命案目睹记32

时间：2025-10-20 07:27:02

（单词翻译:单击）

III
On Craddock’s return Sergeant1 Wetherall was waiting to report with
gloomy relish2:
“Accommodation address, sir—that’s what 126 Elvers Crescent is. Quite
respectable and all that.”
“Any identifications?”
“No, nobody could recognize the photograph as that of a woman who
had called for letters, but I don’t think they would anyway—it’s a month
ago, very near, and a good many people use the place. It’s actually a
boarding-house for students.”
“She might have stayed there under another name.”
“If so, they didn’t recognize her as the original of the photograph.”
He added:
“We circularized the hotels—nobody registering as Martine Cracken-
thorpe anywhere. On receipt of your call from Paris, we checked up on
Anna Stravinska. She was registered with other members of the company
in a cheap hotel off Brook3 Green. Mostly theatricals4 there. She cleared out
on the night of Thursday 19th after the show. No further record.”
Craddock nodded. He suggested a line of further inquiries6—though he
had little hope of success from them.
After some thought, he rang up Wimborne, Henderson and Carstairs
and asked for an appointment with Mr. Wimborne.
In due course, he was ushered7 into a particularly airless room where
Mr. Wimborne was sitting behind a large old-fashioned desk covered with
bundles of dusty- looking papers. Various deed boxes labelled Sir John
ffouldes, dec., Lady Derrin, George Rowbottom, Esq., ornamented8 the walls;
whether as relics9 of a bygone era or as part of present-day legal affairs,
the inspector10 did not know.
Mr. Wimborne eyed his visitor with the polite wariness11 characteristic of
a family lawyer towards the police.
“What can I do for you, Inspector?”
“This letter…” Craddock pushed Martine’s letter across the table. Mr.
Wimborne touched it with a distasteful finger but did not pick it up. His
colour rose very slightly and his lips tightened12.
“Quite so,” he said; “quite so! I received a letter from Miss Emma Crack-
enthorpe yesterday morning, informing me of her visit to Scotland Yard
and of—ah—all the circumstances. I may say that I am at a loss to under-
stand—quite at a loss—why I was not consulted about this letter at the
time of its arrival! Most extraordinary! I should have been informed imme-
diately….”
Inspector Craddock repeated soothingly13 such platitudes14 as seemed best
calculated to reduce Mr. Wimborne to an amenable15 frame of mind.
“I’d no idea that there was ever any question of Edmund’s having mar-
ried,” said Mr. Wimborne in an injured voice.
Inspector Craddock said that he supposed—in war time—and left it to
trail away vaguely16.
“War time!” snapped Mr. Wimborne with waspish acerbity17. “Yes, in-
deed, we were in Lincoln’s Inn Fields at the outbreak of war and there was
a direct hit on the house next door, and a great number of our records
were destroyed. Not the really important documents, of course; they had
been removed to the country for safety. But it caused a great deal of confu-
sion. Of course, the Crackenthorpe business was in my father’s hands at
that time. He died six years ago. I dare say he may have been told about
this so- called marriage of Edmund’s — but on the face of it, it looks as
though that marriage, even if contemplated18, never took place, and so, no
doubt, my father did not consider the story of any importance. I must say,
all this sounds very fishy19 to me. This coming forward, after all these years,
and claiming a marriage and a legitimate20 son. Very fishy indeed. What
proofs had she got, I’d like to know?”
“Just so,” said Craddock. “What would her position, or her son’s position
be?”
“The idea was, I suppose, that she would get the Crackenthorpes to
provide for her and for the boy.”
“Yes, but I meant, what would she and the son be entitled to, legally
speaking—if she could prove her claim?”
“Oh, I see.” Mr. Wimborne picked up his spectacles which he had laid
aside in his irritation21, and put them on, staring through them at Inspector
Craddock with shrewd attention. “Well, at the moment, nothing. But if she
could prove that the boy was the son of Edmund Crackenthorpe, born in
lawful22 wedlock23, then the boy would be entitled to his share of Josiah
Crackenthorpe’s trust on the death of Luther Crackenthorpe. More than
that, he’d inherit Rutherford Hall, since he’s the son of the eldest24 son.”
“Would anyone want to inherit the house?”
“To live in? I should say, certainly not. But that estate, my dear In-
spector, is worth a considerable amount of money. Very considerable.
Land for industrial and building purposes. Land which is now in the heart
of Brackhampton. Oh, yes, a very considerable inheritance.”
“If Luther Crackenthorpe dies, I believe you told me that Cedric gets it?”
“He inherits the real estate—yes, as the eldest living son.”
“Cedric Crackenthorpe, I have been given to understand, is not interes-
ted5 in money?”
Mr. Wimborne gave Craddock a cold stare.
“Indeed? I am inclined, myself, to take statements of such a nature with
what I might term a grain of salt. There are doubtless certain unworldly
people who are indifferent to money. I myself have never met one.”
Mr. Wimborne obviously derived25 a certain satisfaction from this re-
mark.
Inspector Craddock hastened to take advantage of this ray of sunshine.
“Harold and Alfred Crackenthorpe,” he ventured, “seem to have been a
good deal upset by the arrival of this letter?”
“Well they might be,” said Mr. Wimborne. “Well they might be.”
“It would reduce their eventual26 inheritance?”
“Certainly. Edmund Crackenthorpe’s son—always presuming there is a
son—would be entitled to a fifth share of the trust money.”
“That doesn’t really seem a very serious loss?”
Mr. Wimborne gave him a shrewd glance.
“It is a totally inadequate27 motive28 for murder, if that is what you mean.”
“But I suppose they’re both pretty hard up,” Craddock murmured.
He sustained Mr. Wimborne’s sharp glance with perfect impassivity.
“Oh! So the police have been making inquiries? Yes, Alfred is almost in-
cessantly in low water. Occasionally he is very flush of money for a short
time — but it soon goes. Harold, as you seem to have discovered, is at
present somewhat precariously29 situated30.”
“In spite of his appearance of financial prosperity?”
“Façade. All façade! Half these city concerns don’t even know if they’re
solvent31 or not. Balance sheets can be made to look all right to the inexpert
eye. But when the assets that are listed aren’t really assets—when those
assets are trembling on the brink32 of a crash—where are you?”
“Where, presumably, Harold Crackenthorpe is, in bad need of money.”
“Well, he wouldn’t have got it by strangling his late brother’s widow,”
said Mr. Wimborne. “And nobody’s murdered Luther Crackenthorpe
which is the only murder that would do the family any good. So, really, In-
spector, I don’t quite see where your ideas are leading you?”
The worst of it was, Inspector Craddock thought, that he wasn’t very
sure himself.

