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: 21 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

complete [k@m'pli:t], wager ['weIdZ@], surly ['s@:lI], anxious ['&NkS@s]

«When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet,» said he. "I dare say that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of him, that man would not have given me such complete information as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott tonight, or whether we should reserve it for tomorrow. It is clear from what that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves who are anxious about the matter, and I should – "

His remarks (замечания) were suddenly cut short (внезапно оборваны: «срезаны коротко») by a loud hubbub (громким шумом) which broke out (разразился) from the stall which we had just left (за прилавком, который мы только что оставили). Turning round (обернувшись) we saw a little rat-faced fellow (увидели хитролицего: «крысолицего» парня) standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light (стоявшего в центре круга желтого света) which was thrown (отбрасываемого = который шел от) by the swinging lamp (от качающейся лампы), while Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall (стоя в дверях), was shaking his fists fiercely (тряс кулаки яростно = потрясал кулаками) at the cringing figure (перед съеживающейся фигурой).

framed ['freImd], fiercely ['fI@slI], cringing ['krIndZIN]

His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure.

"I've had enough (имел довольно = хватит с меня) of you and your geese," he shouted (крикнул). "I wish you were all at the devil together (желаю, чтобы вы были все у дьявола вместе = провалитесь вы все к черту). If you come pestering me any more (если снова будете надоедать мне) with your silly talk (со своим глупым разговором) I'll set the dog at you (спущу на вас собаку). You bring (приведите) Mrs. Oakshott here and I'll answer her (отвечу ей), but what have you to do with it (что имеете вы сделать с этим = вы тут при чем)? Did I buy the geese off you (разве я у вас купил гусей)?"

enough [I'nVf], answer ['A:ns@]

"No; but one of them was mine all the same (но один из них был моим все равно)," whined the little man (хныкал человек).

"Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it (спросите об этом миссис Окшот)."

«I've had enough of you and your geese,» he shouted. «I wish you were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with it? Did I buy the geese off you?»

"No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little man.

"Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it."

«She told me to ask you.»

"Well, you can ask the King of Proosia (можете спросить /хоть/ короля Пруссии), for all I care (мне все равно). I've had enough of it (с меня хватит). Get out of this (убирайтесь отсюда)!" He rushed fiercely forward (он бросился яростно вперед), and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness (и спрашивающий исчез в темноте; to flit – юркнуть).

"Ha! this may save us a visit (это может сэкономить нам посещение = избавить от необходимости поездки) to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes (прошептал). "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fellow (что может быть сделано из этого парня = не пригодится ли нам этот субъект)." Striding through the scattered knots of people (мимо разрозненных кучек людей) who lounged round the flaring stalls (которые лениво бродили вокруг освещенных ларьков; flaring – ослепительный, горящий), my companion speedily overtook (поспешно догнал) the little man and touched him upon the shoulder (тронул его за плечо). He sprang round (порывисто обернулся; to spring – прыгать), and I could see in the gaslight (я увидел в газовом свете) that every vestige of color (всякий признак цвета) had been driven from his face (исчез: «был согнан» с его лица).

whispered ['wIsp@d], lounged [laundZd], flaring ['fle@rIN], touched [tVtSt], vestige ['vestIdZ]

«She told me to ask you.»

"Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness.

"Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang round, and I could see in the gaslight that every vestige of color had been driven from his face.

"Who are you (кто вы), then? What do you want (чего хотите)?" he asked in a quavering voice (спросил он дрожащим голосом).

"You will excuse me (/вы/ извините меня)," said Holmes blandly (вежливо/мягко), "but I could not help overhearing (не мог не услышать случайно) the questions which you put (ставили = задавали) to the salesman just now. I think that I could be of assistance to you (могу быть вам полезен; assistance – помощь)."

"You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter (как вы могли знать = как вы узнали что-то об этом)?"

"My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don't know (моя профессия – знать /то/ чего другие люди не знают)."

"But you can know nothing of this (но вы ничего не можете знать об этом)?"

«Who are you, then? What do you want?» he asked in a quavering voice.

"You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. I think that I could be of assistance to you."

