céng jīng hōng dòng yī shí， zài gōng zhòng zhōng yǐn qǐ qiáng liè xīng qù de“ sī tài 'ěr sī zhuāng yuán 'àn”， xiàn zài yǐ jīng yòu diǎn lěng luò xià lái liǎo。 rán 'ér， yóu yú suí zhī chǎn shēng de zhǒng zhǒng liú yán fěi yǔ guǎng wéi liú chuán， wǒ de péng yǒu bō luò hé nà yī jiā de rén。 dōuyào qiú wǒ bǎ zhěng gè gù shì xiě chū lái。 wǒ men xiāng xìn， zhè jiāng yòu xiào dì bó dǎo nà xiē qì jīn wéi zhǐ réng zài liú chuán de sǒng rén tīng wén de yáo yán。
　　 yīn cǐ， wǒ jué dìng bǎ wǒ hé zhè yī shì jiàn yòu guān de yī xiē qíng kuàng jiǎn lüè dì jì xià lái。
　　 wǒ shì zuò wéi shāng bìng yuán cóng qián xiàn gěi qiǎn sòng huí jiā de； zài yī suǒ lìng rén xiāng dāng jù sàng de liáo yǎng yuàn lǐ 'āi guò liǎo jǐ gè yuè zhī hòu， zǒng suàn gěi liǎo wǒ yī gè yuè de bìngjià。 wǒ jì wú jìn qīn yě méi yòu mì yǒu， dāng wǒ zhèng zài kǎo lǜ zěn me lái dù guò zhè yī jiàqī de shí hòu， ǒu rán yù jiàn liǎo yuē hàn · kǎ wén dí shí， zhè xiē nián lái wǒ hěn shǎo jiàn dào tā。 shuō shí zài de， wǒ bìng bù shí fēn liǎo jiě tā。 shǒu xiān， tā bǐ wǒ zú zú dà shí wǔ suì， suī rán tā gēn běn zhe bù chū yòu sì shí wǔ suì。 suī shuō zài zuò hái zǐ de shí hòu， wǒ cháng zài sī tài 'ěr sī zhuāng yuán dòu liú， nà shì tā mǔ qīn zài 'āi sài kè qī ① de xiāng jiān dǐ zhái。
　　 wǒ men jīng guò liǎo yī fān xù jiù zhī hòu， jiē zhe tā jiù yāo wǒ shàng sī tài 'ěr sī qù dù guò wǒ de jiàqī。
　　“ gé liǎo zhè me duō nián yòu jiàn dào nǐ， mǔ qīn yī dìng huì hěn gāo xīng de。” tā bǔ chōng shuō。
　　“ nǐ mǔ qīn hǎo má？” wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ ǹg， hěn hǎo。 tā yòu jié hūn liǎo， nǐ dà gài zhī dào liǎo bā？”
　　 wǒ dān xīn wǒ yǐ yòu diǎn 'ér míng xiǎn dì liú lù chū jīng yà de shén qíng。 zài wǒ de jì yì zhōng， tā de mǔ qīn shì wèi duān zhuāng de zhōng nián fù nǚ（ tā jià gěi yuē hàn fù qīn de shí hòu， tā shì gè guān fū， yǐ yòu liǎng gè 'ér zǐ）， xiàn zài， wú yí zhì shǎo yòu qī shí suì liǎo。 wǒ jì dé tā shì gè jīng lì chōng pèi、 bàn shì zhuān duàn de rén， yòu diǎn xǐ huān cí shàn shì yè hé shè jiāo huó dòng， àihào gǎo gǎo yì mài zhī lèi， bàn yǎn“ bāng dé máng” dà tài ② de juésè。 tā shì gè fēi cháng kāng kǎi de nǚ rén， tā zì jǐ yòu xiāng dāng kě guān de cái chǎn。
　　 tā men zhè chuáng xiāng wèn dǐ zhái sī tài 'ěr sī zhuāng yuán， shì zǎo zài tā men jié hūn nà nián yuè， kǎ wén dí shí xiān shēng gòu zhì de。 tā běn lái yǐ wán quán zài tā tài tài de kòng zhì zhī xià， tā yī qù shì， zhè chuáng zhái dì yě jiù liú gěi tā zhōng shēng xiǎng yòng liǎo， tā de jué dà bù fēn shōu rù yě guī liǎo tā； zhè yàng de 'ān pái， duì tā de liǎng gè 'ér zǐ lái wú yí shì bù gōng zhèng de。 rán 'ér， tā men de hòu mǔ duì tā men dǎo shì fēi cháng kāng kǎi； shí zài shì， tā men de fù qīn zài qǔ shí。 tā mendōu hái nián yòu， suǒ yǐ tā men yī xiàng bǎ tā kàn chéng shì zì jǐ de qīn shēng mǔ qīn。
　　 dì dì láo lún sī shì gè wén yǎ de qīng nián。 tā yuán yǐ qǔ dé liǎo dāng yī shēng de zī gé， dàn tā zǎo jiù fàng qì liǎo zhè gè xíng yī de zhí yè， dài zài jiā lǐ yī xīn xiǎng shí xiàn wén xué shàng de bào fù； suī rán tā de shī zuò cóng lái méi yòu rèn hé xiǎn zhù de chéng jiù。
　　 yuē hàn dāng guò yī duàn shí jiān kāi yè lǜ shī， kě shì， tā zuì zhōng hái shì guò qǐ zhè zhǒng gèng wéi qiè yì de xiāng shēn shēng huó lái liǎo。 tā zài liǎng nián qián jié liǎo hūn， dài zhe qī zǐ zhù zài sī tài 'ěr sī， bù guò， wǒ zǒng jué dé， tā shì nìngyuàn tā de mǔ qīn duō gěi tā yī diǎn jīn tiē， hǎo ràng tā néng gòu yòu yī gè zì jǐ de jiā de。 rán 'ér， nà wèi lǎo tài tài shì gè xǐ huān dú duàn dú xíng de rén， xī wàng bié rén tīng cóng tā de 'ān pái， ér zài xiàn zài zhè yàng de qíng kuàng xià， tā dāng rán chǔyú zhī pèi dì yìng， jiù shì shuō： cái quán zài tā shǒu zhōng。
　　 yuē hàn jué chá dào wǒ tīng shuō tā mǔ qīn zài jià de xiāo xī hòu suǒ biǎo xiàn chū lái de jīng yà， kǔ xiào liǎo yī xià。
　　“ hái shì gè bēi bǐ wò chuò de cū sú hàn zǐ！” tā cū lǔ dì shuō。“ wǒ kě yǐ gào sù nǐ， hā sī dīng， zhè gǎo dé wǒ men de rì zǐ xiāng dāng nán guò。 zhì yú nǎ gè yī wéi ③ héng héng nǐ hái jì dé yī wéi má？”
　　“ bù jì dé liǎo。”
　　“ hē， wǒ xiǎng tā shì zài nǐ nà yī cì qù guò zhī hòu lái de。 tā shì mǔ qīn de guǎn jiā， nǚ bàn， shì gè yàng yàng jiē tōng de rén wù！ nà gè lǎo yī wéi， shì gè dà wán wù！ jì bù nián qīng yòu bù piào liàng， dà jiādōu ná tā men zuò wéi cháo nòng de duì xiàng。
　　“ nǐ shì dǎ suàn shuō héng héng？”
　　“ hēng， zhè jiā huǒ！ shuí zhī dào tā shì dǎ nǎ jǐ zuàn chū lái de， jiè kǒu shì yī wéi de yuǎn fáng biǎo xiōng dì shénme de， suī shuō tā sì hū bìng bù tè bié xiǎng chéng rèn zhè zhǒng guān xì。 shuídōu néng kàn chū， zhè jiā huǒ wán quán shì gè cū sú hàn zǐ。 yī dà bǎ hēi hú zǐ， bù guǎn shénme tiān qì dū chuān shuāng qī pí de cháng tǒng xuē！ kě mǔ qīn què lì kè duì tā chǎn shēng liǎo hǎo gǎn， lù yòng tā dāng liǎo mì shū héng héng nǐ zhī dào má？ tā yī zhí jīng yíng zhe shàng bǎi gè shè huì tuán tǐ ní。”
　　 wǒ diǎn diǎn tóu。
　　“ dāng rán luó， zhàn zhēng yǐ jīng bǎ jǐ bǎi gè zhè yàng de shè tuán biàn chéng jǐ qiān gè liǎo。 zhè jiā huǒ duì tā lái shuō wú yí shì hěn yòu yòng de。 kě shì， sān gè yuè qián， dāng tā tū rán xuān bù tā yǐ hé 'ā fú léi dé dìng hūn shí， zhè kě bǎ wǒ mendōu gěi jīng dāi liǎo！ zhè jiā huǒ zhì shǎo bǐ tā yào xiǎo 'èr shí suì yā！ zhè jiǎn zhí shì lù gǔ de， zhuī qiú yòu qián de nǚ rén； kě shì nǐ zhī dào， tā shì gè dú duàn dú xíng de nǚ zhù rén， tā jiù jià gěi tā lā。”
　　“ zhè yī dìng shǐ nǐ men dà jiā chǔjìng dū kùn nán liǎo bā。”
　　“ kùn nán！ zāo tòu liǎo！”
　　 jiù zài zhè cì tán huà zhī hòu de dì sān tiān， wǒ zài sī tài 'ěr sī zhàn xià liǎo huǒ chē。 zhè jiǎn zhí shì gè huāng miù kě xiào de xiǎo zhàn， sì zhōu quán shì bì lǜ de tián yě hé xiāng jiān xiǎo dào， kàn lái háo wú míng xiǎn de cún zài lǐ yóu。 yuē hàn · kǎ wén dí shí zài zhàn tái shàng děng zhe wǒ， tā bǎ wǒ lǐng dào qì chē gēn qián。
　　“ nǐ qiáo， zǒng suàn hái gǎo dào liǎo yī、 liǎng dī qì yóu，” tā shuō：“ zhù yào shì yóu yú wǒ mǔ qīn de huó dòng。”
　　 sī tài 'ěr sī cūn zài lí zhè gè xiǎo zhàn dà yuē yòu liǎng yīng lǐ de dì fāng， sī tài 'ěr sī zhuāng yuán zé zuò luò zài xiǎo zhàn de lìng yī fāng xiàng， lí tā yòu yī yīng lǐ dì。 zhè shì qī yuè chū yī gè níng jìng、 nuǎnhuo de rì zǐ。 dāng nǐ wàng zhe chuāng wài lüè guò de zhè piàn 'āi sài kè sī de píng yě shí， tā mù yù zài wǔ hòu de yáng guāng zhōng， xiǎn dé rú cǐ qīng cōng， rú cǐ níng jìng， jiǎn zhí shǐ rén bù néng xiāng xìn， jiù zài lí zhè bù hěn yuǎn de dì fāng， yīcháng dà zhàn zhèng zài 'àn yù dìng de guò chéng jìn xíng。 wǒ gǎn dào zì jǐ yǐ tū rán zhì shēn yú lìng yī gè shì jiè。 dāng wǒ men guǎi rù zhuāng yuán de dà mén shí， yuē hàn shuō dào：
　　“ wǒ pà nǐ zài zhè 'ér huì gǎn dào tài lěng qīng ní， hā sī dīng。”
　　“ lǎo péng yǒu， zhè zhèng shì wǒ suǒ xū yào de 'ā。”
　　“ hē， nǐ yào shì yuàn yì guò yōu xián de shēng huó， nà zhè lǐ kě zhēn shū shì jí liǎo。 wǒ měi xīng qī qù hé zhì yuàn bīng yī qǐ cāo liàn liǎng cì， zài nóng zhuāng shàng bāng diǎn máng。 wǒ de qī zǐ 'àn shí qù gān diǎn nóng huó。 tā měi tiān zǎo shàng wǔ diǎn qǐ shēn qù jǐ niú nǎi， yī zhí dào chī zhōng fàn。 yào shì méi yòu 'ā fú léi dé · yīng gé lǐ sāng nà jiā huǒ de huà， zhè 'ér què shí shì yī zhǒng kuài huó sì shén xiān de shēng huó！” tā tū rán shā zhù liǎo chē， kàn liǎo zhuóshǒu biǎo。“ bù zhī dào wǒ men shì bù shì hái lái dé jí qù jiē yī xià xīn xī yà。 ā， bù xíng lā， tā kě néng yǐ jīng cóng yī yuàn chū lái liǎo。”
　　“ xīn xī yà！ jiù shì nǐ qī zǐ má？”
　　“ bù， xīn xī yà shì wǒ mǔ qīn de yǎng nǚ， tā de yī gè lǎo tóng xué de nǚ 'ér， zhè gè lǎo tóng xué jià gěi liǎo yī gè lǜ shī， nà rén shì gè liú máng， hòu lái zāi liǎo dà gēn dǒu， nòng dé zhè gū niàn shēn wú fēn wén， gū kǔ wú yǐ， jiēguǒ shì wǒ mǔ qīn jiù liǎo tā。 zú xī pèng wǎng zài wǒ men jiā yǐ jīng kuài liǎng nián liǎo， tā zài tǎ míng sī tè de hóng shí zì yī yuàn gōng zuò， lí zhè 'ér yòu qī yīng lǐ dì。”
　　 tā shuō zuì hòu jǐ jù huà shí， wǒ men yǐ dào liǎo yīzhuàng gāo dà de lǎo shì fáng zǐ gēn qián。 yī gè chuānzhuó kuān dà de huā ní qún zǐ de nǚ rén， zhèng fǔ shēn zài huā chuáng shàng， yī jiàn wǒ men dào lái， lián máng zhí qǐ liǎo shēn zǐ。
　　“ nǐ hǎo， yī wéi， zhè wèi jiù shì wǒ shuō de fù shāng de yīng xióng！ hā sī dīng xiān shēng héng héng zhè wèi shì huò huá dé xiǎo jiě。”
　　 huò huá dé xiǎo jiě wò shǒu hěn yòu jìn， jīhū dū bǎ wǒ gěi wò tòng liǎo， zài tā nà bèi yáng guāng shài hēi de liǎn shàng yòu yī duì lán yíng yíng de yǎn jīng。 tā shì gè yī yǎn kàn qù tǐng tǎo rén huān xǐ de nǚ rén， sì shí suì shàng xià， sǎng zǐ shēn chén， hóng liàng de shēng yīn， jīhū xiàng gè nán rén， shēng jiù yī fù xiǎn rán hěn kuān kuò jiēshí de shēn cái， zài pèi shàng yī shuāng hé shì de jiǎo héng héng tā men bèi tào zài jiēshí cū dà de xuē zǐ lǐ。 wǒ hěn kuài fā xiàn， tā de tán tù yǔ jù shí fēn jiǎn jié。
　　“ zá cǎozhǎng qǐ lái jiù xiàng fáng zǐ zháohuǒ， lián gǎn dū gǎn bù shàng tā men， wǒ yào zhuā nǐ de fū de。 zuì hǎo dāng xīn yī diǎn。”
　　“ wǒ xiāng xìn， néng shǐ zì jǐ chéng wéi yī gè yòu yòng de rén， nà wǒ cái gāo xīng nà。” wǒ huí dá shuō。
　　“ bié shuō zhè yī tào。 jué bù yào shuō， xī wàng nǐ yǐ hòu yě bié shuō。”
　　“ nǐ zhēn huì wā kǔ rén， yī wéi，” yuē hàn xiào liǎo qǐ lái， shuō。“ jīn tiān zài nǎ 'ér hē chá yā héng héng lǐ miàn hái shì wài miàn？”
　　“ wài miàn。 zhè me hǎo de tiān qì hái dǎ suàn guān zài wū zǐ lǐ。”
　　“ nà jiù qù bā， jīn tiān de yuán yì huó nǐ yǐ jīng zuò gòu liǎo。 nǐ yào zhī dào， ‘ gù gōng zhī láo dòng yìng yǔ qí gù jīn xiāng fú’。 qù bā， xiē yī xiē，”
　　“ hǎo，” huò huá dé xiǎo jiě dāyìng shuō， tuō diào zì jǐ de gōng zuò shǒu tào，“ jiù tīng nǐ de bā。”
　　 tā zài qián miàn dài lù， rào guò fáng zǐ， lái dào yī kē dà fēng shù de shù yìn xià bǎi zhe chá diǎn de dì fāng。
　　 yòu yī gè rén cóng yī zhāng liǔ tiáo yǐ shàng zhàn qǐ lái。 cháo wǒ men yíng shàng lái jǐ bù。
