Текст книги "Английский язык с Г. Уэллсом "Человек-невидимка""

Автор книги: H. G. Wells

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Текущая страница: 32 (всего у книги 49 страниц)

“All I could think clearly was that the thing had to be carried through (все, о чем я мог ясно думать – дело необходимо довести до конца; tocarrythrough– доводить до конца: «проносить через/сквозь»); the fixed idea still ruled me (навязчивая идея все еще владела мной; torule– править, господствовать, руководить). And soon, for the money I had was almost exhausted (/завершить работу нужно было/ в скором времени, потому что деньги, имевшиеся у меня, почти истратились). I looked about me at the hillside (я оглянулся кругом, посмотрел на склон холма), with children playing and girls watching them (где играли дети, а няньки следили за ними; girl– девочка, девушка; служанка), and tried to think of all the fantastic advantages an invisible man would have in the world (и попытался подумать обо всех фантастических преимуществах, которыми обладал бы невидимка; intheworld– очень, совершенно, ...на свете; в конце концов).

apathetic ["xpq`TetIk], transient [`trxnzIqnt], energy [`enqGI]

“I was surprised to find, now that my prize was within my grasp, how inconclusive its attainment seemed. As a matter of fact I was worked out; the intense stress of nearly four years’ continuous work left me incapable of any strength of feeling. I was apathetic, and I tried in vain to recover the enthusiasm of my first inquiries, the passion of discovery that had enabled me to compass even the downfall of my father’s grey hairs. Nothing seemed to matter. I saw pretty clearly this was a transient mood, due to overwork and want of sleep, and that either by drugs or rest it would be possible to recover my energies.

“All I could think clearly was that the thing had to be carried through; the fixed idea still ruled me. And soon, for the money I had was almost exhausted. I looked about me at the hillside, with children playing and girls watching them, and tried to think of all the fantastic advantages an invisible man would have in the world.

“After a time I crawled home (через некоторое время я с трудом вернулся домой; to crawl —ползать; медленно, с трудом передвигаться), took some food and a strong dose of strychnine (немного поел и принял большую дозу стрихнина), and went to sleep in my clothes on my unmade bed (лег спать в одежде на неубранную кровать). Strychnine is a grand tonic, Kemp, to take the flabbiness out of a man (стрихнин – прекрасное укрепляющее средство, Кемп, чтобы изгнать слабохарактерность из человека = он не дает пасть духом; flabby – обрюзгший; слабый, вялый, мягкотелый, слабохарактерный).”

“It’s the devil (это /сам/ дьявол),” said Kemp. “It’s the palaeolithic in a bottle (он превращает в дикаря; palaeolithic– палеолитический; палеолит – древний каменный век, время существования ископаемого человека /неандертальцы и др./).”

“I awoke vastly invigorated and rather irritable (я проснулся, ощущая значительный прилив сил, но весьма раздраженный; toinvigorate– давать силы, укреплять; вселять энергию). You know (вам знакомо /такое состояние/)?”

“I know the stuff (да, знакомо: «знаю эту материю/эту штуку»).”

“And there was someone rapping at the door (кто-то стучал в дверь). It was my landlord with threats and inquiries (это был домовладелец, /пришедший/ с угрозами и расспросами), an old Polish Jew in a long grey coat and greasy slippers (старый польский еврей в длинном сером сюртуке и засаленных туфлях; grease – топленоесало; жир). I had been tormenting a cat in the night, he was sure (я мучил кошку ночью, уверял он) – the old woman’s tongue had been busy (старуха все разболтала; tongue – язык; busy – деятельный, суетливый, занятой). He insisted on knowing all about it (он настаивал на том, чтобы я все рассказал об этом). The laws in this country against vivisection were very severe – he might be liable (в этой стране законы против вивисекции очень строги – ответственность может пасть на него; tobeliablefor– нести ответственность за /что-либо/). I denied the cat (я отрицал /наличие/ кошки). Then the vibration of the little gas engine could be felt all over the house, he said (тогда он сказал, что дрожание газового двигателя ощущается по всему дому). That was true, certainly (это, конечно, было правдой).

strychnine [`strIknJn], invigorated [In`vIgqreItId], tongue [tAN]

“After a time I crawled home, took some food and a strong dose of strychnine, and went to sleep in my clothes on my unmade bed. Strychnine is a grand tonic, Kemp, to take the flabbiness out of a man.”

