高英3版第3课Blackmail 课文全文解读

PAGEPAGE10BlackmailArthurHaileyeq\o\ac(○,1)Thechiefhouseofficer,Ogilvie,whohaddeclaredhewouldappearattheCroydonssuiteanhourafterhiscryptictelephonecallactuallytooktwicethattime.AsaresultthenervesofboththeDukeandDuchesswereexcessivelyfrayedwhenthemutedbuzzeroftheouterdooreventuallysounded.eq\o\ac(○,2)TheDuchesswenttothedoorherself.Earliershehaddispatchedhermaidonaninventederrandand,cruelly,instructedthemoon-facedmalesecretary–whowasterrifiedofdogs–toexercisetheBedlingtonterriers.Herowntensionwasnotlessenedbytheknowledgethatbothmightreturnatanymoment.eq\o\ac(○,3)AwaveofcigarsmokeaccompaniedOgilviein.Whenhehadfollowedhertothelivingroom,theDuchesslookedpointedlyatthehalf-burnedcigarinthefatman’smouth.“MyhusbandandIfindstrongsmokeoffensive.Wouldyoukindlyputthatout."eq\o\ac(○,4)Thehousedetective'spiggyeyessurveyedhersardonicallyfromhisgrossjowledface.Hisgazemovedontosweepthespacious,well-appointedroom,encompassingtheDukewhofacedthemuncertainly,hisbacktoawindow.eq\o\ac(○,5)"Prettyneatset-upyoufolksgot.”Takinghistime,Ogilvieremovedtheoffendingcigar,knockedofftheashandflippedthebutttowardanornamentalfireplaceonhisright.Hemissed,andthebuttfelluponthecarpetwhereheignoredit.eq\o\ac(○,6)TheDuchess'slipstightened.Shesaidsharply,imagineyoudidnotcomeheretodiscussdécor".eq\o\ac(○,7)Theobesebodyshookinanappreciativechuckle."No,ma'am,can'tsayIdid.Ilikenicethings,though."Heloweredthelevelofhisincongruousfalsettovoice."Likethatcarofyours.Theoneyoukeephereinthehotel.Jaguar,ain'tit?"eq\o\ac(○,8)"Aah!"Itwasnotaspokenword,butanemissionofbreathfromtheDukeofCroydon.Hiswifeshothimaswift,warningglance.eq\o\ac(○,9)"Inwhatconceivablewaydoesourcarconcernyou?”eq\o\ac(○,10)AsifthequestionfromtheDuchesshadbeenasignal,thehousedetective'smannerchanged.Heinquiredabruptly,"Whoelseisinthisplace?"eq\o\ac(○,11)ItwastheDukewhoanswered,"Noone.Wesentthemout."eq\o\ac(○,12)"There'sthingsitpaystocheck."Movingwithsurprisingspeed,thefatmanwalkedaroundthesuite,openingdoorsandinspectingthespacebehindthem.Obviouslyheknewtheroomarrangementwell.Afterreopeningandclosingtheouterdoor,hereturned,apparentlysatisfied,tothelivingroom.eq\o\ac(○,13)TheDuchesshadseatedherselfinastraight-backedOgilvieremainedstanding.eq\o\ac(○,14)"Nowthen,"hesaid."Youtwowasinthehit-'n-run."eq\o\ac(○,15)Shemethiseyesdirectly."Whatareyoutalkingabout?"eq\o\ac(○,16)"Don'tplaygames,lady.Thisisforreal."Hetookoutafreshcigarandbitofftheend,"Yousawthepapers.There'sbeenplentyonradio,too."eq\o\ac(○,17)TwohighpointsofcolorappearedinthepalenessoftheDuchessofCroydon'scheeks."Whatyouaresuggestingisthemostdisgusting,ridiculous..."eq\o\ac(○,18)"Itoldyou–Cutitout!”Thewordsspatforthwithsuddensavagery,allpretenseofblandnessgone.IgnoringtheDuke,Ogilviewavedtheunlightedcigarunderhisadversary'sadversary'snose."Youlistentome,yourhigh-an'-mightiness.Thiscity'sburnin'mad–cops,mayor,everybodyelse.Whentheyfindwhodonethatlastnight,whokilledthatkidan'itsmother,thenhigh-tailedit,they'llthrowthebook,andnevermindwhoithits,orwhethertheygotfancytitlesneither.NowIknowwhatIknow,andifIdowhatbyrightsIshould,there'llbeasquadofcopsinheresofastyou'llhardlysee'em.ButIcometoyoufirst,infairness,so'syoucouldtellyoursideofittome."Thepiggyeyesblinked,thenhardened."'fyouwantittheotherway,justsayso."eq\o\ac(○,19)TheDuchessofCroydon–threecenturiesandahalfofinbredarrogancebehindher–didnotyieldeasily.Springingtoherfeet,herfacewrathful,gray-greeneyesblazing,shefacedthegrossnessofthehousedetectivesquarely.Hertonewouldhavewitheredanyonewhoknewherwell.“Youunspeakableblackguard!Howdareyou!”eq\o\ac(○,20)Eventheself-assuranceofOgilvieflickeredforaninstant.ButitwastheDukeofCroydonwhointerjected,"It'snogo,oldgirl.I'mafraid.Itwasagoodtry."FacingOgilvie,hesaid,"Whatyouaccuseusofistrue.Iamtoblame.Iwasdrivingthecarandkilledthelittlegirl."eq\o\ac(○,21)"That'smorelikeit,"Ogilviesaid.Helitthefreshcigar."Nowwe'regettingsomewhere."eq\o\ac(○,22)Wearily,inagestureofsurrender,theDuchessofCroydonsankbackintoherchair.Claspingherhandstoconcealtheirtrembling,sheasked."Whatisityouknow?"eq\o\ac(○,23)"Wellnow,I'llspellitout."Thehousedetectivetookhistime,leisurelyputtingacloudofbluecigarsmoke,hiseyessardonicallyontheDuchessasifchallengingherobjection.Butbeyondwrinklinghernoseindistaste,shemadenocomment.eq\o\ac(○,24)OgilviepointedtotheDuke."Lastnight,earlyon,youwenttoLindy'sPlaceinIrishBayou.YoudrovethereinyourfancyJaguar,andyoutookaladyfriend.Leastways,Iguessyou'dcallherthatifyou'renottoofussy."eq\o\ac(○,25)AsOgilvieglanced,grinning,attheDuchess,theDukesaidsharply,"Getonwithit!"eq\o\ac(○,26)"Well"–thesmugfatfaceswungback–"thewayIhearit,youwonahundredatthetables,thenlostitatthebar.Youwereintoasecondhundred–witharealswingingparty–whenyourwifeheregotthereinataxi."eq\o\ac(○,27)"Howdoyouknowallthis?"eq\o\ac(○,28)"I'lltellyou,Duke–I'vebeeninthistownandthishotelalongtime.Igotfriendsallover.Iobligethem;theydothesameforme,likelettingmeknowwhatgives,an’where.Thereain'tmuch,outoftheway,whichpeoplewhostayinthishoteldo,Idon'tgettohearabout.Mostof’emneverknowIknow,orknowme.Theythinktheygottheirlittlesecrettuckedaway,andsotheyhave–exceptlikenow."eq\o\ac(○,29)TheDukesaidcoldly,"Isee."eq\o\ac(○,30)"OnethingI'dliketoknow.Igotacuriousnature,ma’am.How'dyoufigurewherehewas?"eq\o\ac(○,31)TheDuchesssaid,"Youknowsomuch...Isupposeitdoesn'tmatter.Myhusbandhasahabitofmakingnoteswhileheistelephoning.Afterwardheoftenforgetstodestroythem.”eq\o\ac(○,32)Thehousedetectivecluckedhistonguereprovingly."Alittlecarelesshabitlikethat,Duke–lookatthemessitgetsyouin.Well,here'swhatIfigureabouttherest.Youan'yourwifetookoffhome,youdrivin',thoughthewaythingsturnedoutitmighthavebeenbetterifshe'dhavedrove."eq\o\ac(○,33)"Mywifedoesn'tdrive."eq\o\ac(○,34)Ogilvienoddedunderstandingly."Explainsthatone.Anyway,Ireckonyouwerelickered(=liquored)up,butgood..."eq\o\ac(○,35)TheDuchessinterrupted."Thenyoudon'tknow!Youdon'tknowanythingforsure!Youcan'tpossiblyprove..."eq\o\ac(○,36)"Lady,IcanproveallIneedto."eq\o\ac(○,37)TheDukecautioned,"Betterlethimfinish,oldgirl