An anomaly which often struck me (Особенностью: «аномалией», которая часто поражала меня; to strike — поражать, производить впечатление) in the character of my friend Sherlock Holmes (в характере моего друга Шерлока Холмса) was that, although in his methods of thought (было то, что хотя в своих методах мышления) he was the neatest and most methodical of mankind (он был самым аккуратным и наиболее методичным из человечества; neat — аккуратный, опрятный), and although also he affected a certain quiet primness of dress (и хотя он также любил определенную спокойную чопорность в одежде; primness — чопорность), he was none the less in his personal habits (он был, тем не менее, в своих личных привычках; none the less — тем не менее) one of the most untidy men (одним из самых неряшливых людей) that ever drove a fellow-lodger to distraction (которые когда-либо доводили приятеля-сожителя до отчаяния; lodger — жилец, квартирант; distraction — отчаяние). Not that I am in the least conventional in that respect myself (Не то что я сам являюсь образцом в этом отношении).
An anomaly which often struck me in the character of my friend Sherlock Holmes was that, although in his methods of thought he was the neatest and most methodical of mankind, and although also he affected a certain quiet primness of dress, he was none the less in his personal habits one of the most untidy men that ever drove a fellow-lodger to distraction. Not that I am in the least conventional in that respect myself.
The rough-and-tumble work in Afghanistan (грубая и беспорядочная работа в Афганистане; tumble — беспорядок), coming on the top of a natural Bohemianism of disposition (доходящая до настоящей кочевой жизни: «цыганства в расположении»), has made me rather more lax (сделала меня несколько более неряшливым) than befits a medical man (чем подобает медику). But with me there is a limit, and when I find a man (но у меня есть предел, и когда я нахожу человека) who keeps his cigars in the coal-scuttle (который хранит свои сигары в ведерке для угля; scuttle — металлическое ведерко (для угля)), his tobacco in the toe end of a Persian slipper (свой табак в носке персидской туфли; toe — носок, мысок (башмака, чулка)), and his unanswered correspondence (и свою оставшуюся без ответа корреспонденцию) transfixed by a jack-knife into the very centre of his wooden mantelpiece (приколотой складным ножом к самому центру деревянной каминной полки; to transfix — приколоть, пригвоздить), then I begin to give myself virtuous airs (тогда я начинаю считать себя образцом добродетели: «давать себе добродетельный воздух»; virtuous — добродетельный). I have always held, too, that pistol practice (я всегда считал также, что пистолетная тренировка) should be distinctly an open-air pastime (должна быть исключительно забавой на открытом воздухе; pastime — развлечение, забава, игра); and when Holmes, in one of his queer humors (и когда Холмс в одной из своих странных забав; queer — странный, необычный, чудной), would sit in an arm-chair with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges (будет сидеть в кресле с пистолетом и сотней патронов), and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V. R. (и продолжать украшать противоположную стену патриотическим V.R.; V.R. — королева Виктория, от лат. Victoria Regina) done in bullet-pocks (сделанным из пулевых отверстий; bullet — пуля; pock — отверстие, по форме напоминающее оспину), I felt strongly that neither the atmosphere (я был абсолютно уверен: «сильно считал», что ни атмосфера) nor the appearance of our room was improved by it (ни внешний вид нашей комнаты не были улучшены этим).
The rough-and-tumble work in Afghanistan, coming on the top of a natural Bohemianism of disposition, has made me rather more lax than befits a medical man. But with me there is a limit, and when I find a man who keeps his cigars in the coal-scuttle, his tobacco in the toe end of a Persian slipper, and his unanswered correspondence transfixed by a jack-knife into the very centre of his wooden mantelpiece, then I begin to give myself virtuous airs. I have always held, too, that pistol practice should be distinctly an open-air pastime; and when Holmes, in one of his queer humors, would sit in an arm-chair with his hair-trigger and a hundred Boxer cartridges, and proceed to adorn the opposite wall with a patriotic V. R. done in bullet-pocks, I felt strongly that neither the atmosphere nor the appearance of our room was improved by it.
