[三年級英語]弗蘭肯斯坦

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1、 簡 介 　 　　或許以這個悲傷而恐怖的故事拍成的電影要比世界上由任何其他故事拍成的電影都要多。為什么有這么多的人喜歡它？因為當我們第一次讀到它時，它就好像是出自我們夢中的記憶一樣。 　　這是一個古老的故事，也是一個新的故事。說它“古老”是因為它創(chuàng)作于一百五十多年以前，那時的科學發(fā)展才剛剛起步；說它“新”是因為弗蘭肯斯坦的問題也就是我們今天所面臨的問題?？茖W給予我們力量去改造世界，但這種力量也可能與我們作對并毀滅我們。弗蘭肯斯坦創(chuàng)造了一個新的人，他比任何其他人都要巨大和強壯——然而弗蘭肯斯坦控制不了他，這個怪物毀滅了弗蘭肯斯坦所愛的一切。今天的科學家正在創(chuàng)造著巨大的機器、電

2、腦和武器，他們聲稱這些東西對我們有益——但我們能夠駕馭它們嗎？ 　　瑪麗·雪萊（1797—1851）是維多利亞時代的一位重要作家。她的丈夫是英格蘭最著名的詩人之一——珀西·比?！ぱ┤R。 　　　 　 　　　 1 　 　　‘Captain！ Something is moving on the ice．Look over there！’ 　　The sailor stood at the top of the mast， high above the Captain． His hand pointed away from the ship， across

3、 the miles of ice that covered the sea． 　　The Captain looked to the north， where the sailor was pointing． He saw something coming fast towards the ship across the ice． He put his telescope to his eye， and through it he could see the shapes of ten dogs pulling a sledge over the ice． He could also

4、see the driver of the sledge—a huge figure，much bigger than a man． 　　The sledge came nearer and nearer to the sea． Soon it was only a quarter of a mile from the ship．No one needed a telescope now to see the huge figure of the driver． 　　Suddenly the sledge went behind a mountain of ice and disa

5、ppeared． At that moment another sledge appeared． It， too，was moving fast， and was clearly chasing the first sledge． This driver was a smaller figure， more like an ordinary man．Faster and faster the dogs ran；then the second sledge also disappeared behind the mountain of ice． 　　Two hours passed． Th

6、e sledges did not appear again． Nothing moved on the ice． Soon night came， and in the night there was a storm． In the morning，the sailors saw that great pieces of ice were floating round the ship．Suddenly the sailor on the mast shouted again： 　　‘Captain， I can see a man on the ice．’ 　　The sail

7、or was pointing to a piece of ice that was floating near the ship． A man was sitting on the ice， and near him was a broken sledge． The man was nearly dead from cold and could not walk． The sailors carried him carefully onto the ship， and took him to the Captain， who said： 　　‘Welcome to my ship．I

8、am the Captain and my name is Robert Walton．’ 　　‘Thank you， Captain Walton，’ the man said．‘My name is Frankenstein， Victor Frankenstein．’ 　　Then he fainted and said no more． 　　Two days passed before the man was strong enough to talk and then the Captain asked him to tell his story． 　　‘I

9、am trying to catch someone，’ said Frankenstein．‘That is why I have come so far north on the ice．’ 　　‘We saw you following someone，’ the Captain said．‘He was huge， much bigger than a man． We saw his sledge just in front of you on the night before the storm．’ 　　‘I am pleased you all saw that hug

10、e figure，’ Frankenstein said．‘Perhaps that will help you to believe my story．’ 　　During the days， while the Captain worked on the ship，F(xiàn)rankenstein wrote down his story， and each evening he read what he had written to the Captain． 　　Here is Victor Frankenstein's story． 　 1 　 　　“船長，

