Part 1.(модуль 1)
“Gideon and the Chestnut Seller”
after John Creasy
Old Ben Fairley had sold roasted chestnuts for more winters than he could remember. As a matter of fact, he remembered very little of his seventy-odd years, for he had always lived almost entirely in the present, whether it was good or bad. Each summer he went out on the road, calling on those farms where he could find temporary work. Each winter he came 'home', to the rooming house near London's Covent Garden, where he stored his barrow and brazier, bought his chestnuts at wholesale, and roasted them.
Old Ben's pitch was near Leicester Square.
Many people knew him, passing his barrow with a smile or a nod, sometimes pausing to hand him a shilling, usually 'forgetting' to take their bag of chestnuts. Some, on the other hand, liked chestnuts, eating them just in the street.
Among these was George Gideon, Commander of the Criminal Investigation Department of New Scotland Yard. From time to time he strolled round the square mile which included all Soho as well as Picadilly Circus and Leicester Square. The sight of his massive figure, his square chin, his broad forehead, was familiar to newsdealers and taxi drivers, pavement artists and policemen. 0n cold nights he often stopped at old Ben's barrow, paid his shillings, took off a soft nut, and ate it hot and whole. Gideon stayed for a few moments talking to old Ben.
One night, only a half an hour he had left the chestnut seller, a taxi drew up close to old Ben's barrow. Ben watched first one then two, three, four youths scramble out, and he sensed some kind of trouble. Almost at once another taxi appeared at the far end of the street. This time Ben was too busy to count how many men got out; he grabbed the handles of his barrow and started to move off.
He did not get far.
Suddenly one of the youths pushed him aside, another began to take the chestnuts out of the basket. Angry now, as much as frightened, old Ben shouted a protest.
More youths rushed up, and the two groups began fighting. In the struggle someone tipped the brazier over. As Ben ran forward to save his chestnuts, red-hot coals stroke against his outstretched hands.
He screamed with pain.
A police whistle was heard.
In five minutes old Ben Fairley, groaning and half conscious, was being carried to the hospital. The two gangs had disappeared.
Gideon heard of this at about half-past ten the next morning. It was mentioned by Superintendent Lloyd who was in charge of the police attempt to curtail the activities of the teen-age gangs in Soho.
— I could understand if they had a purpose, Lloyd was saying. But they fight just for the sake of fighting.
— Did you catch any of them? Gideon asked.
— No. They were gone before our chaps arrived. An old chestnut seller was badly burned when they knocked over his brazier.
— Chestnut seller? Where was his pitch?
— Just past the National Gallery, near Leicester Square, Lloyd answered.
Gideon pressed a bell on his desk and when his assistant came in he said,
— A chestnut seller was burned last night near Leicester Square. Find out what his name was, where he is, and how he's doing.
— Do you know him? asked Lloyd.
— If it's the man I think it is, I've known him for thirty years. Have you put in your report yet?
— It's being typed out now.
— I want to get a copy, said Gideon.
Very soon he learned that it was indeed Ben Fairley, that old Ben was comfortable, but that for a man of his age the shock might have grave consequences.
Then Gideon studied the report and went to have a word with old Ben at the Charing Cross Hospital. He had never seen the man washed and shaved before. Both of Ben's hands were bandaged, and he looked tired and worn; but his eyes were bright in his lined face, and his frail voice held a note of anger.
— Just rushed at me, and I'd never done them any harm. Never even seen them before in my life!
— We'll get them, Ben, said Gideon. Tell me a little more.
— There's nothing more to tell. One gang came up in a taxi and the other gang came up in another.
— How did you burn your hands?
— Trying to save my chestnuts, of course. They were my capital, Mr. Gideon.
— Now, Ben, what happened after that? The report says there were no chestnuts left in the basket.
— They grabbed them.
— How many chestnuts did you have?
— About five pounds, I think. That would be including those the young lady gave me. But…
— Young lady? interrupted Gideon. What young lady? And when did she give you the chestnuts?
— Yesterday afternoon. She came out of one of those new apartment houses at the back of Oxford Street. I've seen her several times before.
— Now, Ben, think hard. Are you quite sure about all this?
— Of course, I'm sure! cried Ben. She has long blond hair hanging down her back. Funny thing, life, ain't it, Mr. Gideon? In the afternoon someone gives me chestnuts — in the evening someone pinches them, and my own with them.
Gideon got to his feet.
— Yes, ifs a funny life, Ben. But take it easy. When you're well, you'll get all you need to start up in business again.
Leaving the hospital Gideon hurried back to New Scotland Yard, and as soon as he reached his office he sent for Superintendent Lloyd.
— Any lead on those lads in the fight last night? Gideon asked.
— No, Commander. Two of our chaps saw them, but they weren't the usual Soho troublemakers.
