死亡约会 Part II Chapter 14（3）

 

‘Well, it’s not really anything very much. It’s only that on the next morning after the discovery Iwas up rather early—and I looked out of my tent to see the effect of the sunrise you know (only, ofcourse, it wasn’t actually sunrise because the sun must have risen quite an hour before). But it wasearly—’

‘Yes, yes. And you saw?’

‘That’s the curious thing—at least, at the time it didn’t seem much. It was only that I saw thatBoynton girl come out of her tent and fling something right out into the stream—nothing in that,of course, but it glittered—in the sunlight! As it went through the air. It glittered, you know.’

‘Which Boynton girl was it?’

‘I think it was the one they call Carol—a very nice-looking girl—so like her brother—reallythey might be twins. Or, of course, it might have been the youngest one. The sun was in my eyes,so I couldn’t quite see. But I don’t think the hair was red—just bronze. I’m so fond of thatcoppery-bronze hair! Red hair always says carrots to me!’ She tittered.

‘And she threw away a brightly glittering object?’ said Poirot.

‘Yes. And of course, as I said, I didn’t think much of it at the time. But later I walked along thestream and Miss King was there. And there amongst a lot of other very unsuitable things—even atin or two—I saw a little bright metal box—not an exact square—a sort of long square, if youunderstand what I mean—’

‘But yes, I understand perfectly¹. About so long?’

‘Yes, how clever of you! And I thought to myself, “I suppose that’s what the Boynton girlthrew away, but it’s a nice little box.” And just out of curiosity I picked it up and opened it. It hada kind of syringe inside—the same thing they stuck into my arm when I was being inoculated² fortyphoid. And I thought how curious to throw it away like that because it didn’t seem broken oranything. But just as I was wondering, Miss King spoke³ behind me. I hadn’t heard her come up.

And she said, “Oh, thank you—that’s my hypodermic. I was coming to look for it.” So I gave it toher, and she went back to the camp with it.’

Miss Pierce paused and then went on hurriedly:

‘And, of course, I expect there is nothing in it—only it did seem a little curious that CarolBoynton should throw away Miss King’s syringe. I mean, it was odd, if you know what I mean.

Though, of course, I expect there is a very good explanation.’

She paused, looking expectantly at Poirot.

His face was grave. ‘Thank you, mademoiselle. What you have told me may not be important initself, but I will tell you this! It completes my case! Everything is now clear and in order.’

‘Oh, really?’ Miss Pierce looked as flushed and pleased as a child.

Poirot escorted her to the hotel.

Back in his own room he added one line to his memorandum⁴. Point No. 10. ‘I never forget.

Remember that. I’ve never forgotten anything…’

‘Mais oui,’ he said. ‘It is all clear now!’

 

1 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

2 inoculated   

v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A pedigree pup should have been inoculated against serious diseases before it's sold. 纯种狗应该在出售前注射预防严重疾病的针。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Disease can be spread by dirty tools, insects, inoculated soil. 疾病也能由不干净的工具，昆虫，接种的土壤传播。 来自辞典例句

3 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。