英文名著分集阅读 马克·吐温《百万英镑》 part1

The Million Pound Bank Note by Mark Twain原文Chapter One: From San Francisco to LondonWhen I was 27 years old, I worked in an office in San Francisco.I did my job well and my future was promising.I was alone in the world and I was happy.On Saturday afternoons I didn't work.I sailed my little sail boat on San Francisco Bay.One Saturday afternoon, I sailed out too far.The strong afternoon wind pushed my sail boat out of the bay, into the Pacific Ocean.That night, when I had lost all hope, a small British brig saw me and took me on board.The brig was sailing to London. The voyage was long and stormy.I worked as a sailor to pay for my trip.When I arrived in London, my clothes were old and dirty.I had only one dollar in my pocket.With this dollar, I ate and slept for the first twenty-four hours.During the next twenty-four hours, I didn't eat and didn't sleep.At about ten o'clock the following morning, I went to Portland Place.I saw a child walking past, holding a big pear.The child ate one small piece and then threw the pear onto the street.I stopped and looked at it.I was very hungry and I really wanted that pear.But every time I tried to get it, someone passed by and looked at me.I quickly turned in the other direction and waited for the person to pass by.I tried again and again to get that pear, but the same thing happened. I was desperate.I decided to get the pear and not to worry about the people who saw me.At that moment, a gentleman opened a window behind me and said, "Come in here, please."A well-dressed servant opened the door.He took me to a beautiful room.Here, two old gentlemen were sitting and discussing something important.Their breakfast was still on the table.I was very hungry and I stared at their breakfast.I want to tell the reader that the two gentlemen had made a bet several days before.I knew nothing about the bet until later.Let me tell you what happened.