弄假成真6
时间：2025-03-03 03:21:02
（单词翻译:单击）
Six
o’clock the fête was in full swing. People were paying the admission charge of half a crown in
Stubbs had emerged from her bedroom just before half past two, dressed in a cyclamen dress with
an enormous coolie-shaped hat of black straw. She wore large quantities of diamonds.
Miss Brewis murmured sardonically8:
“Thinks it’s the Royal Enclosure at Ascot, evidently!”
But Poirot complimented her gravely.
“It is a beautiful creation that you have on, Madame.”
“It is nice, isn’t it,” said Hattie happily. “I wore it for Ascot.”
The minor film star was arriving and Hattie moved forward to greet her.
Poirot retreated into the background. He wandered around disconsolately—everything seemed
George in his heartiest12 fashion, a skittle alley13 and a hoopla. There were various “stalls” displaying
local produce of fruit, vegetables, jams and cakes—and others displaying “fancy objects.” There
were “raffles” of cakes, of baskets of fruit; even, it seemed, of a pig; and a “Lucky Dip” for
children at twopence a go.
There was a good crowd of people by now and an Exhibition of Children’s Dancing began.
Poirot saw no sign of Mrs. Oliver, but Lady Stubbs’ cyclamen pink figure showed up amongst the
Folliat. She was quite transformed in appearance—wearing a hydrangea-blue foulard frock and a
smart grey hat, she appeared to preside over the proceedings15, greeting new arrivals, and directing
people to the various side shows.
Poirot lingered near her and listened to some of the conversations.
“Amy, my dear, how are you?”
“Oh, Pamela, how nice of you and Edward to come. Such a long way from Tiverton.”
“The weather’s held for you. Remember the year before the war? Cloudburst came down about
four o’clock. Ruined the whole show.”
“But it’s been a wonderful summer this year. Dorothy! It’s ages since I’ve seen you.”
“We felt we had to come and see Nasse in its glory. I see you’ve cut back the berberis on the
bank.”
“Yes, it shows the hydrangeas better, don’t you think?”
“How wonderful they are. What a blue! But, my dear, you’ve done wonders in the last year.
Nasse is really beginning to look like itself again.”
Dorothy’s husband boomed in a deep voice:
“Came over to see the commandant here during the war. Nearly broke my heart.”
Mrs. Folliat turned to greet a humbler visitor.
“Mrs. Knapper, I am pleased to see you. Is this Lucy? How she’s grown!”
“She’ll be leaving school next year. Pleased to see you looking so well, ma’am.”
“I’m very well, thank you. You must go and try your luck at hoopla, Lucy. See you in the tea
An elderly man, presumably Mr. Knapper, said diffidently:
“Pleased to have you back at Nasse, ma’am. Seems like old times.”
Mrs. Folliat’s response was drowned as two women and a big beefy man rushed towards her.
“Amy, dear, such ages. This looks the greatest success! Do tell me what you’ve done about the
rose garden. Muriel told me that you’re restocking it with all the new floribundas.”
The beefy man chipped in.
“Where’s Marylin Gale—?”
“Reggie’s just dying to meet her. He saw her last picture.”
“That her in the big hat? My word, that’s some getup.”
“Don’t be stupid, darling. That’s Hattie Stubbs. You know, Amy, you really shouldn’t let her go
round quite so like a mannequin.”
“Amy?” Another friend claimed attention. “This is Roger, Edward’s boy. My dear, so nice to
have you back at Nasse.”
Poirot moved slowly away and absentmindedly invested a shilling on a ticket that might win
him the pig.
He heard faintly still, the “So good of you to come” refrain from behind him. He wondered
whether Mrs. Folliat realized how completely she had slipped into the role of hostess or whether it
had just begun to be served and there was no longer a queue for the fortune telling. Poirot bowed
his head, entered the tent and paid over his half crown willingly for the privilege of sinking into a
chair and resting his aching feet.
Madame Zuleika was wearing flowing black robes, a gold tinsel scarf wound round her head
and a veil across the lower half of her face which slightly muffled19 her remarks. A gold bracelet20
full of money to come, success with a dark beauty and a miraculous22 escape from an accident.
