Improve your English ⭐ | Very Interesting Story - Level 3 - Million Pound Bank Note | VOA #8

part one from San Francisco to London when I was 27 years old I worked in an office in San Francisco I did my job well and my future was promising I was alone in the world and I was happy on Saturday afternoons I didn't work I sailed my little sailboat on San Francisco Bay one Saturday afternoon I sailed out too far the strong afternoon wind pushed my sailboat out of the bay and into the Pacific Ocean that night when I had lost all hope a small British Brig saw me and took me on board the

brig was sailing to London The Voyage was long and stormy I worked as a sailor to pay for my trip when I arrived in London my clothes were old and dirty I had only $1 in my pocket with this dollar I ate and slept for the first 24 hours during the next 24 hours I didn't eat and I didn't sleep at about 10:00 the following morning I went to Portland place I saw a child walking past holding a big peir the child ate one small piece and then threw the pair onto the street I stopped

and looked at it I was very hungry and I really wanted that pair but every time I tried to get it someone passed by and looked at me I quickly turned in the other direction and waited for the person to pass by I tried again and again to get that pair but the same thing happened I was desperate I decided to get the pair and not to worry about the people who saw me at that moment a gentleman opened a window behind me and said come in here please A well-dressed servant opened the door he

took me to a beautiful room here two old gentlemen were sitting and discussing something important their breakfast was still on the table I was very hungry and I stared at their breakfast I want to tell the reader that the two gentlemen had made a bet several days before I knew nothing about the BET until later let me tell you what happened part two an unusual bet the two old gentlemen were brothers for for several days they argued about a very strange subject they decided to end their argument with a bet as the English usually do

the following was the subject of the bet the bank of England issued two bank notes of a million pound each for a public transaction with a foreign country England used One bank note and the other remained in the bank at this point brother a said to brother B if an honest and intelligent stranger arrives in London without a friend and without money except for the 1 million bank note he will starve to death brother B answered no I don't agree brother a said if he goes to the bank or anywhere else to change this big

note the police will put him in prison everyone one will think he stole it they continued arguing for days until brother B said I'll bet 20,000 that the stranger will live for 30 days with the bank note and not go to prison brother a accepted the bet he went to the bank and bought the 1 million bank note after he returned home and prepared a letter then the two brothers Sat by the window and waited for the right man for the bet they saw a lot of honest faces go by but they were not intelligent

enough several faces were intelligent but they were not honest a lot of faces were honest and intelligent but they were not poor enough other faces were honest intelligent and poor but they were not strangers when they saw me from the window they thought I was the right man man they asked me questions and soon they knew my story finally they told me I was the right man for the bet I asked them to explain the BET one of the gentlemen gave me an envelope I wanted to open it but he said no don't open it

now wait until you are in your hotel room then read it very carefully I was confused and I wanted to discuss the subject with them but they didn't I felt hurt because I was the subject of a joke when I left their house I looked for the pair on the street it was gone I was quite angry with those two gentlemen far from their house I opened the envelope I saw that there was money inside I didn't stop to read their letter I ran to the nearest eating place I ate and ate and ate at

last I took out the envelope with the money to pay for my meal I looked at the bank note and almost fainted it was a bank note worth $5 million I was speechless I stared at the bank note the two gentlemen had made a big mistake they probably wanted to give me a 1 pound bank note I saw the owner of the eating Place staring at the bank note too we were both surprised I did not know what to do or say so I simply gave him the note and said give me the change please

the owner apologized a thousand times I'm very sorry but I I can't change this bank note sir I don't have any other money please change this note the owner then said you can pay for this food whenever you want sir I understand that you are a very rich gentleman you like playing jokes on people by dressing like a poor man you can come here and eat all you want whenever you want you can pay me when you want part three the letter when I left the eating place I hurried to the house of the two

gentlemen I wanted to correct the mistake they had made I was very nervous when I arrived the same servant opened the door I asked for the two gentlemen they are gone the servant said Gone Gone where oh on a journey but where did they go to the continent I think the continent yes sir when will they return in a month a month oh this is awful how can I talk to them it's extremely important I can't help you I I don't know where they are sir then I must see a member of the family all

