Учебное пособие по английскому языку для студентов неязыковых вузов специальности "Государственное и муниципальное управление". Касторнова О.Н. - 32 стр.

         famous carpenter4. There were only four commodes of this kind. Other salesman
         had sold the three commodes at an extremely high price, and that was the fourth.
                 It was a nice piece of furniture with beautiful legs.
                 Mr. Boggis wanted to buy the commode but he did not want to show Mr.
         Rummond who had the commode that it was great value.
                 Mr. Boggis said:
                 “Well, the commode doesn’t look beautiful. I can’t compare it with the
         others that I already have. Besides, it’s not the original, it’s a copy of a
         commode by a well-known carpenter. I’ve just remembered that I could use its
         legs for some other furniture, but I can’t buy the whole commode just for the
         legs.”
                 “How much could you give for the commode if you are interested in the
         legs?” asked Mr. Rummond.
                 “Shall we say 20 pounds? That will be quite reasonable5.”
                 “Make it 35.”
                 “I can’t offer you a higher price, this is my final offer!”
                  “I’ll take it,” Rummond said. “It’s yours. How are you going to take it?”
                 “In my car. I’ve left it not far from here.”
                 Mr. Boggis walked to his car to get it nearer the door. He was smiling to
         himself. The commode was his for 20 pounds and he could get 15 or 20
         thousand pounds for it later.
                 In the house Mr. Rummond discussed the transaction with his so Bert.
                 “You did it very well,” Bert said, “Do you think he will pay you?”
                 “We shan’t put it into the car till he pays us the money.”
                 “The commode is very big and what if it doesn’t go in the car? He’ll go
         away and you’ll never see him or his money again. Besides, he didn’t like it
         very much.”
                 “I can’t say he did.”
                 “Listen to me, father. I’ve got an idea. He told us that he wanted only the
         legs. Right? So all we’ve got to do is to cut them of right now before he comes
         back. Then the commode will go in his car. Besides, he won’t have to cut them
         off at home himself.”
                 “It’s not a bad idea,” Rummond said.
                 After they had cut off the legs Rummond thought that the commode was
         still big for Mr. Boggis’s car and he was afraid Mr. Boggis would not take it. So
         he decided to cut the commode itself into several pieces. It was very difficult to
         do it and Rummond said, “That was a very good carpenter who did the job.”
                 “We are just in time,” Bert said, “Here he comes.”
                                                                              (After R. Dahl)
                  Notes:
                 1. antique furniture - антикварная мебель.
                 2. value – цена, стоимость, ценность.
                 3. to be delighted – быть довольным, восхищаться.


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