“It is very agreeable all that you tell me, Madame Legge. I only wish that it could come true.”
“Oh!” said Sally. “So you know me, do you?”
“I had advance information—Mrs. Oliver told me that you were originally to be the ‘victim,’
but that you had been snatched from her for the Occult.”
“I wish I was being the ‘body,’” said Sally. “Much more peaceful. All Jim Warburton’s fault. Is
it four o’clock yet? I want my tea. I’m off duty from four to half past.”
“Ten minutes to go, still,” said Poirot, consulting his large old-fashioned watch. “Shall I bring
you a cup of tea here?”
“No. I think they are lining up for tea.”
“Good.”
Poirot emerged from the tent and was immediately challenged by a determined24 woman and
made to pay sixpence and guess the weight of a cake.
A hoopla stall presided over by a fat motherly woman urged him to try his luck and, much to his
discomfiture25, he immediately won a large Kewpie doll. Walking sheepishly along with this he
Poirot contemplated29 his prize.
“It is truly horrible, is it not?” he said sadly.
A small child near him suddenly burst out crying. Poirot stooped swiftly and tucked the doll
into the child’s arm.
“Voilà, it is for you.”
“There—Violet—isn’t the gentleman kind? Say, Ta, ever so—”
“Children’s Fancy Dress,” called out Captain Warburton through a megaphone. “The first class
—three to five. Form up, please.”
recognized it as the “turtle’ shirt of Sir George’s description. Every kind of turtle, tortoise and sea
“So you have come to the fête,” he said. “And your friend?”
“Oh, yes, she, too, comes here this afternoon. I have not seen her yet, but we shall leave
together by the bus that goes from the gates at five-fifteen. We go to Torquay and there I change to
another bus for Plymouth. It is convenient.”
This explained what had puzzled Poirot, the fact that the Dutch girl was perspiring37 under the
weight of a rucksack.
He said: “I saw your friend this morning.”
“Oh, yes, Elsa, a German girl, was with her and she told me they had tried to get through woods
to the river and quay. And the gentleman who owns the house was very angry and made them go
back.”
She added, turning her head to where Sir George was urging competitors on at the coconut shy:
“But now—this afternoon, he is very polite.”
Poirot considered explaining that there was a difference between young women who were
trespassers and the same young women when they had paid two shillings and sixpence entrance
fee and were legally entitled to sample the delights of Nasse House and its grounds. But Captain
Warburton and his megaphone bore down upon him. The Captain was looking hot and bothered.
“Have you seen Lady Stubbs, Poirot? Anyone seen Lady Stubbs? She’s supposed to be judging
this Fancy Dress business and I can’t find her anywhere.”
“I saw her, let me see—oh, about half an hour ago. But then I went to have my fortune told.”
“Curse the woman,” said Warburton angrily. “Where can she have disappeared to? The children
are waiting and we’re behind schedule as it is.”
He looked round.
“Where’s Amanda Brewis?”
Miss Brewis, also, was not in evidence.
“It really is too bad,” said Warburton. “One’s got to have some cooperation if one’s trying to
run a show. Where can Hattie be? Perhaps she’s gone into the house.”
He strode off rapidly.
Poirot edged his way towards the roped-off space where teas were being served in a large
He inspected the Fancy Goods stall where a determined old lady very nearly managed to sell
him a plastic collar box, and finally made his way round the outskirts to a place where he could
contemplate28 the activity from a safe distance.
He wondered where Mrs. Oliver was.
Footsteps behind him made him turn his head. A young man was coming up the path from the
disconcerted by the scene before him.
“You will excuse me. Is this the house of Sir George Stubbs?”
“It is indeed.” Poirot paused and then hazarded a guess. “Are you, perhaps, the cousin of Lady
Stubbs?”
“I am Etienne de Sousa—”
“My name is Hercule Poirot.”
They bowed to each other. Poirot explained the circumstances of the fête. As he finished, Sir
George came across the lawn towards them from the coconut shy.
