Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Собака Баскервилей

evening [ˈi:vnɪŋ], event [ɪˈvent], excitement [ɪkˈsaɪtmǝnt]

"I can well remember driving up to his house in the evening, some three weeks before the fatal event. He chanced to be at his hall door. I had descended from my gig and was standing in front of him, when I saw his eyes fix themselves over my shoulder, and stare past me with an expression of the most dreadful horror. I whisked round and had just time to catch a glimpse of something which I took to be a large black calf passing at the head of the drive. So excited and alarmed was he that I was compelled to go down to the spot where the animal had been and look around for it. It was gone, however, and the incident appeared to make the worst impression upon his mind. I stayed with him all the evening, and it was on that occasion, to explain the emotion which he had shown, that he confided to my keeping that narrative which I read to you when first I came. I mention this small episode because it assumes some importance in view of the tragedy which followed, but I was convinced at the time that the matter was entirely trivial and that his excitement had no justification.

"It was at my advice that Sir Charles was about to go to London (это по моему совету сэр Чарльз собирался поехать в Лондон; to be about — намереваться) . His heart was, I knew, affected (как я знал, сердце у него пошаливало; to affect — оказывать воздействие; поражать /о болезни/) , and the constant anxiety in which he lived (а постоянный страх, в котором он жил) , however chimerical the cause of it might be (какой бы эфемерной ни была причина; chimerical — невыполнимый, неосуществимый) , was evidently having a serious effect upon his health (несомненно, имел серьезное влияние на его здоровье) . I thought that a few months among the distractions of town (я полагал, что несколько месяцев жизни в городе: «среди городских развлечений»; distraction — отвлечение внимания; развлечение) would send him back a new man (вернут его назад новым человеком; to send — посылать) . Mr. Stapleton, a mutual friend (/наш/ общий друг, мистер Стэплтон) who was much concerned at his state of health (весьма встревоженный состоянием его здоровья) , was of the same opinion (был того же мнения) . At the last instant came this terrible catastrophe (в последний момент произошла эта ужасная трагедия; to come — приходить; происходить, случаться) .

anxiety [æŋˈzaɪǝtɪ], mutual [ˈmju:tjuǝl], catastrophe [kǝˈtæstrɔfɪ]

"It was at my advice that Sir Charles was about to go to London. His heart was, I knew, affected, and the constant anxiety in which he lived, however chimerical the cause of it might be, was evidently having a serious effect upon his health. I thought that a few months among the distractions of town would send him back a new man. Mr. Stapleton, a mutual friend who was much concerned at his state of health, was of the same opinion. At the last instant came this terrible catastrophe.

"On the night of Sir Charles's death Barrymore the butler (в ночь смерти сэра Чарльза Бэрримор, дворецкий) , who made the discovery (который обнаружил тело: «сделал открытие»; to discover — открывать; обнаруживать) , sent Perkins the groom on horseback to me (послал конюха Перкинса верхом ко мне) , and as I was sitting up late (а поскольку я поздно не ложился; to sit up late — засидеться допоздна) I was able to reach Baskerville Hall within an hour of the event (я смог прибыть в Баскервиль-холл в течение часа /после/ этого события) . I checked and corroborated all the facts (я проверил и подтвердил все факты) which were mentioned at the inquest (которые были упомянуты на следствии) . I followed the footsteps down the Yew Alley (я проследовал по /его/ следам вниз по тисовой аллее) , I saw the spot at the moor-gate (осмотрел место у калитки, выходящей на болота) where he seemed to have waited (где он, по-видимому, ждал = останавливался) , I remarked the change in the shape of the prints after that point (заметил, как изменили форму следы, /ведущие/ от этого места: «точки») , I noted that there were no other footsteps (я /также/ заметил, что не было никаких других следов) save those of Barrymore on the soft gravel (кроме следов Бэрримора на мягком гравии; save — за исключением, кроме) , and finally I carefully examined the body (и, наконец, я внимательно осмотрел тело) , which had not been touched until my arrival (которое не трогали до моего приезда) .

