Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Алмаз раджи / R. L. Stevenson. The Rajah’s Diamond

Charlie saw that he had committed an unpardonable blunder, which he hastened to repair.

“How, sir?” he cried; “I suspect, do you say? I suspect nothing. Only where I find strength abused and a man brutalising his inferiors, I take the liberty to interfere.”

As he said these words he made a sign to Harry, which the latter was too dull or too much troubled to understand.

“In what way am I to construe your attitude, sir?” demanded Vandeleur (каким образом я должен истолковать ваше поведение, сэр? – осведомился Венделер).

“Why, sir, as you please,” returned Pendragon (да как вам будет угодно, сэр, – ответил Пендрагон).

The General once more raised his cane (генерал снова поднял свою трость), and made a cut for Charlie’s head (направил выпад в голову Чарли); but the latter, lame foot and all (но тот, /хоть/ и с хромой ногой и вообще), evaded the blow with his umbrella (отразил удар зонтиком), ran in, and immediately closed with his formidable adversary (бросился в бой и немедленно схватился со своим внушительным противником; to run in – заходить на цель; to close with – вступить в бой).

“In what way am I to construe your attitude, sir?” demanded Vandeleur.

“Why, sir, as you please,” returned Pendragon.

The General once more raised his cane, and made a cut for Charlie’s head; but the latter, lame foot and all, evaded the blow with his umbrella, ran in, and immediately closed with his formidable adversary.

“Run, Harry, run!” he cried; “run, you dolt (беги, Гарри, беги! – крикнул он, – беги, ты, олух)!” Harry stood petrified for a moment (Гарри постоял, оцепенев, секунду; to petrify – обращать в камень), watching the two men sway together in this fierce embrace (глядя, как двое мужчин раскачиваются в этом яростном объятии); then he turned and took to his heels (затем он повернулся и пустился наутек: «взялся за каблуки/пятки»; to take – взять/ся/). When he cast a glance over his shoulder (когда он бросил взгляд через плечо; to cast – бросать) he saw the General prostrate under Charlie’s knee (он увидел, что генерал распростерся под коленом Чарли), but still making desperate efforts to reverse the situation (но все еще делал отчаянные усилия, чтобы повернуть ситуацию); and the Gardens seemed to have filled with people (а парк, кажется, наполнился людьми), who were running from all directions towards the scene of fight (которые бежали со всех концов к месту драки). This spectacle lent the secretary wings (это зрелище= вид этого дал секретарю крылья; to lend – одолжить /дать/); and he did not relax his pace (и он не ослаблял = не замедлял своей скорости) until he had gained the Bayswater road (пока не добрался до Бейзуотер-роуд), and plunged at random into an unfrequented by-street (и нырнул наугад в безлюдный переулок; to frequent – посещать).

“Run, Harry, run!” he cried; “run, you dolt!” Harry stood petrified for a moment, watching the two men sway together in this fierce embrace; then he turned and took to his heels. When he cast a glance over his shoulder he saw the General prostrate under Charlie’s knee, but still making desperate efforts to reverse the situation; and the Gardens seemed to have filled with people, who were running from all directions towards the scene of fight. This spectacle lent the secretary wings; and he did not relax his pace until he had gained the Bayswater road, and plunged at random into an unfrequented by-street.

To see two gentlemen of his acquaintance (видеть двух знакомых ему джентльменов: «его знакомства») thus brutally mauling each other (столь жестоко колотящих друг друга) was deeply shocking to Harry (было глубоко шокирующим для Гарри). He desired to forget the sight (он желал забыть это зрелище); he desired, above all (он желал, прежде всего: «выше всего/над всем»), to put as great a distance as possible between himself and General Vandeleur (положить как можно большее расстояние между собой и генералом Венделером); and in his eagerness for this he forgot everything about his destination (и в своем стремлении к этому он позабыл все о своей цели = куда направляется), and hurried before him headlong and trembling (и несся сломя голову и дрожа; headlong – головой вперед /о падении вниз, нырянии/; стремительно, безрассудно, неосторожно; неуправляемо; очертя голову). When he remembered that Lady Vandeleur was the wife of one and the sister of the other of these gladiators (когда он вспомнил, что леди Венделер – жена одного и сестра другого из этих забияк), his heart was touched with sympathy (его сердце было тронуто состраданием) for a woman so distressingly misplaced in life (к женщине, которой так не повезло: «столь прискорбно поставленной не на место» в жизни). Even his own situation in the General’s household (даже его собственное положение в доме генерала) looked hardly so pleasing as usual (едва ли выглядело так же приятно, как обычно) in the light of these violent transactions (в свете этих жестоких: «насильственных» дел).

To see two gentlemen of his acquaintance thus brutally mauling each other was deeply shocking to Harry. He desired to forget the sight; he desired, above all, to put as great a distance as possible between himself and General Vandeleur; and in his eagerness for this he forgot everything about his destination, and hurried before him headlong and trembling. When he remembered that Lady Vandeleur was the wife of one and the sister of the other of these gladiators, his heart was touched with sympathy for a woman so distressingly misplaced in life. Even his own situation in the General’s household looked hardly so pleasing as usual in the light of these violent transactions.

