GLOSSARY. hack- work литературная поденщина,

hack- work литературная поденщина,

халтура suit in pawn костюм, заложенный

в ломбард

desperation отчаяние

collect the five dollars due him получать пять долларов,

причитающиеся ему

redeem his suit of clothes выкупить свой костюм

speculate upon his predicament размышлять над своим

затруднительным

положением

fail to collect his money

is ajar jerk open flung past muttering curses clenching his fists linger in the hallways

shove the door open

carry word to an inner room

beckon him

the editorial sanctum

disorder and confusion

marvel

the calm repose of his face

the squabble affect equanimity effusively

не удаваться получить свои

деньги

приоткрыта

рывком открыть

промчаться мимо

бормоча проклятия

сжимая кулаки

долго оставаться

в корридоре

толчком открыть дверь

сообщить во внутреннюю

комнату

подать ему знать

святая святых реедакции

беспорядок и путаница

изумляться

спокойное выражениие его

лица

перебранка

подействовать на кого-либо

самообладание

несдержанно, энергично

II.

"Can't say how glad I am to see you, Mr. Eden. Often wondered what you were like". Here he held Martin off at arm's length and ran his beaming eyes over Martin's second-best suit, which was ragged and past repair.

"I conceived you to be a much older man than you are. Your story, you showed such breadth, and vigor, such maturity and depth of thought. Let me tell you how I first read it. But no; first let me introduce you to the staff. Still talking, Mr. Ford led him to the general office where he introduced him to the associate editor, Mr. White and to their business manager, Mr. Ends. And the next moment Martin found himself shaking hand with three men who surrounded Martin, all talking admiringly and at once, until it seemed to him that they were talking against time for a wager.

"We often wondered why you didn't call," Mr. White was saying.

"I didn't have the carfare and I live across the Bay", Martin answered bluntly, with the idea of showing them his imperative need for the money.

"Did I tell you how I first read your story", Mr. Ford said. "I was coming from west from New York, and when the train stopped at Ogdon, the train-boy brought the current number of the Transcontinental.

"My God," Martin thought: "you can travel in a Pullman, while I starve for the paltry five dollars you owe me". A wave of anger rushed over him. For a moment he saw red. The creatures were not even robbers. They were sneak-thieves. By lies and promises they had tricked him out of his story. Well, he would show them. He controlled himself with an effort, but not before the wolfish expression of his face awed and perturbed them.

They became more voluble than ever. Mr. Ford started anew to tell how he had first read "The Ring of Bells", and Mr. Ends was striving to repeat his niece's appreciation of the story, said niece being a school-teacher in Alabama.

"I'll tell you what I came for," Martin said finally. "To be paid for the story all of you like so much. Five dollars, I believe, is what you promised me would be paid on publication."

"It's rather absurd, Mr. Eden, to have caught us in this shape," Mr. Ford preambled airily. "All carelessness, I assure you. But I'll tell you What we'll do. We'll mail a check the first thing in the morning."

" I need the money today," Martin answered stolidly.

"Mr. Ford has already explained the situation," Mr. Ends said with asperity. "The check will be mailed — "

"I also have explained," Martin broke in "that I want the money today". He had felt his pulse quicken a trifle at the business manager's brusqueness, and upon him he kept an alert eye. It was in that gentleman's trousers pocket that he divined Transcontinen — tal ready cash was reposing.

GLOSSARY

conceive представлять себе

bluntly грубо, тупо

starve голодать

wolfish expression зверское выражение

awe благоговейный страх

perturb приводить в смятение

voluble говорливый

strive стараться

preamble начать разговор

airily беззаботно, легкомысленно

carelessness небрежность

stolidly бесстрастно

asperity резкость

brusqueness бесцеремонность

divine предполагать

repose покоиться, находиться

III.

"It's too bad — " Mr. Ford began. But at that moment with an impatient movement, Mr. Ends turned as if about to leave the room. At the same instant Martin sprang for him, clutching him by the throat with one hand in such fashion that Mr. Ends'snow-white beard pointed ceilingward at an angle of forty-five degrees. "Dig up, you venerable discourager of rising talent!" Martin exhorted. "Dig up, or I'll shake it out of you, even if it's all in nickels."

Then to the two affrighted onlookers: "Keep away! If you interfere, somebody's liable to get hurt."

Mr. End was choking, and it was not until the grip on his throat was eased that he was able to signify his acquiescence in the digging-

up programme. Altogether, after repeated digs, his trousers pocket yielded four dollars and fifteen cents.

— "Inside out with it," Martin commanded. An additional ten cents fell out.

- Martin counted the results of his raid a second time to make sure.

— "You next!" he shouted at Mr. Ford. "I want seventy-five cents more."

— Mr. Ford did not wait, but ransacked his pockets, with the result of sixty cents.

— "Sure that is all?" Martin demanded menacingly, possessing himself of it.

— "What have you got in your vest pockets?"

— In token of his good faith, Mr. Ford turned two of his pockets inside out. A strip of cardboard fell to the floor from one of them. He recovered it and was in the act of returning it, when Martin cried: "What's that? — A ferry-ticket?

— Here, give it to me. It's worth ten cents. I'll credit you with it. I've now got four dollars and ninety-five cents, including the ticket. Five cents is still due me."

— He looked fiercely at Mr. White, and found that fragile creature in the act of handing him a nickel."

- "Thank you," Martin said addressing them collectively, "I wish you good day."

— "Robber!" Mr. Ends snarled after him.

— "Sneak-thief!" Martin retorted, slamming the door as he passed out.