Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Алмаз раджи / R. L. Stevenson. The Rajah’s Diamond

Стивенсон Роберт

 In one thing, however, his duty and interest, his generosity and his terrors, coincided – to get rid of the bandbox with the greatest possible despatch.

He accosted the first policeman and courteously inquired his way. It turned out that he was already not far from his destination, and a walk of a few minutes brought him to a small house in a lane, freshly painted, and kept with the most scrupulous attention.

The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished (дверной

молоток и звонок были тщательно отполированы); flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows (цветущие растения в горшках украшали подоконники разных окон); and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers (и шторы из какого-то роскошного материала скрывали интерьер от глаз любопытных прохожих). The place had an air of repose and secrecy (у этого жилища была атмосфера покоя и недоступности: «тайны»); and Harry was so far caught with this spirit (и Гарри был настолько сильно захвачен этим духом) that he knocked with more than usual discretion (что он постучал с б'oльшей, нежели обычно, осторожностью), and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots (и был более обычного внимателен, чтобы отряхнуть всю грязь с сапог; impurity – грязь, загрязнение; purity – чистота).

 The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished; flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows; and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers. The place had an air of repose and secrecy; and Harry was so far caught with this spirit that he knocked with more than usual discretion, and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots.

A servant-maid of some personal attractions immediately opened the door (горничная, /не лишенная/ некоторой личной привлекательности, немедленно открыла дверь), and seemed to regard the secretary with no unkind eyes (и, казалось, оглядела секретаря не недобрыми глазами).

“This is the parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” said Harry (вот пакет от леди Венделер, – сказал Гарри).

“I know,” replied the maid, with a nod (я знаю, – ответила горничная с кивком = кивнув). “But the gentleman is from home (но господин не дома: «из дома /вышел/»). Will you leave it with me (может быть, вы оставите его со мной = мне)?”

“I cannot,” answered Harry (я не могу, – ответил Гарри). “I am directed not to part with it but upon a certain condition (мне приказано не расставаться с ним без определенных условий), and I must ask you, I am afraid, to let me wait (и я должен попросить вас, боюсь, позволить мне подождать /здесь/).”

 A servant-maid of some personal attractions immediately opened the door, and seemed to regard the secretary with no unkind eyes.

“This is the parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” said Harry.

“I know,” replied the maid, with a nod. “But the gentleman is from home. Will you leave it with me?”

“I cannot,” answered Harry. “I am directed not to part with it but upon a certain condition, and I must ask you, I am afraid, to let me wait.”

“Well,” said she, “I suppose I may let you wait (что

ж, – сказала она, – я полагаю, что могу позволить вам подождать). I am lonely enough, I can tell you (я очень одинока = я сейчас одна, уверяю вас: «я могу сказать вам»), and you do not look as though you would eat a girl (и вы не выглядите, как будто захотели бы съесть = обидеть девушку). But be sure and do not ask the gentleman’s name (но смотрите: «будьте уверены» и не спрашивайте имя этого джентльмена), for that I am not to tell you (так как я не должна говорить вам).”

“Do you say so?” cried Harry (вы говорите так = в самом деле? – воскликнул Гарри). “Why, how strange (ох, как странно)! But indeed for some time back I walk among surprises (но, вправду, уже какое-то время я шагаю = живу среди сюрпризов). One question I think I may surely ask without indiscretion (один вопрос, думаю, я могу точно задать без невежливости): Is he the master of this house (хозяин ли он этого дома)?”

“He is a lodger (он квартирант), and not eight days old at that,” returned the maid (и еще меньше восьми дней в таком качестве = совсем недавно, – ответила горничная). “And now a question for a question (а теперь вопрос за вопрос): Do you know lady Vandeleur (вы знаете леди Венделер)?”

“I am her private secretary,” replied Harry with a glow of modest pride (я ее личный секретарь, – ответил Гарри с румянцем скромной гордости = зардевшись; glow – свет, отблеск, зарево /обычно также имеется в виду исходящее тепло/; яркость, блеск /о цвете/; румянец; to glow – рдеть, пылать, быть залитым румянцем /о щеках/).

“She is pretty, is she not?” pursued the servant (она хорошенькая, не правда ли? – продолжала служанка).

“Oh, beautiful!” cried Harry (о, красивая! – вскричал Гарри); “wonderfully lovely (чудесно милая), and not less good and kind (и в неменьшей степени хорошая и добрая)!”

 “Well,” said she, “I suppose I may let you wait. I am lonely enough, I can tell you, and you do not look as though you would eat a girl. But be sure and do not ask the gentleman’s name, for that I am not to tell you.”

“Do you say so?” cried Harry. “Why, how strange! But indeed for some time back I walk among surprises. One question I think I may surely ask without indiscretion: Is he the master of this house?”

“He is a lodger, and not eight days old at that,” returned the maid. “And now a question for a question: Do you know lady Vandeleur?”

“I am her private secretary,” replied Harry with a glow of modest pride.

“She is pretty, is she not?” pursued the servant.

“Oh, beautiful!” cried Harry; “wonderfully lovely, and not less good and kind!”