The million pound banknote

When I handed the banknote to him he shouted 'I've won!' and slapped Abel on the back. 'Now what do you say, brother?'

'I say he did survive, and I've lost twenty thousand pounds. I never would have believed it.'

'I've a further report to make,' I said, 'and a pretty long one. I want you to let me come soon, and detail my whole month's history; and I promise you it's worth hearing. Meantime, take a look at this. It's a certificate of deposit for £200,000. It is mine. I earned it by thirty days' judicious use of that little loan you let me have. And the only use I made of it was to buy trifles.'

But now Portia's turn was come to be surprised. Her eyes were spread wide, and she said 'Henry, is that really your money? Have you been fibbing to me?'

'I have, indeed, dearie. But you'll forgive me, I know.'

She put up an arch pout, and said 'Don't you be so sure. You are a naughty thing to deceive me so!'

Vocabulary:

Certificate of deposit: Proof that money has been paid into a bank
Judicious: Careful
Loan: Something given temporarily
Trifle: Something unimportant
Fibbing: Telling lies
Arch: Pretending to look serious
Pout: Pushing out the lower lip