Английский с Шерлоком Холмсом. Человек с рассеченной губой / Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes

owe [??], color ['k?l?]

“Yes, I have one waiting.”

“Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I owe, Watson. I am all off color. I can do nothing for myself.”

I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers (я пошел по узкому проходу между двойным рядом спящих), holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug (задерживая дыхание, чтобы не вдыхать отвратительные, одуряющие пары наркотика), and looking about for the manager (и разыскивая хозяина). As I passed the tall man who sat by the brazier (когда я проходил мимо высокого человека, сидевшего у жаровни) I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt (я почувствовал, как меня внезапно дернули: «внезапный дерг» за полу /пиджака/), and a low voice whispered (и тихий голос прошептал), “Walk past me, and then look back at me (пройдите мимо меня, а затем обернитесь).” The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear (эти слова достигли моего уха вполне отчетливо). I glanced down (я глянул вниз). They could only have come from the old man at my side (они могли исходить лишь от старика рядом со мной), and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever (и тем не менее, он сидел по-прежнему погруженным в себя), very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age (очень худой, очень морщинистый, согнутый возрастом = под тяжестью лет), an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees (опиумная трубка свисала у него между колен), as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers (словно вывалившись в полной апатии из его пальцев). I took two steps forward and looked back (я сделал два шага вперед и оглянулся). It took all my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment (потребовалось все мое самообладание, чтобы сдержать меня от того, чтобы я разразился криком удивления). He had turned his back so that none could see him but I (он повернул свою спину так, чтобы никто не мог видеть его /лицо/, кроме меня). His form had filled out (его фигура пополнела), his wrinkles were gone (его морщины ушли), the dull eyes had regained their fire (тусклые глаза вновь обрели свой /привычный/ блеск), and there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise (сидящим у огня и ухмыляющимся над моим удивлением), was none other than Sherlock Holmes (был не кто иной, как Шерлок Холмс). He made a slight motion to me to approach him (он сделал легкое движение = знак мне, чтобы я приблизился к нему), and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the company once more (и тотчас, повернувшись снова лицом вполоборота к присутствующим), subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility (превратился в дрожащего с отвисшей губой старика; to subside – погрузиться, упасть; senility – старость, дряхлость).

narrow ['n?r??], breath [bre?], wrinkled ['r?nkld], lassitude ['l?s?tju:d], senility [s?'n?l?t?]

I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, “Walk past me, and then look back at me.” The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility.

“Holmes!” I whispered (прошептал я), “what on earth are you doing in this den (что, черт возьми, вы делаете в этом притоне)?”

“As low as you can (/говорите/ так тихо, как только можете),” he answered; “I have excellent ears (у меня превосходный слух: «уши»). If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours (если вы сделаете большое одолжение избавиться от вашего одурманенного друга) I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you (я буду чрезвычайно рад немного поболтать с вами: «иметь маленький разговор»).”

kindness ['ka?ndn?s], exceedingly [?k'si:d?nl?]

“Holmes!” I whispered, “what on earth are you doing in this den?”

“As low as you can,” he answered; “I have excellent ears. If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you.”

“I have a cab outside (меня ждет кэб снаружи).”

“Then pray send him home in it (тогда, пожалуйста, отправьте его домой в нем). You may safely trust him (вы можете без риска довериться ему), for he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief (так как он кажется слишком слабым, чтобы попасть в какую-нибудь беду; limp – мягкий, нежесткий; слабый). I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife (я бы рекомендовал вам также послать с кучером записку вашей жене) to say that you have thrown in your lot with me (чтобы сказать, что вы остались со мной; to throw in one's lot with somebody – разделить чью-либо участь; lot – участь, судьба, компания). If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes (если вы подождете снаружи, я буду с вами через пять минут).”

mischief ['m?st??f], recommend [,rek?'mend], note [n??t]

“I have a cab outside.”

“Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes.”

It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests (было трудно отказаться от любой из просьб Шерлока Холмса), for they were always so exceedingly definite (так как они всегда были /так/ исключительно точны), and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery (и выражены с таким властным видом; mastery – мастерство; власть, влияние). I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab (я чувствовал, как бы то ни было, что когда Уитни будет усажен в кэб) my mission was practically accomplished (моя миссия будет практически выполнена); and for the rest (что касается остального), I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend (я не мог желать чего-либо лучшего, чем принять участие: «быть связанным» вместе с моим другом) in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence (в одном из тех необычайных приключений, которые были нормальным состоянием его существования). In a few minutes I had written my note (вскоре я написал записку), paid Whitney's bill (заплатил по счету Уитни), led him out to the cab (усадил его в кэб: «вывел его наружу к кэбу»), and seen him driven through the darkness (и видел его = как он проехал в темноте: «был увезен через тьму»). In a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den (очень скоро дряхлая фигура вышла из опиумного притона), and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes (и я зашагал по улице с Шерлоком Холмсом). For two streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot (две улицы он проковылял с согнутой спиной и неуверенной походкой). Then, glancing quickly round (затем, быстро оглянувшись кругом), he straightened himself out and burst into a hearty fit of laughter (он выпрямился и взорвался искренним смехом).

refuse [r?'fju:z], request [r?'kwest], decrepit [d?'krep?t], shuffled ['??fld]

It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab my mission was practically accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and burst into a hearty fit of laughter.

