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《Agatha Christie - 02 - The Sittaford Mystery》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、THESITTAFORDMYSTERYAgathaChristieChapter1SITTAFORDHOUSEMajorBurnabydrewonhisgumboots,buttonedhisovercoatcollarroundhisneck,tookfromashelfnearthedoorahurricanelantern,andcautiouslyopenedthefrontdoorofhislittlebungalowandpeeredout.Thescenethatmethiseyeswastypica
2、loftheEnglishcountrysideasdepictedonXmascardsandinold-fashionedmelodramas.Everywherewassnow,deepdriftsofit-nomerepowderinganinchortwothick.SnowhadfallenalloverEnglandforthelastfourdays,anduphereonthefringeofDartmoorithadattainedadepthofseveralfeet.AlloverEngla
3、ndhouseholdersweregroaningoverburstpipes,andtohaveaplumberfriend(orevenaplumber'smate)wasthemostcovetedofalldistinctions.Uphere,inthetinyvillageofSittaford,atalltimesremotefromtheworld,andnowalmostcompletelycutoff,therigorsofwinterwereaveryrealproblem.MajorBur
4、naby,however,wasahardysoul.Hesnortedtwice,gruntedonce,andmarchedresolutelyoutintothesnow.Hisdestinationwasnotfaraway.Afewpacesalongawindinglane,theninatagate,andsoupadrivepartiallysweptclearofsnowtoahouseofsomeconsiderablesizebuiltofgranite.Thedoorwasopenedbya
5、neatlycladparlormaid.TheMajorwasdivestedofhisBritishWarm,hisgumbootsandhisagedscarf.Adoorwasflungopenandhepassedthroughitintoaroomwhichconveyedalltheillusionofatransformationscene.Althoughitwasonlyhalfpastthreethecurtainshadbeendrawn,theelectriclightswereonand
6、ahugefireblazedcheerfullyonthehearth.Twowomeninafternoonfrocksrosetogreetthestauncholdwarrior."Splendidofyoutoturnout,MajorBurnaby,"saidtheelderofthetwo."Notatall,MrsWillett,notatall.Verygoodofyoutoaskme."Heshookhandswiththemboth."MrGarfieldiscoming,"wentonMrs
7、Willett,"andMrDuke,andMrRycroftsaidhewouldcome-butonecanhardlyexpecthimathisageinsuchweather.Really,itistoodreadful.Onefeelsonemustdosomethingtokeeponeselfcheerful.Violet,putanotherlogonthefire."TheMajorrosegallantlytoperformthistask."Allowme,MissViolet."Heput
8、thelogexpertlyintherightplaceandreturnedoncemoretothearmchairhishostesshadindicated.Tryingnottoappearasthoughheweredoingso,hecastsurreptitiousglancesroundtheroom.Amazinghowacoupleo
