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Text 3

Read the story. Dramatize it. Retell the story:
1. as it is;
2. without details;
3. as the lady.

THE LUNCHEON

(After W. S. Maugham)

I saw her in the theatre and in answer to her beckoning I went to
her place during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I
had last seen her. She addressed me brightly.
- Well, it's many years since we first met. How time flies! Do you
remember the first time I saw you? You asked me for luncheon.
Did I remember?!
It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a small
1
apartment in the Latin Quarter and was earning barely enough money
to keep body and soul together. She had read a book of mine and had
written to me about it. I answered thanking her and soon I received from
her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would
like to have a talk with me; but her time was limited and the only free
moment she had was on the following Thursday. She asked if I would
give her a small luncheon at Foyot's. Foyot's is a restaurant at which
French senators eat and I had never thought of going there. But I was
flattered and I was too young to say ”no” to a woman. I answered I
would meet her at Foyot's.
I had only eighty francs; all the money I had till the end of the
month. A small luncheon will not cost more than fifteen francs, I
thought, and if I don't take coffee for the next two weeks, I shall have
enough money till the end of the month.
She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing
rather than attractive. She was in fact a woman of forty. She wanted to
talk about me and I was prepared to be an attentive listener.
I was startled when the menu was brought, for the prices were a

1
Pайон у Парижі, де живуть здебільшого художники, письменники,
артисти.

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