Lesson 5

& Chapter Nine: CONCERNING MR. BASSINGTON-FFRENCH

Frankie lost no time in setting to work. She attacked her father that same evening. " Father, " she said, " do you know any Bassington-ffrenches? "

Lord Marchington, who was readings political article, did not quite take in the question. " It's not the French so much as the Americans, " he said severely. " All this tomfoolery and conferences — wasting the nation's time and money —"

Frankie abstracted her mind until Lord Marchington, running like a railway train along an accustomed line, came as it were to a halt at a station.

" The Bassington-ffrenches, " repeated Frankie.

" What about 'em? " asked Lord Marchington.

Frankie didn't know what about them. She made a statement, knowing well enough that her father enjoyed contradicting. " They're a Yorkshire* family, aren't they? "

" Nonsense — Hampshire.- There's the Shropshire* branch, of course, and then there's the Irish lot. Which are your friends? "

" I'm not sure, " said Frankie, accepting the implication of friendship with several unknown people.

" Not sure? What do you mean? You must be sure."

" People drift about so, nowadays, " said Frankie.

" Drift — drift — that's about all they do do. In my day we asked people. Then one knew where one was — fellow said he was the Hampshire branch — very well, your grandmother married my second cousin. It made a link."

" It must have been too sweet, " said Frankie. " But there really isn't time for genealogical and geographical research nowadays."

" No — you've no time nowadays for anything but drinking these poisonous cocktails." Lord Marchington gave a sudden yelp of pain as he moved his gouty leg which some free imbibing of the family port had not improved.

" Are they well off? " asked Frankie.

" The Bassington-f frenches? Couldn't say. The Shropshire lot have been hard hit, I believe. Death duties and one thing or another. One of the Hampshire ones married an heiress. An American woman."

" One of them was down here the other day, " said Frankie. " Looking for a house, I believe."

" Funny idea. What should anyone want with a house down here? "

That, thought Frankie, was the question.

On the following day she walked into the office of Messrs. Wheeler & Owen, House and Estate Agents.

Mr. Owen himself sprang up to receive her. Frankie gave him a gracious smile and dropped into a chair.

" And what can we have the pleasure of doing for you, Lady Frances? You don't want to sell the Castle, I suppose. Ha, ha! " Mr. Owen laughed at his own wit.

" I wish we could, " said Frankie. " No, as a matter of fact, I believe a friend of mine was down here the other day — a Mr. Bassington-ffrench. He was looking for a house."

" Ah, yes, indeed! I remember the name perfectly. Two small f's."

" That's right, " said Frankie.

" He was making inquiries about various small properties with a view to purchase. He was obliged to return to town the next day so could not view many of the houses, but I understand he is in no great hurry. Since he left, one or two suitable properties have come into the market, and I have sent him on particulars but have had no reply."

" Did you write to London — or to the — er — country address? " inquired Frankie.

" Let me see now." He called to a junior clerk " Frank, Mr. Bassiington-ffrench's address."

" Roger Bassignton-ffrench, Esq.* Merroway Court, Staverly, Hants, " * said the junior clerk glibly.

" Ah! " said Frankie. " Then it wasn't my Mr. Bassington-ffrench. This must be his cousin. I thought it was odd his being here and not looking me up."

" Quite so — quite so, " said Mr. Owen intelligently.

" Let me see, it must have been the Wednesday he came to see you."

" That's right. Just before six-thirty. We close at six-thirty. I remember particularly because it was the day when that sad accident happened. Man fell over the cliff. Mr. Bassington-ffrench had actually stayed by the body till the police came. He looked quite upset when he came in here. Very sad tragedy, that, and high time. Something was done about that bit of path. The Town Council have been criticized very freely. I can tell you, Lady Frances. Most dangerous. Why we haven't had more accidents than we have, I can't imagine."

" Extraordinary, " said Frankie.

She left the office in a thoughtful mood. As Bobby had prophesied, all Mr. Bassingtion-ffrench's actions seemed clear and aboveboard. He was one of the Hampshire Bassington-ffrenches, he had given his proper address, he had actually mentioned his part in the tragedy to the house agent. Was it possible that, after all, Mr. Bassington-ffrench was the completely innocent person he seemed?

Frankie had a qualm of doubt. Then she refuted it.