— Find out if Dicey Gamble still lives in one of the new apartment houses behind Oxford Street, said Gideon. And find out what colour his wife's hair is.
— Dicey? I saw him only last week, and he's still living in that flat. His wife's a blonde. What's on your mind about Dicey?
Dicey Gamble was the leader of a small group of raiders who specialized in robbing jewelry shops.
— Find out if any of his fellows bought any chestnuts recently. If necessary, check every grocer in the district, said Gideon. Get a move on, there's no time to lose.
Lloyd hurried out and within an hour he was on the telephone to Gideon.
— You were right, sir! One of Dicey's boys bought two pounds of chestnuts yesterday morning.
— Good! Get all the help you need and raid Dicey's apartment now. Phone me and let me know what happens.
At seven o'clock that evening the police arrived at Dicey Gamble's apartment. Panic showed in Dicey's eyes when the policemen appeared at his door, but the panic was quickly veiled.
— I've got nothing here, Super, he said. You can search the place, but you won't find anything.
— Lloyd walked through the apartment to the kitchen. The table was covered with a sheet of newspaper, and on the newspaper was a pile of chestnuts. Dicey had obviously been in the process of cutting each nut in two — several had already been halved.
In eight of the halves, buried inside the hard nuts, were diamonds.
— There's nothing new in this game, Gideon explained to Lloyd. I once knew a thief who split a hazelnut in two, put a diamond inside, and stuck the shell together. The gangs that attacked old Ben weren't in it for the sheer fun — so they were in it for the chestnuts. Add to that the fact that old Ben was given chestnuts by a woman who lived in the same house as one of our cleverest jewel thieves, and it all started to make sense.
— I'll say it made sense, agreed Lloyd. Dicey and his gang had these hot diamonds and hid them in the chestnuts. One of the boys brought them at Dicey's flat on instructions. But Dicey was out, and as neither he nor his wife eat chestnuts, his wife gave them to old Ben.
Later that day, as he sat with old Ben at the Charing Cross Hospital, Gideon finished the story.
— As soon as Dicey discovered what his wife had done, he got his gang together for a raid on your barrow to get back the chestnuts — but another gang learned what had happened and reached you first. Dicey's gang caught up with them. Simple, Ben, wasn't it?
Old Ben gave a pleased smile. Perhaps when he next roasted chestnuts he would dream of a fortune in diamonds.
Task I. Write these word combinations down into your vocabulary book, translate and learn them.
to buy at wholesale - покупать оптом
to stroll round - прогуливаться
to be familiar to - хорошо знать кого-либо
to scramble out - выбираться с трудом
to sense some kind of trouble - почувствовать тревогу
to be in charge of - быть ответственным за что-либо
to curtail the activities of - пресекать чью-либо деятельность
to do smth. for the sake of - делать что-либо ради чего-либо
to have a word with - перемолвиться словом с кем-либо
to have grave consequences - иметь тяжелые последствия
to have a note of anger - нотка негодования (в голосе)
there’s nothing more to do (to tell) - ничего не остается делать, как
to be sure about smth. - быть уверенным в чем-либо
to take smth. easy (take it easy) - относиться легко к чему-либо
to start up in business again - снова начать свое дело
to be troublemaker - причиняющий беспокойство
to find out smth. - выяснить что-либо
What’s on your mind? - Что у тебя на уме?
There’s no time to lose - нельзя терять время
to be in the process of - быть в процессе
to be in smth. - быть вовлеченным в…
for the sheer fun - ради забавы
to make sense - иметь смысл
to catch up with someone - догнать кого-либо
to shout a protest - закричать в знак протеста
to dream of a fortune in - мечтать о богатстве
Task II. Match the Russian word combinations and phrases from column ‘A’ with the English equivalents in column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A |
B |
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a. to scramble out b. to sense some kind of trouble c. to be in charge of d. to buy at wholesale e. to stroll round f. to be familiar to g. to dream of a fortune in h. to find out smth. i. for the sheer fun j. to have grave consequences k. to take smth. easy (take it easy) l. there’s nothing more to do (to tell) m. to be sure about smth. n. to have a note of anger o. to make sense p. to be troublemaker q. to do smth. for the sake of r. to shout a protest s. to be in the process of t. There’s no time to lose u. to catch up with someone. v. to have a word with w. to start up in business again x. to be in smth. y. What’s on your mind? z. to curtail the activities of
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Task III. Match the words in column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’ as antonyms.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A |
B |
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a. to disappear b. to sell c. to exclude d. to be free e. to discharge f. to win g. to disagree h. to retail i. to continue j. to forget |
Task IV. Match the words in column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’ as synonyms.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A |
B |
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a. tо learn, tо discover b. aim c. tо reduce d. generally known; common e. tо struggle f. weak g. completely h. provisional i. tо keep j. in blank |
Task V. Explain the meaning of the words in column ‘A’ using the definitions from column ‘B’.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A
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B
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Task VI. Choose the correct answer to each of the question.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
Who was old Ben?
