高级英语第三单元blackmail

BlackMail

AdvancedEnglishI

Lesson3ArthurHailey

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AsanintegratedoneofthenarrativeeventsinArthurHailey’snovelHotel(1967),“BlackMail”depictsafullprocessofhowablackmailerextortstheDukeandDuchessofCroydonandhowheissubduedtohelpthecoupletodisposetheevidenceofcrime.DrivingonthewaybacktothehoteltheDukeandDuchessofCroydonranoveramotherandherchildandfled.ThehousedetectiveOgilviefoundtheevidenceofhit-and-run.Insteadofreportingthepoliceheadquarter,hewenttoCroydonstoblackmail,askingfortenthousanddollarsforkeepingquietaboutwhathesaw.TheDuchesswasirritatedatfirstbytherascalbehaviorbutyieldtotheblackmailerwhenshelearnedtheirmess.ShebetonOgilvie’sgreedbyofferingOgilvietwenty-fivethousanddollarsononecondition:OgilviemustdrivethecarsecretlytoChicagoforrepair.Shemadethedeal.StyleGenre:Novel.Structure:“BlackMail”asanintegratedstory(sidestory)inHotel,retainsthefeatureofFreytag'spyramidfordramaticstructures,whichoftenconsistsoffiveactsasthefollowing:1.exposition(incitingincident).2.risingaction.3.climax(orturningpoint).4.fallingaction.5.dénouementorcatastrophe(resolution).StyleMode:1.Informal.2.Satire.LiteraryTechniques:

1.Framingdevice:thesinglesceneintheCroydon’ssuite.2.Sensorydetailorimagery:depictionofroles’charactersaccordingtonarrator’svision,auditorysensationandperception.3.Dialogue:Thecontradictionandtheclimaxofthestoryarerevealedthoughttheexchangesofthedialoguesbetweentheroles.3.Figureofspeech:metaphor,simile,transferredepithet.

ArthurHailey(April5,1920–November24,2004)wasaBritish/Canadian/American/Bahamiannovelist.BorninLuton,Bedfordshire,England,HaileyservedintheRoyalAirForcefromthestartofWorldWarIIin1939until1947,whenhewenttoliveinCanada.Afterworkingatanumberofjobsandwritingpart-time,hebecameafull-timewriterin1956,encouragedbythesuccessoftheCBCtelevisiondrama,FlightintoDanger(inprintasRunwayZeroEight).FollowingthesuccessofHotelin1965,hemovedtoCalifornia.AbouttheAuthor(1-4)ArthurHaileyholdsTheMoneychangers

ACanadiancitizenwhosechildrenliveinCanadaandCalifornia,HaileymadehishomeinLyfordCay,anexclusiveresidentialresortonNewProvidenceIslandintheBahamaswithhissecondwifeSheilawhowrote:"IMarriedaBest-Seller"in1978.Hailey'sgrandchildrenincludePaulHaileyandEmmaHaileyandCharlotteHaileywhoarestudentsinNorthernCalifornia.HealsohasanothergrandchildnamedRyanHailey,atalentedyoungbassplayerandvocalistinaSanFranciscobandErogenousJones,atrioknownforwritingwitty,sardoniclyrics.AbouttheAuthor(2-4)ArthurandSheila"It’snotbeeneasy,"Sheilaconfides,"butourlifetogetherhasneverbeendull."SaysArthur:"Wehaveverydisparatetalents;wefillineachother’sblanks."

Forthefirst14yearsoftheirmarriage,theHaileyslivedinTorontoandtheyboth,tothisday,retainCanadianandBritishcitizenship.Then,onaresearchtriptoCaliforniaforhisnovelAirporthefoundhimselfinthebeautifulNapaValleyand,impulsively,decidedthisiswheretheHaileyfamilyshouldlive.Heboughtahillsidelotwithin24hoursofhisarrival,thenwiredSheilathegoodnews.

AbouttheAuthor(3-4)ArthurandSheilaLastDays

ArthurHaileydiedinhissleepatLyfordCaywhereheandhiswifehadmadetheirhomeinNassau.

HediedonWednesday24thNovember.

Mr.Haileywas84andhadbeensufferingfromdementiaforaboutthreeyears.

