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

deceased [dɪˈsi:st], obliged [ǝˈblaɪʤd], dawdling [ˈdɔ:dlɪŋ], argument [ˈɑ:ɡjumǝnt]

"I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need."

At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead (на /вокзале/ Ватерлоо нам посчастливилось попасть на поезд: «мы были удачливы в схватывании поезда» на Лэтерхэд) , where we hired a trap at the station inn (где мы наняли /рессорную/ двуколку в станционной гостинице) , and drove for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes (и проехали четыре или пять миль прекрасными дорогами /графства/ Суррей; through — через, сквозь) . It was a perfect day (был прекрасный день) , with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens (с ярким солнцем и несколькими кудрявыми облаками в небесах) . The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots (деревья и придорожные изгороди только выпускали свои первые зеленые побеги) , and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth (и воздух был наполнен приятным запахом влажной земли) . To me at least (для меня, по крайней мере) there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring (был странный контраст между сладким видом весны; promise — обещание, вид, ракурс) and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged (зловещим делом = расследованием, которым мы занимались; quest — поиски, дознание) . My companion sat in the front of the trap (мой товарищ сидел в передней части экипажа; trap — рессорная двуколка) , his arms folded (его руки /были/ скрещены /на груди/ = скрестив руки; to fold — сгибать, складывать) , his hat pulled down over his eyes (надвинув шляпу на глаза) , and his chin sunk upon his breast (опустив подбородок на грудь) , buried in the deepest thought (погруженный в глубокие думы: «в глубочайшую мысль») . Suddenly, however, he started (внезапно, однако, он вздрогнул) , tapped me on the shoulder (хлопнул меня по плечу) , and pointed over the meadows (и указал через луга = вдаль) .

"Look there (взгляните-ка туда) !" said he.

fortunate [ˈfɔ:tʃnɪt], hired [ˈhaɪǝd], heavens [ˈhevǝnz], meadows [ˈmedǝuz]

At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn, and drove for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows.

"Look there!" said he.

A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope (сильно лесистый = заросший парк растянулся = раскинулся на пологом склоне) , thickening into a grove at the highest point (уплотняясь = переходя в рощу в высшей точке) . From amid the branches (посреди = через ветки) there jutted out the gray gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion (выступали серые фронтоны и высокий коньковый прогон очень старого помещичьего дома) .

"Stoke Moran?" said he.

"Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott (да, сэр, это дом доктора Гримсби Ройлотта) ," remarked the driver (заметил кучер) .

heavily [ˈhevɪlɪ], gentle [ʤentl], branches [ˈbrɑ:ntʃɪz], mansion [mænʃn]

A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted out the gray gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion.

"Stoke Moran?" said he.

"Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the driver.

"There is some building going on there (там происходит какое-то строительство; to go on — случаться, происходить; продолжаться) ," said Holmes; "that is where we are going (это /то место/, куда мы собираемся /поехать/ = куда нам нужно) ."

"There's the village (там деревня) ," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left (сказал кучер, указывая на группу крыш /находящихся/ на некотором расстоянии слева) ; "but if you want to get to the house (но если хотите добраться к дому) , you'll find it shorter to get over this stile (вы найдете это короче = вам будет ближе перейти через этот приступок /у изгороди/) , and so by the foot-path over the fields (и затем /пройти/ тропинкой через поля) . There it is, where the lady is walking (вон там, где идет леди) ."

village [ˈvɪlɪʤ], stile [staɪl], path [pɑ:Ɵ], field [fi:ld]

"There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is where we are going."

"There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is walking."

"And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner (а эта леди, полагаю, мисс Стонер) ," observed Holmes, shading his eyes (заметил Холмс, заслоняя от света глаза) . "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest (да, думаю, нам лучше сделать, как вы предлагаете) ."

We got off (мы вышли /из экипажа/) , paid our fare (заплатили нашу проездную плату = расплатились) , and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead (экипаж загрохотал обратно в Лэтерхэд) .

"I thought it as well (я подумал, между прочим; as well — также, кстати, вдобавок) ," said Holmes as we climbed the stile (сказал Холмс, когда мы карабкались через приступок) , "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects (что этому парню следует думать, что мы прибыли сюда как архитекторы) , or on some definite business (по какому-то определенному делу) . It may stop his gossip (это может остановить его сплетни) . Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner (добрый день, мисс Стонер) . You see that we have been as good as our word (вы видите, что мы точно сдержали слово: «были столь же хороши, как наше слово») ."

suggest [sǝˈʤest], fare [feǝ], architects [ˈɑ:kɪtekts]

"And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest."

We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leatherhead.

"I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as our word."

Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us (наша утренняя клиентка поспешила вперед, чтобы встретить нас) with a face which spoke her joy (с лицом, которое говорило /о/ ее радости = радостно) . "I have been waiting so eagerly for you (я ждала вас так нетерпеливо) ," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly (воскликнула она, горячо пожимая нам руки) . "All has turned out splendidly (все получилось превосходно; to turn out — оказаться, выясниться, сделаться) . Dr. Roylott has gone to town (уехал в город) , and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening (и маловероятно, что он вернется раньше вечера) ."

"We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance (мы имели удовольствие познакомиться с доктором) ," said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had occurred (сказал Холмс, и в нескольких словах зарисовал = описал /все/, что произошло) . Miss Stoner turned white to the lips (мисс Стонер вся побледнела: «стала белой до губ», выслушав /его/) as she listened.

"Good heavens (Боже мой) !" she cried, "he has followed me, then (значит, он следовал за мной) ."

forward [ˈfɔ:wǝd], eagerly [ˈi:ɡǝlɪ], warmly [ˈwɔ:mlɪ]

Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening."