VOCABULARY PRACTICE

№ 9

Read the following text. Try to understand it in details.

THE BURGLARY

Sir Jee Dain's career was most successful and brilliant in the history of the Five Towns. Though most of the people of the town hated him he was nevertheless the best-known public man and had been three times mayor of the town. The people working with him decided to make him a present. Everybody thought the present should take the form of a portrait and a well-known artist should make it. The artist was found and soon the por­trait was ready. A special committee inspected the portrait and said that it was the best masterpiece of modern times. But when the portrait was brought to the Five Towns and shown to the people they saw a mean, little old man. The portrait was so lifelike that some of the people began laughing, many of them felt sorry not for Sir Jee but for his wife who was loved and respected.

The portrait had been hanging in the dining-room in the house of Sir Jee for about sixteen months when Lady Dain told her husband that if the portrait remained in the house, she would die. «Don't say so. I wouldn't part with the portrait for ten times what it cost.»

This was a lie. Jee secretly hated the portrait more than anything or anybody else and avoided looking at it. He would have been almost willing to burn down his house to get rid of the portrait. But then an idea of a less expensive way of getting rid of the portrait came to him.

There had recently occurred a number of burglaries in the town and on the previous afternoon a policeman had caught a man whom everybody considered to be the burglar. The Five Towns congratulated the chief of the police.

Now Sir Jee, mayor of the Five Towns, dismissed the charge against the burglar, William Smith by name, and came to prison to have a private talk with Smith.

When Sir Jee remained alone with William Smith, he said.

«Smith, you know I've dismissed the charge against you, don't you?»

«Yes, governor,» Smith answered smiling.

«But what do you want?»

Sir Jee was at a loss. How could he explain to William Smith what he wanted him to do?

«I was hoping I might be of use to you,» Sir Jee said diplomatically.

«Well,» interrupted Smith. «That's all right. But don't play tricks on me.»

«Sit down,» said Sir Jee. William obeyed him. «How should you like to commit a perfectly lawful burglary?»

William Smith was surprised.

«In my house there is a large portrait of myself in the dining-room that I want to be stolen.»

«Well, why don't you steal it yourself,» William suggested.

«I could not tell my friends that the portrait had been stolen if it had not been stolen. The burglary must really take place.»

«And what are you going to give me for this job?»

«Give you for the job?» repeated Sir Jee.

«Why, I'm giving you the opportunity to honestly steal a picture that's worth over a thousand pounds in America, and you want to be paid.»

«Then, why are you in such a hurry to get rid of it?» asked the burglar.

«I don't like it, and Lady Dain doesn't like it. But it is a present to me so I can't — you see, Mr. Smith.»

«And how am I going to take it?» Smith demanded. «According to you, governor, it's known all over the world. It seems to me I might just as well try to sell the Nelson Column.»

«Oh, nonsense,» said Sir Jee. «Nonsense. You'll sell it in America quite easily.»

«All right, governor. I agree just to oblige you.»

«When can you do it?» asked Sir Jee cheerfully.

«Let it be tomorrow night.»

The night of the burglary Sir Jee remained at home alone, even the servants left for the holiday, as it was Christmas Eve.

Sir Jee again and again thought over the affair. And, after all, burglary was absolutely the only way out and surely it was better than to burn down the house, as in case of fire some fool might cry.

«The portrait, the portrait must be saved.»

And the portrait would be saved.

He looked at the hateful thing and wondered if William Smith would steal the massive gold frame. He hoped that the frame would not be stolen.

«This is the last time I shall see you,» said Sir Jee to the portrait.

Then he went to bed leaving one of the windows open for the burglar to come in.

At about two o'clock in the morning he heard some noise: William Smith had kept his word. Sir Jee was in high spirits: he would never see the portrait again.

He got up early and half-dressed, went down to the dining-room.

The portrait was on the floor with the following words written on it in chalk: «This is no use to me.»

It was the massive gold frame that had gone. As it was later discovered, all the silver had gone too... Not a spoon was left in the house.

(After A. Bennett)

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

1. Translate the following word-combinations and reproduce the situations in which they are used:

the best-known public man; to make a present; a mean, little old man; to feel sorry for; to dismiss the charge against the burglar; to have a private talk; to be at a loss; to play tricks on; to commit a perfectly lawful burglary; to give the opportunity; to be in a hurry; to get rid of; to be known all over the world; to oblige; to think over the affair; the only way out; to burn down the house; to be in high spirits.

2. Complete the table below by inserting the missing forms:

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 2179