Lesson 58 The Deadly Debutante 首次进入社交界的少女杀手

　　Words:

　　daze vt. 使发昏，是眩晕

　　dazzle vt. （使）眩目，（使）眼花；使（某人）赞许，称奇

　　dazzling adj. 眼花缭乱的；耀眼的

　　deadly adv. 致命的，毒性的；有害的

　　deal n. 交易；分量

　　dearth n. 缺少，缺乏

　　debatable adj. 争论中的；未决定的

　　debate n. 争论，辩论

　　debenture n. 债券

　　debris n. 废墟，残害；碎片

　　debt n. 债务

　　debtor n. 债务人

　　debutante n. 初次参加社交活动的少女

　　decadent adj. 颓废的

　　decant v. 倾注，倒出

　　decay v./n. （使）腐烂，腐蚀；衰落

　　deceit n. 欺骗，欺诈

　　deceitful adj. 惯于欺骗的

　　deceive vt. 欺骗，行骗

　　decent adj. 适当的，可接受的；得体的，体面的

　　deceptive adj. 欺骗的，导致错误的

　　deception n. 欺骗，诡计

　　deciduous adj. 每年落叶的

　　decimal adj. 十进制的

　　decimate v. 毁掉大部分，大量杀死

　　“We had a deal,” said the debutante in the dazzling red dress. “The interest rate on the loan was supposed to be 0.05, not 0.5 of the debt. I saw it written on the paper with my own eyes. Someday changed the position of the decimal point! This is a clear case of deception.”

　　“It’s your eyes that deceived you,” replied the deadly loan shark. He smirked as he decanted a bottle of wine and ate a piece of chocolate from her candy box. “The debenture you signed clearly says 0.5 of the loan. As the debtor, you have no choice but to pay the 50% interest. If you don’t pay, I will reduce your house to debris.”

　　“I will not pay a deceitful man like you,” said the stubborn debutante.

　　“I’m not interested in a debate,” replied the loan shark, as he ate another piece of chocolate. “I’m a decent businessman. It’s not my fault your family has a dearth of money. Those expensive deciduous trees our front and your family’s decadent lifestyle decimated the family fortune. Maybe you shouldn’t have spent the entire loan trying to dazzle that unfortunate boy into courting you. You used deceit to make him think you were rich. You’re more deceptive than I am.”

　　“In general, I think that’s debatable,” said the debutante. “But today, it’s true.”

　　“What do you mean?” asked the loan shark, now feeling a bit dazed by the chocolates.

　　“I should have told you,” replied the debutante. “Eating too many chocolates can decay your teeth,” she whispered as he fell to the floor, “but eating poisoned ones can kill you.”

“我们以前有个交易，”身穿耀眼的红色长裙的初次参加社交活动的少女说，“贷款的利率应该是债务的0.05（5%），而不是债务的0.5（50%）。我亲眼看见协议上这样写的。有人移动十进制的小数点！这是一起很明显的诈骗案。”

　　“是你的眼睛欺骗了你，”恶毒的高利贷者说。他一边倒着一瓶酒，吃着从少女的糖盒中拿出的一块巧克力，一边得意地笑着。“你签的债券上清清楚楚地写着贷款的50%。作为债务人，你别无选，只能付50%的利息。否则的话，我会把你的房子夷为废城。”

　　“我不会付钱给像你这样的骗子的。”倔强的少女说。

　　“我对争吵不感兴趣，”高利贷者说着，又吃了一块巧克力。“我是个体面的商人。你们家缺钱不是我的错。你们家外面种那么昂贵的落叶树和你们家颓废的生活方式毁掉了大部分财产，也许你不该把全部贷款花在使一个不幸的男孩神魂颠倒而向你求婚上。你利用欺骗手段让他相信你很富有。你比我更会骗人。”

　　“通常，我认为那样说是有争议的。”初涉社交界的少女说，“但今天，你可以这么说。”

　　“你什麽意思？”高利贷者问。这时他吃进去的巧克力使他感到有点眩晕。

　　“我本该告诉你，”少女回答道，“巧克力吃多了会腐蚀牙齿。”看着他倒在地板上，少女低声说，“可吃了有毒的巧克力会要了你的命。”