“De Sousa? Delighted to see you. Hattie got your letter this morning. Where’s your yacht?”
“We must find Hattie. She’s somewhere about…You’ll dine with us this evening, I hope?”
“You are most kind.”
“Can we put you up?”
“That also is most kind, but I will sleep on my yacht. It is easier so.”
“Are you staying here long?”
“Hattie will be delighted, I’m sure,” said Sir George politely. “Where is she? I saw her not long
ago.”
“She ought to be judging the children’s fancy dress. I can’t understand it. Excuse me a moment.
I’ll ask Miss Brewis.”
He hurried off. De Sousa looked after him. Poirot looked at de Sousa.
“It is some little time since you last saw your cousin?” he asked.
The other shrugged his shoulders.
“I have not seen her since she was fifteen years old. Soon after that she was sent abroad—to
school at a convent in France. As a child she promised to have good looks.”
He looked inquiringly at Poirot.
“She is a beautiful woman,” said Poirot.
“And that is her husband? He seems what they call ‘a good fellow,’ but not perhaps very
polished? Still, for Hattie it might be perhaps a little difficult to find a suitable husband.”
Poirot remained with a politely inquiring expression on his face. The other laughed.
“Oh, it is no secret. At fifteen Hattie was mentally undeveloped. Feebleminded, do you not call
it? She is still the same?”
“It would seem so—yes,” said Poirot cautiously.
De Sousa shrugged his shoulders.
“Ah, well! Why should one ask it of women — that they should be intelligent? It is not
necessary.”
“I’ve no idea where she is, Sir George. I saw her over by the fortune teller’s tent last. But that
was at least twenty minutes or half an hour ago. She’s not in the house.”
“Is it not possible,” asked Poirot, “that she has gone to observe the progress of Mrs. Oliver’s
murder hunt?”
Sir George’s brow cleared.
“That’s probably it. Look here, I can’t leave the shows here. I’m in charge. And Amanda’s got
her hands full. Could you possibly have a look round, Poirot? You know the course.”
guidance. Miss Brewis took brisk charge of de Sousa and Poirot went off murmuring to himself,
Boathouse….”
As he passed the coconut shy he was amused to notice Sir George proffering47 wooden balls with
a dazzling smile of welcome to the same young Italian woman whom he had driven off that
morning and who was clearly puzzled at his change of attitude.
He went on his way to the tennis court. But there was no one there but an old gentleman of
military aspect who was fast asleep on a garden seat with his hat pulled over his eyes. Poirot
In the camellia garden Poirot found Mrs. Oliver dressed in purple splendour, sitting on a garden
beside her.
yet.”
At this moment a young man in shorts, with a prominent Adam’s apple, entered the garden.
With a cry of satisfaction he hurried to a tree in one corner and a further satisfied cry announced
first clue, but I spotted54 what it was—section of a tennis net. There was a poison bottle, empty, and
a cork. Most of ’em will go all out after the bottle clue—I guessed it was a red herring. Very
delicate, cork trees, only hardy55 in this part of the world. I’m interested in rare shrubs56 and trees.
Now where does one go, I wonder?”
He frowned over the entry in the notebook he carried.
“I’ve copied the next clue but it doesn’t seem to make sense.” He eyed them suspiciously. “You
competing?”
“Oh, no,” said Mrs. Oliver. “We’re just—looking on.”
“Righty-ho…‘When lovely woman stoops to folly.’…I’ve an idea I’ve heard that somewhere.”
“It is a well-known quotation,” said Poirot.
“A Folly can also be a building,” said Mrs. Oliver helpfully. “White—with pillars,” she added.
“That’s an idea! Thanks a lot. They say Mrs. Ariadne Oliver is down here herself somewhere
about. I’d like to get her autograph. You haven’t seen her about, have you?”
“No,” said Mrs. Oliver firmly.
like a fish.”
He hurried off and Mrs. Oliver said indignantly:
“Really! That’s most unfair when I only like lemonade!”
“And have you not just perpetrated the greatest unfairness in helping that young man towards
the next clue?”
