资源描述:
《the+million+pound+bank》由会员上传分享,免费在线阅读,更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、SimplifiedversionChapterOne:FromSanFranciscotoLondonWhenIwas27yearsold,IworkedinanofficeinSanFrancisco.Ididmyjobwellandmyfuturewaspromising.IwasaloneintheworldandIwashappy.OnSaturdayafternoonsIdidn'twork.IsailedmylittlesailboatonSanFranciscoBay.OneSaturdayafternoo
2、n,Isailedouttoofar.Thestrongafternoonwindpushedmysailboatoutofthebay,intothePacificOcean.Thatnight,whenIhadlostallhope,asmallBritishbrigsawmeandtookmeonboard.ThebrigwassailingtoLondon.Thevoyagewaslongandstormy.Iearnedmypassagewithoutpay.WhenIarrivedinLondon,myclot
3、heswereraggedandshabby,andIhadonlyadollarinmypocket.Thismoneyfedandshelteredmetwenty-fourhours.Duringthenexttwenty-fourIwentwithoutfoodandshelter.Ataboutteno'clockthefollowingmorning,IwenttoPortlandPlace.Isawachildwalkingpast,holdingabigpear.Thechildateonesmallpie
4、ceandthenthrewthepearontothestreet.Istopped,ofcourse,andfastenedmydesiringeyeonthatmuddytreasure.Mymouthwateredforit,mystomachcravedit,mywholebeingbeggedforit.ButeverytimeImadeamovetogetitsomepassingeyedetectedmypurpose,andofcourseIstraightenedupthen,andlookedindi
5、fferent,andpretendedthatIhadn'tbeenthinkingaboutthepearatall.Thissamethingkepthappeningandhappening,andIcouldn'tgetthepear.Iwasjustgettingdesperateenoughtobravealltheshame,andtoseizeit,whenawindowbehindmewasraised,andagentlemanspokeoutofit,saying:"Stepinhere,pleas
6、e."Awell-dressedservantopenedthedoor.Hetookmetoabeautifulroomwheretwoelderlygentlemenweresittinganddiscussingsomethingimportant.Theyhadjustfinishedtheirbreakfast,andthesightoftheremainsofitalmostoverpoweredme.Icouldhardlykeepmywitstogetherinthepresenceofthatfood,a
7、ndIstaredattheirbreakfast.Iwanttotellthereaderthatthetwogentlemenhadmadeabetseveraldaysbefore.Iknewnothingaboutthebetuntillater.Letmetellyouwhathappened.ChapterTwo:AnUnusualBetThetwooldgentlemenwerebrothers.Forseveraldays,theyarguedaboutaverystrangesubject.Theydec
8、idedtoendtheirargumentwithabet,astheEnglishusuallydo.Thefollowingwasthesubjectofthebet.TheBankofEnglandissuedtwobanknotesofamillionpoundseachforapublict