Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов (ASCII-IPA)
Шрифт:
“That is a State secret of the utmost importance (это государственная тайна величайшей важности), and I fear that I cannot tell you (боюсь, я не могу вам сказать), nor do I see that it is necessary (да и не считаю это необходимым). If by the aid of the powers which you are said to possess (если с помощью способностей, которыми, как говорят, вы обладаете) you can find such an envelope as I describe with its enclosure (вы сможете найти конверт, который я описал, вместе с его содержимым; enclosure — вложение, приложение), you will have deserved well of your country (вы заслужите благодарность своей страны; to deserve well of one's country — иметь /большие/ заслуги перед родиной), and earned any reward which it lies in our power to bestow (и
Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile (Шерлок Холмс встал, улыбаясь).
“You are two of the most busy men in the country (вы двое — одни из самых занятых людей в этой стране),” said he, “and in my own small way I have also a good many calls upon me (но и я по-своему занят: «ко мне очень много обращаются»). I regret exceedingly that I cannot help you in this matter (очень сожалею, что не могу вам помочь в этом деле), and any continuation of this interview would be a waste of time (и продолжение этой беседы будет пустой тратой времени).”
essential [I'senS(@)l], country ['kVntrI], reward [rI'wO:d], bestow [bI'st@u]
“I fear, sir,” said Holmes, “that, interesting and indeed essential as these details are, my inquiries must go more to the root of things. What was the letter?”
“That is a State secret of the utmost importance, and I fear that I cannot tell you, nor do I see that it is necessary. If by the aid of the powers which you are said to possess you can find such an envelope as I describe with its enclosure, you will have deserved well of your country, and earned any reward which it lies in our power to bestow.”
Sherlock Holmes rose with a smile.
“You are two of the most busy men in the country,” said he, “and in my own small way I have also a good many calls upon me. I regret exceedingly that I cannot help you in this matter, and any continuation of this interview would be a waste of time.”
The Premier sprang to his feet (премьер вскочил на ноги) with that quick, fierce gleam of his deep-set eyes (с той быстрой свирепой вспышкой в глубоко посаженных глазах) before which a Cabinet has cowered (от которой министры кабинета съеживались /от страха/).
“I am not accustomed, sir (я не привык, сэр…),” he began, but mastered his anger and resumed his seat (начал он, но справился с гневом и снова сел; to resume — возобновлять, продолжать /после перерыва/; обретать вновь). For a minute or more we all sat in silence (минуту или более мы все сидели молча). Then the old statesman shrugged his shoulders (затем старый государственный деятель пожал плечами).
“We must accept your terms, Mr. Holmes (мы должны принять ваши условия, мистер Холмс). No doubt you are right (несомненно, вы правы), and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act (и неразумно с нашей стороны ожидать, что вы начнете действовать) unless we give you our entire confidence (пока мы не доверимся вам полностью).”
“I agree with you (я согласен с вами),” said the younger statesman (сказал младший дипломат).
“Then I will tell you, relying entirely upon your honour (что ж, я расскажу вам, целиком полагаясь на вашу честность) and that of your colleague, Dr. Watson (и честность вашего коллеги, доктора Ватсона). I may appeal to your patriotism also (я также взываю к вашему патриотизму), for I could not imagine a greater misfortune for the country (ибо не могу представить большего несчастья для страны) than that this affair should come out (чем если это дело станет широко известным).”
fierce [fI@s], mastered ['mA:st@d], colleague ['kOli:g], misfortune [mIs'fO:tS(@)n]
The Premier sprang to his feet with that quick, fierce gleam of his deep-set eyes before which a Cabinet has cowered.
“I am not accustomed, sir,” he began, but mastered his anger and resumed his seat. For a minute or more we all sat in silence. Then the old statesman shrugged his shoulders.
“We must accept your terms, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right, and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act unless we give you our entire confidence.”
“I agree with you,” said the younger statesman.
“Then I will tell you, relying entirely upon your honour and that of your colleague, Dr. Watson. I may appeal to your patriotism also, for I could not imagine a greater misfortune for the country than that this affair should come out.”
“You may safely trust us (вы
“The letter, then, is from a certain foreign potentate (итак, это письмо от одного иностранного монарха) who has been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this country (который обеспокоен недавней колониальной экспансией = расширением колоний нашей страны; to ruffle — вызывать рябь /на воде/; ерошить /перья, волосы и т. п./; беспокоить/ся/, тревожиться). It has been written hurriedly and upon his own responsibility entirely (оно было поспешно написано полностью по его собственной инициативе; on one's own responsibility — по собственной инициативе; на свою ответственность; response — ответ, отклик). Inquiries have shown that his Ministers know nothing of the matter (наведение справок показало, что его министры ничего не знают об этом). At the same time (вместе с тем; at the same time — в то же время, вместе с тем, однако) it is couched in so unfortunate a manner (письмо написано в таком неуместном тоне; to couch in — выражать, формулировать), and certain phrases in it are of so provocative a character (и некоторые фразы в нем носят столь вызывающий характер; provocative — провокационный; вызывающий; дерзкий), that its publication would undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of feeling in this country (что его опубликование, несомненно, привело бы к /возникновению/ очень опасных настроений в нашей стране; state — состояние, положение; feeling — ощущение, чувство; мнение, взгляд). There would be such a ferment, sir (возникло бы такое волнение, сэр; ferment — закваска, фермент; беспокойство, волнение, брожение /умов/), that I do not hesitate to say (могу сказать, не колеблясь) that within a week of the publication of that letter (что через неделю после опубликования письма) this country would be involved in a great war (наша страна была бы вовлечена в большую войну).”
Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper (Холмс написал имя на листке бумаги; slip of paper — полоска бумаги; листок бумаги) and handed it to the Premier (и передал его премьер-министру).
recent ['ri:s(@)nt], couched [kautSt], provocative [pr@'vOk@tIv], undoubtedly [Vn'dautIdlI]
“You may safely trust us.”
“The letter, then, is from a certain foreign potentate who has been ruffled by some recent Colonial developments of this country. It has been written hurriedly and upon his own responsibility entirely. Inquiries have shown that his Ministers know nothing of the matter. At the same time it is couched in so unfortunate a manner, and certain phrases in it are of so provocative a character, that its publication would undoubtedly lead to a most dangerous state of feeling in this country. There would be such a ferment, sir, that I do not hesitate to say that within a week of the publication of that letter this country would be involved in a great war.”
Holmes wrote a name upon a slip of paper and handed it to the Premier.
“Exactly (совершенно верно). It was he (это он). And it is this letter (и это письмо) — this letter which may well mean the expenditure of a thousand millions (это письмо, которое вполне может означать = повлечет за собой миллиардные расходы: «расходы в тысячи миллионов») and the lives of a hundred thousand men (и жизни сотен тысяч людей) — which has become lost in this unaccountable fashion (пропало таким необъяснимым образом; to account — давать отчет; объяснять).”