Hehadhadastrokeabouttwomonthsago,anditappearsthathesufferedanotherstrokeinhissleep.

HiswifeSheilapronouncedherselfsatisfiedwiththewayhelivedhislife.HewasmarriedtohiswifeSheliaforover50years.

WhentheymovedtoTheBahamasinthe1970s,thecouplewasthetoastofthetown.

Mrs.Haileytoldthatherhusbandwasnotareligiousmanandthattherewouldbenofuneral.

AbouttheAuthor(4-4)ArthurHailey’sWritings

Eachofhisnovelshasadifferentindustrialorcommercialsettingandincludes,inadditiontodramatichumanconflict,carefullyresearchedinformationaboutthewaythatparticularenvironmentsandsystemsfunctionandhowtheseaffectsocietyanditsinhabitants.Hewouldspendaboutoneyearresearchingasubject,followedbysixmonthsreviewinghisnotesand,finally,about18monthswritingthebook.Thataggressiveresearch—trackingrebelguerrillasinthePeruvianjungleatage67forTheEveningNews(1990),orreading27booksonthehotelindustryforHotel—gavehisnovelsarealismthatappealedtoreaders.Hewrote11books,whichwerepublishedin40countriesand38languages,withabout170millioncopiesinprint.Mr.Hailey'sbooksmighthavebeenabusedbythecriticsbutnoonequestionedtheirpopularity.Manyofhisbookshavereached#1ontheNewYorkTimesbestsellerlistandmadeintomovies.Hotelwasmadeintoalong-runningtelevisionseries.Airportbecameablockbustermoviewithstunningvisualeffects.TheNovelsofArthurHailey’sTheFinalDiagnosis(1959)-hospitalpoliticsInHighPlaces(1960)-ColdWarErapoliticsinNorthAmericaHotel(1965)-hotelsAirport(1968)-airportpoliticsWheels(1971)-automobileindustryTheMoneychangers(1975)-banksOverload(1979)-powercrisisinCaliforniaStrongMedicine(1984)-pharmaceuticalindustryTheEveningNews(1990)-newscastersDetective(1997)Hotel(1965)InHighPlace(1960)TheFinalDiagnosis(1959)FlightintoDanger(1958)Airport(1968)Wheel(1971)Themoneychangers(1975)Strongmedicine(1975)Overload(1973)TheEveningnews(1990)Detective(1997)www.fantasticfiction.co.ukTheSketchoftheNovel“Hotel”(1-2)TheSt.GeorgeHotelisthelargesthotelinNewOrleans,Louisiana.ForfourdaysfromMondayeveningtoFriday,thehotelgoesthroughasuccessionofdramaticevents.Withthehotel’smortgageduebytheweekendandnochanceofgettingfurtherrenewal,theowner,WarrenTrent,reluctantlydecidestosellhishoteltoachainhotelowner,CurtisO’Keefe.PeterMcDermott,theassistantgeneralmanager,hastotackleseveralotherknottyproblems:handlinganattemptedrapewhichhasoccurredinoneofthehotel’sroom;catchingaprofessionalthiefoperatinginthehotel;pacifyingawholeconventionofseveralhundreddentiststhatthreatentoleaveinprotestagainstthehotel’sobjectiontoputtingupamemberoftheconvention---ablackdoctor.

ThereistheDukeofCroydon,anfamousstatesmanandnewly-appointedBritishambassadortoWashington,livestogetherwithhiswife,theDuchess,inthebestsuitofthehotel.

OnMondayevening,onthewaydrivingbacktohotelfromagamblinghouse,theyknockdownawomanandherchild.Botharekilled.DukeandDuchessdriveaway,however.Thehit-and-runbecomessensationalnewsinNewOrleans.TheSketchoftheNovel“Hotel”(2-2)Thehotelchiefhousedetectivenoticesthebatteredcarwhenitcomesback.Insteadofreportingtothepolice,thedetectiveOgilviegoestothecoupleandtriestogetalargesumofmoneyforthepromisetokeepthematterquiet.Dukeisatloss.TheDuchess,however,knowsthatiftheywanttogetoutofthemess,theymustletthecardrivenoutthecity.SosheoffersmoremoneytothedetectivetolethimdrivethecarnorthtoChicago.