　　“ wǒ de qī zǐ。 zhè wèi shì hā sī dīng，” yuē hàn jiè shào shuō。
　　 wǒ jué bù huì wàng diào dì yī cì jiàn dào mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí de qíng jǐng。 tā， gāo gāo de miáo tiáo de shēn cái， zài míng lǎng de yáng guāng xià xiàn tiáo yōu měi； nà zhǒng yù lù hái cáng de huó pō biǎo qíng。 sì hū zhǐ zài nà duì shén qí de hè sè mèi yǎn zhōng cái néng zhǎo dào。 nà shuāng jīng rén de yǎn jīng， hé wǒ suǒ jiàn guò de suǒ yòu nǚ rén dedōu bù tóng； tā yōng yòu yī zhǒng wú shēng de fēi fán de mèi lì； rán 'ér， tā nà wén jìng gāo yǎ de tǐ tài zhōng réng rán liú lù chū yī zhǒng kuáng rè bēn fàng de yě xìng héng héng suǒ yòu zhè yī qiē， dōuzài wǒ de jì yì zhōng xióng xióng rán shāo。 zhè shì wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì wàng jì de。
　　 tā yòng yī zhǒng qīng róu、 qīng xī de shēng yīn， shuō liǎo jǐ jù rè qíng de huà， duì wǒ biǎo shì huān yíng， suí hòu wǒ jiù zài yī zhāng liǔ tiáo yǐ shàng zuò liǎo xià lái， xīn zhōng wéi zì jǐ jiē shòu yuē hàn de yāo qǐng gǎn dào gé wài de gāo xīng。 kǎ wén dí shí tài tài gěi wǒ zhēn liǎo chá， tā nà liáo liáo shù jù wén yǎ de huà， gèng jiā shēn liǎo wǒ duì tā de zuì chū yìn xiàng， jué dé tā shì gè huì shǐ rén wán quán shén hún diān dǎo de nǚ rén。 yī gè yòu xīn shǎng lì de tīng zhòng zǒng shì tí gāo rén de xīng zhì de， yīn 'ér wǒ yòng yī zhǒng yōu mò de kǒu wěn xù shù liǎo yī xiē liáo yǎng yuàn zhōng de qù wén yì shì， wǒ yòng zhè yàng de fāng shì， yǐn qǐ liǎo wǒ de nǚ zhù rén hěn dà de xīng qù， wǒ zì jǐ yě gǎn dào hěn dé yì。 dāng rán， yuē hàn suī shì gè dà hǎo rén， dàn tā bù néng bèi chēng zuò yī gè gāo míng de duì huà zhě。
　　 zhèng zài zhè shí hòu， yī gè nán yǐ wàng què de shēng yīn， cóng jìn chù de yī gè kāi zhe de luò dì cháng chuāng zhōng piāo liǎo chū lái：
　　“ nà mò nǐ hē liǎo chá yǐ hòu gěi gōng zhù xiě xìn má， ā fú léi dé？ gěi dì 'èr tiān lái de tǎ míng sī tè fū rén de xìn wǒ zì jǐ lái xiě。 huò zhě wǒ men hái shì děng gōng zhù nà biān yòu liǎo huí dá zài shuō？ yào shì tā bù dāyìng， tǎ míng sī tè fū rén jiù kě yǐ zài dì yī tiān lái， kè luó sī bèi tài tài dì 'èr tiān， zài shì gōng jué fū rén héng héng zhù chí xué xiào de kāi xué diǎn lǐ。”
　　 chuán chū yī gè nán rén de nán nán bù qīng de shēng yīn， jiē zhe yòu xiǎng qǐ yīng gé lǐ sāng tài dà de dá huà shēng：
　　“ duì， dāng rán kě yǐ。 hē liǎo chá yǐ hòu jiù hǎohǎo gǎo yī gǎo， nǐ kǎo lǜ dé zhēn zhōu dào， qīn 'ài de 'ā fú léi dé。”
　　 luò dì cháng chuāng yòu kāi dà liǎo yī diǎn， yī wèi duān zhuāng de báifà lǎo tài tài， yòu zhe yī fù zhuān héng de miàn róng， cóng lǐ miàn zǒu chū lái， lái dào cǎo píng shàng， tā de hòu miàn gēn zhe yī gè nán rén， xiǎn dé yī fù shùn cóng de yàng 'ér。
　　 yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài rè qíng yáng yì dì duì wǒ biǎo shì huān yíng。
　　“ ā， gé liǎo zhè me duō nián， xiàn zài yòu néng jiàn dào nǐ， zhēn shì tài gāo xīng liǎo。
　　 ā fú léi dé， qīn 'ài de， zhè shì hā sī dīng xiān shēng héng héng zhè shì wǒ de zhàng fū。”
　　 wǒ yòu diǎn hàoqí dì dǎliang zhe“ qīn 'ài de 'ā fú léi dé”。 cǐ rén què shí yòu diǎn jǐ bù hán shí yí。 nán guài yuē hàn duì tā nà liǎn luò sāi hú zǐ nà me fǎn gǎn。
　　 zhè shì wǒ suǒ jiàn guò de zuì cháng zuì hēi de hú zǐ zhī yī。 tā dài yī fù jīn biān de jiā bí yǎn jìng， yī liǎn nán yǐ lǐ jiě de lěng dàn biǎo qíng。 zhè shǐ wǒ chǎn shēng yī gè yìn xiàng， tā zài wǔ tái shàng yě xǔ dǎo shì tǐng hé shì de， zài xiàn shí shēng huó zhōng què guài bù zì rán。 tā de shēng yīn pō wéi yóu huá， yòu diǎn jiǎ yīn qín de wèi dào。 tā bǎ yī zhǐ mù tóu bān de shǒu fàng dào wǒ de shǒu zhōng， shuō dào：
　　“ shí fēn róng xìng， hā sī dīng xiān shēng，” jiē zhe tā zhuǎn shēn duì tā de qī zǐ shuō：“ qīn 'ài de 'āi mǐ lì， wǒ jué dé zhè yǐ diàn 'ér yòu diǎn cháo shī ní。”
　　 dāng tā xiǎo xīn yì yì dì diào huàn liǎo yī gè zuò diàn shí， lǎo tài dà duō qíng dì cháo tā wēi xiào zhe。 yī gè zài gè fāng miàn dōuhěn cōng míng de nǚ rén de qí guài de shù liàn！
　　 yóu yú yīng gé lǐ sāng tài dà de zài chǎng， kě yǐ jué chá chū， zài zhè jiā rén de tóu shàng， sì hū dū méng shàng liǎo yī céng jǐn zhāng de guān xì hé yǐn cáng zhe de dí yì。 huò bì dé xiǎo jiě yóu qí jìn lì yǎn shì zhù zì jǐ de gǎn qíng。 rán 'ér， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài fǎng fó shénme yì cháng de qíng kuàng dōuméi yòu fā xiàn。 wǒ suǒ jì dé de tā xī rì de nà zhǒng duō cái shàn biàn， jīng guò zhè me xiē nián lái， yǐ rán bù jiǎn dāng nián， tā tāo tāo bù jué dì shuō gè bù tíng， tán de huà tí zhù yào shì yóu tā zǔ zhì de、 bù jiǔ jiù yào jǔ xíng de yì mài。 tā 'ǒu 'ěr xiàng tā zhàng fū chá wèn yī xià rì zǐ huò rì qī fāng miàn de wèn tí。 tā nà yīn qín xiǎo xīn de tài dù jǔ shàng cóng bù gǎi biàn。 dǎ cóng yī kāi shǐ， wǒ jiù yàn 'è tā， zhè yī xiǎng fǎ zài wǒ nǎo zǐ lǐ yī zhí gēn shēn dì gù， ér qiě wǒ zì yǐ wéi wǒ de dì yī gè yìn xiàng tōng cháng dōushì xiāng dāng zhǔn què de。
　　 guò liǎo yī huì， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zhuànxiàng liǎo yī fū lín · huò huá dé， duì yī xiē yòu guān xìn jiàn fāng miàn de shì qíng fēn fù liǎo jǐ jù， yú shì tā de wén fū yòng tā nà shàfèi kǔ xīn de shēng yīn hé wǒ liáo kāi liǎo：
　　“ nǐ de gù dìng zhí yè jiù shì jūn rén má， hā sī dīng xiān shēng？”
　　“ bù， zhàn qián wǒ zài láo 'āi dé shāng chuán xié huì。”
　　“ zhàn zhēng jié shù hòu nǐ hái jué dìng huí qù má？”
　　“ yě xǔ shì。 bù wài hū huí nà 'ér huò zhě shì zhǎo gè xīn gōng zuò。”
　　 mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí xiàng qián tàn guò shēn lái。
　　“ yào shì nǐ zhǐ shì cóng nǐ de 'àihào kǎo lǜ de huà， nǐ yuàn yì zhēn zhèng xuǎn zé yī gè zěn yàng de zhí yè ní？”
　　“ zhè gè， nà yào kàn qíng kuàng liǎo。”
　　“ méi yòu mì mì de pǐ hǎo bā？” tā wèn dào。“ gào sù wǒ héng héng nǐ bèi shénme dōng xī xī yǐn lái zhe？ měi gè rén tōng cháng dōubèi mǒu zhǒng kě xiào de dōng xī xī yǐn zhe de。”
　　“ nǐ huì xiào huà wǒ de。”
　　 tā xiào liǎo。
　　“ yě xǔ shì zhè yàng。”
　　“ hǎo bā， wǒ yī zhí 'àn dì lǐ kě wàng chéng wéi yī gè zhēn tàn！”
　　“ zhēn bù lài héng héng yīng gé lán chǎng ④？ hái shì xiè luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī ⑤ ní？”
　　“ ō， zhēng qǔ chéng wéi xiè luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī。 bù guò， shì shí shàng， rèn zhēn shuō， wǒ duì cǐ fēi cháng xiàng wǎng。 wǒ yòu yī cì zài bǐ lì shí yù dào guò yī gè rén， shì yī wèi fēi cháng zhù míng de zhēn tàn， shì tā jī qǐ liǎo wǒ duì zhè yī shì yè de rè qíng。 tā shì yī gè bù kě sī yì de xiǎo gè zǐ。 tā cháng shuō， yī qiē yōu xiù de zhēn tàn gōng zuò jǐn jǐn shì yī gè fāng fǎ wèn tí。 wǒ de tǐ xì jiù shì yǐ tā de zhè yī shuō fǎ wéi jī chǔ de héng héng dāng rán， suī rán wǒ yǐ jīng yòu liǎo gèng jìn yī bù de fā zhǎn。 tā shì gè fēi cháng fēng qù de xiǎo gè zǐ， yī gè yī zhe shí máo de， dàn shì jīng rén dì jī mǐn。”
　　“ wǒ yě xǐ huān yōu xiù de zhēn tàn xiǎo shuō，” huò huá dé xiǎo jiě yì lùn shuō，“ bù guò， zǒng shì xiě liǎo nà me duō hú shuō bā dào de dōng xī。 dào zuì hòu yī zhāng jiē lù liǎo zuì fàn， nòng dé měi gè rén dū mù dèng kǒu dāi。 kě shì zhēn zhèng de fàn zuì xíng wéi héng héng shì hěn kuài jiù néng fā xiàn de。”
　　“ hái yòu dà liàng de fàn zuì xíng wéi méi yòu bèi fā xiàn li，” wǒ biǎo shì bù zàn tóng。
　　“ bù shì zhǐ jǐng fāng， ér shì nà xiē dāng shì rén。 jiā lǐ rén。 nǐ méi fǎ zhēn zhèng néng mán guò tā men。 tā men yī dìng huì zhī dào。”
　　“ nà me，” wǒ shí fēn gǎn xīng qù tā shuō，“ nǐ rèn wéi jiǎ rú nǐ hé yī zhuāng zuì xíng， pì rú shuō móu shā， qiān lián shàng de huà， nǐ yī dìng néng lì kè rèn chū zuì fàn de luó？”
　　“ dāng rán néng rèn chū。 yě xǔ wǒ bù huì qù xiàng yī dà qún sī fǎ rén yuán zhèng shí zhè yī diǎn， kě shì wǒ què xìn wǒ yī dìng zhī dào， rú guǒ tā zǒu jìn wǒ， wǒ píng shǒu zhǐ jiān jiù néng gǎn jué dào。”
　　“ yě xǔ shì‘ tā’ ní，” wǒ tí xǐng shuō。
　　“ yě xǔ shì。 kě shì móu shā shì yī zhǒng bào lì fàn zuì。 gān zhè de duō bàn shì nán rén。”
　　“ fàng dú 'àn jiù bù shì zhè yàng，” kǎ wén dí shí tài tài nà qīng xī de sǎng yīn shǐ wǒ dà chī yī jīng。“ bào sī dàn yī shēng zuó tiān shuō guò， yóu yú yī xué jiè duì duō shù hǎn yòu de dú yào pǔ biàn wú zhī， zhè jiù yòu kě néng shǐ wú shù de fàng dú 'àn wán quán bù shòu huái yí。”，。
　　“ yō， mǎ lì， nǐ shuō dé duō kě pà yā！” yīng gé lǐ sāng tài dà hǎn liǎo qǐ lái。“ hài dé wǒdōu jué dé máo gǔ sǒng rán liǎo。 ō， xīn xī yà lái liǎo！”
　　 yī gè chuānzhuó 'ài guó hù shì huì de nián qīng gū niàn piāo rán dì chuān guò cǎo píng páo liǎo guò lái。
　　“ ò， xīn xī yà， nǐ jīn tiān lái wǎn liǎo。 zhè wèi shì hā sī dīng xiān shēng héng héng zhè shì mù duō qì xiǎo jiě。”
　　 xīn xī yà · mù duō qì xiǎo jiě shì gè tǐ gé jiàn měi de nián qīng gū niàn， chōng mǎn shēng qì hé huó lì。 tā mǐn jié dì zhāi xià xiǎo xiǎo de hù shì mào， nà yī tóu shū sōng de lì sè juàn fā zhēn shǐ wǒ jīng tàn bù yǐ。 tā shēn chū yī zhǐ yòu bái yòu nèn de xiǎo shǒu， jiē guò liǎo chá huái， yào shì zài yòu wū hēi de yǎn jīng hé jié máo， nà jiù zhēn shì yī gè měi rén 'ér liǎo。
　　 tā yī xià zài yuē hàn bàng biān de cǎo dì shàng zuò liǎo xià lái， dāng wǒ bǎ yī pán sān míng yě cháo tā dì guò qù shí， tā cháo wǒ xiào liǎo xiào。
　　“ lái， zuò dào cǎo dì shàng lái bā， zhè yào shū fú duō liǎo。”
　　 wǒ shùn cóng dì zuò liǎo xià qù。
　　“ nǐ shì zài tǎ míng sī tè gōng zuò má， mù duō qì xiǎo jiě？”
　　 tā diǎn diǎn tóu。
　　“ huó shòu zuì。”
　　“ zěn me， tā men qī fù nǐ liǎo？” wǒ xiào zhe wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ dǎo xǐ huān kàn dào tā men nà yàng！” xīn xī yà shén qì shí zú dì hǎn liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ wǒ yòu yī gè táng mèi jiù shì zuò hù shì de，” wǒ shuō，“ tā yě duì nà xiē‘ xiū nǚ men’ ⑥ xià dé yào mìng。”
　　“ zhè bù qí guài。 nǐ zhī dào， hā sī dīng xiān shēng， hù shàng cháng jiù shì nà yàng。 tā men díquè shì nà yàng！ nǐ bù zhī dào！ xiè tiān xiè dì， wǒ kě bù shì hù shì， wǒ zài yào fáng gōng zuò。”
