Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов (ASCII-IPA)
Шрифт:
“Bannister was very much upset by the incident (Бэннистер был очень расстроен этим происшествием). He had nearly fainted when we found (он чуть не потерял сознание, когда мы узнали) that the papers had undoubtedly been tampered with (что бумаги, несомненно, побывали в чужих руках; to tamper with — вмешиваться, соваться /во что-либо/). I gave him a little brandy and left him collapsed in a chair (я дал ему немного бренди и оставил его сидящим = и он остался сидеть в кресле без сил; to collapse — сильно ослабеть, свалиться /от болезни, перенапряжения/; collapse — полный упадок сил, изнеможение, истощение; chair — стул; кресло), while I made a most careful examination of the room (пока я проводил самый тщательный осмотр комнаты). I soon saw that the intruder had left other traces of his presence (скоро
convinced [k@n'vInst], alternative [O:l't@:n@tIv], key [ki:], money [mVnI]
“For an instant I imagined that Bannister had taken the unpardonable liberty of examining my papers. He denied it, however, with the utmost earnestness, and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth. The alternative was that someone passing had observed the key in the door, had known that I was out, and had entered to look at the papers. A large sum of money is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one, and an unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an advantage over his fellows.
“Bannister was very much upset by the incident. He had nearly fainted when we found that the papers had undoubtedly been tampered with. I gave him a little brandy and left him collapsed in a chair, while I made a most careful examination of the room. I soon saw that the intruder had left other traces of his presence besides the rumpled papers.
“On the table in the window were several shreds from a pencil (на столике у окна лежало несколько стружек от карандаша; shred — клочок, кусочек, обрывок; обрезки, очистки) which had been sharpened (который затачивали; sharp — острый, отточенный). A broken tip of lead was lying there also (сломанный кончик грифеля также лежал там; to break-broke-broken; lead — свинец; грифель). Evidently the rascal had copied the paper in a great hurry (очевидно, негодяй переписывал текст в большой спешке), had broken his pencil (сломал карандаш), and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it (и был вынужден его очинить: «придать ему новое острие»).”
“Excellent (прекрасно)!” said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour (сказал Холмс, к которому возвращалось хорошее настроение) as his attention became more engrossed by the case (по мере того, как его внимание все больше поглощалось этим делом; to engross — поглощать /время, внимание и т. п./; завладевать /разговором/; углубиться, с головой уйти /во что-либо/). “Fortune has been your friend (удача была вашим другом = вам сопутствовала удача/вам повезло).”
“This was not all (это не все). I have a new writing-table with a fine surface of red leather (у меня новый письменный стол, покрытый отличной красной кожей; fine — тонкий, изящный, превосходный; surface — поверхность; to surface — отделывать поверхность, покрывать). I am prepared to swear, and so is Bannister (я готов поклясться, и Бэннистер тоже), that it was smooth and unstained (что кожа была гладкая и без единого пятнышка; stain — пятно). Now I found a clean cut in it about three inches long (а теперь я обнаружил на ней ровный разрез, примерно три дюйма длиной; to cut — резать) — not a mere scratch, but a positive cut (не просто царапину, а именно разрез; positive — несомненный, определенный, точный). Not only this (и не только это), but on the table I found a small ball of black dough or clay (на столе я нашел маленький комок черной густой массы или глины; ball — шар, мяч; клубок, комок; dough — тесто; густая масса, напоминающая тесто), with specks of something which looks like sawdust in it (содержащий крупинки чего-то, похожего на опилки; sawdust: saw — пила; dust — пыль). I am convinced that these marks were left by the man (я убежден, что эти следы были оставлены человеком) who rifled the papers (копавшимся
lead [led], pencil ['pens(@)l], leather ['leD@], recovering [rI'kVv@rIN], smooth [smu:D], dough [d@u], sawdust ['sO:dVst]
“On the table in the window were several shreds from a pencil which had been sharpened. A broken tip of lead was lying there also. Evidently the rascal had copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil, and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it.”
“Excellent!” said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour as his attention became more engrossed by the case. “Fortune has been your friend.”
“This was not all. I have a new writing-table with a fine surface of red leather. I am prepared to swear, and so is Bannister, that it was smooth and unstained. Now I found a clean cut in it about three inches long — not a mere scratch, but a positive cut. Not only this, but on the table I found a small ball of black dough or clay, with specks of something which looks like sawdust in it. I am convinced that these marks were left by the man who rifled the papers. There were no footmarks and no other evidence as to his identity.
“I was at my wit’s end (я /уже/ совершенно растерялся; to be at one's wit's end — быть в крайнем недоумении, не знать, что делать, стать в тупик; wit — разум, ум), when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me (как вдруг счастливая мысль пришла мне на ум) that you were in the town (что вы в городке), and I came straight round to put the matter into your hands (и я пошел прямо /к вам/, чтобы передать дело в ваши руки). Do help me, Mr. Holmes (прошу вас, помогите мне, мистер Холмс). You see my dilemma (вы видите, в каком затруднительном положении я нахожусь). Either I must find the man (я должен найти этого человека) or else the examination must be postponed (иначе экзамен придется отложить) until fresh papers are prepared (пока не будет подготовлен новый материал), and since this cannot be done without explanation (а поскольку это нельзя сделать без объяснений), there will ensue a hideous scandal (разразится ужасный скандал; to ensue — получаться в результате; происходить /из-за чего-либо/), which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the university (который бросит тень не только на колледж, но и на /весь/ университет; cloud — облако, туча; нечто омрачающее; изъян, пятно, червоточина: a cloud on one's reputation — пятно на чьей-либо репутации). Above all things (больше всего: «всех вещей»), I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly (я желаю уладить дело тихо, без огласки; discreetly — осторожно, осмотрительно; обдуманно).”
“I shall be happy to look into it (буду рад заняться им; to look into smth. — изучать, расследовать что-либо) and to give you such advice as I can (и дать вам такой совет, какой смогу),” said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat (сказал Холмс, поднимаясь и надевая пальто). “The case is not entirely devoid of interest (случай небезынтересный: «не совсем лишен интереса»). Had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came to you (кто-нибудь посещал вас в вашей комнате = заходил к вам после того, как вы получили гранки)?”
ensue [In'sju:], hideous ['hIdI@s], cloud [klaud]
“I was at my wit’s end, when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me that you were in the town, and I came straight round to put the matter into your hands. Do help me, Mr. Holmes. You see my dilemma. Either I must find the man or else the examination must be postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this cannot be done without explanation, there will ensue a hideous scandal, which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the university. Above all things, I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly.”