全新版大学英语综合教程4课文

Theysaythatpridecomesbeforeafall.InthecaseofbothNapoleonandHitler,themanyvictoriestheyenjoyedledthemtobelievethatanythingwaspossible,thatnothingcouldstandintheirway.Russia'sicydefenderwastoprovethemwrong.

TheIcyDefender

NilaB.Smith

1In1812,NapoleonBonaparte,EmperoroftheFrench,ledhisGrandArmyintoRussia.HewaspreparedforthefierceresistanceoftheRussianpeopledefendingtheirhomeland.HewaspreparedforthelongmarchacrossRussiansoiltoMoscow,thecapitalcity.ButhewasnotpreparedforthedevastatingenemythatmethiminMoscow--theraw,bitter,bleakRussianwinter.

2In1941,AdolfHitler,leaderofNaziGermany,launchedanattackagainsttheSovietUnion,asRussiathenwascalled.Hitler'smilitarymightwasunequaled.HiswarmachinehadmoweddownresistanceinmostofEurope.Hitlerexpectedashortcampaignbut,likeNapoleonbeforehim,wastaughtapainfullesson.TheRussianwinteragaincametotheaidoftheSovietsoldiers.

Napoleon'sCampaign

3Inthespringof1812,NapoleonassembledanarmyofsixhundredthousandmenonthebordersofRussia.Thesoldierswerewelltrained,efficient,andwellequipped.ThismilitaryforcewascalledtheGrandArmy.Napoleon,confidentofaquickvictory,predictedtheconquestofRussiainfiveweeks.

4Shortlyafterwards,Napoleon'sarmycrossedtheNemanRiverintoRussia.Thequick,decisivevictorythatNapoleonexpectedneverhappened.Tohissurprise,theRussiansrefusedtostandandfight.Instead,theyretreatedeastward,burningtheircropsandhomesastheywent.TheGrandArmyfollowed,butitsadvancemarchsoonbecameboggeddownbyslow-movingsupplylines.

5InAugust,theFrenchandRussianarmiesengagedatSmolensk,inabattlethatleftovertenthousanddeadoneachside.Yet,theRussianswereagainabletoretreatfartherintoRussianterritory.Napoleonhadwonnodecisivevictory.Hewasnowfacedwithacrucialdecision.ShouldhecontinuetopursuetheRussianarmy?OrshouldhekeephisarmyinSmolenskfortheapproachingwinter?

6NapoleontookthegambleofpressingontoMoscow,448kilometersaway.OnSeptember7,1812,theFrenchandRussianarmiesmetinfiercebattleatBorodino,112kilometerswestofMoscow.Bynightfall,thirtythousandFrenchandforty-fourthousandRussianslaydeadorwoundedonthebattlefield.

7Again,theRussianarmyretreatedtosafety.NapoleonhadaclearpathtoMoscow,buttheoccupationofthecitybecameanemptyvictory.TheRussiansfledtheircapital.SoonaftertheFrencharrived,aragingfiredestroyedtwo-thirdsofthecity.NapoleonofferedatrucetoAlexanderI,buttheRussianczarknewhecouldbidehistime:"WeshalllettheRussianwinterfightthewarforus."

8Napoleonsoonrealizedhecouldnotfeed,clothe,andquarterhisarmyinMoscowduringthewinter.InOctober1812,heorderedhisGrandArmytoretreatfromMoscow.

9TheFrenchretreatturnedintoanightmare.Fromfieldsandforests,theRussianslaunchedhit-and-runattacksontheFrench.AshortdistancefromMoscow,thetemperaturehadalreadydroppedtominus4degreesCelsius.OnNovember3,thewinter'sfirstsnowcame.Exhaustedhorsesfelldeadintheirtracks.Cannonbecamestuckinthesnow.Equipmenthadtobeburnedforfuel.Soldierstookillandfrozetodeath.TheFrenchsoldiersdraggedon,leavingthedeadalongeverymile.

10AstheRussianarmywasgatheringitsstrength,theFrenchhadtofleeRussiatoavoidcertaindefeat.AttheBerezinaRiver,theRussiansnearlytrappedtheretreatingFrenchbyburningthebridgesovertheswollenriver.ButNapoleon,byastrokeofluck,wasabletobuildtwonewbridges.ThousandsofFrenchsoldiersescaped,butatthecostoffiftythousanddead.OnceacrosstheBerezina,thetatteredsurvivorslimpedtowardVilna.