　　“ nǐ dú sǐ guò duō shǎo rén yā？” wǒ xiào zhe wèn dào。
　　 xīn xī jī yě xiào liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ ā， hǎo jǐ bǎi liǎo！” tā shuō。
　　“ xīn xī yà，” yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài jiào dào，“ nǐ néng gěi wǒ xiě jǐ fēng duǎn xìn má？”
　　“ dāng rán kě yǐ， āi lái lì 'ā yí。”
　　 tā mǐn jié dì yī yuè 'ér qǐ， tā de yī jǔ yī dòng zhōng de mǒu xiē dōng xī， shǐ wǒ xiǎng dào， tā wán quán chǔyú yī gè cóng shǔ de dì wèi； yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zǒng de lái shuō kě suàn shì rén cí de， dàn tā yě bù ràng tā wàng diào zhè yī diǎn。
　　 wǒ de nǚ zhù rén zhuànxiàng wǒ。
　　“ yuē hàn huì dài nǐ qù nǐ de fáng jiān。 qī diǎn bàn chī wǎn fàn。 wǒ men xiàn zài yòu shí hòu yǐ jīng bù chī wǎn zhèng cān liǎo。 tǎ míng sī tè fū rén， jiù shì wǒ men de yì yuán de tài tài héng héng tā shì yǐ gù de 'ā bó cí bù léi xūn jué de nǚ 'ér héng héng yě shì zhè yàng。 tā zàn tóng wǒ de yì jiàn， yī gè rén bì xū chéng wéi jié yuē de bǎng yàng。 wǒ men wán quán chēng dé shàng shì gè zhàn shí jiā tíng liǎo； wǒ men zhè 'ér yī diǎn dōng xī dōubù làng fèi héng héng jí biàn shì yī xiǎo piàn fèi zhǐ dōuyào jī qǐ lái， yòng má dài zhuāng zǒu。”
　　 wǒ biǎo dá liǎo wǒ de jìng shǎng zhī yì， jiē zhe yuē hàn jiù dài wǒ jìn wū， shàng liǎo lóu tī， lóu tī zài bàn lù shàng zuǒ yòu fēn kāi， tōng xiàng zhè chuáng fáng zǐ de liǎng xiāng。 wǒ de fáng jiān zài zuǒ cè， cháo zhe tíng yuán。
　　 yuē hàn zǒu liǎo， jǐ fēn zhōng hòu， wǒ cóng chuāng kǒu kàn dào tā hé xīn xī yà shǒu wǎn shǒu màn màn dì cóng cǎo píng shàng zǒu liǎo guò qù。 jiē zhe， wǒ tīng dào liǎo yīng gé lǐ sāng dà tài jíqiè dì jiào zhe“ xīn xī yà” de shēng yīn， gū niàn chī liǎo yī jīng， lì kè cháo fáng zǐ páo huí qù liǎo。 jiù zài zhè shí hòu， yòu gè nán rén cóng shù yìn zhōng duó liǎo chū lái， màn màn dì cháo tóng yī gè fāng xiàng zǒu qù。 tā kàn shàng qù sì shí suì shàng xià， pí fū yǒu hēi， liǎn guā dé guāng guāng de， biǎo qíng yōu yù， sì hū zhèng bèi yī zhǒng qiáng liè de gǎn qíng suǒ kòng zhì。 dāng tā jīng guò wǒ de chuāng xià shí， zhāoshàng kàn liǎo kàn。 ā， wǒ rèn chū liǎo tā， suī rán cóng wǒ men zuì hòu yī cì jiàn miàn yǐ lái， zài yǐ jīng shì qù de shí wǔ gè nián tóu zhōng， tā yòu liǎo hěn dà de biàn huà。 zhè shì yuē hàn de dì dì láo lún sī · kǎ wén dí shí。 wǒ gǎn dào nà mèn， tā liǎn shàng wèishénme huì dài shàng nà yàng yì cháng de biǎo qíng。
　　 hòu lái， wǒ jiù méi yòu zài huì xiǎng tā， huí tóu kǎo lǜ wǒ zì jǐ de shì qíng liǎo。
　　 zhè tiān bàng wǎn guò dé shí fēn yú kuài， wǎn shàng， wǒ mèng jiàn liǎo nà gè bù kě sī yì de nǚ rén héng héng mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí。
　　 dì 'èr tiān zǎo chén， yáng guāng càn làn， wǒ mǎn xīn qī dài zhe yī cì lìng rén gāo xīng de chū yóu。
　　 yī zhí dào chī zhōng fàn de shí hòu， wǒ cái jiàn dào kǎ wén dí shí tài tài。 tā zhù dòng tí chū péi wǒ qù sàn bù， yú shì wǒ men zài lín zǐ lǐ màn yóu， dù guò liǎo yī gè lìng rén táo zuì de xià wǔ， huí jiā shí yǐ shì wǔ diǎn zuǒ yòu。
　　 wǒ men yī jìn mén tīng， yuē hàn jiù zhāo hū wǒ men liǎ dào xī yān shì diū。 cóng tā liǎn shàng， wǒ lì kè kàn chū yī dìng chū liǎo shénme luàn zǐ liǎo。 wǒ men gēn zhe tā zǒu jìn fáng jiān， děng wǒ men jìn qù hòu， tā guān shàng liǎo mén。
　　“ wèi！ mǎ lì， nào dé yī tā hú tú。 yī wéi hé 'ā fú léi dé dà chǎo liǎo yīcháng， tā yào zǒu liǎo。”
　　“ yī wéi？ yào zǒu？”
　　 yuē hàn yīn yù dì diǎn diǎn tóu。
　　“ shì de。 xiàn zài tā shàng mǔ qīn nà 'ér diū liǎo héng héng 'ò， yī wéi lái liǎo。”
　　 huò huá dé xiǎo jiě zǒu liǎo jìn lái。 tā lěng lěng dì mǐn zhe zuǐ， shǒu lǐ līn zhe yī zhǐ xiǎo tí xiāng， kàn shàng qù jì jī dòng yòu jiān jué， yòu diǎn 'ér chǔyú shǒu shì。
　　“ bù guǎn zěn me yàng，” tā dà shēng rǎng dào，“ wǒ yǐ shuō chū liǎo wǒ de xiǎng fǎ！”
　　“ qīn 'ài de yī wéi，” kǎ wén dí shí tài tài shuō，“ shì zhēn de？”
　　 huò huá dé xiǎo jiě lěng lěng dì diǎn diǎn tóu。
　　 qiān zhēn wàn què！ wǒ duì 'āi mǐ lì shuō liǎo yī xiē shì， kǒng pà tā shì bù huì wàng jì huò zhě mǎ shàng yuán liàng wǒ liǎo。 bù guǎn zhè xiē huà shì fǒu zhǐ tīng jìn qù liǎo yī diǎn diǎn， jí shǐ shuō liǎo yě kě néng shì bái shuō， wǒ hái shì zhào zhí duì tā shuō liǎo：“ nǐ shì gè shàng liǎo nián suì de lǎo tài tài liǎo， āi mǐ lì， zài méi yòu yī gè rén huì xiàng gè lǎo shǎ guā yī bān shǎ de liǎo。 nà nán rén bǐ nǐ nián qīng 'èr shí suì li。 bié qī piàn zì jǐ liǎo， tā qǔ nǐ shì wèile shénme？ qián！ xíng liǎo， bié gěi tā nà me duō qián。 nà gè nóng chǎng zhù léi kè sī kě yòu gè fēi cháng nián qīng měi mào de lǎo pó。 nǐ zhǐ yào wèn wèn nǐ de 'ā fú léi dé kàn， tā zài nà 'ér xiāo mó diào duō shǎo shí jiān。’ tā qì huài liǎo。 shǎ guā！ kě wǒ hái shì shuō xià qù：‘ wǒ zhè shì gěi nǐ tí chū zhōng gào， bù guǎn nǐ 'ài tīng hái shì bù 'ài tīng。 nà gè nán rén kàn dào nǐ hèn bù dé bǎ nǐ móu shā zài nǐ chuáng shàng li。 tā shì yī gè huài dàn。 nǐ 'ài gēn wǒ zěn me shuō jiù zěn me shuō bā， dàn shì qǐng nǐ jì zhù wǒ duì nǐ shuō guò de huà。 tā shì yī gè huài dàn！’”
　　“ tā zěn me shuō？”
　　 huò huá dé xiǎo jiě zuò liǎo yī gè yì wèi shēn cháng de guài xiāng。
　　“ shénme‘ qīn 'ài de 'ā fú léi dé’ héng héng hái yòu‘ zuì qīn 'ài de 'ā fú léi dé’ héng héng shuō shí me zhè shì‘ è yì de fěi bàng’ lā héng héng‘ wú chǐ de huǎng yán’ lā héng héng shì‘ kè dú de nǚ rén’ héng héng wū gào tā de‘ qīn 'ài de zhàng fū’！ wǒ hái shì zǎo diǎn lí kāi tā de jiā hǎo。 suǒ yǐ wǒ zhè jiù zǒu。”
　　“ bù shì xiàn zài bā？”
　　“ xiàn zài jiù zǒu！”
　　 wǒ men zuò zài nà 'ér dīng zhe tā kàn liǎo yī huì。 hòu lái， yuē hàn · kǎ wén dí shí fā xiàn tā de quàn shuō quán rán wú jì gànshì， jiù qù chá kàn huǒ chē shí kè。 gēn zhe， tā de qī zǐ yě zǒu liǎo， tā zuǐ lǐ gū nóng zhe shénme， dà yì shì dé quàn yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zuì hǎo duì cǐ duō xiǎng xiǎng。
　　 tā yī lí kāi fáng jiān， huò huá dé xiǎo jiě de liǎn sè jiù biàn liǎo。 tā jíqiè dì cháo wǒ còu liǎo guò lái。
　　“ hā sī dīng xiān shēng， nǐ shì yī wèi zhèng zhí de rén。 wǒ kě yǐ xìn tuō nǐ me？”
　　 wǒ wēi wēi yī jīng。 tā bǎ yī zhǐ shǒu fàng dào wǒ de gēbei shàng， fàng dī shēng yīn qīng qīng shuō：
　　“ hā sī dīng xiān shēng， qǐng nǐ duì tā duō jiā zhào gù bā， wǒ nà kě lián de 'āi mǐ lì。 tā men shì yī huǒ piàn zǐ héng héng suǒ yòu rén quán shì。 ò， wǒ zhī dào wǒ zài shuō xiē shénme。 tā men dāng zhōng méi yòu yī gè rén bù shǒu tóu jié jù， zhǐ xiǎng qiān fāng bǎi jì dì cóng tā nà 'ér gǎo zǒu qián。 wǒ yǐ jìn wǒ suǒ néng dì bǎo hù liǎo tā。 xiàn zài， wǒ ràng kāi liǎo lù， tā men kě yǐ chéng jī qī nòng tā liǎo。”
　　“ dāng rán， huò huá dé xiǎo jiě，” wǒ shuō dào，“ wǒ jiāng jìn lì 'ér wéi， bù guò wǒ rèn wéi nǐ tài jī dòng liǎo， yě tài guò lǜ liǎo。”
　　 tā huǎn huǎn jiē zhe yī gè shí zhǐ dǎ duàn liǎo wǒ de huà。
　　“ nián qīng rén， xiāng xìn wǒ， wǒ zài zhè shì jiè shàng hǎo dǎi zǒng suàn bǐ nǐ duō huó jǐ nián。 wǒ zhǐ yào qiú nǐ zhēng dà yǎn jīng shí kè dīfáng jiù shì liǎo。 nǐ huì dǒng dé wǒ shuō zhè huà de yì sī de。”
　　 cóng dǎ kāi de chuāng hù wàizhuàn lái liǎo qì chē de zhèn diān shēng， huò huá dé xiǎo jiě zhàn qǐ shēn lái， cháo mén kǒu dìng qù。 wài miàn xiǎng qǐ yuē hàn de shēng yīn， tā yī zhǐ zì wò zhe mén bǎ， niǔ guò tóu lái duì wǒ dǎ liǎo gè zhāo hū。
　　“ zhù yào de， hā sī dīng xiān shēng， shì yào zhù yì nà gè 'è gùn héng héng tā de wén fū！”
　　 méi yòu shí jiān zài duō shuō shénme liǎo。 huò huá dé xiǎo jiě yǐ bèi yānmò zài yī piàn rèqiè de quàn tā bié zǒu de shuō huà shēng hé dào bié shēng zhōng。 yīng gé lǐ sāng fū fù méi yòu lòumiàn。
　　 qì chē gāng yī kāi zǒu， kǎ wén dí shí tài tài jiù tū rán lí kāi dà jiā， chuān guò chē dào， wǎng cǎo píng nà biān xiàng yī gè zhèng cháo zhè chuáng fáng zǐ zǒu lái de xù zhe hú zǐ de gāo gè zǐ nán rén zǒu liǎo guò qù。 dāng tā duì tā shēn chū shǒu qù de shí hòu， tā de shuāng jiá fàn qǐ liǎo liǎng duǒ hóng yùn。
　　“ nà shì shuí？” wǒ ruì shēng wèn dào， yīn wéi wǒ duì cǐ rén yòu yī zhǒng chū yú běn néng de huái yí。
　　“ nà shì bào sī tǎn yī shēng。” yuē hàn jiǎn dān dì huí dá shuō。
　　“ bào sī tǎn yī shēng shì shuí？”
　　“ tā huàn guò yán zhòng de shén jīng shuāi ruò zhèng， xiàn zài zhèng dài zài zhè gè cūn zǐ lǐ jìn xíng 'ān jìng liáo fǎ。 tā shì lún dūn de yī wèi zhuān jiā。 wǒ rèn wéi， shì gè hěn yòu cáigàn de rén héng héng dāng jīn zuì chū sè de dú wù xué zhuān jiā zhī yī。”
　　“ tā shì mǎ lì de yào hǎo péng yǒu，” xīn xī yà rěn bù zhù chā zuǐ shuō。
　　 yuē hàn · kǎ wén dí shí zhòu qǐ liǎo méi tóu， gǎi biàn liǎo huà tí。
　　“ qù sàn gè bù bā， hā sī dīng。 zhè shì jiàn zāo gāo tòu dǐng de shì。 tā shuō huà lǎo shì nà me zǔ lǔ， kě shì zài yīng guó méi yòu bǐ yī fū lín · huò huá dé zhè yàng gèng zhōng shí kě kào de péng yǒu liǎo。”
　　 tā dài wǒ zǒu shàng zhòngzhí yuán zhōng jiān de xiǎo jìng， chuān guò zài zhuāng yuán yī cè de lín zǐ， cháo cūn zǐ duó qù。
　　 dāng wǒ men zài huí jiā de lù shàng， zài cì chuān guò yī zuò dà mén shí， yī gè cóng duì miàn guò lái de jí pǔ sài xíng de piào liàng nián qīng nǚ rén， wēi xiào zhe xiàng wǒ men diǎn tóu wèn hǎo。
　　“ shì gè piào liàng gū niàn，” wǒ yǐ jiàn shǎng de kǒu wěn shuō。
　　 yuē hàn de liǎn sè chén liǎo xià lái。
　　“ zhè shì léi kè sī tài tài。”
　　“ jiù shì huò huá dé xiǎo jiě shuō de nà gè héng héng”
　　“ yī diǎn bùchà。” yuē hàn shuō， dài zhe yī zhǒng háo wú bì yào de cū lǔ kǒu wěn。
　　 wǒ xiǎng qǐ liǎo dà fáng zǐ lǐ de nà wèi báifà cāng cāng de lǎo tài tài， yǐ jí fāng cái duì wǒ men wēi xiào lái zhe de nà zhāng huó pō táo qì de xiǎo liǎn dàn， yī zhǒng mó mó hú hú de yù gǎn xiàng yī zhèn hán fēng shǐ dé wǒ quán shēn máo gǔ sǒng rán。 wǒ bǎ tā piē dào liǎo yī biān。
　　“ sī tài 'ěr sī zhēn shì yī zuò guāng róng de gǔ lǎo dǐ zhái。” wǒ duì yuē hàn shuō。
　　 yuē hàn yōu yù dì diǎn diǎn tóu。