No, she said to herself. A man who wants to buy a little place would either get here earlier in the day, or else stay over the next day. You wouldn't go into a house agent's at six-thirty in the evening and go up to London the following day. Why make the journey at all? Why not write?

No, she decided, Bassington-ffrench was the guilty party.

Her next call was the police station. Inspector Williams was an old acquaintance, having succeeded in tracking down a maid with a false reference who had absconded with some of Frankie's jewelry.

" Good afternoon, Inspector."

" Good afternoon, your ladyship. Nothing wrong I hope."

" Not as yet, but I'm thinking of holding up a bank soon because I'm getting so short of money."

The inspector gave a rumbling laugh in acknowledgment of this witticism.

" As a matter of fact, I've come to ask questions out of sheer curiosity, " said Frankie.

" Is that so, Lady Frances? "

" Now do tell me this, Inspector — that man who fell over the cliff — Pritchard or whatever his name was —"

" Pritchard, that's right."

" He only had one photograph on him, didn't he? Somebody told me he had three."

" One's right, " said the inspector. " Photograph of his sister, it was. She came down and identified him."

" How absurd to say there were three! "

" Oh, that's easy, your ladyship. These newspaper reporters don't mind how much they exaggerate, and as often as not they get the whole thing wrong.*

" I know, " said Frankie. " I've heard the wildest stories." She paused a moment, then drew freely on her imagination. " I've heard that his pockets were full of dope, and there's another story about his having pockets full of counterfeit banknotes."

The inspector laughed heartily. " That's a good one."

" I suppose really he had just the usual things in his pockets? "

" And very few at that. A handkerchief, not marked. * Some loose change, a packet of cigarettes, and a couple of treasury notes — loose, not in a case.* No letters. We'd have had a job to identify him if it hadn't been for the photo. Providential, you might call it."

" I wonder, " said Frankie. In view of her private knowledge, she considered 'providential' a singularly inapposite word. She changed the conversation.

" I went to see Mr. Jones, the Vicar's son, yesterday. The one who's been poisoned. What an extraordinary thing that was! "

" Ah! " said the inspector. " Now that is extraordinary, if you like. Never heard of anything like it happening before. A nice young gentleman without an enemy in the world, or so you'd say. You know, Lady Frances, there are some queer customers going about. All the same I never heard of a homicidal maniac who acted just this way."

" Is there any clue at all to who did it? " Frankie was all wide-eyed inquiry. " It's so interesting to hear all this, " she added.

The inspector swelled with gratification. He enjoyed this friendly conversation with an Earl's daughter. Nothing stuck-up or snobbish about Lady Frances.

" There was a car seen in the vicinity, " said the inspector. " Dark-blue Talbot.* A man on Lock's Comer reported dark-blue Talbot No. GG8282 passed going direction St. Botolph's."

" And you think —"

" GG 8282 is the number of the Bishop of St. Botolph's* car."

Frankie toyed for a minute or two with the idea of a homicidal bishop who offered sacrifices of clergymen's sons but rejected it with a sigh. " You don't suspect the Bishop, I suppose? " she said.

" We've found out that the Bishop's car never left the Palace garage that afternoon."

" So it was a false number."

" Yes. We've got that to go on, all right."

With expressions of admiration Frankie took her leave. She made no damping remark, but she thought to herself, There must be a large number of dark-blue Talbots in England.

On her return home she took a directory of Marchbolt from its place on the writing-table in the library and removed it to her own room. She worked over it for some hours. The result was not satisfactory. There were four hundred and eighty-two Evanses in Marchbolt.

" Damn! " said Frankie.

She began to make plans for the future.

@ Questions and Tasks

1. Find the words and expressions in the chapter, read and translate the sentences.

tomfoolery

a halt

to contradict

an implication

to make inquires about smth

to be obliged to do smth

to be innocent

witticism

to exaggerate

a counterfeit banknote

2. Use the words and expressions in a dialogue of your own.

3. Who said the following words? Where? Why?

a) “Father, do you know any Bassington-ffrench?

b) “Not sure? What do you mean? You must be sure.”

c) “Are they well off? ”

d) “And what can we have the pleasure of doing for you, Lady Frances? ”

e) “That’s right. Just before six thirty.”

f) “Extraordinary”

g) “How absurd to say there were three.”

h) “There was a car seen in the vicinity.”

