Английский язык с Конан Дойлем. Этюд в багровых тонах
Шрифт:
As he spoke, he whipped a tape measure and a large round magnifying glass from his pocket (при этих словах он достал из кармана рулетку и большую круглую лупу; to whip — выхватить, быстро вытащить; whip — кнут, хлыст, прут; to whip — сечь, хлестать; tape measure — рулетка; tape — лента; measure — мера; magnifying glass — лупа; to magnify — увеличивать; glass — стекло). With these two implements he trotted noiselessly about the room (с ними: «с этими двумя инструментами» он бесшумно заскользил по комнате; implement — инструмент, прибор; to trot — идти рысью /о лошади/; спешить, торопиться), sometimes stopping (иногда останавливаясь), occasionally kneeling (изредка становясь на колени), and once lying flat upon his face (а однажды лег на пол; flat — плоско; плашмя; face — лицо). So engrossed was he with his occupation that he appeared to have forgotten our presence (он был настолько поглощен своим занятием, что, казалось, забыл о нашем присутствии; to forget — забывать), for he chattered away to himself under his breath the whole time (так
measure ['me], whistle [wsl], encouragement [n'krmnt], scent [sent], equally ['i:kwl], minute [ma'nju:t]
As he spoke, he whipped a tape measure and a large round magnifying glass from his pocket. With these two implements he trotted noiselessly about the room, sometimes stopping, occasionally kneeling, and once lying flat upon his face. So engrossed was he with his occupation that he appeared to have forgotten our presence, for he chattered away to himself under his breath the whole time, keeping up a running fire of exclamations, groans, whistles, and little cries suggestive of encouragement and of hope. As I watched him I was irresistibly reminded of a pure-blooded well-trained foxhound as it dashes backwards and forwards through the covert, whining in its eagerness, until it comes across the lost scent. For twenty minutes or more he continued his researches, measuring with the most exact care the distance between marks which were entirely invisible to me, and occasionally applying his tape to the walls in an equally incomprehensible manner. In one place he gathered up very carefully a little pile of grey dust from the floor, and packed it away in an envelope. Finally, he examined with his glass the word upon the wall, going over every letter of it with the most minute exactness. This done, he appeared to be satisfied, for he replaced his tape and his glass in his pocket.
"They say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains (говорят, что гений — это бесконечное упорство: «бесконечная способность прилагать усилия»; to take pains — прилагать усилия; стараться; pain — боль; pains — старания, труды; усилия)," he remarked with a smile (заметил он с улыбкой). "It's a very bad definition (очень плохое определение), but it does apply to detective work (но к работе сыщика: «детективной работе» вполне подходит; to apply — касаться, относиться; распространяться)."
Gregson and Lestrade had watched the manoeuvres of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt (Грегсон и Лестрейд наблюдали за маневрами их компаньона-любителя с изрядным любопытством и некоторым презрением). They evidently failed to appreciate the fact (по-видимому, они не в состоянии были оценить тот факт), which I had begun to realize (который я начал осознавать), that Sherlock Holmes' smallest actions were all directed towards some definite and practical end (что незначительнейшие поступки Шерлока
"What do you think of it, sir?" they both asked (что вы думаете об этом, сэр, — оба они спросили).
"It would be robbing you of the credit of the case (было бы умалением ваших заслуг в раскрытии этого дела; to rob — отнимать; лишать) if I was to presume to help you," remarked my friend (если бы я отважился помогать вам, — заметил мой друг; to presume — отважиться, осмелиться). "You are doing so well now (у вас все так замечательно получается теперь) that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere (что было бы жаль, если бы кто-то вмешался; pity — жалость)." There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke (сарказм выпирал из каждого его слова: «в его голосе была уйма сарказма»; a world of — множество, уйма: «мир чего-либо»). "If you will let me know how your investigations go," he continued (если вы соизволите поставить меня в известность, как продвигается ваше расследование, — продолжил он), "I shall be happy to give you any help I can (я буду счастлив помочь вам, чем смогу). In the meantime I should like to speak to the constable who found the body (а пока мне бы хотелось поговорить с констеблем, который обнаружил тело; in the meantime — тем временем, между тем). Can you give me his name and address (вы можете дать мне его имя и адрес)?"
genius ['i:ns], manoeuvre [m'nu:v], amateur ['aemt], sarcasm ['s:kaezm]
"They say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains," he remarked with a smile. "It's a very bad definition, but it does apply to detective work."
Gregson and Lestrade had watched the manoeuvres of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt. They evidently failed to appreciate the fact, which I had begun to realize, that Sherlock Holmes' smallest actions were all directed towards some definite and practical end.
"What do you think of it, sir?" they both asked.
"It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you," remarked my friend. "You are doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere." There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke. "If you will let me know how your investigations go," he continued, "I shall be happy to give you any help I can. In the meantime I should like to speak to the constable who found the body. Can you give me his name and address?"
Lestrade glanced at his note-book (Лестрейд заглянул в свою записную книжку). "John Rance," he said (Джон Рэнс, — сказал он). "He is off duty now (он сейчас не на дежурстве). You will find him at 46, Audley Court, Kennington Park Gate (вы найдете его по адресу: Кеннингтон-парк-гейт, Одли-корт, 46)."
Holmes took a note of the address (Холмс записал адрес; to take a note — делать заметки, записывать).
"Come along, Doctor," he said (пойдемте, доктор, — сказал он; to come along — сопровождать кого-либо, идти с кем-либо); "we shall go and look him up (мы пойдем и навестим его; to look up — навещать). I'll tell you one thing which may help you in the case (я скажу вам одно, что может помочь вам в этом деле)," he continued, turning to the two detectives (продолжил он, поворачиваясь к следователям). "There has been murder done, and the murderer was a man (совершено убийство, и убийца — мужчина). He was more than six feet high (он более шести футов росту), was in the prime of life (в расцвете сил; in the prime of life — в расцвете сил; prime — расцвет, лучшая пора), had small feet for his height (у него маленькие ноги для его роста), wore coarse, square-toed boots (носит грубые башмаки с квадратными носками; to wear; toe — палец ноги; носок башмака) and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar (и курит трихинопольские сигары). He came here with his victim in a four-wheeled cab (он приехал сюда со своей жертвой в четырехколесном экипаже), which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off fore leg (запряженном лошадью с тремя старыми подковами и одной новой на правом переднем копыте; to draw — тянуть; off — правый). In all probability the murderer had a florid face (по всей видимости, у убийцы налитое кровью лицо; probability — вероятность; florid — покрасневший, порозовевший; румяный), and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long (а ногти его правой руки очень длинные; remarkably — удивительно; необыкновенно). These are only a few indications (приметы, конечно, немногочисленны; indication —указание; намек; признак), but they may assist you (но они могут вам помочь)."
height [hat], coarse [k:s], wheel [wi:l]
Lestrade glanced at his note-book. "John Rance," he said. "He is off duty now. You will find him at 46, Audley Court, Kennington Park Gate."
Holmes took a note of the address.
"Come along, Doctor," he said; "we shall go and look him up. I'll tell you one thing which may help you in the case," he continued, turning to the two detectives. "There has been murder done, and the murderer was a man. He was more than six feet high, was in the prime of life, had small feet for his height, wore coarse, square-toed boots and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar. He came here with his victim in a four-wheeled cab, which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off fore leg. In all probability the murderer had a florid face, and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long. These are only a few indications, but they may assist you."