　　“ shì yā， shì yī zōng hǎo zī cái 'ā。 tā jiāng lái zǒng yòu yī tiān huì shì wǒ de héng héng yào shì wǒ fù qīn lì xià de shì yī fèn xiàng yàng de yí zhǔ de huà， àn lǐ xiàn zài jiù yīnggāi shì wǒ de liǎo。 ér qiě。 nà yàng wǒ shǒu tóu yě bù huì xiàng xiàn zài zhè yàng jié jù dé yào mìng liǎo。”
　　“ shǒu tóu jié jù， nǐ？”，
　　“ qīn 'ài de hā sī dīng， wǒ bù xiǎng gào sù nǐ， wǒ wéi liǎo gǎo qián zhēn shì zhì qióng jì jìn liǎo 'ā。”
　　“ nǐ dì dì bù néng zhù nǐ yī bì zhī lì me？”
　　“ láo lún sī？ tā yòng xīn qí huā yàng de zhuāng zhēn yìn shuà nà xiē luàn qī bā zāo de shī， bǎ tā yòu de měi yī fēn qián dū huā guāng liǎo。 bù， wǒ mendōu shì qióng guāng dàn。
　　 wǒ bì xū shuō， wǒ mǔ qīn yī zhí lái duì wǒ men hái shì hěn hǎo de。 zhè shì shuō， dào xiàn zài wéi zhǐ。 dāng rán， dǎ tā jié hūn yǐ hòu héng héng” tā tū rán tíng zhù liǎo， zhòu qǐ liǎo méi tóu。
　　 wǒ dì yī cì gǎn dào， suí zhe yī fū lín · huò huá dé de lí qù， mǒu zhǒng nán yǐ què qiē biǎo dá de dōng xī yě cóng zhè huán jìng zhōng xiāo shī liǎo。 tā de cún zài shǐ 'ān quán yòu liǎo bǎo zhèng。 ér xiàn zài， ān quán yǐ jīng shī qù héng héng kōng qì zhōng sì hū dū chōng mǎn liǎo cāi yí。 bào sī tǎn yī shēng nà zhāng yīn xiǎn de liǎn yòu zài wǒ de yǎn qián chū xiàn liǎo， shǐ wǒ gǎn dào bù kuài。 wǒ de nǎo zǐ lǐ chōng mǎn liǎo duì měi gè rén měi jiàn shì de mó mó hú hú de huái yí。 yī shí zhī jiān， wǒ yòu liǎo yī zhǒng kuài yào chū shì de yù gǎn。
　　 zhù shì：
　　① yīng gé lán dōng hǎi 'àn yī jùn。
　　② yǔ chù yīng guó jù zuò jiā kuā 'ěr de xǐ jù（ TheBeauxStratagem） zhōng rén wù míng。
　　③ jí yī fū lín de ní chēng。
　　④ zhǐ lún dūn tīng， cǐ chù yì wéi gōng jiā zhēn tàn。
　　⑤ fú 'ěr mó sī wéi sī jiā zhēn tàn。
　　⑥ hù shì cháng。

　　The intense interest aroused in the public by what was known at the time as "The Styles Case" has now somewhat subsided. Nevertheless, in view of the world-wide notoriety which attended it, I have been asked, both by my friend Poirot and the family themselves, to write an account of the whole story. This, we trust, will effectually silence the sensational rumours which still persist.
　　 I will therefore briefly set down the circumstances which led to my being connected with the affair.
　　 I had been invalided home from the Front; and, after spending some months in a rather depressing Convalescent Home, was given a month's sick leave. Having no near relations or friends, I was trying to make up my mind what to do, when I ran across John Cavendish. I had seen very little of him for some years. Indeed, I had never known him particularly well. He was a good fifteen years my senior, for one thing, though he hardly looked his forty-five years. As a boy, though, I had often stayed at Styles, his mother's place in Essex.
　　 We had a good yarn about old times, and it ended in his inviting me down to Styles to spend my leave there.
　　 "The mater will be delighted to see you again--after all those years," he added.
　　 "Your mother keeps well?" I asked.
　　 "Oh, yes. I suppose you know that she has married again?"
　　 I am afraid I showed my surprise rather plainly. Mrs. Cavendish, who had married John's father when he was a widower with two sons, had been a handsome woman of middle-age as I remembered her. She certainly could not be a day less than seventy now. I recalled her as an energetic, autocratic personality, somewhat inclined to charitable and social notoriety, with a fondness for opening bazaars and playing the Lady Bountiful. She was a most generous woman, and possessed a considerable fortune of her own.
　　 Their country-place, Styles Court, had been purchased by Mr. Cavendish early in their married life. He had been completely under his wife's ascendancy, so much so that, on dying, he left the place to her for her lifetime, as well as the larger part of his income; an arrangement that was distinctly unfair to his two sons. Their step-mother, however, had always been most generous to them; indeed, they were so young at the time of their father's remarriage that they always thought of her as their own mother.
　　 Lawrence, the younger, had been a delicate youth. He had qualified as a doctor but early relinquished the profession of medicine, and lived at home while pursuing literary ambitions; though his verses never had any marked success.
　　 John practiced for some time as a barrister, but had finally settled down to the more congenial life of a country squire. He had married two years ago, and had taken his wife to live at Styles, though I entertained a shrewd suspicion that he would have preferred his mother to increase his allowance, which would have enabled him to have a home of his own. Mrs. Cavendish, however, was a lady who liked to make her own plans, and expected other people to fall in with them, and in this case she certainly had the whip hand, namely: the purse strings.
　　 John noticed my surprise at the news of his mother's remarriage and smiled rather ruefully.
　　 "Rotten little bounder too!" he said savagely. "I can tell you, Hastings, it's making life jolly difficult for us. As for Evie--you remember Evie?"
　　 "No."
　　 "Oh, I suppose she was after your time. She's the mater's factotum, companion, Jack of all trades! A great sport--old Evie! Not precisely young and beautiful, but as game as they make them."
　　 "You were going to say----?"
　　 "Oh, this fellow! He turned up from nowhere, on the pretext of being a second cousin or something of Evie's, though she didn't seem particularly keen to acknowledge the relationship. The fellow is an absolute outsider, anyone can see that. He's got a great black beard, and wears patent leather boots in all weathers! But the mater cottoned to him at once, took him on as secretary--you know how she's always running a hundred societies?"
　　 I nodded.
　　 "Well, of course the war has turned the hundreds into thousands. No doubt the fellow was very useful to her. But you could have knocked us all down with a feather when, three months ago, she suddenly announced that she and Alfred were engaged! The fellow must be at least twenty years younger than she is! It's simply bare-faced fortune hunting; but there you are--she is her own mistress, and she's married him."
　　 "It must be a difficult situation for you all."
　　 "Difficult! It's damnable!"
　　 Thus it came about that, three days later, I descended from the train at Styles St. Mary, an absurd little station, with no apparent reason for existence, perched up in the midst of green fields and country lanes. John Cavendish was waiting on the platform, and piloted me out to the car.
　　 "Got a drop or two of petrol still, you see," he remarked. "Mainly owing to the mater's activities."
　　 The village of Styles St. Mary was situated about two miles from the little station, and Styles Court lay a mile the other side of it. It was a still, warm day in early July. As one looked out over the flat Essex country, lying so green and peaceful under the afternoon sun, it seemed almost impossible to believe that, not so very far away, a great war was running its appointed course. I felt I had suddenly strayed into another world. As we turned in at the lodge gates, John said:
　　 "I'm afraid you'll find it very quiet down here, Hastings."
　　 "My dear fellow, that's just what I want."
　　 "Oh, it's pleasant enough if you want to lead the idle life. I drill with the volunteers twice a week, and lend a hand at the farms. My wife works regularly 'on the land'. She is up at five every morning to milk, and keeps at it steadily until lunchtime. It's a jolly good life taking it all round--if it weren't for that fellow Alfred Inglethorp!" He checked the car suddenly, and glanced at his watch. "I wonder if we've time to pick up Cynthia. No, she'll have started from the hospital by now."
　　 "Cynthia! That's not your wife?"
　　 "No, Cynthia is a protegee of my mother's, the daughter of an old schoolfellow of hers, who married a rascally solicitor. He came a cropper, and the girl was left an orphan and penniless. My mother came to the rescue, and Cynthia has been with us nearly two years now. She works in the Red Cross Hospital at Tadminster, seven miles away."
　　 As he spoke the last words, we drew up in front of the fine old house. A lady in a stout tweed skirt, who was bending over a flower bed, straightened herself at our approach.
　　 "Hullo, Evie, here's our wounded hero! Mr. Hastings--Miss Howard."
　　 Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty, almost painful, grip. I had an impression of very blue eyes in a sunburnt face. She was a pleasant-looking woman of about forty, with a deep voice, almost manly in its stentorian tones, and had a large sensible square body, with feet to match--these last encased in good thick boots. Her conversation, I soon found, was couched in the telegraphic style.
　　 "Weeds grow like house afire. Can't keep even with 'em. Shall press you in. Better be careful."
　　 "I'm sure I shall be only too delighted to make myself useful," I responded.
　　 "Don't say it. Never does. Wish you hadn't later."
　　 "You're a cynic, Evie," said John, laughing. "Where's tea to-day--inside or out?"
　　 "Out. Too fine a day to be cooped up in the house."
　　 "Come on then, you've done enough gardening for to-day. 'The labourer is worthy of his hire', you know. Come and be refreshed."
　　 "Well," said Miss Howard, drawing off her gardening gloves, "I'm inclined to agree with you."
　　 She led the way round the house to where tea was spread under the shade of a large sycamore.
　　 A figure rose from one of the basket chairs, and came a few steps to meet us.
　　 "My wife, Hastings," said John.
