Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов
Шрифт:
"And sit in the dark (и сидеть в темноте)?"
justified ['stfad], meantime ['mi:ntam], screen [skri:n]
"Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime, Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern."
"And sit in the dark?"
"I am afraid so (боюсь, что так). I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket (я принес колоду карт /в моем кармане/), and I thought that, as we were a partie carree (и я думал, что раз нас здесь четверо; partie carree — прогулка вчетвером (фр.)), you might have your rubber after all (вы могли бы сыграть партию в роббер, в конце концов). But I see that the enemy's preparations have gone so far (но
preparation [prep'ren], careful [keful], fire ['fa], compunction [km'pkn]
"I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I thought that, as we were a partie carree, you might have your rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no compunction about shooting them down."
I placed my revolver, cocked (я положил мой взведенный револьвер), upon the top of the wooden case behind which I crouched (на крышку деревянного ящика, за которым я притаился). Holmes shot the slide across the front of his lantern (Холмс закрыл заслонку перед фонарем) and left us in pitch darkness (и оставил нас в кромешной тьме) — such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced (такой полной темноте, какой мне не приходилось никогда раньше видеть: «испытывать»). The smell of hot metal remained to assure us (запах горячего металла продолжал убеждать нас = напоминал нам) that the light was still there (что свет был все еще там = не погашен), ready to flash out at a moment's notice (готовый вспыхнуть по первому требованию = в любое мгновение). To me, with my nerves worked up to a pitch of expectancy (для меня, с нервами, напряженными /до предела/ ожиданием), there was something depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom (было что-то подавляющее и подчиняющее во внезапной темноте), and in the cold dank air of the vault (и в холодном сыром воздухе подземелья).
crouched [krautt], nerves [n:vz], expectancy [k'spektns], gloom [lu:m]
"They have but one retreat (у них есть только одно отступление = для бегства у них лишь один путь)," whispered Holmes (прошептал Холмс). "That is back through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square (/это/ обратно через дом на Сакс-Кобург-сквер). I hope that you have done what I asked you, Jones (я надеюсь, что вы сделали /то/ что я вас просил, Джонс)?"
I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness — such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the vault.
"They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have done what I asked you, Jones?"
"I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door (инспектор и два
"Then we have stopped all the holes (тогда мы заткнули все дыры). And now we must be silent and wait (а теперь мы должны быть тихими = молчать и ждать)."
holes [hulz], silent ['salnt]
What a time it seemed (что за время это казалось = как медленно тянулось время)! From comparing notes afterwards (из обмена мнениями позже) it was but an hour and a quarter (/было ясно/ что прошел только час с четвертью), yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost gone (тем не менее, мне казалось, что ночь, должно быть, уже почти прошла), and the dawn be breaking above us (и наверху: «над нами» рассветает). My limbs were weary and stiff (мои конечности были усталыми и затекшими = устали и затекли), for I feared to change my position (так как я боялся шевельнуться: «сменить положение»); yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension (однако нервы мои были натянуты до предела; pitch — высота /тона, звука/), and my hearing was so acute (и мое слышание было таким острым = слух обострился настолько) that I could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions (что я не только мог слышать тихое дыхание моих товарищей), but I could distinguish the deeper, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones (но я мог отличить более глубокий, низкий вдох грузного Джонса) from the thin, sighing note of the bank director (от тонкого, вздыхающего тона директора банка). From my position I could look over the case in the direction of the floor (со своего места я мог смотреть через ящик в направлении пола). Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light (внезапно мои глаза поймали отблеск света).
dawn [d:n], limbs [lmz], acute ['kju:t], distinguish [ds'tw], bulky ['blk]
"I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door."
"Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent and wait."
What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must have almost gone, and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of a light.
At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement (сначала это была только слабая искра на = между /плитами/ каменного пола). Then it lengthened out until it became a yellow line (затем она вытянулась, пока не стала желтой линией = превратилась в желтую полоску), and then, without any warning or sound (и затем, без какого-либо признака или звука = абсолютно бесшумно), a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared (показалось, что открылся паз = в полу возникло отверстие и /из него/ появилась рука); a white, almost womanly hand (белая, почти женственная рука), which felt about in the centre of the little area of light (которая шарила = двигалась ощупью в центре маленькой зоны света = освещенного пространства). For a minute or more the hand (в течение минуты или больше эта рука), with its writhing fingers (со своими извивающимися пальцами; to writhe — корчиться), protruded out of the floor (торчала из пола; to protrude out — высунуться наружу). Then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared (затем она была отдернута /назад/ так же внезапно, как и появилась), and all was dark again save the single lurid spark (и все было темно опять = все погрузилось во тьму, за исключением слабого огонька) which marked a chink between the stones (который отмечал щель между камнями).
lurid ['ljurd], lengthened ['lend], gash [ae], area ['er], withdrawn [wd'dr:n]
At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared; a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones.