Chapter oneA mysterious
In the darkness of a February night, a stranger dressed in a wide-brimmed hat and very long coat got off a train at Bramblehurst.1 It was bitterly cold, but there were no carriages. The man had to carry his suitcase for several hours through a snow-storm to reach the small town of Iping.2 When he arrived, he went to the Coach and Horses Inn. The people in the inn saw a dark figure stumble in.3
“I want a room and a fire. Quickly, please!” the stranger demanded.
The owner of the inn said, “I’m Mrs. Hall. Please come this way.”
The woman showed the stranger to his room.
She left and soon returned with some food. The room was very warm now, but the man was still wearing his hat, coat and gloves.
“I can take your coat for you,4” Mrs. Hall said.
“No!” snapped the stranger.
“Alright,” said the woman as she left the room.
Key Words
mysterious (adj): bí ẩn
stranger (n): người lạ mặt
darkness (n): bóng tối
wide-brimmed (adj): (nón) rộng vành
bitterly (adv): dữ dội, khắc nghiệt
carriage (n): xe ngựa
coach (n): xe ngựa bốn bánh
figure (n): bóng người
stumble (v): bước loạng choạng
demand (v): yêu cầu
snap (v): cáu kỉnh, gắt
(snap - snapped - snapped)
Key Sentences
1 In the darkness of a February night, a stranger dressed in a wide-brimmed hat and very long coat got off a train at Bramblehurst.
2 The man had to carry his suitcase for several hours through a snow-storm to reach the small town of Iping.
3 The people in the inn saw a dark figure stumble in.
4 I can take your coat for you,
In the kitchen, Mrs. Hall realized she had forgotten the mustard, so she took it up to the man. She knocked on the door and opened it. She stood in the doorway, stunned. The strange man had large bulky bandages around his head. All she could see were his blue glasses, a shiny pink nose and some hair poking through the bandages.1
“I... I will take your things now, sir,” she stammered.
“Leave the hat,” he demanded.
Mrs. Hall noticed that the stranger was still wearing his gloves and he was holding a napkin over his face.2 He was wearing a dark dressing gown of which he had the collar turned up high.3Around his neck, he had tied a scarf. Every part of his body was completely covered.
“Y... y... yes, sir,” said the shocked Mrs. Hall.
“He must have had a terrible accident,4” Mrs. Hall thought.
Some time later, she returned for the tray. After eating and becoming warm, the stranger’s mood had much improved and he now said, “I left some baggage at Bramblehurst Station, Mrs. Hall. Is there some way to bring it here?”
Key Words
mustard (n): tương mù tạt
doorway (n): ngưỡng cửa, cửa vào
stun (v): gây sững sờ, làm sửng sốt
bulky (adj): lớn, to
bandage (n): vải băng vết thương
poke (v): nhô ra
stammer (v): lắp bắp
leave (v): để lại
notice (v): chú ý, để ý thấy
napkin (n): khăn ăn
dressing gown (n): áo khoác ngoài
(dùng để mặc trong nhà hoặc sau khi tắm)
collar (n): cổ áo
turn up: kéo lên
completely (adv): hoàn toàn
tray (n): cái khay, cái mâm
mood (n): tâm trạng
improve (v): trở nên tốt hơn, khá hơn
baggage (n): hành lý
Key Sentences
1 All she could see were his blue glasses, a shiny pink nose and some hair poking through the bandages.
2 Mrs. Hall noticed that the stranger was still wearing his gloves and he was holding a napkin over his face.
3 He was wearing a dark dressing gown of which he had the collar turned up high.
4 He must have had a terrible accident.
“The roads are bad tonight, so my husband will get it for you in the morning. It is too easy to have an accident in all this snow,” she replied.
“Yes, an accident. I, too, had an accident.”
“What kind of acci–?” Mrs. Hall started to ask.
“Never mind about that,” said the stranger. “You only need to know that I am a scientist, and all of my equipment is in my bags.1 I need them all as soon as possible. I’m working on a very important experiment.”
Mrs. Hall left and thought, “He is a mysterious man.”
She quickly returned to the bar to tell her customers about the mysterious man.2 One customer, Teddy Henfrey, said, “Hah! I bet he’s hiding from the police.3 He hasn’t had any accident!”
“Who’s hiding from the police?” said a voice behind them. It was Mr. Hall.
“A stranger who just arrived tonight. He has bags at the station. You should take a good look at them in the morning,” warned Teddy.
“Cut it out now all of you,” snapped Mrs. Hall. “You’ll all mind your own business.”4
But Mrs. Hall was very suspicious of the stranger.
Key Words
mind (v): để ý, bận tâm
equipment (n): thiết bị, dụng cụ
work on: tiến hành, thực hiện
experiment (n): cuộc thử nghiệm,
thí nghiệm
bar (n): quầy rượu
customer (n): khách hàng
take a good look: chú ý, để ý
warn (v): cảnh báo, nhắc nhở
cut it out: thôi đi!, đủ rồi!
suspicious (adj): nghi ngờ
Key Sentences
1 You only need to know that I am a scientist, and all of my equipment is in my bags.
2 She quickly returned to the bar to tell her customers about the mysterious man.
3 I bet he’s hiding from the police.
4 You’ll all mind your own business.
The next morning, Mr. Hall brought the mysterious man’s luggage to the inn.