　　 I shall never forget my first sight of Mary Cavendish. Her tall, slender form, outlined against the bright light; the vivid sense of slumbering fire that seemed to find expression only in those wonderful tawny eyes of hers, remarkable eyes, different from any other woman's that I have ever known; the intense power of stillness she possessed, which nevertheless conveyed the impression of a wild untamed spirit in an exquisitely civilised body--all these things are burnt into my memory. I shall never forget them.
　　 She greeted me with a few words of pleasant welcome in a low clear voice, and I sank into a basket chair feeling distinctly glad that I had accepted John's invitation. Mrs. Cavendish gave me some tea, and her few quiet remarks heightened my first impression of her as a thoroughly fascinating woman. An appreciative listener is always stimulating, and I described, in a humorous manner, certain incidents of my Convalescent Home, in a way which, I flatter myself, greatly amused my hostess. John, of course, good fellow though he is, could hardly be called a brilliant conversationalist.
　　 At that moment a well remembered voice floated through the open French window near at hand:
　　 "Then you'll write to the Princess after tea, Alfred? I'll write to Lady Tadminster for the second day, myself. Or shall we wait until we hear from the Princess? In case of a refusal, Lady Tadminster might open it the first day, and Mrs. Crosbie the second. Then there's the Duchess--about the school fete."
　　 There was the murmur of a man's voice, and then Mrs. Inglethorp's rose in reply:
　　 "Yes, certainly. After tea will do quite well. You are so thoughtful, Alfred dear."
　　 The French window swung open a little wider, and a handsome white-haired old lady, with a somewhat masterful cast of features, stepped out of it on to the lawn. A man followed her, a suggestion of deference in his manner.
　　 Mrs. Inglethorp greeted me with effusion.
　　 "Why, if it isn't too delightful to see you again, Mr. Hastings, after all these years. Alfred, darling, Mr. Hastings--my husband."
　　 I looked with some curiosity at "Alfred darling". He certainly struck a rather alien note. I did not wonder at John objecting to his beard. It was one of the longest and blackest I have ever seen. He wore gold-rimmed pince-nez, and had a curious impassivity of feature. It struck me that he might look natural on a stage, but was strangely out of place in real life. His voice was rather deep and unctuous. He placed a wooden hand in mine and said:
　　 "This is a pleasure, Mr. Hastings." Then, turning to his wife: "Emily dearest, I think that cushion is a little damp."
　　 She beamed fondly on him, as he substituted another with every demonstration of the tenderest care. Strange infatuation of an otherwise sensible woman!
　　 With the presence of Mr. Inglethorp, a sense of constraint and veiled hostility seemed to settle down upon the company. Miss Howard, in particular, took no pains to conceal her feelings. Mrs. Inglethorp, however, seemed to notice nothing unusual. Her volubility, which I remembered of old, had lost nothing in the intervening years, and she poured out a steady flood of conversation, mainly on the subject of the forthcoming bazaar which she was organizing and which was to take place shortly. Occasionally she referred to her husband over a question of days or dates. His watchful and attentive manner never varied. From the very first I took a firm and rooted dislike to him, and I flatter myself that my first judgments are usually fairly shrewd.
　　 Presently Mrs. Inglethorp turned to give some instructions about letters to Evelyn Howard, and her husband addressed me in his painstaking voice:
　　 "Is soldiering your regular profession, Mr. Hastings?"
　　 "No, before the war I was in Lloyd's."
　　 "And you will return there after it is over?"
　　 "Perhaps. Either that or a fresh start altogether."
　　 Mary Cavendish leant forward.
　　 "What would you really choose as a profession, if you could just consult your inclination?"
　　 "Well, that depends."
　　 "No secret hobby?" she asked. "Tell me--you're drawn to something? Every one is--usually something absurd."
　　 "You'll laugh at me."
　　 She smiled.
　　 "Perhaps."
　　 "Well, I've always had a secret hankering to be a detective!"
　　 "The real thing--Scotland Yard? Or Sherlock Holmes?"
　　 "Oh, Sherlock Holmes by all means. But really, seriously, I am awfully drawn to it. I came across a man in Belgium once, a very famous detective, and he quite inflamed me. He was a marvellous little fellow. He used to say that all good detective work was a mere matter of method. My system is based on his--though of course I have progressed rather further. He was a funny little man, a great dandy, but wonderfully clever."
　　 "Like a good detective story myself," remarked Miss Howard. "Lots of nonsense written, though. Criminal discovered in last chapter. Every one dumbfounded. Real crime--you'd know at once."
　　 "There have been a great number of undiscovered crimes," I argued.
　　 "Don't mean the police, but the people that are right in it. The family. You couldn't really hoodwink them. They'd know."
　　 "Then," I said, much amused, "you think that if you were mixed up in a crime, say a murder, you'd be able to spot the murderer right off?"
　　 "Of course I should. Mightn't be able to prove it to a pack of lawyers. But I'm certain I'd know. I'd feel it in my fingertips if he came near me."
　　 "It might be a 'she,' " I suggested.
　　 "Might. But murder's a violent crime. Associate it more with a man."
　　 "Not in a case of poisoning." Mrs. Cavendish's clear voice startled me. "Dr. Bauerstein was saying yesterday that, owing to the general ignorance of the more uncommon poisons among the medical profession, there were probably countless cases of poisoning quite unsuspected."
　　 "Why, Mary, what a gruesome conversation!" cried Mrs. Inglethorp. "It makes me feel as if a goose were walking over my grave. Oh, there's Cynthia!"
　　 A young girl in V. A. D. uniform ran lightly across the lawn.
　　 "Why, Cynthia, you are late to-day. This is Mr. Hastings--Miss Murdoch."
　　 Cynthia Murdoch was a fresh-looking young creature, full of life and vigour. She tossed off her little V. A. D. cap, and I admired the great loose waves of her auburn hair, and the smallness and whiteness of the hand she held out to claim her tea. With dark eyes and eyelashes she would have been a beauty.
　　 She flung herself down on the ground beside John, and as I handed her a plate of sandwiches she smiled up at me.
　　 "Sit down here on the grass, do. It's ever so much nicer."
　　 I dropped down obediently.
　　 "You work at Tadminster, don't you, Miss Murdoch?"
　　 She nodded.
　　 "For my sins."
　　 "Do they bully you, then?" I asked, smiling.
　　 "I should like to see them!" cried Cynthia with dignity.
　　 "I have got a cousin who is nursing," I remarked. "And she is terrified of 'Sisters'."
　　 "I don't wonder. Sisters _are_, you know, Mr. Hastings. They simp--ly _are_! You've no idea! But I'm not a nurse, thank heaven, I work in the dispensary."
　　 "How many people do you poison?" I asked, smiling.
　　 Cynthia smiled too.
　　 "Oh, hundreds!" she said.
　　 "Cynthia," called Mrs. Inglethorp, "do you think you could write a few notes for me?"
　　 "Certainly, Aunt Emily."
　　 She jumped up promptly, and something in her manner reminded me that her position was a dependent one, and that Mrs. Inglethorp, kind as she might be in the main, did not allow her to forget it.
　　 My hostess turned to me.
　　 "John will show you your room. Supper is at half-past seven. We have given up late dinner for some time now. Lady Tadminster, our Member's wife--she was the late Lord Abbotsbury's daughter--does the same. She agrees with me that one must set an example of economy. We are quite a war household; nothing is wasted here--every scrap of waste paper, even, is saved and sent away in sacks."
　　 I expressed my appreciation, and John took me into the house and up the broad staircase, which forked right and left half-way to different wings of the building. My room was in the left wing, and looked out over the park.
　　 John left me, and a few minutes later I saw him from my window walking slowly across the grass arm in arm with Cynthia Murdoch. I heard Mrs. Inglethorp call "Cynthia" impatiently, and the girl started and ran back to the house. At the same moment, a man stepped out from the shadow of a tree and walked slowly in the same direction. He looked about forty, very dark with a melancholy clean-shaven face. Some violent emotion seemed to be mastering him. He looked up at my window as he passed, and I recognized him, though he had changed much in the fifteen years that had elapsed since we last met. It was John's younger brother, Lawrence Cavendish. I wondered what it was that had brought that singular expression to his face.
　　 Then I dismissed him from my mind, and returned to the contemplation of my own affairs.
　　 The evening passed pleasantly enough; and I dreamed that night of that enigmatical woman, Mary Cavendish.
　　 The next morning dawned bright and sunny, and I was full of the anticipation of a delightful visit.
　　 I did not see Mrs. Cavendish until lunch-time, when she volunteered to take me for a walk, and we spent a charming afternoon roaming in the woods, returning to the house about five.
　　 As we entered the large hall, John beckoned us both into the smoking-room. I saw at once by his face that something disturbing had occurred. We followed him in, and he shut the door after us.
　　 "Look here, Mary, there's the deuce of a mess. Evie's had a row with Alfred Inglethorp, and she's off."
　　 "Evie? Off?"
　　 John nodded gloomily.
　　 "Yes; you see she went to the mater, and--Oh, here's Evie herself."
　　 Miss Howard entered. Her lips were set grimly together, and she carried a small suit-case. She looked excited and determined, and slightly on the defensive.
　　 "At any rate," she burst out, "I've spoken my mind!"
　　 "My dear Evelyn," cried Mrs. Cavendish, "this can't be true!"
　　 Miss Howard nodded grimly.
　　 "True enough! Afraid I said some things to Emily she won't forget or forgive in a hurry. Don't mind if they've only sunk in a bit. Probably water off a duck's back, though. I said right out: 'You're an old woman, Emily, and there's no fool like an old fool. The man's twenty years younger than you, and don't you fool yourself as to what he married you for. Money! Well, don't let him have too much of it. Farmer Raikes has got a very pretty young wife. Just ask your Alfred how much time he spends over there.' She was very angry. Natural! I went on, 'I'm going to warn you, whether you like it or not. That man would as soon murder you in your bed as look at you. He's a bad lot. You can say what you like to me, but remember what I've told you. He's a bad lot!' "
　　 "What did she say?"
　　 Miss Howard made an extremely expressive grimace.
　　 " 'Darling Alfred'--'dearest Alfred'--'wicked calumnies' --'wicked lies'--'wicked woman'--to accuse her 'dear husband'! The sooner I left her house the better. So I'm off."
　　 "But not now?"
　　 "This minute!"
　　 For a moment we sat and stared at her. Finally John Cavendish, finding his persuasions of no avail, went off to look up the trains. His wife followed him, murmuring something about persuading Mrs. Inglethorp to think better of it.
　　 As she left the room, Miss Howard's face changed. She leant towards me eagerly.
　　 "Mr. Hastings, you're honest. I can trust you?"
　　 I was a little startled. She laid her hand on my arm, and sank her voice to a whisper.
　　 "Look after her, Mr. Hastings. My poor Emily. They're a lot of sharks--all of them. Oh, I know what I'm talking about. There isn't one of them that's not hard up and trying to get money out of her. I've protected her as much as I could. Now I'm out of the way, they'll impose upon her."
　　 "Of course, Miss Howard," I said, "I'll do everything I can, but I'm sure you're excited and overwrought."
　　 She interrupted me by slowly shaking her forefinger.
　　 "Young man, trust me. I've lived in the world rather longer than you have. All I ask you is to keep your eyes open. You'll see what I mean."
　　 The throb of the motor came through the open window, and Miss Howard rose and moved to the door. John's voice sounded outside. With her hand on the handle, she turned her head over her shoulder, and beckoned to me.
　　 "Above all, Mr. Hastings, watch that devil--her husband!"
　　 There was no time for more. Miss Howard was swallowed up in an eager chorus of protests and good-byes. The Inglethorps did not appear.
　　 As the motor drove away, Mrs. Cavendish suddenly detached herself from the group, and moved across the drive to the lawn to meet a tall bearded man who had been evidently making for the house. The colour rose in her cheeks as she held out her hand to him.
　　 "Who is that?" I asked sharply, for instinctively I distrusted the man.
　　 "That's Dr. Bauerstein," said John shortly.
　　 "And who is Dr. Bauerstein?"
　　 "He's staying in the village doing a rest cure, after a bad nervous breakdown. He's a London specialist; a very clever man--one of the greatest living experts on poisons, I believe."
　　 "And he's a great friend of Mary's," put in Cynthia, the irrepressible.
　　 John Cavendish frowned and changed the subject.
　　 "Come for a stroll, Hastings. This has been a most rotten business. She always had a rough tongue, but there is no stauncher friend in England than Evelyn Howard."
　　 He took the path through the plantation, and we walked down to the village through the woods which bordered one side of the estate.
　　 As we passed through one of the gates on our way home again, a pretty young woman of gipsy type coming in the opposite direction bowed and smiled.
　　 "That's a pretty girl," I remarked appreciatively.
　　 John's face hardened.
　　 "That is Mrs. Raikes."
　　 "The one that Miss Howard----"
　　 "Exactly," said John, with rather unnecessary abruptness.
　　 I thought of the white-haired old lady in the big house, and that vivid wicked little face that had just smiled into ours, and a vague chill of foreboding crept over me. I brushed it aside.
　　 "Styles is really a glorious old place," I said to John.
　　 He nodded rather gloomily.
　　 "Yes, it's a fine property. It'll be mine some day--should be mine now by rights, if my father had only made a decent will. And then I shouldn't be so damned hard up as I am now."
　　 "Hard up, are you?"
　　 "My dear Hastings, I don't mind telling you that I'm at my wit's end for money."
　　 "Couldn't your brother help you?"
　　 "Lawrence? He's gone through every penny he ever had, publishing rotten verses in fancy bindings. No, we're an impecunious lot. My mother's always been awfully good to us, I must say. That is, up to now. Since her marriage, of course----" he broke off, frowning.
　　 For the first time I felt that, with Evelyn Howard, something indefinable had gone from the atmosphere. Her presence had spelt security. Now that security was removed--and the air seemed rife with suspicion. The sinister face of Dr. Bauerstein recurred to me unpleasantly. A vague suspicion of every one and everything filled my mind. Just for a moment I had a premonition of approaching evil.

