It struck her that Mr, Spragge was, for some reason, behaving quite unlike his usual benign omniscient self. He looked actually worried.

"I really believe," said Mr. Spragge, "that I ought to warn you."

"Warn me?" said Frankie.

"Yes. The indications are vague, very vague — but clearly there is something afoot. I would not for the world have you involved in any questionable business."

As far as that went Frankie could have told him that she was already involved up to the neck in a business of which he would have decidedly disapproved. But she merely stared at him inquiringly.

"The whole thing is rather an extraordinary coincidence," Mr. Spragge was going on. "Something is clearly afoot — clearly. But what it is I am not at present at liberty to say."

Frankie continued to look inquiring.

"A piece of information has just come to my knowledge," continued Mr. Spragge. His chest swelled with indignation. "I have been impersonated, Lady Frances. Deliberately impersonated. What do you say to that?"

But for just one panic-stricken minute Frankie could say nothing at all.

 Questions and Tasks

1. Find the words in the chapter, translate the sentences.

to be cunning as the serpent

to let the grass grow under one’s feet

vexation

a tenancy

an abode

nostrils

to escape death by a miracle

a will

to emerge

to blackmail

to be sued

an income

to be involved up to the neck in smth

2. Find antonyms (if possible) to the words and expressions from task 1.

3. Make up correct sentences of the following words.

1) the, Frankie, frowning, paper, in, remembrance, of, an, effort.

2) want, a, to, at, I, look, will, said, Frankie.

3) weather, delightful, is, the, now, it, not, is, just?

4) you, do, you, think, don’t, she, dead, is?

5) cunning, I, as, shall, serpent, be, the.

6) money, he, deal, owes, me, a, good.

7) evidence, confirmatory, negative, of, kind, a, least, at, was, it.

8) will, isn’t, a, it, family.

4. Translate the Russian sentences into English, using the active vocabulary (chapters 23-24).

1) Дети всегда старались не путаться под ногами у родителей.

2) Террористы шантажировали правительство, пытаясь получить автономию.

3) У Бобби было скромное жилище в Лондоне.

4) Викарий полностью посвятил себя служению Богу.

5) Жизнь Мойры Николсон висела на волоске.

6) Бобби чудом удалось избежать смерти.

7) Завещание старика совсем не понравилось его родственникам.

8) Хозяина ресторана привлекли к суду за незаконные доходы.

9) Бобби и Френки решили изменить угол атаки на доктора Николсона.

10) Когда Роджер улыбался, были видны его белые, ровные зубы.

5. Retell the chapter in the form of a dialogue.

 Chapter Twenty-Five: mr. Spragge talks

At last she stammered, "How did you find out?" It was not at all what she meant to say. She could, in fact, have bitten out her tongue for stupidity a moment later, but the words had been said, and Mr. Spragge would have been no lawyer had he failed to perceive that they contained an admission.

"So you know something of this business, Lady Frances?"

"Yes," said Frankie. She paused, drew a deep breath and said, "The whole thing is really my doing, Mr. Spragge."

"I am amazed," said Mr. Spragge. There was a struggle in his voice — the outraged lawyer was at war with the fatherly family solicitor. "How did this come about?" he asked.

"It was just a joke," said Frankie weakly. "We — we wanted something to do."

"And who," demanded Mr. Spragge, "had the idea of passing himself off as we?"

Frankie looked at him and, her wits working once more, made a rapid decision. "It was the young Duke of — no —" she broke off. "I — really mustn't mention names. It isn't fair."

But she knew that the tide had turned in her favour. It was doubtful whether Mr. Spragge could have forgiven a mere vicar's son such audacity, but his weakness for noble names led him to look softly on the impertinences of a duke. His benign manner returned.

"Oh! You Bright Young People — you Bright Young People," he murmured, wagging a forefinger. "What trouble you land yourselves in! You would be surprised, Lady Frances, at the amount of legal complications that may ensue from an apparently harmless practical joke determined upon the spur of the moment. Just high spirits — but sometimes extremely difficult to settle out of court."

"I think you're too marvelous, Mr. Spragge," said Frankie earnestly. "I do really. Not one person in a thousand would have taken it as you have done. I feel really terribly ashamed." "No, no, Lady Frances," said Mr. Spragge paternally.

"Oh, but I do. I suppose it was the Rivington woman — what exactly did she tell you?"

"I think I have the letter here. I opened it only half an hour ago."

Frankie held out a hand, and Mr. Spragge put the letter into it with the air of one saying, "There, see for yourself what your foolishness has led you into."

Dear Mr. Spragge, [Mrs. Rivington had written]. It's really too stupid of me, but I've just remembered something that might have helped you the day you called on me. Alan Carstairs mentioned that he was going down to a place called Chipping Somerton. I don't know whether this will be any help to you?