Sharing a business house with common ledger，the partners in anhonest trade a very pretty pile had made，and now accounts were closedand each his profit weighed．For few is sharing up an undiluted pleasure，and while the argument gets higher still and higher，a neighbour rushes inand bellows，“House on fire．”
“Make haste．make haste，and save the house and stores！”cries partner Brown．“Come out of doors！The accounts at present we canlcave．”
“All very well．if first my hundred I receive！”John Davies shou—ted．“I shall not leave this house without it！”
“Two hundred due to me．The accounts are clear as day！”cries partner Jones．
The rest won’t have it any way．It’S“Why？”It’S“How？”It’S“No！You’re wrong！”
The fire is treated as a joke．These silly fellows keep it up SO long，the fumes their angry voices choke，and they，their spoils，their broils all vanj sh into smoke．
trade n．贸易，交易，商业
V．交易，经商，买卖；用……进行交换
profit n．利润，利益，赢利
V．有益，赚钱，获利；有益于
account n·账单，账目；客户；账户；估计；商业方面允许使用的合约
V．把……视为；认为
treatn．宴请，请客，款待
V．视为，论述，对待；交涉，协商，谈判
choke V．哽住；窒息
分红
有几人合伙开了一家店，做买卖诚实守信，赚了一笔小钱。这时，所有账目都结算好了，每个人都在心里估算着自己的收益。因为在分红上有了异议，他们争吵的声音越来越大。忽然一个邻居冲进来大喊：“房子着火了！”
“快，快，抢救房子和货物要紧！”一个叫布朗的合伙人吼道，“快出去！这些账先不算了。”
“先不算也好，不过我要先把属于我的那份拿到手。”约翰·戴维斯喊道，“拿不到钱，我是不会走出这间屋子了！’， “我应该得200，账目上写的一清二楚！”琼斯嚷着。
别的合伙人也各不让步。这个说：“凭什么？”那个说：“怎么样？”还有人说：“不对，你错了！”
火灾被所有的人都当成了儿戏。这些蠢货没完没了地吵吵着。最后，浓烟笼罩了他们愤怒的声音。于是，他们自己、他们的红利还有愤怒，全都化成了灰烬。
名人名言Even reckoning makes long friends．亲兄弟，明算账。