Текст книги "Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов (ASCII-IPA)"

Автор книги: Артур Конан Дойл

Соавторы: Илья Франк,Андрей Еремин
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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

pal ['p&l], climbing ['klaImIN], derbies ['d@:bIz]

«There are three men waiting for him at the door,» said Holmes.

"Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I must compliment you."

"And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new and effective."

"You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the derbies."

"I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands (я попрошу вас не трогать меня своими грязными руками)," remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists (заметил наш узник, когда наручники: «ручные браслеты» загремели на его запястьях). "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins (вы можете не быть осведомленными = вам, наверное, не известно, что в моих венах = жилах течет королевская кровь). Have the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and 'please (будьте добры, также, когда обращаетесь ко мне говорить «сэр» и «пожалуйста»).'"

touch [tVtS], filthy ['fIlTI], handcuffs ['h&ndkVfs], blood [blVd], veins [veInz]

"All right (хорошо)," said Jones with a stare and a snigger (сказал Джонс с изумленным взглядом и хихиканьем). "Well, would you please, sir, march upstairs (не соблаговолите ли вы, сэр, подняться: «прошагать» наверх), where we can get a cab to carry your Highness to the police-station (где вы можете сесть в кеб, который отвезет ваше высочество в полицейский участок)?"

stare [ste@], march [mA:tS], Highness ['haInIs]

«I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands,» remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. «You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and 'please.'»

"All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry your Highness to the police-station?"

"That is better (так-то лучше)," said John Clay serenely (сказал Клэй спокойно/безмятежно). He made a sweeping bow to the three of us (он сделал широкий поклон = величаво поклонился нам троим) and walked quietly off in the custody of the detective (и медленно удалился под опекой сыщика).

bow [bau], custody ['kVst@dI]

"Really, Mr. Holmes (действительно, мистер Холмс)," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them from the cellar (когда мы проследовали за ними из подвала), "I do not know how the bank can thank you or repay you (я не знаю, как банк может отблагодарить или вознаградить вас). There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most complete manner (без сомнения, вы распознали и провалили самым лучшим образом) one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery (одну из самых решительных = крупных попыток ограбления банка) that have ever come within my experience (которую я когда-либо встречал; experience – опыт)."

defeated [dI'fi:tId], complete [k@m'pli:t], robbery ['rOb@rI]

«That is better,» said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the detective.

"Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience."

"I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay (у меня были один или два маленьких счета, чтобы расплатиться с мистером Джоном Клэем = у меня с ним были свои старые счеты; to settle – урегулировать, привести в порядок)," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over this matter (я понес небольшие расходы на этом деле), which I shall expect the bank to refund (которые я ожидаю от банка возместить = которые банк легко возместит мне), but beyond that I am amply repaid (но помимо этого я уже вполне вознагражден) by having had an experience which is in many ways unique (испытав опыт = приключение, которое во многих путях уникально = единственное в своем роде), and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the Red-headed League (и услышав очень занимательный рассказ о Союзе рыжих)."

scores [skO:z], expense [Ik'spens], refund [ri:'fVnd], amply ['&mplI], unique [ju:'ni:k]

«I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. John Clay,» said Holmes. «I have been at some small expense over this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the Red-headed League.»

"You see, Watson (видите ли, Ватсон)," he explained in the early hours of the morning (объяснил он в ранние утренние часы) as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street (когда мы сидели за стаканчиком виски с содовой на Бэйкер-стрит), "it was perfectly obvious from the first (было совершенно очевидно с самого начала) that the only possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the League (что единственной возможной целью это довольного фантастичного дела с объявлением о Союзе), and the copying of the Encyclopaedia (и переписыванием энциклопедии), must be to get this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hours every day (должно было быть /только/ удаление этого не слишком умного: «сверхсмышленого» владельца ссудной кассы в сторону = из дома на несколько часов ежедневно). It was a curious way of managing it (это был курьезный способ исполнения этого /плана/), but, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better (но, действительно, было бы трудно предложить /что-то/ лучше). The method was no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind (способ, без сомнения, был предложен = подсказан изобретательному уму Клэя) by the color of his accomplice's hair (цветом волос его сообщника). The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw him (четыре фунта в неделю были приманкой, которая должна вытащить его /из дома/), and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands (а что это значит для них, которые играли на тысячи = рассчитывали получить тысячи)? They put in the advertisement (они дали объявление), one rogue has the temporary office (один жулик снял временную контору), the other rogue incites the man to apply for it (другой жулик подстрекает человека = своего хозяина обратиться туда), and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the week (а вместе они смогли обеспечить его отсутствие каждое утро в течение недели). From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for half wages (с того момента, когда я услышал о помощнике, работающем за половинное жалованье), it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for securing the situation (для меня стало очевидным, что у него есть сильный мотив = веская причина для этого: «для обеспечения такой ситуации»)."