Our chambers were always full of chemicals and of criminal relics (Наши комнаты всегда были полны химикатами и криминальными уликами; chamber — комната) which had a way of wandering into unlikely positions (которые имели привычку попадать: “странствовать” в неприятные положения; to wander — бродить, странствовать, скитаться), and of turning up in the butter-dish or in even less desirable places (и обнаруживаться в масленке или даже менее желательных местах). But his papers were my great crux (Но его бумаги были моим великим крестом). He had a horror of destroying documents, (Он ненавидел уничтожать документы: «он имел ужас к уничтожению документов») especially those which were connected with his past cases, (особенно тех, которые были связаны с его прошлыми делами) and yet it was only once in every year or two (и, все же, только один раз за каждый год или два) that he would muster energy to docket and arrange them; (он накапливал энергию, чтобы описать и рассортировать их; to muster — созывать (собрание), организовывать (встречу); to docket — маркировать, наклеивать ярлык) for, as I have mentioned somewhere in these incoherent memoirs, (поскольку, как я упоминал где-то в этих бессвязных мемуарах) the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats (вспышки страстной энергии, когда он совершал выдающиеся подвиги; feat — подвиг) with which his name is associated (с которыми ассоциируется его имя) were followed by reactions of lethargy during which he would lie about with his violin and his books (сопровождались реакциями летаргии, в течение которых он лежал со своей скрипкой и книгами), hardly moving save from the sofa to the table (едва двигаясь от дивана к столу).
Our chambers were always full of chemicals and of criminal relics which had a way of wandering into unlikely positions, and of turning up in the butter-dish or in even less desirable places. But his papers were my great crux. He had a horror of destroying documents, especially those which were connected with his past cases, and yet it was only once in every year or two that he would muster energy to docket and arrange them; for, as I have mentioned somewhere in these incoherent memoirs, the outbursts of passionate energy when he performed the remarkable feats with which his name is associated were followed by reactions of lethargy during which he would lie about with his violin and his books, hardly moving save from the sofa to the table.
Thus month after month his papers accumulated, (Таким образом, месяц за месяцем, его бумаги накапливались) until every corner of the room was stacked with bundles of manuscript (пока каждый угол комнаты не был загроможден пачками рукописей; bundle — узел, связка, пачка) which were on no account to be burned (которые ни при каких обстоятельствах: «основаниях» не должны были быть сожжены; account — основание, причина), and which could not be put away save by their owner (и которые нельзя было убирать никому, кроме их владельца). One winter's night, as we sat together by the fire, (Одной зимней ночью, когда мы сидели вместе у огня) I ventured to suggest to him that, (я отважился предложить ему, что; to venture — отважиться, осмелиться) as he had finished pasting extracts into his common-place book, (что поскольку он закончил приклеивать выдержки в свою тетрадь; to paste — клеить, приклеивать; commonplace book — тетрадь для заметок) he might employ the next two hours in making our room a little more habitable (он мог бы использовать следующие два часа, чтобы сделать нашу комнату немного более обитаемой). He could not deny the justice of my request, (Он не мог отрицать справедливость моей просьбы; to deny — отрицать, отвергать) so with a rather rueful face went off to his bedroom, (и с достаточно грустным лицом пошел в свою спальню; rueful — грустный, унылый, печальный) from which he returned presently pulling a large tin box behind him (из которой он вернулся некоторое время спустя, таща за собой большую жестяную коробку; tin — олово, белая жесть). This he placed in the middle of the floor (Поместив ее посреди комнаты: «пола») and, squatting down upon a stool in front of it (и, сев на стул перед ней; to squat — сидеть на корточках), he threw back the lid (он откинул крышку). I could see that it was already a third full of bundles of paper (Я увидел, что она была уже на треть заполнена пачками бумаг) tied up with red tape into separate packages (завязанных красной тесьмой в отдельные пачки).
Thus month after month his papers accumulated, until every corner of the room was stacked with bundles of manuscript which were on no account to be burned, and which could not be put away save by their owner. One winter's night, as we sat together by the fire, I ventured to suggest to him that, as he had finished pasting extracts into his common-place book, he might employ the next two hours in making our room a little more habitable. He could not deny the justice of my request, so with a rather rueful face he went off to his bedroom, from which he returned presently pulling a large tin box behind him. This he placed in the middle of the floor and, squatting down upon a stool in front of it, he threw back the lid. I could see that it was already a third full of bundles of paper tied up with red tape into separate packages.
"There are cases enough here, Watson (Здесь достаточно дел, Уотсон)," said he, looking at me with mischievous eyes (сказал он, смотря на меня озорными глазами; mischievous — озорной, непослушный). "I think that if you knew (Я думаю, что если бы вы знали) all that I had in this box (что у меня есть в этой коробке) you would ask me to pull some out (вы бы попросили меня вытащить из нее кое-что) instead of putting others in (вместо того, чтобы класть туда еще что-нибудь)."
"These are the records of your early work, then (Так это заметки о вашей ранней работе)?" I asked (спросил я). "I have often wished that I had notes of those cases." (Я часто желал, чтобы у меня были заметки о тех делах)
"There are cases enough here, Watson," said he, looking at me with mischievous eyes. "I think that if you knew all that I had in this box you would ask me to pull some out instead of putting others in."