He had walked some little distance (он прошел некоторое расстояние), busied with these meditations (занятый этими размышлениями), before a slight collision with another passenger reminded him of the bandbox on his arm (пока легкое столкновение с другим прохожим не напомнило ему о шляпной картонке у него на руке).

“Heavens!” cried he, “where was my head (силы небесные! – вскричал он, – где была моя голова = о чем я думал)? and whither have I wandered (и куда я зашел)?”

Thereupon he consulted the envelope which Lady Vandeleur had given him (после чего он сверился с конвертом, который леди Венделер дала ему). The address was there (на нем был адрес: «там»), but without a name (но без имени). Harry was simply directed to ask for “the gentleman who expected a parcel from Lady Vandeleur (Гарри было просто указано спросить джентльмена, который ожидает пакет от леди Венделер),” and if he were not at home (а если его не будет дома) to await his return (подождать его возвращения). The gentleman, added the note, should present a receipt (этот джентльмен, добавляла записка, должен представить расписку) in the handwriting of the lady herself (написанную рукой самой леди).

He had walked some little distance, busied with these meditations, before a slight collision with another passenger reminded him of the bandbox on his arm.

“Heavens!” cried he, “where was my head? and whither have I wandered?”

Thereupon he consulted the envelope which Lady Vandeleur had given him. The address was there, but without a name. Harry was simply directed to ask for “the gentleman who expected a parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” and if he were not at home to await his return. The gentleman, added the note, should present a receipt in the handwriting of the lady herself.

All this seemed mightily mysterious (все это казалось чрезвычайно загадочным), and Harry was above all astonished at the omission of the name (и Гарри был больше всего поражен отсутствием имени /адресата/) and the formality of the receipt (и формальностью расписки). He had thought little of this last (он мало думал об этом /последнем/ = о расписке) when he heard it dropped in conversation (когда услышал это упомянутым в разговоре); but reading it in cold blood (но прочтя это внимательно: «хладнокровно»), and taking it in connection with the other strange particulars (и связав это с другими странными деталями: «взяв это в связи…»), he became convinced that he was engaged in perilous affairs (он проникся убеждением: «стал убежден», что ввязался в рискованное дело; to become – стать). For half a moment he had a doubt of Lady Vandeleur herself (на полсекунды он усомнился в самой леди Венделер: «у него было сомнение»); for he found these obscure proceedings somewhat unworthy of so high a lady (ибо он находил эти таинственные процедуры несколько недостойными такой высокопоставленной дамы), and became more critical when her secrets were preserved against himself (и стал более критически настроен, когда ее тайны хранились от него самого = раз у нее были секреты даже от него). But her empire over his spirit was too complete (но ее власть над его душой была слишком безусловна), he dismissed his suspicions (он отбросил свои подозрения; to dismiss – отпускать; распускать /собрание/; отвергать, выбрасывать из головы, прогонять от себя /о мыслимом объекте, чувстве и т. п./), and blamed himself roundly for having so much as entertained them (и строго выбранил себя за то, что вообще питал их).

All this seemed mightily mysterious, and Harry was above all astonished at the omission of the name and the formality of the receipt. He had thought little of this last when he heard it dropped in conversation; but reading it in cold blood, and taking it in connection with the other strange particulars, he became convinced that he was engaged in perilous affairs. For half a moment he had a doubt of Lady Vandeleur herself; for he found these obscure proceedings somewhat unworthy of so high a lady, and became more critical when her secrets were preserved against himself. But her empire over his spirit was too complete, he dismissed his suspicions, and blamed himself roundly for having so much as entertained them.

In one thing, however, his duty and interest, his generosity and his terrors, coincided (в одной вещи, однако, его долг и интересы, его благородство и страхи совпадали) – to get rid of the bandbox (избавиться от шляпной картонки) with the greatest possible despatch (с наибольшей возможной поспешностью).

He accosted the first policeman (он обратился к первому же полицейскому) and courteously inquired his way (и вежливо спросил дорогу). It turned out that he was already not far from his destination (оказалось, что он был уже недалеко от своей цели), and a walk of a few minutes brought him to a small house in a lane (и ходьба в несколько минут привела его к маленькому домику в переулке; to bring – приводить, привозить, приносить), freshly painted (свежевыкрашенному), and kept with the most scrupulous attention (и ухоженному: «хранимому с очень тщательным вниманием»; to keep – хранить, держать).

In one thing, however, his duty and interest, his generosity and his terrors, coincided – to get rid of the bandbox with the greatest possible despatch.

He accosted the first policeman and courteously inquired his way. It turned out that he was already not far from his destination, and a walk of a few minutes brought him to a small house in a lane, freshly painted, and kept with the most scrupulous attention.

