Илья Франк - Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

улице). People would stare so (люди будут так пялиться)."

London ['lAndqn] opportunity ["Opq'tju:nItI] excuse [Ik'skju:s]

It was much funnier than he imagined. Anyhow it didn't matter if he knew who she

was. She ought to have guessed that she couldn't go far in London without being

recognized. He had a cockney accent and a pasty face, but she gave him a jolly,

friendly smile. He mustn't think she was putting on airs.

"Excuse me talking to you, not 'aving been introduced and all that, but I couldn't

miss the opportunity. Will you oblige me with your autograph?"

Julia caught her breath. It couldn't be that this was why he had followed her for ten

minutes. He must have thought that up as an excuse for speaking to her. Well, she

would play up.

"I shall be delighted. But I can't very well give it you in the street. People would

stare so."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

732

"That's right (это точно). Look here, I was just going along to 'ave my tea

(послушайте, я как раз собирался выпить чаю; 'ave = to have ). There's a Lyons

at the next corner (здесь /кафе из сети/ «Лайонз» на следующем углу). Why

don't you come in and 'ave a cup too (почему бы вам не зайти и не выпить тоже

чашку)?"

She was getting on (она делала успехи; to get on — преуспевать,

продвигаться ). When they'd had tea (когда они выпьют чай) he'd probably

suggest going to the pictures (он, возможно, предложит пойти в кино).

"All right (хорошо)," she said.

They walked along till they came to the shop (они шли до тех пор, пока не

дошли до закусочной) and took their places at a small table (и сели на места:

«заняли свои места» за маленьким столом).

"Two teas, please, miss (два чая пожалуйста, мисс)," he ordered (заказал он).

"Anything to eat (что-нибудь поесть)?" And when Julia declined (и когда

Джулия отказалась): "Scone and butter for one, miss (булочку и масло — для

одного, мисс)."

Julia was able now to have a good look at him (Джулия теперь смогла

хорошенько его рассмотреть). Though stocky and short (хотя коренастый и

невысокий) he had good features (у него были хорошие черты лица), his black

hair was plastered down on his head (его черные волосы были прилизаны по

/его/ голове) and he had fine eyes (и у него были красивые глаза), but his teeth

were poor (но его зубы были плохие) and his pale skin gave him an unhealthy

look (и его бледная кожа придавала ему нездоровый вид). There was a sort of

impudence in his manner (была некая дерзость в его манере поведения) that

Julia did not much like (которая Джулии не особо нравилась), but then, as she

sensibly reflected (но тогда, когда она благоразумно поразмыслила), you could

hardly expect the modesty of the violet in a young man (что нельзя: «вряд ли

можно» ожидать скромности фиалки от молодого человека; a blushing violet

— чрезвычайно застенчивый человек ) who picked you up in the Edgware Road

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

733

(который подбирает девушек на Эдвард-роуд).

"Before we go any further (до того, как мы продолжим: «пойдем дальше») let's

'ave this autograph, eh (давайте сделаем этот автограф, да)? Do it now, that's my

motto (не откладывай: «делай это сейчас» — вот мой девиз)."

corner ['kO:nq] impudence ['ImpjVd(q)ns] autograph ['O:tqgrQ:f]

"That's right. Look here, I was just going along to 'ave my tea. There's a Lyons at

the next corner. Why don't you come in and 'ave a cup too?"

She was getting on. When they'd had tea he'd probably suggest going to the

pictures.

"All right," she said.

They walked along till they came to the shop and took their places at a small table.

"Two teas, please, miss," he ordered. "Anything to eat?" And when Julia declined:

"Scone and butter for one, miss."

Julia was able now to have a good look at him. Though stocky and short he had

good features, his black hair was plastered down on his head and he had fine eyes,

but his teeth were poor and his pale skin gave him an unhealthy look. There was a

sort of impudence in his manner that Julia did not much like, but then, as she

sensibly reflected, you could hardly expect the modesty of the violet in a young

man who picked you up in the Edgware Road.

"Before we go any further let's 'ave this autograph, eh? Do it now, that's my

motto."

