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

prevent [prɪˈvent], subtle [ˈsʌtl], knowledge [ˈnɒlɪʤ], extinguished [ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ], front [frʌnt]

"Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more cheerful."

About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us.

"That is our signal (это наш сигнал)," said Holmes, springing to his feet (сказал Холмс, вскакивая на ноги); "it comes from the middle window (он /свет/ исходит из среднего окна)."

As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord (когда мы выходили, он обменялся несколькими словами с хозяином /гостиницы/), explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance (объяснив, что мы идем в гости к одному знакомому; late — поздний; visit — посещение, визит), and that it was possible that we might spend the night there (и, возможно, что мы можем провести ночь там). A moment later we were out on the dark road (мгновение спустя мы вышли на темную дорогу; to be out — не быть дома, отсутствовать), a chill wind blowing in our faces (прохладный ветер дул нам в лицо), and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom (и желтый огонек мерцал перед нами через мрак) to guide us on our sombre errand (чтобы вести нас по нашему мрачному поручению /заданию/).

exchanged [ɪksˈʧeɪnʤd], acquaintance [ǝˈkweɪntǝns], guide [ɡaɪd], sombre [ˈsɒmbǝ]

"That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it comes from the middle window."

As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand.

There was little difficulty in entering the grounds (была маленькая трудность во вхождении в земли вокруг дома = попасть к дому было не трудно), for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall (так как неотремонтированные бреши зияли в стене /вокруг/ старого парка). Making our way among the trees (пробираясь: «делая наш путь» между деревьями), we reached the lawn (мы достигли лужайки), crossed it (пересекли ее), and were about to enter through the window (и только собирались пролезть через окно), when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child (когда из лавровых кустов рванулось /существо/, которое казалось отвратительным и уродливым ребенком; clump — группа, скопление), who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs (которое бросилось на траву с извивающимися конечностями = корчась), and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness (и затем перебежало быстро через лужайку /и скрылось/ в темноте).

unrepaired [ˌʌnrɪˈpeǝd], bushes [ˈbuʃɪz], hideous [ˈhɪdɪǝs], distorted [dɪsˈtɔ:tɪd]

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 [vaɪs], wrist [rɪst], laugh [lɑ:f], household [ˈhaushǝuld], murmured [ˈmǝ:mǝd]

"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 [ɪɡˈzɑ:mpl], shoes [ʃu:z], trumpet [ˈtrʌmpɪt], ear [ɪǝ], gently [ˈʤentlɪ]

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 [laɪf], revolver [rɪˈvɒlvǝ], stump [stʌmp], candle [ˈkændl]

"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 [ˈvɪʤɪl], breath [breƟ], tension [ˈtenʃn], cry [kraɪ], whine [waɪn], quarter [ˈkwɔ:tǝ]

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.