11、有東西在冰面上移動！瞧那兒？” 　　那個船員高高地站在船長頭頂?shù)奈U頂上。他的手指著離船數(shù)英里以外覆蓋著大海的冰面。 　　船長朝那個船員指示的北方望去。他看見有個東西正穿過冰面、快速地朝船靠近。他把單筒望遠鏡湊近眼前并透過它看見有十只狗在冰面上拉著一只雪橇。他還看到駕駛雪橇的那個人——那是一個巨大的身軀，比常人要大得多。 　　雪橇離水面越來越近，很快它便離船只有1／4英里之遙。現(xiàn)在已不需借助望遠鏡便可看見那個乘雪橇的人的龐大的身軀了。 　　突然那個雪橇駛到一個冰山的后面消失了。就在那時，另一輛雪橇出現(xiàn)在眼前。它也在急馳著，并且顯然是在追逐那第一輛雪橇。駕駛這輛雪橇的人身

12、形小些，更像個普通人。狗跑得越來越快，接著第二輛雪橇也消失在了冰山的后面。 　　兩小時過去了，雪橇再也沒有出現(xiàn)過。再沒有東西在冰上移動。不久夜晚降臨了，晚上起了一場風暴。早上，船員們看到輪船的周圍都漂浮著巨大的冰塊。突然，桅桿上的船員又喊了起來： 　　“船長，我看見冰上有一個人?！? 　　那個船員正指著漂近輪船的一塊浮冰。有個人正坐在冰上，他的身旁有一輛壞了的雪橇。那個人快要凍死了并且走不了路。船員們小心地把他扶上了船，并把他帶到船長跟前。船長說道： 　　“歡迎您到我的船上來。我是船長，叫羅伯特·沃爾頓?！? 　　“謝謝您，沃爾頓船長?！蹦莻€人說道，“我的名字叫弗蘭肯

13、斯坦，維克多·弗蘭肯斯坦?！? 　　然后他就昏過去，不再說什么了。 　　兩天后，這個男人方才恢復過來能夠談話了，這時船長讓他講講自己的故事。 　　“我要盡力抓一個人，”弗蘭肯斯坦說道，“這就是我為什么要到這么遠的北方的冰面上來的原因?！? 　　“我們看見了你在追趕什么人?！贝L說道，“他很大，比常人要大很多。我們在風暴的前夜看見他的雪橇就在你的前面。” 　　“我很高興你們都見到了那個龐然大物，”弗蘭肯斯坦說道，“那也許能幫助你們相信我的故事?！? 　　白天，船長在船上工作時，弗蘭肯斯坦寫起了他的故事；晚上他便把寫的東西念給船長聽。 　　下面就是弗蘭肯斯坦的故

14、事。 　　　 2 　 　　I was born in Switzerland， in the town of Geneva． My parents loved each other very much， and I learnt from the example of their love．I learnt that to love and to be patient are the most important things in the world． 　　My mother hoped to have a daughter after I was born， bu

15、t for five years I was the only child． And then my mother found a sister for me．She was helping a family in which there were five children． They were very poor，and the children were thin and hungry． One of the children was a little girl， with golden hair and blue eyes Her name was Elizabeth． My moth

16、er took the little girl into our family，and Elizabeth became the daughter that my mother had always wanted． As I grew older， my love for Elizabeth became stronger all the time． 　　Later my mother had two other sons， Ernest and William．A young woman called Justine came to live in the house to help

17、my mother with the children． We loved her as much as she loved us． 　　The years passed happily， and we had everything that we needed． At school I met another very fine person． His name was Henry Clerval， and he was very clever． My family also liked him very much， so he was a welcome visitor to our

18、 house． 　　I studied very hard at school．I wanted to know the secrets of life， and， most of all， I wanted to know how to make living things．I read all the books that I could find．One day，some－thing happened that added a new idea to the ideas that I al－ready had．I was fifteen at the time， and we we

19、re on holiday in the mountains． There was a wild storm， and with it came the most frightening thunder and lightning that I had ever seen in my life． About twenty metres in front of our house was a great tree．Suddenly a huge fork of lightning hit the tree．After a few seconds， there was nothing left o

