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: 15 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

sight [saIt], remedied ['remIdId], seized [si:zd], strenuously ['strenju@slI], afford [@'fO:d]

"Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful examination of the premises, but without finding anything which threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes during which he might have communicated with his friend the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the police station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clew.

"And it did (и действительно), though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they had feared to find (хотя они едва нашли на грязевой отмели /то/, что они боялись найти = хотя и нашли кое-что, но совсем не то, чего они так боялись найти). It was Neville St. Clair's coat (пиджак), and not Neville St. Clair (а не Невилл Сент-Клер), which lay uncovered as the tide receded (который лежал открыто, когда прилив снизился = отхлынула вода; to uncover – обнаруживать, открывать, обнажать). And what do you think they found in the pockets (и что вы думаете, они нашли в карманах)?"

though [D@u], feared [fI@d], receded [rI'si:dId]

"I cannot imagine (не могу /себе/ представить)."

"No, I don't think you would guess (не думаю, что вы догадаетесь). Every pocket stuffed with pennies and halfpennies (каждый карман /был/ набит /монетами в/ пенни и полпенни) – 421 pennies and 270 halfpennies. It was no wonder (не удивительно) that it had not been swept away (что он не был смыт; to sweep away – смывать, сносить) by the tide. But a human body is a different matter (но человеческое тело – другое дело). There is a fierce eddy (сильный водоворот = течение) between the wharf and the house (между верфью и домом). It seemed likely enough (вполне допустимо) that the weighted coat had remained (что отягощенное пальто осталось) when the stripped body had been sucked away into the river (тогда как раздетое тело было унесено в реку; to suck – поглощать, всасывать)."

stuffed [stVft], wonder ['wVnd@], weighted ['weItId]

«And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And what do you think they found in the pockets?»

"I cannot imagine."

"No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with pennies and halfpennies – 421 pennies and 270 halfpennies. It was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked away into the river."

"But I understand that all the other clothes (но /как/ я понимаю, вся остальная одежда) were found in the room (была найдена в комнате). Would the body be dressed in a coat alone (неужели тело было одето только в пиджак = на трупе был только пиджак)?"

"No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough (но факты могли быть встречены достаточно правдоподобно = этому можно найти объяснение). Suppose (предположим) that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the window (выбросил Невилла Сент-Клера в: «через» окно; to thrust – толкать, выбрасывать), there is no human eye (там нет человеческого глаза = свидетеля) which could have seen the deed (который мог бы видеть /это/ действие). What would he do then (что бы он сделал затем)? It would of course instantly strike him (ему сразу пришло бы в голову, конечно) that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments (что он должен избавиться от выдающей его одежды; tell-tale – указатель, доносчик). He would seize the coat (схватил бы = хватает пиджак), then, and be in the act of throwing it out (во время выкидывания его), when it would occur to him (ему пришло бы в голову) that it would swim and not sink (что он поплывет, а не потонет). He has little time (у него мало времени: «маленькое время»), for he has heard the scuffle downstairs (услышал потасовку внизу) when the wife tried to force her way up (когда жена пыталась прорваться наверх), and perhaps (возможно) he has already heard from his Lascar confederate (слышал от своего сообщника-Ласкара) that the police are hurrying up the street (что полиция спешит /сюда/ по улице). There is not an instant to be lost (тут нет ни одного мига, чтобы был потерян = нельзя терять ни минуты). He rushes to some secret hoard (он кидается к тайному складу = углу), where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary (где он накопил плоды своего нищенства), and he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands (набивает все монеты, на которые может положить свои руки = которые первыми попались под руку) into the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking (в карманы, чтобы быть уверенным в погружении пиджака = что пиджак потонет). He throws it out (выбрасывает), and would have done the same with the other garments (и сделал бы то же самое с другими предметами одежды) had not he heard the rush of steps below (не услышь он шум шагов внизу), and only just had time (и имел только время) to close the window when the police appeared (закрыть окно, когда появилась полиция)."

speciously ['spi:S@slI], occur [@'k@:], confederate [k@n'fedrIt], hoard [hO:d]

«But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?»

"No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the window when the police appeared."

"It certainly sounds feasible (это звучит вполне правдоподобно)."

"Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a better (мы возьмем это = примем как рабочую гипотезу из-за отсутствия более хорошей). Boone, as I have told you (как я вам сказал), was arrested (арестован) and taken to the station (доставлен в участок), but it could not be shown that there had ever before been anything against him (но это не могло быть показано/доказано, что когда-либо раньше было что-то против него = его прошлая жизнь – безупречна). He had for years been known as a professional beggar (он в течение многих лет известен как профессиональный нищий), but his life appeared to have been a very quiet and innocent one (но его жизнь, кажется, была очень тихой и безобидной). There the matter stands at present (там дело стоит сейчас = вот в каком положении находится дело в настоящий момент), and the questions which have to be solved (вопросы, которые должны быть решены) – what Neville St. Clair was doing (что делал: «был делающим») in the opium den, what happened to him when there (что случилось с ним, когда /он был/ там), where is he now (где он сейчас), and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance (какое отношение имел к его исчезновению Хью Бун) – are all as far from a solution as ever (все /эти вопросы/ так далеки от решения, как всегда = по-прежнему не решены). I confess that I cannot recall any case within my experience (признаюсь, что не могу вспомнить какое-либо дело в: «внутри, в пределах» моей практике) which looked at the first glance so simple (которое выглядело бы на первый взгляд таким простым) and yet which presented such difficulties (и, тем не менее, представляло бы такие трудности)."

hypothesis [haI'pOTIsIs], innocent ['In@s@nt], glance [glA:ns]

«It certainly sounds feasible.»

"Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before been anything against him. He had for years been known as a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the questions which have to be solved – what Neville St. Clair was doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance – are all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot recall any case within my experience which looked at the first glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties."

While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of events (подробно рассказывал эти необычные последовательности событий), we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great town (мы мчались по предместьям большого города) until the last straggling houses had been left behind (пока последние разбросанные = одиночные дома были оставлены позади), and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us (и мы мчались с грохотом мимо деревенской изгороди по обе стороны от нас). Just as he finished (когда он закончил), however, we drove through two scattered villages (мы проехали через две отдельные деревушки; to scatter – разбрасывать, раскидывать), where a few lights still glimmered in the windows (где несколько огней еще мерцали в окнах).

whirling ['w@:lIN], outskirts ['autsk@:ts], hedge [hedZ]

While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows.

"We are on the outskirts of Lee (мы в предместье Ли)," said my companion. "We have touched on three English counties in our short drive (мы побывали в трех английских графствах в нашей = во время нашей маленькой поездки; to touch – тронуть, прикоснуться), starting in Middlesex (начав в Мидлсексе), passing over an angle of Surrey (переехав угол Суррей), and ending in Kent (и закончив в Кенте). See that light among the trees (видите тот огонь посреди деревьев)? That is The Cedars (это «Кедры»), and beside that lamp sits a woman (возле той лампы сидит женщина) whose anxious ears (чьи тревожные уши = настороженный слух) have already, I have little doubt (имею мало сомнений = почти не сомневаюсь), caught the clink of our horse's feet (уловил звон ног = стук копыт нашей лошади; to catch – ловить)."

"But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street (но почему вы не ведете это дело с Бейкер-стрит)?" I asked.

counties ['kauntIz], anxious ['&NkS@s], horse [hO:s]

«We are on the outskirts of Lee,» said my companion. «We have touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet.»

"But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I asked.

"Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here (много расследований, которые должны быть проведены здесь). Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal (наиболее любезно предоставила две комнаты в мое распоряжение), and you may rest assured (вы можете быть уверены) that she will have nothing but a welcome for my friend and colleague (что у нее нет ничего, кроме гостеприимства для моего друга и коллеги). I hate to meet her (очень не хочу встретить ее; to hate – ненавидеть), Watson, when I have no news of her husband (когда у меня нет новостей о ее муже). Here we are (вот мы и на месте). Whoa (тпру), there, whoa!"

kindly ['kaIndlI], disposal [dIs'p@uzl], colleague ['kA.li:g]

«Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!»

