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84
'I haven't eaten potatoes for twenty-five years,' said Frank in a far-off brooding tone.
'Waiter,' cried Beatrice, 'bring fried potatoes for three.' The potatoes were brought. They ate them with
their fingers.
'Bring me a dry Martini,' said Arrow.
'Bring me a double dry Martini,' said Frank.
'Bring three double dry Martinis,' said Beatrice.
They were brought and drunk at a gulp.
'I wonder if they've got any chocolate eclaires,' said Beatrice.
'Of course they have.'
And of course they had. Frank thrust one whole into her huge mouth, swallowed it and seized another, but
before she ate it she looked at the other two and plunged a vindictive dagger into the heart of the monstrous
Lena.
15
'You can say what you like, but the troth is she played a damned rotten game of bridge, really.'
'Lousy,' agreed Arrow.
But Beatrice suddenly thought she would like a meringue.
Proper Names
Antibes [
'ti:b] (French) — Антиб
Somerset Maugham ['s
m
s
t 'm
m] — Сомерсет Моэм
Beatrice Richman [
b
tr
s 'r
m
n] — Беатрис Ричмен
Arrow Sutcliffe ['
r
's
tkl
f] —Эрроу Сатклифф
Frances Hickson ['fr
ns
s 'h
ks
n] — Фрэнсис Хиксон
Lena Finch ['li:n
f
n
] — Лина Финч
Riviera [,r
v
'е
r
] — Ривьера
Martini [m
'ti:n
] — мартини (Прим.: коктейль из джина, вермута и горькой настойки)
Vocabulary Notes
1. It was their fat that had brought them together... — Именно потому, что они были полные, они
завязали знакомство ...
2. ... if they had not needed a fourth at bridge. — ... если бы им не нужен был четв¸ртый для игры в
бридж.
3. 'You bet your life she does.' — «Бьюсь об заклад, что да.»
4. We should be absolutely independent of outsiders. — Мы бы совершенно не зависели от
посторонних.
5. The grossest indecency would not have fallen on the ears of those three women. — Ничего более
неприличного уши этих тр¸х женщин не слышали.
6. ... which was miraculously produced. — ... которое появилось чудесным образом.
7. She helped herself liberally. — Она положила себе щедрую порцию.
8. 'You have a very sweet tooth,' said Arrow in a tone which she straggled to keep friendly. — «Вы
большая сладкоежка», — сказала Эрроу, изо всех сил пытаясь говорить дружелюбным тоном.
9. pate de foie gras — [p
te
dз: 'f
'gr
] — (фр.) паштет из гусиной печ¸нки
10. ... he leapt at the opportunity afforded him ... —...он ухватился за представившуюся ему
возможность ...
11. The butler disclosed the fact that ... — Дворецкий признался, что ...
12. ... she heaved such a vast sigh of relief... — ... она так глубоко и с таким облегчением вздохнула ...
13. ... stopped dead still. — ... остановилась как вкопанная.
14. croissant — [krw
's
] — (фр.) круассан (Прим.: булочка в виде полумесяца из воздушного
сдобного теста)
15. ... plunged а vindictive dagger into the heart of the monstrous Lena. — ... в отместку вонзила
кинжал в сердце вероломной Лины.
Comprehension Check
1.
What were Mrs. Richman, Mrs. Sutcliffe and Miss Hickson?
2.
Why did they need the fourth person in their company?
3.
Where were they staying and why?
4.
What did, Frank suggest one morning?
5.
How did Lena Finch and the ladies meet?
6.
Where did the ladies go from the Monkey House?