."eq\o\ac(○,38)"That'sright,"Ogilviesaid."Justsitan'listen.LastnightIseenyoucomein–throughthebasement,so'snottousethelobby.Lookedrightshaken,too,thepairofyou.Justcomeinmyself,an'Igottowonderingwhy.LikeIsaid,Igotacuriousnature."eq\o\ac(○,39)TheDuchessbreathed,"Goon."eq\o\ac(○,40)"Latelastnightthewordwasoutaboutthehit-'n-run.OnahunchIwentoverthegarageandtookaquietlook-seeatyourcar.Youmaybedon'tknow–it'sawayinacorner,behindapillarwherethejockeysdon'tseeitwhenthey'recomin'by."eq\o\ac(○,41)TheDukelickedhislips."Isupposethatdoesn'tmatternow."eq\o\ac(○,42)"Youmighthavesomethingthere,"Ogilvieconceded."Anyway,whatIfoundmademedosomescouting--acrossatpoliceheadquarterswheretheyknowmetoo."Hepausedtopuffagainatthecigarashislistenerswaitedsilently.Whenthecigartipwasglowingheinspectedit,thencontinued."Overtheretheygotthreethingstogoon.Theygotaheadlighttrimringwhichmustacomeoffwhenthekidan’thewomanwashit.Theygotsomeheadlightglass,andlookin’atthekid'sclothin',theyreckonthere'llbeabrushtrace."eq\o\ac(○,43)"Awhat?"eq\o\ac(○,44)"Yourubclothesagainstsomethinghard,Duchess,speciallyifit'sshinylikeacarfender,say,an'itleavesamarkthesamewayasfingerprints.Thepolicelabkinpickitupliketheydoprints–dustit,an’itshows."eq\o\ac(○,45)"That'sinteresting,"theDukesaid,asifspeakingofsomethingunconnectedwithhimself."Ididn'tknowthat."eq\o\ac(○,46)"Notmanydo.Inthiscase,though,Ireckonitdon'tmakealoto'difference.Onyourcaryougotabustedheadlight,andthetrimring'sgone.Ain'tanydoubtthey'dmatchup,evenwithoutthebrushtracean’theblood.0hyeah,Ishouldatoldyou.There'splentyofblood,thoughitdon'tshowtoomuchontheblackpaint."eq\o\ac(○,47)"Oh,myGod!"Ahandtoherface,theDuchessturnedaway.eq\o\ac(○,48)Herhusbandasked,"Whatdoyouproposetodo?"eq\o\ac(○,49)Thefatmanrubbedhishandstogether,lookingdownathisthick,fleshyfingers."LikeIsaid,Icometohearyoursideofit."eq\o\ac(○,50)TheDukesaiddespairingly,“WhatcanIpossiblysay?Youknowwhathappened.”Hemadeanattempttosquarehisshoulderswhichdidnotsucceed.“You'dbettercallthepoliceandgetitover.”eq\o\ac(○,51)“Wellnow,there'snocallforbeinghasty.”Theincongruousfalsettovoicetookonamusingnote.“What'sdone'sbeendone.Rushinganyplaceain'tgonnabringbackthekidnoritsmotherneither.Besides,whatthey'ddotoyouacrossattheheadquarters,Duke,youwouldn'tlike.Nosir,youwouldn'tlikeitatall.”eq\o\ac(○,52)Theothertwoslowlyraisedtheireyes.eq\o\ac(○,53)“Iwashoping,”Ogilviesaid,“thatyoufolkscouldsuggestsomething.”eq\o\ac(○,54)TheDukesaiduncertainly,“Idon'tunderstand.”eq\o\ac(○,55)“Iunderstand,”theDuchessofCroydonsaid.“Youwantmoney,don'tyou?Youcameheretoblackmailus.”eq\o\ac(○,56)Ifsheexpectedherwordstoshock,theydidnotsucceed.Thehousedetectiveshrugged.“Whatevernamesyoucallthings,ma'am,don'tmattertome.AllIcomeforwastohelpyoupeopleoutoftrouble.ButIgottolivetoo.”eq\o\ac(○,57)”You'dacceptmoneytokeepsilentaboutwhatyouknow?”eq\o\ac(○,58)”IreckonImight.”eq\o\ac(○,59)”Butfromwhatyousay,”theDuchesspointedout,herpoiseforthemomentrecovered,“itwoulddonogood.Thecarwouldbediscoveredinanycase.”eq\o\ac(○,60)”Iguessyou'dhavetotakethatchance.Butthere'ssomereasonsitmightnotbe.SomethingIain'ttoldyouyet.”eq\o\ac(○,61)“Tellusnow,please.”eq\o\ac(○,62)Ogilviesaid,“Iain'tfiguredthisoutmyselfcompletely.Butwhenyouhitthatkidyouwasgoingawayfromtown,nottoit.”eq\o\ac(○,63)”We'dmadeamistakeintheroute,”theDuchesssaid.