The Million Pound Bank Note

The Million Pound Bank Note is a short story written by Mark Twain and originally published in 1893. It has been adapted to film on several occasions.

Set in Victorian London, the story introduces us to Henry Adams. Henry was working in a San Francisco stock exchange office and one weekend, while sailing, he is swept out to sea and rescued by a ship on its way to London.

During the boat ride he works hard to earn his fare and food and finally arrives in London penniless and with his clothes in tatters.

There he is seen by two rather eccentric millionaires who offer him a sealed envelope containing a single £1 million bill. Henry cannot cash it in at a bank, as it would be suspicious and he would be asked how he came to have so much money without having stolen it. Also, he would not be able to pay with it in any store as they would not be able to give him back that much change.

The reason for this delivery is that Henry Adams has been the result of a bet of 20,000 pounds: A brother, Oliver, claims that just having this symbol of wealth will help a person to get what he wants even without using the bill. However, his brother Roderick claims that not being able to exchange the bill will take all the value out of it and Henry will not be able to do anything....