11OfthesixhundredthousandsoldiersNapoleonhadledintoRussia,lessthanonehundredthousandcameback.TheweakenedFrencharmycontinueditsretreatwestwardacrossEurope.Soon,Britain,Austria,Russia,andPrussiaformedapowerfulallianceandattackedthesestragglers.InMarch1814,Pariswascaptured.Napoleonabdicatedandwentintoexile,hisempireatanend.

Hitler'sInvasion

12Byearly1941,AdolfHitler,leaderofNaziGermany,hadseizedcontrolofmostofEurope.TotheeastofHitler'sGermanempirewastheSovietUnion.OnJune22,1941,withoutadeclarationofwar,HitlerbegananinvasionoftheSovietUnionthatwasthelargestmilitarylandcampaigninhistory.Confidentofaquickvictory,Hitlerexpectedthecampaigntolastnolongerthanthreemonths.Heplannedtousetheblitzkrieg,or"lightningwar,"tacticsthathaddefeatedtherestofEurope.Theinvasionhadthreebroadthrusts:againstLeningradandMoscowandthroughtheUkraine.

13Caughtoffguardbytheinvasion,SovietleaderJosephStalininstructedtheRussianpeopleto"scorchtheearth"infrontoftheGermaninvaders.Farmsandfactorieswereburned,destroyed,orrendereduseless.Duringthefirsttenweeksoftheinvasion,theGermanspushedthefronteastward,andtheRussianssufferedmorethanamillioncasualties.

14Inthenorth,theGermansclosedinonLeningrad.Despitegreatsuffering,however,thepeopleofLeningradrefusedtosurrender.AsthebattleofLeningraddraggedonintowinter,thecity'ssituationbecamedesperate.Asfoodranout,peoplediedfromhungeranddisease.Bythemiddleofthewinterof1941-1942,nearlyfourthousandpeoplestarvedtodeatheveryday.Closetoonemillionpeoplediedasaresultofthesiege.

15InthecenterofRussia,Hitler'sgoalwasthecaptureofMoscow.BecausetheGermanshadanticipatedaquickvictory,theyhadmadenoplansforwintersupplies.Octoberarrivedwithheavyrains."GeneralMud"sloweddownthemovementoftheGermans'lightningattack.

16AsHitler'sarmiesdrewcloserandclosertoMoscow,anearly,severewintersettledovertheSovietUnion,theharshestinyears.Temperaturesdroppedtominus48degreesCelsius.Heavysnowsfell.TheGermansoldiers,completelyunpreparedfortheRussianwinter,frozeintheirlightsummeruniforms.TheGermantankslayburiedintheheavysnowbanks.TheRussianwinterbroughttheGermanoffensivetoahalt.

17Bythesummerof1942,Hitlerhadlaunchedtwonewoffensives.Inthesouth,theGermanscapturedSevastopol.HitlerthenpushedeasttoStalingrad,agreatindustrialcitythatstretchedfor48kilometersalongtheVolgaRiver.Despitegreatsuffering,SovietdefendersrefusedtogiveupStalingrad.

18InNovember1942,theRussianslaunchedacounterattack.WithlittleornoshelterfromthewintercoldinandaroundStalingrad,Germantroopswerefurtherweakenedbyalackoffoodandsupplies.NotuntilJanuary1943didtheGermansgiveuptheirsiege.OfthethreehundredthousandGermansattackingStalingrad,onlyninetythousandstarvingsoldierswereleft.ThelossofthebattleforStalingradfinallyturnedthetideagainstHitler.TheGermanvictorieswereover,thanksinparttotheRussianwinter.

19During1943and1944,theSovietarmiespushedtheGermanfrontbacktowardthewest.Inthenorth,theRedArmybrokethethree-yearsiegeofLeningradwithasurpriseattackonJanuary15,1944.Withintwoweeks,theheroicsurvivorsofLeningradsawtheirinvadersdepart.ByMarch1944,theUkrainefarmingregionwasagaininSoviethands.OnMay9,1944,SevastopolwasliberatedfromtheGermans.TheRussianswerenowheadingforBerlin.