“Somehowwe'dbecometurnedaround.It'seasilydoneinNewOrleans,withthestreetwindingastheydo.Afterward,usingsidestreets,wewentback.“eq\o\ac(○,64)“Ithoughtitmightbethat,”Ogilvienoddedunderstandingly.“Butthepoliceain'tfigureditthatway.They’relookingforsomebodywhowasheadedout.That'swhy,rightnow,they'reworkin'onthesuburbsandtheoutsidetowns.Theymaygetaroundtosearchin'downtown,butitwon'tbeyet.“eq\o\ac(○,65)“Howlongbeforetheydo?”eq\o\ac(○,66)“Maybethree,fourdays.Theygotalotofotherplacestolookfirst.”eq\o\ac(○,67)“Howcouldthathelpus---thedelay‘?”eq\o\ac(○,68)“Itmight,”Ogilviesaid.“Providin'nobodytwigsthecar–an'seein'whereitis,youmightbeluckythere.An'ifyoucangetitaway.”eq\o\ac(○,69)“Youmeanoutofthestate?”eq\o\ac(○,70)“Imeanouto’theSouth.”eq\o\ac(○,71)“Thatwouldn'tbeeasy?”eq\o\ac(○,72)“No,ma'am.Everystatearound–Texas,Arkansas,Mississippi,Alabama,alltherest'llbewatchingforacardamagedthewayyoursis.”eq\o\ac(○,73)TheDuchessconsidered.“Isthereanypossibilityofhavingrepairsmadefirst?Iftheworkweredonediscreetlywecouldpaywell.“eq\o\ac(○,74)Thehousedetectiveshookhisheademphatically.“Youtrythat,youmightaswellwalkovertoheadquartersrightnowan'giveup.EveryrepairshopinLouisiana'sbeentoldtoholler'cops'theminuteacarneedingfixin'likeyourscomesin.They'ddoit,too.Youpeoplearehot.”eq\o\ac(○,75)TheDuchessofCroydonkeptfirm,tightreinonherracingmind.Itwasessential,sheknew,thatherthinkingremaincalmandreasoned.Inthelastfewminutestheconversationhadbecomeasseeminglycasualasifthediscussionwereofsomeminordomesticmatterandnotsurvivalitself.Sheintendedtokeepitthatway.Oncemore,shewasaware,theroleofleadershiphadfallentoher,herhusbandnowatensebutpassivespectatoroftheexchangebetweentheeviltatmanandherself.Nomatter.Whatwasinevitablemustbeaccepted.Theimportantthingwastoconsideralleventualities.Athoughtoccurredtoher.eq\o\ac(○,76)“Thepiecefromourcarwhichyousaythepolicehave.Whatisitcalled?”eq\o\ac(○,77)“Atrimring.”eq\o\ac(○,78)“Isittraceable?”eq\o\ac(○,79)Ogilvienoddedaffirmatively.“Theycanfigurewhatkindo'carit'sfrom---make,model,an'maybetheyear,orclosetoit.Samethingwiththeglass.Butwithyourcarbeingforeign,it'lllikelytakeafewdays.”eq\o\ac(○,80)“Butafterthat,”shepersisted,“thepolicewillknowthey'relookingforaJaguar?”eq\o\ac(○,81)“Ireckonthat'sso.“eq\o\ac(○,82)TodaywasTuesday.Fromallthatthismansaid,theyhaduntilFridayorSaturdayatbest.WithcalculatedcoolnesstheDuchessreasoned:thesituationcamedowntooneessential.Assumingthehotelmanwasboughtoff,theironlychance--aslimone--layinremovingthecarquickly,Ifitcouldbegotnorth,tooneofthebigcitieswheretheNewOrleanstragedyandsearchwouldbeunknown,repairscouldbemadequietly,theincriminatingevidenceremoved.Then,evenifsuspicionsettledontheCroydonslater,nothingcouldbeproved.Buthowtogetthecaraway?eq\o\ac(○,83)Undoubtedlywhatthisoafishdetectivesaidwastrue:AswellasLouisiana,theotherstatesthroughwhichthecarwouldhavetopasswouldbealertandwatchful.Everyhighwaypatrolwouldbeonthelookoutforadamagedhead-lightwithamissingtrimring.Therewouldprobablyberoad-blocks.Itwouldbehardnottofallvictimtosomesharpeyedpoliceman.eq\o\ac(○,84)Butitmightbedone.Ifthecarcouldbedrivenatnightandconcealedbyday.Therewereplentyofplacestopulloffthehighwayandbeunobserved.Itwouldbehazardous,butnomorethanwaitinghereforcertaindetection.Therewouldbebackroads.Theycouldchooseanunlikelyroutetoavoidattention.eq\o\ac(○,85)Buttherewouldbeothercomplications...andnowwasthetimetoconsiderthem.Travelingbysecondaryroadswouldbedifficultunlessknowingtheterrain.TheCroydonsdidnot.Norwaseitherofthemadeptatusingmaps.Andwhentheystoppedforpetrol,astheywouldhaveto,theirspeechandmannerwouldbetraythem,makingthemconspicuous.Andyet...thesewereriskswhichhadtobetaken.eq\o\ac(○,86)Orhadthey?eq\o\ac(○,87)TheDuchessfacedOgilvie.“Howmuchdoyouwant?”eq\o\ac(○,88)Theabruptnesstookhimbysurprise.“Well...Ifigureyoupeopleareprettywellfixed.”eq\o\ac(○,89)Shesaidcoldly,“Iaskedhowmuch.”eq\o\ac(○,90)Thepiggyeyesblinked.Tenthousanddollars.”eq\o\ac(○,91)Thoughitwastwicewhatshehadexpected,herexpressiondidnotchange.“Assumingwepaidthisgrotesqueamount,whatwouldwereceiveinreturn?”eq\o\ac(○,92)Thefatmanseemedpuzzled.“LikeIsaid,IkeepquietaboutwhatIknow.”eq\o\ac(○,93)“Andthealternative?”eq\o\ac(○,94)Heshrugged.“Igodownthelobby.Ipickupaphone.“eq\o\ac(○,95)“No,”Thestatementwasunequivocal.“Wewillnotpay,you.”eq\o\ac(○,96)AstheDukeofCroydonshifteduneasily,thehousedetective'sbulbouscountenancereddened,“Nowlisten,lady…”eq\o\ac(○,97)Peremptorilyshecuthimoft.“Iwillnotlisten.Instead,youwilllistentome.”Hereyeswererivetedonhisface,herhandsome,highcheekbonedfeaturessetintheirmostimperiousmold.“Wewouldachievenothingbypayingyou,exceptpossiblyafewdays'respite.Youhavemadethatabundantlyclear.”eq\o\ac(○,98)“That'sachanceyougotta...”eq\o\ac(○,99)“Silence!”Hervoicewasawhiplash.Eyesboredintohim.Swallowing,sullenly,hecomplied.100Whatcamenext,theDuchessofCroydonknew,couldbethemostsignificantthingshehadeverdone.Theremustbenomistake,novacillationordallyingbecauseofherownsmallnessofmind.Whenyouwereplayingforthehigheststakes,youmadethehighestbid.Sheintendedtogambleonthefatman'sgreed.Shemustdosoinsuchawayastoplacetheoutcomebeyondanydoubt.101Shedeclareddecisively,“Wewillnotpayyoutenthousanddollars.Butwewillpayyoutwenty-fivethousanddollars.”102Thehousedetective'seyesbulged.103“Inreturnforthat,”shecontinuedevenly,“Youwilldriveourcarnorth.”104Ogilviecontinuedtostare.105“Twenty-fivethousanddollars,”sherepeated.“Tenthousandnow.FifteenthousandmorewhenyoumeetusinChicago.”106Stillwithoutspeaking,thefatmanlickedhislips.Hisbeadyeyes,asifunbelieving,werefocuseduponherown.Thesilencehung.107Then,asshewatchedintently,hegavetheslightestofnods.108Thesilenceremained.AtlengthOgilviespoke.“Thiscigarbotherin'you,Duchess?”109Asshenodded,heputitout.(fromHotel,1965)