【英文短篇小说】War Dances（1）

THE DREAM Hercule Poirot gave the house a steady appraising glance. His eyes wandered a moment to its surroundings, the shops, the big factory building on the right, the blocks of cheap mansion flats opposite. Then once more his eyes returned to Nort

【英文短篇小说】Four and Twenty Blackbirds

FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS Hercule Poirot was dining with his friend, Henry Bonnington at the Gallant Endeavour in the Kings Road, Chelsea. Mr. Bonnington was fond of the Gallant Endeavour. He liked the leisurely atmosphere, he liked the food which w

【英文短篇小说】Too Near Real

On the first day of my forced sabbatical, I noticed a car driving down Nassau Street with a large spherical device extending from its top. It looked like the pasts vision of the future. I assumed it was part of some meteorology or physics or even psy

【英文短篇小说】The Road Virus Heads North（3）

Breathing hard, not quite panting, Kinnell hurried back into the entryway. The picture was still there, but it had changed once more. Now it showed two glaring white circlesheadlightswith the dark shape of the car hulking behind them. Hes on the move

【英文短篇小说】The Road Virus Heads North（2）

Aunt Trudy recovered her savoir-faire almost as soon as the watercolor was back in the trunk. They talked about Kinnells mother (Pasadena), his sister (Baton Rouge), and his ex-wife, Sally (Nashua). Sally was a space-case who ran an animal shelter ou

【英文短篇小说】The Road Virus Heads North（1）

Richard Kinnell wasnt frightened when he first saw the picture at the yard sale in Rosewood. He was fascinated by it, and he felt hed had the good luck to find something which might be very special, but fright? No. It didnt occur to him until later (

【英文短篇小说】Grace Notes（4）

When I reached the inner office my anger mounted to murderous levels: my mothers olivewood box lay in pieces in the garbage. I pulled it out. They had pried it apart, and torn out the velvet lining. One shred of pale green lay on the floor. I scrabbl

【英文短篇小说】Grace Notes（3）

VI Damn it, Warshawski, what were you doing here anyway? Sergeant John McGonnigal and I were talking in the back room of Mr. Fortieris shop while evidence technicians ravaged the front. I was as surprised to see him as he was me: Id worked with him,

【英文短篇小说】Grace Notes（2）

I collected my Trans Am from the doorman and drove down to the Golden Glow, the bar at the south end of the Loop owned by my friend Sal Barthele. My appearance with a good-looking stranger caused a stir among the regularsas Id hoped. Murray Ryerson,

【英文短篇小说】The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding（6）

(said) Poirot severely. You have drunk it? One sip was enough! said Bridget. I'm all right. Did I do it well, M. Poirot? Goodness, my arm hurts still after that tourniquet you made me put on it. You were splendid, my child, said Poirot. Splendid. But

【英文短篇小说】The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding（5）

The scene was indeed dramatic enough. A few yards away Bridget lay in the snow. She was wearing scarlet pyjamas and a white wool wrap thrown round her shoulders. The white wool wrap was stained with crimson. Her head was turned aside and hidden by th

【英文短篇小说】The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding（4）

Said Poirot gravely. I have been a bachelor for many long years and it is unlikely that I shall change that status now. Oh, never say die, said Michael. I saw in the paper that someone of ninety-five married a girl of twenty-two the other day. You en

【英文短篇小说】The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding（3）

They'd been very sweet, really, letting her lead her own life, not understanding in the least why she wanted to live in Chelsea in the way she did, but accepting it. That was due to Em of course. Grandfather would have kicked up no end of a row. Sara

【英文短篇小说】The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding（2）

Well, of course not. Why should I be? Old Colonel Lacey laughed, a deep, rumbling laugh. I wouldn't put it past you, Em, he said. When you look your most innocent is when you are up to something. Revolving these things in her mind, Mrs Lacey went on:

【英文短篇小说】Grace Notes（1）

I GABRIELLA SESTIERI OF PITIGLIANO. Anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts should contact the office of Malcolm Ranier. I WAS READING the Herald-Star at breakfast when the notice jumped out at me from the personal section. I put my coffee down with

【英文短篇小说】The Listerdale Mystery（2）

II Quentin, where did the lilies come from? I really can't buy expensive flowers. They were sent up from King's Cheviot, madam. It has always been the custom here. The butler withdrew. Mrs. St. Vincent heaved a sigh of relief. What would she do witho

【英文短篇小说】The Night Flier（1）

1 In spite of his pilot's license, Dees didn't really get interested until the murders at the airport in Maryland the third and fourth murders in the series. Then he smelled that special combination of blood and guts which readers of Inside View had

【英文短篇小说】We Can Remember It for You Wholesale（2）

After a delay probably as long as they could manage he found himself once more seated facing the imposing walnut desk, exactly as he had been an hour or so earlier in the day. Some technique you have, Quail said sardonically. His disappointment and r

【英文短篇小说】We Can Remember It for You Wholesale（1）

We Can Remember It For You Wholesale He awoke and wanted Mars. The valleys, he thought. What would it be like to trudge among them? Great and greater yet: the dream grew as he became fully conscious, the dream and the yearning. He could almost feel t

【英文短篇小说】No Comebacks（2）

Hughes stared at him without change of expression. 'Do you like music?' he asked at last. Sanderson was startled. He nodded. 'Let's have some music,' said Hughes. He rose and went to a portable radio standing on a table near the bed in the corner. As