The Bet

 Anton Chekhov

A rich banker gives a party. Many people are there. They talk about life and death. They talk about prison and the death penalty. A young lawyer is at the party. He is twenty-five years old.

The lawyer says: “Life is better than death. Living is always better.”

The banker laughs. He is proud and rich.

He says, “I bet you two million rubles. You cannot live alone for many years.”

The lawyer answers, “I accept the bet. I will live alone for ten years.”

They make the bet. The lawyer goes to live in a small house. The house is in the banker’s garden. He lives alone. He cannot leave the house. He cannot see people. He cannot talk to anyone. He can read books and write letters.

The years pass. At first, the lawyer feels lonely. He reads stories and plays music. Later, he reads many books. He studies history and languages. After many years, he reads the Bible. Then he reads many different books.

Ten years pass. The banker is not rich now. He loses his money. He is afraid. If the lawyer wins, the banker loses everything.

One night, the banker goes to the small house to see the lawyer. The lawyer is sleeping on the bed. He is very thin and looks old and tired. On the table, there is a letter. The banker reads the letter:

I learned many things from books. I understand life now. Money is not important. I do not want the two million rubles. The bet is over.

The banker feels ashamed.He feels small. The next morning, the guards see the lawyer leave. He walks away. The banker keeps the letter. He locks it in a safe.