Придумать концовку для этого текста ! он не полный text. a friend in need by william somerset maugham (abridged) maugham, william somerset (1874-1965): an english writer. he achieved a great success as a novelist with such novels as "of human bondage", "the razor's edge" and others, as a dramatist with ms witty satirical plays "our betters", "the circle", etc., but he is best known by his short stories. at the beginning of his literary career maugham was greatly influenced by french naturalism. later on, his outlook on life changed. it became cool, unemotional and pessimistic. he says that life is too tragic and senseless to be described. a writer can't change life, he must only try to amuse his reader, stir his imagination. and this is where maugham achieves perfection: his stories are always fascinating. maugham's skill in depicting scenes and characters with a few touches is amazing and whether he means it or not his novels, stories and plays reveal the vanity, hypocrisy and brutality of the society he lives in. so does the story "a friend in need". burton, a prosperous businessman, is not.in the least concerned about the troubles and needs of those who have failed in life. without a moment's hesitation he sends a man to death just because his presence bores him, and