Ogilvieagreesanddrivesthecarbynightandstopsduringthedayandthoughtthattheescapeisboundsmoothly,butactuallyfollowedbytheHighwaypatrolcruisers.InTennessee,heiscaughtandsentbacktoNewOrleans.DukeandDuchesstrytodenyatfirst,butfailstoconvincethepolice.Dukedecidedtogoovertothepoliceheadquarterbeforetheycomestohim.Hewenttotheelevatorwithoutknowingitwasalreadybrokenandwasthrowingdowntothecementgroundanddiedinstantly.However,thestoryendswithapleasantsurprise.AsickoldmanwhowasstayinginthehotelandwassavedbyPeterandhisgirlfriendturnedouttobewealthymanfromMontreal,Canada.HebuysthehotelandmakesPeterthenewexecutivevice-presidentofthehoteltoshowhisgratitude.Paraphrase

(1)Para.11.Thechiefhouseofficer,Ogilvie,whohaddeclaredhewouldappearattheCroydonssuiteanhourafterhiscryptictelephonecallactuallytooktwicethattime.:

Ogilvie,thedetectivetokeepthesecurityofthehotel,hadmadeanambiguoustelephonetoDukeandDuchessofCroydontosaythathewouldmeetthemattheirsuiteanhourlater.However,itwastwohourslaterwhenheappeared.

chiefhouseofficer:

thepersonwhoisemployedasadetectivetochargethesecurityofahotel.

Croydons:

theDukeandDuchessofCroydon.Paraphrase

(2)suiten.:

aseriesofconnectedroomsusedasalivingunit.

crypticadj.:

havinghiddenmeaning;mystifying,ambiguous.

2.AsaresultthenervesofboththeDukeandDuchesswereexcessivelyfrayedwhenthemutedbuzzeroftheouterdooreventuallysounded.:BothDukeandDuchessweredisturbedwhilewaitingforthemysteriousmantoappear.Asaresult,theybecamesofrightenedwhenthemutedbuzzeroftheoutdoorsoundedatlast.

frayedadj.(figurative)

:

alarmed,frightened.

mutedbuzzer:doorbellthatmakesalowbuzzingsoundwhenpressedon.

Paraphrase

(3)Para.23.TheDuchesswenttothedoorherself.Earliershehaddispatchedhermaidonaninventederrandand,cruelly,instructedthemoon-facedmalesecretary—whowasterrifiedofdogs—toexercisetheBedlingtonterriers.:TheDuchesswenttoopenthedoorherself,asshehadsenthermaidouttogetonwithanunnecessarytaskonlytoletherbeawayfromtheroom.Thesameshedidtotheround-facedmalesecretarywhowasterrifiedofdogsbutwasorderedtoexercisethepetdogBedlingtonterriers.

errandn.:ashorttriptakentoperformataskforanother.

moon-facedadj.:havingaroundfaced.

Paraphrase

(4)4.Herowntensionwasnotlessenedbytheknowledgethatbothmightreturnatanymoment.:Butsheremaineduneasybecausesheknewthatboththemaidandthesecretarymightcomebackatanymoment.

Paraphrase

(5)Para.35.AwaveofcigarsmokeaccompaniedOgilviein.whenhehadfollowedhertothelivingroom,theDuchesslookedpointedlyatthehalf-burnedcigarinthefatman’smouth.“MyhusbandandIfindstrongsmokeoffensive.Wouldyoukindlyputthatout.”:Ogilviecameinwithawaveofcigarsmoke.WhenhefollowedherintothelivingroomtheDuchesslookedsharplyatthehalf-burnedcigarinthethisfatman’smouth.Shetoldhimitwasbetterheputouttheburningcigarasherhusbandandshedisgustedthestrongsmoke.

pointedlyadv.:sharply,directly.Paraphrase

(6)Para.46.Thehousedetective’spiggyeyessurveyedhersardonicallyfromhisgrossjowledface.Hisgazemovedontosweepthespacious,well-appointedroom,encompassingtheDukewhofacedthemuncertainly,hisbacktoawindow.:Ogilvie’ssmallandnarroweyes,whichsetinhisfleshyfacewithaplumpjowl,nowlookedaroundtheroomcynically.Hemovedhisgazearoundthisspaciousandwellfurnishedroom.HesawtheDukestandingamongtheluxuryfurniturewithhisbacktoawindow,lookingatthemwithadoubtfulexpressiononhisface.

sardonicallyadv.:

cynically.

well-pointedadj.:furnishedinluxury.

encompassv.tr.:surround.

