stanley’s will. You are, perhaps, his executor.”
“That is so.”
“Arthur Stanley had a son. The son quarrelled with his father at the time of his mother’s death.
Quarrelled with him and left home. He even went so far as to change his name.”
“That I did not know. What’s he calling himself?”
“We shall come to that. Before we do I am going to make an assumption. If I am right, perhaps
you will admit the fact. I think that Arthur Stanley left a sealed letter with you, a letter to be
opened under certain circumstances or after his death.”
“Really, Poirot! In the Middle Ages you would certainly have been burnt at the stake. How you
can possibly know the things you do!”
“I am right then? I think there was an alternative in the letter. Its contents were either to be
destroyed—or you were to take a certain course of action.”
He paused.
“Bon dieu!” said Poirot with alarm. “You have not already destroyed—”
He broke off in relief as Mr. Endicott slowly shook his head in negation15.
“We never act in haste,” he said reprovingly. “I have to make full inquiries16—to satisfy myself
absolutely—”
He paused. “This matter,” he said severely17, “is highly confidential18. Even to you, Poirot—” He
shook his head.
“And if I show you good cause why you should speak.”
“That is up to you. I cannot conceive how you can possibly know anything at all that is relevant
to the matter we are discussing.”
“I do not know—so I have to guess. If I guess correctly—”
“Highly unlikely,” said Mr. Endicott, with a wave of his hand.
Poirot drew a deep breath.
“Very well then. It is in my mind that your instructions are as follows. In the event of Sir
Arthur’s death, you are to trace his son Nigel, to ascertain19 where he is living and how he is living
and particularly whether he is or has been engaged in any criminal activity whatsoever20.”
This time Mr. Endicott’s impregnable legal calm was really shattered. He uttered an
exclamation21 such as few had ever heard from his lips.
“Since you appear to be in full possession of the facts,” he said, “I’ll tell you anything you want
to know. I gather you’ve come across young Nigel in the course of your professional activities.
What’s the young devil been up to?”
“I think the story goes as follows. After he had left home he changed his name, telling anyone
who was interested that he had to do so as a condition of a legacy22. He then fell in with some
people who were running a smuggling23 racket—drugs and jewels. I think it was due to him that the
racket assumed its final form—an exceedingly clever one involving the using of innocent bona
fide students. The whole thing was operated by two people, Nigel Chapman, as he now called
himself, and a young woman called Valerie Hobhouse who, I think, originally introduced him to
the smuggling trade. It was a small private concern and they worked it on a commission basis—
but it was immensely profitable. The goods had to be of small bulk, but thousands of pounds worth
of gems24 and narcotics26 occupy a very small space. Everything went well until one of those
unforeseen chances occurred. A police officer came one day to a students’ hostel27 to make inquiries
in connection with a murder near Cambridge. I think you know the reason why that particular
piece of information should cause Nigel to panic. He thought the police were after him. He
removed certain electric lightbulbs so that the light should be dim and he also, in a panic, took a
certain rucksack out into the back yard, hacked28 it to pieces and threw it behind the boiler29 since he
feared traces of narcotic25 might be found in its false bottom.
“His panic was quite unfounded—the police had merely come to ask questions about a certain
Eurasian student—but one of the girls living in the hostel had happened to look out of her window
and had seen him destroying the rucksack. That did not immediately sign her death warrant.
Instead, a clever scheme was thought up by which she herself was induced to commit certain
foolish actions which would place her in a very invidious position. But they carried that scheme
too far. I was called in. I advised going to the police. The girl lost her head and confessed. She
confessed, that is, to the things that she had done. But she went, I think, to Nigel, and urged him to
confess also to the rucksack business and to spilling ink over a fellow student’s work. Neither
Nigel nor his accomplice30 could consider attention being called to the rucksack—their whole plan
of campaign would be ruined. Moreover Celia, the girl in question, had another dangerous piece of
knowledge which she revealed, as it happened, the night I dined there. She knew who Nigel really
was.”
“But surely—” Mr. Endicott frowned.