obvious ['ObvI@s], curious ['kjuerI@s], suggest [s@'dZest], ingenious [In'dZInI@s], lure [lju@], rogue [r@ug], incites [In'saIts], secure [sI'kju@], wage [weIdZ]

«You see, Watson,» he explained in the early hours of the morning as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, «it was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the League, and the copying of the Encyclopaedia, must be to get this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the color of his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for securing the situation.»

"But how could you guess what the motive was (но как вы могли догадаться, что это была за причина)?"

"Had there been women in the house (будь /там/ женщина в доме), I should have suspected a mere vulgar intrigue (я подозревал бы лишь о пошлой интриге). That, however, was out of the question (это, однако, было вне вопроса). The man's business was a small one (бизнес = предприятие человека = нашего клиента было небольшим), and there was nothing in his house which could account for such elaborate preparations (и в доме не было ничего, что могло бы явиться причиной таким детальным приготовлениям = ради чего стоило затевать такую сложную игру), and such an expenditure as they were at (и такие расходы, какие понесли они). It must, then, be something out of the house (должно было, следовательно, быть что-то вне дома). What could it be (что это могло быть)? I thought of the assistant's fondness for photography (я подумал об увлечении помощника фотографией), and his trick of vanishing into the cellar (и этой штуке с исчезновением в погребе). The cellar (погреб)! There was the end of this tangled clew (там был конец этого запутанного клубка = вот другой конец запутанной нити). Then I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant (затем я навел справки = расспросил о таинственном помощнике) and found that I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London (и обнаружил, что имею дело с одним из самых хладнокровных и дерзких преступников Лондона). He was doing something in the cellar (он делал: «был делающим» что-то в погребе) – something which took many hours a day for months on end (что-то, что занимает много часов в день месяцы напролет). What could it be, once more (еще раз = и снова – что это может быть)? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some other building (я не мог подумать ни о чем /другом/, кроме /того/ что он рыл: «был роющим» туннель к какому-то другому зданию).

intrigue [In'tri:g], elaborate [I'l&b@r@t], expenditure [Ik'spendItS@], building ['bIldIN]

«But how could you guess what the motive was?»

"Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clew. Then I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in London. He was doing something in the cellar – something which took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to some other building.

"So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action (к такому выводу: «так далеко» я пришел = успел прийти, /к тому моменту/ когда мы отправились посмотреть место действия; so far – до сих пор, пока). I surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick (я удивил вас битьем по мостовой моей тростью). I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind (я устанавливал, протягивался ли погреб = прокладывался ли подкоп вперед или назад). It was not in front (перед фасадом его не было). Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the assistant answered it (затем я позвонил, и, как и ожидал, открыл помощник). We have had some skirmishes (у нас бывали /прежде/ кое-какие стычки), but we had never set eyes upon each other before (но мы никогда раньше не видели друг друга в лицо). I hardly looked at his face (я едва взглянул в его лицо). His knees were what I wished to see (его колени были /тем/ что я хотел увидеть). You must yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were (вы сами должны были заметить, как потерты, помяты и запачканы они были). They spoke of those hours of burrowing (они говорили о тех часах рытья). The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for (единственным оставшимся пунктом было /выяснить/ куда они рыли подкоп). I walked round the corner (я свернул за угол), saw the City and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises (увидел Городской и Пригородный Банк, примыкающий к дому наших друзей), and felt that I had solved my problem (и понял, что я решил проблему). When you drove home after the concert (когда вы поехали домой после концерта) I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors (я обратился в Скотланд-Ярд и к председателю правления банка), with the result that you have seen (с результатом, который вы видели = что было дальше – вам известно)."

scene [si:n], skirmish ['sk@:mIS], wrinkled [rINkld], burrow ['b@:r@u], abutted [@'bVtId]

«So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank directors, with the result that you have seen.»

