Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов

mischief [ˈmɪstʃɪf], recommend [rekǝˈmend], note [nǝut]

"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 кеб) 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 жене) , paid Whitney's bill (заплатил по счету Уитни) , led him out to the cab (усадил его в кеб: «вывел его наружу к кебу») , and seen him driven through the darkness (и видел, 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 выпрямил выпрямился и разразился искренним смехом) .

refuse [rɪˈfju:z], request [rɪˈkwest], decrepit [dɪˈkrepɪt], shuffled [ʃʌfld]

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) ."

injections [ɪnˈʤekʃŋz], weaknesses [ˈwi:knɪsɪz], favored [ˈfeɪvǝd]

"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?"

"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 [ˈnætʃrǝl], incoherent [ɪnkǝuˈhɪrǝnt], purchase [ˈpǝ:tʃɪs]

"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 (за которым последовал вскоре грохот колес и стук лошадиных копыт) .

riverside [ˈrɪvǝsaɪd], whistled [wɪsld], similar [ˈsɪmǝlǝ]

"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) ."