20、f it except a black piece of wood two metres high． The lightning had destroyed it． 　　I saw how strong electricity was． I began to read all the books that I could find about electricity and its terrible power． 　 維克多的故事開始了 　 2 　 　　我出生在瑞士的日內(nèi)瓦城。我父母彼此相愛至深，而且我以他們的愛心為榜樣。我懂得了去愛他人和富有耐心是世

21、界上最重要的事情。 　　在生下我后，我母親希望再生一個女兒，但在五年之中我都是唯一的孩子。后來我母親給我找了一個妹妹。她那時在一個有五個孩子的家庭里幫忙。他們非常窮，孩子們都又瘦又餓。其中一個孩子是一個頭發(fā)金黃、有一對藍色的眼睛的小女孩。她名叫伊麗莎白。我母親把那個小女孩帶到了我家，于是伊麗莎白便成了我母親盼望已久的女兒。隨著年齡的增長，我對伊麗莎白的愛與日俱增。 　　后來我母親又生了兩個兒子：歐內(nèi)斯特和威廉。有個名叫賈斯汀的年輕女子來我家?guī)臀夷赣H照看孩子們。我們像她愛我們一樣地愛她。 　　歲月快樂地流逝著，我們擁有所需要的一切。在學校里我遇見了另外一個非常好的人，他的名字叫

22、亨利·克勒沃，人非常聰明。我的家人也非常喜歡他，所以他是我們家受歡迎的客人。 　　我在學校學得很刻苦。我想要知道生命的奧秘，而且我最想知道的便是如何制造有生命的東西。我閱讀了我能找到的一切書籍。有一天發(fā)生了一件事情，它給我新的啟發(fā)。我那時15歲，我們正在山中度假。那天有一場暴風雨，夾雜其間的是我平生見過的最為嚇人的雷霆和閃電。在我們的房子前面約二十米處有一棵大樹。突然間一個叉狀閃電擊中了大樹。 幾秒鐘之后，那棵大樹便只剩下兩米高的一塊黑木頭。閃電摧毀了它。 　　我看到了電的力量有多么大。我開始閱讀我能找到的有關電及其可怕力量的一切書籍。 　　　 3 　 　　Fo

23、r seventeen years my life was very happy． Then the first sad thing happened． My mother became very ill，and soon she knew that she was dying． Just before she died，she asked Elizabeth and me to go to her room． She held our hands and said： 　　‘My children， I am very happy because you love each other，

24、and because one day you will get married． Everyone in the family loves you， Elizabeth． Will you take my place in the family， my dear？ I can die happy if you will look after them when I have gone．’ 　　My mother died， and we were very sad， because we loved her dearly Elizabeth was brave and helped u

25、s； her sweet smile gave us some happiness in the unhappy days after my mother's death． 　　The time came for me to go to university．I did not want to leave my sad family， but we all knew that I should go． It was hard to leave， too， because the parents of my good friend Henry Clerval would not let h

26、im go to university with me． And so I had to go alone． 　　On my first day at the university I met my teacher， Professor Waldman， who was one of the greatest scientists in the world． He gave a wonderful talk to all the students who were starting at the university． He ended his talk by saying：‘Some

27、of you will become the great scientists of tomorrow． You must study hard and discover everything that you can． That is why God made you intelligent—to help other people．’ 　　After the professor's talk，I thought very carefully．I remembered the storm when I was fifteen． I remembered how the lightnin

28、g had destroyed the tree．I wanted to use electricity to help people， and I wanted to discover the secrets of life．I decided to work on these two things． I did not know then that my work would destroy me and the people that I loved． 　　I started work the next day． I worked very hard and soon Profes

29、sor Waldman and I realized that I could learn to be a very good scientist． 　　The professor helped me very much， and other important scientists who were his friends helped me，too． I was interested in my work and I did not take one day's holiday during the next two years． I did not go home， and my

