The man who escaped
(episode 11)
1. Kate was what the Americans call ‘a cool character’; nothing seemed to surprise her very much. Perhaps this was because she was an actress. She played small parts in films and on television. She didn’t hesitate even for a second when Coke said he wanted her help to find the real spies. “All right”, she said. “I’ll start right now. Wait here!” “What do you mean? Where are you going?” Coke asked. “You’ll find out when I come back. I’ll have to get some things now!” Before Coke could answer, she was gone.
2. Not very far away, Baxter was still sitting in the Chief Inspector’s Office. He was still looking at Master’s photograph. “What’s so interesting about him? Why do you want me to follow him?” he asked. “A few days ago, quite by accident we learned a few things about him. Coke might … be innocent after all. It’s only a possibility. We want to see what Masters does if Coke contacts him”, the Chief Inspector answered. Baxter was even more surprised now. “I don’t understand, sir. What do you think Masters might do?” he said. “Masters might try to kill him if he’s really afraid of him”. “But surely that’s dangerous, sir. I mean, if Coke is innocent, Masters might kill him … and if he isn’t innocent, we’re letting him go free. After all, Coke might kill Masters … or someone else!” The Chief Inspector liked very serious. “That’s a chance we’ll have to take, Baxter!” he said.
3. Time passed very slowly for Coke that morning and afternoon. It was evening before Kate came back. She was carrying a large bundle and a lot of other things. “Here. Try these things on”, she said. She unwrapped the bundle quickly and showed him a suit, shoes and shirt. There was also a coat with an expensive fur collar, the sort millionaires wear in films. “I’ll have to change my appearance more than this!” he said. “Of course, you will”, she answered. “And I’ve got just the things you’ll need!” First Kate dyed Coke’s hair grey. Then she used some theatrical make-up to give him a much older face. Finally she put a pair of dark glasses on him, gave him a white walking-stick and led him to a mirror. He was surprised when he saw himself. An old blind man stared back at him. “And now, Kate said, you’ll have to do far more than simply look like an old blind man. You’ll have to walk, talk and act like one, too!” For the next hour she taught him exactly how to do that. “You learn fast. We can go now”, she said finally.
4. They were walking towards a taxi-rank. “Now just tell me where we’re going!” Kate said. “To a pub in Soho called “The Green Rider”. Masters used to go there a lot”, Coke answered. “You mean you think he’s one of the spies?” “I don’t know, but he didn’t tell the truth at the trial. Why else should he lie?” Coke said. They got to Soho half an hour later. The streets were brightly-lit. There were people, pubs, restaurants, cinemas and striptease clubs everywhere. They walked on until Coke suddenly gripped Kate’s arm very hard. “This is the place. Take me in!” he said. They went into the crowded, noisy room.
Useful words and expressions:
‘a cool character’
to surprise
to hesitate
to follow
by accident
possibility
to contact
might
try to kill
surely
someone else
chance
to pass
to carry
bundle
unwrap
try on
fur collar
sort millionaires
to dye
theatrical make-up
walking-stick
taxi-rank
truth
trial
brightly-lit
gripped
crowded
Choose the correct answer. Don’t use the text.
1. The Chief Inspector wanted to see …..
if Masters kills Coke;
if Coke is innocent;
what Masters does if Coke contacts him;
2. Kate taught Coke because ….
a) he didn’t look like an old man;
b) she wanted him to act like a blind man;
c) she was a good actress;
3. Coke thought that Masters was a spy because …..
a) he used to go to “The Green Rider”;
b) he was afraid of him;
c) he didn’t tell the truth at the trial;
Answer the questions. (Books closed)
a) What was Kate?
b) What did the Chief Inspector want to see?
c) Why was the Chief Inspector’s plan dangerous?
d) What did Kate bring in the evening?
e) What did Kate do to Coke’s hair and face?
f) Whom did Coke see in the mirror?
g) What did Kate teach Coke to do?
h) Where and why were they walking?
i) What made Coke think Masters was one of the spies?
The man who escaped
(episode 12)
1. Kate led Coke to a table and then went to the bar to get their drinks. “Masters isn’t here”, Coke said. “Surely you didn’t expect to walk in and find him, just like that?” “No, I suppose not”.
They had been there for over an hour. More people came in, but Masters was not among them. It was getting towards closing time when the barman came to their table. “May I take your empty glasses?” he asked politely. Coke touched him on his sleeve. “Does a man named Eric Masters ever come in here?” he asked. He didn’t notice the man standing at the bar who stared at him in the mirror when he mentioned Masters’ name.
2. The barman thought for a second. “There is a man named Eric Masters who comes in here a lot. He’s a military type. Is that who you mean?” he asked. Coke tried to sound casual when he asked his next question. “Has he been here today?” The barman nodded. “Yes, he was in this afternoon”. “I don’t suppose you know where I can find him now?” Coke said. “I’m afraid not. All I know about him is that he has an antique shop somewhere near Red Lion Square”, he answered.
The barman was shouting “Last orders, please” when Coke and Kate left. Kate led him through the crowded, bright streets. When they got to Shaftesbury Avenue, Kate called a taxi. Neither she nor Coke noticed the man who was so close behind them in the crowd that he heard Kate say “Red Lion Square, please” to the driver. They didn’t see him get into a cab and follow them.
3. “Would you mind driving around the Square once?” Kate asked the driver. Red Lion Square was deserted. “It’s obviously not on the square itself”, Coke said. They got out the taxi, paid the driver and started exploring. There were antique shops on several of the side streets but Masters’ name was not among the other names of the owners.
Half an hour later they were still looking. Kate kept glancing over her shoulder. She had the uncomfortable feeling that someone was following them but she couldn’t see anybody.
“I don’t like wondering around the dark streets at this hour”, she said. “I don’t like doing it, either, but what else can we do? We can’t stop looking now. It might be our last chance”, Coke answered. Suddenly something in the window of a shop across the road caught his eye. The street was very dark but the thing gleamed. It reflected the light of a passing car. They crossed the street. The thing was an old military saber and it was in a window marked “Antique Weapons and Military Antiques”. There were old pistols, helmets and other swords in the window. Coke became excited. “This must be it!” he said. There was no name on the window but there was a phone number on the door. Coke copied it down.
Useful words and expressions:
suppose
barman
politely
sleeve
to notice
to mention
a military type
a second
to sound casual
to nod
antique shop
to be deserted
obviously
to explore
among
uncomfortable
keep glancing
shoulder
caught his eye
to gleam
to reflect
military saber
pistol
helmet
sword
be excited
to copy down
Choose the correct answer. Don’t use the text.
1. When Coke asked the barman about Eric Masters …..
e) the man at the bar stared at him;
f) the barman stared at him in surprise;
g) the barman looked at the man at the door bar;
2. When Kate and Coke took the taxi ….
they noticed the man behind them;
the man followed them in a cab;
the man lost sight of them;
3. When Kate glanced over her shoulder …..
she noticed the man following them;
she couldn’t see anybody;
she saw the light of a passing car;
Answer the questions. (Books closed)
What did Coke ask the barman about?
What didn’t Coke notice?
What did they learn from the barman about Masters?
What did the man who followed them do?
What was there on the side streets of the square?
Why did Kate keep glancing over her shoulder?
What caught Coke’s eye?
How was the window marked?
What was there in the window and on the door?