高英3版第3课Blackmail课文全文汇编.docx

高英3版第3课Blackmail课文全文汇编.docx

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高英3版第3课Blackmail课文全文汇编

Blackmail

ArthurHailey

Thechiefhouseofficer,Ogilvie,whohaddeclaredhewouldappearattheCroydonssuiteanhourafterhiscryptictelephonecallactuallytooktwicethattime.AsaresultthenervesofboththeDukeandDuchesswereexcessivelyfrayedwhenthemutedbuzzeroftheouterdooreventuallysounded.

TheDuchesswenttothedoorherself.Earliershehaddispatchedhermaidonaninventederrandand,cruelly,instructedthemoon-facedmalesecretary–whowasterrifiedofdogs–toexercisetheBedlingtonterriers.Herowntensionwasnotlessenedbytheknowledgethatbothmightreturnatanymoment.

AwaveofcigarsmokeaccompaniedOgilviein.Whenhehadfollowedhertothelivingroom,theDuchesslookedpointedlyatthehalf-burnedcigarinthefatman’smouth.“MyhusbandandIfindstrongsmokeoffensive.Wouldyoukindlyputthatout."

Thehousedetective'spiggyeyessurveyedhersardonicallyfromhisgrossjowledface.Hisgazemovedontosweepthespacious,well-appointedroom,encompassingtheDukewhofacedthemuncertainly,hisbacktoawindow.

"Prettyneatset-upyoufolksgot.”Takinghistime,Ogilvieremovedtheoffendingcigar,knockedofftheashandflippedthebutttowardanornamentalfireplaceonhisright.Hemissed,andthebuttfelluponthecarpetwhereheignoredit.

TheDuchess'slipstightened.Shesaidsharply,imagineyoudidnotcomeheretodiscussdécor".

Theobesebodyshookinanappreciativechuckle."No,ma'am,can'tsayIdid.Ilikenicethings,though."Heloweredthelevelofhisincongruousfalsettovoice."Likethatcarofyours.Theoneyoukeephereinthehotel.Jaguar,ain'tit?

"

"Aah!

"Itwasnotaspokenword,butanemissionofbreathfromtheDukeofCroydon.Hiswifeshothimaswift,warningglance.

"Inwhatconceivablewaydoesourcarconcernyou?

”

AsifthequestionfromtheDuchesshadbeenasignal,thehousedetective'smannerchanged.Heinquiredabruptly,"Whoelseisinthisplace?

"

ItwastheDukewhoanswered,"Noone.Wesentthemout."

"There'sthingsitpaystocheck."Movingwithsurprisingspeed,thefatmanwalkedaroundthesuite,openingdoorsandinspectingthespacebehindthem.Obviouslyheknewtheroomarrangementwell.Afterreopeningandclosingtheouterdoor,hereturned,apparentlysatisfied,tothelivingroom.

TheDuchesshadseatedherselfinastraight-backedOgilvieremainedstanding.

"Nowthen,"hesaid."Youtwowasinthehit-'n-run."

Shemethiseyesdirectly."Whatareyoutalkingabout?

"

"Don'tplaygames,lady.Thisisforreal."Hetookoutafreshcigarandbitofftheend,"Yousawthepapers.There'sbeenplentyonradio,too."

TwohighpointsofcolorappearedinthepalenessoftheDuchessofCroydon'scheeks."Whatyouaresuggestingisthemostdisgusting,ridiculous..."

"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."

TheDuchessofCroydon–threecenturiesandahalfofinbredarrogancebehindher–didnotyieldeasily.Springingtoherfeet,herfacewrathful,gray-greeneyesblazing,shefacedthegrossnessofthehousedetectivesquarely.Hertonewouldhavewitheredanyonewhoknewherwell.“Youunspeakableblackguard!

Howdareyou!

”

Eventheself-assuranceofOgilvieflickeredforaninstant.ButitwastheDukeofCroydonwhointerjected,"It'snogo,oldgirl.I'mafraid.Itwasagoodtry."FacingOgilvie,hesaid,"Whatyouaccuseusofistrue.Iamtoblame.Iwasdrivingthecarandkilledthelittlegirl."

"That'smorelikeit,"Ogilviesaid.Helitthefreshcigar."Nowwe'regettingsomewhere."

Wearily,inagestureofsurrender,theDuchessofCroydonsankbackintoherchair.Claspingherhandstoconcealtheirtrembling,sheasked."Whatisityouknow?

"

"Wellnow,I'llspellitout."Thehousedetectivetookhistime,leisurelyputtingacloudofbluecigarsmoke,hiseyessardonicallyontheDuchessasifchallengingherobjection.Butbeyondwrinklinghernoseindistaste,shemadenocomment.

OgilviepointedtotheDuke."Lastnight,earlyon,youwenttoLindy'sPlaceinIrishBayou.YoudrovethereinyourfancyJaguar,andyoutookaladyfriend.Leastways