初级 亚瑟王与圆桌骑士
Chapter One: Young Arthur
In the year 493, Uther Pendragon became King of Britain. He had a counsellor named Merlin. Merlin was also a magician.
When King Uther's son Arthur was born, Merlin said, "Your son must grow up away from the court. It is safer!"
Merlin gave the baby son to Sir Ector and his wife. They raised him well.
When King Uther died in 509, Britain had no king. The country had many problems.
Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and said, "Britain must have a king. We must find one. Call all the noblemen of the kingdom. Tell them to meet at the great church in London on Christmas Day. There, God will show us the new king."
On Christmas Day, all the noblemen were in the great church. Outside the church there was a big stone with a sword in it. These words were written on the big stone:
He who pulls the sword out of this stone is the true King of Britain.
中级 百万英镑
Part Four: At the Tailor's
Every time I passed in front of a tailor's, I wanted to enter and buy some new clothes. But, I had no money to pay for them. The ￡1,000,000
banknote in my pocket was useless !
I passed in front of the same tailor's six times. At last I entered. I quietly asked if they had an old, unattractive suit that no one wanted to buy. The man I spoke to nodded his head, but he didn't speak. Then another man looked at me and nodded his head.
I went to him and he said, "One moment, please."
After some time, he took me to a back room. He looked at several ugly suits that no one wanted. He chose the worst for me. I really wanted a suit,so I said nothing.
It was time to pay. "Can you wait a few days for the money? I haven't got any small change with me."
The man said, "Oh, you haven't? Well, I thought gentlemen like you carried large change."
"My friend," I replied, "you can't judge a stranger by the clothes he wears.
I can pay for this suit. But, can you change a large banknote?"
"Oh, of course we can change a large banknote," he said coldly.
I gave him the banknote. He received it with a smile, a big smile that covered his face. When he read the banknote, his smile disappeared. The owner of the shop came over and asked me, "What's the trouble ?"
"There isn't any trouble. I'm waiting for my change."
"Come, come. Give him his change, Tod. Quickly! "
Tod answered, "It's easy to say, but look at the banknote."
The owner looked at the banknote. Then he looked at my package with the ugly suit.
"Tod," he shouted, "you are stupid! How can you sell this unattractive suit to a millionaire! Tod, you can't see the difference between a millionaire and a poor man."
"I apologize, sir," the owner continued. "Please take off those things you are wearing and throw them in the fire. Put on this fine shirt and this handsome suit. It's perfect for you — simple but elegant."
I told him I was very happy with the new suit.
"Oh, wait until you see what we can make for you in your size!
Tod, bring a pen and a book. Let me measure your leg, your arm ..."
I didn't have a moment to speak.
The owner measured me. Then he ordered his tailors to make me morning suits, evening suits, shirts, coats and other things.
"But, my dear sir," I said, "I can order all these things only if you change my banknote. Or, if you can wait a while before I pay you."
"Wait a while! I'll wait forever, that's the word. Tod, send these things to the gentleman's address. Let the less important customers wait! What's your address, sir?"
''I'm changing my home. I'll come back and give you my new address," I replied.
"Quite right, sir, quite right. Let me show you to the door, sir. Good day, sir, good day."
Part Five: The Poor Millionaire
The impossible happened. I bought everything I wanted without money. I showed my banknote and asked for change, but every time the same thing happened. No one was able to change it.
I bought all that I needed and all the luxuries that I wanted. I stayed at an expensive hotel in Hanover Square. I always had dinner at the hotel. But I preferred having breakfast at Harris's simple eating place. Harris's was the first place where I had a good meal with my million-pound note. That's where it all started.
The news about me and my banknote was all over London. Harris's eating place became famous because I had breakfast there. Harris was happy with all his new customers.
I lived like a rich, important man. I had money to spend. I lived in a dream.
But often, I said to myself, "Remember, this dream will end when the two men return to London. Everything will change."
My story was in the newspapers. Everyone talked about the "strange millionaire with the million-pound note in his pocket." Punch magazine drew a funny picture of me on the front page. People talked about everything I did and about everything I said. They followed me in the streets.
I kept my old clothes, and sometimes I wore them. It was fun when the shop owners thought I was poor. Then I showed them the banknote, and, oh,how their faces changed!
After ten days in London, I went to visit the American Ambassador. He was very happy to meet me. He invited me to a dinner-party that evening.
He told me that he knew my father from Yale University. He invited me to visit his home whenever I wanted.
I was glad to have a new, important friend. I thought to myself, "I'll need an important friend, when the story of the million-pound note and bet comes out."
I want the reader to know that I planned to pay back all the shop owners who sold me things on credit. "If I win the bet for the old gentleman," I thought, "I will have an important job. With an important job, I will have a big salary." I planned to pay back everyone with my first year's salary.
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