Сердца трёх / Hearts of three

Сердца трёх / Hearts of three
Джек Лондон

Легко читаем по-английски
Джек Лондон известен, как автор множества приключенческих рассказов и романов. «Сердца трёх» – это последний роман автора, повествующий о молодом американце Фрэнсисе Моргане, который, следуя совету бизнес-партнера своего отца, отправляется в Центральную Америку с целью найти сокровище предков.

Для удобства читателя текст сопровождается комментариями и кратким словарем. Предназначается для продолжающих изучать английский язык (уровень 4 – Upper-Intermediate).

Джек Лондон / Jack London

Сердца трёх / Hearts of Three

© Матвеев С. А., адаптация текста, комментарии, словарь, 2018

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2018

Chapter I

Events happened very rapidly with Francis Morgan,[1 - Francis Morgan – Френсис Морган] inheritor of many millions, that late spring morning.

“Parker,[2 - Parker – Паркер]” he said to the valet who had been his father’s before him. “Parker, I’m going fishing.”

“Yes, sir!”

“I ordered some rods. Please joint them. Two weeks in the woods is what I need. You remember Sir Henry?[3 - Sir Henry – сэр Генри] The old Sir Henry, the buccaneer?”

“Yes, sir; I’ve read of him, sir.”

Parker had paused in the doorway.

“Nothing to be proud of, the old pirate.”

“Oh, no, sir,” Parker protested. “He was Governor of Jamaica.[4 - Governor of Jamaica – губернатор на Ямайке] He was a respectable man.”

“Hm, we Morgans never found his treasure.”

A telephone buzzed. “One moment, sir,” said Parker. “It’s Mr. Bascom,[5 - Mr. Bascom – мистер Бэском] sir.”

Francis went to the phone.

“Hello, yes, this is I, Morgan. What is it?… To sell? Nothing of the sort… Of course, I’m glad to know. Nonsense. If it goes down five points,[6 - if it goes down five points – если акции упадут на пять пунктов] buy. Buy all that’s offered. Sure… yes. Good-bye.”

* * *

And while Francis returned delightedly to his arm-chair, Thomas Regan[7 - Thomas Regan – Томас Риган] in his down-town private office arranged his various brokers to buy. Suddenly a clerk told him about a foreign visitor. Regan listened, glanced at the card, and said:

“Tell this Senor Alvarez Torres[8 - Senor Alvarez Torres – сеньор Альварес Торрес] that I can’t see him.”

Five minutes later the clerk was back, this time with a message. Regan read it:

“Dear Mr. Regan,

“Honoured Sir:

“I have the honour to inform you that I know the location of the treasure Sir Henry Morgan buried in old pirate days.

    “Alvarez Torres.”

Regan shook his head.

“Let him in![9 - Let him in! – Пусть войдёт!] At once.”

Senor Alvarez Torres’ English was perfect, though his skin advertised his Latin-American origin.[10 - Latin-American origin – латиноамериканское происхождение]

“By great effort, and years of research, I have finally won to the clue to the buccaneer gold of Sir Henry Morgan,” he began. “Of course it’s on the Mosquito Coast.[11 - Mosquito Coast – Москитовый Берег] The nearest town is Bocas del Toro.[12 - Bocas del Toro – Бокас-дель-Торо] I was born there, and I know the neighbourhood like a book. A small schooner is cheap, very cheap; but the reward is the treasure!”

Senor Torres paused in eloquent inability to describe more definitely.

“And sir,” Senor Torres continued, “I am somewhat embarrassed for immediate funds.”

“You need the money,” the stock operator assured him brutally, and he bowed.

Regan wrote a check, in the name of Alvarez Torres, and when that gentleman glanced at it he read the figures of a thousand dollars.

“Now here’s the idea,” said Regan. “I don’t believe a word in your story. But I have a young friend, and he is too tired to live in a big town, you understand?”

Senor Alvarez Torres bowed.

“Now, for the good of his health, as well as his wealth and the saving of his soul, the best thing that could happen to him is a trip after treasure, adventure, exercise, and… you readily understand, I am sure.”

Again Alvarez Torres bowed.

“You need the money,” Regan continued. “Try to interest him. That thousand is for your effort. If he departs after old Morgan’s gold, two thousand more is yours. If he remains away three months, two thousand more; six months – five thousand. Oh, believe me, I knew his father. We were comrades, partners, I might say, almost brothers. I can sacrifice any sum to his son. What do you say? The thousand is yours to begin with. Well?”

With trembling fingers Senor Alvarez Torres folded and unfolded the check.

“I… I accept,” he stammered and faltered in his eagerness. “I… I… How shall I say?… I am yours. Mr. Regan, it is true. I need the money. You are so generous, and I shall do my best…”

Senor Torres went away. In some minutes Francis Morgan came in.

“I have come for a bit of counsel,” he said, greetings over.[13 - greetings over – после обмена приветствиями] “And to whom but you should I apply, who was a friend of my father? You and he were partners, I understand, on some of the biggest deals. He always told me to trust your judgment. And, well, here I am. What’s up with Tampico Petroleum?[14 - Tampico Petroleum – «Тэмпико Петролеум»]”

“Tampico Petroleum is up two points,[15 - Tampico Petroleum is up two points – акции «Тэмпико Петролеум» поднялись на два пункта]” Regan said.

“That’s what I say,” Francis answered. “I worry. Don’t you think somebody is trying to get control?”

His father’s associate shook the head.

“Why,” he said, “What do you say?”