20ForHitler,theinvasionoftheSovietUnionhadturnedintoamilitarydisaster.FortheRussianpeople,itbroughtunspeakablesuffering.ThetotalSovietdeadinWorldWarIIreachedalmost23million.

Russia'sIcyDefender

21Theelementsofnaturemustbereckonedwithinanymilitarycampaign.NapoleonandHitlerboth

theaudiencenoticesthedifference."

9Whenwewatchaworld-classmusicianoratopathlete,wedon'tseetheyearsofpreparationthatenabledhimorhertobecomegreat.TheMichaelJordansoftheworldhavetalent,yes,butthey'realsothefirstonesonandthelastonesoffthebasketballcourt.Thesamepreparationappliesineveryformofhumanendeavor.Ifyouwantthejob,youhavetopreparetowinit.

10WhenIgraduatedfromcollege,theoddsweregoodthatIwouldhavethesamejobfortherestofmylife.Andthat'showitworkedout.Butgettinghiredisnolongeraonce-in-a-lifetimeexperience.Employmentexpertsbelievethattoday'sgraduatescouldfaceasmanyastenjobchangesduringtheircareers.

11Thatmaysoundlikealotofpressure.Butifyou'reprepared,thepressureisontheotherfolks--theoneswhohaven'tdonetheirhomework.

12Youwon'tgeteveryjobyougoafter.Thebestsalespeopledon'tcloseeverysale.MichaelJordanmakesbarelyhalfofhisfield-goalattempts.Butittakesnolongertopreparewellforoneinterviewthantowanderinhalf-preparedforfive.Andyourprospectsforsuccesswillbemanytimesbetter.

132.Neverstoplearning.RecentlyIplayedadoublestennismatchpairedwitha90-year-old.Iwonderedhowthingswouldworkout;Ishouldn'thave.Wehammeredouropponents6-1,6-1!

14Aswewereswitchingsidestoplayathirdset,hesaidtome,"DoyoumindifIplaythebackhandcourt?Ialwaysliketoworkonmyweaknesses."Whatafantasticexampleofapersonwhohasneverstoppedlearning.Incidentally,wewonthethirdset6-1.

15Aswewalkedoffthecourt,my90-year-oldpartnerchuckledandsaid,"Ithoughtyou'dliketoknowaboutmynumber-onerankingindoublesintheUnitedStatesinmyagebracket,85andup!"Hewasn'tthinking90;hewasn'teventhinking85.Hewasthinkingnumberone.

16Youcandothesameifyouworkonyourweaknessesanddevelopyourstrengths.Tobeabletocompete,you'vegottokeeplearningallyourlife.

173.Believeinyourself,evenwhennooneelsedoes.Doyourememberthefour-minutemile?Athleteshadbeentryingtodoitforhundredsofyearsandfinallydecideditwasphysicallyimpossibleforhumans.Ourbonestructurewasallwrong,ourlungpowerinadequate.

18Thenonehumanprovedtheexpertswrong.And,miracleofmiracles,sixweeksafterRogerBannisterbrokethefour-minutemile,JohnLandybeatBannister'stimebynearlytwofullseconds.Sincethen,closetoeighthundredrunnershavebrokenthefour-minutemile!

19SeveralyearsagomydaughterMimiandItookacrackatrunningtheNewYorkMarathon.Atthegun,23,000runnersstarted--and21,244finished.FirstplacewenttoaKenyanwhocompletedtheraceintwohours,11minutesandonesecond.The21,244thrunnertofinishwasaVietnamveteran.Hediditinthreedays,ninehoursand37minutes.Withnolegs,hecovered26.2miles.AftermydaughterandIpassedhiminthefirstfewminutes,weeasilyfoundmorecouragetofinishourselves.

20Don'teverletanyonetellyouthatyoucan'taccomplishyourgoals.Whosaysyou'renottougher,harderworkingandmoreablethanyourcompetition?Yousee,agoalisadreamwithadeadline:inwriting,measurable,identifiable,attainable.