“It’s the devil,” said Kemp. “It’s the palaeolithic in a bottle.”

“I awoke vastly invigorated and rather irritable. You know?”

“I know the stuff.”

“And there was someone rapping at the door. It was my landlord with threats and inquiries, an old Polish Jew in a long grey coat and greasy slippers. I had been tormenting a cat in the night, he was sure – the old woman’s tongue had been busy. He insisted on knowing all about it. The laws in this country against vivisection were very severe – he might be liable. I denied the cat. Then the vibration of the little gas engine could be felt all over the house, he said. That was true, certainly.

“He edged round me into the room (он все старался незаметно прошмыгнуть мимо меня в комнату; to edge – продвигатьсянезаметноилипостепенно, продираться; edge – кромка, край), peering about over his German-silver spectacles (заглядывая туда поверх своих очков в мельхиоровой оправе), and a sudden dread came into my mind (и внезапный страх охватил меня) that he might carry away something of my secret (что он может проникнуть в мою тайну; to carry away – уносить). I tried to keep between him and the concentrating apparatus I had arranged (я попытался встать между ним и аппаратом для выпаривания, который приготовил; to concentrate – концентрировать, сгущать, выпаривать), and that only made him more curious (это только сделало его еще более любопытным = подстегнулоеголюбопытство). What was I doing (чем я занимаюсь)? Why was I always alone and secretive (почему я всегда один и скрываюсь /от всех/; secretive – скрытный, замкнутый)? Was it legal (законны ли мои занятия)? Was it dangerous (не опасны ли)? I paid nothing but the usual rent (я платил лишь обычную арендную плату). His had always been a most respectable house (а его дом всегда был самым приличным, уважаемым) – in a disreputable neighbourhood (по сравнению с соседями с небезупречной репутацией; disreputable – недостойныйуважения; пользующийся дурной репутацией, имеющий сомнительную репутацию).

“Suddenly my temper gave way (вдруг мое терпение иссякло; to give way – уступать; сдаваться; сдавать/оздоровье/; портиться; temper – характер; самообладание). I told him to get out (я сказал ему убираться). He began to protest, to jabber of his right of entry (он стал протестовать, бормотать про свое право входить /когда угодно/). In a moment I had him by the collar (еще секунда, и я схватил его за шиворот); something ripped, and he went spinning out into his own passage (раздался треск /ткани/, и он вылетел в коридор; to spin – крутить/ся/, вертеть/ся/; быстродвигаться, пронестись). I slammed and locked the door and sat down quivering (я захлопнул дверь, запер ее и сел, дрожа).

German [`Gq:mqn], dangerous [`deInG(q)rqs], disreputable [dIs`repjutqbl]

“He edged round me into the room, peering about over his German-silver spectacles, and a sudden dread came into my mind that he might carry away something of my secret. I tried to keep between him and the concentrating apparatus I had arranged, and that only made him more curious. What was I doing? Why was I always alone and secretive? Was it legal? Was it dangerous? I paid nothing but the usual rent. His had always been a most respectable house – in a disreputable neighbourhood.

“Suddenly my temper gave way. I told him to get out. He began to protest, to jabber of his right of entry. In a moment I had him by the collar; something ripped, and he went spinning out into his own passage. I slammed and locked the door and sat down quivering.

“He made a fuss outside, which I disregarded (он суетился и шумел снаружи, но я не обращал внимания), and after a time he went away (и через некоторое время он ушел).

