nsfce

'At Antoine's.

At seven,' the woman's voice said at the

other end of the

phone.

I always repeat

'At Antoine's, at

seven,' I repeated

.

such information

on the phone

in case I haven't

heard

correctly. O:=C:=J

.

'Very well, then.

I'll be expecting you,' she replied

'Just a moment.

How will I recognize

you?' I asked. I

like. I

I

I

was trying to imagine what she looked

2

There was something smooth but at the same time

hard about that voice, something that goes with

diamonds and an expensive

education.

'You won't have to. Just don't be late!' she said curtly.

Then she hung

up.

Antoine's was

one of those new-style French

places

that specializes in very small portions and very high

prices. I left myoid Ford in

the car park. There was

I

only one other car there, a white

Mercedes. I

3

I

'Yes, sir? Have you got a reservation?' the headwaiter

asked as soon as I came through the door. I looked

around. I 4 I

I

.

'No, but I don't think I'll need one,' I answered

at

The waiter smiled. But his eyes didn't. He looked

my well-worn sports jacket and not very new shoes.

'I'm afraid we're fully booked this evening,' he said.

'It's all right.

I think the gentleman is looking for

me.'

and it

It was the same voice I had heard on the phone

came from a table in the corner.

The waiter's

manner

suddenly changed

.

'You should have said she was waiting for you,'

he said

in a low voice as he showed me to

the table. I looked

down. She had

red hair and was dressed casually in

denims. But they were the sort of denims you can't

buy in

most shops. [ 5 I

IBut it was obvious

she was

beautiful. Very

beautiful.

'Sit down, Mr Nelson. What

would you like

to drink?'

she said.

'Beer.'

'Excuse me, sir.

Did you say

... beer?'

I 6 I

I

'Perhaps you'd better have a glass of champagne

instead,' the

woman said and nodded to the

waiter

before I could refuse. She waited

for him to leave.

I 7 I

IThe woman's face was famous, but I had

never seen the man with her before. He was

middle-

aged, tanned,

and had his arm around her.

'I'll get straight

down to business if you don't mind,'

she said. She looked around and then laid

some

neatly-typed

notes on the

table, too.

it all in

'Go ahead. Read them. I thought I'd better put

writing just in case someone was

listening.'

again.

She looked around the empty restaurant

like

'You can never

be too careful,

even in a place

this,' she said.

B	In pairs or groups,	discuss these questions.
1	What kind of job do you think the writer		has?
2	Who could the woman in the restaurant be?			Why
	do you think she wants to see the writer?
3	What do you think happens next in the novel?

LANGUAGE STUDY

in case and if>

GS 6.6

A

Match each sentence in the first group (a-d) with

the sentence in the second group (1-4) that

is

closest in meaning

.

heard

a]

I always repeat

information

in case I haven't

it correctly.

information

if I haven't heard

it

b)

I always repeat

correctly.

more private in

c) We'd better meet again somewhere

case people notice us together.

if

d] We'd better meet again somewhere more private

people notice

us together.

1

When I think I haven't heard

information

correctly,

I always repeat

it.

because there

is always

2

I always repeat

information

.

a chance I haven't heard it correctly

3

We should meet in a different place next time

because there's a chance people

will notice us

together.

someone notices us

4

We can meet here again unless

together.

B

Rephrase

these sentences using in case.

Notice

that will is never used after in case.

1

It might rain later, so you'd better bring your

raincoat.

later.

You'd better bring your raincoat

2

There's a chance there will be a war, so I'm

building a bomb

shelter.

war.

I'm building a bomb shelter

there

3

In America, a lot of people carry guns because

is always a chance someone will try to rob them.

In America, a lot

of people carry guns

_

them.

I won't see you again, so let me

4

There's a chance

say goodbye now.

now

you again.

Let me say goodbye

.

5

Don't talk so loud!

The boss may be listening

Don't talk so loud

listening.

.

6

Get to the restaurant early. It may be crowded

Get to the restaurant

early

crowded.

7

Remind me again.

I might

forget to call her.

Remind me again

to call her.

leave

S

Perhaps someone is watching us. You'd better

by the side door.

__

._.__ us.

You'd better leave by the side door _.

FOCUS ONE

UNIT

18

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139