We had pulled up in front of a large villa (мы остановились перед большой виллой) which stood within its own grounds (которая стояла внутри своего собственного сада = была окружена садом; grounds – сад, парк при доме; участок вокруг дома). A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head (конюх подбежал к голове лошади), and springing down (спрыгивая вниз), I followed Holmes up the small, winding gravel drive (я последовал за Холмсом по маленькой, извилистой, посыпанной гравием: «гравийной» дорожке) which led to the house (которая вела к дому). As we approached (когда мы приблизились), the door flew open (распахнулась), and a little blonde woman stood in the opening (и маленькая белокурая женщина встала на пороге), clad in some sort of light mousseline-de-soie (одетая в светлое шелковое платье), with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck and wrists (с пышным розовым шифоном на шее = у горла и запястьях = рукавах; touch – примесь, штрих, оттенок). She stood with her figure outlined against the flood of light (с фигурой очерченной = высвеченной потоком света), one hand upon the door (одна рука на двери), one half-raised in her eagerness (другая – полуподнята в /ее/ нетерпении), her body slightly bent (ее тело слегка наклонено), her head and face protruded (ее голова и лицо выдавались вперед = вытянув вперед голову), with eager eyes and parted lips (с нетерпеливыми глазами и полураскрытыми губами), a standing question («стоящий вопрос» = с вопросительным видом).

winding ['waIndIN], touch [tVtS], flood [flVd], eagerness ['i:g@nIs], parted ['pA:tId]

We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding gravel drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad in some sort of light mousseline-de-soie, with a touch of fluffy pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing question.

"Well (ну)?" she cried, «well?» And then, seeing that there were two of us (видя, что нас двое), she gave a cry of hope (издала крик надежды) which sank into a groan (который превратился в стон; to sink – опускаться) as she saw that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders (когда она увидела, что мой товарищ покачал головой и пожал плечами).

"No good news (нет хороших новостей)?"

"None (нет)."

"No bad (а плохих)?"

"No."

«Well?» she cried, «well?» And then, seeing that there were two of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.

"No good news?"

"None."

"No bad?"

"No."

"Thank God for that (слава Богу за это). But come in (но входите). You must be weary (вы, должно быть, устали), for you have had a long day (так как у вас был долгий день)."

"This is my friend (друг), Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to me in several of my cases (он был самой жизненно важной пользы = чрезвычайно полезен в нескольких моих делах = расследованиях), and a lucky chance has made it possible for me (и счастливый случай сделал это возможным для меня = по счастливой случайности мне удалось) to bring him out and associate him with this investigation (привести его сюда и подключить к этому расследованию; to associate – присоединить, действовать совместно)."

vital [vaItl], chance [tSA:ns], associate [@'s@uSIeIt]

"I am delighted to see you (я рада видеть вас)," said she, pressing my hand warmly (пожимая мою руку тепло = приветливо). "You will, I am sure (уверена), forgive anything that may be wanting in our arrangements (вы простите все, чего может не хватать в наших расположениях = вам у нас будет неуютно), when you consider the blow which has come so suddenly upon us (когда вы учтете несчастье: «удар», которое так внезапно обрушилось на нас)."

delighted [dI'laItId], arrangements [@'reIndZm@nts], consider [k@n'sId@]

«Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have had a long day.»

"This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this investigation."

"I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so suddenly upon us."

"My dear madam (дорогая сударыня)," said I, "I am an old campaigner (я старый участник похода = служака), and if I were not (и /даже/ если бы я не был /им/) I can very well see that no apology is needed (я могу хорошо видеть, что никаких извинений не требуется). If I can be of any assistance (если я могу принести хоть какую-нибудь пользу), either to you or to my friend here (вам или моему другу здесь = вот этому моему другу), I shall be indeed happy (я буду действительно счастлив)."

campaigner [k&m'peIn@], apology [@'pA.l@dZI], assistance [@'sIst@ns]

«Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,» said the lady as we entered a well-lit dining-room (когда мы вошли в ярко освещенную столовую), upon the table of which (на столе /в/ которой) a cold supper had been laid out (холодный ужин был накрыт), "I should very much like to ask you one or two plain questions (я очень хочу задать вам один или два простых = откровенных вопроса), to which I beg that you will give a plain answer (на которые я прошу, чтобы вы дали откровенный ответ)."

supper ['sVp@], plain [pleIn], answer ['A:ns@]

«My dear madam,» said I, «I am an old campaigner, and if I were not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be indeed happy.»

"Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain answer."

"Certainly, madam (конечно, мадам)."

