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

Стивенсон Роберт

 At last the General, who was one of the least patient of military commanders, arose from his place in a violent access of passion, and indicated to his secretary that he had no further need for his services, with one of those explanatory gestures which are most rarely employed between gentlemen. The door being unfortunately open, Mr. Hartley fell downstairs head foremost.

He arose somewhat hurt (он поднялся несколько ушибленный; to arise – встать; to hurt – вредить, поранить) and very deeply aggrieved (и очень глубоко обиженный). The life in the General’s house precisely suited him (жизнь в генеральском доме идеально: «точно» подходила ему); he moved, on a more or less doubtful footing, in very genteel company (он

вращался, на более-менее шатком основании, в очень утонченном кругу), he did little (он делал мало; to do – делать), he ate of the best (он ел самое лучшее; to eat – есть), and he had a lukewarm satisfaction in the presence of Lady Vandeleur (и он испытывал теплое удовлетворение в присутствии леди Венделер), which, in his own heart, he dubbed by a more emphatic name (которое, в своем сердце, он называл более сильным словом: «именем»). Immediately after he had been outraged by the military foot (немедленно после того как он подвергся насилию солдатской ноги), he hurried to the boudoir and recounted his sorrows (он поспешил в будуар и поведал о своих горестях).

 He arose somewhat hurt and very deeply aggrieved. The life in the General’s house precisely suited him; he moved, on a more or less doubtful footing, in very genteel company, he did little, he ate of the best, and he had a lukewarm satisfaction in the presence of Lady Vandeleur, which, in his own heart, he dubbed by a more emphatic name. Immediately after he had been outraged by the military foot, he hurried to the boudoir and recounted his sorrows.

“You know very well, my dear Harry,” replied Lady Vandeleur (вы очень хорошо знаете, мой дорогой Гарри, – ответила леди Венделер), for she called him by name like a child or a domestic servant (ибо она звала его по имени, как ребенка или прислугу), “that you never by any chance do what the General tells you (что вы никогда ни при каких обстоятельствах не делаете, что вам говорит генерал). No more do I, you may say (как и я, скажете вы: «не более делаю я, вы можете сказать»). But that is different (но это другое /дело/). A woman can earn her pardon for a good year of disobedience (женщина может заслужить прощение за целый год неповиновения) by a single adroit submission (одним-единственным ловким подчинением); and, besides, no one is married to his private secretary (и вдобавок никто не женится на своем личном секретаре). I shall be sorry to lose you (мне будет жаль потерять вас); but since you cannot stay longer in a house where you have been insulted (но так как вы не можете оставаться дольше в доме, где вас оскорбили), I shall wish you good-bye (я пожелаю вам всего хорошего), and I promise you to make the General smart for his behaviour (и обещаю вам примерно наказать генерала за его поведение; smart – жгучая, сильная боль /от удара, раны и т. п./; горе, несчастье, печаль; страдание; to smart – испытывать жгучую боль; болеть; страдать, печалиться).”

 “You know very well, my dear Harry,” replied Lady Vandeleur, for she called him by name like a child or a domestic servant, “that you never by any chance do what the General tells you. No more do I, you may say. But that is different. A woman can earn her pardon for a good year of disobedience by a single adroit submission; and, besides, no one is married to his private secretary. I shall be sorry to lose you; but since you cannot stay longer in a house where you have been insulted, I shall wish you good-bye, and I promise you to make the General smart for his behaviour.”

Harry’s countenance fell (лицо у Гарри вытянулось: «упало»); tears came into his eyes (слезы выступили у него на глазах: «пришли в его глаза»; to come – прийти), and he gazed on Lady Vandeleur with a tender reproach (и он посмотрел на леди Венделер с мягким укором). “My Lady,” said he, “what is an insult (миледи, – сказал он, – что такое оскорбление)? I should think little indeed of any one (я был бы в самом деле невысокого мнения о любом: «думал бы мало») who could not forgive them by the score (кто не мог бы простить их все: «скопом, десятками»). But to leave one’s friends (но покинуть друзей); to tear up the bonds of affection (разорвать узы привязанности) – ” He was unable to continue (он был неспособен продолжать), for his emotion choked him (так как его чувства душили его), and he began to weep (и он принялся

рыдать; to begin – начать). Lady Vandeleur looked at him with a curious expression (леди Венделер глядела на него с выражением любопытства /на лице/).