“But this brought matters to a crisis (но это довело мои дела до критического состояния). I did not know what he would do (я не знал ни того, что он сделает), nor even what he had the power to do (ни даже того, что он вправе сделать). To move to fresh apartments would have meant delay (переехать на новую квартиру означало бы задержку; apartments—меблированные комнаты); altogether I had barely twenty pounds left in the world (а денег у меня оставалось всего фунтов двадцать; intheworld– очень, совершенно, ...на свете; в конце концов), for the most part in a bank (главным образом в банке) – and I could not afford that (и я не мог себе этого позволить). Vanish (исчезнуть)! It was irresistible (это /искушение/ было непреодолимым: «неотразимым»; toresist– сопротивляться). Then there would be an inquiry, the sacking of my room (затем начнется следствие, разграбление моей комнаты).

“At the thought of the possibility of my work being exposed or interrupted at its very climax (при мысли о вероятности того, что мою работу предадут огласке или прервут ее в высшей точке), I became very angry and active (я стал очень злым и энергичным). I hurried out with my three books of notes, my cheque-book (я поспешно вышел с тремя книгами записей и чековой книжкой) – the tramp has them now (теперь они у бродяги) – and directed them from the nearest Post Office (и отправил их из ближайшего почтового отделения) to a house of call for letters and parcels in Great Portland Street (в контору, где хранят до востребования письма и посылки, на Грейт-Портленд-стрит).

brought [brLt], apartments [q`pRtmqnts], pound [paund], cheque-book [`Cekbuk]

“He made a fuss outside, which I disregarded, and after a time he went away.

“But this brought matters to a crisis. I did not know what he would do, nor even what he had the power to do. To move to fresh apartments would have meant delay; altogether I had barely twenty pounds left in the world, for the most part in a bank – and I could not afford that. Vanish! It was irresistible. Then there would be an inquiry, the sacking of my room.

“At the thought of the possibility of my work being exposed or interrupted at its very climax, I became very angry and active. I hurried out with my three books of notes, my cheque-book – the tramp has them now – and directed them from the nearest Post Office to a house of call for letters and parcels in Great Portland Street.

“I tried to go out noiselessly (я постарался выйти бесшумно). Coming in, I found my landlord going quietly upstairs (вернувшись, я увидел, как домовладелец спокойно поднимается наверх); he had heard the door close, I suppose (полагаю, он слышал, как закрылась /моя/ дверь). You would have laughed to see him jump aside on the landing as I came tearing after him (вы бы рассмеялись, увидев, как он отскочил в сторону на лестничной площадке, когда я промчался мимо него). He glared at me as I went by him (он сердито посмотрел на меня, когда я пробегал мимо), and I made the house quiver with the slamming of my door (и я сотряс дом, захлопнув свою дверь). I heard him come shuffling up to my floor, hesitate, and go down (я слышал, как он поднялся, шаркая ногами, на мой этаж, /постоял у моей двери/, колеблясь, и спустился вниз). I set to work upon my preparations forthwith (я немедленно принялся за приготовления /к опыту/).

“It was all done that evening and night (все было сделано в тот вечер и ночь). While I was still sitting under the sickly, drowsy influence of the drugs that decolourise blood (пока я еще находился под вызывающим тошноту и сон = одурманивающим действием препаратов для обесцвечивания крови), there came a repeated knocking at the door (раздался многократно повторяющийся стук в дверь). It ceased, footsteps went away and returned (он прекратился, шаги удалились, затем вернулись), and the knocking was resumed (и стук возобновился). There was an attempt to push something under the door – a blue paper (кто-то попытался просунуть что-то под дверь – какую-то синюю бумажку). Then in a fit of irritation I rose and went and flung the door wide open (тогда в приступе раздражения я поднялся и распахнул дверь; to fling). ‘Now then (ну, что еще)?’ said I.

hesitate [`hezIteIt], drowsy [`drauzI], decolourise ["dJ`kAl(q)raIz], blue [blH]

“I tried to go out noiselessly. Coming in, I found my landlord going quietly upstairs; he had heard the door close, I suppose. You would have laughed to see him jump aside on the landing as I came tearing after him. He glared at me as I went by him, and I made the house quiver with the slamming of my door. I heard him come shuffling up to my floor, hesitate, and go down. I set to work upon my preparations forthwith.

