Читаем без скачивания Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов - Arthur Conan Doyle

frequent [ˈfri:kwǝnt], indebted [ɪnˈdetɪd], pomposity [pɔmˈpɔsɪtɪ], solemnly [ˈsɔlǝmlɪ]

"Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum — we are to be found in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way.

"So much for Mr. Henry Baker (довольно о мистере Генри Бейкере)," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him (позади него). "It is quite certain (вполне определенно) that he knows nothing whatever about the matter (что он совсем ничего не знает об этом деле). Are you hungry (вы голодны), Watson?"

"Not particularly (не особенно)."

"Then I suggest (предлагаю) that we turn our dinner into a supper (превратим наш обед в ужин) and follow up this clew while it is still hot (последуем по этой нити, пока она все еще горячая = отправимся по горячим следам; clew — клубок /ниток/)."

"By all means (непременно: «всеми средствами»)."

"So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?"

"Not particularly."

"Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow up this clew while it is still hot."

"By all means."

It was a bitter night (стоял морозный вечер; bitter — горький; сильный, резкий), so we drew on our ulsters (надели пальто; to draw on) and wrapped cravats about our throats (обмотали шарфы вокруг горла). Outside (снаружи), the stars were shining coldly (звезды сияли холодно) in a cloudless sky (в безоблачном небе), and the breath of the passers-by (/пар от/ дыхания прохожих) blew out into smoke (выдувался в дым; to blow out) like so many pistol shots (как от множества пистолетных выстрелов). Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly (звуки наших шагов звенели = раздавались твердо и громко) as we swung through the doctors' quarter (когда мы мерно шли через докторский квартал; to swing — качаться, колебаться; идти мерным шагом), Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour (через четверть часа) we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house (мы были у питейного заведения) at the corner of one of the streets (на углу одной из улиц) which runs down into (которая спускается к: «бежит вниз») Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door (толкнул дверь) of the private bar (частного бара /дополнительный бар в некоторых пабах/) and ordered two glasses of beer (заказал два стакана пива) from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord (у краснолицего, в белом переднике, хозяина).

cravats [krǝˈvæts], cloudless [ˈklaudlɪs], breath [breƟ], private [ˈpraɪvɪt]

"Your beer should be excellent (пиво должно быть превосходным) if it is as good as your geese (если оно так же хорошо, как ваши гуси)," said he.

It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord.

"Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," said he.

"My geese!" The man seemed surprised (выглядел удивленным).

"Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago (говорил лишь полчаса назад) to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club (который был членом вашего гусиного клуба)."

"Ah! yes, I see (понимаю). But you see, sir, them's not our geese (они не наши гуси; them's = them is — неправильная форма от they are)."

"Indeed! Whose, then (чьи тогда)?"

"Well, I got the two dozen (получил две дюжины) from a salesman (от одного торговца) in Covent Garden."

"My geese!" The man seemed surprised.

"Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club."

"Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese."

"Indeed! Whose, then?"

"Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden."

"Indeed (правда)? I know some of them (знаю кое-что о них /торговцах/). Which was it (какой из них был это = у кого вы купили)?"

"Breckinridge is his name."

"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health (вот ваше хорошее здоровье = ну, за ваше здоровье) landlord, and prosperity to your house (и за процветание вашего дома = заведения). Good-night (доброй ночи)."

health [helƟ], prosperity [prɔˈsperɪtɪ], night [naɪt]

"Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?"

"Breckinridge is his name."

"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good-night."

"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued (продолжил он), buttoning up his coat (застегивая пальто) as we came out into the frosty air (когда мы вышли на морозный воздух). "Remember (запомните), Watson that though (хотя) we have so homely a thing as a goose (имеем такую простую/обыденную вещь, как гусь) at one end of this chain (на одном конце нашей цепи), we have at the other (на другом) a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude (который, несомненно, получит семилетние каторжные работы) unless we can establish his innocence (если мы не сможем установить его невиновность). It is possible (возможно) that our inquiry (наше исследование) may but confirm his guilt (может лишь подтвердить его вину); but, in any case (в любом случае), we have a line of investigation (линию = нить расследования) which has been missed by the police (которая была пропущена полицией), and which a singular chance has placed in our hands (и которую странный случай поместил в наши руки). Let us follow it out to the bitter end (давайте осуществим его до горького конца = доведем до самого конца, каким бы печальным он ни был). Faces to the south (лица на юг = поворот на юг), then, and quick march (быстрый марш = шагом марш)!"

servitude [ˈsǝ:vɪtju:d], guilt [ɡɪlt], south [sauƟ], march [mɑ:tʃ]

"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and quick march!"

We passed across (пересекли) Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums (и так через зигзаг трущоб) to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stalls (одна из самых больших лавок) bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor (владелец), a horsy-looking man (похожий на жокея человек; horsy — относящийся к лошадям; подражающий жокею), with a sharp face (с хитрым лицом) and trim side-whiskers (и холеными бакенбардами; trim — подрезка, стрижка) was helping a boy to put up the shutters (помогал мальчику запереть ставни).

stalls [stɔ:lz], proprietor [prǝˈpraɪǝtǝ], horsy [ˈhɔ:sɪ], whiskers [ˈwɪskǝz]

"Good-evening (добрый вечер). It's a cold night," said Holmes.

The salesman nodded (кивнул) and shot a questioning glance at my companion (бросил вопросительный взгляд на моего товарища).

We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor, a horsy-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was helping a boy to put up the shutters.

"Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.

The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my companion.

"Sold out of geese (распродажа гусей), I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble (указывая на пустые: «голые» плиты = прилавки из мрамора).

"Let you have five hundred tomorrow morning (позвольте вам иметь = можете получить /хоть/ пять сотен завтра утром)."

"That's no good (не годится)."

"Well, there are some on the stall with the gas flare (несколько /осталось/ в лавке со свечой для сжигания газа = там, где горит свет)."

"Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble.

"Let you have five hundred tomorrow morning."

"That's no good."

"Well, there are some on the stall with the gas flare."

"Ah, but I was recommended to you (я был рекомендован = направлен к вам)."

"Who by (кем)?"

"The landlord of the Alpha (хозяином «Альфы»)."

"Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen (я послал ему пару дюжин; to send — отправлять, посылать)."

"Fine (прекрасные) birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from (откуда вы их достали)?"

To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman (вопрос вызвал: «спровоцировал» взрыв гнева у продавца).

"Ah, but I was recommended to you."

"Who by?"

"The landlord of the Alpha."

"Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen."

"Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?"

To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman.

"Now, then, mister (а ну-ка, мистер)," said he, with his head cocked (задрав голову) and his arms akimbo (упершись руками в бока), "what are you driving at (к чему вы клоните)? Let's have it straight (говорите прямо: «давайте иметь это прямо»), now."

"It is straight enough (достаточно прямо). I should like to know (хотел бы знать) who sold (продал; to sell) you the geese which you supplied (поставили; to supply — снабжать, доставлять) to the Alpha."