214.Findawaytomakeadifference.Inmyopinion,themajorityofNewYorkcabdriversareunfriendly,ifnotdownrightrude.Mostofthecabsarefilthy,andalmostallofthemsportanimpenetrable,bulletproofpartition.ButrecentlyIjumpedintoacabatLaGuardiaAirportandguesswhat?Itwasclean.Therewasbeautifulmusicplayingandnopartition.

22"ParkLaneHotel,please,"Isaidtothedriver.Withabroadsmile,hesaid,"Hi,mynameisWally,"andhehandedmeamissionstatement.Amissionstatement!Itsaidhewouldgetmetheresafely,courteouslyandontime.

23Aswedroveoff,heheldupachoiceofnewspapersandsaid,"Bemyguest."Hetoldmetohelpmyselftothefruitinthebasketonthebackseat.Heheldupacellularphoneandsaid,"It'sadollaraminuteifyou'dliketomakeacall."

24Shocked,Iblurted,"Howlonghaveyoubeenpracticingthis?"Heanswered,"Threeorfouryears."

25"Iknowthisisprying."Isaid,"buthowmuchextramoneydoyouearnintips?"

26"Between$12,000and$14,000ayear!"herespondedproudly.

27Hedoesn'tknowit,buthe'smyhero.He'slivingproofthatyoucanalwaysshifttheoddsinyourfavor.

28Mymentor,CurtCarlson,isthewealthiestmaninMinnesota,ownerofahotelandtravelcompanywithsalesintheneighborhoodof$9billion.IhadtogettoameetinginNewYorkoneday,andCurtgenerouslyofferedmearideinhisjet.IthappenedtobeadayMinnesotawashitwithoneoftheworstsnowstormsinyears.Minneapolis-St.PaulInternationalAirportwasclosedforthefirsttimeindecades.

29Then,thoughthestormcontinuedtopoundus,theairportopenedarunwayforsmallcraftonly.Asweweretaxiingdownittotakeoff,Curtturnedtomeandsaidgleefully,"Look,Harvey,notracksinthesnow!"

30CurtCarlson,70yearsoldatthetime,richbeyondanyone'sdreams,couldstillsparklewithexcitementaboutbeingfirst.

31Frommystandpoint,that'swhatit'sallabout.Preparetowin.Neverstoplearning.Believeinyourself,evenwhennooneelsedoes.Findawaytomakeadifference.Thengooutandmakeyourowntracksinthesnow.

Globalizationissweepingasidenationalbordersandchangingrelationsbetweennations.Whatimpactdoesthishaveonnationalidentitiesandloyalties?Aretheystrengthenedorweakened?theauthorinvestigates.

inSearchofDavosMan

PeterGumbel

1.WilliamBrowderwasborninPrinceton,NewJersey,grewupinChicago，andstudiedatStanfordUniversityinCalifornia.Butdon’tcallhimanAmerican.Forthepast16ofhis40yearshehaslivedoutsidetheU.S.,firstinLondonandthen,from1996,inMoscow,whereherunshisowninvestmentfirm.Browdernowmanages$1.6billioninassets.In1998hegaveuphisAmericanpassporttobecomeaBritishcitizen,sincehislifeisnowcenteredinEurope.“Nationalidentitymakesnodifferenceforme,”hesays.“Ifeelcompletelyinternational.Ifyouhavefourgoodfriendsandyoulikewhatyouaredoing,itdoesn’tmatterwhereyouare.That’sglobalization.”

2.AlexMandlisalsoaferventbelieveringlobalization,butheviewshimselfverydifferently.AformerpresidentofAT&T,Mandl,61,wasborninAustriaandnowrunsaFrenchtechnologycompany,whichisdoingmoreandmorebusinessinChina.Hereckonshespendsabout90%ofhistimetravelingonbusiness.Butdespiteallthatglobetrotting,MandlwhohasbeenaU.S.citizenfor45yearsstillidentifieshimselfasanAmerican.“IseemyselfasAmericanwithoutanyhesitation.ThefactthatIspendalotoftimeinotherplacesdoesn’tchangethat,”hesays.

