现代大学英语精读4 2a

　　Waiting for the Police
I wonder where Mr Wainwright's gone?' said Mrs Mayton.
It didn't matter to her in the least where he had gone. All that mattered was that he paid his three guineas a week regularly for board and lodging¹. But life - and particularly evening life -was notoriously dull in her boarding-house, and every now and again one tried to whip up a little interest.
`Did he go?' asked Monty Smith.
It didn't matter to him, either, but he was as polite as he was pale, and he always did his best to keep any ball rolling.
`I thought I heard the front door close,' answered Mrs Mayton. `Perhaps he went out to post a letter,' suggested Miss Wicks, without pausing in her knitting. She had knitted for seventy years, and looked good for another seventy.
`Or perhaps it wasn't him at all,' added Bella Randall. Bella was the boarding-house lovely, but no one had taken advantage of the fact. `
You mean, it might have been someone else?' inquired Mrs Mayton.
`Yes,' agreed Bella.
They all considered the alternative earnestly. Mr Calthrop, coming suddenly out of a middle-aged² doze³, joined in the thinking without any idea what he was thinking.
`Perhaps it was Mr Penbury,' said Mrs Mayton, at last. `He's always popping in and out.'
But it was not Mr Penbury, for that rather eccentric individual walked into the drawing-room a moment later.
His arrival interrupted the conversation, and the company became silent. Penbury always had a chilling effect. He possessed⁴ a brain, and since no one understood it when he used it, it was resented. But Mrs Mayton never allowed more than three minutes to go by without a word; and so when the new silence had reached its allotted⁵ span, she turned to Penbury and asked:
`Was that Mr Wainwnght who went out a little time ago?
Penbury looked at her oddly.
`What makes you ask that?' he said.
`Well, I was just wondering.'
`I see,' answered Penbury slowly. The atmosphere seemed to tighten⁶, but Miss Wicks went on knitting. `And are you all wondering?'
`We decided⁷ perhaps he'd gone out to post a letter,' murmured Bella.
`No, Wainwright hasn't gone out to post a letter,' responded Penbury. `He's dead.'
The effect was instantaneous. Bella gave a tiny shriek⁸. Mrs Mayton's eyes became two startled glass marbles. Monty Smith opened his mouth and kept it open. Mr Calthrop, in a split second, lost all inclination⁹ to doze. Miss Wicks looked definitely interested, though she did not stop knitting. That meant nothing, however. She had promised to knit at her funeral.
`Dead?' gasped<sup>10</sup> Mr Calthrop.
`Dead,' repeated Penbury. `He is lying on the floor of his room. He is rather a nasty mess.'
Monty leapt up, and then sat down again. `You - don't mean . . . ?' he gulped¹¹.
`That is exactly what I mean,' replied Penbury.
There had been,countless silences in Mrs Mayton's drawing-room, but never a silence like this one. Miss Wicks broke it.
`Shouldn't the police be sent for?' she suggested.
`They already have,' said Penbury. `I phoned the station just before coming into the room.'
`How long - that is - when do you expect . . . ?' stammered<sup>12</sup> Monty.
`The police? I should say in two or three minutes,' responded Penbury. His voice suddenly shed its cynicism and became practical. `Shall we try and make use of these two or three minutes? We shall all be questioned, and perhaps we can clear up a little ground before they arrive.'
Mr Calthrop looked angry.
`But this is nothing to do with any of us, sir!' he exclaimed.
`The police will not necessarily accept our word for it,' answered Penbury. `That is why I propose that we consider our alibis¹⁴ in advance. I am not a doctor, but I estimate from my brief examination of the body that it has not been dead more than an hour.Since it is now ten past nine, and at twenty to eight we saw him leave the dining-room for his bedroom . . .'
`How do you know he went to his bedroom?' interrupted Miss Wicks.
`Because, having a headache, I followed him upstairs to go to mine for some aspirin¹⁵, and my room is immediately opposite his,' Penbury explained. `Now, if my assumption is correct, he was killed between ten minutes past eight and ten minutes past nine, so anyone who can prove that he or she has remained in this room during all that time should have no worry.'
He looked around inquiringly.
`We've all been out of the room,' Miss Wicks announced for the company.
`That is unfortunate,' murmured Penbury.
`But so have you!' exclaimed Monty, with nervous aggression¹⁶.
`Yes -so I have,' replied Penbury. `Then let me give my alibi¹³ first. At twenty minutes to eight I followed Wainwright up to the second floor. Before going into his room he made an odd remark which - in the circumstances -is worth repeating. "There's somebody in this house who doesn't like me very much," he said. "Only one?" I answered. "You're luckier than I am." Then he went into his room, and that was the last time I saw him alive. I went into my room. I took two aspirin tablets.Then as my head was still bad, I thought a stroll would be a good idea, and I went out. I kept out till approximately - nine o'clock. Then I came back. The door you heard closing, Mrs Mayton, was not Wainwright going out. It was me coming in.'
`Wait a moment!' ejaculated Bella.
`Yes?'
`How did you know Mrs Mayton heard the front door close? You weren't here!'
Penbury regarded her with interest and respect.
`Intelligent,' he murmured.
`Now, then, don't take too long thinking of an answer!' glared Mr Calthrop.