30、letters to my family were very short． 　　After two years I had discovered many things and I built a scientific machine that was better than anything in the university． My machine would help me answer the most important question of all． How does life begin？ Is it possible to put life into dead thin

31、gs？ To answer these questions about life I had to learn first about death．I had to watch bodies from the moment when they died and the warm life left them． In the hospital and in the university， I watched the dying and the dead．Day after day， month after month， I followed death．It was a dark and ter

32、rible time． 　　Then one day， the answer came to me． Suddenly I was sure that I knew the secret of life． I knew that I could put life into a body that was not alive． 　　I worked harder and harder now． I slept for only a short time each night， and I did not eat much food．I wrote to my family less

33、often． But they loved me and did not stop writing to me．They said they understood how busy I was． They did not want me to stop work to write or to see them． They would wait until I had more time． They hoped to see me very soon． 　　The professors realized that I was doing very important work， and s

34、o they gave me my own laboratory． There was a small flat above the laboratory， where I lived， and sometimes I stayed inside the building for a week and did not go out． 　　Above the laboratory I built a very tall mast． It was 150metres high， and higher than the tallest building in the city．The mast

35、 could catch lightning and could send the electricity down to my machine in the laboratory． I had never forgotten the lightning that had destroyed the tree． There had been so much power in the electricity of that lightning． I believed I could use that electricity to give life to things that were dea

36、d． 　　I will say no more than that． The secret of my machine must die with me． I was a very clever scientist， but I did not realize then what a terrible mistake I was making． 　 3 　 　　在17年的生命歷程中我都很幸福。后來第一件悲傷的事發(fā)生了。我母親病得很厲害，不久她便知道自己將不久于人世。就在她去世之前，她把伊麗莎白和我叫到她的房間。她抓住我們的手說道： 　　“孩子們，你們彼此相愛

37、并且將會結(jié)婚，我因此非常高興。家里的每個人都很愛你，伊麗莎白。你愿意取代我在家中的位置嗎，親愛的？如果你在我走后能照顧他們，我將會走得很幸福?！? 　　我母親死了，我們都非常傷心，因為我們非常愛她。伊麗莎白很勇敢并幫著我們；她那甜美的微笑在母親死后的那些不快的日子里給我們帶來了一些快樂。 　　到了我該上大學的時候了。我不想離開我那悲傷的家，可我們都知道我應該去。離別也是很難的，因為我的好朋友克勒沃的父母不讓他和我一起去上大學。這樣我只能獨自一人去了。 　　大學的第一天我遇到了我的老師沃得曼教授，他是世界上最偉大的科學家之一。他給我們所有開始大學生活的學生做了一次精彩的演講。他在

38、結(jié)束講話時說：“你們中的一些人將成為明天的科學家。你們必須努力學習并且去揭示你們所能揭示的事物。這就是上帝為什么給了你們智慧——去幫助他人?！? 　　教授演講過后，我進行了非常認真的思考。我想起了我15歲時的那場暴風雨。我記得那次的閃電是如何摧毀了那棵樹的。我想利用電去幫助人們，我還想去揭示生命的奧秘。我決心去從事這兩項工作。我當時沒有想到我的工作會毀了我還有我所愛的人們。 　　第二天我就開始了工作。我工作非常努力，我和沃得曼教授不久便意識到我可以通過學習成為一名出色的科學家。 　　教授幫了我很多的忙，那些是教授的朋友的、重要的科學家們也幫助過我。我對我的工作很感興趣，在接下來