"You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?"

"My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don't know."

"But you can know nothing of this?"

"Excuse me, I know everything of it (я знаю все об этом). You are endeavoring to trace (пытаетесь отследить) some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn (а им, в свою очередь) to Mr. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Henry Baker is a member (членом которого является Генри Бейкер)."

"Oh, sir, you are the very man (тот самый человек) whom I have longed to meet (кого я страстно желал встретить)," cried the little fellow with outstretched hands (с распростертыми руками) and quivering fingers (и дрожащими пальцами). "I can hardly explain (едва могу объяснить) to you how interested I am in this matter (насколько я заинтересован в этом деле)."

outstretched ['autstr@tSt], quivering ['kwIv@rIN]

«Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavoring to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Henry Baker is a member.»

"Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter."

Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler (остановил извозчичью карету; wheel – колесо) which was passing (проезжала /мимо/). "In that case we had better discuss it (нам лучше /бы/ обсудить это) in a cosy room (в уютной комнате) rather than in this wind-swept market-place (чем на этой незащищенной от ветра рыночной площади; to sweep – мести)," said he. "But pray tell me (но, пожалуйста: «прошу», скажите мне), before we go farther (прежде чем мы пойдем дальше), who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting (/кто это/, кому я имею удовольствие помогать)."

cosy ['k@uzI], wind [wInd], farther ['fA:D@], pleasure ['pleZ@]

The man hesitated for an instant (заколебался на мгновение). «My name is John Robinson,» he answered with a sidelong glance (с косым взглядом = бросив косой взгляд).

Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. «In that case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this wind-swept market-place,» said he. «But pray tell me, before we go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting.»

The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he answered with a sidelong glance.

"No, no; the real name (настоящее имя)," said Holmes sweetly (мягко). "It is always awkward doing business with an alias (неудобно вести дела с псевдонимами)."

A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger (румянец вспыхнул на бледных: «белых» щеках незнакомца; to spring – броситься, приливать). "Well then (итак)," said he, «my real name is James Ryder.»

"Precisely so (вот именно). Head attendant (главный слуга) at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray step into the cab (пожалуйста, садитесь в кеб), and I shall soon be able to tell (смогу рассказать) you everything which you would wish to know (что вы пожелали бы знать)."

«No, no; the real name,» said Holmes sweetly. «It is always awkward doing business with an alias.»

A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," said he, "my real name is James Ryder."

"Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know."

The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us (стоял, поглядывая = переводя глаза с одного на другого из нас) with half-frightened (/с/ полунапуганным), half-hopeful eyes (полунадеющимся взором: «глазами»), as one (как человек: «один») who is not sure (не уверен) whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe (на грани ли он неожиданного счастья или катастрофы, беды; windfall – падалица; плод, сбитый ветром; неожиданная удача, неожиданный доход). Then he stepped into the cab (сел: «шагнул» в кеб), and in half an hour (через полчаса) we were back in the sitting-room at Baker Street (вернулись в гостиную). Nothing had been said (ничего не было сказано) during our drive (во время нашей поездки), but the high, thin breathing (но шумное, сбивчивое дыхание) of our new companion, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands (сжимания и разжимания его рук), spoke of the nervous tension within him (говорили о нервном напряжении внутри него).

frightened ['fraItnd], verge [vV":dZ], breathing ['bri:DIN], nervous ['nV":v@s]

The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous tension within him.

"Here we are (вот мы и дома)!" said Holmes cheerily (весело) as we filed into the room (вошли шеренгой в комнату). "The fire looks very seasonable (огонь /в камине/ выглядит очень по сезону) in this weather (в эту погоду). You look cold (выглядите озябшим), Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair (садитесь в плетеное кресло; basket – корзина). I will just put on my slippers (я только надену мои комнатные туфли) before we settle (прежде чем мы уладим) this little matter of yours. Now, then! You want to know what became of those geese (что стало с этими гусями)?"

cheerily ['tSI@lI], seasonable ['si:z@n@bl], weather ['weD@]

«Yes, sir.»