Paraphrase

(7)Para.57.“Prettyneatset-upyoufolksgot.”Takinghistime,Ogilvieremovedtheoffendingcigar,knockedofftheashandflippedthebutttowardanornamentalfireplaceonhisright.Hemissed,andthebuttfelluponthecarpetwhereheignoredit.:“Yourroomisindeedaprettyniceone,soistheexpensivefurniture”,Ogilvie,inaleisurelyway,removedthecigarthatoffendedthecouple.Heknockedofftheashandflickedtheendofcigartotheornamentalfireplaceonhisrightsidebutmissed.Theendofcigarfelluponthecarpet,he,however,didnothingtoit.

“Prettyneatset-upyoufolksgot.”(ungrammatical)

:

youhavegotsuchprettynicefurniturehere.Paraphrase

(8)

takeone’stime:tobesloworleisurely.

set-up:arrangementoffurnitureinaroom.flipv.tr.:tothrowortosswithalight,briskmotion.buttn.:anunburnedend,asofacigarette.ornamentalfireplace:afireplacethatservesasornamentationoftheroomonly.Paraphrase

(9)Para.68.TheDuchess’slipstightened.Shesaidsharply,“Iimagineyoudidnotcomeheretodiscussdécor.”:TheDuchesstightenedherlips.Shewasevidentlyannoyedbythisvulgarfatman.Shesaidsharply,“Idon’tthinkyoucomeherejusttotellyourappreciationaboutthefurnitureandthedecoration.”

decorn.:interiordecoration,theartofdecoratingaroomsothatitisattractive,easytouse,andfunctionswellwiththeexistingarchitecture.

Paraphrase

(10)Para.7.9.Theobesebodyshookinanappreciativechuckle.“No,ma’am;can’tsayIdid.Ilikenicethings,though.”Heloweredthelevelofhisincongruousfalsettovoice.”“Likethatcarofyours.Theoneyoukeephereinthehotel.Jaguar,ain’tit?”:ThefatbodyshookintheresponseofhischucklewithsomeappreciationoftheDuchess’saccurateperception.“Ofcoursenot.Madam.Youcan’tsayinthatway.ButIindeedlikegoodthings.”Heloweredhishigh-pitchedvoiceincompatibletohisfatbody,said,“Likeyourcar,Jaguar,youkeepinthishotel,isn’tit?”

obeseadj.:extremelyfat,grosslyoverweight.

ma’am:madam.

Paraphrase

(11)

can’tsayIdid(ungrammatical):youcan’tsayinthatway.incongruousadj.:notcompatible.falsetton.:unnaturallyhigh-pitchedvoiceofamale.Jaguarn.:abrandofexpensivesportcar.

ain’tit?(slang):isn’tit?FigureofSpeech

Transferredepithet:appreciativechuckle(thechucklethatexpressesOgilvie’sappreciationoftheDuchessthatsheissensibleenoughtoknowwhatishisrealintentionasanuninvitedguest.)Paraphrase

(12)Para.810.“Aah!”Itwasnotaspokenword,butanemissionofbreathfromtheDukeofCroydon.Hiswifeshothimaswift,warningglance.:“Aah!”ItwasabreathoutofcontrolfromtheDuke,whenheheardOgilviementionedhiscarJaguar.TheDuchessimmediatelythrewaglancequicklytoherhusbandtowarnhimnottosayanything.FigureofSpeech

Transferredepithet:warningglance(TheDuchesscastherhusbandaglancetowarnhimnottosaysomethingstupid.)Paraphrase

(13)Para.9-1111.“Inwhatconceivablewaydoesourcarconcernyou?”AsifthequestionfromtheDuchesshadbeenasignal,thehousedetective’smannerchanged,heinquiredabruptly,“Whoelseisinthisplace?”ItwastheDukewhoanswered,“Noone.Wesentthemout.”“Inwhatpossiblewaydoesourcarhaveanythingrelatedtoyou?”theDuchessasked.Thequestionseemedtobeatrigger.Thehousedetectivechangedhissluggishmanneratonceandaskedsuddenly,“Isthereanyoneelseinthissuite?”TheDukeansweredstupidly,“Noone.Wesentthemout.”

Paraphrase

(14)Para.1212.“There’sthingsitpaystocheck.”movingwithsurprisingspeed,thefatmanwalkedaroundthesuite,openingdoorsandinspectingthespacebehindthem.:“Itisworthytohaveacheck.”Thefatmanwalkedaroundthesuite,openingthedoors,inspectingbehindthem.Hiswalkingspeedwasfastenoughtosurpriseanyonewhosawhisbulkyfigure.

“There’sthingsitpaystocheck.”(ungrammatical):Itisworthyofhavingacheckofthesuite.

Paraphrase

(15)13.Obviouslyheknewtheroomarrangementwell.Afterreopeningandclosingtheouterdoor,hereturned,apparentlysatisfied,tothelivingroom.:Itwasclearlythathewasfamiliarwiththeroomarrangement.Afterhereopenedandthenclosedtheoutdoorhereturnedtothelivingroomwithasatisfactionthattherewasnooneelsetolistentowhathewasgoingtosaynext.

Paraphrase

(16)Para.13&1414.TheDuchesshadseatedherselfinastraight-backedchair.Ogilvieremainedstanding.“Nowthen,”hesaid.“Youtwowasinthehit-’n-run.”

TheDuchessnowsatinastraight-backedchair,whileOgilvieremainedstanding.“Now,asyouknow,youtwoareinvolvedinahit-and-runroadaccident.”Thehousedetectivesaid.

Nowthen:aphraseforcallingattentionorexpressingwarning.

hit-’n-run:hit-and-run.(theroadaccidentinwhichthesuspectfleesfromthescenewiththeawarenessofhittingorrunningoverthevictim.)

Paraphrase

(17)Para.15&1615.Shemethiseyesdirectly.“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”“Don’tplaygames,lady.Thisisforreal.”Hetookoutafreshcigarandbitofftheend,“Yousawthepapers.There’sbeenplentyonradio,too.”

TheDuchessfaceddirectlytothefatmanandsaidshedidnotunderstandwhathesaid.Obviouslyshewasnoteasytogivein.“Don’tputonashow,lady.Iamserious.”Ogilvietookoutanothercigarandbitofftheend,“Ibelieveyouhaveseenthenewsonnewspapersandheardplentyonradioaboutit.”

playgames:putonashow,pretendingnottoknowtruth.

Thisisforreal:Itissomethingserious;Iamseriousabout.Paraphrase

(18)Para.1716.TwohighpointsofcolorappearedinthepalenessoftheDuchessofCroydon’scheeks.“Whatyouaresuggestingisthemostdisgusting,ridiculous…”:TheDuchessfeltaflowofbloodsurgingupandgotflushedslightlyonherpalecheeks.Shesensedthefatmanhadknownsomethingabouttheirhit-and-run.Butsheremainedunyieldingtohimandsaid,“Whatyouareimplyingisthemostsickandtotallyabsurd…”

twohighpointsofcolorinthepalenessofone’scheeks:flushofone’scheeksasaresultofexcitement,anger,orpanic,etc.Paraphrase

(19)Para.1817.“Itoldyou—Cutitout!”Thewordsspatforthwithsuddensavagery,allpretenseofblandnessgone.IgnoringtheDuke,Ogilviewavedtheunlightedcigarunderhisadversary’snose.“Youlistentome,yourhigh-an’-mightiness.:“Itoldyou—Justshutup!”Thewordsejectedsuddenlyoutofhismouthwithanextremebrutality.Allthepoliteness,agreeablemannersthathehadpretendedwereawaywithoutanytrace.IgnoringtheDuke,Ogilviewavedhisunlightedcigarunderhisopponent’snose.“Listentome,YourHighnessandmightiness.”HeshoutedtotheDuchess.

