An old man was critically ill. Feeling that death was near, he called his lawyer. "I want to become a lawyer. How much is it or the express degree you told me about?"
"It's $50,000," the lawyer said. "But why? You'll be dead soon, why do you want to become a lawyer?"
"That's my business! Get me the course!"
Four days later, the old man got his law degree. His lawyer was at his bedside, making sure his bill would be paid.
Suddenly the old man was racked with fits of coughing and it was clear that this would be the end.
Still curious, the lawyer leaned over and said, "please, before it's too late, tell me why you wanted to to get a law degree so badly before you died?"
In a faint whisper, as he breathed his last, the old man said, "One less lawyer ...."
어떤 노인이 위독하였다. 그는 죽음이 임박하였음을 느끼고 자기 변호사를 불렀다, "나는 변호사가 되고 싶습니다. 비용이 얼마나 되죠? 당신이 말한 급행 학위를 받는 비용이 얼마죠?"
"5만 달러입니다," 하고 변호사가 말했다, "그런데 왜죠? 당신은 곧 돌아가십니다, 무엇 때문에 변호사가 되고 싶으십니까?"
"그건 당신이 참견할 일이 아닙니다! 진행해 주세요!"
나흘 후, 그 노인은 법학 학위를 취득하였다. 그의 변호사는 그의 침대 옆에서 그 청구서가 결재될 것이란 걸 확인하였다.
갑자기 노인의 몸이 발작적인 기침으로 흔들리었다, 그러고 그가 생을 마감할 것이 확실하였다.
여전히 궁금한, 그 변호사가 몸을 굽히고 말했다, "제발, 너무 늦기 전에, 왜 법학 학위를 그렇게 원하셨는지 당신이 돌아가시기 전에 말씀해 주십시오."
희미한 작은 목소리로, 노인은 마지막 숨을 쉬면서 말했다, "변호사 한 명 더 죽으라고...."
[참고]
* critically ill ☞ 위독한
* fits of coughing ☞ 발작적인 기침
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