He was a newsdealer.
He was a farmer.
He was a chestnut seller.
How did old Ben happen to be badly burned?
He was burned trying to light a fire.
He was burned when the brazier was tipped over.
He was burned roasting his chestnuts.
How did Ben happen to get the bag of chestnuts?
He found the bag near the place he lived.
A grocer gave it to him.
A young lady gave it to him.
Who was the young woman with long blond hair?
She was also a chestnut seller.
She was Dicey’s sister.
She was Dicey’s wife.
Why did the youths rush at old Ben?
They wanted to grab his money.
They wanted to grab the chestnuts.
They did it for the sheer fun.
What did Dicey hide in the chestnuts?
He hid drugs in them.
He hid diamonds in them.
He hid gold coins in them.
Task VII. Say if you agree or disagree choosing either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
Old Ben picked chestnuts, roasted and sold them.
a) yes. b) no.
Though Gideon liked chestnuts he never ate them in the street.
a) yes. b) no.
Gideon’s massive figure was familiar to newsdealers and taxi drivers, pavement artists and policemen.
a) yes. b) no.
Old Ben rushed to save his chestnuts but fell down and broke his arm.
a) yes. b) no.
When the police arrived the two opposing gangs had already disappeared.
a) yes. b) no.
The report said that there were only a few chestnuts in the basket.
a) yes. b) no.
Old Ben told Gideon that an old lady with grey hair had given him the bag of chestnuts.
a) yes. b) no.
When Lloyd arrived at Dicey’s apartment Dicey was reading a newspaper.
a) yes. b) no.
Task VIII. Match the following sentences from column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’. Thus you will translate them into English.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A |
B |
1. Многие останавливались, чтобы дать ему шиллинг. |
a. Ben sensed some kind of trouble. |
2. Бен чувствовал тревогу. |
b. Check every grocer in the district. |
3. Бен закричал в знак протеста. |
c. You can search the place, but you won’t find anything. |
4. Он закричал от боли. |
d. Many people paused tо hand him a shilling. |
5. Вы уже составили отчет. |
e. He screamed with pain. |
6. Проверьте каждого бакалейщика в районе. |
f. Have you put in your report yet? |
7. Можете обыскать всю квартиру, но вы ничего не найдете. |
g. Another gang reached you first. |
8. Другая банда добралась до вас первой. |
h. Ben shouted a protest.
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Task IX. Fill in the blank spaces in each sentence with one of the following verbs in the box. Put the verb in its correct tense – form.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
to reach – a |
to check – b |
to hand – c |
to sense – d |
to shout – e |
to search – f |
to scream – g |
to put in – h |
Many people paused and… him a shilling.
Ben… some kind of trouble.
Ben… a protest.
He… with pain.
Have you… your report yet?
… every grocer in the district.
You can… the place, but you won’t find anything.
Another gang… you first.
Task X. Fill in the blanks with one of these adjectives and nouns in the box.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
a – sense |
c – odd |
e –lined |
g -troublemakers |
b – wholesale |
d –funny |
f-mind |
h –move |
1. Ben remembered very little of his seventy-… years.
2. Old Ben bought his chestnuts at … and roasted them.
3. His eyes were bright in his … face.
It’s a …thing, life – isn’t it.
5. They are not the usual ….
6. What’s on your … about Dicey?.
7. Get a … on, there is no time to lose.
8. It all started to make ….
Task XI. Match the following sentences from column ‘A’ with those in column ‘B’. Thus you will translate the sentences into English.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
A.
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В.
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Task XII. Write down all the facts related tо this crime, in the chronological order.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
a. Dicey and his gang stole some diamonds.
b. When Lloyd arrived at Dicey’s apartment Dicey had been in the process of cutting each nut in two picking out the diamonds
c. Dicey’s wife gave the chestnuts to Ben.
d. Another gang reached Ben first and grabbed the chestnuts.
e
.
Dicey got his gang together for a raid on Ben’s barrow to get back
the chestnuts.
f. Dicey’s gang caught up with another gang.
g. Dicey and his gang were arrested.
h. They hid them in the chestnuts.
Task XIII. Think and answer. The choice is yours.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
1. Imagine that you are old Ben. One day you find a diamond in one of the chestnuts.
What would you do then?
make it your own possession.
inform the police.
present it to your friend.