`I don't need any time at all to think of an answer,' retorted Penbury. `I know because I listened outside the door. But as I say, I came back. I went up to my room.' He paused. `On the floor I found a handkerchief. So I went into his room to ask if the handkerchief was his. I found him lying on the ground near his bed. On his back. Head towards the window. Stabbed through the heart. But no sign of what he'd been stabbed with . . . It looks to me a small wound, but deep. It found the spot all right . . . The window was closed and fastened. Whoever did it entered through the door. I left the room and locked the door. I knew no one should go in again till the police and police doctor turned up.I came down. The telephone, as you know, is in the dining-room. Most inconvenient¹⁷. It should be in the hall. Passing the door of this room,I listened, to hear what you all were talking about. Then I went into the dining-room and telephoned the police. And then I joined you.'
Flushed and emotional, Mrs Mayton challenged him.
`Why did you sit here for three minutes without telling us?' she demanded.
`I was watching you,' answered Penbury, coolly.
`Well, I call that a rotten alibi!' exclaimed Mr Calthrop. `Who's to prove you were out all that time?'
`At half past eight I had a cup of coffee at the coffee-stall in Junkers Street,' replied Penbury. `That's over a mile away. It's not proof, I admit, but they know me there, you see, and it may help. Well, who's next?'
`I am', said Bella. `I left the room to blow my nose. I went to my room for a handkerchief. And here it is!' she concluded, producing it triumphantly¹⁸.
`How long were you out of the room?' pressed Penbury.
`Abour five minutes.'
`A long time to get a handkerchief.'
`Perhaps. But I not only blew my nose, I powdered it.'
`That sounds good enough,' admitted Penbury. `Would you oblige next, Mr Calthrop? We all know you walk in your sleep. A week ago you walked into my room, didn't you. Have you lost a handkerchief?'
Mr Calthrop glared.
`What the devil are you implying?' he exclaimed.
`Has Mr Calthrop dozed¹⁹ during the past hour?' pressed Penbury.
`Suppose I have?' he cried. `What damned rubbish! Did I leave this room without knowing it, and kill Wainwright for -for no reason at all ?' He swallowed, and calmed down. `I left the room,sir, about twenty minutes ago to fetch the evening paper from the dining-room to do the crossword<sup>20</sup> puzzle!' He tapped it viciously. `Here it is!'
Penbury shrugged²¹ his shoulders.
`I should be the last person to refute such an emphatic<sup>22</sup> statement,' he said, `but let me suggest that you give the statement to the police with slightly less emphasis, Mr Smith?'
Monty Smith had followed the conversation anxiously, and he had his story ready.
`This is why I left the room. I suddenly remembered that I'd forgotten to return Mr Wainwright's latchkey. Then I met Mrs Mayton, who asked me to help her with the curtain of the landing window. It had come off some of its hooks. I did so and then returned to the drawing-room with her. You'll remember, all of you, that we returned together.'
`That's right,' nodded Mrs Mayton. `And the reason I went out was to fix the curtain.'
Penbury looked at Monty hard.
`What about that latchkey?' he demanded.
`Eh? Oh, of course,' jerked Monty. `The curtain put it out of my mind. I came down with it still in my pocket.'
`And you didn't go up to his room?'
`No! I've just said so, haven't I?'
Penbury shrugged his shoulders again. He did not seem satisfied. But he turned now to Miss Wicks, and the old lady inquired, while her needles moved busily.
`My turn?'
`If you'll be so good,' answered Penbury. `Just as a matter of form.'
`Yes, I quite understand,' she replied, smiling. `There's no need to apologize. Well, I left the drawing-room to fetch some knitting-needles. The steel ones I'm using now. My room, as of course you know, is also on the second floor and after I'd got the needles I was just about to come down when I heard Mr Wainwright's cough ...
`What time was that?' interrupted Penbury.
`Just before nine, I think it was,' said Miss Wicks. `Oh, that irritating cough! How it gets on one's nerves, doesn't it? Or I should say, how it did get on one's nerves. Morning, noon and night. And he wouldn't do anything for it. Enough to send one mad.'
She paused. The tense atmosphere grew suddenly tenser. `Go on,' murmured Penbury.
`Well,' continued Miss Wicks. ` Your door was open, Mr Penbury, and I went in to ask if we couldn't do something about it. But you were out.And suddenly, when I heard Mr Wainwright coughing again across the passage ,well, I felt I couldn't stand it any more, and I was knocking at his door almost before I knew it. It was my handkerchief you found in your room, Mr Penbury. I must have dropped it there.'
She paused again. Again Penbury murmured, `Go on.'
She turned on him with sudden ferocity.
`Will you stop interrupting?' shouted the old woman.
Penbury moistened his lips. For a few moments Miss Wicks knitted rapidly, the steel points of the needles making the only sound in the room.Then she continued, in a queer hard voice.
"Come in," called Mr Wainwright. "I'm coming in," I called back. And I went in. And there he stood smiling at me. "You haven't come to complain of my cough again, have you?" he asked. "No," I answered. "I've come to cure it." And I plunged<sup>23</sup> a steel knitting-needle into his heart - like this!'
She stretched out a bony hand, and, with amazing strength, stabbed a cushion.
The next instant there came a knocking on the front door. `The police !' gasped Mr Calthrop. But no one moved. With tense ears they listened to the maid ascending²⁴ from the basement, they heard the front door open, they heard footsteps entering . . .
A moment later they heard Mr Wainwright's cough.
`Yes, and I heard it when he went out ten minutes ago,' smiled Miss Wicks. `But thank you very much indeed, Mr Penbury. I was as bored as the rest of them.'

