Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов
Шрифт:
"Ah, but I was recommended to you."
"Who by?"
"The landlord of the Alpha."
"Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen."
"Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?"
To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman.
"Now, then, mister (а ну-ка, мистер)," said he, with his head cocked (задрав голову) and his arms akimbo (упершись руками в бока), "what are you driving at (к чему вы клоните)? Let's have it straight (говорите прямо: «давайте иметь это прямо»), now."
"It is straight enough (достаточно
"Well, then, I shan't tell you (ну так вот, я вам не скажу). So now (вот так)!"
"Oh, it is a matter of no importance (дело никакой важности = ну и не надо); but I don't know why you should be so warm over such a trifle (почему вам следует быть таким рассерженным: «теплым» = чего вы кипятитесь из-за пустяка)."
importance [m'p:tns], warm [w:m], trifle [trafl]
"Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now."
"It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the geese which you supplied to the Alpha."
"Well, then, I shan't tell you. So now!"
"Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you should be so warm over such a trifle."
"Warm (теплый = кипячусь)! You'd be as warm (так же кипятились бы), maybe (возможно), if you were as pestered as I am (если бы вас так донимали, как меня). When I pay good money for a good article (за хороший товар) there should be an end of the business (должен быть конец сделки); but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you sell the geese to (кому вы продали гусей)?' and 'What will you take for the geese (что вы возьмете за гусей = сколько стоят гуси)?' One would think (можно подумать) they were the only geese in the world (что на них свет клином сошелся: «что они были единственными гусями в мире»), to hear the fuss that is made over them (если послушать суету, которая сделана вокруг них = какой из-за них подняли шум)."
pestered ['pestd], world [w:ld], fuss [fs]
"Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the fuss that is made over them."
"Well, I have no connection (не имею связи = никакого отношения) with any other people who have been making inquiries (которые наводили справки)," said Holmes carelessly (небрежно). "If you won't tell us (если не скажете нам; won't = will not) the bet is off (спор окончен; bet — пари), that is all (это все). But I'm always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls (всегда готов подтвердить: «подкрепить» мое мнение по вопросу о домашней птице), and I have a fiver on it (имею пятерку фунтов на этом = держал пари на пять фунтов) that the bird I ate is country bred (что птица, которую я съел, выкормлена в деревне; to breed — разводить, выкармливать)."
opinion ['pnjn], fiver ['fav], country ['kntr]
"Well, then, you've lost your fiver (потеряли), for it's town bred (выкормлена
"It's nothing of the kind (ничего подобного)."
"Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the bird I ate is country bred."
"Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the salesman.
"It's nothing of the kind."
"I say it is (/а/ я говорю, это так)."
"I don't believe it (не верю этому)."
"D'you think you know more about fowls than I (вы думаете, /что/ знаете больше о домашней птице, чем я; d'you = do you), who have handled them (держал их в руках) ever since I was a nipper (с тех пор, как я был мальчишкой)? I tell you, all those birds that went to the Alpha were town bred."
"You'll never persuade me to believe that (никогда не убедите меня поверить в это)."
"I say it is."
"I don't believe it."
"D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that went to the Alpha were town bred."
"You'll never persuade me to believe that."
"Will you bet, then (вы поспорите тогда = хотите пари)?"
"It's merely taking your money (это просто /значило бы/ взятие ваших денег), for I know that I am right (ибо я знаю, что я прав). But I'll have a sovereign on with you (согласен поставить соверен), just to teach you not to be obstinate (просто чтобы научить вас не быть упрямым)."
merely ['ml], sovereign ['svrn], obstinate ['bstnt]
The salesman chuckled grimly (торговец хмыкнул мрачно). "Bring me the books (принеси мне книги), Bill," said he.
"Will you bet, then?"
"It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be obstinate."
The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said he.
The small boy brought round (мальчик принес) a small thin volume (маленький тонкий том) and a great greasy-backed one (большую, с засаленным переплетом книгу), laying them out together beneath the hanging lamp (выложив их рядом под висячую лампу).
"Now then, Mr. Cocksure (ну, мистер Самоуверенный)," said the salesman, "I thought that I was out of geese (считал, что распродал /всех/ гусей), but before I finish (прежде чем закончу) you'll find that there is still one left in my shop (вы обнаружите, что еще один остался в моей лавке; goose — гусь; дурак, болван). You see this little book?"
volume ['vlju:m], greasy ['ri:z], beneath [b'ni:], cocksure [kk'u]
"Well (ну и)?"
The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lamp.
"Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is still one left in my shop. You see this little book?"
"Well?"
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