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Before you read the story we recommend you do vocabulary activity (1) and vocabulary activity (2), which practise words in the text. If you wish, you can listen to the first part of the story. When you have finished reading the story, do an activity that practises your comprehension. You can also practise conditional sentences, with an activity that matches halves of sentences about the story. Finally, do some writing yourself.
I couldn’t believe it! I was so lucky – the young man, who I thought seemed quite stupid, had no idea that the violin he was playing was an incredibly rare, incredibly valuable antique!
"May I have a look at it?" I asked him.
"Certainly." He gave the violin to me, and for the first time I held it in my hands. It was incredible – the violin actually felt as warm as it looked. It seemed to be almost alive. I held it up to the light to see it better. Yes, the work was definitely Giordano’s. And on the back of the neck, in very very small writing, I found the inscription in Latin Jordanus Neapolis Faciebat Annus 1722. It was certain! I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do. I tried to control myself, and asked Giuseppe some more questions.
"Would it be possible to meet your father?"
"Certainly. Why don’t you come to dinner with us?"
"That would be very nice, thank you."
Five minutes later, I was in Giuseppe’s car and together we were driving through the narrow, curving roads across the island to his father’s house. While he was driving, Giuseppe was talking on his mobile telephone all the time. I thought it seemed dangerous, but I didn’t say anything. I think he was talking to his father – perhaps he was telling his father that I was coming to dinner. I don’t know – I don’t speak Italian! He was talking for a long time, and it all seemed very serious. Finally, we arrived at the house. It was an incredible place – another villa as big as the house where I was staying, but it seemed to be a lot older. Giuseppe’s father was a charming old gentleman with elegant clothes and a long white moustache. He seemed to live in the place all alone. There was nobody else there that evening – only Giuseppe, his father and myself.
"Hello, father. This is Mr. Hobbes-Smith, from London. I told you about him!"
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Hobbes-Smith."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr…"
"Call me Franco!"
"Pleased to meet you Franco! And, actually, I’m not from London, I’m from Oxford."
We had a lovely dinner of baked fish and drank lots of white wine. The conversation continued until it was very late. I was very tired when Giuseppe’s father finally showed me his collection of antique musical instruments. His collection wasn’t very interesting. There was only one thing that I was interested in – the Giordano violin. Finally, I started talking about it.
"The violin that Giuseppe was playing tonight - is that an old instrument?" I was trying to hide my interest and excitement. Giuseppe’s father was silent for some time, and then he said, "Yes, I think it is. But to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s valuable, or interesting."
"I think it’s quite interesting – but I don’t know anything about it!"
I know it’s not right to tell lies. But sometimes you have to do everything you can to get ahead in this world.
"I’d like to buy that old violin from you!" I continued. "Let me make you a generous offer."
"Well, Mr. Hobbes-Smith," replied the old man. "I am an amateur in this field. I’m not an expert. I don’t really know a lot about antique musical instruments."
"I am an expert in this field, though," I told him, "and I think that this old violin is interesting, but perhaps not very valuable. I think £200 would be a fair price."
The old man started talking to his son Giuseppe. I think they were calculating how much £200 was in Italian money. The old man was shaking his head.
"My father doesn’t want to seem impolite," said Giuseppe, "but he thinks that £200 is perhaps not quite generous enough!"
We all laughed.
"I can see that your father is a clever man, Giuseppe," I said. "He knows how to do business! I’ll offer £250, but no more!"
The old man and his son started talking again.
"It is a very generous offer, Mr. Hobbes-Smith," said the old man, "and I am happy to accept it!"
I couldn’t believe how lucky I was! I was paying only £250 for a violin which I could sell for £25,000! I quickly wrote a cheque, took the violin and called a taxi to take me home before they changed their minds.
"Goodbye! Goodbye Giuseppe! Goodbye Franco! Nice meeting you!"
"Goodbye, Mr. Hobbes-Smith! Have a good journey back to London!"
"Oxford!"
"I hope to see you again," said Giuseppe. I hope I never see you again, I thought.
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