2. Suppose that Gideon buys some chestnuts and finds a diamond in one of them.
What would his actions be in this case?
present it to his wife.
give it to the police station.
sell it
3. Imagine that you are Dicey Gamble.
Where in your flat would you hide the hot diamonds?
a) in the wardrobe
b) in the vase
in the wallet
Task XIV. Fill in the blanks in the sentences with one of the prepositions where necessary. Choose the correct preposition from the box. Each preposition may be used several times.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a, b or 1-b, c, a, etc.
for – a |
tо – b |
on – c |
out -d |
within- e |
at – f |
of – g |
___cold nights Gideon often stopped ___ old Ben’s barrow.
Gideon stayed ___ a few moments talking ___ old Ben.
Almost ___ once another taxi appeared ___ the far end ___ the street.
She came ___ ___ one ___ those new apartment houses ___ the back ___ Oxford Street.
Lloyd hurried ___ and ___ an hour he was ___ the telephone ___ Gideon.
Task XV. Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the verbs given in the box.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
a. split |
e. put |
i. pressed |
b. came |
f. arrived |
j. hurried |
c. stuck |
g. sent |
k. knew |
d. reached |
h. have known |
l. were gone |
They ___ ___before our chaps ___.
Gideon ___ a bell on his desk and when his assistant ___ in he said.
I ___ ___ him for thirty years.
Leaving the hospital Gideon ___ back tо New Scotland Yard, and as soon as he ___his office he ___ for Superintendent Lloid.
I once ___ a thief who ___ a hazelnut in two, ___ a diamond inside, and ___ the shell together.
Task XVI. Name the type of the questions given below, as:
General – a
Special – b
Alternative – c
Disjunctive – d.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
Did you catch any of them?
Where was his pitch?
Have you put in your report yet?
Old Ben Fairley sold roasted chestnuts, didn’t he?
How did you burn your hands?
When did she give you chestnuts?
Lloid didn’t walk through the apartment tо the kitchen, did he?
Did he come ‘home’ each winter or spring?
Task XVII. Summarize the story. Arrange the following sentences in the chronological order.
The correct way to answer is: 1-a or 1-b, etc.
a. Dicey Gamble was arrested.
b. Dicey’s wife gave the chestnuts to old Ben.
c. In eight of the halves, buried inside the hard nuts, were diamonds.
d. One night, only a half an hour Gideon left the chestnut seller, a taxi drew up close to Ben’s barrow.
e. Ben wanted to save his chestnuts but instead he burnt his hands and half conscious was being carried to the hospital.
f. Gideon talked to Ben and found out the details of the crime.
g. Dicey had obviously been in the process of cutting each nut in two – several had already been halved.
h. Someone brought the nuts at Dicey’s flat on instructions.
i. When Lloid arrived at Dicey’s apartment he saw a pile of chestnuts on the table.
j. Old Ben Fairley had sold roasted chestnuts for more winters than he could remember.
k. Another gang learned what had happened and reached Ben first. Dicey’s gang caught up with them.
l. Old Ben’s pitch was near Leicester Square.
m. The two groups began fighting and in the struggle someone tipped the brazier over.
n. As soon as Dicey discovered what his wife had done, he got his gang together for a raid on Ben’s barrow to get back the chestnuts.
o. George Gideon, Commander of the Criminal Investigation Department of New Scotland Yard knew Old Ben very well.
p. Almost at once another taxi appeared at the far end of the street.
q. Gideon and Superintendent Lloid investigated the crime.
r. Gideon often stopped at Ben’s barrow to pay for a soft hot nut and to have a word with Ben.
s. Dicey Gamble and his gang stole diamonds and hid in the chestnuts.
English – Russian Vocabulary
А |
anger (n) |
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apartment (n) |
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assistant (n) |
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attack (n) |
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B |
barrow (n) |
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brazier (n) |
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bandage (n) |
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bury (v) |
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C |
curtail (v) |
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chap (n) |
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consequences (n) |
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criminal (n) |
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D |
diamond (n) |
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discover (v) |
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dream (v) |
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F |
frail (adj) |
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Fortune (n) |
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G |
grab (v) |
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grave (n) |
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groan (n) |
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I |
indeed (adj) |
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investigation (n) |
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instruction (n) |
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interrupt (v) |
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J |
jewel (n) |
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K |
knock (n) |
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L |
lead (v) |
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lad (n) |
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N |
nod (n) |
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newsdealer (n) |
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P |
pavement (n) |
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pitch (n) |
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pain (n) |
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purpose |
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pinch (v) |
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policeman (n) |
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pile (n) |
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R |
rush (v) |
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raider (n) |
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rob (v) |
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S |
scramble (v) |
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scream (v) |
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sake (n) |
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for the sake of- |
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sense (n) |
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superintendant (n) |
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search (v) |
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sheer (adj) |
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stroll (v) |
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T |
tip (v) |
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troublemaker (n) |
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thief (n) |
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V |
veil (v) |
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