Сборник текстов и упражнений по внеаудиторному чтению для студентов факультета культуры и искусств, изучающих английский язык. Полторак Д.Л. - 15 стр.

      a dressing-gown – халат                                                from the top of a ladder sixty feet high and there were only two metres
      a torch – факел                                                        of water in the tank
      a streak [stri:k] of lightning – вспышка молнии                                Just before she dived they poured petrol on the water, he set it on
      a tear – слеза                                                         fire, the flames went up and she dived into them.
      filthy – гнусный                                                                At that moment Eva Barret came in with her other guests. She
      at twice the money – за двойную плату                                  was a very rich American and always had guests at her table. After
      a crisis ['kraisis] – (экономический) кризис                           dinner they usually played cards.
      expense [jks'pens] – расход                                                    "Got a good table for me, Paco?" said Eva Barret to the head-
      Nice [ni:s] – Ницца                                                    waiter.
      to faint – падать в обморок                                                    "The best." The waiter's fine dark eyes expressed his admiration
      apparatus – зд. оборудование                                           of her. «You've seen Stella?"
      an engagement – договор, контракт                                              "Of course. Three times. It's the most terrible thing I've ever
      to save – скопить                                                      seen. And I want to be at the death. Of course she will kill herself one
      a rainy day – черный день                                              of these nights and I want to see it."
      to starve – голодать                                                           Paco laughed.
                                                                                     "She's been such a success, we want to keep her on another
       The bar was crowded. Sandy Westcott had had two cocktails,            month. All I ask is that she shouldn't kill herself till the end of August.
and he was beginning to feel hungry. He looked at his watch. He was          After that she can do as she likes."
asked to dinner at half-past nine and it was nearly ten. Eva Barret was              The casino was full, a dance was played by the orchestra and
always late and he knew that he would not get anything to eat before         many people were dancing. When the music stopped the head-waiter
ten-thirty. At that moment another man came into the bar.                    politely smiling came up to Eva Barret's guests to take them to their
       "Hallo, Cotman," said Sandy. "Have a drink?"                          table.
       "With pleasure, sir."                                                         "We shall see Stella very well from this place," she said as she
       Cotman was a good-looking man of thirty perhaps, but with so          sat down.
good a figure that he looked much younger. He had thick, black hair                  "I like to be quite near to the tank," said Sandy, "so that I can see
and large bright eyes.                                                       her face."
       "How's Stella?" asked Sandy.                                                  "Is she pretty?" asked one of the women at the table.
       "Oh, she's all right. Likes to lie down before the show. 'It's good           "It's not that. It's the expression of her eyes. She's frightened to
for the nerves,' she says."                                                  death every time she does it,"
       "I wouldn't do that trick of hers for a thousand pounds."                     "Oh, I don't believe that," said another guest. "It's only a trick.
       "Yes, nobody can do it but her, not from that height, and with        There's no risk really,"
only two metres of water."                                                           "You don't know what you're talking about. Diving from that
       "It's the most risky thing I've ever seen."                           height in as little water as that, she must turn very quickly the moment
       Cotman gave a little laugh. He took this as a compliment. Stella      she touches the water. And if she doesn't do it right, she can break her
was his wife. Of course she did the trick and took the risk, but it was he   head against the tank and break her back."
who had thought of the flames, and it was the flames which the public                The tank was on the far left of the stage, and behind it, was a
liked and which made the show a great success. Stella dived into a tank      very tall ladder at the top of which was a small platform. After two or

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