He took a fountain pen from his pocket (он достал авторучку из своего кармана;

fountain — фонтан, ключ, источник, резервуар авторучки ) and from a bulging

pocket-book a large card (и из разбухшей записной книжки: «бумажника» —

большую карточку; pocket — карман, сумка, деньги ).

"One of our trade cards (одна из наших фирменных карточек; trade — ремесло,

торговля, клиентура )," he said. "That'll do O.K. (она подойдет отлично)."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

734

Julia thought it silly to carry the subterfuge to this length (Джулия думала, что

было глупым растягивать уловку /для знакомства с ней/ до такой длины;

subterfuge — увертка, отговорка, to carry smth. to a certain condition —

доводить что-либо до какого-либо состояния ), but she good-humouredly

signed her name on the back of the card (но она добродушно написала свое имя

на обороте карточки).

"Do you collect autographs (вы собираете автографы)?" she asked him with a

subtle smile (спросила она его с нежной улыбкой).

"Me (я)? Noa (не-а). I think it's a lot of tommy rot (я думаю, что это просто

чушь: «куча нелепостей»). My young lady does (моя девушка

/коллекционирует/; my young lady — моя барышня — о возлюбленной ). She's

got Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and I don't know what all (у нее есть

/автографы/ Чарли Чаплина и Дугласа Фербенкса и я не знаю, кого еще:

«каких всех»). Show you 'er photo if you like (покажу вам ее фото, если хотите;

'er = her )."

From his pocket-book (из своего бумажника) he extracted a snapshot of a rather

pert-looking young woman (он извлек моментальный снимок довольно-таки

развязно выглядевшей молодой женщины) showing all her teeth in a cinema

smile (показывающей все свои зубы в киношной улыбке).

"Pretty (хорошенькая)," said Julia.

fountain ['faVntIn] bulging ['bAldZIN] snapshot ['snxpSOt]

He took a fountain pen from his pocket and from a bulging pocket-book a large

card.

"One of our trade cards," he said. "That'll do O.K."

Julia thought it silly to carry the subterfuge to this length, but she good-

humouredly signed her name on the back of the card.

"Do you collect autographs?" she asked him with a subtle smile.

"Me? Noa. I think it's a lot of tommy rot. My young lady does. She's got Charlie

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

735

Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and I don't know what all. Show you 'er photo if

you like."

From his pocket-book he extracted a snapshot of a rather pert-looking young

woman showing all her teeth in a cinema smile.

"Pretty," said Julia.

"And how (и какая). We're going to the pictures tonight (мы пойдем в кино

сегодня вечером). She will be surprised when I give her your autograph (она

будет так удивлена, когда я дам ей ваш автограф). The first thing I said to

meself when I knew it was you was (первое, что я сказал себе, когда я понял,

что это были вы, так это то), I'll get Julia Lambert's autograph for Gwen or die in

the attempt (что я заполучу автограф Джулии Лэмберт для Гвен или умру при

попытке). We're going to get married in August (мы собираемся пожениться в

августе), when I 'ave my 'oliday, you know (когда у меня будет отпуск, знаете

ли; I 'ave my 'oliday = I have my holiday ); we're going to the Isle of Wight for the

'oneymoon (мы собираемся на остров Уайт на медовый месяц; 'oneymoon =

honeymoon ). I shall 'ave a rare lot of fun with 'er over this (я хорошенько

повеселюсь: «я буду иметь редкостное множество веселья» с ней по этому

поводу; rare — редкий, исключительный, over — зд. указывает на предмет

мысли, спора и т.д. — относительно, касательно ). She won't believe me when

I tell her you an' me 'ad tea together (она не поверит мне, когда я скажу ей, /что/

вы и я пили чай вместе; an' = and, 'ad = had ), she'll think I'm kidding (она

подумает, что я смеюсь над ней; to kid — разыгрывать, дурачить ), and then

I'll show 'er the autograph, see (и тогда я покажу ей автограф, понимаете)?"

Julia listened to him politely (Джулия слушала его вежливо), but the smile had

left her face (но улыбка исчезла с ее лица: «покинула ее лицо»).

"I'm afraid I shall have to go in a minute (/я/ боюсь, что мне уже надо идти

/через минутку/)," she said. "I'm late already (я и так уже задержалась)."