| Three men came (来，出现) to New York for a
holiday. They came to a very large hotel and took a room there. Their room was
on the forty-fifth floor. In the evening the three men went to the theatre and came back to the hotel very late. "I am very sorry," said the clerk (服务员) of the hotel. "But our lifts do not work tonight. If you do not want to walk up to your room, we shall make beds for you in the hall (过道，会堂)." "No, no," said one of the three men. "No, thank you. We don't want to sleep in the hall. We shall walk up to our room." Then he turned to his two friends and said, "It is not easy to walk up the forty-fifth floor, but I think I know how to make it easier. On our way to the room I shall tell you some jokes; then you, Andy, will sing us some songs; then yon, Peter, will tell us some interesting stories." So they began to walk up to their room. Tom told them many jokes; Andy sang some songs. At last they came to the thirty-fourth floor. They were tired and decided to have a rest. "Well," said Tom, "Now it is your turn, Peter. After all those jokes we heard on our way here, tell us a long and interesting story (故事，新闻报道) with a sad ending." "I shall tell you a sad story you ask me for." Said Peter. "It is not long, but it is sad enough." "WE LEFT THE KEY TO OUR ROOM IN THE HALL." |