discovery [dɪsˈkʌvǝrɪ], carefully [ˈkɛǝfullɪ], arrival [ǝˈraɪv(ǝ)l]

"On the night of Sir Charles's death Barrymore the butler, who made the discovery, sent Perkins the groom on horseback to me, and as I was sitting up late I was able to reach Baskerville Hall within an hour of the event. I checked and corroborated all the facts which were mentioned at the inquest. I followed the footsteps down the Yew Alley, I saw the spot at the moor-gate where he seemed to have waited, I remarked the change in the shape of the prints after that point, I noted that there were no other footsteps save those of Barrymore on the soft gravel, and finally I carefully examined the body, which had not been touched until my arrival.

"Sir Charles lay on his face (сэр Чарльз лежал лицом вниз: «на своем лице») , his arms out, his fingers dug into the ground (раскинув руки с вонзенными в землю пальцами; to dig — копать; вонзать) , and his features convulsed with some strong emotion to such an extent (а черты лица были до такой степени искажены каким-то сильным волнением) that I could hardly have sworn to his identity (что я едва смог опознать его личность; to swear to — давать показания под присягой; to swear — клясться; identity — идентичность; личность) . There was certainly no physical injury of any kind (никаких физических повреждений на нем определенно не было) . But one false statement was made by Barrymore at the inquest (но на следствии Бэрримор сделал одно ошибочное утверждение) . He said that there were no traces (он сказал, что не было никаких следов) upon the ground round the body (на земле около тела) . He did not observe any (он никаких /и/ не заметил) . But I did (но заметил я) — some little distance off, but fresh and clear (немного в стороне, но свежие и отчетливые) ."

"Footprints (следы) ?"

"Footprints."

"A man's or a woman's (мужские или женские) ?"

Dr. Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant (доктор Мортимер мгновение странно смотрел на нас) , and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered (и голос его снизился почти до шепота, когда он ответил; to sink — тонуть; опускаться) :—

"Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound (мистер Холмс, это были отпечатки лап огромной собаки) !"

feature [ˈfi:tʃǝ], injury [ˈɪndʒǝrɪ], clear [klɪǝ]

"Sir Charles lay on his face, his arms out, his fingers dug into the ground, and his features convulsed with some strong emotion to such an extent that I could hardly have sworn to his identity. There was certainly no physical injury of any kind. But one false statement was made by Barrymore at the inquest. He said that there were no traces upon the ground round the body. He did not observe any. But I did — some little distance off, but fresh and clear."

"Footprints?"

"Footprints."

"A man's or a woman's?"

Dr. Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered:—

"Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!"

(Загадка)

I CONFESS that at these words a shudder passed through me (должен признаться, что дрожь прошла по мне при этих словах) . There was a thrill in the doctor's voice (в голосе доктора было = слышалось волнение) which showed that he was himself deeply moved (показывавшее, что он сам был глубоко взволнован; to move — двигать; волновать) by that which he told us (тем, о чем нам рассказывал) . Holmes leaned forward in his excitement (Холмс в возбуждении наклонился вперед) and his eyes had the hard, dry glitter (и глаза его имели жесткий, сухой блеск) which shot from them (появляющийся в них; to shoot — стрелять; внезапно появиться, промелькнуть) when he was keenly interested (когда он был сильно /чем-то/ заинтересован) .

"You saw this (вы это видели /сами/) ?"

"As clearly as I see you (так же отчетливо, как вижу вас) ."

"And you said nothing (и вы ничего не сказали) ?"

"What was the use (а какой смысл; use — употребление; польза, толк) ?"

"How was it that no one else saw it (как получилось, что больше никто их не видел) ?"

"The marks were some twenty yards from the body (отпечатки были ярдах в двадцати от тела) and no one gave them a thought (и никто не обратил на них внимания; to give — давать; thought — мысль; внимание) . I don't suppose I should have done (не думаю, что и я обратил бы) so had I not known this legend (не знай я легенды) ."

"There are many sheep-dogs on the moor (много овчарок на болотах) ?"