“Nigel had moved from one world to another. Any former friends he met might know that he
now called himself Chapman, but they knew nothing of what he was doing. In the hostel nobody
knew that his real name was Stanley—but Celia suddenly revealed that she knew him in both
capacities. She also knew that Valerie Hobhouse, on one occasion at least, had travelled abroad on
a false passport. She knew too much. The next evening she went out to meet him by appointment
somewhere. He gave her a drink of coffee and in it was morphia. She died in her sleep with
everything arranged to look like suicide.”
Mr. Endicott stirred. An expression of deep distress31 crossed his face. He murmured something
under his breath.
“But that was not the end,” said Poirot. “The woman who owned the chain of hostels32 and
students’ clubs died soon after in suspicious circumstances and then, finally, there came the last
most cruel and heartless crime. Patricia Lane, a girl who was devoted to Nigel and of whom he
himself was really fond, meddled33 unwittingly in his affairs, and moreover insisted that he should
be reconciled to his father before the latter died. He told her a string of lies, but he realised that her
obstinacy34 might urge her actually to write a second letter after the first was destroyed. I think, my
friend, that you can tell me why, from his point of view, that would have been such a fatal thing to
happen.”
Mr. Endicott rose. He went across the room to a safe, unlocked it, and came back with a long
envelope in his hand. It had a broken red seal on the back of it. He drew out two enclosures and
laid them before Poirot.
Dear Endicott,
You will open this after I am dead. I wish you to trace my son Nigel and find out if he has been
guilty of any criminal actions whatsoever.
The facts I am about to tell you are known to me only. Nigel has always been profoundly
unsatisfactory in his character. He has twice been guilty of forging my name to a cheque. On each
occasion I acknowledged the signature as mine, but warned him that I would not do so again. On
the third occasion it was his mother’s name he forged. She charged him with it. He begged her to
keep silent. She refused. She and I had discussed him, and she made it clear she was going to tell
me. It was then, in handing her her evening sleeping mixture, he administered an overdose. Before
it took effect, however, she had come to my room and told me all about matters. When, the next
morning, she was found dead, I knew who had done it.
I accused Nigel and told him that I intended to make a clean breast of all the facts to the police.
He pleaded desperately35 with me. What would you have done, Endicott? I have no illusions about
my son, I know him for what he is, one of those dangerous misfits who have neither conscience nor
pity. I had no cause to save him. But it was the thought of my beloved wife that swayed me. Would
she wish me to execute justice? I thought that I knew the answer—she would have wanted her son
saved from the scaffold. She would have shrunk, as I shrank, from the dragging down of our name.
But there was another consideration. I firmly believe that once a killer36, always a killer. There
might be, in the future, other victims. I made a bargain with my son, and whether I did right or
wrong, I do not know. He was to write out a confession37 of his crime which I should keep. He was
to leave my house and never return, but make a new life for himself. I would give him a second
chance. Money belonging to his mother would come to him automatically. He had had a good
education. He had every chance of making good.
But—if he were convicted of any criminal activity whatsoever the confession he had left with me
should go to the police. I safeguarded myself by explaining that my own death would not solve the
problem.
You are my oldest friend. I am placing a burden on your shoulders, but I ask it in the name of a
dead woman who was also your friend. Find Nigel. If his record is clean, destroy this letter and
the enclosed confession. If not—then justice must be done.
Your affectionate friend,
Arthur Stanley
“Ah!” Poirot breathed a long sigh.
He unfolded the enclosure.