4. Divide the chapter into three logical parts, give a title to each of them. Retell the contents of each of the parts.

5. Correct grammar mistakes in the sentences, give your explanation.

1) Frankie losted no time in setting to work.

2) Frankie didn’t knew what about them.

3) They are a Yorkshire family, are they?

4) One of them was down here one of these days?

5) I wish we can.

6) Let me to see now.

7) That’s write. Just before six thirty.

8) I’ve heard the most wild stories.

& Chapter Ten: PREPARATIONS FOR AN ACCIDENT

A week later Bobby had joined Badger in London. He had received several enigmatical communications from Frankie, mostly in such an illegible scrawl that he was quite unable to do more than guess at their meaning. However, their general purport seemed to be that Frankie had a plan and that he (Bobby) was to do nothing until he heard from her. This was as well, for Bobby would certainly have had no leisure to do anything, since the unlucky Badger had already succeeded in embroiling himself and his business in every way ingenuity could suggest, and Bobby was kept busy disentangling the extraordinary mess his friend seemed to have got into.

Meanwhile the young man remained very strictly on his guard. The effect of eight grains of morphia was to render their taker extremely suspicious of food and drink and had also induced him to bring to London a service revolver, the possession of which was extremely irksome to him.

He was just beginning to feel that the whole thing had been an extravagant nightmare when Frankie's Bentley roared down the mews and drew up outside the garage. Bobby, in grease-stained overalls, came out to receive it. Frankie was at the wheel and beside her sat a rather gloomy-looking young man.

" Hullo, Bobby, " said Frankie. " This is George Arbuthnot. He's a doctor and we shall need him."

Bobby winced slightly as he and George Arbuthnot made faint acknowledgment of each other's presence.

" Are you sure we're going to need a doctor? " he asked. " Aren't you being a bit pessimistic? "

" I didn't mean we should need him in that way, " said Frankie. " I need him for a scheme that I've got on. Look here, is there anywhere we can go and talk? "

Bobby looked doubtfully round him. " Well, there's my bedroom, " he said doubtfully.

" Excellent, " said Frankie. She got out of the car, and she and George Arbuthnot followed Bobby up some outside steps and into a microscopic bedroom.

" I don't know, " said Bobby, looking round dubiously, " if there's anywhere to sit."

There was not. The only chair was loaded with, apparently, the whole of Bobby's wardrobe.

" The bed will do, " said Frankie.

She plumped down on it. George Arbuthnot did the same and the bed groaned protestingly.

" I've got everything planned out, " said Frankie. " To begin with we want a car. One of yours will do."

" Do you mean you want to buy one of our cars? "

" Yes."

" That's really very nice of you, Frankie, " said Bobby with warm appreciation. " But you needn't. I really do draw the line at sticking my friends."

" You've got it all wrong, " said Frankie. " It isn't like that at all. I know what you mean — it's like buying perfectly appalling clothes and hats from one's friends who are just starting in business. A nuisance, but it's got to be done. But this isn't like that at all. I really need a car."

" What about the Bentley? "

" The Bentley's no good."

" You're mad, " said Bobby.

" No, I'm not. The Bentley's no good for what I want it for."

" What do you want it for? "

" Smashing it up."

Bobby groaned and put a hand to his head. " I don't seem very well this morning."

George Arbuthnot spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and melancholy. " She means, " he said, " that she's going to have an accident."

" How does she know? " said Bobby wildly.

Frankie gave an exasperated sigh. " Somehow or other, " she said, " we seem to have started wrong. Now just listen quietly, Bobby, and try and take in what I'm going to say. I know your brains are practically negligible, but you ought to be able to understand if you really concentrate." She paused, then resumed, " I am on the trail of Bassington-ffrench."

" Hear, hear! "

" Bassington-ffrench — our particular Bassington-ffrench — lives at Merroway Court at the village of Staverley in Hampshire. Merroway Court belongs to our Bassington-ffrench's brother, and our Bassington-ffrench lives there with the brother and his wife."

