Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды / Anthony Hope. The Prisoner Of Zenda
Шрифт:
For a moment I could see nothing, for the glare of lanterns and torches caught me full in the eyes from the other side of the bridge. But soon the scene grew clear: and it was a strange scene. The bridge was in its place. At the far end of it stood a group of the duke’s servants; two or three carried the lights which had dazzled me, three or four held pikes in rest. They were huddled together; their weapons were protruded before them; their faces were pale and agitated. To put it plainly, they looked in as arrant a fright as I have seen men look, and they gazed apprehensively at a man who stood in the middle of the bridge, sword in hand. Rupert Hentzau was in his trousers and shirt; the white linen was stained with blood, but his easy, buoyant pose told me that he was himself either not touched at all or merely scratched.
There he stood, holding the bridge against them, and daring them to come on (он
By marvellous chance, I was master (по счастливой случайности я стал хозяином /положения/; marvellous – изумительный, чудесный). The cravens would oppose me no more than they dared attack Rupert (эти трусы противостояли бы мне не больше, чем они отваживались напасть на Руперта). I had but to raise my revolver (мне нужно было только поднять револьвер), and I sent him to his account with his sins on his head (и я отправил бы его на тот свет со всеми его грехами: «и я отослал бы его к счету с грехами на его голове»; to go to one’s account – умереть, свести счеты с жизнью). He did not so much as know that I was there (он даже не знал, что я там; so much as – хотя бы; даже). I did nothing – why, I hardly know to this day (я не сделал ничего – почему, я не знаю по сей день). I had killed one man stealthily that night (одного человека той ночью я убил исподтишка), and another by luck rather than skill – perhaps it was that (а другого – скорее благодаря везению, чем /своей/ ловкости, – возможно, поэтому).
There he stood, holding the bridge against them, and daring them to come on; or, rather, bidding them send Black Michael to him; and they, having no firearms, cowered before the desperate man and dared not attack him. They whispered to one another; and in the backmost rank, I saw my friend Johann, leaning against the portal of the door and stanching with a handkerchief the blood which flowed from a wound in his cheek.
By marvellous chance, I was master. The cravens would oppose me no more than they dared attack Rupert. I had but to raise my revolver, and I sent him to his account with his sins on his head. He did not so much as know that I was there. I did nothing – why, I hardly know to this day. I had killed one man stealthily that night, and another by luck rather than skill – perhaps it was that.
Again, villain as the man was (кроме того, каким бы этот человек ни был негодяем), I did not relish being one of a crowd against him – perhaps it was that (я бы предпочел драться с ним один на один: «меня не радовало оказаться одним из толпы против него» – возможно, поэтому; to relish – получать удовольствие, наслаждаться). But stronger than either of these restrained feelings (но сильнее любого из этих сдерживаемых чувств) came a curiosity and a fascination which held me spellbound (были любопытство и глубокий интерес, заставившие меня замереть на месте; fascination – обаяние, очарование; to fascinate – очаровывать, приводить в восхищение; увлекать, вызывать острый интерес; to spellbind – очаровывать, завораживать), watching for the outcome of the scene (и наблюдать, чем закончится эта сцена; outcome – результат, последствие).
“Michael, you dog! Michael! If you can stand, come on!” cried Rupert (Михаэль, эй ты, пес! если можешь стоять /на ногах/, выходи! – крикнул он); and he advanced a step, the group shrinking back a little before him (он сделал шаг вперед, /отчего/ толпа, стоящая напротив, немного попятилась назад; to advance – продвигаться вперед; to shrink – сжиматься; отпрянуть, отступить). “Michael, you bastard! Come on (слышишь, ты, ублюдок! давай, выходи; bastard – внебрачный, незаконнорожденный ребенок; полукровка, /груб./ ублюдок)!”
The answer to his taunts came in the wild cry of a woman (в ответ на его насмешки раздался исступленный женский крик; wild – дикий; бешеный, неистовый):
“He’s dead! My God, he’s dead (он мертв, Боже мой, он мертв)!”
“Dead!” shouted Rupert (мертв! – воскликнул Руперт). “I struck better than I knew!” and he laughed triumphantly (я нанес удар удачнее: «лучше», чем мне думалось, и он торжествующе рассмеялся). Then he went on: “Down with your weapons there (затем он продолжил: эй, бросайте свое оружие)! I’m your master now (теперь я ваш господин)! Down with them, I say (бросайте его, я сказал)!”
I believe they would have obeyed, but as he spoke came new things (я думаю, они бы послушались, но, когда он говорил, произошло еще кое-что: «нечто новое»). First, there arose a distant sound (сначала издалека донесся шум; to arise – возникать, появляться), as of shouts and knockings from the other side of the ch^ateau (похожий на крики и стук с другой стороны дворца). My heart leapt (у меня /учащенно/ забилось сердце; to leap – прыгать, скакать; забиться /о пульсе, сердце/).
Again, villain as the man was, I did not relish being one of a crowd against him – perhaps it was that. But stronger than either of these restrained feelings came a curiosity and a fascination which held me spellbound, watching for the outcome of the scene.
“Michael, you dog! Michael! If you can stand, come on!” cried Rupert; and he advanced a step, the group shrinking back a little before him. “Michael, you bastard! Come on!”
The answer to his taunts came in the wild cry of a woman:
“He’s dead! My God, he’s dead!”
“Dead!” shouted Rupert. “I struck better than I knew!” and he laughed triumphantly. Then he went on: “Down with your weapons there! I’m your master now! Down with them, I say!”
I believe they would have obeyed, but as he spoke came new things. First, there arose a distant sound, as of shouts and knockings from the other side of the ch^ateau. My heart leapt.