Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Знак четырех (ASCII-IPA)

thorough ['TVr@], succeed [s@k'si:d], finesse [fI'nes]

"Well, I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest. So it is. When I had succeeded in dissolving the hydrocarbon which I was at work at, I came back to our problem of the Sholtos, and thought the whole matter out again. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf, nor had it returned. Yet it could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces, — though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. I knew that this man Small had a certain degree of low cunning, but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. That is usually a product of higher education. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time — as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge — he could hardly leave at a moment's notice, but would need some little time, if it were only a day, to arrange his affairs. That was the balance of probability, at any rate."

"It seems to me to be a little weak," said I (мне это не кажется очень убедительным, — сказал я; weak — слабый; неубедительный) . "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs (более вероятно, что он уладил все свои дела) before ever he set out upon his expedition (прежде чем отправиться на дело; to set out — начинать) ."

"No, I hardly think so (нет, едва ли я с вами соглашусь: «едва ли я так думаю») . This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up (эта его берлога была бы слишком ценным убежищем, если бы оно ему понадобилось, чтобы он расстался с ней; retreat — отступление; уединенное место, убежище; to give up — оставить, бросить) until he was sure that he could do without it (прежде чем он был уверен, что сможет обойтись без нее; to do without — обходиться) . But a second consideration struck me (и другое соображение пришло мне в голову; to strike — ударяться; производить впечатление) . Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion (Джонатан Смолл должен был чувствовать, что характерная внешность его компаньона; peculiar — специфический; своеобразный; необычный) , however much he may have top-coated him (как бы он ее ни маскировал; topcoat — пальто; верхний отделочный слой; to top-coat — прикрывать, маскировать) , would give rise to gossip, and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy (даст повод сплетням и может быть связана с норвудской трагедией; to give rise — вызывать, давать повод) . He was quite sharp enough to see that (он достаточно умен, чтобы понимать это) . They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness (они покинули свою штаб-квартиру под покровом тьмы) , and he would wish to get back before it was broad light (и ему бы хотелось вернуться до того, как совсем рассвело; broad — широкий; обширный; откровенный; ясный) . Now, it was past three o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when they got the boat (теперь, согласно миссис Смит, был четвертый час утра: «было после трех часов», когда они погрузились на катер: «получили лодку») . It would be quite bright (обычно в это время уже довольно светло) , and people would be about in an hour or so (и через час или около того везде бы были люди) . Therefore, I argued, they did not go very far (следовательно, пришел я к выводу, они не уплыли очень далеко) . They paid Smith well to hold his tongue (они хорошо заплатили Смиту, чтобы он держал язык за зубами: «держал язык») , reserved his launch for the final escape (припрятали катер для окончательного исчезновения; to reserve — запасать; приберегать; резервировать; escape — бегство) , and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure-box (и поспешили с сокровищами: «с ящиком с сокровищами» в свое логово; lodging —жилище, жилье) . In a couple of nights, when they had time to see what view the papers took (через пару ночей, узнав: «когда у них было время увидеть», какого мнения придерживаются газеты) , and whether there was any suspicion (и могут ли их заподозрить: «и было ли какое-либо подозрение») , they would make their way under cover of darkness (они бы доплыли: «сделали свой путь» под покровом ночи) to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs, where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies (до какого-нибудь корабля в Грейвсэнде или Даунсе, уходящего в Америку или колонии, на котором, несомненно, они уже договорились о местах; to arrange — приводить в порядок; договариваться; passage — прохождение; переезд; рейс, поездка) ."

lair [le@], tongue [tVN], suspicion [s@'spIS(@)n]

"It seems to me to be a little weak," said I. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition."

"No, I hardly think so. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. But a second consideration struck me. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion, however much he may have top-coated him, would give rise to gossip, and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. He was quite sharp enough to see that. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness, and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. Now, it was past three o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when they got the boat. It would be quite bright, and people would be about in an hour or so. Therefore, I argued, they did not go very far. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue, reserved his launch for the final escape, and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure-box. In a couple of nights, when they had time to see what view the papers took, and whether there was any suspicion, they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs, where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies."

"But the launch (но катер) ? They could not have taken that to their lodgings (не могли же они взять его с собой в свою нору) ."

"Quite so (конечно) . I argued that the launch must be no great way off (я пришел к выводу, что катер должен быть где-то недалеко) , in spite of its invisibility (хотя его никто не видел: «несмотря на его невидимость») . I then put myself in the place of Small (затем я поставил себя на место Смолла) , and looked at it as a man of his capacity would (и посмотрел на проблему так, как бы это сделал человек его способностей) . He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf (он, вероятно, считал, что отослать катер назад или держать его на каком-нибудь причале) would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track (облегчило бы преследование, если бы полиция напала на их след; to happen — случаться, происходить) . How, then, could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted (как тогда мог он скрыть катер и все же иметь его под рукой, если он потребуется: «когда пожелается»; to conceal — скрывать; маскировать; прятать) ? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes (я задумался, что бы я сам сделал, если бы был на его месте; to wonder — удивляться; интересоваться; размышлять, задаваться вопросом; to be in one's shoes — оказаться на месте другого) . I could only think of one way of doing it (я смог придумать только один способ сделать это) . I might hand the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer (я бы передал катер кому-то, кто строит или ремонтирует суда: «строителю судов или ремонтнику»; to repair — ремонтировать) , with directions to make a trifling change in her (с указаниями изменить в нем какую-нибудь мелочь: «сделать пустяковую перемену в нем») . She would then be removed to his shed or yard (его тогда поставили бы в его сарай или док; to remove — передвигать, перемещать; убирать) , and so be effectually concealed (и он был бы эффективно скрыт) , while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice (а в то же время я мог бы получить его назад, предупредив за несколько часов; notice — извещение, уведомление; предупреждение) ."

"That seems simple enough (это кажется совсем простым) ."

invisibility [In,vIz@'bIl@tI], conceal [k@n'si:l], trifling ['traIflIN]

"But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings."

"Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off, in spite of its invisibility. I then put myself in the place of Small, and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track. How, then, could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. I could only think of one way of doing it. I might hand the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer, with directions to make a trifling change in her. She would then be removed to his shed or yard, and so be effectually concealed, while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice."