Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов
Шрифт:
always [':lwz], widower ['wdu], son [sn], denied [d'nad]
“Another, Lucy Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.
“So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes — a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I meant it for the best.
“It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business (моим намерением, естественно, было, чтобы Артур продолжил мое дело; to succeed —
intimate ['ntmt], squander ['skwnd], implore [m'pl:], draw [dr:]
“It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honor. He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.
“And, indeed, I could not wonder (на самом деле меня не удивляло) that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him (что такой человек, как сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл, приобрел на Артура влияние), for he has frequently brought him to my house (так как мой сын часто приводил его в мой дом), and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his manner (и я сам убедился, что едва могу сопротивляться обаянию его манер). He is older than Arthur (он старше Артура), a man of the world to his finger-tips (светский человек до мозга костей: «до кончиков пальцев»), one who had been everywhere, seen everything (который везде побывал, видел все), a brilliant talker (блестящий собеседник), and a man of great personal beauty (и очень привлекательной наружности: «мужчина большой личной красоты»). Yet when I think of him in cold blood (но все же, думая о нем спокойно/хладнокровно), far away from the glamour of his presence (вдали от обаяния его общества: «присутствия»), I am convinced from his cynical speech (я убеждаюсь, судя по его циничным высказываниям) and the look which I have caught in his eyes (и взгляду, который я замечал в его глазах) that he is one who should be deeply distrusted (что этому человеку вообще нельзя доверять: «что это такой человек, которому нужно оказывать глубокое недоверие»; to distrust — доверять; сомневаться; подозревать). So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary (так думаю я и так же считает моя маленькая Мэри), who has a woman’s quick insight into character (обладающая живой женской интуицией, когда дело касается человеческого характера; insight — понимание; проницательность; способность проникновения в сущность: a man of insight — проницательный человек; insight into human character — способность понять /постигнуть/ человеческий характер; quick — быстрый, скорый; живой, чувствительный).
frequently ['fri:kwntl], beauty ['bju:t], cynical ['snkl]
“And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman’s quick insight into character.
“And now there is only she to be described (теперь
niece [ni:s], daughter ['d:t], path [p:], alas ['laes]
“And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house — sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too late — forever too late!
“Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof (теперь, мистер Холмс, вы знаете людей, которые живут под моей крышей), and I shall continue with my miserable story (и я продолжу свой печальный рассказ).
“When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dinner (когда мы пили кофе в гостиной в тот вечер после обеда), I told Arthur and Mary my experience (я рассказал Артуру и Мэри о том, что произошло; experience — /жизненный/ опыт; случай, приключение; впечатление), and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof (и о драгоценном сокровище, которое хранится под нашей крышей), suppressing only the name of my client (не назвав лишь имени моего клиента; to suppress — сдерживать, подавлять; умалчивать, утаивать). Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee (Люси Парр, подавшая кофе), had, I am sure, left the room (я уверен, уже вышла из комнаты); but I cannot swear that the door was closed (но не берусь утверждать, что дверь была закрыта; to swear — клясться). Mary and Arthur were much interested (Мэри и Артур очень заинтересовались) and wished to see the famous coronet (и захотели увидеть знаменитую диадему), but I thought it better not to disturb it (но я решил, будет лучше не трогать ее; to disturb — нарушать /покой/; тревожить, беспокоить).
“‘Where have you put it (куда ты ее положил)?’ asked Arthur.
“‘In my own bureau (в мое бюро).’
“‘Well, I hope to goodness the house won’t be burgled during the night (что ж, надеюсь, что в дом не вломятся грабители ночью; goodness — доброта; любезность; высокое качество; здесь употреблено вместо слова God — Бог; I hope to goodness — как бы мне хотелось).’ said he.
“‘It is locked up (бюро заперто),’ I answered.
continue [kn'tnju:], treasure ['tre], burgled [b:ld]
“Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and I shall continue with my miserable story.
“When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it.