spit(spatorspit,spitting)r.:emitoutof(mouth)suddenly.Paraphrase

(20)

blandnessn.:thepleasant,politestateinmanners.Yourhigh-an’-mightiness:highnessandmightiness.(ThecorrectwaytoaddresstheDukeorDuchessshouldbe“YourGrace”.“Yourhigh-an’-mightiness”isahesitatedaddresstotheDuchessthatonlyshowsthatOgilviemaynotknowhowtoaddresscorrectly.Even“Highness”isincorrecthere,foritistheaddressforaprinceorprincess.Asformightiness,itisnotatitleforaddressing.)Grammar

Absoluteconstructionasadverbial:“allpretenseofblandnessgone”isequalto“whenallpretenseofblandnesswasgone.”

Paraphrase

(21)17.Thiscity’sburnin’mad—cops,mayor,everybodyelse.Whentheyfindwhodonethatlastnight,whokilledthatkidan’itsmother,thenhigh-tailedit,:Thewholecitynowisinafury—thepolicemen,themayor,everyoneofthecity.Iftheyhavefoundwhohaddonethecrimelastnight,whohadhitandkilledthekidandhismotherandthenranaway,

copn.:policeman.

high-tailr.:togoasfastaspossible,especiallyinretreating;flee.(“hightail”isfromthoseanimalsthatraisetheirtailswhenfleeing.)

hightailingParaphrase

(22)18.they’llthrowthebook,andnevermindwhoithits,orwhethertheygotfancytitlesneither.NowIknowwhatIknow,andifIdowhatbyrightsIshould,there’llbeasquadofcopsinheresofastyou’llhardlysee’em.:Theywillinflicttheheaviestpunishmentwithoutanyreferencetotheprescribedrules.Theywillnevermindwhosuffersfromthepunishment,nevermindwhatsuperiortitlethesuspecthas.NowIknowwhatIknowaboutyourhit-and-run.IfIdomydutytherewillbeaunitofpolicemenheremuchfasterthanyouareawareoftheircoming.

bookn.:asetofprescribedstandardsorrulesonwhichdecisionsarebased.

fancyadj.:ofsuperiorgrade;fine.Paraphrase

(23)

byright:accordingtoobligationorduty.

squadn.:asmallunitofpoliceofficers.19.ButIcometoyoufirst,infairness,so’syoucouldtellyoursideofittome.”Thepiggyeyesblinked,thenhardened.“’fyouwantittheotherway,justsayso.”:ButIcometomeetyoufirst,whichIthinkitisjusticetoeitherofyouandme.Soyoucantellmewhatyourideaabouttheaccidentis.”Thesmalleyesblinked,thenblazingwithcruelty,hesaid,“Ifyouwantmetoreportittothepolice,juttellme,Iwilldo.”

fairnessn.:beingimpartial,justice.

yoursideofit:youropinionaboutthehit-and-run.Paraphrase

(24)Para.1920.TheDuchessofCroydon—threecenturiesandahalfofinbredarrogancebehindher—didnotyieldeasily.Springingtoherfeet,herfacewrathful,gray-greeneyesblazing,shefacedthegrossnessofthehousedetectivesquarely.:TheDuchessofCroydon,withherinheritedfamilyarrogancethathadlastedforthreecenturiesandahalf,ofcoursewasnoteasilyfrightenedbythiskindofthreat.Sheboundedupfromthechairwithafuriouslookonherfaceandstoodfacingthefathousedetectivestraightwithablazeofangerinhergreen-grayeyes.

inbredadj.:inheritedcharacterordisposition;deep-seated.

wrathfuladj.:fiercelyangry.Paraphrase

(25)

squarly

adv.:directly;straight.