"Or rather (вернее), I fancy, of that goose (с тем гусем). It was one bird, I imagine (мне кажется), in which you were interested – white, with a black bar across the tail (белый, с черной полоской на хвосте)."

«Here we are!» said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. «The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! You want to know what became of those geese?»

"Yes, sir."

"Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine, in which you were interested – white, with a black bar across the tail."

Ryder quivered with emotion (задрожал от волнения: «с чувством»). «Oh, sir,» he cried, "can you tell me where it went to (куда он был продан)?"

"It came here (он попал сюда)."

"Here?"

"Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved (и совершенно необыкновенной птицей он оказался; to prove – доказывать; демонстрировать). I don't wonder (не удивляюсь) that you should take an interest in it (что вы проявляте интерес к нему). It laid an egg (снес яйцо) after it was dead (после /того, как/ он был мертв = после смерти) – the bonniest, brightest little blue egg (самое красивое, ярчайшее маленькое голубое яйцо) that ever was seen (которое когда-либо было видено). I have it here in my museum (музее)."

wonder ['wVnd@], bright ['braIt], museum [mju'zI@m]

Ryder quivered with emotion. «Oh, sir,» he cried, «can you tell me where it went to?»

"It came here."

"Here?"

"Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was dead – the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. I have it here in my museum."

Our visitor staggered to his feet (встал, шатаясь) and clutched the mantelpiece (схватился за каминную доску) with his right hand (правой рукой). Holmes unlocked his strong-box (открыл сейф) and held up (показал = достал) the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star (который сверкнул, как звезда; to shine out), with a cold brilliant, many-pointed radiance (холодным, ярким, переливчатым сиянием). Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face (стоял, пристально глядя, с искаженным лицом), uncertain whether to claim or to disown it (неуверенный, требовать ли /камень/, или отказаться от него /не признать его своим/; to own – иметь; to disown – не признавать своим, отрекаться).

radiance ['reIdI@ns], glaring ['gle@rIN], disown [dIs'@un]

Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it.

"The game's up (игра окончена), Ryder," said Holmes quietly (спокойно). "Hold up (держитесь), man, or you'll be into the fire (или вы попадете в огонь)! Give him an arm back into his chair (помогите ему сесть обратно в кресло; to give an arm to somebody – предложить взять кого-то под руку), Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with impunity (он не получил крови достаточно = не так силен, чтобы идти на тяжкие преступления безнаказанно = хладнокровно; to go in for – выбирать, разрешать себе). Give him a dash of brandy (дайте ему немного бренди). So! Now he looks a little more human (выглядит немного более человеком = похож на человека). What a shrimp (что за ничтожный человек: «креветка») it is, to be sure (конечно)!"

blood [blVd], felony ['fel@nI], impunity [Im'pju:nItI], human ['hju:m@n]

For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen (зашатался и почти упал), but the brandy brought a tinge of color into his cheeks (вызвал слабый румянец: «оттенок цвета» на его щеках), and he sat staring with frightened eyes at his accuser (сел, глядя испуганно: «с испуганными глазами» на своего обличителя).

tinge [tIndZ], accuser [@'kju:z@]

«The game's up, Ryder,» said Holmes quietly. «Hold up, man, or you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!»

For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy brought a tinge of color into his cheeks, and he sat staring with frightened eyes at his accuser.

"I have almost every link in my hands (я имею почти каждое звено в моих руках = знаю почти все), and all the proofs (доказательства) which I could possibly need (в которых я мог бы, возможно, нуждаться), so there is little (немного) which you need tell me (что вам нужно мне рассказать). Still (однако), that little may as well be cleared up to make the case complete (может также быть прояснено, чтобы сделать дело завершенным). You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar's?"

"It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it (мне о нем сказала Кэтрин Кьюсэк)," said he in a crackling voice (дрожащим: «хрустящим» голосом).

«I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar's?»

"It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a crackling voice.