39、的兩年里我沒有休過一天假。我沒有回過家，給家里寫的信也非常短。 　　兩年后我發(fā)現(xiàn)了很多的事物并建造了一臺比大學里的任何機器都好的科學機器。我的機器能幫助我回答最重要的問題。生命是如何開始的？可以把生命注入無生命的東西中去嗎？要回答有關生命的這些問題我首先得了解死亡。我得從他們剛死、滾熱的生命離開人體的那一剎那起進行觀察。在醫(yī)院里和大學里，我觀察著垂死的人和已死的人。日復一日、月復一月，我都在跟蹤死亡。那是黑暗和恐懼的日子。 　　后來有一天我得到了答案。我突然間確信自己懂得了生命的奧秘。我知道我能將生命注入一個無生命的身體中去。 　　現(xiàn)在我工作越來越努力。每天晚上我只睡很短的時

40、間，吃的東西也很少。我給家里寫的信更加少了。但是家里的人愛我，他們沒有停止給我寫信。他們說他們理解我有多忙。他們不想讓我停止工作而去給他們寫信或是去看望他們。他們愿意等到我有時間的時候再說。他們希望很快見到我。 　　教授們意識到我在從事一項重要的工作，因而給了我一間實驗室。實驗室的上面有一個小的套房，我就住在里面；有時候我一個星期都呆在那座建筑物里不出去。 　　我在實驗室的上方建起了一個很高的桿子。它有150米高，比全城最高的建筑物都要高。那個桿子能夠“捕獲”閃電并把電送到我實驗室的機器上。我從未忘記摧毀那棵樹的閃電。那次閃電中的電曾有那么大的力量。我相信我可以利用電給無生命的東西

41、注以生命。 　　我不想再多說什么了。我的機器的秘密必須隨我一起消亡。我是個很聰明的科學家，可我那時沒有意識到我在犯多么可怕的錯誤。 　　　 4 　 　　In my laboratory I made a body． I bought or stole all the pieces of human body that I needed， and slowly and carefully， I put them all together． 　　I did not let anybody enter my laboratory or my flat while I

42、was doing this awful work． I was afraid to tell anybody my terrible secret． 　　I had wanted to make a beautiful man， but the face of the creature was horrible． Its skin was thin and yellow， and its eyes were as yellow as its skin． Its long black hair and white teeth were almost beautiful， but the

43、rest of the face was very ugly． 　　Its legs and arms were the right shape， but they were huge．I had to use big pieces because it was too difficult to join small pieces together． My creature was two and a half metres tall． 　　For a year I had worked to make this creature， but now it looked terrib

44、le and frightening． I almost decided to destroy it．But I could not． I had to know if I could put life into it． 　　I joined the body to the wires from my machine． More wires joined the machine to the mast． I was sure that my machine could use electricity from lightning to give life to the body． I w

45、atched and waited．Two days later I saw dark clouds in the sky， and I knew that a storm was coming． At about one o'clock in the morning the lightning came．My mast began to do its work immediately， and the electricity from the lightning travelled down the mast to my machine． Would the machine work？

46、 　　At first nothing happened． But after a few minutes I saw the creature's body begin to move．Slowly， terribly， the body came alive． His arms and legs began to move， and slowly he sat up． 　　The dead body had been an ugly thing， but alive， he was much more horrible． Suddenly I wanted to escape fro

47、m him． I ran out of the laboratory， and locked the door． I was filled with fear at what I had done． 　　For hours I walked up and down in my flat． At last I lay down on my bed， and fell asleep． But my sleep was full of terrible dreams， and I woke up suddenly． The horrible thing that I had created w

48、as standing by my bed． His yellow eyes were looking at me； his mouth opened and he made strange sounds at me． On his yellow face there was an awful smile． One of his huge hands reached towards me… 　　Before he could touch me， I jumped off the bed and ran downstairs into the garden． I stayed there

49、all night， but I could not think clearly．I was afraid． And when morning came， I went out into the town and began to walk about． 　　I did not notice where I was walking， but soon I came to the station． A train from Geneva had just arrived， and the passengers were leaving the station． One of them ra

