Certain it was that Knight's disappointment at finding himself second or third in the field, at Elfride's momentary equivoque, and at her reluctance to be candid, brought him to the verge of cynicism.

可以肯定，特发现自己在该领域排名第二或第，埃尔弗莱德一时模棱两可，以及她诚相待，这让他感到失望，这让他处于愤世嫉俗边缘。