Reading and Thinking
THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE
百万英镑
Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a man could live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is Henry Adams.
一对富有的兄弟，罗德里克和奥利弗，打了一个赌。奥利弗认为，一个人靠一张百万英镑的钞票在伦敦能活一个月。他的兄弟罗德里克对此表示怀疑。他们看见一个贫穷的年轻人在房子的外面游荡。他叫亨利·亚当斯。
make a bet
Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please?
Henry: Who? Me, sir?
Roderick: Yes, you.
Servant: (opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in?
(Henry enters the house)
Roderick: How do you do, Mr ... er ...
Henry: Adams. Henry Adams.
Oliver: Come and sit down, Mr Adams.
Henry: Thank you.
Roderick: You're an American?
Henry: That's right, from San Francisco.
Roderick: May we ask what you're doing in this country and what your plans are?
Henry: Well, I can't say that I have any plans. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident.
Oliver: How is that possible?
Henry: Well, I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing, and towards night I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. The next morning I was spotted by a ship.
Oliver: And it was the ship that brought you to England.
Henry: Yes. I went to the American consulate to seek help, but ... Anyway, I didn't dare to try again. (The brothers smile at each other.)
罗德里克：年轻人，请你进来一会儿，好吗？
亨利：先生，你叫谁呀？是叫我吗？
罗德里克：是的，就是你。
仆人：（打开门）早上好，先生，请进。
（亨利走进房子）
罗德里克：你好，先生，你贵姓？
亨利：亚当斯，亨利·亚当斯。
奥利弗：来，请坐，亚当斯先生。
亨利：谢谢。
罗德里克：你是美国人？
亨利：是的，从旧金山来。
罗德里克：可不可以问问，你在这个国家要干点儿什么？你的计划又是什么呢？
亨利：嗯，谈不上有什么计划。事实上，我在英国上岸是偶然的。
奥利弗：这怎么可能呢？
亨利：嗯，我有自己的船。大约一个月前，我开着船，晚上的时候我发现我被一阵大风刮到海上去了。第二天早上，一艘船发现了我。
奥利弗：正是那艘船把你带到了英国。
亨利：是的。我上美国大使馆求助，但是……不管怎样，我不敢再去尝试了。（兄弟俩相顾而笑）
as a matter of factby accident
强调句型 It was ... that ...
And it was the ship that brought you to England. 为强调句型：It is/was + 被强调部分 + that/who + 其余部分。
此句强调主语 the ship。还原为：The ship brought you to England.
例：It was in 2003 that China sent its first astronaut. 中国是在2003年送出第一位宇航员的。
find + 宾语 + 宾补
I found myself carried out to sea 中 carried out to sea 为过去分词作宾补，表被动状态。
例：He found himself locked in the room. 他发现自己被锁在房间里了。
拓展：find + n. + doing（主动进行）/ done（被动完成）/ adj.
Roderick: Well, you mustn't worry about that. It's an advantage.
Henry: I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.
Roderick: Tell us, what sort of work did you do in America?
Henry: I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me work here?
Roderick: Patience. If you don't mind, may I ask you how much money you have?
Henry: Well, to be honest, I have none.
Oliver: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck!
Henry: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don't think it's very funny. Now if you'll excuse me, I ought to be on my way.
Roderick: Please don't go. You mustn't think we don't care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.
Oliver: Yes, I was about to go get the letter. Wait! (getting it from a desk and giving it to Henry) The letter.
Henry: (taking it carefully) For me?
Roderick: For you. (Henry starts to open it) Oh, no, you'd better not open it. You can't open it until two o'clock.
Henry: Oh, this is silly.
Roderick: Not silly. There's money in it.
Henry: Oh, no. I don't want your charity. I just want a job that earns an honest income.
Roderick: We know you're hard-working. That's why we've given you the letter. (to the servant) Show Mr Adams out.
Oliver: Good luck, Mr Adams.
Henry: Well, why don't you explain what this is all about?
Roderick: You'll soon know. In exactly an hour and a half.
Servant: This way, sir.
Roderick: Not until 2 o'clock. Promise?
Henry: Promise. Goodbye.
罗德里克：嗯，这一点你倒不必担心，这还是优点呢。
亨利：对不起，先生，你的话我没有听懂。
奥利弗：请你告诉我们，你在美国是做什么工作的？
亨利：我在一家矿业公司工作。你们能不能给我提供工作呢？
罗德里克：耐心点儿。如果你不介意，我能不能问问，你手头儿有多少钱？
亨利：嗯，老实说，我一分钱都没有了。
奥利弗：（高兴地）老兄，真走运！真有运气！
亨利：嗯，这对你们来说可能是运气，但对我来说可不是。如果你们认为这是一个笑话，我可不觉得很好笑。好了，请原谅，我想我该上路了。
罗德里克：请别走。你千万不要以为我们不在意你的感受。奥利弗，把信给他。
奥利弗：好的，我正想去拿信呢。稍等一下！（从桌上把信拿起来，递给亨利）给你信。
亨利：（小心翼翼地接过信）是给我的吗？
罗德里克：是给你的。（亨利要拆信）啊，别拆，你不要拆，到两点钟你才能打开。
亨利：噢，这真可笑。
罗德里克：这不可笑，这里边有钱呢。
亨利：噢，不，我不需要你们的施舍，我只要一份老老实实的工作。
罗德里克：我们知道你工作是很卖力的，这正是我们给你这封信的原因。（对仆人说）请送亚当斯先生出去。
奥利弗：祝你好运，亚当斯先生。
亨利：嗯，怎么不给我讲讲，这究竟是怎么回事呢？
罗德里克：你很快就会明白的。一个半小时以后。
仆人：请这边走，先生。
罗德里克：两点钟以前不要拆信，答应吗？
亨利：答应。再见。
to be honestought tobe about to do
not ... until 直到……才
You can't open it until two o'clock. = Not until two o'clock can you open it.（倒装）
强调句：It is not until... that... It is not until two o'clock that you can open it.
要点摘要
- 兄弟打赌：百万英镑钞票能否让穷人存活一个月
- 亨利·亚当斯被请进屋，讲述自己因海难流落伦敦的经历
- 兄弟给亨利一封信，嘱咐两点钟才能打开，内有金钱