3.AlthoughBrowderandMandldefinetheirnationalitydifferently,bothseetheiridentityasamatterofpersonalchoice,notanaccidentofbirth.Andnotincidentally,bothareDavosMen,membersoftheinternationalbusinesselitewhotrekeachyeartotheSwissAlpinetownfortheannualmeetingoftheworldEconomicForum,foundedin1971.Thisweek,BrowderandMandlwilljoinmorethan2,200executives,politicians,academics,journalists,writersandahandfulofHollywoodstarsforfivedaysofnetworking,partiesandendlessearnestdiscussionsabouteverythingfrompost-electionIraqandHIVinAfricatotheglobalsupplyofoilandtheimplicationsofnanotechnology.Yetthisyear,perhapsmorethanever,ahottopicDavosisDavositself.Whatevertheirconsiderabledifferences,mostflowsofcapital,laborandtechnologyacrossnationalborders,isbothwelcomeandunstoppable.Theyseetheworldincreasinglyasonevast,interconnectedmarketplaceinwhichcorporationssearchforthemostadvantageouslocationstobuy,produceandselltheirgoodsandservices.

4.Asbordersandnationalidentitiesbecomelessimportant,somefindthatthreateningandevendangerous.Inanessayentitled“DeadSoul:TheDenationalizationoftheAmericanElite,”HarvardProfessorSamuelHuntingtondescribesDavosMan(aphrasethatfirstgotwidespreadattentioninthe1990s)asanemergingglobalsuperspeciesandathreat.Themembersofthisclass,hewrites,arepeoplewho“havelittleneedfornationalloyalty,viewnationalboundariesasobstaclesthatthankfullyarevanishing,andseenationalgovernmentsasresiduesfromthepastwhoseonlyusefulfunctionistofacilitatetheelite’sglobaloperations.”HuntingtonarguesthatDavosMan’sglobal-citizenself-imageisstarklyatoddswiththevaluesofmostAmericans,whoremaindeeplycommittedtotheirnation.Thisdisconnect,hesays,creates“amajorculturalfaultline.Inavarietyofways,theAmericanestablishment,governmentalandprivate,hasbecomeincreasinglydivorcedfromtheAmericanpeople.”

5.Naturally,manyDavosMendon’tacceptHutington’sterm.KlausSchwab,thefounderandexecutivechairmanoftheWorldEconomicForum,arguesthatendorsingaglobaloutlookdoesnotmeanerasingnationalidentity.“Globalizationcanneverprovideuswithculturalidentity,whichneedstobelocalandnationalinnature.”6.Globaltradehasbeenaroundforcenturies;thecorporationsandcountriesthatbenefitedfromitwerelargelycontenttotreatvastpartsoftheworldasplacestominenaturalresourcesorsellfinishedproducts.Evenastheglobalizationofcapitalacceleratedinthe1980s,mostforeigninvestmentwasbetweenrelativelywealthycountries,notfromwealthycountriesintopoorones.U.S.technology,companiesandmoneywereoftenattheforefrontofthismovement.

7.Howeverthepasttwodecadeshavewitnessedtheriseofothersignificantplayers.ThedevelopedworldisbeatingapathtoChinaandIndia’sdoor–andChineseandIndiancompanies,inturn,havestartedwhatitcallsa“GoingOut”policythatencouragesChinesefirmstobuyassetsoverseas.Asiannationsarecreating“aremarkableenvironmentofinnovation,”saysJohnChambers,chiefexecutiveofCiscoSystem.“ChinaandIndiaaregraduatingcurrentlymorethanfivetimesthenumberofengineersthatwearehereintheU.S.”ThatmeansU.S.andEuropeancompaniesarenowfacinghigh-quality,lowcostcompetitionfromoverseas.NowondersomanyWesternworkersworryaboutlosingtheirjobs.“Iftheissueisthesizeofthetotalpie,globalizationhasprovedagoodthing,”sayOritGadiesh,chairmanofconsultantsBain&Co.“Iftheissueishowthepieisdivided,ifyou’reintheWesternworldyoucouldquestionthat.”

8.Thebiggestshiftmayjustbestarting.Alandmark2003studybyGoldmanSachspredictedthatfoureconomies–Russia,Brazil,IndiaandChina–willbecomeamuchlargerforceintheworldeconomythanwidelyexpected,basedonprojectionsofdemographicandeconomicgrowth,withChinapotentiallyovertakingGermanythisdecade.By2005,GoldmanSachssuggested,thesefournewcomerswilllikelyhavedisplacedallbuttheU.S.andJapanfromthetopsixeconomiesintheworld.