　　wǒ shì qī yuè wǔ rì dào dá sī tài 'ěr sī de。 xiàn zài wǒ yào shuō de shì nà gè yuè shí liù rì hé shí qī rì de shì。 wéi liǎo ràng dú zhě fāng biàn， wǒ jiāng jìn kě néng jīng què wú wù dì bǎ zhè jǐ tiān lái de shì qíng 'ě yào dì chóngshù yī xià。 zhè xiē shì qíng hòu lái jīng guò yī xì liè rǒng cháng fá wèi de pán wèn cái shěn xùn qīng chǔ。
　　 yī fū lín · huò huá dé zǒu hòu liǎng sān tiān， wǒ shōu dào liǎo tā de yī fēng xìn， xìn shàng gào sù wǒ， tā yǐ zài mǐ dé lín hǎi mǔ de yī jiā dà yī yuàn lǐ zuò hù shì， gāi dì lí zhè 'ér yòu shí wǔ、 liù yīng lǐ， shì gè gōng yè xiǎo chéng。 tā kěn qiú wǒ， yào shì yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài biǎo shì chū yòu tóng tā hé hǎo de yuàn wàng de huà， jiù ràng tā zhī dào。
　　 zài wǒ de níng jìng de rì zǐ lǐ， wéi yī de měi zhōng bù zú shì kǎ wén dí shí tài tài zài hé bào sī tǎn yī shēng de jiāo wǎng zhōng nà zhǒng tè shū de、 duì wǒ lái shuō shì bù kě lǐ jiě de piān 'ài。 tā dào dǐ zhe zhōng cǐ rén de nǎ yī diǎn， wǒ méi fǎ xiǎng xiàng， kě shì tā lǎo shì yāo qǐng tā dào jiā lǐ lái， jīng cháng hé tā yī kuài 'ér chū qù zuò cháng shí jiān de lǚ yóu。 wǒ bì xū chéng rèn， wǒ shí zài kàn bù chū tā de xī yǐn lì jiū jìng zài nǎ lǐ。
　　 qī yuè shí liù rì shì xīng qī yī， zhè yī tiān zhěng tiān luàn zāo zāo de。 yī cì zhù míng de yì mài yǐ zài shàng yī gè xīng qī liù kāi mù。 zhè tiān wǎn shàng yào jǔ xíng yī cì hé tóng yī zhèn jì yòu guān de wén yú wǎn huì， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài yào zài huì shàng lǎng sòng yī shǒu zhàn zhēng shī。 shàng yú wǒ men dà huǒ dū máng zhe zhěng lǐ hé bù zhì kāi wǎn huì de cūn zǐ lǐ táng。 zhōng fàn chīde hěn chí， xià wǔ jiù zài huā yuán lǐ xiū xī。 wǒ fā jué yuē hàn de shén tài yòu diǎn yì cháng。 tā hǎo xiàng shí fēn jiāo zào bù 'ān。
　　 hē hǎo chá， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài dà huì tǎng xià xiū xī liǎo， wǎn shàng tā hái dé nǔ lì yī fān。 ér wǒ zé xiàng mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí tiǎo zhàn， yào hé tā zuò yī cì wǎng qiú dān dǎ bǐ sài。
　　 liù diǎn sān kè zuǒ yòu， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài jiào huàn wǒ men， shuō shì wǒ men yào chí dào liǎo， yīn wéi zhè tiān de wǎn fàn yào tí zǎo。 wèile néng jí shí zhǔn bèi hǎo， wǒ men zhǐ hǎo cǎo cǎo shōu bīng。 wǎn fàn hái méi chī wán， qì chē yǐ jīng děng zài mén kǒu liǎo。
　　 wǎn huì kāi dé hěn chéng gōng。 yīng gé lǐ sāng tài dà de lǎng sòng bó dé liǎo yī piàn rè liè de zhǎng shēng。 hái biǎo yǎn liǎo yī xiē wǔ tái zào xíng， xīn xī yà yě zài qí zhōng bàn yǎn liǎo juésè。 tā méi yòu hé wǒ men yī qǐ huí jiā， yìng yāo cān jiā yī gè wǎn cān huì qù liǎo， zhè dà wǎn shàng， tā hé nà xiē hé tā yī qǐ yǎn chū de péng yǒu zài yī qǐ。
　　 dì 'èr tiān zǎo shàng， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài shì zài chuáng shàng chī de zǎo fàn， tā yòu diǎn pí láo guò dù liǎo， dàn shì， shí 'èr diǎn bàn zuǒ yòu， tā jīng shén dǒu sǒu dì chū xiàn liǎo， yìng yào dài láo lún sī hé wǒ yě yī qǐ qù cān jiā yī cì wǔ cān huì。
　　“ nǐ zhī dào， zhè shì luó léi sī dùn tài tài de shèng qíng yāo qǐng， tā jiù shì tǎ míng sī tè fū rén de mèi mèi。 luó léi sī dùn jiā hé zhēng fú zhě① yī qǐ lái dào zhè 'ér， shì wǒ guó zuì gǔ lǎo de jiā zú zhī yī。”
　　 mǎ lì tuō cí hé bào sī dàn yòu yuē zài xiān， wéi zì jǐ bù néng tóng wǎng biǎo shì liǎo qiàn yì。
　　 wǒ men chī liǎo yī dùn fēi cháng shì yì de zhōng fàn， ér dāng wǒ men qū chē lí kāi shí， láo lún sī tí yì， wǒ men yīnggāi jīng yóu tǎ míng sī tè huí lái， nà 'ér zhǐ lí wǒ men zǒu de gōng lù yī yīng lǐ， dào xīn xī yà de yào fáng qù kàn kàn tā。 yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài huí dá shuō zhè shì gè hǎo zhù yì， kě shì yóu yú tā yòu jǐ fēng xìn yào xiě， tā děibǎ wǒ men diū zài nà 'ér， wǒ men kě yǐ hé xīn xī yà yī qǐ chéng qīng biàn mǎ chē huí lái。
　　 wǒ men yóu yú shòu dào huái yí， yī zhí bèi yī yuàn de kānmén rén zǔ liú zhe， zhí dào xīn xī yà chū lái wèiwǒ men zhèng míng cái ràng jìn qù。 tā chuānzhuó jiàn bái sè de cháng wài tào， kàn shàng qù jì chén jìng yòu wēn róu。 tā dài wǒ men lái dào tā de gōng zuò shì， bǎ wǒ men jiè shào gěi hé tā yī qǐ de nà wèi yào jì shī， yī gè yòu diǎn shǐ rén hài pà de rén， xīn xī yà qīng sōng dì bǎ tā jiào zuò“ ní bù sī”。
　　“ píng zǐ zhēn duō！” dāng wǒ de yǎn jīng cháo zhè gè xiǎo xiǎo de fáng jiān xún shì liǎo yī juàn hòu， wǒ jīng hū shuō。“ nǐ zhēn dedōu zhī dào suǒ yòu de píng zǐ lǐ shì shénme má？”
　　“ shuō qǐ lái zhēn guài，” xīn xī yà tàn liǎo kǒu qì shuō。“ měi gè dào zhè 'ér lái de réndōu zhè me shuō。 wǒ men zhēn xiǎng gěi dì yī gè bù jiǎng‘ píng zǐ zhēn duō’ de rén fā bǐ jiǎng jīn， wǒ zhī dào， nǐ jiē xià qù dǎ suàn wèn de yī jù huà jiù shì：‘ nǐ dú sǐ duō shǎo rén liǎo yā？’”
　　 wǒ wēi xiào zhe， gǎn dào hěn nèi jiù。
　　“ yào shì nǐ men zhī dào cuò dú sǐ yī gè rén shì duō me róng yì， nǐ jiù bù huì shuō zhè yàng de xiào huà liǎo。 dé lā！ wǒ men hē chá bā。 nà zhǐ chú lǐ de gè zhǒng nèi qíng wǒ mendōu yǐ zhǎng wò liǎo。 bù， láo lún sī héng héng nà shì dú yào chú， shì nà zhǐ dà chú zǐ héng héng duì liǎo。”
　　 wǒ men gāo gāo xīng xīng dì hē liǎo chá。 hòu lái hái bāng xīn xī yà xǐ liǎo chá jù。 zhèng dāng wǒ men fàng hǎo zuì hòu yī zhǐ chá chí shí， mén wàizhuàn lái liǎo yī zhèn qiāo mén shēng。
　　 xīn xī yà hé ní bù sī tū rán bǎn qǐ liǎo liǎn kǒng， lù chū liǎo yán sù de shén qíng。
　　“ jìn lái，” xīn xī yà shuō， dài zhe yī zhǒng míng xiǎn de zhí yè xìng de yǔ qì。
　　 yī gè xiǎn dé yòu diǎn jīng huāng múyàng de nián qīng hù shì， ná zhe yī zhǐ píng zǐ chū xiàn liǎo， tā bǎ píng zǐ dì gěi liǎo ní bù sī， tā shì yì tā jiāo gěi xīn xī yà， hái shuō liǎo jù yòu diǎn mò míng qí miào de huà：
　　“ jīn tiān wǒ bù shì zhēn zhèng zài zhè 'ér。”
　　 xīn xī yà jiē guò píng zǐ， xiàng gè fǎ guān yī yàng yán gé dì bǎ tā jiǎn chá liǎo yī fān。
　　“ zhè yīnggāi shì jīn tiān shàng wǔ lái lǐng de。”
　　“ hù shì cháng shuō hěn duì bù qǐ。 tā wàng liǎo。”
　　“ hù shì cháng yīnggāi lái dú dú mén wài de guī dìng。”
　　 wǒ cóng xiǎo hù shì de shén sè shàng cāi chū， tā shì bù kě néng yòu zhè zhǒng dǎn liàng bǎ zhè yī kǒu xìn dài gěi nà wèi shǐ rén hài bó de“ xiū nǚ” de。
　　“ zhè kě dé dào míng tiān cái néng lǐng liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ kàn jīn tiān wǎn shàng shì bù shì yòu kě néng gěi wǒ men？”
　　“ hǎo bā，” xīn xī yà kuān hòu dì shuō。“ wǒ men hěn máng， bù guò， rú guǒ yòu shí jiān de huà， wǒ men jiù zhuāng yī zhuāng。”
　　 xiǎo hù shì tuì chū qù liǎo， xīn xī yà mǐn jié dì cóng jià zǐ shàng qǔ xià yī zhǐ dà píng， bǎ nà zhǐ píng zǐ guàn mǎn， rán hòu bǎ tā fàng dào mén wài de zhuō zǐ shàng。
　　 wǒ xiào liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ jì lǜ bì xū wéi chí？”
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò， dào wǒ men de xiǎo yáng tái shàng qù bā。 nà 'ér wài miàn de quán bù bìng fáng dōunéng kàn dào。”
　　 wǒ gēn zhe xīn xī yà hé tā de péng yǒu zǒu dào yáng tái shàng， tā men zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn gè gè bù tóng de bìng fáng。 láo lún sī réng liú zài fáng lǐ。 kě shì guò liǎo yī huì， xīn xī niū niǔ tóu jiào liǎo tā yī shēng， yào tā chū lái hé wǒ men yī qǐ lái kàn。 hòu lái， tā kàn liǎo kàn biǎo。
　　“ méi shí me shì qíng liǎo bā， ní bù sī？”
　　“ méi yòu liǎo。”
　　“ hǎo bā。 nà wǒ men kě yǐ suǒ mén zǒu liǎo。”
　　 nà tiān xià wǔ， wǒ duì láo lún sī yòu liǎo wán quán bù tóng de kàn fǎ。 suī rán hé yuē hàn xiāng bǐ， tā shì gè shǐ rén chī jīng dì nán yǐ liǎo jiě de rén， jīhū zài měi gè fāng miàn bù bù tóng yú tā de gē gē， shí fēn dǎn xiǎo， chén mò guǎ yán， kě shì， tā hái shì yòu mǒu xiē tǎo rén xǐ huān de jǔ zhǐ tài dù， yīn 'ér wǒ xiāng xìn， yào shì yī gè rén zhēn zhèng duì tā yòu hěn hǎo de liǎo jiě， shì yī dìng huì shēn shēn dì xǐ huān tā de。 wǒ yuán lái yī zhí rèn wéi tā duì dài xīn xī yà de tài dù xiāng dāng bù zì rán， tā duì tā yě xiū dá dá。 kě shì nà tiān xià wǔ， tā men liǎ dōuhěn kuài huó， tā men zài yī qǐ tán dé hěn qǐ jìn， fǎng fó xiàng yī duì hái zǐ。
　　 dāng wǒ men chéng mǎ chē chuān guò lín zǐ shí， wǒ xiǎng qǐ wǒ yào mǎi jǐ zhāng yóu piào， yú shì wǒ men jiù zài yóu jú mén kǒu tíng liǎo xià lái。
　　 zài wǒ zǒu chū yóu jú shí， wǒ hé yī gè zhèng zài jìn lái de xiǎo gè zǐ nán rén zhuàng liǎo yī gè mǎn huái。 wǒ jí máng tuì dào yī biān： xiàng tā dào liǎo qiàn， kě nà rén tū rán dà shēng jīng jiào liǎo qǐ lái， bǎ wǒ jǐn jǐn dì yōng bào zhù， rè qíng dì wěn wǒ。
　　“ qīn 'ài de hā sī dīng！” tā hǎn dào。“ zhēn de shì qīn 'ài de hā sī dīng！”
　　“ bō luò！” wǒ yě hǎn liǎo qǐ lái。
　　 wǒ men huí dào mǎ chē bàng biān。
　　“ zhè shì wǒ yī cì fēi cháng yú kuài de huì jiàn， xīn xī yà xiǎo jiě。 zhè wèi shì wǒ de lǎo péng yǒu bō luò xiān shēng， wǒ yǐ jīng yòu hǎo jǐ nián méi yòu jiàn dào tā liǎo。”
　　“ ō， wǒ men rèn shí bō luò xiān shēng，” xīn xī yà kuài huó dì shuō。“ kě shì wǒ méi yòu xiǎng dào tā yě shì nǐ de péng yǒu。”
　　“ bù cuò， zhēn de，” bō luò yī běn zhèng jīng dì shuō。“ wǒ rèn shí xīn xī yà xiǎo jiě， wǒ dé yǐ dào zhè 'ér lái shì quán zhàng hǎo xīn de yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài de 'ēn cì。” jiàn wǒ hǎo qí dì dǎliang zhe tā， tā jiē zhe shuō：“ shì de， wǒ de péng yǒu， tā yǒu hǎo dì yīn qín jiē dài liǎo wǒ men qī gè tóng bāo， āi， wǒ men zhè jǐ gèdōu shì cóng zì jǐ de zǔ guó táo wáng chū lái de rén 'ā。 wǒ men bǐ lì shí rén jiāng yǒng yuǎn huái zhe gǎn jī de xīn qíng bǎ tā míng jì zài xīn lǐ。”
　　 bō luò shì gè wài biǎo tè bié de xiǎo gè zǐ nán rén， shēn gāo zhǐ yòu wǔ yīng chǐ sì yīng cùn， kě shì jǔ zhǐ xiǎn dé fēi cháng zhuāng zhòng。 tā de nǎo dài múyàng 'ér wán quán xiàng zhǐ jī dàn， ér tā zǒng 'ài bǎ tā wēi wēi cè xiàng yī biān。 tā de nà yī mǒ qiáo hú zǐ yòu yìng yòu tǐng， xiàng gè jūn rén。 tā de yī zhe zhěng jié dé jiǎn zhí bù kě sī yì。 wǒ xiāng xìn， zài tā shēn shàng luò shàng yī lì huī chén huì shǐ tā gǎn dào bǐ yī kē zǐ dàn dǎ shāng tā hái yào tòng kǔ。 zhè wèi piào liàng de、 dǎ bàn dé xiàng de xiǎo gè zǐ（ kàn dào tā xiàn zài de jīng shén zhè yàng jù sàng， wǒ gǎn dào hěn nán guò） yuán lái yī zhí shì bǐ lì shí jǐng fāng zuì zhù míng de gōng zuò rén yuán zhī yī， zuò wéi yī gè zhēn tàn， tā yòu zhe fēi fán de tiān cái， tā céng jīng chéng gōng dì zhēn pò guò dāng shí de yī xiē zuì zuì jí shǒu de 'àn jiàn。
