Revision (Units One-Four), p. 119

1. Thacker was well over fifty when an incident occurred which could have changed his whole life. One day a young man came to the consulate. He looked like a Spaniard. He stood still in the doorway for a minute or two as if considering something. "Good morning! Come in, please," Thacker said. "What can I do for you?" - "I think you can help me," the young man said. "My name is Dalton, Mr. Dalton, but you know it sounds funny to me to hear it. They simply call me the Kid. I've just come from Texas..."

2. After hearing Dalton's story Thacker said: "Would you like a job?" - "What kind of job?" - "To make a fortune overnight and get away with it..." - "It sounds inviting, but I'd like to hear the details..."

3. "You could easily pass for Don Urique's son. The boy disappeared many years ago, but the parents have never lost hope of finding him. You and Don Urique's son are amazingly alike. You only need (to have) a tattoo on your left hand... Don Urique is very rich. You'll steal the money from his safe and we'll get out of here at once. How does the scheme strike you?" - "It strikes me as somewhat risky (dangerous)... I've had no experience in acting, but no doubt the plan is original. I'll have a go." - "It's settled then," Thacker said, brightening.

4. "You must stick to our story, otherwise we'll lose the game," Thacker said and added with a smile, "I hope the local climate won't disagree with you... Now about some details. When your tattoo heals up I'll get in touch with Don Urique. The consulate, I suppose, is the most suitable place for the meeting, and you'd better not go about the town so that no one should suspect anything."

5. Thacker hoped that the Kid would stick to his promise and would do his job,at the first opportunity. However, the days went by and the Kid did not appear. He sent for the young man several times, but in vain. The young man kept silent.

6. One day he called on Tha:ker at the consulate. "You needn't have sent for me so many times," he said coldly. - "But we'll lose our game if we don't stick together," Thacker said, and added mockingly, "Friends should stick together, shouldn't they?" The Kid stared at him in silence. "Well, let's have the matter out!" Thacker controlled himself with difficulty. "Have you changed your mind? Or... are you going to say that the key to the safe sticks?" - "Not at all," said the_Kid abruptly. "The thing is this, I can't leave my 'mother' childless again. She II die of grief." - "Traitor!" exclaimed Thacker, trembling with indignation. ' 1 won't have that conduct from you..." - "And I won't have you talking to me like this. I'm the son of Don Urique and I'll have nothing to do With you..."

7. Thacker was struck dumb. The Kid's impudence was beyond the limit. For a while hz stood staring at the young man in amazement. Nobody knows what would have happened if the voice of Donna Urique had not broken the silence. "Where are you, my dear son?" - "Mr. Thacker, I advise you to keep your mouth shut. That will be much better for you than to be killed... by accident." said the Kid, making for the door.

Unit Six

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