"And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight (как вы могли сказать мне = откуда вы знали, что они совершат попытку /ограбления/ этой ночью)?" I asked.

"Well, when they closed their League offices (ну, когда они закрыли свою контору Союза) that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence (это был знак, что их не волновало больше присутствие = что они не нуждались больше в отсутствии мистера Джабеза Уилсона) – in other words (иными словами), that they had completed their tunnel (что они закончили свой туннель). But it was essential that they should use it soon (но было существенно, что они должны использовать его в ближайшее время), as it might be discovered (так как он мог быть обнаружен), or the bullion might be removed (или слитки золота могли быть перевезены /в другое место/). Saturday would suit them better than any other day (суббота подошла бы им лучше, чем любой другой день), as it would give them two days for their escape (так как она дала бы им два дня для побега). For all these reasons I expected them to come tonight (на основании всех этих соображений я ожидал их = что они придут этой ночью)."

presence [prezns], essential [I'senSl], discovered [dIs'kVv@d], bullion ['bulj@n], suit [sju:t]

«And how could you tell that they would make their attempt tonight?» I asked.

"Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence – in other words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. For all these reasons I expected them to come tonight."

"You reasoned it out beautifully (вы продумали это прекрасно = ваши рассуждения изумительны)," I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration (воскликнул я в неподдельном восхищении; to feign – притворяться; подделывать). "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true (это такая длинная цепь = вы создали такую длинную цепь, и каждое звено ее правильно = безупречно)."

beautiful ['bju:tIful], unfeigned [Vn'feInd], admiration [,&dm@'reISn], chain [tSeIn], true [tru:]

"It saved me from ennui (это спасло меня от апатии)," he answered, yawning (ответил он, зевая). "Alas (увы)! I already feel it closing in upon me (я уже чувствую ее, приближающуюся ко мне = чувствую, что скука снова одолевает меня). My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence (моя жизнь проведена в одном долгом усилии убежать от = избежать банальностей существования). These little problems help me to do so (эти маленькие проблемы помогают мне сделать это)."

ennui [A:n'wi:], yawning ['jO:nIN], alas [@'lA:s], commonplaces ['kOm@npleIsIz], existence [Ig'zIst@ns]

«You reasoned it out beautifully,» I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration. «It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true.»

"It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so."

"And you are a benefactor of the race (вы благодетель расы = человечества)," said I.

He shrugged his shoulders (он пожал плечами). "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some little use (ну, пожалуй, в конце концов, это имеет небольшую пользу = я действительно приношу кое-какую пользу)," he remarked. 'L'homme c'est rien – l'œuvre c'est tout,' (человек – ничто, дело/создание – все (фр.)) as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand (как Густав Флобер написал /в письме/ к Жорж Санд)."

shrugged [SrVgd], shoulders ['S@uld@z], use [ju:s]

«And you are a benefactor of the race,» said I.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some little use," he remarked. 'L'homme c'est rien – l'œuvre c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand."

THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP

(ЧЕЛОВЕК С РАССЕЧЕННОЙ ГУБОЙ)

Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney (Айза Уитни, брат покойного Элиаса Уитни), D.D. (D.D. = Doctor of Divinity – доктора богословия), Principal of the Theological College of St. George's (директора теологического колледжа Св. Георга), was much addicted to opium (сильно пристрастился к опию; addicted to drugs – принимающий наркотики, наркоман; addicted – cклонный /к чему-либо дурному/, предающийся чему-либо). The habit grew upon him (/эта/ привычка поработила его; to grow on – овладеть), as I understand (как я понимаю), from some foolish freak when he was at college (из-за одной глупой затеи, когда он учился в колледже; freak – причуда, чудачество); for having read De Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations (прочитав описание снов и ощущений де Куинси), he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum (он пропитывал = начал пропитывать свой тобак настойкой опия) in an attempt to produce the same effects (в попытке вызвать те же самые воздействия). He found, as so many more have done (он обнаружил, как и многие другие сделали = обнаружили), that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of (что эту привычку легче приобрести, чем избавиться от нее), and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug (и в течение многих лет он продолжал быть рабом наркотика), an object of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives (объектом смешанных отвращения и жалости для своих друзей и родственников). I can see him now (сейчас я могу видеть его = я так и вижу его), with yellow, pasty face (с желтым, одутловатым лицом), drooping lids (набрякшими веками; to droop – свисать), and pin-point pupils (и сузившимися: «точечными» зрачками), all huddled in a chair (все /тело/, съежившееся в кресле; to huddle – складывать в кучу, свернуться), the wreck and ruin of a noble man (обломки и развалины благородного = прекрасного человека).

principal ['prInsIpl], addicted [@'dIktId], opium ['@upI@m], laudanum ['lO:dn@m], wreck [rek]

Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man.

One night (однажды вечером) – it was in June '89 – there came a ring to my bell (пришел = раздался звонок в мой колокольчик), about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the clock (около того часа = примерно в то время, когда человек дает свой первый зевок = когда начинаешь уже зевать и посматриваешь на часы). I sat up in my chair (я выпрямился в кресле), and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap (и моя жена положила свое шитье на колени; needlework: needle – игла, work – работа) and made a little face of disappointment (и сделала небольшое выражение разочарованного лица = недовольно поморщилась).

yawn [jO:n], needlework ['ni:dlw@:k], disappointment [,dIs@'pOIntm@nt]

"A patient (пациент)!" said she. "You'll have to go out (тебе придется выйти /к нему/)."

I groaned (я вздохнул), for I was newly come back from a weary day (так как я недавно вернулся после целого дня утомительной работы: «из утомительного дня»).

groan [gr@un], newly ['nju:lI], weary ['wI@rI]

One night – it was in June '89 – there came a ring to my bell, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment.

"A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out."

I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day.

We heard the door open (мы услышали, как открылась дверь), a few hurried words (несколько торопливых слов), and then quick steps upon the linoleum (и затем быстрые шаги по линолеуму). Our own door flew open (наша /собственная/ дверь распахнулась; to fly open – распахнуться), and a lady, clad in some dark-colored stuff (и дама, одетая в темное платье; to clothe – одевать; stuff – материал, ткань), with a black veil (с черной вуалью /на лице/), entered the room (вошла в комнату).

linoleum [lI'n@ulj@m], stuff [stVf], veil [veIl]

"You will excuse my calling so late (вы извините мое посещение так поздно = что я так поздно пришла)," she began (начала она), and then, suddenly losing her self-control (и затем, внезапно теряя = потеряв самообладание), she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck (она кинулась вперед, обняла мою жену: «бросила свои руки вокруг шеи моей жены»), and sobbed upon her shoulder (и зарыдала на ее плече). "Oh, I'm in such trouble (о, я в такой беде)!" she cried (воскликнула она); "I do so want a little help (мне так нужна помощь; to do перед основным глаголом используется для усиления)."

excuse [Ik'skju:s], forward ['fO:w@d], trouble [trVbl]

We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in some dark-colored stuff, with a black veil, entered the room.

"You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help."

"Why (как)," said my wife, pulling up her veil (поднимая ее вуаль), "it is Kate Whitney (это /же/ Кейт Уитни). How you startled me, Kate (как ты напугала меня, Кейт)! I had not an idea who you were when you came in (я не имела понятия, кто это, когда ты вошла = мне в голову не пришло, что это ты)."

"I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you (я не знала, что делать, поэтому я пошла прямо к тебе)." That was always the way (это был всегда путь = это было обычным явлением). Folk who were in grief (люди, которые были в печали = в беде) came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse (устремлялись к моей жене, как птицы к маяку).

straight [streIt], grief [gri:f], wife [waIf], lighthouse ['laIthaus]

"It was very sweet of you to come (это было очень мило с твоей стороны зайти = ты правильно сделала, что пришла). Now, you must have some wine and water (теперь ты должна выпить немного вина и воды), and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it (садись здесь поудобнее и расскажи нам все об этом). Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed (или ты, может быть, хочешь, чтобы я отправила Джеймса спать)?"

wine [waIn], water ['wO:t@], comfortably ['kVmf@t@blI]

«Why,» said my wife, pulling up her veil, «it is Kate Whitney. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you came in.»

