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Lesson Three,Blackmail,Teaching Content,Part One Culture link Part Two Background information Part Three Detailed study of the text Part Four Rhetorical devices Part Five Exercises,Part One Culture link,Blackmail: n. v. the obtaining of money or advancement by threatening to make known unpleasant facts about a person or a group. blackmail sb 敲诈某人 blackmail sb into doing sth,In blackmail the threat might consist of physical injury to the threatened person or to someone loved by that person, or injury to a persons reputation. In some cases the victim is told that an illegal act he or she had previously committed will be exposed if the victim fails to comply with the demand.,Writing Style,This narrative article is excerpted from novel Hotel (1965). The author is skillful in using sarcasm and creating characters to make a strong impression on his readers. In this excerpt, conversations and conflicts are used to describe the main characters.,Part Two Background information,Arthur Hailey,The Final Diagnosis (1959) 最后的诊断 In High Places (1962) 高地 Hotel (1966) 大饭店 Airport (1968) 机场 Wheels (1971) 转轮 The Moneychangers (1975) 货币兑换机 Strong Medicine (1984) 烈药 Detective (1997) 侦探,Publications,About the novel Hotel,Setting: The story happened in a hotel named St. Gregory in New Orleans, Louisiana which is in the south of US. Main character of the novel: Warren Trent: Owner Peter McDermott, assistant general manager Christine Francis: secretary,Main characters in this part of the novel: Ogilvie: chief house officer the Duke of Croydon: newly appointed British ambassador to the United States the Duchess of Croydon: wife of the Duke,Plot : the owner of the Hotel was now at the brink of bankruptcy, but Peter McDermott is trying every means he could to save it. Several events happened during the week with the present text as part of it. A surprising ending: An old man, who was saved when he was in serious illness by Peter and his girl friend: Christine Francis, bought that hotel and makes Peter the new executive vice-president, with complete authority to run the hotel as he thinks fit.,About this article,Background: The Duke and Duchess hit and killed a mother and her daughter when coming home from a gambling place and they ran away. The house detective, Ogilvie , noticed the battered car, but he did not go to report the police, instead, he comes to the couples suite and had talked with them.,Question: Can you predict what will happen between them? Pay attention to how the author depicts the characters: Ogilvie, Duke and Duchess Different language and behavior may reflect different characteristics,Detailed study of the text Para. 1,1. The chief house officer, Ogilvie, who had declared he would appear at the Croydons suite an hour after his cryptic telephone call, actually took twice that time. (1) Chief house officer: hotels in the U.S. employ detectives to take care of hotel security, called “house dicks” (Slang: a detective), dignified name-house officer (2) suiteswi:t: a set of rooms in a hotel usually expensive. (3) cryptic: secret, mysterious,Ogilvie, the chief house officer, gave the Croydons a mysterious telephone call telling them he would pay them a visit an hour later, but actually he appeared at their suite two hours later. Ogilvie, actually took twice that time. (Why?) To create the impression that he was a busy and important man;,Para. 1,2. As a result the nerves of both the Duke and the Duchess were excessively frayed when the muted buzzer of the outer door eventually sounded. (1) The rank of nobleman in Britain: Duke; marquis, earl, viscount; baron. Duke, its rank is just below that of a prince. Duchess: wife or widow of a duke, or a woman with a rank equal that of a duke. (2) fray: a. to cause rope, cloth etc. to become thin or worn by rubbing E.g. His shirt is frayed at the neck / elbows. b. to cause a persons temper, nerves, etc to become worn out 烦躁，紧张 His nerves were frayed by the noises in the street.,Para. 1,Eventually, the Duke and Duchess were extremely nervous the door bell sounded.,3. Earlier she had dispatched her maid on an invented errandBedlington terriers. (1) dispatch: (fml.) to send away / off for a particular reason or in order to carry out a particular task (2) errand : a short journey made to get sth. Or to carry a message.,Para. 2,terrier: any of several types of small active dogs, originally used for hunting The Bedlington terrier is a breed of blue or liver-coloured,红褐色的 active, typically small dogs.,Para.2,Bedlington terrier,5. A wave of cigar smoke accompanied Ogilvie in.the Duchess looked pointedly at the half-burned cigar in the fat mans mouth. What can you say about Ogilvie? The Duchess looked pointedly, that is, directly and sharply at the cigar, trying to intimidate him with her superior social position.,Para. 3,6. Would you kindly put that out. A period instead of a question mark, indicating it is said in a falling tone, meant to be a command, not a polite request.,Para. 3,7. The house detectives piggy eyes surveyed her sardonically from his gross jowled face. (1) piggy eyes: small, narrow eyes. piggy: dirty, greedy You are a pig (dirty, greedy, ill-mannered) Dont be a pig (greedy) Ive made a pig of myself. (Ive eaten too much),Para. 4,(2) surveyed her sardonically: he looked her up and down scornfully (3) gross: unpleasantly fat, vulgar, not refined (4) jowl: double chins,Para. 4,8. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-appointed room, encompassing the Duke who faced them uncertainly, his back to the window. (1) sweep: glance swiftly (2) Well-appointed: well-furnished and arranged,Para. 4,8. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-appointed room, encompassing the Duke who faced them uncertainly, his back to the window. His glance passed swiftly the big, excellently furnished and arranged room, including the Duke who was looking at them uneasily and leaning against a window.,Para. 4,9. Pretty neat set-up you folks got What do you know Ogilvies language? Ogilvies language is ungrammatical, vulgar and slangy. Neat is slangy, meaning nice, fine; set-up, a noun, the arrangement of furniture, etc. This is a pretty nice room that you have got.,Para. 5,10. Taking his time, Ogilvie removed the offending cigar, knock off the ash and flipped the butt toward an ornamental fireplace on the right. (1) remove: take away the cigar from his mouth (2) flip: throw or toss slightly.,Para. 5,11. I imagine you did not come here to discuss dcor I imagine you did not come here to discuss the arrangement of the furniture and other decorations of this suite. She wanted to say: speak your mind. Dont waste time. Pay attention to her language, the Queens English and use strictly grammatical structures and choose words carefully.,Para. 6,12. The obese body shook in an appreciative chuckle. He lowered the level of his incongruous falsetto voice. Jaguar aint it?” (1) obese: extremely fat; overweight (2) chuckle: to laugh quietly or to oneself 轻笑，咯咯笑 (3) incongruous: not in harmony or agreement with, not harmonious, absurd, inappropriate e.g.: A modern building that looks incongruous with that old fashioned village,Para. 7,(4) falsetto: n. adj. adv. unusually/unnaturally high voice by a man, esp. in singing 假声 (5) Jaguar: a brand of very expensive British made sports car.,Para. 11,Jaguar,13. “Aah!” it was not a spoken word, but his wife shot him a swift, warning glance. (1) Aah indicates that now the Duke has recognized the purpose of Ogilvies visiting. He was startled and perhaps a little afraid that things had now come out into the open. (2) shoot a glance: give a quick glance at Why?,Para. 8,14. In what conceivable way does our car concern you? I can hardly imagine how our car could concern you in any way. Why are you so interested in our car? 15. As if the question from the Duchess had been “who else is in this place?” The Duchesss question had seemed to be a motive/stimulus/sting, which made Ogilvies talking manner change.,Para. 9,16. Who else is in this place? Is there anyone else in this room? It indicates that the house detective came here not for an honest purpose, and he had some other purposes in his mind.,Para. 10,Para. 11,17. We sent them out. Theres things it pays to check. Moving with surprising speedthe living room. (1) we sent them out: another mistake the Duke made. He was admitting that they knew what Ogilvie had come for and that they had things to hide. (2) Theres things it pays to check: There were some things worth investigating. It pays to check: to be worthwhile/profitable to check,18. Now then, he said, you two was in the hit-n-run. (1) now then: used to call attention or to express a warning or protest.警告，看啊，宣称 You two are guilty of that hit-and-run accident. Hit-and-run is usually used to describe a driver who flees from the scene of an accident in which he is involved.,Para. 14,Para. 15,19. She met his eyes directly. “What are you talking about?” The Duchess pretended that she was innocent of what he accused her of and therefore dared to take up the challenge.,Para. 18,“I told youcut it out!” The words spat forth with sudden savagery, all pretense of blandness gone. (1) cut out: stop doing sth. (2) spit forth: eject/spring out. “the words spat forth” is more forceful and vivid than “the words were spat forth” (3) savagery: savage behavior or nature, violence. (4) pretense of blandness gone: nominative absolute construction with a noun phrase plus a past participle. Ogilvie threw away his pretended politeness/gentleness.,Para.18,Ignoring the Duke, Ogilvie waved the unlighted cigar under his adversarys nose. You listen to me, your high-an-mightiness. This citys burning madwho killed the mother and the kid, then high-tailed it, they will throw the book and nevertitles neither. (1) Ignoring the Duke, Ogilvie waved the unlighted cigar under his adversarys