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1 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？
2 relish wBkzs     
n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味
参考例句：
  • I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
  • I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。
3 brook PSIyg     
n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让
参考例句：
  • In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
  • The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。
4 theatricals 3gdz6H     
n.（业余性的）戏剧演出，舞台表演艺术；职业演员；戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 )；剧场的；炫耀的；戏剧性的
参考例句：
  • His success in amateur theatricals led him on to think he could tread the boards for a living. 他业余演戏很成功，他因此觉得自己可以以演戏为生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I'm to be in the Thanksgiving theatricals. 我要参加感恩节的演出。 来自辞典例句
5 ted 9gazhs     
vt.翻晒，撒，撒开
参考例句：
  • The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
  • She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。
6 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》
7 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 ornamented af417c68be20f209790a9366e9da8dbb     
adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 relics UkMzSr     
[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸
参考例句：
  • The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
  • Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。
10 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员，监察员，视察员
参考例句：
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
11 wariness Ce1zkJ     
n. 注意,小心
参考例句：
  • The British public's wariness of opera is an anomaly in Europe. 英国公众对歌剧不大轻易接受的态度在欧洲来说很反常。
  • There certainly is a history of wariness about using the R-word. 历史表明绝对应当谨慎使用“衰退”一词。
12 tightened bd3d8363419d9ff838bae0ba51722ee9     
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧
参考例句：
  • The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。
13 soothingly soothingly     
adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地
参考例句：
  • The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 platitudes e249aa750ccfe02339c2233267283746     
n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子
参考例句：
  • He was mouthing the usual platitudes about the need for more compassion. 他言不由衷地说了些需要更加同情之类的陈腔滥调。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He delivered a long prose full of platitudes. 他发表了一篇充满陈词滥调的文章。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
15 amenable pLUy3     
adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的
参考例句：
  • His scientific discoveries are amenable to the laws of physics.他在科学上的发现经得起物理定律的检验。
  • He is amenable to counsel.他这人听劝。
16 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地，暖昧地
参考例句：
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。
17 acerbity pomye     
n.涩，酸，刻薄
参考例句：
  • His acerbity to his daughter came home to roost.他对女儿的刻薄得到了恶报。
  • The biggest to amino acerbity demand still is animal feed additive.对氨基酸需求量最大的仍是动物饲料添加剂。
18 contemplated d22c67116b8d5696b30f6705862b0688     
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式
参考例句：
  • The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
  • The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。
19 fishy ysgzzF     
adj. 值得怀疑的
参考例句：
  • It all sounds very fishy to me.所有这些在我听起来都很可疑。
  • There was definitely something fishy going on.肯定当时有可疑的事情在进行中。
20 legitimate L9ZzJ     
adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法
参考例句：
  • Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
  • That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。
21 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒，恼怒，生气
参考例句：
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
22 lawful ipKzCt     
adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的
参考例句：
  • It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
  • We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。
23 wedlock XgJyY     
n.婚姻，已婚状态
参考例句：
  • My wife likes our wedlock.我妻子喜欢我们的婚姻生活。
  • The Fawleys were not made for wedlock.范立家的人就跟结婚没有缘。
24 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
25 derived 6cddb7353e699051a384686b6b3ff1e2     
vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取
参考例句：
  • Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 eventual AnLx8     
adj.最后的，结局的，最终的
参考例句：
  • Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
  • Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。
27 inadequate 2kzyk     
adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的
参考例句：
  • The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
  • She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。
28 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。
29 precariously 8l8zT3     
adv.不安全地；危险地；碰机会地；不稳定地
参考例句：
  • The hotel was perched precariously on a steep hillside. 旅馆危险地坐落在陡峭的山坡上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The phone was perched precariously on the window ledge. 电话放在窗台上，摇摇欲坠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
30 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
31 solvent RFqz9     
n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的
参考例句：
  • Gasoline is a solvent liquid which removes grease spots.汽油是一种能去掉油污的有溶解力的液体。
  • A bankrupt company is not solvent.一个破产的公司是没有偿还债务的能力的。
32 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿
参考例句：
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

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