Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Собака Баскервилей
Шрифт:
cry [kra], border['b:d], strident [stradnt]
As if in answer to his words there rose suddenly out of the vast gloom of the moor that strange cry which I had already heard upon the borders of the great Grimpen Mire. It came with the wind through the silence of the night, a long, deep mutter, then a rising howl, and then the sad moan in which it died away. Again and again it sounded, the whole air throbbing with it, strident, wild, and menacing. The baronet caught my sleeve and his face glimmered white through the darkness.
"Good heavens, what's that, Watson (Боже
"I don't know (я не знаю). It's a sound they have on the moor (такое: «этот звук» /иногда/ случается на болотах). I heard it once before (я однажды его уже слышал)."
It died away (вой стих), and an absolute silence closed in upon us (и нас окружила полная тишина). We stood straining our ears (мы стояли, прислушиваясь; to strain one's ears — напрягать слух), but nothing came (но /больше/ ничего не было слышно).
"Watson," said the baronet, "it was the cry of a hound (это был вой собаки)."
My blood ran cold in my veins (кровь застыла у меня в жилах; to run cold — похолодеть), for there was a break in his voice (потому что его голос резко изменился; break — трещина; неожиданное изменение) which told of the sudden horror which had seized him (что говорило о внезапном ужасе, охватившем его).
"What do they call this sound (как они называют этот звук)?" he asked.
"Who (кто)?"
"The folk on the country-side (местные жители)."
"Oh, they are ignorant people (о, они люди невежественные). Why should you mind what they call it (что вам с того, как они это называют; to mind — заботиться; беспокоиться, тревожиться)?"
"Tell me, Watson. What do they say of it (скажите мне, Ватсон, что они говорят об этом)?"
I hesitated, but could not escape the question (я колебался, но не мог уклониться от ответа: «вопроса»).
"They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles (они говорят, что так воет собака Баскервилей)."
absolute ['aebslu:t], seize [si:z], hesitate ['heztet]
"Good heavens, what's that, Watson?"
"I don't know. It's a sound they have on the moor. I heard it once before."
It died away, and an absolute silence closed in upon us. We stood straining our ears, but nothing came.
"Watson," said the baronet, "it was the cry of a hound."
My blood ran cold in my veins, for there was a break in his voice which told of the sudden horror which had seized him.
"What do they call this sound?" he asked.
"Who?"
"The folk on the country-side."
"Oh, they are ignorant people. Why should you mind what they call it?"
"Tell me, Watson. What do they say of it?"
I hesitated, but could not escape the question.
"They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles."
He groaned, and was silent for a few moments (он
"A hound it was," he said, at last (это была собака, — наконец сказал он), "but it seemed to come from miles away, over yonder, I think (но, кажется, он шел издалека, вон оттуда, я полагаю)."
"It was hard to say whence it came (трудно сказать, откуда он шел)."
"It rose and fell with the wind (он поднялся и затих вместе с ветром; to fall — падать; стихать). Isn't that the direction of the great Grimpen Mire (не в том ли направлении большая Гримпенская трясина)?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well, it was up there (значит, он шел оттуда). Come now, Watson (да ладно, Ватсон), didn't you think yourself (неужто вы сами не думаете) that it was the cry of a hound (что это был вой собаки)? I am not a child (я не ребенок). You need not fear to speak the truth (вам не нужно бояться сказать правду)."
"Stapleton was with me when I heard it last (со мной был Стэплтон, когда я слышал это в прошлый раз; last — последний; прошлый). He said that it might be the calling of a strange bird (он сказал, что, возможно, это кричит какая-то птица; strange — странный; незнакомый)."
"No, no, it was a hound (нет-нет, это была собака). My God, can there be some truth in all these stories (мой Бог, неужели есть какая-то правда во всех этих россказнях)? Is it possible that I am really in danger from so dark a cause (возможно ли, что я действительно в опасности = мне и правда угрожает такая темная сила)? You don't believe it, do you, Watson (вы в это не верите, Ватсон, не так ли)?"
"No, no."
mile [mal], whence [wens], truth [tru:]
He groaned, and was silent for a few moments.
"A hound it was," he said, at last, "but it seemed to come from miles away, over yonder, I think."
"It was hard to say whence it came."
"It rose and fell with the wind. Isn't that the direction of the great Grimpen Mire?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well, it was up there. Come now, Watson, didn't you think yourself that it was the cry of a hound? I am not a child. You need not fear to speak the truth."