"I see (понимаю). Her ladyship's waiting-maid (горничная леди). Well, the temptation of sudden wealth (искушение внезапного богатства) so easily acquired (так быстро достигнутого) was too much for you (было слишком /сильным/ для вас), as it has been for better men before you (как это было с более хорошими = достойными людьми до вас); but you were not very scrupulous in the means (вы были не слишком разборчивы в средствах) you used (которые вы использовали). It seems to me (мне кажется), Ryder, that there is the making of a very pretty villain in you (что в вас есть задатки очень неплохого негодяя). You knew that this man Horner, the plumber (паяльщик), had been concerned (был затронут = уличен) in some such matter before (в подобном деле ранее), and that suspicion (подозрение) would rest the more readily upon him (остановилось = пало бы более легко/ быстро на него). What did you do, then? You made some small job (небольшую работу) in my lady's room – you and your confederate Cusack (вы и ваша сообщница Кьюсэк) – and you managed (сделали так) that he should be the man sent for (что послали именно за ним). Then, when he had left (когда он ушел), you rifled the jewel-case (ограбили шкатулку = украли камень; to rifle – обыскивать с целью грабежа), raised the alarm (подняли тревогу), and had this unfortunate man arrested (и сделали так, чтобы его арестовали). You then (затем) – "

temptation [temp'teISn], scrupulous ['skru:pjul@s], villain ['vIl@n], confederate [k@n'fed@rIt]

"I see. Her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's room – you and your confederate Cusack – and you managed that he should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man arrested. You then – "

Ryder threw himself down (бросил себя вниз = сполз) suddenly upon the rug (на ковер) and clutched at my companion's knees (стиснул колени моего товарища). "For God's sake (ради Бога), have mercy (помилуйте: «имейте милосердие»)!" he shrieked (завопил). "Think of my father (подумайте о моем отце)! of my mother (матери)! It would break their hearts (это разбило бы их сердца). I never went wrong before (я никогда не вставал на ложный путь раньше)! I never will again (никогда не буду снова). I swear it (клянусь в этом). I'll swear it on a Bible (поклянусь в этом на Библии). Oh, don't bring it into court (не представляйте это в суд = не доводите до суда)! For Christ's sake (ради Христа), don't!"

mercy ['m@:sI], shrieked [Sri:kt], Christ [kraIst]

"Get back into your chair (возвращайтесь в ваше кресло)!" said Holmes sternly (сурово). "It is very well to cringe and crawl now (хорошо вам сейчас пресмыкаться и ползать), but you thought little enough of this poor Horner (но вы довольно мало думали о бедном Хорнере) in the dock for a crime (на скамье подсудимых за преступление) of which he knew nothing (о котором он ничего не знал)."

"I will fly (я исчезну: «убегу»), Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country (покину страну), sir. Then the charge against him will break down (тогда обвинение против него разрушится = отпадет)."

Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my companion's knees. «For God's sake, have mercy!» he shrieked. «Think of my father! of my mother! It would break their hearts. I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's sake, don't!»

"Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing."

"I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the charge against him will break down."

"Hum! We will talk about that (/еще/ потолкуем об этом). And now let us hear a true account of the next act (позвольте нам услышать = давайте послушаем правдивый отчет о следующем действии). How came the stone into the goose (как попал камень в гуся), and how came the goose into the open market (на свободный рынок)? Tell us the truth (говорите нам правду), for there lies your only hope of safety (так как там = в ней лежит ваша единственная надежда безопасности = путь к спасению)."

true [tru:], truth [tru:T], safety ['seIftI]

«Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies your only hope of safety.»

Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips (провел языком по пересохшим губам). "I will tell you it just as it happened (прямо как это произошло), sir," said he. "When Horner had been arrested, it seemed to me (мне показалось) that it would be best for me to get away with the stone at once (удрать с камнем сразу же), for I did not know at what moment (в какой момент) the police might not take it into their heads (полиция может вбить себе в голову = когда полиции придет в голову) to search me and my room (обыскать меня и мою комнату). There was no place about the hotel (не было места рядом в гостинице) where it would be safe (где камень был бы в безопасности). I went out (вышел), as if on some commission (как если на комиссии = по служебному делу), and I made for my sister's house (устремился к дому моей сестры). She had married a man (вышла замуж за человека) named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Road, where she fattened fowls for the market (где откармливала домашнюю птицу для рынка). All the way there (всю дорогу туда) every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective (казался мне полицейским или сыщиком); and, for all that it was a cold night (хотя это был холодный вечер), the sweat was pouring down my face (пот лился по моему лицу) before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me what was the matter (что было /за/ дело = что случилось), and why I was so pale (бледный); but I told her that I had been upset (был расстроен) by the jewel robbery at the hotel (кражей драгоценностей в гостинице). Then I went into the back yard (затем я вышел на задний дворик) and smoked a pipe (и закурил трубку) and wondered (и раздумывал; to wonder – желать знать, интересоваться) what it would be best to do (что было бы лучше сделать).

