A Machiavellian plot was suspected.是什么意思？

A Machiavellian plot was suspected.

人们怀疑背后有不可告人的阴谋。

Machiavellian

adj. 狡猾欺诈的，不择手段的；

例句
...the Machiavellian and devious way decisions were made...
阴险狡诈的决策方式

plot

n. 地基，基址图，（戏剧、小说等的）情节，一块地，测算表；vt. 以图表画出，制图，密谋，把…分成小块，为（文学作品）设计情节；vi. 设计作品情节，标示于图表上，密谋，暗中策划；

例句
The plot to assassinate Martin Luther King had started long before he was actually killed.
刺杀马丁·路德·金的计划在实施前酝酿已久。

was

v. 用来表示某人或某物即主语本身，用来表示某人或某物属于某一群体或有某种性质（ be的过去式 ），在，存在，不受干扰；

例句
There was a terrible sadness in her eyes...
她眼神中流露出深深的悲伤。

suspected

v. 猜疑（是）( suspect的过去式和过去分词 )，怀疑，不信任，怀疑…有罪；

例句
He suspected elements within the South African government were conniving at the disturbances to try to weaken the ANC...
他怀疑南非政府内有一帮人纵容这些骚乱的发生，企图削弱非国大。