“It was all done that evening and night. While I was still sitting under the sickly, drowsy influence of the drugs that decolourise blood, there came a repeated knocking at the door. It ceased, footsteps went away and returned, and the knocking was resumed. There was an attempt to push something under the door – a blue paper. Then in a fit of irritation I rose and went and flung the door wide open. ‘Now then?’ said I.

“It was my landlord, with a notice of ejectment or something (это был домовладелец, он принес уведомление о выселении или что-то в этом роде; ejectment– выселение; предписание о выселении или лишении имущества). He held it out to me, saw something odd about my hands, I expect (он протянул ее мне; полагаю, мои руки чем-то удивили его; odd—странный, необычный), and lifted his eyes to my face (и он поднял глаза и взглянул мне в лицо).

“For a moment he gaped (с минуту он глядел изумленно, разинув рот). Then he gave a sort of inarticulate cry (затем он что-то выкрикнул нечленораздельно), dropped candle and writ together (уронил свечу и извещение; writ– судебное предписание, извещение), and went blundering down the dark passage to the stairs (и, спотыкаясь, бросился по темному коридору к лестнице). I shut the door, locked it, and went to the looking-glass (я закрыл дверь, запер ее и подошел к зеркалу). Then I understood his terror (тут я понял его страх)... My face was white – like white stone (мое лицо было белым, как мрамор: «как белый камень»).

“But it was all horrible (это было ужасным). I had not expected the suffering (я не ожидал /таких/ страданий). A night of racking anguish, sickness and fainting (ночь /прошла/ в страшных мучениях, тошноте и обмороках; racking – мучительный; непосильный; rack – дыба; anguish – боль, мука, страдание, мучение). I set my teeth, though my skin was presently afire (я стискивал зубы, хотя моя кожа горела), all my body afire (все тело горело; afire – охваченныйогнем, вогне); but I lay there like grim death (но я лежал неподвижно; like grim death – отчаянно, изовсехсил: «какжестокая/беспощаднаясмерть»). I understood now how it was the cat had howled until I chloroformed it (тогда я понял, почему это кошка выла, пока я не усыпил ее хлороформом). Lucky it was I lived alone and untended in my room (к счастью, я жил в комнате один, без прислуги; totend– заботиться /о ком-либо/; ухаживать; присматривать; прислуживать /кому-либо/). There were times when I sobbed and groaned and talked (временами я рыдал, стонал и разговаривал /с собой/). But I stuck to it (но я выдержал; to stick to it – упорствовать, держаться)... I became insensible and woke languid in the darkness (я потерял сознание и очнулся, ослабевший, в /полной/ темноте).

chloroformed [`klOrqfLmd; `klLrqfLmd], inarticulate ["InR`tIkjulqt], anguish [`xNgwIS], languid [`lxNgwId]

“It was my landlord, with a notice of ejectment or something. He held it out to me, saw something odd about my hands, I expect, and lifted his eyes to my face.

“For a moment he gaped. Then he gave a sort of inarticulate cry, dropped candle and writ together, and went blundering down the dark passage to the stairs. I shut the door, locked it, and went to the looking-glass. Then I understood his terror... My face was white – like white stone.

“But it was all horrible. I had not expected the suffering. A night of racking anguish, sickness and fainting. I set my teeth, though my skin was presently afire, all my body afire; but I lay there like grim death. I understood now how it was the cat had howled until I chloroformed it. Lucky it was I lived alone and untended in my room. There were times when I sobbed and groaned and talked. But I stuck to it... I became insensible and woke languid in the darkness.

