27. The valuable fence After h. A. Smith
The Grcggs were coming back from their first trip to Europe. On board the "Queen Elizabeth" they got acquainted with a Frenchman. His English was good and soon they got quite friendly. The Frenchman told the Grcggs that he was an artist and his name was Lautissc. He asked to keep it a secret. He did not like publicity.
The Grcggs didn't know any artist whose name was Lautissc. So they talked to the ship's librarian and found out that their new friend was the world famous artist whose pictures were very valuable and expensive. The librarian found a book with a
biographical sketch and a photograph. The sketch said that the artist had retired at fifty-three to a villa on the Riviera. He said he would never touch a brush again.
Lautissc was going to spend a month in New York. Mrs. Gregg suggested that he come to their place for the weekend. The artist accepted the invitation and made them promise not to invite any other people to their place and not to speak to him about art.
At the appointed time Lautissc arrived at the Grcggs' and they were happy to sec him. Mr. Gregg and his wife did their best to entertain the famous artist, but he did not want to go for a swim or walk in the wood. He wanted to sit and relax.
The next morning Mr. Gregg got up very early as he wanted to paint the fence around the vegetable garden. He took a brush and was about to begin painting when Lautissc approached him. As soon as he saw the brush, he seized it from Mr. Gregg and began painting the fence.
The same day Lautissc started for New York. Some correspondents found out about Lautissc's stay in New York. An article was published in one of the newspapers saying:
"Mr. Lautissc has spent all his time in New York except for the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gregg. He met the Grcggs on the ship coming from Europe."
The day after the story appeared, two reporters came to the Grcggs' place. They wanted to know everything about the stay of the famous artist at their place. They were shown the fence painted and signed by Lautissc. A long article, headlined "Lautissc paints again", was published the next day.
The fence turned out to be a valuable thing. It was sold for a big sum of money, it was taken to a.museum. Mr. Gregg could not keep from laughing when he saw his fence in the museum. The fence was not worth it.
Find the following word combinations in the text:
из первой поездки ii Европу; на борту "Queen Elizabeth"; подружились; его звали; выяснил, что; очень ценные; удалился от дел в 53 года; провести месяц; не говорить с ним об искусстве; сделали все возможное; хотел посидеть и расслабиться; забор вокруг огорода; в тот же день; кроме субботы и воскресенья; пришли в дом Грегов; забор оказался; не мог удержаться от смеха.
434
435
Answer
the questions:
From where were the Grcggs coming back?
With whom did they get acquainted on board the ship?
What was Lautissc?
Why did Mi's. Gregg invite the man to her house?
Who painted the fence around Mr. Gregg's vegetable garden?
What article was published in one of the newspapers?
Why did two reporters come to the Greggs' place?
Why was the fence sold for a large sum of money''
9. Why couldn't Mr. Gregg keep from laughing? 10. Was Lautissc an artist?
Finish the sentences:
The Grcggs were...
They got acquainted with...
He told the Greggs that...
He asked them to keep...
The artist accepted...
He didn't want to...
When he saw Mr. Gregg...
The same day he started for...
The fence turned out...
It was sold for...
Mr. Gregg couldn't keep from...
WORD LIST:
sketch — очерк
fence — забор
to seize smth. from smb. — выхватить что-либо
у кого-либо to turn out — оказаться
valuable — ценный
to keep it a secret — держать это в секрете