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

opulence [ˈɔpjulǝns], appearance [ǝˈpɪǝrǝns], obstinacy [ˈɔbstɪnǝsɪ]

A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-colored silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.

"You had my note (вы получили мою записку) ?" he asked with a deep harsh voice (спросил он низким грубым голосом) and a strongly marked German accent (с сильным немецким акцентом; to mark — отмечать) . "I told you that I would call (я сообщил, что приду к вам) ." He looked from one to the other of us (он смотрел то на одного из нас, то на другого) , as if uncertain which to address (как будто неуверенный, к кому обратиться) .

harsh [hɑ:ʃ], uncertain [ʌnˈsǝ:tn]

"Pray take a seat (пожалуйста, садитесь; seat — место, сиденье) ," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague (коллега) , Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases (который время от времени любезно помогает мне в моих делах) . Whom have I the honor to address (с кем имею честь говорить) ?"

"You may address me as the Count Von Kramm (вы можете обращаться ко мне как к графу фон Крамму) , a Bohemian nobleman (богемскому дворянину; noble — благородный) . I understand that this gentleman (я полагаю, что этот джентльмен) , your friend, is a man of honor and discretion (человек чести и благоразумия/осторожности) , whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance (кому я могу доверить дело самой чрезвычайной важности; to trust — верить) . If not (если это не так) , I should much prefer to communicate with you alone (я предпочел бы беседовать с вами наедине) ."

"You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.

"Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honor to address?"

"You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honor and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone."

I rose to go (я встал, чтобы уйти; to rise — подниматься) , but Holmes caught me by the wrist (но Холмс схватил меня за руку; to catch — хватать; wrist — запястье) and pushed me back into my chair (и толкнул меня обратно в кресло) . "It is both, or none (оба или никакой = говорите либо с нами обоими, либо не говорите) ," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me (вы можете сказать в присутствии этого джентльмена все, что сказали бы мне) ."

The Count shrugged his broad shoulders (граф пожал своими широкими плечами) . "Then I must begin (тогда я должен начать) ," said he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years (связывая вас обоих абсолютной тайной = обязуя вас обоих сохранять абсолютную тайну два года) ; at the end of that time (по прошествии этого времени) the matter will be of no importance (дело будет никакой важности = не будет иметь значения) . At present it is not too much to say (в настоящее время это не слишком много сказать = я могу без преувеличения сказать) that it is of such weight (что это /дело/ такого веса = настолько серьезно) it may have an influence upon European history (что может иметь влияние = повлиять на историю Европы) ."

"I promise (я обещаю) ," said Holmes.

"And I."

caught [kɔ:t], wrist [rɪst], shoulders [ˈʃǝuldǝz], secrecy [ˈsi:krɪsɪ], influence [ˈɪnfluǝns]

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."

The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it may have an influence upon European history."

"I promise," said Holmes.

"And I."

"You will excuse this mask (извините эту маску) ," continued our strange visitor (продолжал наш странный посетитель) . "The august person who employs me (августейшее лицо, у которого я на службе; to employ — нанимать) wishes his agent to be unknown to you (желает, чтобы его представитель был неизвестен для вас) , and I may confess at once (и я могу признаться вместе с тем; to confess — исповедаться) that the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own (что титул, которым я себя только что назвал, не совсем точно мой собственный) ."

excuse [ɪkˈskju:s], agent [eɪʤnt], title [taɪtl]

"I was aware of it (я знал об этом; to be aware of — осознавать) ," said Holmes drily (сказал Холмс сухо) .

"The circumstances are of great delicacy (обстоятельства очень щекотливые; great — великий) , and every precaution has to be taken (и каждая предосторожность должна быть принята = необходимо принять все меры) to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal (чтобы подавить /то/ что может разрастись до огромного скандала; to grow — расти) and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe (и серьезно скомпрометировать одну из царствующих династий Европы; family — семья) . To speak plainly (говоря проще; plain — явный, прямой) , the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein (это дело касается царствующего дома Ормштейнов; to implicate — вовлекать) , hereditary kings of Bohemia (наследственных королей Богемии) ."

circumstance [ˈsǝ:kǝmstæns], delicacy [ˈdelɪkǝsɪ], reigning [ˈreɪnɪŋ]

"You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own."

"I was aware of it," said Holmes drily.

"The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia."

"I was also aware of that (об этом я тоже знал) ," murmured Holmes (пробормотал Холмс) , settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes (устраиваясь /поудобнее/ в кресле и закрывая глаза) .

aware [ǝˈwɛǝ], murmured [ˈmɜ:mǝd]

Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise (наш посетитель взглянул с видимым удивлением; apparent — явный) at the languid, lounging figure of the man (на вялую, развалившуюся фигуру человека; to lounge — сидеть развалясь) who had been no doubt depicted to him (который был, без сомнения, описан ему; to depict — изображать) as the most incisive reasoner (как самый проницательный мыслитель; incisive — острый, точный) and most energetic agent in Europe (и самый энергичный сыщик в Европе) . Holmes slowly reopened his eyes (Холмс медленно снова открыл глаза; slow — медленный) and looked impatiently at his gigantic client (и посмотрел нетерпеливо на своего огромного клиента; patient — терпеливый) .

apparent [ǝˈpærǝnt], languid [ˈlæŋɡwɪd], lounging [ˈlaunʤɪŋ], doubt [daut]

"If your Majesty would condescend to state your case (если ваше величество соизволит изложить свое дело) ," he remarked (заметил он) , "I should be better able to advise you (мне легче будет дать вам совет; to be able /to do something/ — быть способным /сделать что-либо/) ."

condescend [kɔndɪˈsend], able [eɪbl]

"I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes.

Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client.

"If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, "I should be better able to advise you."

The man sprang from his chair (человек вскочил со стула; to spring — прыгать, вскакивать) and paced up and down the room (и зашагал по комнате; to pace — расхаживать) in uncontrollable agitation (в неконтролируемом возбуждении; to control — управлять) . Then, with a gesture of desperation (затем, с жестом отчаяния) , he tore the mask from his face (он сорвал маску со своего лица; to tear — рвать, срывать) and hurled it upon the ground (и швырнул ее на пол; ground — поверхность, основание) . "You are right (вы правы) ," he cried (вскричал он; to cry — плакать, кричать) ; "I am the King (я король) . Why should I attempt to conceal it (почему я должен пытаться скрывать это; to attempt — делать попытку) ?"