(äëÿ èçó÷àþùèõ àíãëèéñêèå èäèîìû)
UNMASKING
Colonel Green was sitting in his study, brooding gloomily over his money affairs. Only a month ago he could make the money fly, but now… Now he was over head and ears in debts. Over and over he tried to cal to mind that sad event how it had happened that all his money slipped through his hands, but in vain. As a matter of fact, Green always complained of his incapacity for having something in mind. Yet, he had to do something. He would make soup in a basket in order to get some money.
In the long run he invented. The colonel thought over all the outs and ins until he made up his mind that his plan was quite possible.
He decided to play a trick on his chief and one of his colleagues who wasn’t his friend but one of those fellows with whom you could exchange several words off and on, not binding yourself to anything.
Next morning Colonel Green entered the general’s staff and declaired: “Do you know that Lieutenant Smith playing a double game? He is spying for our enemies, I guessed it at once. Over and above, he tried to involve me into his dirty affairs.”
To his great surprise, the general burst out laughing and instead of saying “Good for you! Take your twenty pounds for your brilliant service!” he said:
“Don’t play the ape, Colonel! Who do you take me for as to pull my leg? And generally speaking, who do you think you are to speak so of my son?”
Colonel Green stared at him in blank surprise. “What? You mean… Well, but your surname and his one…”
“It’s none of your business!” the general interrupted him. “You may be free. You’re sacked for your stupidity!”
Poor Colonel Green left the general’s room hardly dragging his legs.
1971 ã.