9.It’salsoentirelypossiblethatthenearfuturemayseethependulumofcapitalswingawayfromDavosMan-styleglobalization.OnecounterpointisManilaWoman–low-paidmigrantworkersfromAsiaandelsewherewhoareincreasinglyprovidingkeyservicesaroundtheworld.ValerieGooding,thechiefexecutiveofBritishhealthcarecompanyBUPA,saystheBritishandU.S.healthcaresystemwouldbreakdownwithoutimmigrantnursesfromPhilippines,India,Nigeriaandelsewhere.unlikeDavosMan,shesays,they’renotambivalentaboutbeingstronglypatriotic.

10.NotallDavosMenseekglobalmarkets,either.PatrickSayerrunsaprivateequityfirminFrancecalledEurazeo,andcomplainstherearestilltoomanybarrierstocross-borderbusinessinEurope,letalonetheworld.Sohe’sfocusedEurazeoonitsdomesticmarket.“IprofitfrombeingFrenchinFrance.It’seasierformetododeals,”Sayersays.“It’sthesameelsewhere.Ifyou’renotItalianinItaly,youwon’tsucceed.”

11.Thatmaysoundlikeanarrownationalism,yetitcontainsahiddenwisdom.RecallthatItalyitselfwas,until1861,notaunifiednationbutanaggregationofcity-states.Despitetensionbetweenitsnorthandsouth,there’snocontradictionbetweenmaintainingaregionalidentityandnationalone.MilaneseandTronchettiProvera,chairmanofTelecomItalia,forexample,canfeelbothMilaneseandItalianatonce,evenasherunsacompanythatisaspiringtobecomeabiggerinternationalpresence.Thequestioniswhetheritwilltakeanother140yearsforDavosMantofigureouthowtostrikethesamebalanceonaglobalscale.

AFriendinNeed

SomersetMaugham

1ForthirtyyearsnowIhavebeenstudyingmyfellowmen.Idonotknowverymuchaboutthem.Ishrugmyshoulderswhenpeopletellmethattheirfirstimpressionsofapersonarealwaysright.Ithinktheymusthavesmallinsightorgreatvanity.FormyownpartIfindthatthelongerIknowpeoplethemoretheypuzzleme.

2ThesereflectionshaveoccurredtomebecauseIreadinthismorning'spaperthatEdwardHydeBurtonhaddiedatKobe.HewasamerchantandhehadbeeninbusinessinJapanformanyyears.Iknewhimverylittle,butheinterestedmebecauseoncehegavemeagreatsurprise.UnlessIhadheardthestoryfromhisownlips,Ishouldneverhavebelievedthathewascapableofsuchanaction.Itwasmorestartlingbecausebothinappearanceandmannerhesuggestedaverydefinitetype.Hereifeverwasamanallofapiece.Hewasatinylittlefellow,notmuchmorethanfivefeetfourinheight,andveryslender,withwhitehair,aredfacemuchwrinkled,andblueeyes.IsupposehewasaboutsixtywhenIknewhim.Hewasalwaysneatlyandquietlydressedinaccordancewithhisageandstation.

3ThoughhisofficeswereinKobe,BurtonoftencamedowntoYokohama.Ihappenedononeoccasiontobespendingafewdaysthere,waitingforaship,andIwasintroducedtohimattheBritishClub.Weplayedbridgetogether.Heplayedagoodgameandagenerousone.Hedidnottalkverymuch,eitherthenorlaterwhenwewerehavingdrinks,butwhathesaidwassensible.Hehadaquiet,dryhumor.Heseemedtobepopularattheclubandafterwards,whenhehadgone,theydescribedhimasoneofthebest.IthappenedthatwewerebothstayingattheGrandHotelandnextdayheaskedmetodinewithhim.Imethiswife,fat,elderly,andsmiling,andhistwodaughters.Itwasevidentlyaunitedandaffectionatefamily.IthinkthechiefthingthatstruckmeaboutBurtonwashiskindliness.Therewassomethingverypleasinginhismildblueeyes.Hisvoicewasgentle;youcouldnotimaginethathecouldpossiblyraiseitinanger;hissmilewasbenign.Herewasamanwhoattractedyoubecauseyoufeltinhimarealloveforhisfellows.Atthesametimehelikedhisgameofcardsandhiscocktail,hecouldtellwithpointagoodandspicystory,andinhisyouthhehadbeensomethingofanathlete.Hewasarichmanandhehadmadeeverypennyhimself.Isupposeonethingthatmadeyoulikehimwasthathewassosmallandfrail;hearousedyourinstinctsofprotection.Youfeltthathecouldnotbeartohurtafly.

