《Blackmail》是《高级英语》教材中的经典课文之一，通过紧张的情节和细腻的心理描写，展现了人性在道德与利益之间的挣扎。本文提供课文节选、重点词汇解析与学习建议。
课文节选（Excerpt）
The Duchess was sitting at her dressing table when the telephone rang.
She picked it up and said, “Hello?” in that cool, detached voice she always used.
The man on the other end spoke quickly and quietly: “I have something you want back.
And you have something I want. We can help each other.”
Her hand tightened on the receiver. She knew immediately what he meant.
The photographs. They had disappeared from her private album three weeks ago.
She had searched everywhere but found nothing. Now this call...
重点词汇与短语
- Duchess：公爵夫人
- Detached：超然的，冷漠的
- Receiver：电话听筒
- Blackmail：敲诈，勒索
- Private album：私人相册
学习提示
建议结合上下文理解人物心理变化，注意作者如何通过对话和细节描写推动情节发展。可尝试复述故事或进行角色扮演以加深理解。