"These are the records of your early work, then?" I asked. "I have often wished that I had notes of those cases."
"Yes, my boy, these were all done prematurely (Да, мой мальчик, это все было сделано заранее) before my biographer had come to glorify me (перед тем, как мой биограф пришел, чтобы прославить меня)." He lifted bundle after bundle (Он поднимал пачку за пачкой) in a tender, caressing sort of way (нежным, ласкающим образом; to caress — ласкать, гладить). "They are not all successes, Watson," said he (“Они не все удачны Уотсон”, — сказал он).
"But there are some pretty little problems among them (Но среди них есть приятные маленькие задачи). Here's the record of the Tarleton murders (Вот запись об убийствах Тарлетона), and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant (и дело Вамберри, виноторговца; merchant — торговец), and the adventure of the old Russian woman (и приключение русской старухи), and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch (необычайное дело алюминиевого костыля; crutch — костыль), as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot (также, как и полный отчет о косолапом Риколетти; club-foot — косолапость, изуродованная ступня), and his abominable wife (и его отвратительной жене). And here — ah, now, this really is something a little (А здесь, ах, вот действительно что-то немного) recherché (отборное, изысканное (фр.))."
"Yes, my boy, these were all done prematurely before my biographer had come to glorify me." He lifted bundle after bundle in a tender, caressing sort of way. "They are not all successes, Watson," said he.
"But there are some pretty little problems among them. Here's the record of the Tarleton murders, and the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant, and the adventure of the old Russian woman, and the singular affair of the aluminium crutch, as well as a full account of Ricoletti of the club-foot, and his abominable wife. And here--ah, now, this really is something a little recherchй."
He dived his arm down to the bottom of the chest, (Он сунул руку вниз на дно сундука; to dive — нырять) and brought up a small wooden box with a sliding lid (и вытащил маленькую деревянную коробочку со скользящей крышкой; to slide — скользить), such as children's toys are kept in (такую, в которой хранятся детские игрушки). From within he produced a crumpled piece of paper (Оттуда он вытащил измятый лист бумаги; to crumple — комкать, мять), and old-fashioned brass key (старомодный латунный ключ; brass — латунь), a peg of wood with a ball of string attached to it (деревянный колышек с клубком веревки, привязанным к нему; peg — колышек), and three rusty old disks of metal (и три старых ржавых металлических диска; rusty — ржавый).
He dived his arm down to the bottom of the chest, and brought up a small wooden box with a sliding lid, such as children's toys are kept in. From within he produced a crumpled piece of paper, and old-fashioned brass key, a peg of wood with a ball of string attached to it, and three rusty old disks of metal.
"Well, my boy, what do you make of this lot (Ну, мой мальчик, что вы думаете об этих предметах; lot — совокупность объектов, воспринимаемых как единое целое)?" he asked, smiling at my expression. (спросил он, улыбаясь над моим выражением /лица/)
"It is a curious collection." (Это любопытная коллекция)
"Very curious (Очень любопытная), and the story that hangs round it (и история, которая с ней связана) will strike you as being more curious still (покажется вам еще более любопытной; to strike — поражать, производить впечатление)."
"These relics have a history then?" (Так эти вещи = реликвии имеют историю)
"So much so (Более того) that they are history (они сами являются историей)."
"What do you mean by that (Что вы имеете ввиду)?"
"Well, my boy, what do you make of this lot?" he asked, smiling at my expression.
"It is a curious collection."
"Very curious, and the story that hangs round it will strike you as being more curious still."
"These relics have a history then?"
"So much so that they are history."
"What do you mean by that?"
Sherlock Holmes picked them up one by one, (Шерлок Холмс поднял их одну за другой) and laid them along the edge of the table (и положил их вдоль края стола; edge — край, граница). Then he reseated himself in his chair (Затем он снова уселся на свой стул) and looked them over with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes (осмотрел их с блеском удовлетворения в глазах; gleam — проблеск, луч, вспышка).
"These," said he, (“Вот”, — сказал он) "are all that I have left to remind me (все, что я оставил себе для напоминания) of the adventure of the Musgrave Ritual (о приключении с обрядом Месгрейвов)."
Sherlock Holmes picked them up one by one, and laid them along the edge of the table. Then he reseated himself in his chair and looked them over with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
"These," said he, "are all that I have left to remind me of the adventure of the Musgrave Ritual."
