Сборник текстов и упражнений по внеаудиторному чтению для студентов факультета культуры и искусств, изучающих английский язык. Полторак Д.Л. - 16 стр.

three dances, when Eva Barret’s guests were eating fruit, the music           and the waiters began to bring different dishes and the people started
stopped and the lights were turned off. A ray of light was turned on the      talking.
tank, Cotman was seen in the ray. He went up the ladder so that he was                "Excellent," said the English lord.
quite near the tank.                                                                  "It's a trick," said an old military man, who did not believe any-
       "Ladies and gentlemen," he cried out, in a loud clear voice, "you      thing.
are now going to see the most wonderful dive of the century. Madam                    "It's over so quickly," said the English lady, "you don't get
Stella, the greatest diver in the world, is going to dive from a height of    enough for your money really."
twenty metres into a lake of flames two metres deep. This is a trick that             After the show Stella and her husband were sitting in the bar
was never done before, and Madam Stella is ready to give one hundred          when the head-waiter came up to Cotman.
pounds to anyone who will try to do the same. Ladies and gentlemen, I                 "Oh, Mr. Cotman, the manager was looking for you. He wants to
have the pleasure to present Madam Stella."                                   see you."
       A little figure appeared on the ladder that led on to the stage, ran           "Oh, where is he?"
quickly up to the tank, and bowed to the applauding people. She wore a                "You'll find him around somewhere."
man's silk dressing-gown and on her head a bathing-cap.                               "I'll just finish my beer," said Cotman, "and then I'll go and see
       Everybody was looking at her very attentively.                         what he wants."
       "Not pretty," said one of the women at Eva Barret's table.                     Then addressing Stella he said: "Will you stay here, Stella, or
       "Good figure," said Eva Barret. "You'll see."                          would you like to go to your dressing-room?"
       Stella took off her dressing-gown and gave it to Cotman. He                    Stella did not answer. She was crying.
went down.                                                                            "What's the matter, dear?"
       She stood for a moment and looked at the crowd. They were in                   "Syd, I can't do it again tonight," she sobbed.
darkness and she could only see their white faces. She was small, with                "Why not?"
a beautiful figure, legs that were long for her body.                                 "I'm afraid."
       Stella began to go up the ladder, and the ray of light followed                "You're the bravest little woman in the world. Have a drink,
her. The height was very great. An attendant began to pour petrol on          that'll make you feel better."
the water. Cotman was given a flaming torch. He watched Stella come                   "No, that would only make it worse."
to the top of the ladder and stand up on the platform.                                "You can't disappoint your public, you know,"
       "Ready?" he cried.                                                             "That filthy public. Pigs who eat too much and drink too much.
       "Yes."                                                                 They do not think of the risk I take."
       "Go!» he shouted.                                                              "Of course they pay money to see you," he said slowly, "if you
       And as he shouted, he put the burning torch into the water. The        are afraid and do not do it this evening, it'll be worse tomorrow."
flames went up high and were really terrible to look at. At the same                  "Nо, it won't. The fact that I must do it twice kills me. You go
time Stella dived. She came down like a streak of lightning and dived         and see Mr. Espinel, the manager, and tell him I can't give two shows a
into the flames, which went out a moment after she had reached the            night. It's more than my nerves will stand."
water. A second later she was on the water again and jumped out to a                  "He'll never agree. It's only to see you that people come here to
storm of applause. Cotman put the dressing-gown round her. She                supper at all."
bowed and bowed. The applause went on. Music began to play. She ran                   "But I can't, I can't go on."
down the ladder and between the tables to the door. The lights went up

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