Mistaken Identity

(I) Several years ago I arrived in New York, where I was to change trains and take a sleeper¹. There were crowds of people on the platform; they were all trying to get on the long sleeper train, which was already crowded. I asked the young man in the booking office if I could have a sleeping-berth. The answer was: “No”. I went off and asked another local official² if I could have some poor little corner somewhere in a sleeping car. The man interrupted me angrily saying: “No, you can’t, every corner is full. Do not bother me any more”. He turned his back and walked off. I felt so hurt that I said to my companion: “If these people knew who I was, they… .” But my companion stopped me there: “Don’t talk such nonsense. If they knew who you were, do you think it would help you to get a vacant seat in a train which has no vacant seats in it?”

My friend’s words did not improve my mood, but then I noticed that the porter of a sleeping car was looking at me. I saw the expression of his face suddenly change. Pointing at me, the porter whispered something to the conductor. I realized that I was being talked about.

(II) The conductor came forward, his face all politeness.

“Can I be of any service to you?” he asked. “Do you want a place in a sleeping car?”

“Yes,” I said. “I will be very grateful to you if you can give me a place; anything will do.”

“We have nothing left except the big family compartment,” the conductor continued, “with two berths and a couple of arm-chairs in it. It is entirely at your disposal³. Here, Tom, take these suitcases aboard!” Then he touched his hat and went off.

(III) The porter made us comfortable in the compartment and then he said, with many bows and smiles:

“Is there anything you want, sir? Because you can have anything you want.”

“Can I have some hot water?” I asked.

“Yes, sir, I’ll get it myself.”

“Good! Well…, this lamp is too high above the berth. Can I have a better lamp fixed at the head of my bed below the luggage rack, so that I can read comfortably?”

“Yes, sir. The lamp you want is being fixed in the next compartment. I will get it from there and fix it here. It will burn all night long. Sir, you can ask for anything you want – the whole railroad will be turned inside out to please you.” After that he disappeared.

(IV) I smiled at my companion and said:

“Well, what do you say now? Didn’t their attitude change the moment they understood I was Mark Twain?” My companion did not answer. So I added:

“Don’t you like the way you are being served? And all for the same fare.”

As I was saying this, the porter’s smiling face appeared in the doorway and this speech followed:

“Oh, sir, I recognized you the minute I set my eyes on you.”

“Is that so, my boy?” I said, handing him a good tip. “And who am I?”

“Mr. McClellan, Mayor of New York,” was the answer, and the porter disappeared again.

Notes: ¹sleeper (train) = overnight train – ночной поезд;

²official – служащий;

³at your disposal – к вашим услугам.

Ex. 14. Answer the following questions. (Part I)

1. In what city did Mark Twain arrive?

2. Did he travel alone or did he have a companion?

3. Did he want to do a tour around this city?

4. Why were there a lot of people on the platform?

5. What ticket did Mark Twain want to get?

6. Was the clerk in the booking office helpful to him? What about another local official?

7. What was Mark’s mood?

8. Did Mark Twain want railway officials to know that he was a famous writer?

9. In what way did Mark’s companion react to these words? (Could this news help get tickets for the crowded train?)

10. Why did Mark Twain pay attention to the porter of a sleeping car? (Was anything unusual about the man?)

11. Could Mark hear what the porter was telling the conductor?

12. Why did Mark Twain realize that he was being talked about?

Ex. 15. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English. (Part II)

1. Проводник был очень вежлив с пассажирами купейного вагона.

2. Я могу быть вам чем-то полезен?

3. Я спросил у служащего в билетной кассе, могу ли я купить билет в купейный вагон.

4. Я буду вам очень благодарен, если вы покажете мне город.

5. Я бы хотел почитать какой-нибудь детектив. – Вы хотите книгу английского или русского автора? – Все равно (подойдет любая).

6. После вечеринки в холодильнике ничего не осталось.

7. Научная библиотека в вашем распоряжении – вы можете читать любые книги и периодические издания.

8. Носильщик отнес наши чемоданы в вагон.

Ex. 16. Choose the right alternative to complete the sentence. (Part III)

1. The porter left the compartment with many … .

1. bows and cries b) bows and smiles c) barks and smiles

2. According to the porter, Mark Twain and his companion could have … .

a) nothing they wanted b) something they wanted c) anything they wanted

3. The passengers asked for some … .

1. mineral water b) hot water c) ice water

4. The porter was ready to … .

a) bring it himself b) boil it himself c) buy it himself

5. Mark Twain and his traveling companion wanted the lamp to be … .

1. removed b) replaced c) hung lower

6. The porter promised to take a lamp from … .

1. the next compartment b) the next coach c) his office

7. This lamp will burn … .

1. all night large b) all day long c) all night long

8. The porter was sure the whole railroad will be turned inside out to … .

1. make every traveler on board the train comfortable

2. make everything to please the famous writer and his companion

3. make these two passengers feel at home

Ex. 17. Translate Part IV of the text into Russian. Try to be as creative as possible when doing this task!

Ex 18. Mark the following statements as ‘True’ or ‘False’. Correct the false statements.

1. Last year Mark Twain arrived in Washington where he was to change buses.

2. At the railway station, there were many people trying to get on the local train.

3. Mark Twain asked the clerk in the booking office if he could change the ticket.

4. There were no tickets for the sleeper train available in the booking office.

5. Mark Twain asked the local official if he could help him and his companion to get the tickets for the sleeper.

6. The local official was very polite.

7. The famous writer felt deeply hurt when nobody recognized him.

8. The porter named Willy seemed to recognize Mark Twain.

9. There was only one vacant compartment aboard.

10. The compartment was very large and comfortable: there were two berths and a couple of chairs in it.

11. Twain asked the porter if he could fix the better lamp above the luggage rack.

12. Twain’s companion was very pleased with the way they were being served.

13. The porter thought Mark Twain to be Mayor of New York.

Text B