“Good grief!” exclaimed Mrs. Hall. “How many boxes and bags does he have?”
The stranger came out and started to help unload the cart. At that moment, a dog came growling at the strange man and then bit his leg. Looking at his torn clothes, the man quickly went back to his room.1
“I’ll go and see if he is alright,” Mr. Hall said. He went in and found the man’s door open. He was about to speak when he saw the most startling thing.2 The man’s coat arm was waving around in the air but there was no hand! Suddenly, Mr. Hall felt himself being violently pushed out of the room.3 Then, there was a loud, BANG! The door slammed shut.
Mr. Hall was confused.
“Did I see what I think I saw?”4 he asked himself.
By now, a small crowd had gathered and everyone was talking about the dog attack. “He needs to have the bite looked at,” said someone in the crowd. “Well, I didn’t see any blood,” said another. The stranger now reappeared wearing new clothes.
“Are you hurt, sir?” asked Mrs. Hall.
“Not at all,” he replied.
Key Words
luggage (n): hành lý
Good grief! (interj): Ôi trời ơi!
(diễn tả sự ngạc nhiên)
exclaim (v): thốt lên
unload (v): dỡ hành lý xuống
cart (n): xe ngựa/ bò (để chở hàng)
growl (v): gầm gừ
bite (v): cắn (bite - bit - bitten)
tear (v): làm rách, xé rách (tear - tore - torn)
startling (adj): gây sửng sốt, kinh hoàng
violently (adv): thô bạo
bang (n): tiếng sập cửa mạnh
slam shut: đóng sầm lại
by now: vào lúc này
attack (n): sự tấn công
reappear (v): lại xuất hiện, quay trở lại
Key Sentences
1 Looking at his torn clothes, the man quickly went back to his room.
2 He was about to speak when he saw the most startling thing.
3 Suddenly, Mr. Hall felt himself being violently pushed out of the room.
4 Did I see what I think I saw?
Eventually, all of the man’s luggage was taken to his room. He quickly unpacked his equipment and started to work. He worked all morning and at lunch time Mrs. Hall brought him his lunch. She knocked on the door, but he didn’t answer, so she just went in.1 However, he wasn’t wearing his glasses, and his eye sockets were empty.
“My Lord!” she gasped.
The man, hearing her gasp, quickly put on his glasses. “You shouldn’t come in without knocking,”2 he said angrily.
“But I did knock,” she said.
“You mustn’t disturb me. I have to concentrate.”
“Very well, Sir,” Mrs. Hall replied. “There is a lock on the door. I suggest you use it.”
Then Mrs. Hall left.
For the rest of the afternoon, the man worked silently in his room. Suddenly, however, Mrs. Hall heard the sound of smashing bottles and heavy footsteps.3 She quickly went upstairs. She was too afraid to knock, so she just listened.
“This is impossible!” she heard the man say. “I will never finish this experiment like this. It will take forever! I don’t have the patience!”
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
a. The man worked all morning and afternoon. _____
b. Mrs. Hall heard the sound of smashing bottles and came _____ into the man’s room.
Key Words
eventually (adv): cuối cùng, rốt cuộc
unpack (v): mở ra
socket (n): hốc mắt
My Lord! (interj): Trời ơi, Chúa ơi! (diễn tả sự kinh ngạc)
gasp (v): há hốc miệng vì kinh ngạc
put on: đeo (mắt kính) vào
disturb (v): quấy rầy
concentrate (v): tập trung
suggest (v): đề nghị, gợi ý
rest (n): sự nghỉ ngơi
silently (adv): yên lặng
smash (v): đập vỡ
footstep (n): tiếng bước chân
patience (n): sự kiên nhẫn
Key Sentences
1 She knocked on the door, but he didn’t answer, so she just went in.
2 You shouldn’t come in without knocking.
3 Suddenly, however, Mrs. Hall heard the sound of smashing bottles and heavy footsteps.
For a number of weeks, the stranger worked in his room. He was usually quiet, but there was the occasional tantrum when he smashed furniture and his equipment.1 Rarely, he took walks in the early evening. He always kept himself covered and ignored the friendly gestures from the village people. Mr. Hall proposed that they get rid of the stranger but Mrs. Hall said, “He always pays his bills plus extra. We cannot be picky when we have so many empty rooms.2”
The stranger was a very common topic of conversation among the village people. Many believed Teddy Henfrey’s story that the man was running from the law.
One man was particularly curious about the stranger. He was the village doctor, John Cuss. He heard all about the thousands of bottles and wanted to see them. One day, he found a good reason to visit the stranger. He would ask for a donation to the Nurse’s Fund. Mrs. Hall took him to the stranger’s room. Dr. Cuss knocked and entered the room. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hall waited outside. About ten minutes later, there was a loud sound of stomping, some laughter and then the door was quickly flung open.3 Dr. Cuss, with a face white with terror, went running out of the room. The eerie sound of the stranger’s laughter could be heard behind him.
