Рассказы / Short Stories

Рассказы / Short Stories

O. Henry

Легко читаем по-английски

В сборник вошли адаптированные и сокращенные тексты рассказов американского писателя О. Генри (1862–1910). Рассказы сопровождаются комментариями и упражнениями, в конце книги расположен небольшой словарь. Книга предназначается для продолжающих изучать английский язык (Уровень 3 – Intermediate).

О. Генри / O. Henry

Рассказы / Short Stories

В© РћРћРћ В«Р?здательство РђРЎРўВ»

The Cop and the Anthem

On his bench in Madison Square[1 - Madison Square – Мэдисон-сквер] Soapy moved uneasily. A dead leaf fell onto his arm.

Winter was coming, and Soapy knew that he must make his plans. And therefore moved unhappily on his seat.

The ambitions of Soapy were not very high. He did not dream about Mediterranean cruises, or Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul wished. Three months of assured board and bed[2 - board and bed – еда и кров] and congenial company seemed to Soapy the essence of things desirable[3 - essence of things desirable – предел желания].

For years the hospitable prison had been his winter quarters. And now the time was come because, at night on his seat in the square, three newspapers did not keep out the cold.

So Soapy decided to go to prison, and at once began to try his first plan. It was usually easy. There were many easy ways of doing this. The pleasantest was to dine luxuriously at some expensive restaurant. He ate dinner in an expensive restaurant.

Then he told them he had no money and they called a policeman. Nice and easy, with no trouble.

Soapy left his bench and walked slowly along the street, where Broadway[4 - Broadway – Бродвей (длинная улица в Нью-Йорке)] and Fifth Avenue flow together. Up Broadway he turned, and halted at a glittering café.

Soapy had confidence in himself from the lowest button of his vest upward.