Gideon and the Chestnut Seller
4.3
Тема: Опрацювання художнього тексту професійного напрямку.“Gideon and chestnut seller” (after John Creasy).
Час, виділений на опрацювання теми: 3 г
Мета: розвивати навички вивчаючого читання, навички літературного перекладу, розвиток навичок розпізнавання вивчених лексичних одиниць у тексті, граматичних структур, їх розуміння, поповнення лексичного запасу студентів професійного напрямку, збагачення світогляду студентів через читання художньої літератури, розвивати фонові знання з англійської мови
Методичні рекомендації:
1. Уважно прочитайте завдання самостійної роботи.
2. Прочитайте запропонований текст. Всі незнайомі слова потрібно знайти у словнику і записати у роботу. Особливу увагу звертайте на слова професійного напрямку.
3. Виконайте завдання вправ, переписуючи завдання вправи, питання вправ і правильні відповіді цілком.
4. Для кращого розуміння тексту нижче поданий переклад деяких слів і словосполучень.
5. Зверніть увагу, що Завдання 3 потребує пошуку додаткової інформації про місця, згадані у тексті (не менше 10 речень англійською мовою з перекладом на українську).
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.
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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 aitists and policemen. On 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 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 coats stroke against his but-stretched 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.
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- 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 consequence.
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.
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- Yes, it's 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 fiat. 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 jewellery 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.
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- 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.
Note:
the Commander of the Criminal Investigation Department – голова Управління карного розшуку;
a pavement artist – вуличний художник;
to shout a protest – закричати на знак протесту;
to scream with pain – закричати від болю;
half conscious – напівпритомний;
who was in charge of the police attempt to curtail the activities of the teen-age gangs – який очолював роботу поліції по припиненню діяльності банд підлітків;
they fight just for the sake of fighting – вони билися лише заради самої бійки;
grave consequences – тяжкі наслідки;
his frail voice had a note of anger – у його слабкому голосі відчувалося роздратування.
What's on your mind about Dicey? – Якої ви думки про Дайсі?
Get a move on - Покваптеся
lead – зачіпка;
they weren 't in it for the sheer fun – вони зробили це не просто задля розваги;
to make sense – набувати сенсу;
to catch up with – доганяти.
1. Choose the correct answers:
1. Who was old Ben?
2. How did old Ben happen to be badly burned?
3. How did Ben happen to get the bag of chestnuts?
4. Who was the young woman with long blond hair?
5. Why did the youths rush at old Ben?
6. What did Dicey hide in the chestnuts?
A. He was a newsdealer.
B. He was a farmer.
C. He was a chestnut seller.
D. He was burned trying to light a fire.
E. He was burned when the brazier was tipped over.
F. He was burned roasting his chestnuts.
G. He found the bag near the place he lived.
H. A grocer gave it to him.
I. A young lady gave it to him.
J. She was also a chestnut seller.
K. She was Dicey's sister.
L. She was Dicey's wife.
M. They wanted to grab his money.
N. They wanted to grab the chestnuts.
O. They did it for the sheer fun.
P. He hid drugs in them.
Q. He hid diamonds in them.
R. He hid gold coins in them.
2. Are the following statements True or False?
1. Old Ben picked chestnuts, roasted and sold them.
2. Though Gideon liked chestnuts he never ate them in the street,
3. Gideon's massive figure was familiar to newsdealers and taxi drivers, pavement artist and policemen.
4. Old Ben rushed to save his chestnuts but fell down and broke his arm.
5. When the police arrived the two opposing gangs had already disappeared.
6. The report said that there were only a few chestnuts left in the basket.
7. Old Ben told Gideon that an old lady with grey hair had given him the bag of chestnuts.
8. When Lloyd arrived at Dicey's apartment Dicey was reading a newspaper.
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