Сборник текстов и упражнений по внеаудиторному чтению для студентов факультета культуры и искусств, изучающих английский язык. Полторак Д.Л. - 10 стр.

       Charlie jumped up, his eyes full of tears, and without a word ran      tell you everything in a very few words," he said. "One of our clients
out of the studio. His mother followed him more slowly. As she passed         has put one thousand pounds into our hands. Don't ask who this client
Mendoza, she said, "I'd like to know what you really think of the pic-        is, or why he or she has done this, because I’ll not tell you. All you
tures."                                                                       need to know is, that the money is for you. You will come to this office
       "Madam," said Mendoza, "I have done what we agreed. I didn't           every Saturday, to receive four pounds, until you have received the
say that I would tell you what I really think."                               whole one thousand pounds. That means you will have four pounds a
       She laughed and went out. Mendoza opened the window and                week for almost five years. You may do whatever you like with the
raised his hand once, and then again. Then he closed the window and           money."
went back to his work.                                                                He put four pounds on the table in front of Charlie. "This is your
       …The story now takes us to a bench by the river Thames, where          money for the first week," he said. "That is all, I think. Good-bye!"
young Charlie is sitting with his head in his hands. He did not go home               "But – but – " Charlie began.
with his mother, because he did not want to hear the sound of her voice               "No buts, Mr. Burtenshaw," Mr. Crumpton said. "Our business is
as she laughed at all he had done, and his dreams for the future. He was      over. Henry!" he said to the man who had come to Charlie by the
only nineteen, he thought, and now, after Mendoza's terrible words…           Thames. "Show Mr. Burtenshaw the way out!"
"No!" he said to himself. "I will continue, I must: there is nothing else             "But – but – "Charlie cried. Henry came to him and took his arm.
in my life. But what shall I live on? Mother will give me nothing if I        "This way, sir," he said. Charlie found himself in the corridor. In one
refuse to go in for politics. Oh! If I only had my own money – fifty          hand he was holding his drawings, in the other hand were his four
pounds a year is enough for me. But I have nothing – nothing!"                pounds.
       His mind was so full of these unhappy thoughts that at first he                "But – but – " he said, and found himself in the street.
didn't notice the man who was standing it front of him. The man spoke                 …Our story begins again four years later. Mendoza's servant has
to him, but he didn't hear until his name was repeated. "Are you              just come into the studio and told him that Mr. Charles Burtenshaw had
Charles Burtenshaw?" the man asked.                                           come and would be glad if Mendoza could receive him. Mendoza went
        "Yes, I am," Charlie answered. "What do you want?"                    to the door himself and opened it. He held out his hand to Charlie, who
       "I have a letter for you," the man said, "Read it, please."            was waiting there.
       Charlie took the letter and read: « If Charles Burtenshaw comes                "Good afternoon, Mr. Burtenshaw," he said. "I am very glad to
to the office of Crumpton and Company, lawyers, in Bedford Street, he         see you. I am afraid I wasn't very friendly to you at our last meeting
will hear something that is very important to him."                           four years ago, and I hope you are going to give me a chance to be
       "I’ve come from Crumpton and Company," the man said, when              more pleasant."
Charlie raised his eyes from the letter. "Mr. Crumpton asked me to find               "I hope you will find it possible to be more pleasant," Charlie
you and bring you to him at once. Come with me, please."                      answered. "Though I am going to ask you to do the same thing: that is,
       "What is it about?" Charlie asked. Hope suddenly came to his           I want you to look at some of my drawings and tell me if there is any-
mind, and his eyes became brighter. "Has somebody left me money?"             thing good in them." "So you did not go in for a political career?"
       "I can't say, sir," the man answered. "Perhaps it will be simpler if           "No, I didn't. Let me show you what I went in for." Charlie put a
you come with me and hear about it yourself. Bedford Street is not far        popular magazine on the table and opened it. Mendoza saw before him
from here."                                                                   a full-page drawing of Gulliver, lying on the ground with a hundred
       A quarter of an hour later, Charlie was sitting in the office of       little people around him and on him. A wonderful drawing, with the
Crumpton and Company. Mr. Crumpton was speaking to him. "I can                name "Charles Burtenshaw" in the right-hand corner.

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