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: 27 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

unrepaired [,VnrI'pe@d], bushes ['buSIz], hideous ['hIdI@s], distorted [dIs'tO:tId]

There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window, when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs, and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.

«My God!» I whispered (прошептал я); «did you see it?»

Holmes was for the moment as startled as I (Холмс был на мгновение таким же пораженным, как и я). His hand closed like a vise upon my wrist in his agitation (его рука закрылась = сжалась, словно тиски, на моем запястье в волнении). Then he broke into a low laugh (затем он разразился тихим смехом) and put his lips to my ear (и приблизил губы к моему уху).

"It is a nice household (милая семейка)," he murmured (пробормотал). "That is the baboon (это /же/ бабуин)."

vise [vaIs], wrist [rIst], laugh [lA:f], household ['haush@uld], murmured ['m@:m@d]

«My God!» I whispered; «did you see it?»

Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vise upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh and put his lips to my ear.

"It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon."

I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected (я забыл о странных питомцах, которых любил доктор). There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment (возможно, мы могли обнаружить гепарда на наших плечах = гепард мог прыгнуть на нас в любой момент). I confess that I felt easier in my mind (признаюсь, я чувствовал /себя/ легче мысленно) when, after following Holmes's example and slipping off my shoes (когда, последовав примеру Холмса и сбросив ботинки), I found myself inside the bedroom (я оказался в спальне; inside – внутри). My companion noiselessly closed the shutters (мой товарищ бесшумно запер ставни), moved the lamp onto the table (переставил лампу на стол), and cast his eyes round the room (и оглядел комнату; to cast – бросать). All was as we had seen it in the daytime (все было /так/, как мы видели в дневное время). Then creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand (затем, подкрадываясь ко мне и складывая руки трубкой), he whispered into my ear again so gently (он прошептал в мое ухо снова так тихо) that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words (что я смог лишь различить слова): "The least sound would be fatal to our plans (малейший звук был бы губителен для наших планов = погубит нас)."

I nodded to show that I had heard (я кивнул, чтобы показать, что я слышал).

"We must sit without light (мы должны сидеть без света). He would see it through the ventilator (/а не то/ он увидит его через вентиляцию)."

I nodded again.

example [Ig'zA:mpl], shoes [Su:z], trumpet ['trVmpIt], ear [I@], gently ['dZentlI]

I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, after following Holmes's example and slipping off my shoes, I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words: «The least sound would be fatal to our plans.»

I nodded to show that I had heard.

"We must sit without light. He would see it through the ventilator."

I nodded again.

"Do not go asleep (не засните); your very life may depend upon it (сама ваша жизнь может зависеть от этого). Have your pistol ready in case we should need it (держите пистолет наготове на случай, /если/ он нам понадобится). I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair (я сяду на край кровати, а вы – на тот стул)."

I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table (я вытащил мой револьвер и положил его на угол стола).

Holmes had brought up a long thin cane (Холмс принес длинную тонкую трость), and this he placed upon the bed beside him (и ее он положил на кровать рядом с собой; to place – помещать, класть, устраивать). By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a candle (возле нее он положил коробку спичек и огарок свечи). Then he turned down the lamp (затем погасил лампу; to turn out – убавлять /свет/, уменьшать, отвернуть), and we were left in darkness (и мы были оставлены в темноте).

life [laIf], revolver [rI'vA.lv@], stump [stVmp], candle ['k&ndl]

«Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair.»

I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table.

Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left in darkness.

How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil (забуду ли я когда-нибудь это ужасное бодрствование)? I could not hear a sound (я не мог слышать ни звука), not even the drawing of a breath (ни даже дыхания; to draw – тащить; втягивать), and yet I knew that my companion sat open-eyed (и все же, при этом я знал, что мой товарищ сидел с широко открытыми глазами), within a few feet of me (в нескольких футах от меня; within – в пределах, не далее), in the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself (в том же состоянии нервного напряжения, в котором я был сам). The shutters cut off the least ray of light (ставни отсекли = не пропускали ни малейшего луча света), and we waited in absolute darkness (мы ждали в абсолютной темноте).