　　 tā zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn liǎo kàn tā hé tā de bǐ lì shí tóng bāo qī shēn de xiǎo wū， wǒ dāyìng jìn zǎo qù kàn wàng tā。 jiē zhe， tā yòng yī zhǒng xì jù xìng de dòng zuò， cháo xīn xī yà yáng liǎo yáng mào zǐ。 yú shì wǒ men jiù shàng chē lí kāi liǎo。
　　“ tā shì gè kě 'ài de xiǎo gè zǐ，” xīn xī yà shuō。“ wǒ méi yòu xiǎng dào nǐ rèn shí tā。”
　　“ nǐ men shì zài bù zhī bù jué dì jiē dài yī wèi míng rén，” wǒ huí dá shuō。
　　 zài huí jiā de lù shàng， wǒ duì tā men jiǎng shù liǎo hè kǎ 'ěr · bō luò de gè zhǒng gōng jì hé chéng jiù。
　　 wǒ men huái zhe huān lè de xīn qíng huí dào jiā lǐ。 dāng wǒ men zǒu jìn mén tīng shí， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zhèng cóng tā de guī fáng② zhōng chū lái。 tā kàn shàng qù yòu xiē jī dòng， xīn fán yì luàn。
　　“ ò， shì nǐ men，” tā shuō。
　　“ chū shénme shì liǎo má， āi mǐ lì 'ā yí？” xīn xī yà wèn dào。
　　“ méi yòu，” yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài jǐng jué tā shuō，“ huì chū shénme shì yā？” zhè shí tā kàn dào nǚ yōng rén duō kǎ sī zǒu jìn cān shì， jiù jiào tā ná diǎn yóu piào dào tā fáng lǐ qù。
　　“ hǎo de， tài tài。” lǎo nǚ pú chóu chú liǎo yī xià， jiē zhe yòu dǎn qiè dì bǔ chōng shuō：“ dà tài， nín bù rèn wéi nín zuì hǎo hái shì shàng chuáng qù tǎng yī huì má？ nín kàn lái tài pí láo liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ yě xǔ shuō dé duì， duō kǎ sī héng héng shì de héng héng bù héng héng xiàn zài bù xíng。 wǒ hái yòu jǐ fēng xìn， dé gǎn zài yóu jú shōu xìn zhī qián xiě wán。 nǐ yǐ jīng 'àn wǒ gào sù guò nǐ nà yàng， zài wǒ fáng lǐ shēng liǎo huǒ liǎo má？”
　　“ shēng liǎo， tài tài。”
　　“ nà wǒ chī guò wǎn fàn jiù mǎ shàng qù shuì。”
　　 tā yòu zǒu jìn zì jǐ de fáng jiān， xīn xī yà níng shì zhe tā de bèi yǐng。
　　“ tiān 'ā！ jiū jìng chū liǎo shénme shì liǎo？” tā duì láo lún sī shuō。
　　 tā fǎng fó méi yòu tīng dào tā shuō de huà， yī shēng bù kēng dì zhuǎn shēn zǒu chū wū zǐ qù liǎo。
　　 wǒ duì xīn xī yà tí yì， zài wǎn fàn qián lái yīcháng wǎng qiú kuài sù bǐ sài， tā tóng yì liǎo， yú shì wǒ páo shàng lóu qù qǔ qiú pāi。
　　 kǎ wén dí shí tài tài zhèng xià lóu lái。 yě xǔ shì wǒ de yī zhǒng cuò jué， kě shì tā què shí xiǎn dé yòu diǎn gǔ guài， xīn shén bù dìng。
　　“ qù hé bào sī tǎn yī shēng sàn bù liǎo má？” wǒ wèn dào， jìn kě néng biǎo xiàn chū yī zhǒng bù zài hū de yàng zǐ。
　　“ méi qù，” tā cāng cù dì huí dá shuō。“ yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ zài guī fáng lǐ。”
　　 tā yī zhǐ shǒu jǐn wò zhù lán gān， jiē zhe hǎo xiàng gǔ qǐ yǒng qì qù wán chéng yī jiàn jiān xiǎn de gōng zuò， cōng cōng dì zǒu guò wǒ de shēn bàng， xià liǎo lóu， chuān guò mén tīng， cháo guī fáng zǒu qù， jìn qù hòu， guān shàng liǎo shēn hòu de fáng mén。
　　 guò liǎo yī huì， wǒ bēn xiàng wǎng qiú chǎng， wǒ dé cóng guī fáng de dǎ kāi de chuāng xià jīng guò， zhè shí wǒ 'ǒu rán dì tīng dào liǎo xià miàn zhè xiē tán huà de piàn duàn。 mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí yǐ yī gè sǐ mìng xiǎng kòng zhì zhù zì jǐ gǎn qíng de fù nǚ de shēng yīn zài shuō：
　　“ nà nǐ jiù bù néng gěi wǒ kàn kàn má？”
　　 yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài duì tā huí dá shuō：
　　“ qīn 'ài de mǎ lì， zhè méi yòu shénme。”
　　“ nà jiù gěi wǒ zhe kàn。”
　　“ wǒ gào sù nǐ liǎo， shì qíng bù xiàng nǐ xiǎng de nà yàng。 zhè tóng nǐ sī háo méi yòu guān xì。”
　　 mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí huí dá shuō， shēng yīn gèng jiā bēi 'āi：
　　“ dāng rán luó， wǒ zǎo jiù zhī dào nǐ shì huì tǎn hù tā de。”
　　 xīn xī yà zhèng zài děng zhe wǒ， tā rèqiè dì yíng zhe wǒ shuō：
　　“ hāi， dà chǎo guò yīcháng lā！ wǒ cóng duō kǎ sī nà 'ér quán bù dǎ tīng dào liǎo。”
　　“ shuí chǎo jià yā？”
　　“ āi mǐ lì 'ā yí hé tā。 wǒ zhēn xī wàng tā zuì zhōng huì kàn tòu tā！”
　　“ nà me duō kǎ sī zài chǎng má？”
　　“ dāng rán bù zài。 zhǐ shì pèng qiǎo zài fáng mén kǒu。 zhè cì kě zhēn shì dà pò liè liǎo。 wǒ zhēn xī wàng néng bǎ quán bù qíng kuàng zhe； liǎo jiě gè yī qīng 'èr chǔ。”
　　 wǒ xiǎng qǐ liǎo léi kè sī tài tài nà zhāng jí pǔ sài rén de liǎn dàn， yǐ jí yī fū lín · huò huá dé de jǐng gào， dàn shì wǒ míng zhì dì jué xīn bǎo chí chén mò， ér xīn xī yà què qiān fāng bǎi jì dì zuò liǎo měi yī zhǒng kě néng de jiǎ shè， xīng fèn dì xī wàng“ āi mǐ lì 'ā yí huì bǎ tā niǎn zǒu， huì yǒng yuǎn bù zài hé tā shuō huà”。
　　 wǒ jí yú xiǎng jiàn dào yuē hàn， kě shì dào chù dū zhǎo bù dào tā， xiǎn rán， nà tiān xià wǔ chū liǎo shénme yán zhòng de shì liǎo。 wǒ jié lì xiǎng wàng diào wǒ 'ǒu 'ěr tīng dào de nà jǐ jù huà， kě shì， bù guǎn wǒ zěn me zhe， wǒdōu méi fǎ bǎ tā men wán quán cóng wǒ de nǎo zǐ lǐ mǒ qù。 mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí suǒ guān xīn de nà jiàn shì shì shénme ní？
　　 wǒ xià lóu lái chī fàn shí， yīng gé lǐ sāng xiān shēng zhèng zuò zài kè tīng lǐ。 tā liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng réng xiàng wǎng cháng yī yàng lěng dàn， yīn 'ér wǒ zhòng yòu gǎn dào cǐ rén de lìng rén bù kuài de xū wěi。
　　 yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài zuì hòu yī gè lái， tā kàn shàng qù réng rán jiāo zào bù 'ān。
　　 chī fàn qī jiān cān zhuō shàng yòu zhe yī zhǒng jǐn zhāng de chén mò。 yīng gé lǐ sāng yì cháng píng jìng， xiàng wǎng cháng yī yàng， tā gěi tā de qī zǐ shí 'ér xiàn yī diǎn xiǎo yīn qín， zài tā de bèi hòu fàng shàng yī zhǐ bèi diàn shénme de， wán quán bàn yǎn zhe yī gè zhōng shí zhàng fū de juésè。 fàn hòu， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài lì jí jiù huí dào zì jǐ de guī fáng qù liǎo。
　　“ bǎ wǒ de kā fēi ná lái bā， mǎ lì，” tā jiào huàn dào。“ yào gǎn shàng yóu bān， zhǐ yòu wǔ fēn zhōng liǎo。”
　　 wǒ hé xīn xī yà zǒu dào kè tīng de dǎ kāi de chuāng hù gēn qián， zuò liǎo xià lái。
　　 mǎ lì · kǎ 'ài dí shí gěi wǒ men sòng lái liǎo kā fēi。 tā xiǎn dé yòu diǎn jī dòng。
　　“ nǐ men nián qīng rén yào kāi dēng ní，” hái shì xǐ 'ài méng lóng de huáng hūn？” tā wèn dào。“ xīn xī yà， nǐ bǎ yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài de kā fēi sòng qù hǎo má？ wǒ lái bǎ tā zhēn hǎo。”
　　“ nǐ bié má fán liǎo， mǎ lì，” yīng gé lǐ sāng shuō：“ wǒ huì gěi 'āi mǐ lì sòng qù de。” tā zhēn liǎo yī bēi kā fēi， xiǎo xīn yì yì dì duān zhe tā zǒu chū liǎo fáng jiān。
　　 láo lún sī yě gēn zhe chū qù liǎo， yú shì kǎ wén dí shí tài tài zài wǒ men bàng biān zuò liǎo xià lái。
　　 wǒ men sān rén mò mò dì zuò liǎo yī huì。 zhè shì gè yú kuài de yè wǎn， sì zhōu yī piàn jìng jì， tiān qì hěn rè， kǎ wén dí shí tài tài yòng yī bǎ zōng lǘ yè shàn qīng qīng dì shàn zháoliáng。
　　“ tiān qì jiǎn zhí tài rè liǎo，” tā dī shēng bǔ gū dào，“ yào xià léi yǔ liǎo。””
　　 āi， zhēn shì hǎo jǐng bù cháng 'ā！ wǒ de liáng chén měi jǐng tū rán bèi mén tīng lǐ de yī zhèn shú shí de fēi cháng tǎo yàn de shēng yīn dǎ pò liǎo。
　　“ bào sī tǎn yī shēng！” xīn xī yà jīng jiào qǐ lái。“ guài liǎo， zěn me zhè shí hòu lái。”
　　 wǒ tōu tōu dì cháo mǎ lì · kǎ wén dí shí piē liǎo yī yǎn， kě shì tā sì hū shí fēn tài rán zì ruò， tā shuāng jiá shàng nà jiāo bái de liǎn sè háo wú biàn huà。
　　 guò liǎo yī huì， ā fú léi dé · yīng gé lǐ sāng bǎ yī shēng lǐng jìn lái liǎo。 hòu zhě dà shēng xiào zhe， jiān jué biǎo shì tā zhè fù yàng zǐ qù kè tīng shì bù shì yí de。 shì shí shàng， tā zhēn de chū liǎo yáng xiāng， tā shēn shàng zhān mǎn liǎo ní。
　　“ nǐ zài máng shénme yā， yī shēng？” mǎ lì · kǎ wén shí dí dà shēng wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ dé jiě shì yī xià，” yī shēng shuō。” wǒ shí zài bù dǎ suàn jìn lái， kě shì yīng gé lǐ sāng xiān shēng dìng yào wǒ lái。”
　　“ ò， páo sī tǎn， nǐ xiàn rù jiǒng jìng liǎo。” yuē hàn shuō zhe cóng guò dào lǐ duó liǎo jìn lái。“ hē diǎn kā fēi bā， hé wǒ men tán tán， nǐ zài máng diǎn shénme。”
　　“ xiè xiè， wǒ zhè jiù jiǎng bā。” tā kǔ xiào zhe shuō。 tā shuō tā zài yī gè nán pān dēng de dì fāng fā xiàn liǎo yī zhǒng xiāng dāng hǎn jiàn de jué lèi zhí wù， ér jiù zài tā qiān fāng bǎi jì xiǎng bǎ tā cǎi dào shǒu de shí hòu， tā， shí zài diū rén， jìng shī zú diào jìn liǎo jìn bàng de yī kǒu chí táng。
　　“ tài yáng suī rán hěn jué jiù bǎ wǒ de yī fú shài gān liǎo，” tā jiē zhe shuō，“ kě shì wǒ pà zhè yī lái wǒ de miàn zǐ dū diū guāng liǎo。”
　　 jiù zài zhè shí hòu， yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài cóng guò dào lǐ jiào huàn xīn xī yà liǎo， yú shì， gū niàn jiù páo chū qù liǎo。
　　“ qǐng nǐ bǎ wǒ de gōng wén xiāng ná guò lái hǎo má， qīn 'ài de？ wǒ dǎ suàn shuì jué liǎo。”
　　 tōng zhù guò dào de mén kāi dé hěn dà。 dāng xīn xī yà zài ná xiāng zǐ de shí hòu， wǒ yǐ jīng zhàn qǐ shēn lái， yuē hàn jiù zài wǒ bàng biān。 yīn cǐ， yòu sān gè rén kě yǐ zhèng míng， dāng shí yīng gé lǐ sāng tài tài hái méi hē kā fēi， ér shì zhèng duān zài shǒu lǐ。
　　 wǒ de nà gè bàng wǎn， yǐ bèi bào sī tǎn yī shēng de chū xiàn wán quán chè dǐ dì pò huài liǎo。 kàn lái cǐ rén hǎo xiàng bù zǒu liǎo。 rán 'ér， tā zhōng yú zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， wǒ cái kuān wèi dì shū liǎo yī kǒu qì。
　　“ wǒ zǒu zhe péi nǐ qù cūn zǐ bā，” yīng gé lǐ sāng xiān shēng shuō。” wǒ dé qù kàn kàn wǒ men nà gè fáng dì chǎn dài lǐ rén，” tā yòu zhuǎn shēn duì zhe yuē hàn shuō，“ bù xū yào rén děng wǒ， wǒ dài dà mén yàoshì qù。”
　　 zhù shì：
　　① jí yī líng liù liù nián zhēng fú yīng guó de yīng wáng wēi lián yī shì。
　　② xì fù nǚ de qǐ jū shì huò shì。

　　I had arrived at Styles on the 5th of July. I come now to the events of the 16th and 17th of that month. For the convenience of the reader I will recapitulate the incidents of those days in as exact a manner as possible. They were elicited subsequently at the trial by a process of long and tedious cross-examinations.