The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished (дверной молоток и звонок были тщательно отполированы); flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows (цветущие растения в горшках украшали подоконники разных окон); and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers (и шторы из какого-то роскошного материала скрывали интерьер от глаз любопытных прохожих). The place had an air of repose and secrecy (у этого жилища была атмосфера покоя и недоступности: «тайны»); and Harry was so far caught with this spirit (и Гарри был настолько сильно захвачен этим духом) that he knocked with more than usual discretion (что он постучал с большей, нежели обычно, осторожностью), and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots (и был более обычного внимателен, чтобы отряхнуть всю грязь с сапог; impurity – грязь, загрязнение; purity – чистота).

The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished; flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows; and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers. The place had an air of repose and secrecy; and Harry was so far caught with this spirit that he knocked with more than usual discretion, and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots.

A servant-maid of some personal attractions immediately opened the door (горничная, /не лишенная/ некоторой личной привлекательности, немедленно открыла дверь), and seemed to regard the secretary with no unkind eyes (и, казалось, оглядела секретаря не недобрыми глазами).

“This is the parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” said Harry (вот пакет от леди Венделер, – сказал Гарри).

“I know,” replied the maid, with a nod (я знаю, – ответила горничная с кивком = кивнув). “But the gentleman is from home (но господин не дома: «из дома /вышел/»). Will you leave it with me (может быть, вы оставите его со мной = мне)?”

“I cannot,” answered Harry (я не могу, – ответил Гарри). “I am directed not to part with it but upon a certain condition (мне приказано не расставаться с ним без определенных условий), and I must ask you, I am afraid, to let me wait (и я должен попросить вас, боюсь, позволить мне подождать /здесь/).”

A servant-maid of some personal attractions immediately opened the door, and seemed to regard the secretary with no unkind eyes.

“This is the parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” said Harry.

“I know,” replied the maid, with a nod. “But the gentleman is from home. Will you leave it with me?”

“I cannot,” answered Harry. “I am directed not to part with it but upon a certain condition, and I must ask you, I am afraid, to let me wait.”

“Well,” said she, “I suppose I may let you wait (что ж, – сказала она, – я полагаю, что могу позволить вам подождать). I am lonely enough, I can tell you (я очень одинока = я сейчас одна, уверяю вас: «я могу сказать вам»), and you do not look as though you would eat a girl (и вы не выглядите, как будто захотели бы съесть = обидеть девушку). But be sure and do not ask the gentleman’s name (но смотрите: «будьте уверены» и не спрашивайте имя этого джентльмена), for that I am not to tell you (так как я не должна говорить вам).”

“Do you say so?” cried Harry (вы говорите так = в самом деле? – воскликнул Гарри). “Why, how strange (ох, как странно)! But indeed for some time back I walk among surprises (но, вправду, уже какое-то время я шагаю = живу среди сюрпризов). One question I think I may surely ask without indiscretion (один вопрос, думаю, я могу точно задать без невежливости): Is he the master of this house (хозяин ли он этого дома)?”

“He is a lodger (он квартирант), and not eight days old at that,” returned the maid (и еще меньше восьми дней в таком качестве = совсем недавно, – ответила горничная). “And now a question for a question (а теперь вопрос за вопрос): Do you know lady Vandeleur (вы знаете леди Венделер)?”

“I am her private secretary,” replied Harry with a glow of modest pride (я ее личный секретарь, – ответил Гарри с румянцем скромной гордости = зардевшись; glow – свет, отблеск, зарево /обычно также имеется в виду исходящее тепло/; яркость, блеск /о цвете/; румянец; to glow – рдеть, пылать, быть залитым румянцем /о щеках/).

“She is pretty, is she not?” pursued the servant (она хорошенькая, не правда ли? – продолжала служанка).

“Oh, beautiful!” cried Harry (о, красивая! – вскричал Гарри); “wonderfully lovely (чудесно милая), and not less good and kind (и в неменьшей степени хорошая и добрая)!”

“Well,” said she, “I suppose I may let you wait. I am lonely enough, I can tell you, and you do not look as though you would eat a girl. But be sure and do not ask the gentleman’s name, for that I am not to tell you.”

“Do you say so?” cried Harry. “Why, how strange! But indeed for some time back I walk among surprises. One question I think I may surely ask without indiscretion: Is he the master of this house?”

“He is a lodger, and not eight days old at that,” returned the maid. “And now a question for a question: Do you know lady Vandeleur?”

“I am her private secretary,” replied Harry with a glow of modest pride.

“She is pretty, is she not?” pursued the servant.

“Oh, beautiful!” cried Harry; “wonderfully lovely, and not less good and kind!”

“You look kind enough yourself,” she retorted (вы и сами выглядите довольно-таки добрым, – возразила она); “and I wager you are worth a dozen Lady Vandeleurs (и я бьюсь об заклад, что вы стоите дюжины /таких, как/ леди Венделер).”

Harry was properly scandalised (Гарри был должным образом возмущен).

“I!” he cried (я! – вскричал он). “I am only a secretary (я лишь секретарь)!”