 Harry’s countenance fell; tears came into his eyes, and he gazed on Lady Vandeleur with a tender reproach. “My Lady,” said he, “what is an insult? I should think little indeed of any one who could not forgive them by the score. But to leave one’s friends; to tear up the bonds of affection – ” He was unable to continue, for his emotion choked him, and he began to weep. Lady Vandeleur looked at him with a curious expression.

“This little fool,” she thought (этот дурачок, – подумала она; to think – думать), “imagines himself to be in love with me (воображает, что влюблен в меня). Why should he not become my servant instead of the General’s (почему бы ему не стать моим слугой, вместо /того, чтобы быть слугой/ генерала)? He is good-natured, obliging, and understands dress (он добродушный, предупредительный и знает толк в платьях); and besides it will keep him out of mischief (и кроме того, это оградит его от бед). He is positively too pretty to be unattached (он точно слишком мил, чтобы быть одиноким: «непривязанным»).” That night she talked over the General (тем вечером она переговорила с генералом), who was already somewhat ashamed of his vivacity (который был уже немного смущен своей горячностью); and Harry was transferred to the feminine department (и Гарри был переведен на женскую половину), where his life was little short of heavenly (где его жизнь ненамного отличалась от райской; short of – не достигая; short – короткий).

 “This little fool,” she thought, “imagines himself to be in love with me. Why should he not become my servant instead of the General’s? He is good-natured, obliging, and understands dress; and besides it will keep him out of mischief. He is positively too pretty to be unattached.” That night she talked over the General, who was already somewhat ashamed of his vivacity; and Harry was transferred to the feminine department, where his life was little short of heavenly.

He was always dressed with uncommon nicety (он был всегда одет с необычайной щепетильностью), wore delicate flowers in his button-hole (носил нежные цветы в петлице; to wear – носить), and could entertain a visitor with tact and pleasantry (и мог развлечь гостью с тактом и веселостью). He took a pride in servility to a beautiful woman (он гордился рабской преданностью красивой женщине: «брал гордость»; to take – брать); received Lady Vandeleur’s commands as so many marks of favour (принимал приказы леди Венделер как многочисленные знаки благосклонности); and was pleased to exhibit himself before other men (и с радостью выставлял себя напоказ другим мужчинам: «был рад…»), who derided and despised him (которые высмеивали и презирали его), in his character of male lady’s maid and man milliner (в его роли мужчины-горничной и мужчины-модистки). Nor could he think enough of his existence from a moral point of view (он также не мог нарадоваться своему существованию с моральной точки зрения: «не мог думать достаточно о…»; nor – и не). Wickedness seemed to him an essentially male attribute (безнравственность казалась ему преимущественно мужской чертой), and to pass one’s days with a delicate woman (и проводить свои дни с изящной женщиной), and principally occupied about trimmings (/будучи/ в основном занятым отделкой /платьев/), was to inhabit an enchanted isle among the storms of life (было /словно/ жить на зачарованном острове среди жизненных бурь).

 He was always dressed with uncommon nicety, wore delicate flowers in his button-hole, and could entertain a visitor with tact and pleasantry. He took a pride in servility to a beautiful woman; received Lady Vandeleur’s commands as so many marks of favour; and was pleased to exhibit himself before other men, who derided and despised him, in his character of male lady’s maid and man milliner. Nor could he think enough of his existence from a moral point of view. Wickedness seemed to him an essentially male attribute, and to pass one’s days with a delicate woman, and principally occupied about trimmings, was to inhabit an enchanted isle among the storms of life.