新概念必背优秀文章2.doc

Lesson34Ahappydiscovery幸运的发现
Antiqueshopsexertapeculiarfascinationonagreatmanypeople.Themoreexpensivekindofantiqueshopwhererareobjectsarebeautifullydisplayedinglasscasestokeepthemfreefromdustisusuallyaforbiddingplace.Butnoonehastomusterupcouragetoenteralesspretentiousantiqueshop.Thereisalwayshopethatinitslabyrinthofmusty,dark,disorderedroomsarealraritywillbefoundamongstthepilesofassortedjunkthatlitterthefloors.
Noonediscoversararitybychance.Atrulydedicatedbargainhuntermusthavepatience,andaboveall,theabilitytorecognizetheworthofsomethingwhenheseesit.Todothis,hemustbeatleastasknowledgeableasthedealer.Likeascientistbentonmakingadiscovery,hemustcherishthehopethatonedayhewillbeamplyrewarded.
Myoldfriend,FrankHalliday,isjustsuchaperson.Hehasoftendescribedtomehowhepickedupamasterpieceforamere￡50.OneSaturdaymorning,Frankvisitedanantiqueshopinmyneighbourhood.Ashehadneverbeentherebefore,hefoundagreatdealtointeresthim.ThemorningpassedrapidlyandFrankwasabouttoleavewhenhenoticedalargepacking-caselyingonthefloor.Thedealertoldhimthatithadjustcomein,butthathecouldnotbebotheredtoopenit.Frankbeggedhimtodosoandthedealerreluctantlypriseditopen.Thecontentsweredisappointing.Apartfromaninteresting-lookingcarveddagger,theboxwasfullofcrockery,muchofitbroken.Frankgentlyliftedthecrockeryoutoftheboxandsuddenlynoticedaminiaturepaintingatthebottomofthepacking-case.AsitsCompositionandlineremindedhimofanItalianpaintingheknewwell,hedecidedtobuyit.Glancingatitbriefly,thedealertoldhimthatitwasworth￡50.Frankcouldhardlyconcealhisexcitement,forheknewthathehadmadearealdiscovery.ThetinypaintingprovedtobeanunknownmasterpiecebyCorreggioandwasworthhundredsofthousandsofpounds.
古玩店对许多人来说有一种特殊的魅力。高档一点的古玩店为了防尘，把文物漂亮地陈列在玻璃柜子里，那里往往令人望而却步。而对不太装腔作势的古玩店，无论是谁都不用壮着胆子才敢往里进。人们还常常有希望在发霉、阴暗、杂乱无章、迷宫般的店堂里，从杂乱地摆放在地面上的、一堆堆各式各样的破烂货里找到一件稀世珍品。
无论是谁都不会一下子就发现一件珍品。一个到处找便宜货买的人必须具有耐心，而且最重要的是看到珍品时要有鉴别珍品的能力。要做到这一点，他至少要像古董商一样在行。他必须像一个专心致志进行探索的科学家那样抱有这样的希望，即终有一天，他的努力会取得丰硕的成果。
我的老朋友弗兰克·哈利戴正是这样一个人。他多次向我详细讲他如何只花50英镑便买到一位名家的杰作。一个星期六的上午，弗兰克去了我