tongue [tVN], parched [pA:tSt], pouring ['pO:rIN], yard [jA:d]

Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. «I will tell you it just as it happened, sir,» said he. "When Horner had been arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would be best to do.

"I had a friend once (у меня был друг однажды) called Maudsley, who went to the bad (он сбился с пути истинного), and has just been serving his time (отбывал свое время = срок) in Pentonville. One day (как-то раз: «в один день») he had met me, and fell into talk (заговорил) about the ways of thieves (об обычаях воров), and how they could get rid of what they stole (как они могут избавиться от /того/ что они украли). I knew that he would be true to me (знал, что он был бы верен мне = не выдаст меня), for I knew one or two things about him (так как я знал одну или две вещи о нем = знал за ним кое-какие грехи); so I made up my mind to go right on to Kilburn (потому решил отправиться прямо в Килбурн), where he lived (где он жил), and take him into my confidence (доверить ему мою тайну). He would show (показал бы) me how to turn the stone into money (как превратить камень в деньги). But how to get to him in safety (как добраться до него в безопасности)? I thought of the agonies (о муках) I had gone through (через которые прошел = которые пережил) in coming from the hotel (выходя из гостиницы). I might at any moment be seized and searched (я мог быть в любое мгновение схвачен и обыскан), and there would be the stone in my waistcoat pocket (найдут в кармане жилетки). I was leaning against the wall at the time (я опирался о стену и одновременно) and looking at the geese which were waddling about round my feet (смотрел на гусей, которые ходили вперевалку вокруг моих ног), and suddenly an idea came into my head (внезапно идея пришла в мою голову) which showed me how I could beat the best detective that ever lived (как я могу побить = провести лучшего детектива, который когда-либо жил).

thieves [Ti:vz], seized [si:zd], waddling ['wOdlIN]

"I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the best detective that ever lived.

"My sister had told me some weeks before (сказала мне несколькими неделями ранее) that I might have the pick of her geese (могу получить отборнейшего из ее гусей; to pick – снимать плоды; выискивать, отбирать) for a Christmas present (в качестве рождественского подарка), and I knew that she was always as good as her word (что она всегда держит слово: «так же хороша, как ее слово»). I would take my goose now, and in it I would carry (перенести) my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed (небольшой сарай) in the yard, and behind this (за него) I drove one of the birds (загнал одну из птиц) – a fine big one, white, with a barred tail (с полосатым хвостом). I caught it (поймал его), and prying its bill open (открыл клюв), I thrust the stone down its throat (засунул камень в глотку) as far as my finger could reach (так далеко, как мог достичь мой палец). The bird gave a gulp (птица сделала большой глоток), and I felt the stone pass along its gullet (почувствовал /как/ камень проходит вдоль пищевода) and down into its crop (в зоб). But the creature flapped and struggled (создание хлопало крыльями и отбивалась), and out came my sister (вышла сестра) to know what was the matter (узнать, в чем дело). As I turned to speak to her (начал говорить с ней) the brute broke loose (животное вырвалось) and fluttered off among the others (и смешалось среди = с остальными; to flutter – перепархивать, махать).

gulp [gVlp], gullet ['gVlIt], creature ['kri:tS@], brute [bru:t]

"My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds – a fine big one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and fluttered off among the others.

"'Whatever were you doing with that bird (что ты делал с той птицей; whatever = все что, что бы ни), Jem?' says she.

"'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I was feeling (ощупывал) which was the fattest (самый жирный).'