the family are away they're in Egypt in India I think before leaving the two gentlemen made an enormous mistake they will certainly return home tonight tell them that I came here to correct the mistake I'll return tomorrow I'll tell them if I see them but I won't see them sir you must not worry because everything is all right they will be here on time and they will see you then goodbye I was confused my head was in a fog I did not understand what the servant told me the letter I remembered the letter this is

what it said you are an intelligent and honest man you are also poor and a stranger in this envelope you will find some money it is yours only for 30 days at the end of 30 days return to this house I have a bet on you if I win this bet you can have any job with any salary that you want there were no signature no address no date on the letter how strange I didn't know what to think I went to a park sat down and thought about what to do after an hour I

reach the decision that follows the two old gentlemen are playing a game that I don't understand they are betting on me but at that time I didn't know anything about the details of the bet if I go to the bank of England to return the bank note the bank will ask me lots of questions if I tell the truth no one will believe me they will put me in an asylum if I tell a lie the police will put me in prison I can't even give it to anyone because no no honest person will want

it I can do only one thing I must keep the bill for a whole month and I must not lose it if I help the old man to win his bet he'll give me the job I want the idea of an important job with a big salary made me happy with this exciting idea in mind I began walking down the Streets of London part four at the tailor every time I passed in front of a Tailor's I wanted to enter and buy some new clothes but I had no money to pay for them the 1

million pound bank note in my pocket was useless I passed in front of the same tailor six times at last I entered I quietly asked if they had an old unattractive suit that no one wanted to buy the man I spoke to nodded his head but he didn't speak then another man looked at me and nodded his head I went to him and he said one moment please after some time he took me to a back room he looked at several ugly suits that no one wanted he chose the worst for me I really wanted

a suit so I said nothing it was time to pay can you wait a few days for the money I haven't got any small change with me the man said oh you haven't well I thought gentleman like you carried large change my friend I replied you can't judge a Stranger by the clothes he wears I can pay for this suit but can you change a large bank note oh of course we can change a large bank note he said coldly I gave him the bank note he received it with a smile a big smile that

covered his face when he read the bank note his smile disappeared the owner of the shop came over and asked me what's the trouble there isn't any trouble I'm waiting for my change come come give him his change Todd quickly Todd answered it's easy to say but look at the bank note the owner looked at the bank note then he looked at my package with the ugly suit Todd he shouted you're stupid how can you sell this unattractive suit to a millionaire Todd you can't see the difference between a millionaire and a poor man I

apologize sir the owner continued please take off those things you are wearing and throw them in the fire put on this fine shirt and this handsome suit it's perfect for you simple but elegant I told him I was very happy with the new suit oh wait until you see what we can make for you in your size Todd bring a pen and a book let me measure your leg your arm I didn't have a moment to speak the owner measured me then he ordered his tailor to make me morning suits evening suits shirts coats and

other things but my dear sir I said I can order all these things only if you change my bank note or if you can wait a while before I pay you wait a while I'll wait forever that's the word Todd send these things to the gentleman's address let the less important customers wait what's your address sir I'm changing my home I'll come back and give you my new address I replied quite right sir quite right let me show you to the door sir good day sir good day part five the poor millionaire The Impossible happened

I bought everything I wanted without money I showed my bank note and asked for change but every time the same thing happened no one was able to change it I bought all that I needed and all the luxuries that I wanted I stayed at an expensive hotel in Hanover Square I always had dinner at the hotel but I preferred having breakfast at Harris's simple eating place Harris's was the first place where I had a good meal with my million pound note that's where it all started the news about me and my bank note was all

over London Harris's eating Place became famous because I had breakfast there Harris was happy with all his new customers I lived like a rich important man I had money to spend I lived in a dream but often I said to myself remember this dream will end when the Two Men return to London Everything Will Change my story was in the newspapers everyone talked about the strange millionaire with the million pound note in his pocket hunch magazine drew a funny picture of me on the front page people talked about everything I did and about everything I

