英文名著分集阅读 马克·吐温《百万英镑》 part3

The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain词汇提示1.servant 佣人2.continent 大陆3.asylum 精神病院原文Chapter Three: The LetterWhen I left the eating place, I hurried to the house of the two gentlemen.I wanted to correct the mistake they had made.I was very nervous.When I arrived, the same servant opened the door.I asked for the two gentlemen."They are gone," the servant said."Gone? Gone where?""Oh, on a journey.""But, where did they go?""To the Continent, I think.""The Continent?""Yes, sir.""When will they return?""In a month.""A month! Oh, this is awful! How can I talk to them? It's extremely important.""I can't help you. I don't know where they are, sir.""Then I must see a member of the family.""All the family are away. They're in Egypt and India, I think.""Before leaving, the two gentlemen made an enormous mistake. They will certainly return home tonight. Tell them that I came here to correct the mistake. I will return tomorrow.""I'll tell them if I see them. But I won't see them! Sir, you must not worry because everything is all right. They will be here on time, and they will see you then. Good-bye."I was confused.My head was in a fog.I did not understand what the servant told me.The letter I remembered the letter!This is what it said:You are an intelligent and honest man. You are also poor and a stranger. In this envelope you will find some money. It is yours only for 30days. At the end of 30 days, return to this house, I have a bet on you. If I win this bet, you can have any job with any salary that you want.There were no signature, no address, no date on the letter.How strange! I didn't know what to think.I went to a park, sat down and thought about what to do.After an hour, I reached the decision that follows.The two old gentlemen are playing a game that I don't understand.They are betting on me. (But, at that time, I didn't know anything about the details of the bet.)If I go to the Bank of England to return the banknote, the bank will ask me lots of questions.If I tell the truth, no one will believe me.They will put me in an asylum.If I tell a lie, the police will put me in prison.I can't even give it to anyone, because no honest person will want it.I can do only one thing: I must keep the bill for a whole month.And, I must not lose it.If I help the old man to win his bet, he will give me the job I want.The idea of an important job with a big salary made me happy.With this exciting idea in mind, I began walking down the streets of London.

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