50、n towards me when he saw me． It was my dear friend Henry Clerval． 　　He was very pleased to see me． He took my hand and shook it warmly． 　　‘My dear Victor！’ he said．‘What a lucky chance that you are here at the station． Your father， and Elizabeth and the others， are very worried about you， beca

51、use you have not visited them for a long time． They ask me to make sure that you are well． And I have very good news． My father has agreed to let me study at the university， so we shall be able to spend a lot of time together．’ 　　I was very happy to hear this news， and for a moment I for-got my f

52、ears．I took Henry back to my flat and asked him to wait outside while I went in to look． I was afraid that the creature was still there． But he had disappeared．At that time I did not think of other people， and what the creature could do to them．I took Henry into the flat and cooked a meal for us．But

53、 Henry noticed how thin I was，and that I was laughing too much and could not sit still． 　　Suddenly he said：‘My dear Victor， what is the matter with you？Are you ill？ Has something awful happened？’ 　　‘Don't ask me that，’ I cried． I put my hands over my eyes．I thought I could see the horrible cre

54、ature there in front of me． I pointed wildly across the room， and shouted：‘He can tell you． Save me！ Save me！’ I tried to fight the creature，but there was nothing there． Then I fainted and fell to the floor． 　　Poor Henry！ I do not know what he thought． He called a doctor and they put me to bed． I

55、 was very ill for two months，and Henry stayed and looked after me． His loving care saved me from death． 　　I wanted to go home and see my family as soon as possible．When I was well enough，I packed my clothes and books．All my luggage was ready， and I was feeling very happy when the postman arrived

56、with some letters．One of the letters ended my short time of happiness． 　 4 　 　　我在我的實驗室中造了一個人體。我所需要的人體各部分均是我買來或偷來的，然后我緩慢而細心地把它們拼湊到了一起。 　　在干這項可怕的工作時，我沒有讓任何人進入我的實驗室和我的住處。我不敢告訴任何人我那可怕的秘密。 　　我曾想造一個漂亮的男人，但這個家伙的臉非?？膳拢浩つw又薄又黃，眼睛同皮膚一樣黃。黑長的頭發(fā)和白色的牙齒倒也漂亮，臉上的其余部分卻很丑陋。 　　它的腿和胳膊的形狀是對的，但它們太大了。因為

57、拼接小片的人體太困難了，我只得用大片的去拼接。我創(chuàng)造的這個東西2.5米高。 　　我曾為制造這個東西工作了一年時間，現(xiàn)在它卻看上去恐怖嚇人。我?guī)缀跻獩Q定毀了它。但我做不到。我必須知道我是否能將生命植入其中。 　　我把那個身體同我機器上的那些電線連接起來。更多的電線再把機器和桿子連接起來。我確信我的機器可以用閃電給那個身體生命。我觀察著、等待著。兩天后我看到天上有了烏云，知道將有一場暴風雨來臨。大約在凌晨1點鐘閃電閃了一下。我的桿子立即開始工作，閃電通過桿子傳到了我的機器上。機器會管用嗎？ 　　起先沒有發(fā)生什么。但是幾分鐘過后我看見那個東西的軀體在動。那具軀體緩慢而怕人地變活了。

58、他的胳膊和腿開始移動，而且他慢慢地坐了起來。 　　那個無生命的軀體本來就可怕，而現(xiàn)在變成活的就更加恐怖了。突然間我想逃開。我跑出實驗室并且鎖上了門。我對我所做的一切充滿了恐懼。 　　有好幾個小時我都在我的房間里走來走去。最后我躺倒在床上并睡著了?？墒菒簤艨M繞著我，我便猛然醒了過來。我所創(chuàng)造的那個可怕的東西正站在我的床邊。他的黃色的眼睛正看著我。他的嘴張著并對我發(fā)出奇怪的聲音。他的黃色的臉龐上露出可怕的笑容。他的一只大手伸向了我…… 　　沒等他碰到我，我便跳下床沖到了樓下的花園里。我整個晚上都呆在那兒，只是思維已不清楚了。我很害怕。等到早上，我便走出花園到城里去并開始四處逛悠。