Check up
Many of the village people believed that the man was a __________.
a. policeman
b. criminal
c. doctor
Key Words
occasional (adj): đôi khi, thỉnh thoảng
tantrum (n): cơn giận, cơn điên cuồng
rarely (adv): hiếm khi
ignore (v): lờ đi, không thèm quan tâm
propose (v): đề nghị
get rid of someone: tống khứ, đuổi ai đi
extra (n): khoản trả thêm
picky (adj): kén chọn
common (adj): chung
particularly (adv): đặc biệt
donation (n): sự quyên tặng, sự quyên góp
fund (n): quỹ
meanwhile (adv): trong lúc đó
stomp (v): dậm mạnh, di chuyển mạnh
fling a door: mở tung cửa
(fling - flung - flung)
terror (n): sự kinh hoàng, sự khiếp sợ
eerie (adj): ghê sợ, kỳ quái
Key Sentences
1 He was usually quiet, but there was the occasional tantrum when he smashed furniture and his equipment.
2 We cannot be picky when we have so many empty rooms.
3 About ten minutes later, there was a loud sound of stomping, some laughter and then the door was quickly flung open.
Dr. Cuss fled from the inn and ran straight to the Reverend Bunting’s home. He rushed in to see a bewildered Reverend.
“I’m going crazy!” he exclaimed.
“What are you talking about?” asked the Reverend.
“The stranger! I went to see him to ask for a donation. I went into his room and he was sitting in a chair with his hands in his pockets.1 I asked him, ‘Are you working on a secret research project?’ He just snapped at me. ‘Yes. I’ve been working on it for years. My most important notes were written on some sheets of paper.’ Then some wind blew and they flew up the chimney. He took his hands out of his pockets and pretended to grab at the flying papers.2 But there were no hands in his sleeves. I asked him, ‘Where are your hands?’ He got up and came toward me. It was so creepy. He put his face right next to mine. He lifted his arm up and I could see an empty sleeve coming toward my face.
Next thing I knew, it felt like a finger and a thumb had pinched my nose!3”
Now the Reverend started laughing. “Have you been drinking, Cuss?” he asked the doctor. “No! No! You must believe me. I even swung my arm to hit his empty sleeve. It felt like I was hitting an arm. I’m telling you the truth! He was just like a ghost!”
Check up
What is true about the story?
a. Dr. Cuss threw the sheets of paper into the chimney.
b. Dr. Cuss saw a ghost.
c. The reverend didn’t believe Dr. Cuss.
Key Words
flee (v): bỏ chạy
(flee - fled - fled)
reverend (n): đức giám mục, đức cha
rush (v): lao vào, đâm vào
bewildered (adj): bối rối, ngơ ngác
research (n): sự nghiên cứu
notes (n): ghi chép
grab at: chụp lấy
sleeve (n): tay áo
creepy (adj): sởn gai ốc, rùng mình
pinch (v): véo, bóp chặt
swing (v): vung (tay)
(swing - swung - swung)
Key Sentences
1 I went into his room and he was sitting in a chair with his hands in his pockets.
2 He took his hands out of his pockets and pretended to grab at the flying papers.
3 Next thing I knew, it felt like a finger and a thumb had pinched my nose!
Comprehension Quiz
A. Choose the correct prepositions to complete the sentences.
1. The stranger was holding a napkin _________ his face.
(a) for
(b) over
(c) under
2. I am working _________ a very important experiment.
(a) at
(b) on
(c) through
3. Mr. Hall felt himself being violently pushed _________ the room.
(a) out of
(b) up
(c) behind
3. Mrs. Hall heard the sound _________ smashing bottles.
(a) at
(b) to
(c) of
B. Choose to complete the following sentences.
1. Mrs. Hall was very __________ of the stranger.
(a) mysterious
(b) suspicious
(c) confused
2. The stranger started to help _________ the cart.
(a) unpack
(b) reappear
(c) unload
3. You must not __________ me. I have to concentrate.
(a) disturb
(b) ignore
(c) smash
C. Put the sentences in order.
1. dog jumped at the strange man’s leg.
2. Dr. Cuss went to the stranger to ask for a donation.
3. A stranger arrived at the inn and asked for a room.
4. The strange man’s luggage arrived at the inn.
5. Mrs. Hall saw the man’s eye sockets were empty.
_____⇒_____⇒_____⇒_____⇒_____
D. Complete the following paragraph with the words given.
equipment - picky - rid - occasional - covered
For a number of weeks, the stranger worked in his room. He was usually quiet, but there was the __________ tantrum when he smashed furniture and his __________. He always kept himself __________ and ignored the friendly gestures from the village people. Mr. Hall proposed that they get
__________ of the stranger but Mrs. Hall said, “He always pays his bills plus extra. We cannot be __________ when we have so many empty rooms.”