level 1
汗。。。你所发的贴子太长，疑似灌水，须等系统审核。。。
2009年11月20日 07点11分
2
level 1
1
The Well-digger’s Statement
When the first of these things happened, that is to say upon the twentieth day of April, I was twenty-two years old, a little stronger than most men of my age, and very ready for anything that bade fair to prove more exciting than entering the office of my uncle, who was a merchant of consequence in the City of London.
I had lately been sent down from Oxford for using some avowed communists as many thought they deserved, and, though George Hanbury — for he had been with me in the affair — and I received much sympathy and more complimentary letters from complete strangers than we could conveniently answer, I think we were both more distressed than we would have cared to admit to take our leave of Christ Church before out time. For my part, I had been glad to get out of England and to put the matter as far away from my mind as ever I knew.
I had, then, spent five weeks at Biarritz, the guest of some people called Pomeroy, with whom, such was their benevolence, I believe I might have stayed indefinitely; but a letter from Hanbury, with whom I was to share a flat, threatening to forgo the agreement if I did not return to Town, at length precipitated my departure.
I returned as I had come, alone in my car, making for Dieppe and spending the first night at Angouleme and the second at Tours.
From Tours to Dieppe is a comfortable day’s run, and I rose that April morning, intending to pass my third night on the packet which should take me to England.
I left Tours about ten in the morning and came to Chartres at one. There I purchased my luncheon and, after taking in petrol, re-entered the car, for the weather was very fair, and I meant to eat by the way.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
3
level 1
I cannot describe the contempt with which these last words were uttered, and Ellis was plainly stung, for he let out a volley of protest, declaring that it was not he that had done it, and that the papers had reported the matter wrong.
“I was in Court,” said the other, and laughed again. Then I heard him yawn. “And so, you see,” he continued, “you can’t be surprised that I don’t jump at the chance of making you free of a fortune at my expense.”
I had at first been astonished that I could hear so perfectly, for I was sure that the speakers were upon the opposite side of the bank. Then I perceived that I had my ear to a drain which must give directly into the wood beyond, and that, if I was minded to listen, I was ideally placed. But I could, of course, see nothing, and to hear, yet not to see, these two fellows was more than I could endure. I therefore rose from my gully and made my way by inches to the grass which was growing long upon the top of the bank. Into this I passed, like a snake, with the utmost caution, for I could now hear the voices almost as loud as before, and in a moment I was looking down upon two men, who were standing in a miniature glade, with the wood thick about them, and the bank upon which I was lying blocking the hither end.
The one was dressed in old tweeds, that had been well cut: he was a slight, handsome man, and wore a fair, close-cut beard: his eyes were grey and steady; he looked a gentleman. His arms were folded, and he was leaning against a tree, lazily regarding the other as though he were unclean.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
5
level 1
1
The Well-digger’s Statement
When the first of these things happened, that is to say upon the twentieth day of April, I was twenty-two years old, a little stronger than most men of my age, and very ready for anything that bade fair to prove more exciting than entering the office of my uncle, who was a merchant of consequence in the City of London.
I had lately been sent down from Oxford for using some avowed communists as many thought they deserved, and, though George Hanbury — for he had been with me in the affair — and I received much sympathy and more complimentary letters from complete strangers than we could conveniently answer, I think we were both more distressed than we would have cared to admit to take our leave of Christ Church before out time. For my part, I had been glad to get out of England and to put the matter as far away from my mind as ever I knew.
I had, then, spent five weeks at Biarritz, the guest of some people called Pomeroy, with whom, such was their benevolence, I believe I might have stayed indefinitely; but a letter from Hanbury, with whom I was to share a flat, threatening to forgo the agreement if I did not return to Town, at length precipitated my departure.
I returned as I had come, alone in my car, making for Dieppe and spending the first night at Angouleme and the second at Tours.
From Tours to Dieppe is a comfortable day’s run, and I rose that April morning, intending to pass my third night on the packet which should take me to England.
I left Tours about ten in the morning and came to Chartres at one. There I purchased my luncheon and, after taking in petrol, re-entered the car, for the weather was very fair, and I meant to eat by the way.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
7
level 1
I cannot describe the contempt with which these last words were uttered, and Ellis was plainly stung, for he let out a volley of protest, declaring that it was not he that had done it, and that the papers had reported the matter wrong.
“I was in Court,” said the other, and laughed again. Then I heard him yawn. “And so, you see,” he continued, “you can’t be surprised that I don’t jump at the chance of making you free of a fortune at my expense.”