“I suppose, Watson (полагаю, Ватсон),” said he, “that you imagine that I have added opium-smoking to cocaine injections (что вы вообразили, будто я добавил курение опия к инъекциям кокаина), and all the other little weaknesses on which you have favored me with your medical views (и ко всем остальным маленьким слабостям, по поводу которых вы были столь любезны высказать мне свои медицинские воззрения).”

“I was certainly surprised to find you there (я был, конечно, удивлен найти вас там).”

“But not more so than I to find you (но не более, чем я – найти вас).”

“I came to find a friend (я пришел найти друга).”

“And I to find an enemy (а я – найти врага).”

“An enemy?”

injections [?n'?ek?nz], weaknesses ['wi:kn?s?z], favored ['fe?v?d]

“I suppose, Watson,” said he, “that you imagine that I have added opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little weaknesses on which you have favored me with your medical views.”

“I was certainly surprised to find you there.”

“But not more so than I to find you.”

“I came to find a friend.”

“And I to find an enemy.”

“An enemy?”

“Yes; one of my natural enemies (да, одного из моих кровных: «природных» врагов), or, shall I say, my natural prey (или, можно сказать, мою добычу). Briefly (короче говоря), Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquiry (я занят чрезвычайно любопытным расследованием; in the midst of – посреди), and I have hoped to find a clew in the incoherent ramblings of these sots (и я надеялся найти нить: «факты» = кое-что узнать из бессвязных разговорах этих курильщиков опия: «пьянчуг»), as I have done before now (как я делал это прежде). Had I been recognized in that den (будь я узнан в том притоне = если бы меня узнали) my life would not have been worth an hour's purchase (моя жизнь не стоила бы медяка; purchase – ценность, доход); for I have used it before now for my own purposes (так как я уже бывал там: «использовал это для своих собственных целей раньше»), and the rascally Lascar who runs it (и подлый Ласкар, хозяин притона; to run – владеть) has sworn to have vengeance upon me (поклялся отомстить мне). There is a trap-door at the back of that building (позади того здания есть лазейка), near the corner of Paul's Wharf (рядом с углом Верфи Св. Павла), which could tell some strange tales (которая могла бы рассказать несколько странных историй) of what has passed through it upon the moonless nights (о том, что проходило: «что выбрасывали» через нее в безлунные ночи).”

natural ['n?t?r?l], incoherent [,?nk??'h??r?nt], purchase ['p?:t??s]

“Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clew in the incoherent ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been recognized in that den my life would not have been worth an hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless nights.”

“What! You do not mean bodies (вы имеете в виду тела = трупы)?”

“Aye (да), bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds for every poor devil (мы были бы богачами, если бы получали по 1000 фунтов за каждого несчастного: «бедного дьявола») who has been done to death in that den (который был доведен до смерти в этом притоне). It is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside (это самая коварная ловушка на всем берегу реки), and I fear that Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more (и я опасаюсь, что Невилл Сент-Клер вошел = попал в нее, чтобы никогда больше не вернуться). But our trap should be here (но наша ловушка будет здесь).” He put his two forefingers between his teeth (он сунул два указательных пальца между зубов = в рот) and whistled shrilly (и свистнул пронзительно), a signal which was answered by a similar whistle from the distance (сигнал, на который ответили похожим свистом издалека), followed shortly by the rattle of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs (с последовавшим = за которым последовал вскоре грохот колес и звон лошадиных копыт).

riverside ['r?v?sa?d], whistled ['w?sld], similar ['s?m?l?]

“What! You do not mean bodies?”

“Aye, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our trap should be here.” He put his two forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly, a signal which was answered by a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs.

“Now, Watson,” said Holmes, as a tall dogcart dashed up through the gloom (когда высокая двуколка /на большой/ скорости вынырнула из мрака), throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from its side lanterns (бросая два золотых туннеля = полосы желтого света из своих боковых фонарей). “You'll come with me, won't you (вы пойдете со мной, не так ли)?

“If I can be of use (если я могу быть полезен).”

“Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use (надежный товарищ всегда полезен); and a chronicler still more so (а летописец: «документалист» особенно). My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one (моя комната в «Кедрах» – двухкроватная).”

“The Cedars?”

“Now, Watson,” said Holmes, as a tall dogcart dashed up through the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from its side lanterns. “You'll come with me, won't you?

“If I can be of use.”

“Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one.”

“The Cedars?”

“Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house (да, это дом мистера Сент-Клера). I am staying there while I conduct the inquiry (я живу там, пока веду расследование).”

“Where is it, then (где же это)?”