There was a bell over the door that rang whenever a customer entered. This morning, however, for the first time Mr. Purcell could recall, it failed to ring. Simply he glanced up, and there was the stranger, standing just inside the door, as if he had materialized out of thin air.
The storekeeper slid off his stool. From the first instant he knew instinctively, that the man hated him; but out of habit he rubbed his hands, smiled and nodded.
"Good morning," he beamed. "What can I do for you?"
The man's shiny shoes squeaked forward. His suit was cheap, ill-fitting, but obviously new. Ignoring Purcell for the moment, he looked around the shadowy shop.
"A nasty morning," volunteered the shopkeeper. He clasped both hands across his melonlike stomach, and smiled importantly. Now what was it you wanted?"
The man stared closely at Purcell, as though just now aware of his presence. He said, "I want something in a cage."
"Something in a cage?" Mr. Purcell was a bit confused. "You mean – some sort of pet?"
"I mean what I said!" snapped' the man. "Something in a cage. Something alive that's in a cage."
"I see," hastened the storekeeper, not at all certain that he did. "Now let me think. A white rat, perhaps? I have some very nice white rats."
"No!" said the xnan. "Not rats. Something with wings. Something that flies."
"A bird!" exclaimed Mr. Purcell.
"A bird's all right." The customer pointed suddenly to a cage which contained two snowy birds. "Doves? How much for those?"
"Five-fifty," came the prompt answer. "And a very reasonable price. They are a fine pair."
"Five-fifty?" The man was obviously disappointed. He produced a five-dollar bill. "I'1 like to have those birds. But this is all I've got. Just five dollars."
Mentally, Mr. Purcell made a quick calculation, which told him that at a fifty cent reduction he could still reap a tidy profit. He smiled kindly "My dear man, if you want them that badly, you can certainly have them for five dollars."
"I'll take them." He laid his five dollars on the counter. Mr. Purcell unhooked the cage, and handed it to his customer. "That noise!" The man said suddenly. "Doesn't it get on your nerves?"
"Noise? What noise?" Mr. Purcell looked surprised. He could hear nothing unusual.
"Listen." The staring eyes came closer. "How long d'you think it took me to make that five dollars?"
The merchant wanted to order him out of the shop. But oddly enough, he couldn't. He heard himself asking, "Why – why, how long did it take you?"
The other laughed. "Ten years! At hard labour. Ten years to earn five dollars. Fifty cents a year."
It was best, Purcell decided, to humor him. "My, my! Ten years. That's certainly a long time. Now"
MISSED – MISSED - MISSED
"They give you five dollars," laughed the man, "and a cheap suit, and tell you not to get caught again."
The man swung around, and stalked abruptly from the store.
Purcell sighed with sudden relief. He walked to the window and stared out. Just outside, his peculiar customer had stopped. He was holding the cage shoulder-high, staring at his purchase. Then, opening the cage, he reached inside and drew out one of the doves.He tossed it into the air. He drew out the second and tossed it after the first. They rose like balls and were lost in the smoky gray of the wintry city. For an instant the liberator's silent gaze watched them. Then he dropped the cage and walked away.
The merchant was perplexed. So desperately had the man desired the doves that he had let him have them at a reduced price. And immediately he had turned them loose. "Now why," Mr. Purcell muttered, "did he do that?" He felt vaguely insulted.
NOTES:
fussy – cyevї
cute – oїaposa
snap – orpbiaayv
at hard labor – ap. sa
Exercises and Assignments on the Text
Упражнения и Задания к Тексту
Assignment # One – Задание № 1
Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих слов, выражений и оборотов:
было больно двигаться – _________________________________________;
больной и несчастный – _________________________________________;
у него жар – _________________________________________;
форма гриппа – _________________________________________;
записал время приема лекарств – _________________________________________;
темные круги под глазами – _________________________________________;
не слушал, что я читаю – _________________________________________;
немного бредил – _________________________________________;
никого не пускал в комнату – _________________________________________;
это глупости – _________________________________________;
его взгляд уже не был таким напряженным – _______________________________________;
напряжение спало – _________________________________________.
Assignment # Two – Задание № 2
Дайте русские эквиваленты следующих слов, выражений и оборотов из текста; Составьте по три предложения с каждым их этих оборотов:
look ill – _________________________________________;
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take smb's temperature – _________________________________________;
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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there is something (nothing) to worry about – _________________________________________;
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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there is some (no) danger – _________________________________________;
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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to go to sleep – _________________________________________;
________________________________________________________________________________
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cannot keep from doing smth – _________________________________________;
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do good – _________________________________________;