For a purpose such as this the cellar was well adapted. Its walls were loosely constructed, and had lately been plastered throughout with a rough plaster, which the dampness of the atmosphere had prevented from hardening. Moreover, in one of the walls was a projection, caused by a false chimney, or fireplace, that had been filled up, and made to resemble the rest of the cellar. I made no doubt that I could readily displace the bricks at this point, insert the corpse, and wall the whole up as before, so that no eye could detect anything suspicious.
And in this calculation I was not deceived (и в этом расчете я не обманулся: «не был обманут»). By means of a crow-bar I easily dislodged the bricks (посредством лома я легко вынул кирпичи; to dislodge – перемещать, передвигать,
смещать; удалять), and, having carefully deposited the body against the inner wall, I propped it in that position (и, осторожно прислонив тело к внутренней стене, я укрепил его в этом положении; to deposit – положить, поставить; against – против; к; to prop – поддерживать, укреплять), while, with little trouble (в то время как, с малыми трудностями = и без труда), I re-laid the whole structure as it originally stood (я заново выложил все сооружение, как оно изначально стояло; re– пере-, заново; to lay – класть; to stand – стоять). Having procured mortar, sand, and hair (раздобыв цементный раствор, песок и волос), with every possible precaution, I prepared a plaster (с каждой возможной предосторожностью = со всем тщанием я приготовил штукатурку) which could not be distinguished from the old (которая не могла быть отличена от старой), and with this I very carefully went over the new brickwork (и ею я очень аккуратно прошелся по новой кирпичной кладке; to go over – пройти по).
And in this calculation I was not deceived. By means of a crow-bar I easily dislodged the bricks, and, having carefully deposited the body against the inner wall, I propped it in that position, while, with little trouble, I re-laid the whole structure as it originally stood. Having procured mortar, sand, and hair, with every possible precaution, I prepared a plaster which could not be distinguished from the old, and with this I very carefully went over the new brickwork.
When I had finished, I felt satisfied that all was right (когда я закончил, я почувствовал /себя/ убежденным, что все в порядке; to satisfy – удовлетворять; соответствовать; убеждать). The wall did not present the slightest appearance of having been disturbed (стена не представляла ни малейшего следа того, что ее трогали: «приводили в беспорядок»; appearance – вид, внешность). The rubbish on the floor was picked up with the minutest care (мусор на полу был подобран с мельчайшим = скрупулезным тщанием; to pick up – подбирать). I looked around triumphantly, and said to myself (я посмотрел вокруг = огляделся торжествующе и сказал себе) – “Here at least, then, my labor has not been in vain (здесь, по крайней мере, значит, мои труды не были напрасны; then – тогда; значит; в таком случае; итак).”
When I had finished, I felt satisfied that all was right. The wall did not present the slightest appearance of having been disturbed. The rubbish on the floor was picked up with the minutest care. I looked around triumphantly, and said to myself – “Here at least, then, my labor has not been in vain.”
My next step was to look for the beast which had been the cause of so much wretchedness (мой следующий шаг был – искать то животное, которое было причиной стольких несчастий; to look for – искать: «смотреть за»; so much – так много; wretched – бедный, несчастный); for I had, at length, firmly resolved to put it to death (ибо я наконец твердо решился предать его смерти; to put to death – предать смерти; to put – класть, ставить). Had I been able to meet with it, at the moment (будь я способен = если бы я смог встретиться с ним в тот момент), there could have been no doubt of its fate (не могло бы быть никакого сомнения в его судьбе); but it appeared that the crafty animal had been alarmed at the violence of my previous anger (но показалось = но, видимо, коварный зверь был испуган жестокостью моего предыдущего гнева; to alarm – встревожить), and forbore to present itself in my present mood (и не спешил показываться: «представлять себя» при моем нынешнем настроении; to forbear – воздерживаться, терпеть; to present – представлять).
My next step was to look for the beast which had been the cause of so much wretchedness; for I had, at length, firmly resolved to put it to death. Had I been able to meet with it, at the moment, there could have been no doubt of its fate; but it appeared that the crafty animal had been alarmed at the violence of my previous anger, and forbore to present itself in my present mood.
It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief (невозможно
описать или вообразить глубокое, блаженное чувство облегчения; bliss – блаженство) which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom (которое отсутствие ненавистной твари вызвало в моей груди). It did not make its appearance during the night (она не появлялась в течение ночи: «не совершала появления») – and thus for one night at least, since its introduction into the house, I soundly and tranquilly slept (и таким образом хотя бы одну ночь с его введения в дом = с тех пор как он появился в доме я крепко и спокойно спал; to sleep); aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my soul (да, спал даже с бременем убийства на моей душе)!
It is impossible to describe, or to imagine, the deep, the blissful sense of relief which the absence of the detested creature occasioned in my bosom. It did not make its appearance during the night – and thus for one night at least, since its introduction into the house, I soundly and tranquilly slept; aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my soul!
The second and the third day passed, and still my tormentor came not (второй и третий день прошел, а все еще мой мучитель не приходил). Once again I breathed as a free man (снова я вздохнул как свободный человек). The monster, in terror, had fled the premises forever (чудовище в ужасе сбежало из дома навсегда; to flee – спасаться бегством; premises – здание /с прилегающими пристройками и участком/; владение; недвижимость)! I should behold it no more (мне не придется видеть его больше)! My happiness was supreme (мое счастье было величайшим)! The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little (вина моего темного поступка беспокоила меня лишь немного). Some few inquiries had been made (немного расспросов были сделаны = мне задали несколько вопросов), but these had been readily answered (но на них было с легкостью отвечено). Even a search had been instituted (даже поиски были устроены) – but of course nothing was to be discovered (но, конечно, ничего было не найти). I looked upon my future felicity as secured (я смотрел на свое будущее счастье как на обеспеченное = считал его обеспеченным; secure – безопасный, надежный; to secure – охранять; защищать; оберегать; гарантировать, обеспечивать).
The second and the third day passed, and still my tormentor came not. Once again I breathed as a free man. The monster, in terror, had fled the premises forever! I should behold it no more! My happiness was supreme! The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little. Some few inquiries had been made, but these had been readily answered. Even a search had been instituted – but of course nothing was to be discovered. I looked upon my future felicity as secured.
Upon the fourth day of the assassination, a party of the police came, very unexpectedly, into the house (на четвертый день /после/ убийства отряд полиции пришел очень неожиданно в дом; to expect – ожидать), and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises (и принялся снова совершать тщательное обследование дома). Secure, however, in the inscrutability of my place of concealment (уверенный, однако, в непроницаемости моего тайника: «места сокрытия»; to conceal – скрывать, укрывать), I felt no embarrassment whatever (я не ощущал какого бы то ни было смятения; to feel – чувствовать; no – никакой; what/so/ever – какой бы то ни было). The officers bade me accompany them in their search (офицеры = полицейские велели мне сопровождать их в их поисках; to bid). They left no nook or corner unexplored (они не оставили ни один закоулок или уголок неисследованным; to leave – оставлять, покидать). At length, for the third or fourth time, they descended into the cellar (наконец, в третий или четвертый раз, они спустились в подвал).
Upon the fourth day of the assassination, a party of the police came, very unexpectedly, into the house, and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises. Secure, however, in the inscrutability of my place of concealment, I felt no embarrassment whatever. The officers bade me accompany them in their search. They left no nook or corner unexplored. At length, for the third or fourth time, they descended into the cellar.