nose: He knew that the Duchess was the stronger character of the two and it was she that he had to deal with, so she was his enemy. (2) adversary: an opponent, an enemy.,(4) high-tailed it:(colloquial) leave in a hurry, run away (5) throw the book and never mind who it hits: they will impose a severe penalty on the criminal in accordance to law, not caring a bit about who will be punished. Throw the book at sb: severely punish sb；To make all possible charges against (a lawbreaker, for example).,Now I know what I know, and if I do by rights, I should, therell be a squad of cops in here so fast youll hardly seeem. (1) If I do what by rightshardly see them: if I do what I should do in justice (to report what I know to the police headquarters), a group of policemen will come over very fast, so fast that you wouldnt be able to see them moving.,But I come to you first, in fairness, sos you could tell your side of it to me. The piggy eyes blinked, then hardened, If you want it the other way, just say so. (1) you could tell your side of it to me: you could talk about your own way to deal with such a problem with me. (2) blink: to close and open ones eyes quickly (3) harden: To make unfeeling, unsympathetic 冷酷无情 (4) if you want it the other way: if you refuse to tell me the truth and prefer to have the law to interfere.,Para.19,The duchess of Croydon three centuries and a half of inbred arrogance behind her-did not yield easily. (1) inbred: inborn The Duchess was supported by her arrogance coming from parents of noble families for more than three hundred years. So she did not give in easily.,Para.19,Springing to her feet, her face wrathful, gray-green eyes blazing, she faced the grossness of the house detective squarely. (1) spring to her feet: jump up/hop (2) wrathful: Full of wrath; fiercely angry (3) blaze: To burn with a bright flame. Here it refers to the angry fire. (4)squarely: she stood up boldly and rebuked the coarse vulgarity of the house detective.,Para.20,Even the self-assurance of Ogilvie flickered for an instantIts no good, old girlI am to blame. I was driving the car and killed the little girl. (1) flickered: initially it means to burn unsteadily; shine with an unsteady light. Figuratively it means to waver, shake. (2) its no go, old girl. It was a good try: its no use. no go is a colloquialism, meaning not possible. Old girl: is an informal way of addressing ones wife. (3) I am to blame. Be to blame: should be condemned/criticized,Para.21,Thats more like it: thats what you should say. That is more acceptable/plausible. O.K. Ill go with you. - Thats more like it. 好吧， 我和你一同去。 -这才像话。,Para.21,now were getting somewhere Now we are making some progress, accomplishing something.,Para.23,The house detective took his time: it is the second time that Ogilvie has done so, both times to make the impact of what he is going to say on the Croydons even stronger.,Para.24,Leastways, I guess youd call her that if youre not too fussy. (1) leastways: at least; anyway (2) fussy: too concerned/critical过分挑剔的 I guess if you are not too concerned about what words to use, at least youd call her lady friend.,Para.32,The house detective clucked his tongue reprovingly. (1) clucked his tongue reprovingly: he made noises with his tongue to show his disapproval. How can you be so careless! (2)reprove: criticize/rebuke,Explains that one. Anyway, I reckon you were lickered up, but good (1) explains that one: this fact explains why you were driving in your drunken state; driving when you were drunk. (2) lickered up: liquored up/ drunk (3) liquor: an alcoholic drink Wine: mainly grape wine (sweet or dry wine) Soft drinks: non-alcoholic, like soda,Para.34,51. Looked right shaken, too, the pair of you. Just come in myself, an I got to wondering why. Like I said, I got a curious nature. (1) shaken: uneasy/quivering/trembling/upset/shocked (2) Just come in my self: at that time I just come in myself. (3) I got to wondering why: I began to wander why you two looked shaken (4) curious: eager to know/willing to know,Para.38,53. On a hunch I went over the garage and took a quiet looksee at your car. (1) hunch: an intuitive feeling/intuition (2) look see: (slang) a quick look or inspection/survey Depending on my intuition, I suspected and felt there was something wrong, I went over to the garage to inspect.,Para.40,54. : jockey: usu. Professional rider in horse-races, here it means persons who park cars or trucks in a storage garage, also called car jockeys. 55. The Duke licked his lips. “I suppose that doesnt matter now.” The Duke licked his lips and said “now that our secret has been discovered, whether the drivers see our car or not doesnt matter now.,Para.40-41,56. You might have something there, Ogilive conceded. (1) concede: to acknowledge or admit There might have left something on that car accident spot, Ogilive admitted.,Para.42,Para. 42,57. Anyway, what I found made me do some scoutingacross at police headquarters where they know me too. scout: investigate/explore At least/in any way, what I found motivated me to conduct some searching and exploring; I went to the police headquarters and got some information because the pops knew me.,58. puff: smoking tobacco. 