　　 I received a letter from Evelyn Howard a couple of days after her departure, telling me she was working as a nurse at the big hospital in Middlingham, a manufacturing town some fifteen miles away, and begging me to let her know if Mrs. Inglethorp should show any wish to be reconciled.
　　 The only fly in the ointment of my peaceful days was Mrs. Cavendish's extraordinary, and, for my part, unaccountable preference for the society of Dr. Bauerstein. What she saw in the man I cannot imagine, but she was always asking him up to the house, and often went off for long expeditions with him. I must confess that I was quite unable to see his attraction.
　　 The 16th of July fell on a Monday. It was a day of turmoil. The famous bazaar had taken place on Saturday, and an entertainment, in connection with the same charity, at which Mrs. Inglethorp was to recite a War poem, was to be held that night. We were all busy during the morning arranging and decorating the Hall in the village where it was to take place. We had a late luncheon and spent the afternoon resting in the garden. I noticed that John's manner was somewhat unusual. He seemed very excited and restless.
　　 After tea, Mrs. Inglethorp went to lie down to rest before her efforts in the evening and I challenged Mary Cavendish to a single at tennis.
　　 About a quarter to seven, Mrs. Inglethorp called us that we should be late as supper was early that night. We had rather a scramble to get ready in time; and before the meal was over the motor was waiting at the door.
　　 The entertainment was a great success, Mrs. Inglethorp's recitation receiving tremendous applause. There were also some tableaux in which Cynthia took part. She did not return with us, having been asked to a supper party, and to remain the night with some friends who had been acting with her in the tableaux.
　　 The following morning, Mrs. Inglethorp stayed in bed to breakfast, as she was rather overtired; but she appeared in her briskest mood about 12.30, and swept Lawrence and myself off to a luncheon party.
　　 "Such a charming invitation from Mrs. Rolleston. Lady Tadminster's sister, you know. The Rollestons came over with the Conqueror--one of our oldest families."
　　 Mary had excused herself on the plea of an engagement with Dr. Bauerstein.
　　 We had a pleasant luncheon, and as we drove away Lawrence suggested that we should return by Tadminster, which was barely a mile out of our way, and pay a visit to Cynthia in her dispensary. Mrs. Inglethorp replied that this was an excellent idea, but as she had several letters to write she would drop us there, and we could come back with Cynthia in the pony-trap.
　　 We were detained under suspicion by the hospital porter, until Cynthia appeared to vouch for us, looking very cool and sweet in her long white overall. She took us up to her sanctum, and introduced us to her fellow dispenser, a rather awe-inspiring individual, whom Cynthia cheerily addressed as "Nibs."
　　 "What a lot of bottles!" I exclaimed, as my eye travelled round the small room. "Do you really know what's in them all?"
　　 "Say something original," groaned Cynthia. "Every single person who comes up here says that. We are really thinking of bestowing a prize on the first individual who does _not_ say: 'What a lot of bottles!' And I know the next thing you're going to say is: 'How many people have you poisoned?' "
　　 I pleaded guilty with a laugh.
　　 "If you people only knew how fatally easy it is to poison some one by mistake, you wouldn't joke about it. Come on, let's have tea. We've got all sorts of secret stories in that cupboard. No, Lawrence--that's the poison cupboard. The big cupboard--that's right."
　　 We had a very cheery tea, and assisted Cynthia to wash up afterwards. We had just put away the last tea-spoon when a knock came at the door. The countenances of Cynthia and Nibs were suddenly petrified into a stern and forbidding expression.
　　 "Come in," said Cynthia, in a sharp professional tone.
　　 A young and rather scared looking nurse appeared with a bottle which she proffered to Nibs, who waved her towards Cynthia with the somewhat enigmatical remark:
　　 "_I_'m not really here to-day."
　　 Cynthia took the bottle and examined it with the severity of a judge.
　　 "This should have been sent up this morning."
　　 "Sister is very sorry. She forgot."
　　 "Sister should read the rules outside the door."
　　 I gathered from the little nurse's expression that there was not the least likelihood of her having the hardihood to retail this message to the dreaded "Sister".
　　 "So now it can't be done until to-morrow," finished Cynthia.
　　 "Don't you think you could possibly let us have it to-night?"
　　 "Well," said Cynthia graciously, "we are very busy, but if we have time it shall be done."
　　 The little nurse withdrew, and Cynthia promptly took a jar from the shelf, refilled the bottle, and placed it on the table outside the door.
　　 I laughed.
　　 "Discipline must be maintained?"
　　 "Exactly. Come out on our little balcony. You can see all the outside wards there."
　　 I followed Cynthia and her friend and they pointed out the different wards to me. Lawrence remained behind, but after a few moments Cynthia called to him over her shoulder to come and join us. Then she looked at her watch.
　　 "Nothing more to do, Nibs?"
　　 "No."
　　 "All right. Then we can lock up and go."
　　 I had seen Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon. Compared to John, he was an astoundingly difficult person to get to know. He was the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved. Yet he had a certain charm of manner, and I fancied that, if one really knew him well, one could have a deep affection for him. I had always fancied that his manner to Cynthia was rather constrained, and that she on her side was inclined to be shy of him. But they were both gay enough this afternoon, and chatted together like a couple of children.
　　 As we drove through the village, I remembered that I wanted some stamps, so accordingly we pulled up at the post office.
　　 As I came out again, I cannoned into a little man who was just entering. I drew aside and apologised, when suddenly, with a loud exclamation, he clasped me in his arms and kissed me warmly.
　　 "Mon ami Hastings!" he cried. "It is indeed mon ami Hastings!"
　　 "Poirot!" I exclaimed.
　　 I turned to the pony-trap.
　　 "This is a very pleasant meeting for me, Miss Cynthia. This is my old friend, Monsieur Poirot, whom I have not seen for years."
　　 "Oh, we know Monsieur Poirot," said Cynthia gaily. "But I had no idea he was a friend of yours."
　　 "Yes, indeed," said Poirot seriously. "I know Mademoiselle Cynthia. It is by the charity of that good Mrs. Inglethorp that I am here." Then, as I looked at him inquiringly: "Yes, my friend, she had kindly extended hospitality to seven of my countrypeople who, alas, are refugees from their native land. We Belgians will always remember her with gratitude."
　　 Poirot was an extraordinary looking little man. He was hardly more than five feet, four inches, but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His moustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible. I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound. Yet this quaint dandyfied little man who, I was sorry to see, now limped badly, had been in his time one of the most celebrated members of the Belgian police. As a detective, his flair had been extraordinary, and he had achieved triumphs by unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day.
　　 He pointed out to me the little house inhabited by him and his fellow Belgians, and I promised to go and see him at an early date. Then he raised his hat with a flourish to Cynthia, and we drove away.
　　 "He's a dear little man," said Cynthia. "I'd no idea you knew him."
　　 "You've been entertaining a celebrity unawares," I replied.
　　 And, for the rest of the way home, I recited to them the various exploits and triumphs of Hercule Poirot.
　　 We arrived back in a very cheerful mood. As we entered the hall, Mrs. Inglethorp came out of her boudoir. She looked flushed and upset.
　　 "Oh, it's you," she said.
　　 "Is there anything the matter, Aunt Emily?" asked Cynthia.
　　 "Certainly not," said Mrs. Inglethorp sharply. "What should there be?" Then catching sight of Dorcas, the parlourmaid, going into the dining-room, she called to her to bring some stamps into the boudoir.
　　 "Yes, m'm." The old servant hesitated, then added diffidently: "Don't you think, m'm, you'd better get to bed? You're looking very tired."
　　 "Perhaps you're right, Dorcas--yes--no--not now. I've some letters I must finish by post-time. Have you lighted the fire in my room as I told you?"
　　 "Yes, m'm."
　　 "Then I'll go to bed directly after supper."
　　 She went into the boudoir again, and Cynthia stared after her.
　　 "Goodness gracious! I wonder what's up?" she said to Lawrence.
　　 He did not seem to have heard her, for without a word he turned on his heel and went out of the house.
　　 I suggested a quick game of tennis before supper and, Cynthia agreeing, I ran upstairs to fetch my racquet.
　　 Mrs. Cavendish was coming down the stairs. It may have been my fancy, but she, too, was looking odd and disturbed.
　　 "Had a good walk with Dr. Bauerstein?" I asked, trying to appear as indifferent as I could.
　　 "I didn't go," she replied abruptly. "Where is Mrs. Inglethorp?"
　　 "In the boudoir."
　　 Her hand clenched itself on the banisters, then she seemed to nerve herself for some encounter, and went rapidly past me down the stairs across the hall to the boudoir, the door of which she shut behind her.
　　 As I ran out to the tennis court a few moments later, I had to pass the open boudoir window, and was unable to help overhearing the following scrap of dialogue. Mary Cavendish was saying in the voice of a woman desperately controlling herself:
　　 "Then you won't show it to me?"
　　 To which Mrs. Inglethorp replied:
　　 "My dear Mary, it has nothing to do with that matter."
　　 "Then show it to me."
　　 "I tell you it is not what you imagine. It does not concern you in the least."
　　 To which Mary Cavendish replied, with a rising bitterness:
　　 "Of course, I might have known you would shield him."
　　 Cynthia was waiting for me, and greeted me eagerly with:
　　 "I say! There's been the most awful row! I've got it all out of Dorcas."
　　 "What kind of a row?"
　　 "Between Aunt Emily and _him_. I do hope she's found him out at last!"
　　 "Was Dorcas there, then?"
　　 "Of course not. She 'happened to be near the door'. It was a real old bust-up. I do wish I knew what it was all about."
　　 I thought of Mrs. Raikes's gipsy face, and Evelyn Howard's warnings, but wisely decided to hold my peace, whilst Cynthia exhausted every possible hypothesis, and cheerfully hoped, "Aunt Emily will send him away, and will never speak to him again."
　　 I was anxious to get hold of John, but he was nowhere to be seen. Evidently something very momentous had occurred that afternoon. I tried to forget the few words I had overheard; but, do what I would, I could not dismiss them altogether from my mind. What was Mary Cavendish's concern in the matter?
　　 Mr. Inglethorp was in the drawing-room when I came down to supper. His face was impassive as ever, and the strange unreality of the man struck me afresh.
　　 Mrs. Inglethorp came down last. She still looked agitated, and during the meal there was a somewhat constrained silence. Inglethorp was unusually quiet. As a rule, he surrounded his wife with little attentions, placing a cushion at her back, and altogether playing the part of the devoted husband. Immediately after supper, Mrs. Inglethorp retired to her boudoir again.
　　 "Send my coffee in here, Mary," she called. "I've just five minutes to catch the post."
　　 Cynthia and I went and sat by the open window in the drawing-room. Mary Cavendish brought our coffee to us. She seemed excited.
　　 "Do you young people want lights, or do you enjoy the twilight?" she asked. "Will you take Mrs. Inglethorp her coffee, Cynthia? I will pour it out."
　　 "Do not trouble, Mary," said Inglethorp. "I will take it to Emily." He poured it out, and went out of the room carrying it carefully.
　　 Lawrence followed him, and Mrs. Cavendish sat down by us.
　　 We three sat for some time in silence. It was a glorious night, hot and still. Mrs. Cavendish fanned herself gently with a palm leaf.
　　 "It's almost too hot," she murmured. "We shall have a thunderstorm."
　　 Alas, that these harmonious moments can never endure! My paradise was rudely shattered by the sound of a well known, and heartily disliked, voice in the hall.
　　 "Dr. Bauerstein!" exclaimed Cynthia. "What a funny time to come."
　　 I glanced jealously at Mary Cavendish, but she seemed quite undisturbed, the delicate pallor of her cheeks did not vary.
　　 In a few moments, Alfred Inglethorp had ushered the doctor in, the latter laughing, and protesting that he was in no fit state for a drawing-room. In truth, he presented a sorry spectacle, being literally plastered with mud.
　　 "What have you been doing, doctor?" cried Mrs. Cavendish.
　　 "I must make my apologies," said the doctor. "I did not really mean to come in, but Mr. Inglethorp insisted."
　　 "Well, Bauerstein, you are in a plight," said John, strolling in from the hall. "Have some coffee, and tell us what you have been up to."
　　 "Thank you, I will." He laughed rather ruefully, as he described how he had discovered a very rare species of fern in an inaccessible place, and in his efforts to obtain it had lost his footing, and slipped ignominiously into a neighbouring pond.
　　 "The sun soon dried me off," he added, "but I'm afraid my appearance is very disreputable."
　　 At this juncture, Mrs. Inglethorp called to Cynthia from the hall, and the girl ran out.
　　 "Just carry up my despatch-case, will you, dear? I'm going to bed."
　　 The door into the hall was a wide one. I had risen when Cynthia did, John was close by me. There were therefore three witnesses who could swear that Mrs. Inglethorp was carrying her coffee, as yet untasted, in her hand.
　　 My evening was utterly and entirely spoilt by the presence of Dr. Bauerstein. It seemed to me the man would never go. He rose at last, however, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
　　 "I'll walk down to the village with you," said Mr. Inglethorp. "I must see our agent over those estate accounts." He turned to John. "No one need sit up. I will take the latch-key."