From outside came the occasional cry of a night bird (снаружи доносился редкий /периодический/ крик ночной птицы), and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine (один раз, у самого нашего окна, раздался долгий протяжный, похожий на кошачий, /жалобный/ вой; drawn – растянутый, тянущийся; whine – жалоба, жалобный вой, хныканье), which told us that the cheetah was indeed at liberty (который сказал нам = указывал, что гепард был действительно на свободе). Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock (вдалеке мы могли слышать низкий = глухой звук церковных часов), which boomed out every quarter of an hour (которые отбивали каждую четверть часа; to boom – производить шум). How long they seemed, those quarters (какими долгими казались они, те четверти)! Twelve struck (двенадцать пробило), and one, and two, and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall (а мы все сидели, ожидая молча /того, что/ что могло приключиться).

vigil ['vIdZIl], breath [breT], tension ['tenSn], cry [kraI], whine [waIn], quarter ['kwO:t@]

How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness.

From outside came the occasional cry of a night bird, and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one, and two, and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall.

Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light (вдруг появился кратковременный проблеск света) up in the direction of the ventilator (в направлении вентиляции), which vanished immediately (который исчез мгновенно), but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal (но был сменен резким запахом керосина: «сгорающего масла» и накаленного металла). Someone in the next room had lit a dark lantern (кто-то в соседней комнате зажег потайной фонарь: «темный фонарь»). I heard a gentle sound of movement (я услышал тихий звук движения), and then all was silent once more (затем все было тишиной = смолкло снова), though the smell grew stronger (хотя запах усилился). For half an hour I sat with straining ears (полчаса я сидел, прислушиваясь: «с напряженными ушами»). Then suddenly another sound became audible (затем внезапно другой звук стал слышимым) – a very gentle, soothing sound (очень тихий, успокаивающий звук), like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle (как звук струи пара, вырывающейся непрерывно из чайника /котла/). The instant that we heard it (в /то самое/ мгновение, когда мы услышали его), Holmes sprang from the bed (вскочил с кровати), struck a match (зажег спичку), and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull (и хлестнул яростно тростью по шнурку звонка).

gleam [gli:m], heated ['hi:tId], lantern ['l&nt@n], audible ['O:dIbl], furiously ['fju@rI@slI]

Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Someone in the next room had lit a dark lantern. I heard a gentle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then suddenly another sound became audible – a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull.

"You see it, Watson (вы видите ее, Ватсон)?" he yelled (прокричал он). «You see it?»

But I saw nothing (но я ничего не видел). At the moment when Holmes struck the light (в момент, когда Холмс зажигал свет) I heard a low, clear whistle (я слышал тихий, явный = отчетливый свист), but the sudden glare (но внезапный яркий свет; glare – слепящий свет, сияние, блеск) flashing into my weary eyes (сверкнувший в мои утомленные глаза) made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely (сделал невозможным для меня сказать, по чему мой друг хлестал /тростью/ так свирепо). I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale (я мог, однако, видеть, что его лицо было бледно как смерть), and filled with horror and loathing (и наполнено ужасом и отвращением). He had ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator (он перестал бить и всматривался /вверх/ в отверстие вентиляции) when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night (когда внезапно раздался в тишине ночи = прорезал ночную тишину; to break – сломать, прервать, вырваться) the most horrible cry to which I have ever listened (самый ужасный крик, какой я когда-либо слышал). It swelled up louder and louder (он становился громче и громче; to swell up – набухать, вздуваться), a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger (хриплый вопль боли, страха и злости) all mingled in the one dreadful shriek (все перемешалось в этом одном ужасном крике). They say that away down in the village (они говорят = рассказывают, что далеко на краю: «внизу» деревни), and even in the distant parsonage (и даже в отдаленном доме приходского священника), that cry raised the sleepers from their beds (этот крик поднял спящих из их кроватей). It struck cold to our hearts (ударило холодом в наши сердца), and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me (и я стоял, глядя на Холмса, а он на меня), until the last echoes of it had died away into the silence from which it rose (пока последние отголоски его /крика/ не замерли в тишине, из которой поднялись = возникли; to die away – гаснуть, глохнуть, утихнуть).

