It was best, Purcell decided, to humor him. "My. My! Ten years. That's certainly a long time. Now -"

"They give you five dollars," laughed the man, "and a cheap suit, and tell you not to get caught again."

The man swung around, and stalked abruptly from the store.

Purcell sighed with sudden relief. He walked to the window and stared out. Just outside, his peculiar customer had stopped. He was holding the cage shoulder-high, staring at his purchase. Then, opening the cage, he reached inside and drew out one of the doves. He tossed it into the air. He drew out the second and tossed it after the first. They rose like balls and were lost in the smoky gray of the wintry city. For an instant the liberator's silent gaze watched them. Then he dropped the cage and walked away.

The merchant was perplexed. So desperately had the man desired the doves that he had let him have them at a reduced price. And immediately he had turned them loose. "Now why," Mr. Purcell muttered, "did he do that?" He felt vaguely insulted.

3. Pick out of the story the English equivalents for the following words and word-combinations:

зоомагазин, считал себя большим специалистом, потирать руки, кивать головой, уезживаться на высокую табуретку, разворачивать газету, не зазвонил, возник из воздуха, с первой минуты, плохо сшитый костюм, сложил руки на животе, немного смущен, быстро прикинуть в уме, при скидке 50 центов, получить значительную прибыль, снял клетку с крючка, хотел выпроводить, облегченно вздохнул, достал одного из голубей, чувствовал себя оскорбленным.

4. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and, expressions from the text and use them in the sentences of your own:

to give smb the appearance of. to own smth. to consider himself, to nod one's head, to digest the day's news, adjusted his glasses, squeaked forward, volunteered the shopkeeper, a reasonable price, to produce a bill, to want smth badly, to get on smb's nerves, it took me 10 years, to get caught, to toss into the air, for an instant, turned them loose.

5. Complete the following sentences, choosing the right word in brackets.

1. And Mr. Puree11 himself would smile and rub his hands and (nod/shake) his head. 2. ... it was the proprietor’s (customer/ custom) to perch on a high stool, behind the counter, unfold his morning newspaper and digest the news. 3. "How (many/much) for those doves?" he asked. 4. Mentally he (made/did) a quick calculation, which told him'(that/what) at a fifty cent reduction he could (yet/still) reap a tidy profit. 5. He (lay/laid) his five dollars on the counter. 6. Mr. Purcell unhooked the cage, and (handed/handy) it to his customer. 7. "(Hear/Listen), how long do you think it took me to make that five dollars?" 8. They (rose/ raised) like balls and were lost in the smoky gray of the wintry city. 9. Mr. Purcell (sighed/signed) with sudden relief. 10. "Now let me (to think/think). A white rat, perhaps?"

6. Complete the sentences with suitable prepositions:

1. He dealt ... fish and bird seed, prescribed remedies ... ailing canaries, his shelves there were long rows ... cages. 2. The storekeeper slid ... his stool. 3. ... the first instant he knew instinctively, that the man hated him; but ... habit he rubbed his hands, smiled and nodded. 4. The man stared closely ... Purcell, as though now aware ... his presence. 5. The customer pointed suddenly ... a cage which contained two snowy birds. 6. That noise! The man said suddenly. "Doesn't it get ... your nerves?." 7. The man swung and stalked abruptly ... the store. 8. Purcell sighed ... sudden relief, walked ... the window and stared ... . 9. The merchant wanted to order him ... of the shop.

7. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. It was always very quiet in Mr. Purcell's shop. 2. Every morning it was a proprietor's custom to feed all the animals he had in his shop. 3. It was a wintry day and Mr. Purcell. having completed his usual tasks, mounted the high stool to look through his morning paper. 4. There was a bell over the door that always failed to ring whenever a customer entered. 5. The storekeeper instinctively knew that the man did not like him very much. 6. The customer's suit was cheap but elegant and obviously new. 7. Mr. Purcell offered the man a white rat and he gladly agreed to buy it. 8. Having made a quick calculation Mr. Purcell sold a pair of white doves for 5 dollars. 9. The customer said that it had taken him 10 years to make the 5 dollars. 10. Mr. Purcell sighed with relief when he saw that the man drew out the doves and tossed them into the air.

8. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Мистер Переел обычно улыбался, потирал руки и кивал головой. 2. Кал дверью висел звонок, который звонил, всякий раз, как входил покупатель. 3. Он поднял глаза и увидел незнакомца, стоящего = двери, который, казалось, материализовался из воздуха. 4.Не обращая внимания на Переела, он оглядел сумрачный магазин. 5.Он сложил руки на своем животе-дыне и важно улыбнулся. 6.Покупатель неожиданно указал на клетку, в которой находилось два белоснежных голубя. 7. Мой дорогой, если Вы их так сильно хотите, Вы можете взять их за 5 долларов. S. Как Вы думаете, сколько времени мне понадобилось, чтобы заработать эти 5 долларов'? 9. Он задержал клетку на уровне плеч, внимательно рассматривая свою покупку.

9. Answer the following questions:

1. What did Mr. Purcell look like? 2. What did he own and what did he sell? 3. What did Mr. Purcell do every morning? 4. What was the weather like on that day? 5. When did he notice the stranger? 6. What did the stranger look like? 7. What did he want to buy? 8. What shows that Mr. Purcell did not understand the man at first? 9. In what manner did the man speak to the owner of the shop? 10. How had the man earned the five dollars? 11. What scene did the shopkeeper watch through the window? 12. What was his reaction to the stranger's behaviour?

10. Discuss the following:

1. Characterise Mr. Purcell. Find in the text all the details that show the author's attitude to the shopkeeper. 2. Describe the stranger. Explain why he let loose the birds. 3. Compare the shopkeeper and the customer. Find in the text the details that prove the contrast between them. 4. Comment on the title of the story. Who was "caged"? Why was it the pet-shop where the stranger came? 5. Describe the stranger's previous life. 6. Why did Mr. Puree11 feel insulted?

11. Retell the story on the part of:

1) the owner of the shop, 2) the stranger.

UNIT 8. A LION'S SKIN' (BY W.S. MAUGHAM)