I had at first been astonished that I could hear so perfectly, for I was sure that the speakers were upon the opposite side of the bank. Then I perceived that I had my ear to a drain which must give directly into the wood beyond, and that, if I was minded to listen, I was ideally placed. But I could, of course, see nothing, and to hear, yet not to see, these two fellows was more than I could endure. I therefore rose from my gully and made my way by inches to the grass which was growing long upon the top of the bank. Into this I passed, like a snake, with the utmost caution, for I could now hear the voices almost as loud as before, and in a moment I was looking down upon two men, who were standing in a miniature glade, with the wood thick about them, and the bank upon which I was lying blocking the hither end.
The one was dressed in old tweeds, that had been well cut: he was a slight, handsome man, and wore a fair, close-cut beard: his eyes were grey and steady; he looked a gentleman. His arms were folded, and he was leaning against a tree, lazily regarding the other as though he were unclean.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
9
level 1
I was, indeed, in the act of admiration when the murder was done.
As the other hunched his shoulders above his pipe, Ellis struck him high up to the right of the spine, and, either from the force of the blow or from the wound, the other fell down on his face with a knife in his back.
The murderer staggered across him and nearly fell over the body, bringing himself up against a tree on the far side, panting with stress. So he stayed for a second, with his knees loose and his back flat against the trunk, staring at what he had done. Then he raised his head, and his eyes met mine.
I supposed it was natural that I did not seem able to move. I seemed to be in a trance.
I watched him draw out a pistol and take deliberate aim. I know his hand was unsteady, and I think the bullet went high; but the shot broke the spell that held me, and I heaved myself back done the bank before he could aim again.
I was on my feet in an instant, but, though I did not feel faint, I was shaking like a leaf. After a moment, however, I flung myself again at the bank, rather dazedly, but taking care to make the top at a different place.
Ellis was gone.
The body lay as it had fallen, and a big Alsatian was nosing and licking the face. Already there was a great stain upon the back of the light, tweed coat.
I leaped down lightly and, setting the dog aside, turned over the body as gently as I could. I remembered having read somewhere that you should not withdraw a knife. The man was breathing, so I carried him over and propped him against the bank. Then I ran for my flask, which was in the car. His eyes were half-open when I returned, and his hand was on the dog’s collar, and the dog’s head on his chest. I gave him what brandy I could, but most of it ran over his chin.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
11
level 1
“I saw the whole thing,” I said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you, but Ellis was too quick.”
The other smiled faintly.
“But I’ll get him,” I added fiercely. “Tell me as much as you can.”
The other shook his head.
“Let him go,” he murmured. “Let him work out his own damnation. How much did you hear?”
“He wanted your secret,” I said. “The Wagensburg reassure, you called it. And you didn’t see the point.”
He smiled again.
“Are you fond of dogs?” he breathed.
“Yes.”
“Will you take care of mine?”
“I will.”
He nodded.
“Good man,” he whispered. Then, “Look in her collar,” he murmured, “and you’ll find she can pay for her keep.”
His eyes closed then, and he lay so still for a while that I thought he was dead.
Suddenly —
“Raise me,” he said. I did so. “What’s England like?” he said. “I haven’t been able to go there for seven years.”
I tried to tell him.
“But the country’s the same,” he said thickly. “The woods, and the meadows at sundown and—”
That was his last words, for a terrible rush of blood came from his mouth, and he died as did Falstaff, speaking of green fields.
His blood was all over my hands and the dog’s collar, but I presently found a stream and cleaned the two of us.
I had rather a business to keep the dog with me, for, though she was timid, she would have stayed with the corpse: but I turned a strap, which I had, into a leash and, speaking to her kindly, tried to show that I was her friend. And what with the excitement and horror of the whole business, my efforts to keep out of sight of passing vehicles, my constant outlook for Ellis and my anxiety to avoid association with the murder that had been done, I forgot to examine her collar for several hours. And this was as well, for my mind was full enough. Indeed, to this day, try as I will, I cannot tell how I came to Rouen nor yet to Dieppe. But I know that the car had been shipped and that I was aboard, arguing about quarantine, when I remembered the words of the dead Englishman.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
12
level 1
In the same instant it came to me that, for such as had eyes to see, the collar was directly connecting me with the crime. As soon as convenient, therefore, I went up on deck, cut the leash down to a collar and, making the change in fear and trembling, stuffed the stout original into my coat pocket, out of which, do what I would, it bulged terribly.
Indeed more than once I came within an ace of dropping it overboard.
It was in my mind to say that I had found the dog collarless on the highway, and that was the tale I told as Newhaven as carelessly as I could. But, while I told it, I sweated, and the collar in my pocket felt like a packing-case.
2009年11月20日 08点11分
13