“The pain had passed (боль прошла). I thought I was killing myself and I did not care (я думал, что убиваю себя = умираю, и мне было все равно). I shall never forget that dawn (я никогда не забуду тот рассвет), and the strange horror of seeing that my hands had become as clouded glass (и странный ужас, /испытанный/ при виде того, что руки мои стали, словно матовое, мутное стекло), and watching them grow clearer and thinner as the day went by (и становились все прозрачнее и тоньше по мере наступления дня), until at last I could see the sickly disorder of my room through them (пока наконец я не смог видеть сквозь них ужасный/тошнотворный беспорядок в комнате), though I closed my transparent eyelids (хотя и закрывал прозрачные веки). My limbs became glassy (мои конечности стали прозрачными, как стекло), the bones and arteries faded, vanished (кости и артерии постепенно обесцвечивались, исчезали), and the little white nerves went last (тонкие белые нервы исчезли последними). I gritted my teeth and stayed there to the end (я скрипел зубами и выдержал до конца). At last only the dead tips of the fingernails remained, pallid and white (в конце остались только отмершие кончики ногтей /пальцев рук/, мертвенно-бледные; pallid – /мертвенно-/бледный, бесцветный), and the brown stain of some acid upon my fingers (и бурое пятно от какой-то кислоты на пальцах).

“I struggled up (я поднялся с большим трудом). At first I was as incapable as a swathed infant (сначала я был беспомощным, как закутанный младенец; toswathe– бинтовать; закутывать, обматывать, пеленать) – stepping with limbs I could not see (ступая ногами, которых я не видел; limb– конечность /человека или животного/). I was weak and very hungry (я был слаб и очень голоден). I went and stared at nothing in my shaving-glass (я подошел к зеркалу для бритья и увидел там пустоту), at nothing save where an attenuated pigment (пустоту, в которой едва можно было различить пигмент; save– за ключением, кроме; toattenuate– истощать, ослаблять; разрежать; затухать) still remained behind the retina of my eyes, fainter than mist (все еще остававшийся на сетчатке глаз, который был слабее тумана = как очень легкий туман). I had to hang on to the table and press my forehead against the glass (мне пришлось схватиться за стол и прижаться лбом к зеркалу).

artery [`RtqrI], acid [`xsId], infant [`Infqnt], retina [`retInq], forehead [`fOrId, `fLhed]

“The pain had passed. I thought I was killing myself and I did not care. I shall never forget that dawn, and the strange horror of seeing that my hands had become as clouded glass, and watching them grow clearer and thinner as the day went by, until at last I could see the sickly disorder of my room through them, though I closed my transparent eyelids. My limbs became glassy, the bones and arteries faded, vanished, and the little white nerves went last. I gritted my teeth and stayed there to the end. At last only the dead tips of the fingernails remained, pallid and white, and the brown stain of some acid upon my fingers.

“I struggled up. At first I was as incapable as a swathed infant – stepping with limbs I could not see. I was weak and very hungry. I went and stared at nothing in my shaving-glass, at nothing save where an attenuated pigment still remained behind the retina of my eyes, fainter than mist. I had to hang on to the table and press my forehead against the glass.

“It was only by a frantic effort of will that I dragged myself back to the apparatus and completed the process (только отчаянным напряжением воли я дотащился обратно до аппарата и завершил процесс).

“I slept during the forenoon, pulling the sheet over my eyes to shut out the light (я проспал до полудня, накрыв глаза простыней, чтобы защититься от света; to shut out – недопускать; загораживать; to shut – закрывать, запирать), and about midday I was awakened again by a knocking (и около полудня я снова был разбужен стуком /в дверь/). My strength had returned (силы вернулись ко мне). I sat up and listened and heard a whispering (я сел, прислушался и услышал шепот). I sprang to my feet and as noiselessly as possible began to detach the connections of my apparatus (вскочил на ноги и как можно тише принялся разбирать аппарат; to detach – отделять, отсоединять; connection – связь, соединение), and to distribute it about the room (и рассовывать /части/ по комнате; to distribute – распределять, разбрасывать), so as to destroy the suggestions of its arrangement (чтобы уничтожить намеки на его устройство = чтобыскрытьустройствоаппарата). Presently the knocking was renewed and voices called (затем стук возобновился, послышались голоса), first my landlord’s, and then two others (сначала домовладельца, потом два других).

completed [kqm`plJtId], forenoon [`fLnHn], listened [`lIs(q)nd], distribute [dIs`trIbjHt]

“It was only by a frantic effort of will that I dragged myself back to the apparatus and completed the process.