吞云吐雾：如吸烟时吸入和呼出的行为 59. Over there they got three things to go on: -at police headquarters, they have three clues to base their investigation on. 60. trim: n. decoration or ornament. v. To make neat or tidy by clipping, smoothing使整洁，整理，修剪,Para.42,61. You rub clothes against something hard, Duchess, specially if its shiny like a car fender, say, anit leaves a mark the same way as fingerprints. car fender: metal framework placed in front of a car to protect the car from damaging. 62. dust it, an it shows: put some kind of powder on the car fender and the brush trace shows up.,Para.44,64. Aint any doubt theyd match up, even without the brush trace an the blood. Aint: (colloquial), am not, is not, are not, has not, have not. I havent any doubt, there isnt any doubt that the trim ring that had come off the car and the smashed headlight will correspond (to the ones owned by the police). That will be enough for the police to identify the car even without the brush trace and the blood on the car fender.,Para.46,65. Oh, my God! A hand to her face, the Duchess turned away. Oh, my God! The Duchess covered her face with one hand and turned her head away.,Para.47,He made an attempt to square his shoulders which did not succeed. He tried to show he is ready to face the consequences, he is brave, not afraid of what is to come, but he failed. 67. get it over: to complete/finish it; end it. 68. Well now, theres no call for being hasty. There is no necessary for being hurry,Para.50,69. The incongruous falsetto voice took on a musing note. His voice sounded as if he was deep in thoughts 深思.,Para.51,Para. 51,70. Whats dones been done. Rushing any place aint gonna bring back the kid nor its mother neither. The car accident had happened. Rushing to any place isnt going to make the kid and its mother come to life again.,73. Whatever names you call things, maam, dont matter to me. Whatever you will say, madam, it doesnt matter with me.,Para.56,74. But I got to live too: a stock phrase when someone is asking to be given money or is accused of trying to extract too much money.,Para.56,76. I guess youd have to take that chance. But theres some reasons it might not be. Something I aint told you yet. (1) take ones chance: make use of ones opportunity I think you should make good use such an opportunity. But there are some possibilities that the car can not be found. There are some other things I have not yet told you.,Para.60,79. suburb: A usually residential area or community outlying a city.郊区：在城市外的通常作为居民区的地区或社区 Outside towns: small towns around a big city, here outside New Orleans twig: notice/pat attention to Get it away: send it away Discreetly: cautiously/carefully,Para.64,emphatically: forcefully Holler: n. a call or shout v. to shout out; to complain To holler cops: to call the polices,Para.74,Para. 74,You people are hot. (1) hot: Wanted by the police被通缉的 You are now wanted by the police. All the people are searching for the criminal.,The Duchess of Croydon kept firm, tight rein on her racing mind. (1) firm: steadfast; showing ones determination or resolution (2) tight: adv. Firmly; securely坚实地，牢固地 (3) rein: n. v. to restrain or control She kept firm and tight control of her mind which is working quickly. Here the Duchess is thinking quickly but at the same time keeping her thoughts under control, not letting them run wild.,Para.75,84. as if the discussion were of some minor domestic matter and not survival itself: as if the discussion were about some unimportant domestic matter, not concerned with life and death.,Para.75,Once more, she was aware, the role of leadership had fallen to her, her husband now a tense but passive spectator of the exchange between the evil fat man and herself. Again, she realized that she had to take responsibility to make a decision. Her husband was very nervous, incapable of taking an active part. She had to make a conversation with this evil fat man.,Para.75,The important thing was to consider all eventualities. (1) Eventuality: Something that may occur; a possibility. 可能性：可能发生的事；可能性,Para.75,Para. 82,With calculated coolness the Duchess reasoned: the situation came down to one essential. (1) calculated: deliberate; intended; purposeful (2) reason: To determine or conclude by logical thinking: 推断：用逻辑思维来决定或推论： With deliberate coolness the Duchess reasoned that there was one important issue to be resolved.,Para. 84,It would be hazardous, but no more than waiting here for certain detection. hazardous: harmful; dangerous; risky It would be dangerous/risky, but not more risky than to wait here, because if they did nothing, they would surely be discovered.,Para. 96,As the Du
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