4OneafternoonIwassittingintheloungeoftheGrandHotelwhenBurtoncameinandseatedhimselfinthechairnexttomine.

5"Whatdoyousaytoalittledrink?"

6Heclappedhishandsforaboyandorderedtwoginfizzes.Astheboybroughtthemamanpassedalongthestreetoutsideandseeingmewavedhishand.

7"DoyouknowTurner?"saidBurtonasInoddedagreeting.

8"I'vemethimattheclub.I'mtoldhe'saremittanceman."

9"Yes,Ibelieveheis.Wehaveagoodmanyhere."

10"Heplaysbridgewell."

11"Theygenerallydo.Therewasafellowherelastyear,oddlyenoughanamesakeofmine,whowasthebestbridgeplayerIevermet.IsupposeyounevercameacrosshiminLondon.LennyBurtonhecalledhimself.Ibelievehe'dbelongedtosomeverygoodclubs."

12"No,Idon'tbelieveIrememberthename."

13"Hewasquitearemarkableplayer.Heseemedtohaveaninstinctaboutthecards.Itwasuncanny.Iusedtoplaywithhimalot.HewasinKobeforsometime."

14Burtonsippedhisginfizz.

15"It'sratherafunnystory,'hesaid.'Hewasn'tabadchap.Ilikedhim.Hewasalwayswell-dressedandsmart-looking.Hewashandsomeinawaywithcurlyhairandpink-and-whitecheeks.Womenthoughtalotofhim.Therewasnoharminhim,youknow,hewasonlywild.Ofcoursehedranktoomuch.Thosesortoffellowsalwaysdo.Abitofmoneyusedtocomeonforhimonceaquarterandhemadeabitmorebycard-playing.Hewonagooddealofmine,Iknowthat."

16Burtongaveakindlychuckle.Iknewfrommyownexperiencethathecouldlosemoneyatbridgewithagoodgrace.Hestrokedhisshavenchinwithhisthinhand;theveinsstoodoutonitanditwasalmosttransparent.

17"Isupposethatiswhyhecametomewhenhewentbroke,thatandthefactthathewasanamesakeofmine.Hecametoseemeinmyofficeonedayandaskedmeforajob.Iwasrathersurprised.Hetoldmethattherewasnomoremoneycomingfromhomeandhewantedtowork.Iaskedhimhowoldhewas.

18"'Thirty-five,'hesaid.

19"'Andwhathaveyoubeendoinghitherto?'Iaskedhim.

20"'Well,nothingverymuch,'hesaid.

21Icouldn'thelplaughing.

22"'I'mafraidIcan'tdoanythingforyoujustyet,'Isaid.'Comebackandseemeinanotherthirty-fiveyears,andI'llseewhatIcando.'

23"Hedidn'tmove.Hewentratherpale.Hehesitatedforamomentandthenhetoldmethathehadhadbadluckatcardsforsometime.Hehadn'tbeenwillingtosticktobridge,he'dbeenplayingpoker,andhe'dgottrimmed.Hehadn'tapenny.He'dpawnedeverythinghehad.Hecouldn'tpayhishotelbillandtheywouldn'tgivehimanymorecredit.Hewasdownandout.Ifhecouldn'tgetsomethingtodohe'dhavetocommitsuicide.

24"Ilookedathimforabit.Icouldseenowthathewasalltopieces.He'dbeendrinkingmorethanusualandhelookedfifty.Thegirlswouldn'thavethoughtsomuchofhimifthey'dseenhimthen.

25"'Wellisn'tthereanythingyoucandoexceptplaycards?'Iaskedhim.

26"'Icanswim,'hesaid.

27"'Swim!'

28"Icouldhardlybelievemyears;itseemedsuchaninsaneanswertogive.

29"'Iswamformyuniversity.'

30"Igo