59、 　　我沒注意我在什么地方走，但不久便到了火車站。剛好從日內(nèi)瓦來了一趟火車，乘客正走出車站。其中一位見到我后便朝我跑了過來。原來是我的好朋友亨利·克勒沃。 　　他見到我很高興。他抓住我的手熱情地握了起來。 　　“我親愛的維克多！”他說道，“你在車站這兒真是巧極了。你父親、伊麗莎白還有其他人都非常為你擔心，因為你很久沒有探望他們了。他們讓我來看看你的身體是否還好。另外我還有個好消息。我父親已同意讓我上大學學習，這樣我們就能有好多時間呆在一起了?！? 　　我聽了這個消息后很高興，并且有一陣兒都忘記了我的恐懼之感。我把亨利帶回我的公寓并讓他在外面等著以便我能進去看一看。我害怕那

60、個家伙還在那兒。但是他已經(jīng)不見了。那時我沒有想到過其他人以及那個家伙會對他們怎么樣。我把亨利領進屋里并給我們做了頓吃的。然而亨利注意到了我有多么瘦削，我還笑得太多，也不能安靜地坐著。 　　他突然說道：“我親愛的維克多，你怎么啦？你生病了嗎？發(fā)生了什么可怕的事情了嗎？” 　　“別問我這個，”我喊道。我用手捂住眼睛。當時我想我能看見那個可怕的家伙正在我的面前。我發(fā)瘋似地指向屋子，并且喊道：“他能告訴你。救救我！救救我！”我想去同那個家伙搏斗，但那兒什么也沒有。然后我就暈過去，倒在了地板上。 　　可憐的亨利！我不知道他當時是怎么想的。他叫了個醫(yī)生并且一起把我扶到了床上。我大病了兩個

61、月，亨利一直留下來照顧我。他那充滿愛意的護理把我從死亡那兒救了回來。 　　我想盡快回家去見我的家人。在我恢復得足夠強壯后，我便收拾起衣服和書籍。我的行李都已準備好了，但是正當我無比高興時郵遞員給我送來了幾封信。其中的一封結(jié)束了我短暫的快樂時光。 　　　 5 　 　　The letter was from my father in Geneva， and this is what he wrote： 　　My dear Victor， 　　I want you to know before you arrive home that an awful thin

62、g has happened．Your dear youngest brother，William，is dead． He was murdered． It happened last Thursday evening when Elizabeth and I and your two brothers， Ernest and William， went for a walk outside the city． William and Ernest were playing． William had hidden from Ernest， and Ernest asked Elizabeth

63、and me to help find William． We all began to search for him， but we couldn't find him． We searched all night． At five in the morning I found him． He was lying on the grass， white and still． I could see the marks of fingers on his neck—the murderer had strangled him． 　　Elizabeth had let him wear a

64、 gold chain of hers round his neck．On the chain was a very small picture of your mother．We all think that someone murdered William to steal the gold chain．Poor Elizabeth is terribly unhappy at William's death． She thinks he died because she let him wear the chain． Hurry home， my dear Victor． You are

65、 the only one who can help Elizabeth， and we all need you． 　　With all our love， 　　Your Father 　　Henry helped me to catch the train． The journey seemed very long， and it was late at night before the train reached Geneva． I decided to spend the night in a village outside the town and go home

66、early in the morning． I wanted to see the place where William had died． 　　As I started my walk， a storm broke and lightning lit the sky． The police had put posts round the place where the murderer had strangled William，so I found it easily．I cried sadly as I stood there． My poor brother had been a kind and happy boy， and we had all loved him． 　　Again the lightning lit the sky， and I saw a huge figure standing in the rain． When I saw it， I knew at once what it was．It was the creature that I