glare [gle@], loathing ['l@uDIN], yell [jel], shriek [Sri:k], parsonage ['pA:s@nIdZ], echo ['ek@u]

«You see it, Watson?» he yelled. «You see it?»

But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale, and filled with horror and loathing. He had ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it had died away into the silence from which it rose.

"What can it mean (что это может значить)?" I gasped (спросил я, задыхаясь; to gasp – дышать с трудом).

"It means that it is all over (это значит, что все кончено)," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, after all (и, возможно, в конечном счете), it is for the best (это к лучшему). Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott's room (возьмите пистолет, и мы войдем в комнату доктора)."

With a grave face he lit the lamp (с суровым лицом он зажег лампу; grave – серьезный, мрачный), and led the way down the corridor (и пошел по коридору; to lead the way – показывать путь, сделать первый шаг). Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply from within (дважды он стукнул в дверь комнаты без какого-либо ответа изнутри). Then he turned the handle and entered (повернул ручку и вошел), I at his heels (я по его пятам = вошел за ним следом), with the cocked pistol in my hand (с заряженным пистолетом в руке).

mean [mi:n], gasped [gA:spt], reply [rI'plaI], handle [h&ndl]

«What can it mean?» I gasped.

"It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott's room."

With a grave face he lit the lamp, and led the way down the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand.

It was a singular sight which met our eyes (необычайное зрелище встретило наши глаза = представилось нашим взорам). On the table stood a dark lantern with the shutter half open (на столе стоял потайной фонарь с полуоткрытой заслонкой), throwing a brilliant beam of light upon the iron safe (кидая яркий луч света на железный сейф), the door of which was ajar (дверь которого была приоткрыта). Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott (у стола, на деревянном стуле, сидел доктор Гримсби Ройлотт), clad in a long gray dressing-gown (одетый в длинный серый халат), his bare ankles protruding beneath (его голые лодыжки торчали внизу = из-под халата), and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers (и его ступни /были/ втиснуты в красные без каблуков турецкие туфли). Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash (поперек его коленей лежала короткая ручка с длинной плетью) which we had noticed during the day (которую мы заметили днем; during – во время, в течение). His chin was cocked upward (его подбородок был задран кверху) and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling (и глаза застыли в ужасном суровом взгляде /направленном/ в угол потолка). Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band (вокруг его лба была странная желтая лента), with brownish speckles (с коричневатыми крапинками), which seemed to be bound tightly round his head (которая, казалась, была обвязанной крепко вокруг его головы). As we entered he made neither sound nor motion (когда мы вошли, он сделал ни звука, ни движения = ни издал звука, ни шевельнулся).

"The band! the speckled band (пестрая лента)!" whispered Holmes (прошептал).

sight [saIt], beam [bi:m], ajar [@'dZA:], beneath [bI'ni:T], tightly ['taItlI]

It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a dark lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott, clad in a long gray dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion.

"The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes.

I took a step forward (я сделал шаг вперед). In an instant his strange headgear began to move (в /одно/ мгновение его странный головной убор начал двигаться), and there reared itself from among his hair (и поднялась посреди волос) the squat diamond-shaped head (маленькая и короткая ромбовидная голова) and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent (раздувшийся воротник /капюшон/ отвратительной змеи).

