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--- lesson 19 A very dear cat |
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--- Listen to the tape then answer the question below. |
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--- Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one? |
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Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat. |
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Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years. |
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Rastus leads an orderly life. |
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He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock. |
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One evening, however, he failed to arrive. |
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Mrs. Ramsay got very worried. |
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She looked everywhere for him but could not find him. |
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Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter. |
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The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of $1,000. |
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Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door. |
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At first, she decided to go to the police, |
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but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind. |
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She withdrew $1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions. |
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The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word. |
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Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening. |
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He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk. |
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The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done. |
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She explained that Rastus was very dear to her. |
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Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one! |