said they followed me in the streets I kept my old clothes and sometimes I wore them it was fun when the shop owners thought I was poor then I showed them the bank note and oh how their faces changed after 10 days in London I went to visit the American ambassador he was very happy to meet me he invited me to a dinner party that evening he told me that he knew my father from Yale University he invited me to visit his home whenever I wanted I was glad to have a new important friend I

thought to myself I'll need an important friend when the story of the million pound note and bet comes out I want the reader to know that I plan to pay back all the shop owners who sold me things on credit if I win the bet for the Old Gentleman I thought I will have an important job with an important job I will have a big salary I planned to pay back everyone with my first year's salary part six the dinner party there were 14 people at the dinner party the Duke and Duchess of shord ditch

and their daughter lady an Grace Eleanor deban the Earl and count of Newgate VI count cheapside Lord and Lady bla skite the Ambassador and his wife and daughter and some other people there was also a beautiful 22-year-old English girl named Porsha langum I fell in love with her in 2 minutes and she with me after a while the house servant presented another guest Mr Lloyd Hastings when Mr Hastings saw me he said I think I know you yes you probably do are you the the yes I'm the strange millionaire with the million pound note in

his pocket well well this is a surprise I never thought you were the same Henry Adams from San Francisco 6 months ago you were working in the offices of Blake Hopkins in San Francisco I remember clearly you had a very small salary and at night you helped me arrange the papers for the gold and Curry mining company now you're a millionaire a celebrity here in London I can't believe it how exciting I can't believe it either Lloyd just 3 months ago we went to the miners restaurant no no it was the what cheer restaurant right

it was the what cheer we went there at 2:00 in the morning we we had steak and coffee that night we worked for six long hours on the ghoul and Curry Mining Company papers do you remember Henry I asked you to come to London with me I wanted you to help me sell the gold and Curry Gold Mine shares but you refused of course I remember I didn't want to leave my job in San Francisco and I still think it's difficult to sell shares of a California gold mine here in London you were right Henry

you were so right it is impossible to sell these shares here in London my plan failed and I spent all my money I don't want to talk about it but you must talk about it when we leave the dinner party you must tell me what happened oh can I uh I really need to talk to a friend Lloyd said with water in his eyes yes I want to hear the whole story every word of it thank you Henry you are a true friend at this point it was time for dinner thanks to the English system

of Precedence there was no dinner the Duke of shitch wanted to sit at the head of the table the American ambassador also wanted to sit at the head of the table it was impossible for them to decide so we had no dinner the English know about the system of Precedence they have dinner before going out to dinner but strangers know nothing about it they remain hungry all evening instead we had a dish of sardines and a strawberry now it was time for everyone to play a game called cribbage the English never play a game for

fun they play to win or to lose something Miss langum and I played the game but with little interest I looked at her beautiful face and said Miss langum I love you Mr Adams She said softly and smiled I love you too this was a wonderful evening Miss langum and I were very happy we smiled laughed and talked I was honest with her I told her that I was poor and that I didn't have a scent in the world I explained that the million pound note was not mine she was very curious to know more

I told her the whole story from the start she laughed and laughed she thought the story was very funny I didn't understand why it was funny I also explained that I needed an important job with a big salary to pay all my debts Porsha dear can you come with me on the day I must meet those two gentlemen well yes if I can help you she replied of course you can help me you're so lovely that when the two gentlemen see you I can ask for any job and any salary with you there my sweet

porsa the two gentlemen won't refuse me any anything part seven a million dooll idea at the end of the dinner party I returned to the hotel with Hastings he talked about his problems but I didn't listen to him I was thinking about Porsche the whole time when we arrived at the hotel Hastings said let me just stand here and look at this marvelous Hotel it's a palace what expensive of furniture you have everything you want you are rich Henry and I am poor his words scared me I too was poor I didn't have a scent

in the world and I had debts to pay I needed to win the gentleman's bet this was my last hope Hastings didn't know the truth Henry just a tiny part of your income can save me I'm desperate Hastings cried my my dear Hastings sit down here and drink this hot whiskey now tell me your whole story every word of it do you want to hear my story again but you never told me your story of course I told you my story as we walked to the hotel don't you remember I didn't hear one word of