“I slept during the forenoon, pulling the sheet over my eyes to shut out the light, and about midday I was awakened again by a knocking. My strength had returned. I sat up and listened and heard a whispering. I sprang to my feet and as noiselessly as possible began to detach the connections of my apparatus, and to distribute it about the room, so as to destroy the suggestions of its arrangement. Presently the knocking was renewed and voices called, first my landlord’s, and then two others.

“To gain time I answered them (чтобы выиграть время, я ответил им). The invisible rag and pillow came to hand (невидимые тряпка и подушка попались под руку) and I opened the window and pitched them out on to the cistern cover (я открыл окно и выбросил их на крышку бака для воды). As the window opened, a heavy crash came at the door (когда открывалось окно, дверь сильно затрещала). Someone had charged it with the idea of smashing the lock (кто-то навалился на нее /плечом/, надеясь выбить замок). But the stout bolts I had screwed up some days before stopped him (но прочные засовы, привинченные мной несколько дней назад, остановили его). That startled me, made me angry (эта попытка вломиться встревожила меня и разозлила). I began to tremble and do things hurriedly (я задрожал и начал все делать в спешке).

“I tossed together some loose paper, straw (я торопливо собрал в кучу листки бумаги, солому), packing paper and so forth, in the middle of the room (оберточную бумагу и прочее в середине комнаты), and turned on the gas (и открыл газ). Heavy blows began to rain upon the door (сильные удары посыпались в дверь; torain– идти, литься /о дожде/; сыпаться /градом/). I could not find the matches (я не мог найти спички). I beat my hands on the wall with rage (я стал яростно колотить кулаками по стене).

answered [`Rnsqd], charged [CRGd], stout [staut], screwed [skrHd]

“To gain time I answered them. The invisible rag and pillow came to hand and I opened the window and pitched them out on to the cistern cover. As the window opened, a heavy crash came at the door. Someone had charged it with the idea of smashing the lock. But the stout bolts I had screwed up some days before stopped him. That startled me, made me angry. I began to tremble and do things hurriedly.

“I tossed together some loose paper, straw, packing paper and so forth, in the middle of the room, and turned on the gas. Heavy blows began to rain upon the door. I could not find the matches. I beat my hands on the wall with rage.

“I turned down the gas again (я снова завернул газ), stepped out of the window on the cistern cover (вылез через окно на крышку бака для воды), very softly lowered the sash (очень тихо опустил раму), and sat down, secure and invisible (и сел, в безопасности, невидимый), but quivering with anger, to watch events (но дрожа от гнева, и стал наблюдать за событиями). They split a panel, I saw (я видел, как они сломали доски /двери/; to split – раскалывать, разбивать), and in another moment they had broken away the staples of the bolts (через миг отбили скобы засовов; to break-broke-broken) and stood in the open doorway (и стояли в открытой двери). It was the landlord and his two step-sons (это были домовладелец и два его пасынка), sturdy young men of three or four and twenty (дюжие молодые люди двадцати трех и двадцати четырех лет). Behind them fluttered the old hag of a woman from downstairs (за ними суетилась старая ведьма снизу; hag – ведьма, карга, колдунья, чародейка).

“You may imagine their astonishment to find the room empty (можете представить себе их изумление, когда они нашли комнату пустой). One of the younger men rushed to the window at once (один из парней сразу бросился к окну), flung it up and stared out (быстро поднял его и выглянул на улицу). His staring eyes and thick-lipped bearded face came a foot from my face (его вытаращенные глаза и толстогубая бородатая физиономия находились в футе от моего лица). I was half minded to hit his silly countenance (мне хотелось ударить по этой глупой роже; to have half a mind to do something – подумывать, быть не прочь сделать что-либо; countenance – лицо, выражение лица), but I arrested my doubled fist (но я сдержал сжатый кулак). He stared right through me (он глядел прямо сквозь меня).

secure [sI`kjuq], countenance [`kauntInqns], doubled [dAbld]

“I turned down the gas again, stepped out of the window on the cistern cover, very softly lowered the sash, and sat down, secure and invisible, but quivering with anger, to watch events. They split a panel, I saw, and in another moment they had broken away the staples of the bolts and stood in the open doorway. It was the landlord and his two step-sons, sturdy young men of three or four and twenty. Behind them fluttered the old hag of a woman from downstairs.

“You may imagine their astonishment to find the room empty. One of the younger men rushed to the window at once, flung it up and stared out. His staring eyes and thick-lipped bearded face came a foot from my face. I was half minded to hit his silly countenance, but I arrested my doubled fist. He stared right through me.

“So did the others as they joined him (так же /глядели сквозь меня/ и остальные, присоединившись к нему). The old man went and peered under the bed (старик пошел заглянул под кровать), and then they all made a rush for the cupboard (а затем все они бросились к буфету). They had to argue about it at length in Yiddish and Cockney English (они долго обсуждали происшествие на идише и кокни; to argue – спорить; обсуждать/вполемике/; Cockney – кокни, лондонское просторечие /для которогохарактерно особое произношение, неправильность речи и т.д./). They concluded I had not answered them, that their imagination had deceived them (они пришли к заключению, что я им не отвечал, что воображение обмануло их = что им это почудилось). A feeling of extraordinary elation took the place of my anger (чувство необычайного восторга сменило гнев) as I sat outside the window and watched these four people (когда я сидел за окном и наблюдал за этими четырьмя людьми) – for the old lady came in (поскольку старуха /тоже/ вошла), glancing suspiciously about her like a cat (подозрительно озираясь, словно кошка), trying to understand the riddle of my behaviour (пытаясь осмыслить загадку моего поведения = мое загадочное поведение; behaviour – поведение; поступки, манеры; tobehave– вести себя, поступать).

“The old man, so far as I could understand his patois (старик, насколько я мог понять его говор /фр./), agreed with the old lady that I was a vivisectionist (соглашался со старухой, что я занимаюсь вивисекцией). The sons protested in garbled English that I was an electrician (его сыновья возражали на ломаном английском, что я электротехник; to garble – искажать), and appealed to the dynamos and radiators (и ссылались на динамо-машины и излучатели). They were all nervous about my arrival (все они беспокоились о моем возвращении), although I found subsequently that they had bolted the front door (хотя, как я узнал впоследствии, они заперли парадную дверь; bolt – засов, задвижка).

deceived [dI`sJvd], behaviour [bI`heIvIq], patois [`pxtwR], electrician [I"lek`trIS(q)n]

“So did the others as they joined him. The old man went and peered under the bed, and then they all made a rush for the cupboard. They had to argue about it at length in Yiddish and Cockney English. They concluded I had not answered them, that their imagination had deceived them. A feeling of extraordinary elation took the place of my anger as I sat outside the window and watched these four people – for the old lady came in, glancing suspiciously about her like a cat, trying to understand the riddle of my behaviour.

“The old man, so far as I could understand his patois, agreed with the old lady that I was a vivisectionist. The sons protested in garbled English that I was an electrician, and appealed to the dynamos and radiators. They were all nervous about my arrival, although I found subsequently that they had bolted the front door.

“The old lady peered into the cupboard and under the bed (старуха заглянула в буфет и под кровать), and one of the young men pushed up the register and stared up the chimney (один из парней поднял заслонку и посмотрел в дымоход). One of my fellow lodgers, a coster-monger (один из моих соседей по квартире, уличный торговец; coster-monger – уличный торговец, лоточник, торгующий фруктами, овощами ит.д.) who shared the opposite room with a butcher (который жил в комнате напротив с мясником: «делил комнату…»), appeared on the landing, and he was called in and told incoherent things (появился на лестничной площадке, его пригласили войти и бессвязно и сбивчиво рассказали ему обо всем).