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19_A_Very_Dear_Cat

19 A Very Dear Cat

Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat. Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years. Rastus leads an orderly life. He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock. One evening, however he failed to arrive. Mrs. Ramsay got very worried. She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.

Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter. The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of ￡1, 000. Mrs.Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door. At first, she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again--the letter had made that quite clear--she changed her mind. She withdrew ￡1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions. The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs.Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word. Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening. He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk. The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done. She explained that Rastus was very dear to her. Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!

绑架者很少对动物感兴趣。最近，绑架者却盯上了埃莉诺·拉姆齐太太的猫。埃莉诺·拉姆齐太太是一个非常富有的老妇人，多年来，一直同她养的猫拉斯一起住在一所公寓里。拉斯特斯生活很有规律，傍晚常常出去溜达一会儿，并且总是在7点钟以前回来。可是，有一天晚上，它出去后再也没回来。拉姆齐太太急坏了，四处寻找，但没有找着。

拉斯特斯失踪3天后，拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信。写信人声称拉斯特斯安然无恙，只要拉姆齐太太愿意支付1,000英镑赎金，可以立即将猫送还。他让拉姆齐太太把钱放在一个纸盒里，然后将纸盒放在门口。一开始拉姆齐太太打算报告警察，但又害怕再也见不到拉斯特斯——这点，信上说得十分明白——于是便改变了主意。她从银行取出1,000英镑，并照绑架者的要求做了。第二天早晨，放钱的盒子不见了。但拉姆齐太太确信绑架者是会履行诺言的。果然，当天晚上7点正，拉斯特斯准时回来了。它看上去一切正常，只是口渴得很，喝了半瓶牛奶。拉姆齐太太把她所做的事告诉了警察，警察听后大为吃惊。拉姆齐太太解释说她心疼她的猫拉斯特斯。想到她所花的那笔钱，她的心疼就具有双重意义了。

Words

  • Kidnappers /ˈkɪdˌnæpɚz/ n. 绑匪
    1. In response to the kidnapper’s requests, our answer is “NO”.
    2. The kidnapper gave him electric shocks last night.
    3. The kidnapper never took that into account.
  • considerable /kənˈsɪdərəbəl/ adj. 相当大的
    1. A considerable amount of research was done here by their team.
    2. The project wasted a considerable amount of time and money.
  • flat /flæt/ 公寓
  • anonymous /əˈnɑnəməs/ adj. 匿名的
    1. The money was given by a local businessman who wants to remain anonymous.
    2. Keaton made an anonymous phone call.
  • ransom /ˈrænsəm/ n. 赎金
    1. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of
    2. The old lady refused to pay the ransom.
    3. They agreed to pay the ransom.
    4. They should have paid the ransom.
  • cardboard /ˈkɑrdˌbɔrd/ n. 硬纸板
    1. After he had taken all the cardboard boxes to the basement, he took a shower.
    2. Let’s keep the status quo. Don’t move these cardboard boxes.
  • withdrew /wɪθˈdru/ v. 取钱
    1. You can withdraw cash from ATMs in any town or city.
    2. People will go to extremes to withdraw their money.
  • punctually /ˈpʌŋktʃuəli/ adv. 准时地
    1. The old lady got impatient, for he didn’t arrive punctually.
  • astounded /əˈstaʊndɪd/ v. adj. 使震惊
    1. The doctors were astounded (that) he survived.
    2. His movie never failed to astound me.
    3. We were astounded to read your letter.
  • dear /dɪr/ adj. 宝贵的
    1. Oddly enough, Mark became a dear friend.
    2. They lost everything (that was dear to them).

Expressions

  • be dear to somebody 为某人所珍视
  • a considerable amount/number of sth. 相当多的
  • in an orderly fashion/manner 有序地
  • anonymous + letter/ (phone) call 匿名信/电话
  • remain anonymous 保持匿名
  • a ransom of +钱
  • It astounded sb. that +句子 使某人吃惊的是...
    1. Let me make one thing perfectly clear — if I ever catch you treating my son poorly, I will make you regret the day you were born.
    2. Let me make it clear that this house is designed to help poor people.
  • share sth. with sb. 与某人分享某物
    1. He shared the pie with her.
    2. did/who/ why...
    3. Would you like to share your feelings with the group?
    4. Would you mind sharing a room with Jenny?
  • take a short/long walk 散一小会儿步/走很远
  • get worried… 担心起来
    1. After twenty minutes I started to get worried.
    2. Her bus is nearly two hours late, and I'm starting to get worried.
    3. When you told me that you got large sums of money, I got worried.
  • in safe hands… 安然无恙
    1. I believed he was in safe hands.
    2. Leo was confident that his company was in safe hands.
    3. I am sure that your money is in safe hands.
  • at first… 起初
    1. At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people.
    2. At first, they didn’t take that seriously.
    3. At first, these temples were used as a place of worship.
  • go to the police 报警
    1. I received an anonymous phone call, and told me not to go to the police about what I'd seen.
    2. She ought to have gone to the police.
    3. Oddly enough, she didn’t go the police.
  • make sth. clear… 把某事说清楚
    1. Let me make one thing perfectly clear — if I ever catch you treating my son poorly, I will make you regret the day you were born.
    2. Let me make it clear that this house is designed to help poor people.
  • change sb’s mind 改变某人的主意
    1. If you change your mind about the job, just give me a call.
    2. At first the doctor said I was suffering from a virus, but now he's changed his mind.
    3. What caused you to change your mind?
  • follow sb’s instructions... 听从某人的指示
    1. You should have followed the instructions.
    2. We were made to follow your father’s instructions.
    3. Leo realized to his horror that she didn’t follow the instructions.
  • keep sb’s word 遵守诺言
    1. I said I'd visit him and I shall keep my word.
    2. I think it important for one to keep his word.
  • sure enough 果然
    1. Sure enough, Mike managed to get lost.
    2. He said he would come, and sure enough he came.
    3. Sure enough, this was exempted from import duty.
  • sb. explained that + 句子 某人解释说……
    1. She explained that she had been ill.
    2. Alex explained that his car had broken down.
    3. He explained that he had to leave at once.
    4. Considering+ n., 句子
    5. Considering the weather, we got here pretty quickly.
    6. I was impressed that she found the way here, considering she'd only been here once before.
    7. He exhibited great self-control considering her rudeness.
    8. They're alike in more ways than one.
  • Considering+ n., 句子 考虑到……
  • in more ways than one 不止一种意义