"Do not trouble about my feelings (не щадите моих чувств). I am not hysterical, nor given to fainting (я ни истерична, ни склонна к обморокам). I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion (я просто желаю услышать ваше настоящее, подлинное мнение)."

"Upon what point (по какому пункту = о чем)?"

"In your heart of hearts (в глубине души), do you think that Neville is alive (жив)?"

«Certainly, madam.»

"Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion."

"Upon what point?"

"In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?"

Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question (казалось, был смущен этим вопросом). "Frankly (откровенно), now!" she repeated (повторила), standing upon the rug and looking keenly down at him (стоя на ковре и глядя пристально на него) as he leaned back in a basket-chair (он откинулся в плетеном кресле: «корзинке-кресле»).

embarrassed [Im'b&r@st], frankly ['fr&NklI], basket ['bA:skIt]

"Frankly, then, madam, I do not (откровенно /говоря/, мадам, я не думаю /что он жив/)."

"You think that he is dead (думаете, что он мертв)?"

"I do (да)."

"Murdered (убит)?"

Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. «Frankly, now!» she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair.

"Frankly, then, madam, I do not."

"You think that he is dead?"

"I do."

"Murdered?"

"I don't say that (я этого не говорю = не утверждаю). Perhaps (возможно)."

"And on what day did he meet his death (и в какой день встретил он свою смерть)?"

"On Monday (в понедельник)."

"Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain (будьте любезны объяснить) how it is that I have received a letter from him today (как это /произошло/, что я получила письмо от него вчера)."

Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair (вскочил с кресла) as if he had been galvanized (словно его ударило током).

«I don't say that. Perhaps.»

"And on what day did he meet his death?"

"On Monday."

"Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how it is that I have received a letter from him today."

Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been galvanized.

«What!» he roared (взревел он).

"Yes, today." She stood smiling (стояла, улыбаясь), holding up a little slip of paper in the air (держа маленький листок бумаги в воздухе).

"May I see it (можно взглянуть)?"

"Certainly (конечно)."

He snatched it from her in his eagerness (выхватил его у нее в своем рвении = нетерпеливо), and smoothing it out upon the table (разглаживая на столе) he drew over the lamp (придвинул лампу; to draw over) and examined it intently (внимательно рассмотрел письмо; intently – пристально, внимательно, сосредоточенно). I had left my chair (я оставил мое кресло = поднялся из кресла) and was gazing at it over his shoulder (и /пристально/ смотрел на письмо через его плечо). The envelope was a very coarse one (конверт был очень грубым) and was stamped with the Gravesend postmark (был проштампован штемпелем Гревзенда) and with the date of that very day (и с датой того самого дня), or rather of the day before (или, вернее, вчерашнего), for it was considerably after midnight (так как было значительно после полуночи).

smoothing ['smu:DIN], envelope ['@nv@l@up], coarse [kO:s], considerably [k@n'sIdr@blI]

«What!» he roared.

"Yes, today." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of paper in the air.

"May I see it?"

"Certainly."

He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day before, for it was considerably after midnight.

"Coarse writing (грубый почерк)," murmured Holmes (пробормотал Холмс). "Surely this is not your husband's writing (конечно, это не почерк вашего мужа), madam."

"No, but the enclosure is (но вложенное /в конверт/, содержимое – его почерк)."

"I perceive also (я думаю также; to perceive – чувствовать, понимать) that whoever addressed the envelope (что кто бы ни отправил = надписал конверт) had to go and inquire as to the address (должен был пойти и узнать /ваш/ адрес)."

"How can you tell that (как вы это определили)?"

«Coarse writing,» murmured Holmes. «Surely this is not your husband's writing, madam.»

"No, but the enclosure is."

"I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and inquire as to the address."

"How can you tell that?"