21.Hertonewouldhavewitheredanyonewhoknewherwell.“Youunspeakableblackguard!Howdareyou!”:Herfrighteningtonewassoharshthatanyonewhowasfamiliarwithhercharacterwouldbecamedisableinspeakingorreactinginfrontofher.Shesaidfiercelytothefatman,“Youdirtyscoundrel!Howdareyouspeaklikethat?”

witherv.tr.:torenderspeechlessorincapableofaction;stun.

unspeakableadj.:inexpressiblybadorobjectionable.

blackguardn.:athoroughlyunprincipledperson;ascoundrel.Paraphrase

(26)Grammar

Absoluteconstructionasadverbial:“herfacewrathful,gray-greeneyesblazing,”whichisequalto“whileherfacewaswrathfulandhergray-greeneyeswereblazing.”

Para.2022.Eventheself-assuranceofOgilvieflickeredforaninstant.ButitwastheDukeofCroydonwhointerjected,“It’snogo,oldgirl.I’mafraid.Itwasagoodtry.”:Ogilviewaveredforaninstantbythefiercerebukeasiflosinghisself-confidence.“Itisnouse,mydear,I’mafraid.Itmaybeawaytocooperatewithhim.”TheDukeinterruptedhiswife.

flickeredr.:waver.

interjectv.tr.:makeabreakin,interrupt.

oldgirl:theinformaladdresstoone’swife.Paraphrase

(27)23.FacingOgilvie,hesaid,“Whatyouaccuseusofistrue.Iamtoblame.Iwasdrivingthecarandkilledthelittlegirl.”:TheDuke,facingOgilvie,confessedthatitwashimwhodrovethecarandkilledthevictim.Itwashimwhowastoblame.Para.2124.“That’smorelikeit,”Ogilviesaid.Helitthefreshcigar.“Nowwe’regettingsomewhere.”:“Thatmaybenearthetruth.”OgilvieappreciatedtheDuke’sattitudeofcooperation.Helittheunlightedcigar.“Well,wearefinallygettingtothepoint.”

we’regettingsomewhere:wearegettingtothepointofthematter.Paraphrase

(28)Para.2225.Wearily,inagestureofsurrender,theDuchessofCroydonsankbackintoherchair.Claspingherhandstoconcealtheirtrembling,sheasked.“Whatisityouknow?”:TheDuchesswasexhausted.wavingahandsheindicatedthatshegaveupherinsistenceandsatdisappointedlybackinherchair.Herhandsheldeachothertightlytocontroltheirtrembling.“Whatdoyouknowabouttheaccident?”sheasked.

Paraphrase

(29)Para.2326.“Wellnow,I’llspellitout.”Thehousedetectivetookhistime,leisurelypuffingacloudofbluecigarsmoke,hiseyessardonicallyontheDuchessasifchallengingherobjection.Butbeyondwrinklinghernoseindistaste,shemadenocomment.:OnhearingthequestionfromtheDuchess,thehousedetectiverevertedtohisleisurelymanner.“NowI’lltellyouthedetailsofwhatIknow.”HewaspuffingoutabluecloudofcigarwhilelookingscornfullyattheDuchess.HeseemedtochallengetheDuchesswithhissmokingtosaythathehadwonthefirstround.Onlywithawrinkleofhernosetoshowherdetest,theDuchesssaidnothing.

Paraphrase

(30)

spellout

(verbphrase):

tomakeclearandunderstandable.Para.2427.OgilviepointedtotheDuke.“Lastnight,earlyon,youwenttoLindy’sPlaceinIrishBayou.YoudrovethereinyourfancyJaguar,andyoutookaladyfriend.Leastways,Iguessyou’dcallherthatifyou’renottoofussy.”:OgilvieturnedtotheDukeandsaid,“youwenttoLinday’sPlaceinIrishBayouearlylastnight.YoudroveyourcostlyJaguarandtookaladyfriendwithyou,ifyoudon’tmindImaycallherinthisway.”Obviously,OgilviewastryingtofawnontheDuke.

Linday’sPlace:agamblingnightclub.Paraphrase

(31)Irishbayou:acommercialsectionofFrenchquarterinthecentreofNewOrleans,characterizedwithmanyhotels,bars,nightclubsandimmigrantsfromsouthernItalyandIreland.fancyadj.:unusual,extraordinary,costly.

ladyfriend:aneuphemismforahighclasswhore.

fussyadj.:exactingespeciallyaboutdetails,picky.GrammarAbsoluteconstructionasadverbial:hiseyes(being)sardonicallyontheDuchess.