命案目睹记29

时间：2025-10-20 07:24:18

（单词翻译:单击）

II
Lucy took Miss Marple home. On her way back a figure stepped out of the
darkness and stood in the glare of the headlights just as she was about to
turn into the back lane. He held up his hand and Lucy recognized Alfred
Crackenthorpe.
“That’s better,” he observed, as he got in. “Brr, it’s cold! I fancied I’d like
a nice bracing1 walk. I didn’t. Taken the old lady home all right?”
“Yes. She enjoyed herself very much.”
“One could see that. Funny what a taste old ladies have for any kind of
society, however dull. And, really, nothing could be duller than Rutherford
Hall. Two days here is about as much as I can stand. How do you manage
to stick it out, Lucy? Don’t mind if I call you Lucy, do you?”
“Not at all. I don’t find it dull. Of course with me it’s not a permanency.”
“I’ve been watching you—you’re a smart girl, Lucy. Too smart to waste
yourself cooking and cleaning.”
“Thank you, but I prefer cooking and cleaning to the office desk.”
“So would I. But there are other ways of living. You could be a freel-
ance.”
“I am.”
“Not this way. I mean, working for yourself, pitting your wits against—”
“Against what?”
“The powers that be! All the silly pettifogging rules and regulations that
hamper2 us all nowadays. The interesting thing is there’s always a way
round them if you’re smart enough to find it. And you’re smart. Come
now, does the idea appeal to you?”
“Possibly.”
Lucy manoeuvred the car into the stableyard.
“Not going to commit yourself?”
“I’d have to hear more.”
“Frankly, my dear girl, I could use you. You’ve got the sort of manner
that’s invaluable—creates confidence.”
“Do you want me to help you sell gold bricks?”
“Nothing so risky3. Just a little by-passing of the law—no more.” His hand
slipped up her arm. “You’re a damned attractive girl, Lucy. I’d like you as
a partner.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Meaning nothing doing? Think about it. Think of the fun. The pleasure
you’d get out of outwitting all the sober-sides. The trouble is, one needs
capital.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t got any.”
“Oh, it wasn’t a touch! I’ll be laying my hands on some before long. My
revered4 Papa can’t live forever, mean old brute5. When he pops off, I lay
my hands on some real money. What about it, Lucy?”
“What are the terms?”
“Marriage if you fancy it. Women seem to, no matter how advanced and
self-supporting they are. Besides, married women can’t be made to give
evidence against their husbands.”
“Not so flattering!”
“Come off it, Lucy. Don’t you realize I’ve fallen for you?”
Rather to her surprise Lucy was aware of a queer fascination6. There was
a quality of charm about Alfred, perhaps due to sheer animal magnetism7.
She laughed and slipped from his encircling arm.
“This is no time for dalliance. There’s dinner to think about.”
“So there is, Lucy, and you’re a lovely cook. What’s for dinner?”
“Wait and see! You’re as bad as the boys!”
They entered the house and Lucy hurried to the kitchen. She was rather
surprised to be interrupted in her preparations by Harold Crackenthorpe.
“Miss Eyelesbarrow, can I speak to you about something?”
“Would later do, Mr. Crackenthorpe? I’m rather behind hand.”
“Certainly. Certainly. After dinner?”
“Yes, that will do.”
Dinner was duly served and appreciated. Lucy finished washing up and
came out into the hall to find Harold Crackenthorpe waiting for her.
“Yes, Mr. Crackenthorpe?”
“Shall we come in here?” He opened the door of the drawing room and
led the way. He shut the door behind her.
“I shall be leaving early in the morning,” he explained, “but I want to tell
you how struck I have been by your ability.”
“Thank you,” said Lucy, feeling a little surprised.
“I feel that your talents are wasted here—definitely wasted.”
“Do you? I don’t.”
At any rate, he can’t ask me to marry him, thought Lucy. He’s got a wife
already.
“I suggest that having very kindly8 seen us through this lamentable9 crisis,
you call upon me in London. If you will ring up and make an appointment,
I will leave instructions with my secretary. The truth is that we could use
someone of your outstanding ability in the firm. We could discuss fully10 in
what field your talents would be most ably employed. I can offer you, Miss
Eyelesbarrow, a very good salary indeed with brilliant prospects11. I think
you will be agreeably surprised.”
His smile was magnanimous.
Lucy said demurely12:
“Thank you, Mr. Crackenthorpe, I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t wait too long. These opportunities should not be missed by a
young woman anxious to make her way in the world.”
Again his teeth flashed.
“Good night, Miss Eyelesbarrow, sleep well.”
“Well,” said Lucy to herself, “well…this is all very interesting….”
On her way up to bed, Lucy encountered Cedric on the stairs.
“Look here, Lucy, there’s something I want to say to you.”
“Do you want me to marry you and come to Ibiza and look after you?”
Cedric looked very much taken aback, and slightly alarmed.
“I never thought of such a thing.”
“Sorry. My mistake.”
“I just wanted to know if you’ve a timetable in the house?”
“Is that all? There’s one on the hall table.”
“You know,” said Cedric, reprovingly, “you shouldn’t go about thinking
everyone wants to marry you. You’re quite a good-looking girl but not as
good-looking as all that. There’s a name for that sort of thing—it grows on
you and you get worse. Actually, you’re the last girl in the world I should
care to marry. The last girl.”
“Indeed?” said Lucy. “You needn’t rub it in. Perhaps you’d prefer me as
a stepmother?”
“What’s that?” Cedric stared at her stupefied.
“You heard me,” said Lucy, and went into her room and shut the door.

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1 bracing oxQzcw     
adj.令人振奋的
参考例句：
  • The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
  • The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。
2 hamper oyGyk     
vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子
参考例句：
  • There are some apples in a picnic hamper.在野餐用的大篮子里有许多苹果。
  • The emergence of such problems seriously hamper the development of enterprises.这些问题的出现严重阻碍了企业的发展。
3 risky IXVxe     
adj.有风险的，冒险的
参考例句：
  • It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
  • He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。
4 revered 1d4a411490949024694bf40d95a0d35f     
v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句
5 brute GSjya     
n.野兽，兽性
参考例句：
  • The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
  • That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。
6 fascination FlHxO     
n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋
参考例句：
  • He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
  • His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。
7 magnetism zkxyW     
n.磁性，吸引力，磁学
参考例句：
  • We know about magnetism by the way magnets act.我们通过磁铁的作用知道磁性是怎么一回事。
  • His success showed his magnetism of courage and devotion.他的成功表现了他的胆量和热诚的魅力。
8 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。
9 lamentable A9yzi     
adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的
参考例句：
  • This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。
  • His practice of inebriation was lamentable.他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。
10 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地
参考例句：
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
11 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。
12 demurely demurely     
adv.装成端庄地，认真地
参考例句：
  • "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分）
  • Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

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