Фрэнсис Фитцджеральд - Английский язык с Ф. Скоттом Фитцджеральдом. Алмаз величиной в отель «Риц» / Francis Scott Fitzgerald. The Diamond As Big As The Ritz

quiet ['kwaIqt], handsome ['hxn(d)sqm], curiosity ["kjVqrI'OsItI]

In the middle of his second year at school, a quiet, handsome boy named Percy Washington had been put in John's form. The new-comer was pleasant in his manner and exceedingly well dressed even for St. Midas's, but for some reason he kept aloof from the other boys. The only person with whom he was intimate was John T. Unger, but even to John he was entirely uncommunicative concerning his home or his family. That he was wealthy went without saying, but beyond a few such deductions John knew little of his friend, so it promised rich confectionery for his curiosity when Percy invited him to spend the summer at his home "in the West." He accepted, without hesitation.

It was only when they were in the train (только когда они были в поезде) that Percy became, for the first time, rather communicative (стал/сделался впервые довольно разговорчив; to become ). One day while they were eating lunch in the dining-car (однажды, когда они обедали: «ели обед/ланч» в вагоне-ресторане) and discussing the imperfect characters of several of the boys at school (и обсуждали небезупречные характеры некоторых мальчиков в школе; perfect — совершенный, безупречный; безукоризненный; идеальный ), Percy suddenly changed his tone and made an abrupt remark (вдруг переменил тон и сделал неожиданное замечание; abrupt — обрывистый; отрывистый; внезапный; неожиданный, непредвиденный ).

"My father," he said, "is by far the richest man in the world (вне всякого сомнения, самый богатый человек в мире; by far — значительно, намного, гораздо; несомненно, безусловно )."

"Oh," said John politely (вежливо). He could think of no answer to make to this confidence (не мог придумать никакого /другого/ ответа на это самоуверенное признание; confidence — доверие; уверенность, убежденность; самоуверенность; конфиденциальное сообщение, секретная информация ). He considered (он подумывал /не сказать ли/; consider — рассматривать, обсуждать; взвешивать, обдумывать, продумывать ) "That's very nice (очень хорошо/приятно)," but it sounded hollow (звучало /бы/ неискренне; hollow — пустой, полый; бессодержательный; неискренний, лживый ) and was on the point of saying (совсем уж собирался сказать; be on the point of doing smth. — собираться сделать что-л. немедленно ), "Really (в самом деле)?" but refrained since it would seem to question Percy's statement (но /вовремя/ удержался, так как это могло быть принято за недоверие к утверждению Перси; to seem — казаться, представляться; to question — спрашивать; подвергать сомнению, сомневаться; question — вопрос; сомнение ). And such an astounding statement could scarcely be questioned (такое поразительное утверждение едва ли могло подвергаться сомнению).

"By far the richest," repeated Percy (повторил Перси).

politely [pq'laItlI], confidence ['kOnfIdqns], considered [kqn'sIdqd]

It was only when they were in the train that Percy became, for the first time, rather communicative. One day while they were eating lunch in the dining-car and discussing the imperfect characters of several of the boys at school, Percy suddenly changed his tone and made an abrupt remark.

"My father," he said, "is by far the richest man in the world."

"Oh," said John politely. He could think of no answer to make to this confidence. He considered "That's very nice," but it sounded hollow and was on the point of saying, "Really?" but refrained since it would seem to question Percy's statement. And such an astounding statement could scarcely be questioned.

"By far the richest," repeated Percy.

"I was reading in the World Almanac (я читал во "Всемирном альманахе"; world — мир, свет; общество; общественность )," began John (начал Джон; to begin ), "that there was one man in America with an income of over five million a year (что в Америке есть один человек с доходом свыше пяти миллионов в год) and four men with incomes of over three million a year (и четыре человека с доходами свыше трех миллионов в год), and —"

"Oh, they're nothing (они — ничто/мелочь = тоже мне богачи)." Percy's mouth was a half-moon of scorn (губы Перси изогнулись в презрительном полумесяце: «рот Перси был полумесяцем презрения/насмешки»; moon — луна ). "Catch-penny capitalists (дешевые капиталисты; catch-penny — показной, рассчитанный на дешевый успех; to catch — ловить; поймать; penny — пенни, однопенсовая монета; цент ), financial small-fry (финансовая мелкая сошка; small-fry — мелкая рыбешка, мальки; мелкая сошка ), petty merchants (жалкие торговцы; petty — мелкий, незначительный; второстепенный, маловажный ) and money-lenders (ростовщики; to lend — одалживать, давать взаймы; ссужать, давать под проценты ). My father could buy them out and not know he'd done it (мог бы купить их всех и даже не заметить: «и не знать, /что/ он сделал это»; to buy out — скупить, выкупить /что-л. целиком/ )."

"But how does he — (но как/почему он…)"

"Why haven't they put down his income-tax (почему они не указали его подоходный налог; to put down — записывать; указывать, проставлять )? Because he doesn't pay any (потому, что он его не платит; any — какой-нибудь; сколько-нибудь; никакой, ни один /в отрицательных предложениях/ ). At least he pays a little one (по крайней мере, он платит маленький/небольшой) — but he doesn’t pay any on his real income (не платит его со своего реального/действительного дохода)."

world [wWld], almanac ['Llmqnxk], income ['InkAm]

"I was reading in the World Almanac," began John, "that there was one man in America with an income of over five million a year and four men with incomes of over three million a year, and —"

"Oh, they're nothing," Percy's mouth was a half-moon of scorn. "Catch-penny capitalists, financial small-fry, petty merchants and money-lenders. My father could buy them out and not know he'd done it."

"But how does he —"

"Why haven't they put down his income tax? Because he doesn't pay any. At least he pays a little one — but he doesn't pay any on his real income."

"He must be very rich (должно быть, он очень богат)," said John simply (просто), "I'm glad (рад). I like very rich people (я люблю очень богатых людей).

"The richer a fella is, the better I like him (чем богаче человек, тем больше он мне нравится; fella /разг./ = fellow — человек, парень )." There was a look of passionate frankness upon his dark face (на его смуглом лице было выражение страстной искренности; dark — темный; смуглый; frank — откровенный, искренний, открытый ). "I visited the Schnlitzer-Murphys last Easter (гостил у Шнлицеров-Мэрфи в прошлую Пасху). Vivian Schnlitzer-Murphy had rubies as big as hen's eggs (У Вивиан Шнлицер-Мэрфи рубины размером с куриные яйца: «такие большие как…»), and sapphires that were like globes with lights inside them — (сапфиры, которые были подобны шарам с огоньками/фонариками внутри них)"

"I love jewels (люблю драгоценные камни)," agreed Percy enthusiastically (согласился Перси восторженно). "Of course I wouldn't want any one at school to know about it (конечно, я не хотел бы, чтобы кто-нибудь в школе знал об этом), but I've got quite a collection myself (но у меня у самого настоящая/неплохая коллекция; I’ve got = I have; quite — вполне, совершенно; в самом деле /выражает усиление/ ). I used to collect them instead of stamps (я собирал их вместо марок; used to — оборот, использующийся при описании событий, которые регулярно происходили в прошлом )."

"And diamonds (алмазы)," continued John eagerly (страстно/пылко = с жаром). "The Schnlitzer-Murphys had diamonds as big as walnuts — (величиной с грецкие орехи)"

"That's nothing." Percy had leaned forward and dropped his voice to a low whisper (наклонился вперед и понизил голос до тихого шепота; to drop — капать; ронять; бросать /вниз/; снижать, понижать, уменьшать ). "That's nothing at all (совсем ничего = совершенные пустяки). My father has a diamond bigger than the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (у моего отца есть алмаз больше, чем отель "Риц-Карлтон")."

sapphire ['sxfaIq], enthusiastically [In" TjHzI'xstIkqlI], diamond ['daIqmqnd]

"He must be very rich," said John simply, "I'm glad. I like very rich people.

"The richer a fella is, the better I like him." There was a look of passionate frankness upon his dark face. "I visited the Schnlitzer-Murphys last Easter. Vivian Schnlitzer-Murphy had rubies as big as hen's eggs, and sapphires that were like globes with lights inside them —"

"I love jewels," agreed Percy enthusiastically. "Of course I wouldn't want any one at school to know about it, but I've got quite a collection myself. I used to collect them instead of stamps."

"And diamonds," continued John eagerly. "The Schnlitzer-Murphys had diamonds as big as walnuts —"

"That's nothing." Percy had leaned forward and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "That's nothing at all. My father has a diamond bigger than the Ritz-Carlton Hotel."