" Whose wife? "

" The brother's wife, of course. That isn't the point. The point is, how are you or I — or both of us — going to worm ourselves into the household? I've been down and reconnoitered the ground. Staverley's a mere village. Strangers arriving there to stay would stick out a mile. It would be the sort of thing that simply isn't done. So I've evolved a plan. This is what is going to happen. Lady Frances Derwent, driving her car more recklessly than well, crashes into the wall near the gates of Merroway Court. Complete wreckage of car, less complete wreckage of Lady Frances, who is carried to the house suffering from concussion and shock and must emphatically not be moved."

" Who says so? "

" George. Now you see where George comes in. We can't risk a strange doctor's saying there is nothing the matter with me. Or perhaps some officious person might pick up my prostrate form and take it to some local hospital. No, what happens is this. George is passing, also in a car — you'd better sell us a second one — sees the accident, leaps out, and takes charge. 'I am a doctor. Stand back, everybody! ' — That is, if there is anybody to stand back — 'We must take her into that house — what is it, Merroway Court? That will do. I must be able to make a thorough examination! ' I am carried to the best spare room, the Bassington-ffrenches either sympathetic or bitterly resisting; but in any case, George will overbear them. George makes his examination and emerges with his verdict. Happily, it is not so serious as he thought. No bones broken, but danger of concussion. I must on no account be moved for v/ two or three days. After that I shall be able to return to London. And then George departs, and it's up to me to ingratiate myself with the household."

" And where do I come in? "

" You don't."

" But look here—"

" My dear child, do remember that Bassington-ffrench knows you. He doesn't know me from Adam.* And I'm in a frightfully strong position because I've got a title. You see how useful that is. I'm not just a stray young woman gaining admission to the house for mysterious purposes. I am an Earl's daughter and therefore highly respectable. And George is a real doctor, and everything is quite above his reason."

" Oh, I suppose it's all right, " said Bobby unhappily.

" It's a remarkably well-planned scheme, I think, " said Frankie with pride.

" And I don't do anything at all? " asked Bobby. He still felt injured — much like a dog who has been unexpectedly deprived of a bone. This, he felt, was his own particular crime, and now he was being ousted.

" Of course you do, darling. You grow a mustache."

" Oh, I grow a mustache, do I? "

" Yes. How long will it take? "

" Two or three weeks, I expect."

" Heavens! I'd no idea it was such a slow process. Can't you speed it up? "

" No. Why can't I wear a false one? "

" They always look so false, and they twist or come off or smell of spirit-gum. Wait a minute, though — I believe there is a kind you can get stuck on hair by hair, so to speak, that absolutely defies detection. I expect a theatrical wig-maker would do it for you."

" He'd probably think I was trying to escape from justice."

" It doesn't matter what he thinks."

" Once I've got the mustache, what do I do? "

" Put on a chauffeur's uniform and drive the Bentley down to Staverley."

" Oh, I see." Bobby brightened.

" You see my idea is this, " said Frankie. " Nobody looks at a chauffeur in the way they look at a person. In any case, Bassington-ffrench only saw you for a minute or two, and he must have been too rattled wondering if he could change the photographs in time to look at you much. You were just a young golfing ass to him. It isn't like the Caymans, who sat opposite you and talked to you and who were deliberately trying to sum you up. I'd bet anything that seeing you in chauffeur's uniform, Bassington-ffrench wouldn't recognize you even without the mustache. He might just possibly think that your face reminded him of somebody — no more than that. And with the mustache it ought to be perfectly safe. Now tell me, what do you think of the plan? "

Bobby turned it over in his mind. " To tell you the truth, Frankie, " he said generously, " I think it's pretty good."

" In that case, said Frankie briskly, " let's go and buy some cars. I say, I think George has broken your bed."

" It doesn't matter, " said Bobby hospitably. " It was never a particularly good bed."

They descended to the garage where a nervous-looking young man with a curious lack of chin and an agreeable smile greeted them with a vague haw-haw-haw. His general appearance was slightly marred by the fact that his eyes had a distinct disinclination to look in the same direction.

" Hullo, Badger, " said Bobby. " You remember Frankie, don't you? "

Badger clearly didn't, but he said haw-haw-haw again in an amiable manner.

" Last time I saw you, " said Frankie, " you were head downward in the mud, and we had to pull you out by the legs."

" No, not really? " said Badger. " Why, that m-m-must have been W-W-W- Wales."

" Quite right, " said Frankie. " It was."

" I always was a p-p-putrid r-r-r-rider, " said Badger. " I s-s-s-still am, " he added mournfully.

" Frankie wants to buy a car, " said Bobby.

" Two cars, " said Frankie. " George has got to have one, too. He's crashed his at the moment."

" We can hire him one, " said Bobby.

" Well, come and look at what we've got in s-s-s-stock, " said Badger.

" They look very smart, " said Frankie, dazzled by lurid hues of scarlet and apple green.

" They look all right, " said Bobby darkly.

" That's r-r-r-remarkably good value in a s-s-second-hand Chrysler, " said Badger.

" No, not that one, " said Bobby. " Whatever she buys has to go at least forty miles."

Badger cast his partner a look of reproach.

" That Standard is pretty much on its last legs, " mused Bobby. " But I think it would just get you there. The Essex is a bit too good for the job. She'll go at least two hundred before breaking down."

" All right, " said Frankie. " I'll have the Standard."

Badger drew his colleague a little aside. " Wh-wh-what do you think about p-p-price? " he murmured. " Don't want to s-s-stick* a friend of yours too much. T-T-T-Ten pounds? "

" Ten pounds is all right, " said Frankie, entering the discussion. " I'll pay for it now."

" Who is she really? " asked Badger in a loud whisper.

Bobby whispered back.

" F-F-F-First time I ever knew anyone with a t-t-t-title who c-c-could pay cash, " said Badger with respect.

Bobby followed the other two out to the Bentley.

" When is this business going to take place? " he demanded.

" The sooner the better, " said Frankie. " We thought tomorrow afternoon."

" Look here, can't I be there? I'll put on a beard if you like."

" Certainly not, " said Frankie. " A beard would probably ruin everything by falling off at the wrong moment. But I don't see why you shouldn't be a motorcyclist — with a lot of cap and goggles. What do you think, George? " & George Arbuthnot spoke for the second time. " All right, " he said. " The more the merrier." His voice was even more melancholy than before.

@ Questions and Tasks

1. Restore the situations in which the words and expressions are used.

an illegible scrawl

ingenuity

to smash smth up

the point is that …

concussion

a mustache

generously

to descend

to be marred

to pay cash

2. Use the words and expressions in the sentences of your own.

3. Put down 5 questions based on some little details or minor facts. Let your fellow students answer them.

4. Retell the chapter paying special attention to the use of the active vocabulary. If possible use the words from the previous chapters.

5. Give the description of your preparation for some outrageous or bold action you had before.

6. Put the sentences in the correct order according to the chapter.

They descended to the garage where a nervous-looking young man with a curious lack of chin and an agreeable smile greeted them with a vague haw-haw-haw. A week later Bobby had joined Badger in London. Bobby followed the other two out to the Bentley. Meanwhile the young man remained very strictly on his guard. George Arbuthnot spoke for the first time. George Arbuthnot spoke for the second time.

þ Grammar and Vocabulary Test 1

I. Chose the correct variant.

1. Helen's parents were very pleased when they read her school.............

a. report b. papers

c. diploma d. account

2. We have enough problems without you..................trouble all the time.

a. falling b. getting

c. being d. making

3. The party,.............I was the guest of honour, was extremely enjoyable.

a. by which b. at which

c. for which d. to which

4. Did you see that..............about wildlife in Australia on television last night?

a. soap opera b. history

c. situational comedy d. documentary

5. We need to.................the main points of our argument.

a. pin b. highlight

c. lighten d. enlighten

6. The government has decided to send more...............to Saharan countries.

a. charity b. aid

c. collections d. donations

7. Could you.............. me to the castle museum, please?

a. tell b. point

c. direct d. explain

8. When you come to stay,..............some warm clothing. It's very cold here.

a. bring b. carry

c. take d. fetch

9. The purpose of the examination was to.............the students' knowledge of the subject.

a. try b. inspect

c. prove d. test

10. The theatre had to close down because of............funds.

a. incomplete b. indefinite

c. insufficient d. imperfect

II. Fill in the necessary Grammar form.

1. Forty-six people who (eat) the fish at Seafood Heaven, a restaurant on the western shore, last Thursday night became ill with food poisoning. Other people who (eat) at the restaurant that night were unaffected. The fish must (be) bad.

2. Scientists (analyse) the data for several days now but they (find) nothing unusual so far.

3. I (get) in touch with you as soon as I (see) my lawyer and (hear) his opinion. I promise I (not /act) without consulting you first.