“Considering he’s the only one who’s got here so far, I thought he ought to be encouraged.”
“But you wouldn’t give him your autograph.”
“That’s different,” said Mrs. Oliver. “Sh! Here come some more.”
But these were not clue hunters. They were two women who having paid for admittance were
determined to get their money’s worth by seeing the grounds thoroughly58.
They were hot and dissatisfied.
“You’d think they’d have some nice flower beds,” said one to the other. “Nothing but trees and
more trees. It’s not what I call a garden.”
Mrs. Oliver nudged Poirot, and they slipped quietly away.
“Supposing,” said Mrs. Oliver distractedly, “that nobody ever finds my body?”
“Patience, Madame, and courage,” said Poirot. “The afternoon is still young.”
“That’s true,” said Mrs. Oliver, brightening. “And it’s half-price admission after four-thirty, so
probably lots of people will flock in. Let’s go and see how that Marlene child is getting on. I don’t
really trust that girl, you know. No sense of responsibility. I wouldn’t put it past her to sneak59 away
quietly, instead of being a corpse60, and go and have tea. You know what people are like about their
teas.”
the property.
“I find it very confusing,” he said. “So many paths, and one is never sure where they lead. And
trees, trees everywhere.”
“You sound like that disgruntled woman we’ve just left.”
showed beneath them.
Poirot remarked that it would be awkward if the murder searchers were to light upon the
boathouse and find the body by accident.
“A sort of short cut? I thought of that. That’s why the last clue is just a key. You can’t unlock
the door without it. It’s a Yale. You can only open it from the inside.”
A short steep slope led down to the door of the boathouse which was built out over the river,
with a little wharf63 and a storage place for boats underneath64. Mrs. Oliver took a key from a pocket
“We’ve just come to cheer you up, Marlene,” she said brightly as she entered.
window.
Marlene made no response. She lay quite motionless. The wind blowing gently through the
“It’s all right,” said Mrs. Oliver impatiently. “It’s only me and M. Poirot. Nobody’s got any
distance with the clues yet.”
on the floor. A suppressed exclamation72 came from his lips. He looked up at Mrs. Oliver.
“So…” he said. “That which you expected has happened.”
“You don’t mean…” Mrs. Oliver’s eyes widened in horror. She grasped for one of the basket
chairs and sat down. “You can’t mean…She isn’t dead?”
Poirot nodded.
“Oh, yes,” he said. “She is dead. Though not very long dead.”
“But how—?”
He lifted the corner of the gay scarf bound round the girl’s head, so that Mrs. Oliver could see
the ends of the clothesline.
“Just like my murder,” said Mrs. Oliver unsteadily. “But who? And why?”
“That is the question,” said Poirot.
He forebore to add that those had also been her questions.
And that the answers to them could not be her answers, since the victim was not the
Yugoslavian first wife of an Atom Scientist, but Marlene Tucker, a fourteen-year-old village girl
who, as far as was known, had not an enemy in the world.
点击
收听单词发音
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1
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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3
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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4
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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hostel
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| n.（学生）宿舍，招待所 | |
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6
batches
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| 一批( batch的名词复数 )； 一炉； （食物、药物等的）一批生产的量； 成批作业 | |
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7
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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8
sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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9
sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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10
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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coconut
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| n.椰子 | |
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12
heartiest
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| 亲切的( hearty的最高级 )； 热诚的； 健壮的； 精神饱满的 | |
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13
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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14
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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15
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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16
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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17
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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19
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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21
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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22
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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23
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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24
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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25
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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26
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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27
quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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28
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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29
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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30
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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31
cannoned
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| vi.与…猛撞（cannon的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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32
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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33
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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35
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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36
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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37
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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39
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
spoke
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| 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 | |
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41
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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42
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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43
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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44
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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45
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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46
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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47
proffering
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的现在分词 ) | |
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48
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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49
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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51
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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53
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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54
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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55
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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56
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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57
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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58
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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59
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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60
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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61
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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62
zigzagged
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| adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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64
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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65
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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66
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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67
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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68
artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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69
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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70
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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72
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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