"It is a swamp adder (это болотная гадюка)!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in India (самая смертоносная змея в Индии). He has died within ten seconds of being bitten (он умер в течение десяти секунд после того, как был укушен). Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent (насилие, воистину, делает отдачу = возвращается к сотворившему его; violent – яростный, неистовый, резкий), and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another (и интриган попадает в яму, которую он роет другому). Let us thrust this creature back into its den (давайте запустим /затолкаем/ эту тварь обратно в ее логово), and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place of shelter (и мы можем переместить = отвезти мисс Стонер в какое-нибудь безопасное место; shelter – приют, кров, убежище) and let the county police know what has happened (дадим знать полиции графства /о том/, что случилось)."

headgear ['hedgI@], reared [rI@d], squat [skwOt], loathsome ['l@uTs@m], serpent ['s@:p@nt], swamp [swOmp], snake [sneIk], violence ['vaI@l@ns], truth [tru:T], creature ['kri:tS@]

I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent.

"It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has happened."

As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap (пока он говорил = при этих словах он сдернул быстро собачью плеть с колен мертвого), and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck (и, набрасывая петлю вокруг шеи рептилии) he drew it from its horrid perch (стащил ее с ужасного насеста) and, carrying it at arm's length (и, неся ее на расстоянии вытянутой руки), threw it into the iron safe (швырнул в железный сейф), which he closed upon it (который закрыл вслед за ней).

noose [nu:s], reptile ['reptaIl], perch [pV":tS]

Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran (таковы истинные факты = обстоятельства смерти доктора Гримсби Ройлотта из Сток-Морена). It is not necessary that I should prolong a narrative (мне нет необходимости продолжать рассказ) which has already run to too great a length (который /и так/ уже растянулся до слишком большой длины) by telling how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl (рассказывая, как мы сообщили печальную весть напуганной девушке), how we conveyed her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow (как мы утренним поездом переправили ее на попечение доброй тетушки в Хэрроу), of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the conclusion (/о том/, как медленный процесс официального расследования пришел к заключению) that the doctor met his fate (что доктор встретил свою судьбу = смерть) while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet (играя неосторожно с опасным любимцем). The little which I had yet to learn of the case (малое = оставшиеся детали, которые я должен был еще узнать о деле) was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back next day (было рассказано мне Шерлоком Холмсом, когда мы ехали обратно на следующий день).

necessary ['nesIs@rI], narrative ['n&r@tIv], length [leNT], indiscreetly [,IndIs'kri:tlI]

As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the iron safe, which he closed upon it.

Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back next day.

