Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов

Еремин Андрей

earn [:n], twice [twas], satisfied ['saetsfad]

"What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes.

"His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?"

"Why, indeed (зачем, в самом деле)? You seem most fortunate in having an employee (вам, кажется, повезло иметь работника: «вы кажетесь очень удачливыми в имении работника») who comes under the full market price (который

работает ниже полной рыночной стоимости = которому вы платите меньше, чем другие). It is not a common experience among employers in this age (это необычный опыт среди нанимателей в наше время). I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement (я не знаю, что более необыкновенно — ваш помощник или ваше объявление; remarkable — примечательный)."

employee [empl'], market ['m:kt], price [pras]

"Oh, he has his faults, too (о, у него есть свои недостатки также)," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fellow for photography (никогда не было такого парня для фотографии = никогда не встречал человека, так страстно увлеченного фотографией). Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind (щелкает фотоаппаратом, когда ему следует улучшать свой разум), and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole (а затем ныряет в погреб, как кролик в свою нору) to develop his pictures (чтобы проявить снимки). That is his main fault (это его главный недостаток), but on the whole he's a good worker (но в целом он хороший работник). There's no vice in him (в нем нет пороков)."

faults [f:lts], fellow ['felu], ought [:t], cellar ['sel]

"He is still with you, I presume (он все еще с вами = служит у вас, я предполагаю)?"

"Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement."

"Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice in him."

"He is still with you, I presume?"

"Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking and keeps the place clean (он и девчонка четырнадцати /лет/, которая делает немного простой готовки = немного готовит и держит место /лавки/ чистым = делает уборку) — that's all I have in the house (это все, кто есть у меня = живет в доме), for I am a widower and never had any family (так как я вдовец и никогда не имел семьи). We live very quietly, sir, the three of us (мы живем очень тихо, сэр, втроем: «все трое из нас»); and we keep a roof over our heads (и мы держим крышу над нашими головами = поддерживаем огонь в очаге) and pay our debts, if we do nothing more (и оплачиваем долги, если мы не делаем ничего более = вот и все наши дела).

widower ['wdu], quietly ['kwatl], roof [ru:f], debts [dets]

"The first thing that put us out was that advertisement (первой вещью, которая выбила нас из колеи, было то объявление; to put out — смущать). Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight weeks (Сполдинг, он пришел в контору как раз в этот день восемь недель /назад/), with this very paper in his hand, and he says (с этой самой

газетой в руке, и говорит):

"'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man (я хотел бы, мистер Уилсон, чтобы Господь создал меня рыжим /человеком/).'

"'Why’s that (почему это)?' I asks.

"Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking and keeps the place clean — that's all I have in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and pay our debts, if we do nothing more.

"The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says:

"'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.'

"'Why’s that?' I asks.

"'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Red-headed Men (ну вот, появилась новая вакансия в Союзе рыжих). It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets it (она стоит = даст вполне небольшой достаток тому, кто ее займет: «получит»), and I understand that there are more vacancies than there are men (и /как/ я понимаю, там больше вакансий, чем кандидатов), so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to do with the money (и что доверенные лица = душеприказчики ломают себе голову: «на краю их разума», что сделать с деньгами). If my hair would only change color (если бы мои волосы только могли изменить цвет), here's a nice little crib all ready for me to step into (я бы воспользовался этим выгодным местом: «здесь хорошая маленькая кормушка, полностью готовая, чтобы я пришел к ней»; to step into — входить, войти).'

vacancy ['vekns], worth [w:], trustees [tr'sti:z], ready ['red]

"'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a very stay-at-home man (я большой домосед; to stay — оставаться), and as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it (так как мое дело приходило ко мне, вместо того, чтобы мне приходилось идти к нему = клиенты сами приходили ко мне), I was often weeks on end (часто по целым неделям; on end — подряд, кряду) without putting my foot over the doormat (не переступал порога: «без переступания ногой через половик»). In that way (таким образом) I didn't know much of what was going on outside (я почти не знал о том, что происходило снаружи), and I was always glad of a bit of news (был всегда рад /получить/ немного новостей).

"'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to do with the money. If my hair would only change color, here's a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.'

"'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting my foot over the doormat. In that way I didn't know much of what was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news.

"'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men (/разве/ вы никогда не слышали о Союзе рыжих)?' he asked with his eyes open (спросил он со своими открытыми глазами = широко открыв глаза).

"'Never (никогда).'

"'Why, I wonder at that (ну, я удивлен на это = это меня удивляет), for you are eligible yourself for one of the vacancies (так как вы сами подходите, чтобы занять одну из вакансий).'