Sample
from

The Thirty Nine Steps
by
John Buchan

Oxford Progressive English Readers
Grade 4


retold by

David Foulds

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The Man Who Died


My flat was on the first floor in a new block. I was just fitting my key into the door-lock when all of a sudden I noticed a man at my elbow. I had not seen him approach, and his unexpected appearance startled me. He was a slim man with a short brown beard and small, intelligent blue eyes. I recognized him as the occupant of a flat on the top floor.

'Can I speak to you?' he asked. 'May I come in for a minute?' He was trying hard not to allow his voice to tremble. His hand gripped my arm tightly.

I got the door open and ushered him in.

'I'm very sorry,' he said humbly when we were inside, 'but you look the kind of chap who will understand. All this week I've been wondering if you might help me if things got difficult. Do you think you might?'

'I'll listen to you, I said. 'That's all I promise.' He was beginning to worry me.

I took him into the sitting-room. There was a tray of drinks on the table. Without asking, he poured himself a large whiskey-and-soda. He drank it off in one go, and cracked the glass as he set it down.

'Pardon me,' he said. 'I'm a bit nervous. You see, at this moment I happen to be dead.'

I sat down in an armchair and lit my pipe.

'What does it feel like?' I asked. I was pretty certain that I had a madman in my flat.

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More of this story in

The Thirty Nine Steps
by
John Buchan

Oxford Progressive English Readers
Grade 4
ISBN 0 19 586 314 3

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This text is copyright Oxford University Press 1995.

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If you can read this sample easily, you can enjoy any Oxford Progressive English Reader from Grade 1 through to Grade 4.

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