«I had,» said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion (я пришел к совершенно ошибочному заключению), which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data (что показывает, мой дорогой Ватсон, как опасно всегда рассуждать из = на основании неполных данных; insufficient – недостаточный; sufficient – достаточный). The presence of the gypsies, and the use of the word 'band' (присутствие цыган и использование слова «лента»), which was used by the poor girl (которое было употреблено бедной девушкой), no doubt to explain the appearance (без сомнения, чтобы объяснить внешность = образ) which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the light of her match (быстрое мелькание которого она поймала = увидела с помощью света = в свете спички), were sufficient to put me upon an entirely wrong scent (было достаточно, чтобы навести меня на совершенно ложный след). I can only claim the merit (я могу лишь требовать заслуги = мне может служить оправданием /то/) that I instantly reconsidered my position (что я тотчас пересмотрел свою точку зрения) when, however, it became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room (когда, однако, мне стало ясно, что какая бы опасность ни грозила жильцу /той/ комнаты; occupant – житель, жилец, обитатель) could not come either from the window or the door (/эта опасность/ не могла прийти ни через окно, ни через дверь). My attention was speedily drawn (мое внимание было быстро привлечено), as I have already remarked to you (как я уже заметил), to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed (к этой вентиляции и к шнурку от звонка, который свисал к кровати; to hang down – свисать, спускаться). The discovery that this was a dummy (открытие, что это была фальшивка), and that the bed was clamped to the floor (и что кровать была прикреплена к полу), instantly gave rise to the suspicion (мгновенно вызвало подозрение; to give rise – быть источником, дать начало, вызвать) that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed (что шнур был там в качестве моста для чего-то, проходящего через отверстие и спускающегося на кровать). The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me (мысль о змее тотчас пришла мне /в голову/), and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India (и когда я связал ее /эту мысль/ со знанием, что доктор был снабжен тварями = что ему доставили тварей из Индии; to furnish – доставлять, обеспечивать; to supply – поставлять, снабжать; supply – снабжение, поставка), I felt that I was probably on the right track (я почувствовал = понял, что, возможно, я на верном пути). The idea of using a form of poison (идея использования /такого/ вида яда) which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test (который не может быть обнаружен каким-либо химическим анализом) was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training (как раз такая, которая могла бы прийти в голову умному и жестокому человеку, который имел восточную подготовку = долго прожил на Востоке). The rapidity with which such a poison would take effect (быстрота, с которой такой яд оказывает действие) would also, from his point of view, be an advantage (также, с его точки зрения, было преимуществом). It would be a sharp-eyed coroner (это был бы = должен бы быть следователь с очень хорошим зрением: «остроглазый»), indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures (который мог бы различить два маленьких темных прокола) which would show where the poison fangs had done their work (показывающих, где ядовитые зубы сделали свою работу; fang – клык; ядовитый зуб /змеи/). Then I thought of the whistle (потом я подумал о свисте). Of course, he must recall the snake (ну конечно, он должен был призывать обратно змею) before the morning light revealed it to the victim (прежде чем утренний свет разоблачил бы ее = показал жертве). He had trained it (он дрессировал ее), probably by the use of the milk which we saw (вероятно, использованием молока = давая ей молоко, которое мы видели), to return to him when summoned (возвращаться к нему, когда требуется). He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best (он пропускал ее через вентиляцию в час, который считал лучшим = поздно ночью), with the certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed (с уверенностью, что она сползет по веревке и приземлится = спустится на кровать). It might or might not bite the occupant (она могла или не могла укусить обитательницу /комнаты/), perhaps she might escape every night for a week (возможно, /потому что девушка/ могла уходить /из комнаты/ каждую ночь /целую/ неделю), but sooner or later she must fall a victim (но рано или поздно она должна /была/ пасть жертвой).

entirely [In'taI@lI], insufficient [Ins@'fIS@nt], discovery [dIs'kVv@rI], poison [pOIzn]

«I had,» said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion, which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from insufficient data. The presence of the gypsies, and the use of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not come either from the window or the door. My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of course, he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim.

"I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room (я пришел к таким выводам прежде, чем даже вошел в комнату). An inspection of his chair showed me (осмотр его стула показал) that he had been in the habit of standing on it (что он был в привычке = привык становиться /ногами/ на него), which, of course, would be necessary in order that he should reach the ventilator (что, конечно, было необходимо для того, чтобы достать = дотянуться до вентиляции; in order – с тем, чтобы). The sight of the safe (вида сейфа = взгляда на сейф), the saucer of milk (на блюдце молока), and the loop of whipcord (и петлю) were enough to finally dispel any doubts (было достаточно, чтобы рассеять любые сомнения) which may have remained (котрые могли оставаться). The metallic clang heard by Miss Stoner (металлический лязг, слышимый мисс Стонер) was obviously caused by her stepfather hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant (был, очевидно, вызван /тем что/ ее отчим торопливо закрывал дверь сейфа = запирал там ужасного обитателя). Having once made up my mind (приняв сразу решение), you know the steps which I took in order to put the matter to the proof (вы знаете шаги, которые я предпринял чтобы поместить дело на проверку = проверить выводы). I heard the creature hiss (я услышал шипение твари), as I have no doubt that you did also (как, не сомневаюсь, /услышали/ и вы), and I instantly lit the light and attacked it (и я немедленно зажег свет и ударил ее)."