"The name (имя), you see, is in perfectly black ink (/написано/ совершенно черными чернилами), which has dried itself (которые высохли сами: «высушили сами себя»). The rest is of the grayish color (остальное – сероватого цвета), which shows that blotting-paper has been used (что показывает, что промокательная бумага была использована). If it had been written straight off (если бы это было написано сразу), and then blotted (и затем промокнуто), none would be of a deep black shade (никакие /слова/ были бы глубокого черного оттенка = все слова были бы одного цвета). This man has written the name (написал имя), and there has then been a pause (потом пауза) before he wrote the address, which can only mean (что может значить только) that he was not familiar with it (что он не был знаком с ним). It is, of course, a trifle (пустяк), but there is nothing so important as trifles (но нет ничего, что было бы столь важно, как пустяки). Let us now see the letter (давайте теперь посмотрим на письмо). Ha! there has been an enclosure here (здесь было вложение, приложение)!"

grayish ['greIS], pause [pO:z], familiar [f@'mIlI@], trifle [traIfl], enclosure [In'kl@uZ@]

«The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried itself. The rest is of the grayish color, which shows that blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! there has been an enclosure here!»

"Yes, there was a ring (кольцо). His signet-ring (его кольцо с печаткой)."

"And you are sure (уверены) that this is your husband's hand (рука = почерк вашего мужа)?"

"One of his hands (один из его почерков)."

"One?"

"His hand when he wrote hurriedly (почерк, когда он пишет торопливо). It is very unlike his usual writing (очень непохоже на его обычный почерк), and yet I know it well (знаю хорошо)."

«Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring.»

"And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?"

"One of his hands."

"One?"

"His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual writing, and yet I know it well."

"'Dearest do not be frightened (дорогая, не волнуйся: «не будь напугана»). All will come well (все кончится хорошо). There is a huge error (произошла огромная ошибка) which it may take some little time to rectify (которая может потребовать некоторое время для исправления). Wait in patience (жди в терпении = терпеливо). Neville.' Written in pencil (карандашом) upon the flyleaf of a book (на форзаце книги), octavo size (восьмая часть листа размером), no watermark (без водяных знаков). Hum (гм)! Posted today (отправлено сегодня) in Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb (человеком с грязным большим пальцем). Ha! And the flap has been gummed (и клапан /конверта/ был покрыт клеем), if I am not very much in error (если я не слишком в ошибке = ошибаюсь), by a person who had been chewing tobacco (человеком, который жевал табак). And you have no doubt (вы убеждены = не имеете сомнения) that it is your husband's hand (что это почерк вашего мужа), madam?"

"None (никакого /сомнения/). Neville wrote those words (написал те слова)."

frightened [fraItnd], huge [hju:dZ], error ['er@], patience [peISns], thumb [TVm]

«'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Wait in patience. Neville.' Written in pencil upon the flyleaf of a book, octavo size, no watermark. Hum! Posted today in Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's hand, madam?»

"None. Neville wrote those words."

"And they were posted today at Gravesend (были отправлены сегодня из Гревзенда). Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the clouds lighten (тучи светлеют = рассеиваются), though I should not venture to say that the danger is over (хотя я не рискую сказать, что опасность закончилась)."

"But he must be alive (он должен быть жив = должно быть, он жив), Mr. Holmes."

"Unless this is a clever forgery (если только это не ловкая подделка) to put us on the wrong scent (чтобы послать нас по ложному следу). The ring, after all (кольцо, в конце концов), proves nothing (ничего не доказывает). It may have been taken from him (оно могло быть отобрано у него)."

forgery ['fO:dZ@rI], scent [sent]

"No, no; it is, it is his very own writing (это его, его собственный почерк)!"

"Very well (отлично). It may, however, have been written on Monday (письмо могло быть, однако, написано в понедельник) and only posted today (а послано только сегодня)."

«And they were posted today at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the danger is over.»

"But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes."

"Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from him. '

"No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!"

"Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only posted today."

"That is possible (это возможно)."

"If so, much may have happened between (многое могло случиться между /этими датами/)."

"Oh, you must not discourage me (вы не должны приводить меня в уныние), Mr. Holmes. I know that all is well with him (что все хорошо с ним). There is so keen a sympathy between us (между нами такое сильное «взаимочувствие») that I should know if evil came upon him (что я узнаю, если несчастье случится с ним). On the very day that I saw him last (в тот самый день, когда я видела его в последний /раз/) he cut himself in the bedroom (он порезался в спальне), and yet I in the dining-room (в столовой) rushed upstairs instantly (бросилась наверх сразу же) with the utmost certainty that something had happened (с величайшей уверенностью, что что-то случилось). Do you think that I would respond to such a trifle (ответила бы = отреагировала бы я на такой пустяк) and yet be ignorant of his death (и все же не знала бы о его смерти)?"