it Henry are you ill is something wrong with you what did you drink at the dinner party oh Hastings I'm in love I can only think about my sweet Porsche this is why I didn't hear your story before Hastings got up from his chair shook my hand and laughed I'm very happy for you Henry very happy he said smiling I'll tell you the whole story again so he sat down and patiently started to tell me his story to make a long story short the owners of the G and Curry gold mine sent Henry to England

to sell the shares of the mine for $1 million any money he received over $1 million was his to keep Hastings dream was to sell the shares for more than $1 million and become rich he had only one month to sell the shares he had done everything to sell them but nobody wanted to buy them then he jumped up and cried Henry you can help me will you do it tell me how give me a a million dollars and I'll sell you all the shares you will be the new owner of the gold mine don't

don't refuse I didn't know what to say I wanted to tell Hastings the truth but then an intelligent idea came to me I thought about it for a moment and then calmly said I will save you Lloyd then I am already saved how can I thank you let me finish Lloyd I will save you but not in that way I have a better way I know everything about that mine I know it's great value you will sell the shares by using my name you can send anyone to me since people in London know me I

will guarantee the gold mine in a week or two you will sell the shares for $3 million by using my name and will share the money you earn half to you and half to me Lloyd was very happy and excited he danced around the room and laughed I can use your name your name think of it the rich londoners will run to buy these shares I'm saved and I'll never forget you Henry part eight back to Portland Place the next day all of London talked about the shares of the California Gold Mine I stayed in

my hotel and said to everyone who came to me yes I know Mr Hastings he's a very honest man and I know the gold mine because I lived in the California Gold Country it is a mine of Great Value people were now interested in buying the shares I spent every evening with Porsha at the American ambassador's house I didn't tell her about the shares and the mine it was a surprise we talked about our love and our future together finally the end of the month arrived lots of Rich londoners bought the shares of the mine

I had a million doll of my own in the London and County bank and Lloyd did too it was time to meet with the two old gentlemen I dressed in my best clothes and I went to get Porsche before going to Portland Place Porsche and I talked about the job and the salary Porsha you are so beautiful when the two gentlemen meet you they'll give me any job and any salary I ask for Henry please remember that if we ask for too much we will get nothing then what will happen to us don't be afraid

pora when we arrived the same servant opened the door there were the two old gentlemen having tea they were surprised to see Porche I introduced her to them then I said gentlemen I I am ready to report to you we are pleased to hear this said one gentleman uh now we can decide the bat that my brother Abel and I made if you won for me you can have any job in my power do you have the million pound note here it is Sir and I gave it to him I won he shouted now what

do you say able I say he survived and I lost £2,000 I can't believe it I have more to tell you I said but it's a long story I'll tell you another time for now look at this what a certificate of deposit for £200,000 is it yours it's mine I earned it by using the bank note you lent me for a month this is astonishing I can't believe it Porsche looked at me with surprise and said Henry is that really your money you didn't tell me the truth no I I I didn't but I know

you'll forgive me don't be so sure you told me a lie Henry dearest Porsche it was only for fun come let's go now but wait wait my Gentleman said I want to give you the job and the salary you choose Thank you thank you with all my heart but I don't want the job Henry you didn't thank the the good gentleman in the right way can I do it for you Porsha said of course you can my dear Porsha walked to my Gentleman sat on his lap and kissed him on the mouth then the two

old gentlemen shouted and laughed I was amazed what was happening Papa said Porsha Henry doesn't want your job I feel very very hurt darling is that your father I asked yes he's my stepfather a dear man now do you understand why I laughed when you told me your story my dearest sir I said I want to take back what I said there is a job that I want tell me I want the job of son-in-law well well well but you were never a son-in-law before do you know how to do this job try me please

try me for 30 or 40 years and if all right take her were Porsha and I happy there aren't enough words in the dictionary to describe our happiness when the londoners heard the whole story of my adventures with the bank note they talked of nothing else Porsche's father took the bank note back to the bank of England and cashed it then he gave us the cancelled bank note as a wedding present we put it in a picture frame and hung it on the wall in our new home and so I always say yes it's a

million pound bank note but it only bought one thing in its life the most valuable thing in the world Porsche [Music]