I hereby confess that I murdered my mother by giving her an overdose of medinal on November
18, 195—
Nigel Stanley

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1 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。
2 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。
3 ailing XzzzbA     
v.生病
参考例句：
  • They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
  • She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。
4 malignant Z89zY     
adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的
参考例句：
  • Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
  • He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。
5 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地，敏捷地
参考例句：
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
6 margin 67Mzp     
n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘
参考例句：
  • We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
7 lethal D3LyB     
adj.致死的；毁灭性的
参考例句：
  • A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
  • She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。
8 drowsy DkYz3     
adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的
参考例句：
  • Exhaust fumes made him drowsy and brought on a headache.废气把他熏得昏昏沉沉，还引起了头疼。
  • I feel drowsy after lunch every day.每天午饭后我就想睡觉。
9 outrageous MvFyH     
adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的
参考例句：
  • Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
  • Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。
10 bluster mRDy4     
v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声
参考例句：
  • We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
  • He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵，可是不久就不做声了。
11 wasp sMczj     
n.黄蜂，蚂蜂
参考例句：
  • A wasp stung me on the arm.黄蜂蜇了我的手臂。
  • Through the glass we can see the wasp.透过玻璃我们可以看到黄蜂。
12 preposterous e1Tz2     
adj.荒谬的，可笑的
参考例句：
  • The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
  • It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。
13 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
14 solicitors 53ed50f93b0d64a6b74a2e21c5841f88     
初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Most solicitors in England and Wales are in private practice . 英格兰和威尔士的大多数律师都是私人执业者。
  • The family has instructed solicitors to sue Thomson for compensation. 那家人已经指示律师起诉汤姆森，要求赔偿。
15 negation q50zu     
n.否定；否认
参考例句：
  • No reasonable negation can be offered.没有合理的反对意见可以提出。
  • The author boxed the compass of negation in his article.该作者在文章中依次探讨了各种反面的意见。
16 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》
17 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地
参考例句：
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
18 confidential MOKzA     
adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的
参考例句：
  • He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
  • We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
19 ascertain WNVyN     
vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清
参考例句：
  • It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
  • We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。
20 whatsoever Beqz8i     
adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么
参考例句：
  • There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
  • All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。
21 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词
参考例句：
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。
22 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句：
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
23 smuggling xx8wQ     
n.走私
参考例句：
  • Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
  • The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。
24 gems 74ab5c34f71372016f1770a5a0bf4419     
growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长
参考例句：
  • a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
  • The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。
25 narcotic u6jzY     
n.麻醉药，镇静剂；adj.麻醉的，催眠的
参考例句：
  • Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。
  • No medical worker is allowed to prescribe any narcotic drug for herself.医务人员不得为自己开处方使用麻醉药品。
26 narcotics 6c5fe7d3dc96f0626f1c875799f8ddb1     
n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒
参考例句：
  • The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 hostel f5qyR     
n.（学生）宿舍，招待所
参考例句：
  • I lived in a hostel while I was a student.我求学期间住在青年招待所里。
  • He says he's staying at a Youth Hostel.他说他现住在一家青年招待所。
28 hacked FrgzgZ     
生气
参考例句：
  • I hacked the dead branches off. 我把枯树枝砍掉了。
  • I'm really hacked off. 我真是很恼火。
29 boiler OtNzI     
n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等)
参考例句：
  • That boiler will not hold up under pressure.那种锅炉受不住压力。
  • This new boiler generates more heat than the old one.这个新锅炉产生的热量比旧锅炉多。
30 accomplice XJsyq     
n.从犯，帮凶，同谋
参考例句：
  • She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
  • He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。
31 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛
参考例句：
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
32 hostels ab4b19d7b454001216859ffc34f2fdf3     
n.旅舍，招待所( hostel的名词复数 )；青年宿舍
参考例句：
  • The students were protesting at overcrowding in the university hostels. 学生们在抗议大学宿舍过于拥挤。 来自辞典例句
  • Are there any cheap hostels in Nanjing for one person? 南京有没有便宜的旅店可以一个人住？ 来自互联网
33 meddled 982e90620b7d0b2256cdf4782c24285e     
v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Someone has meddled with the photographs I laid out so carefully. 有人把我精心布置的照片弄乱了。 来自辞典例句
  • The gifts of charity meddled with a man's private affair. 慈善团体的帮助实际上是干涉私人的事务。 来自互联网
34 obstinacy C0qy7     
n.顽固；（病痛等）难治
参考例句：
  • It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
  • Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。
35 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
36 killer rpLziK     
n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者
参考例句：
  • Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
  • The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。
37 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白，供认，承认
参考例句：
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。

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