Энтони Хоуп - Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды / Anthony Hope. The Prisoner Of Zenda

She curtsied low, and put her hand under mine and raised my hand and kissed it. And for an instant I thought what I had best do. Then I drew her to me and kissed her twice on the cheek, and she blushed red, and – then his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop slipped in front of Black Michael, and kissed my hand and presented me with a letter from the Pope – the first and last which I have received from that exalted quarter!

And then came the Duke of Strelsau. His step trembled, I swear, and he looked to the right and to the left, as a man looks who thinks on flight; and his face was patched with red and white, and his hand shook so that it jumped under mine, and I felt his lips dry and parched. And I glanced at Sapt, who was smiling again into his beard, and, resolutely doing my duty in that station of life to which I had been marvellously called, I took my dear Michael by both hands and kissed him on the cheek. I think we were both glad when that was over!

But neither in the face of the princess nor in that of any other (но ни на лице принцессы, ни на лице кого-либо другого) did I see the least doubt or questioning (я не увидел ни малейших сомнений или подозрений; to question – спрашивать, задавать вопросы; подвергать сомнению ). Yet, had I and the King stood side by side (однако, если бы мы с королем стояли рядом), she could have told us in an instant (она смогла бы отличить нас в один миг; to tell – рассказывать; узнавать, различать ), or, at least, on a little consideration (или, во всяком случае, после недолгого раздумья; consideration – рассмотрение, обсуждение; соображение; to consider – рассматривать, обсуждать; обдумывать ). But neither she nor anyone else dreamed or imagined (но ни она, ни кто-либо еще не помышлял и не предполагал; to dream – мечтать; думать, помышлять / преим. в отриц. предложениях / ; to imagine – воображать, представлять себе; предполагать ) that I could be other than the King (что я мог быть не королем, /а кем-то/ другим). So the likeness served, and for an hour I stood there (так сработала наша схожесть, и в течение часа я стоял там; to serve – служить, быть слугой; выполнять назначение, служить / для чего-л. /), feeling as weary and blasé as though I had been a king all my life (ощущая себя утомленным и пресыщенным, будто я был королем всю свою жизнь); and everybody kissed my hand (каждый целовал мне руку), and the ambassadors paid me their respects (послы /подходили/ засвидетельствовать свое почтение; to pay one’s respect to smb. – засвидетельствовать кому-л. свое почтение ), among them old Lord Topham, at whose house in Grosvenor Square I had danced a score of times (и среди них – старый лорд Топхэм, в чьем доме на Гросвенор-Сквер, я танцевал раз двадцать; score – счет; два десятка ). Thank heaven, the old man was as blind as a bat (благодарение Небу, старик был слеп, как летучая мышь = как крот), and did not claim my acquaintance (и не заявил /о том, что/ знаком со мною; to claim – требовать; заявлять; acquaintance – знакомство ).

Then back we went through the streets to the Palace (потом мы возвращались по улицам к дворцу), and I heard them cheering Black Michael (и я слышал, как приветствовали Черного Михаэля); but he, Fritz told me, sat biting his nails like a man in a reverie (но он, как сказал мне Фриц, сидел и грыз ногти, как человек, /погрузившийся/ в раздумья; reverie – мечтание; задумчивость ), and even his own friends said that he should have made a braver show (и даже его друзья говорили, что ему бы следовало принять более храбрый вид; show – показ, демонстрация; внешний вид ).

But neither in the face of the princess nor in that of any other did I see the least doubt or questioning. Yet, had I and the King stood side by side, she could have told us in an instant, or, at least, on a little consideration. But neither she nor anyone else dreamed or imagined that I could be other than the King. So the likeness served, and for an hour I stood there, feeling as weary and blasé as though I had been a king all my life; and everybody kissed my hand, and the ambassadors paid me their respects, among them old Lord Topham, at whose house in Grosvenor Square I had danced a score of times. Thank heaven, the old man was as blind as a bat, and did not claim my acquaintance.

Then back we went through the streets to the Palace, and I heard them cheering Black Michael; but he, Fritz told me, sat biting his nails like a man in a reverie, and even his own friends said that he should have made a braver show.