"I didn't know what to do, so l came straight to you." That was always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse.

"It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?"

"Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too (я хочу совета и помощи /от/ доктора также). It's about Isa (это об Айзе = дело касается Айзы). He has not been home for two days (его не было дома два дня). I am so frightened about him (я так боюсь за него)!"

advice [@d'vaIs], frightened [fraItnd]

It was not the first time (это не было первым временем = не в первый раз) that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble (/когда/ она говорила с нами о горе своего мужа; to speak – говорить, высказываться), to me as a doctor (со мной как с доктором), to my wife as an old friend and school companion (с моей женой – как со старой подругой и школьной приятельницей). We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find (мы утешали и успокаивали ее как могли: «такими словами, какие мы могли найти; to soothe – успокаивать, смягчать; to comfort – утешать). Did she know where her husband was (знала ли она, где находится ее муж)? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her (было ли это возможно, что мы можем привести его обратно к ней = нельзя ли привести его обратно домой)?

husband ['hVzb@nd], companion [k@m'p&nI@n], soothed [su:Dd], comforted ['kVmf@tId]

«Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about him!»

It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her?

It seems that it was (кажется, что возможно). She had the surest information (она имела самую точную информацию = ей было точно известно; sure – верный, несомненный) that of late he had, when the fit was on him (что в последнее время он, когда настроение было на нем = в определенном состоянии), made use of an opium den in the farthest east of the City (пользовался опиумным притоном /расположенным/ на самом востоке Сити; to make use of – применять, употреблять). Hitherto his orgies had always been confined to one day (до настоящего времени его оргии всегда ограничивались одним днем), and he had come back (и он возвращался /домой/), twitching and shattered (подергиваясь и разбитый; to shatter – разбить, разрушить), in the evening (вечером). But now the spell had been upon him eight-and-forty hours (но теперь чары действовали на него в течение сорока восьми часов), and he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks (и он лежал там, несомненно, среди отбросов доков), breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects (вдыхая яд или отсыпаясь после курения: «от последствий»). There he was to be found (там он мог быть найден), she was sure of it (она была уверена в этом), at the Bar of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane (в «Золотом слитке», на Аппер-Суондем-лейн). But what was she to do (но что она могла сделать)? How could she, a young and timid woman (как могла она, молодая и застенчивая женщина), make her way into such a place (войти: «сделать свой путь» в такое место) and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him (и вырвать своего мужа из числа = толпы тех негодяев, которые его окружали)?

sure ['Su@], hitherto [hID@'tu:], doubtless ['dautlIs], breathing ['bri:DIN], ruffians ['rVfI@nz]

It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him?

There was the case (была /определенная/ ситуация), and of course there was but one way out of it (и, конечно, был лишь один выход из нее). Might I not escort her to this place (мог бы я сопроводить ее к тому месту)? And then, as a second thought (и затем, как вторая мысль = подумал я), why should she come at all (зачем ее идти вообще)? I was Isa Whitney's medical adviser (я был консультирующим врачом Айзы Уитни), and as such I had influence over him (и в этом качестве /будучи врачом/ я оказывал на него влияние). I could manage it better if I were alone (я мог бы справиться с этим /делом/ лучше, если бы был один). I promised her on my word (я дал ей честное слово) that I would send him home in a cab within two hours (что пришлю его домой в кебе в течение двух часов) if he were indeed at the address which she had given me (если он действительно находится по адресу, который она мне дала). And so in ten minutes I had left my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me (и вот, через десять минут я оставил свое кресло и уютную: «веселую» гостиную /позади меня/), and was speeding eastward in a hansom on a strange errand (и мчался: «был мчащимся» в восточном направлении в экипаже по странному поручению = делу), as it seemed to me at the time (как мне казалось в то время), though the future only could show how strange it was to be (хотя только будущее могло показать, насколько странным оно оказалось).