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

"John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger (Джон Клэй, убийца, вор, фальшивомонетчик и мошенник). He's a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his profession (он молод, но он во главе своей профессии = искуснейший вор в стране), and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London (и я бы охотнее имел мои браслеты на нем, чем на любом другом преступнике в Лондоне = ни на кого другого я не надел бы наручники охотнее, чем на него). He's a remarkable man, is young John Clay (он удивительный человек, этот юный Джон Клэй). His grandfather was a royal duke (его дед был королевским герцогом), and he himself has been to Eton and Oxford (а сам он был = учился в Итоне и Оксфорде). His brain is as cunning as his fingers (его мозг так же изощрен, как и его пальцы), and though we meet signs of him at every turn (и хотя мы встречаем его следы на каждом шагу), we never know where to find the man himself (мы никогда не знаем, где найти самого человека). He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week (он совершит кражу со взломом в Шотландии на одной неделе), and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next (и будет собирать: «собирающим» деньги на постройку сиротского приюта в Корнуолле на следующей). I've been on his track for years (я на его следу /уже/ годы = гоняюсь за ним уже несколько лет) and have never set eyes on him yet (и еще никогда = ни разу не видел его)."

thief [Ɵi:f], forger [ˈfɔ:ʤǝ], royal [ˈrɔɪǝl], duke [dju:k]

"John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yet."

"I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you tonight (я надеюсь, что могу иметь удовольствие представления = представить его вам). I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay (мне тоже приходилось раз или два сталкиваться с мистером Джоном Клэем), and I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession (и я согласен с вами, что он самый искусный вор в стране). It is past ten, however, and quite time that we started (после десяти = уже одиннадцатый час, однако, и вполне время, чтобы мы отправились = и нам пора двигаться в путь). If you two will take the first hansom (если вы двое возьмете первый экипаж), Watson and I will follow in the second (Ватсон и я последуем во втором)."

introducing [ɪntrǝˈdju:sɪŋ], hansom [hænsm], second [ˈsekǝnd]

"I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you tonight. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the second."

Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive (Шерлок Холмс не был слишком общительным во время долгой поездки), and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the afternoon (и наклонился = откинулся назад в кебе, мурлыкая мелодии, которые он слышал днем). We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets (мы мчались через бесконечный лабиринт освещенных газом улиц) until we emerged into Farrington Street (пока не добрались до Фаррингтон-стрит; to emerge — появляться, всплывать).

humming [ˈhʌmɪŋ], labyrinth [ˈlæbǝrɪnƟ], emerged [ɪˈmǝ:ʤd]

"We are close there now (мы теперь /совсем/ близко)," my friend remarked. "This fellow Merryweather is a bank director (этот парень Мерриуэзер — директор банка), and personally interested in the matter (и лично заинтересован в этом деле). I thought it as well to have Jones with us also (я подумал также взять Джонса). He is not a bad fellow (он неплохой парень), though an absolute imbecile in his profession (хотя и абсолютный глупец = ничего не смыслит в своей профессии). He has one positive virtue (у него есть одно несомненное достоинство). He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster (он храбр, как бульдог, и цепок, как рак) if he gets his claws upon anyone (если он хватает кого-то своими клешнями). Here we are, and they are waiting for us (мы приехали, и они нас ожидают)."

imbecile [ˈɪmbǝsi:l], virtue [ˈvǝ:tʃǝ], tenacious [tɪˈneɪʃ(ǝ)s], claws [klɔ:z]

Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and, lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street.

"We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are, and they are waiting for us."

We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare (мы достигли снова той же оживленной главной улицы) in which we had found ourselves in the morning (где были утром: «в которой мы нашли себя утром»). Our cabs were dismissed (наши кебы были отпущены), and, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather (и, следуя за = под руководством мистера Мерриуэзера), we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door (мы вошли в узкий коридор и /прошли/ в боковую дверь), which he opened for us (которую он открыл для нас). Within there was a small corridor (внутри там был короткий коридор), which ended in a very massive iron gate (который кончался очень массивными железными воротами). This also was opened (они также были открыты), and led down a flight of winding stone steps (и вели вниз = за ними был пролет винтовой каменной лестницы), which terminated at another formidable gate (которая кончалась у других внушительных ворот). Mr. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern (остановился зажечь фонарь), and then conducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage (и затем провел нас по темному, пахнущему землей коридору), and so, after opening a third door (и затем, после открытия третьей двери), into a huge vault or cellar (в огромный подвал или погреб; vault — хранилище, подвал), which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes (который был заставлен повсюду ящиками и тяжелыми коробками).

thoroughfare [ˈƟʌrǝfeǝ], guidance [ɡaɪdns], narrow [ˈnærǝu], gate [ɡeɪt], vault [vɔ:lt]

We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes.

"You are not very vulnerable from above (вы не слишком уязвимы сверху = проникнуть сюда сверху нелегко)," Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about him (подняв фонарь и оглядевшись вокруг себя).

"Nor from below (снизу тоже)," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor (ударяя своей тростью по плиткам, которые облицовывали пол). "Why, dear me, it sounds quite hollow (почему, черт возьми, это звучит = звук такой, словно там пустота)!" he remarked, looking up in surprise (поднимая глаза в изумлении).

vulnerable [ˈvʌlnrǝbl], lantern [ˈlæntǝn], hollow [ˈhɔlǝu]

"I must really ask you to be a little more quiet (я должен действительно = вынужден попросить вас вести себя потише)!" said Holmes severely (сказал Холмс строго). "You have already imperilled the whole success of our expedition (вы уже подвергнули опасности весь успех нашей экспедиции; peril — опасность; риск, угроза). Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes (могу ли я попросить, чтобы вы соблаговолили = будьте любезны, сядьте на одну из тех коробок; goodness — любезность), and not to interfere (и не мешайте; to interfere — вмешиваться)?"

severely [sɪˈvɪǝlɪ], imperilled [ɪmˈperɪld], success [sǝkˈses], interfere [ɪntǝˈfɪǝ]

"You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about him.

"Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise.

"I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?"

The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate (важный мистер Мерриуэзер уселся на ящик), with a very injured expression upon his face (с очень обиженным выражением на лице), while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor (в то время как Холмс упал = опустился на колени /на пол/) and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens (и с фонарем и увеличительным стеклом), began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones (начал исследовать скрупулезно трещины между камнями). A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him (нескольких секунд было достаточно, чтобы удовлетворить его), for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket (так как он снова вскочил на ноги и положил стекло = лупу в карман).

solemn [ˈsɔlǝm], injured [ˈɪnʤǝd], magnifying [ˈmæɡnɪfaɪŋ], sufficed [sǝˈfaɪst]

The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket.

"We have at least an hour before us (у нас есть впереди по крайней мере час)," he remarked, "for they can hardly take any steps (так как они едва ли могут предпринять какие-либо шаги) until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed (прежде, чем почтенный владелец ссудной кассы /благополучно/ заснет). Then they will not lose a minute (затем они не будут терять ни минуты), for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape (так как чем раньше они сделают свою работу, тем больше времени у них будет для побега). We are at present, Doctor (мы /находимся/ в настоящее время, доктор) — as no doubt you have divined (как вы, без сомнения, догадались) — in the cellar of the City branch of one of the principal London banks (в подвале отделения Сити одного из ведущих банков Лондона). Mr. Merryweather is the chairman of directors (мистер Мерриуэзер — председатель правления банка), and he will explain to you that there are reasons (и он объяснит вам, что есть причины) why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present (почему наиболее дерзким преступникам Лондона следует проявлять особый интерес к этому подвалу в настоящий момент)."