I was in a carriage now, side by side with the Princess Flavia (теперь я сидел в карете, бок о бок с принцессой Флавией), and a rough fellow cried out (и какой-то грубый тип выкрикнул; fellow – парень, малый; тип / презр. /):

“And when’s the wedding?” and as he spoke another struck him in the face (и когда свадьба? – и когда он это произнес, другой ударил его в лицо), crying “Long live Duke Michael (крича: да здравствует герцог Михаэль)!” and the princess coloured – it was an admirable tint (а принцесса залилась краской – то был восхитительный румянец; to colour – красить, окрашивать; покраснеть, зардеться; tint – краска; оттенок, тон ) – and looked straight in front of her (и /стала/ смотреть прямо перед собой).

Now I felt in a difficulty (теперь я почувствовал себя в затруднении), because I had forgotten to ask Sapt the state of my affections (потому что забыл спросить Сэпта о состоянии моих привязанностей), or how far matters had gone between the princess and myself (или, /иначе говоря/, как далеко зашли наши с принцессой отношения: «дела между мной и принцессой»). Frankly, had I been the King (по-честному, будь я королем), the further they had gone the better should I have been pleased (то, чем дальше бы они зашли, тем больше я был бы рад). For I am not a slow-blooded man (потому что я человек с горячей кровью: «я не человек с медленной кровью»), and I had not kissed Princess Flavia’s cheek for nothing (и поцеловал принцессу Флавию в щеку не просто так; for nothing – напрасно, зря ). These thoughts passed through my head (эти мысли пронеслись в моей голове), but, not being sure of my ground, I said nothing (но, не будучи уверенным /в том, как себя вести/, я не сказал ничего; to be sure of one’s ground – чувствовать твердую почву под ногами ); and in a moment or two the princess, recovering her equanimity, turned to me (и через некоторое время принцесса, вновь обретя хладнокровие, повернулась ко мне).

“Do you know, Rudolf,” said she, “you look somehow different today (знаете, Рудольф, – сказала она, – вы сегодня выглядите как-то странно: «немного по-другому»)?”

The fact was not surprising, but the remark was disquieting (это было не удивительно, но замечание заставило забеспокоиться: «было тревожным»; fact – факт, обстоятельство; to disquiet – беспокоить, тревожить; quiet – спокойный, тихий ).

I was in a carriage now, side by side with the Princess Flavia, and a rough fellow cried out:

“And when’s the wedding?” and as he spoke another struck him in the face, crying “Long live Duke Michael!” and the princess coloured – it was an admirable tint – and looked straight in front of her.

Now I felt in a difficulty, because I had forgotten to ask Sapt the state of my affections, or how far matters had gone between the princess and myself. Frankly, had I been the King, the further they had gone the better should I have been pleased. For I am not a slow-blooded man, and I had not kissed Princess Flavia’s cheek for nothing. These thoughts passed through my head, but, not being sure of my ground, I said nothing; and in a moment or two the princess, recovering her equanimity, turned to me.

“Do you know, Rudolf,” said she, “you look somehow different today?”

The fact was not surprising, but the remark was disquieting.

“You look,” she went on, “more sober, more sedate (вы выглядите, – продолжала она, – благоразумнее, спокойнее; sober – трезвый; рассудительный, благоразумный ); you’re almost careworn, and I declare you’re thinner (вы совсем: «почти» измучены заботами, и я утверждаю, что вы похудели; to declare – заявлять, объявлять; thin – тонкий; худой ). Surely it’s not possible that you’ve begun to take anything seriously (конечно, не может быть, что вы стали принимать все близко к сердцу; seriously – серьезно, всерьез )?”

The princess seemed to hold of the King much the same opinion (казалось, принцесса придерживалась о короле того же мнения) that Lady Burlesdon held of me (что и леди Берлисдон обо мне).

I braced myself up to the conversation (я собрался с духом и /продолжал/ разговор; to brace oneself up – напрячь все силы, собраться с духом; to brace – связывать, скреплять ).