4. This candidate (look) very promising. Just think about his experience.

He (live) in Hong Kong, Australia and the USA and (work) for a number of multi-national companies. I (think) we should (definitely / interview) him.

5. When I (leave) London next month I (study) here almost a year.

6. I am getting too fat (wear) any of my clothes because my landlady is such a good cook that I can't resist (have) second helpings of the delicious sweets she makes.

7.1 heard the phone (ring) twice and picked up the receiver quickly.

8. When she opened the window she was happy to see it (snow) at the moment. In fact, it (snow) all night and snow (cover) all the rooftops.

9. He claims (discover) a cure for the common cold.

10. - Oh, Mum, this programme's nearly finished. Can't I go on (watch) TV for a while?

- No, I want you to do your maths homework and then go on (write) your English essay.

III. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Вы опоздали уже второй раз на этой неделе. Если это случится ещё раз, я не разрешу вам присутствовать на уроке.

2. В начале года владелец дома поднял арендную плату (rent) в два раза, несмотря на протесты жильцов (a tenant).

3. Мне понравилась его стрижка, и я спросил его, где он стригся.

4. В нашем городе многие старые дома сейчас заменяются (replace) новыми зданиями.

5. - Ты часто покупаешь фрукты?

- Да, я трачу много денег на фрукты, потому что я их очень люблю.

6. Мама сказала нам, чтобы мы ничего никому не давали без её разрешения.

7. Я не привык к тому, чтобы на меня кричали. Тебе следует сейчас же извиниться.

8. Петра не видно целую неделю. Говорят, что он в отпуске.

9. Сначала нам сказали, что спектакль начнётся на 15 минут позже, а следующей неприятной новостью было то, что заболел ведущий (leading) актёр.

10. Ни она, ни я ничего не знаем о приезде делегации. Нам придётся принять срочные меры.

IV. Read the text and answer the questions.

Carnegie Hall, the famous concert hall in New York City, has again undergone a restoration. While this is not the first, it is certainly the most extensive in the building's history. As a result of this new restoration, Carnegie Hall once again has the quality of sound that it had when it was first built.

Carnegie Hall owes its existence to Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy owner of a steel company in the late 1800s. The hall was finished in 1891 and quickly gained a reputation as an excellent performing arts hall where accomplished musicians gained fame. Despite its reputation, however, the concert hall suffered from several detrimental renovations over the years. During the Great Depression, when fewer people could afford to attend performances, the directors sold part of the building to commercial businesses. As a result, a coffee shop was opened in one corner of the building, for which the builders replaced the brick and terracotta walls with windowpanes. A renovation in 1946 seriously damaged the acoustical quality of the hall when the makers of the film Carnegie Hall cut a gaping hole in the dome of the ceiling to allow for lights and air vents. The hole was later covered with short curtains and a fake ceiling, but the hall never sounded the same afterwards.

In I960, the violinist Isaac Stern became involved in restoring the hall after a group of real estate developers unveiled plans to demolish Carnegie Hall and build a high-rise office building on the site. This threat spurred Stern to rally public support for Carnegie Hall and encourage the City of New York to buy the property. The movement was successful, and the concert hall is now owned by the city. In the current restoration, builders tested each new material for its sound qualities, and they replaced the hole in the ceiling with a dome. The builders also restored the outer walls to their original appearance and closed the coffee shop. Carnegie has never sounded better, and its prospects for the future have never looked more promising.

1. This passage is mainly about

a. changes to Carnegie Hall

b. the appearance of Carnegie Hall

c. Carnegie Hall's history during the Great Depression

d. damage to the ceiling in Carnegie Hall

2. What major change happened to the hall in 1946?

a. The acoustic dome was damaged.

b. Space in the building was sold to commercial businesses.

c. The walls were damaged in an earthquake.

d. The stage was renovated.

3. Who was Andrew Carnegie?

a. a violinist

b. an architect

c. a steel mill owner

d. mayor of New York City

4. What was probably the most important aspect of the recent renovation?

a. restoring the outer wall

b. expanding the lobby

c. restoring the plaster trim

d. repairing the ceiling

5. How does the author seem to feel about the future of Carnegie Hall?

a. ambiguous

b. guarded

c. optimistic