1 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

2 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

3 doze   

v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐

参考例句：

• He likes to have a doze after lunch.他喜欢午饭后打个盹。
• While the adults doze,the young play.大人们在打瞌睡，而孩子们在玩耍。

4 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

5 allotted   

分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
• Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。

6 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

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 shriek   

v./n.尖叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
• People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

9 inclination   

n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好

参考例句：

• She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
• I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。

10 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 gulped   

v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住

参考例句：

• He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。
• She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下，似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

13 alibi   

n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口

参考例句：

• Do you have any proof to substantiate your alibi? 你有证据表明你当时不在犯罪现场吗？
• The police are suspicious of his alibi because he already has a record.警方对他不在场的辩解表示怀疑，因为他已有前科。

14 alibis   

某人在别处的证据( alibi的名词复数 )； 不在犯罪现场的证人； 借口； 托辞

参考例句：

• The suspects all had alibis for the day of the robbery. 嫌疑人均有证据证明抢劫当天不在犯罪现场。
• I'm not trying to beat your alibis any more than I'm trying to prove 'em. 我并不是不让你辩护，我只是想把那个人找出来。

15 aspirin   

n.阿司匹林

参考例句：

• The aspirin seems to quiet the headache.阿司匹林似乎使头痛减轻了。
• She went into a chemist's and bought some aspirin.她进了一家药店，买了些阿司匹林。

16 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

17 inconvenient   

adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的

参考例句：

• You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
• Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

18 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

19 dozed   

v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 crossword   

n.纵横字谜，纵横填字游戏

参考例句：

• He shows a great interest in crossword puzzles.他对填字游戏表现出很大兴趣。
• Don't chuck yesterday's paper out.I still haven't done the crossword.别扔了昨天的报纸，我还没做字谜游戏呢。

21 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

23 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

24 ascending   

adj.上升的，向上的

参考例句：

• Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。