人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT13-2

The case of the Moonstone was most unusual. I knew that the answer was in the smear¹ of paint on Rachel Verinder's sitting room door, but I couldn't find the garment which made the mark.
       At the time Rachel was behaving very strangely, especially when she refused to answer my questions. I was convinced² that she had taken her own diamond, and that Rosanna had assisted³ her. I assumed⁴ her maid had taken Rachel's garment with the paint stain⁵, hidden it, and then secretly made a new one in her room during the night. However, what happened later proved me wrong.
       After the party Rachel went to London, where Godfrey again asked her to marry him, and this time she accepted. However, when she found out that Godfrey had heavy debts and only wanted to marry her for her money, she cancelled the wedding. This made me curious, and when I heard that some Indians had attacked Godfrey, I became even more interested. I began to wonder whether I had been mistaken about Rachel and Rosanna.
       Franklin Blake, meanwhile, received a letter from Rosanna saying that she knew what he had done on the night the Moonstone disappeared. She had found paint stains⁶ on his clothes when she cleaned his room. She admitted that she had hidden the evidence because she loved him and wanted to keep him out of trouble. The letter confused Franklin and he decided⁷ that he had to talk to Rachel, even though she was still angry with him. When they met, Franklin was shocked to hear Rachel telling him that she had seen him take the diamond, but had protected him from me by not answering my questions.
       Poor Franklin found the news deeply disturbing. Was it possible that he had stolen Rachel's diamond and then forgotten that he did it? In all my years as a detective I have never heard of a thief having such a loss of memory. And where had he put the jewel if he had taken it?
       Fortunately, Dr Candy had the solution. You may remember that Franklin was suffering from lack of sleep at the time of Rachel's birthday, and had upset Dr Candy with his remarks about doctors. Later that evening Dr Candy had put some opium⁸ into Franklin's drink to prove to him that it would help. Franklin slept very well that night dreaming about the diamond, and without waking up, he had moved it to his bedroom where he thought it would be safer.
       Franklin and Rachel were both delighted to discover that Franklin was innocent⁹ after all. It warmed my heart to see them so happy together, but the diamond was still missing¹⁰. We could not find it in Franklin's bedroom. Where was it? They asked me to find it, so I continued my investigation¹¹.
       This time I was more successful and eventually discovered the real thief: Godfrey! It turned out that Godfrey had also seen Franklin move the diamond that night and, knowing that Franklin would be accused, he had taken it. The diamond seemed to be the perfect solution to his financial problems, but was, in fact, the start of many difficulties. Godfrey found it impossible to sell the Moonstone in England because everyone knew it was stolen. Desperate for money, he tried to persuade Rachel to marry him, but when she changed her mind, he had no choice but to go abroad to sell the diamond.
        My detective work finally led me to the ship where I found Godfrey. Unfortunately I arrived too late. Godfrey was dead and the Moonstone was gone.
        I am embarrassed to admit that I made many mistakes in this investigation. If you guessed who had committed the crime, then you are a better detective than the famous Sergeant¹² Cuff¹³! I have never found the Moonstone, and I cannot prove who killed Godfrey. I wonder, however, whether perhaps justice was done after all. Godfrey paid a high price for his crime. He lost the jewel and his life, while Franklin and Rachel are very much in love and engaged to be married. As for the Moonstone, I have heard that it has somehow returned to its true home in India, where it once again decorates the forehead of the statue of the moon god.

1 smear   

v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• He has been spreading false stories in an attempt to smear us.他一直在散布谎言企图诽谤我们。
• There's a smear on your shirt.你衬衫上有个污点。

2 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。

3 assisted   

adj.[计]辅助的v.帮助，促进( assist的过去式和过去分词 )；为…的助手；为…当帮手；辅助

参考例句：

• We were ably assisted by a team of volunteers. 我们得到一批志愿者的大力协助。
• The nurse assisted with the preparation of the medicine. 护士帮助准备药品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 assumed   

adj.假定的, 假装的 动词assume的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The assumed linearity of these equations can be related to the uniformity of space and time.所假定的这些方程的线性，可归因于空间和时间的均匀性。

5 stain   

n.污染，污点，著色；v.沾染，染污，著色

参考例句：

• It will remain an indelible stain on his memory.这将成为他记忆中一个不可磨灭的污点。
• Does this material stain easily?这种料子容易染色吗？

6 stains   

（使）染色( stain的第三人称单数 )； 褪色，变污； 玷污，败坏（名声）

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Be quick, cover the blood stains over. 快！把血迹全遮盖起来。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。

9 innocent   

adj.无罪的，清白的；无害的；天真的，单纯的

参考例句：

• I'm not quite so innocent as to believe that.我还不至于简单到相信那种事的地步。
• I was very young,and very innocent.我那时非常年轻，幼稚无知。

10 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

11 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

12 sergeant   

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？

13 cuff   

n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口

参考例句：

• She hoped they wouldn't cuff her hands behind her back.她希望他们不要把她反铐起来。
• Would you please draw together the snag in my cuff?请你把我袖口上的裂口缝上好吗？