I had heard him mention the case more than once (Я слышал, что он не раз: «больше одного раза» упоминал об этом деле), though I had never been able to gather the details (хотя у меня никогда не было возможности собрать детали). "I should be so glad," said I (“Я был бы так рад”, — сказал я), "if you would give me an account of it (если бы вы дали мне отчет о нем; account — отчет, сообщение, доклад)."
"And leave the litter as it is (И оставить этот мусор как есть)?" he cried, mischievously (крикнул он озорно; mischievous — озорной, непослушный). "Your tidiness won't bear much strain after all, Watson (Ваша чистоплотность не очень пострадает: «не будет терпеть большое напряжение» в конце концов, Уотсон; to bear — выносить, выдерживать, терпеть; strain — напряжение, нагрузка). But I should be glad that you should add this case to your annals, (Но я буду рад, что вы добавите этот случай в ваши летописи; annals — летописи) for there are points in it (потому что в нем есть детали) which make it quite unique (которые делают его абсолютно уникальным; quite — вполне, совершенно) in the criminal records of this or (в криминальных хрониках этой или), I believe, of any other country (я думаю, любой другой страны). A collection of my trifling achievements (Коллекция моих пустяковых достижений; trifle — пустяк) would certainly be incomplete which contained no account of this very singular business (будет, конечно, неполной без отчета об этом очень особенном деле; account — отчет, сообщение, доклад).
I had heard him mention the case more than once, though I had never been able to gather the details. "I should be so glad," said I, "if you would give me an account of it."
"And leave the litter as it is?" he cried, mischievously. "Your tidiness won't bear much strain after all, Watson. But I should be glad that you should add this case to your annals, for there are points in it which make it quite unique in the criminal records of this or, I believe, of any other country. A collection of my trifling achievements would certainly be incomplete which contained no account of this very singular business.
"You may remember how the affair of the Gloria Scott (вы можете помнить, как дело Глории Скотт), and my conversation with the unhappy man (и мой разговор с несчастным человеком) whose fate I told you of (о чьей судьбе я вам рассказывал), first turned my attention in the direction of the profession (впервые обратил: «повернул» мое внимание в направлении профессии) which has become my life's work (которая стала работой моей жизни). You see me now when my name has become known far and wide (Вы видите меня сейчас, когда мое имя стало широко известным: «известным далеко и широко»), and when I am generally recognized both by the public and by the official force (и когда я в общем признан и обществом, и официальной полицией: «официальной силой») as being a final court of appeal in doubtful cases (как последняя инстанция: «финальный суд» для обращения в сомнительных делах; to appeal — апеллировать, обращаться). Even when you knew me first, at the time of the affair (Даже когда вы впервые узнали меня во время дела) which you have commemorated in 'A Study in Scarlet,' (которое вы упоминали в “Этюде в багровых тонах”: «Исследовании в алом»; scarlet — алый) I had already established a considerable, though not a very lucrative, connection (Я уже имел значительную, хотя и не очень доходную практику = клиентуру; lucrative — прибыльный, выгодный, доходный). You can hardly realize (Вы с трудом можете понять), then, how difficult I found it at first (как трудно мне было в начале), and how long I had to wait (и как долго мне пришлось ждать) before I succeeded in making any headway (перед тем, как мне удалось сделать какое-нибудь продвижение; headway — движение вперед).
"You may remember how the affair of the Gloria Scott, and my conversation with the unhappy man whose fate I told you of, first turned my attention in the direction of the profession which has become my life's work. You see me now when my name has become known far and wide, and when I am generally recognized both by the public and by the official force as being a final court of appeal in doubtful cases. Even when you knew me first, at the time of the affair which you have commemorated in 'A Study in Scarlet,' I had already established a considerable, though not a very lucrative, connection. You can hardly realize, then, how difficult I found it at first, and how long I had to wait before I succeeded in making any headway.
"When I first came up to London I had rooms in Montague Street (Когда я впервые приехал в Лондон, я поселился: «имел комнаты» на Монтегю стрит), just round the corner from the British Museum, and there I waited (сразу за углом Британского музея и там я ждал), filling in my too abundant leisure time (заполняя слишком обильное свободное время; abundant — обильный) by studying all those branches of science (изучая все те области науки) which might make me more efficient (которые могли сделать меня более квалифицированным). Now and again cases came in my way (Время от времени дела появлялись у меня; now and again — время от времени), principally through the introduction of old fellow-students (главным образом через знакомство со старыми приятелями-студентами), for during my last years at the University (так как в течение моих последних лет в университете) there was a good deal of talk there about myself and my methods (там было много разговоров обо мне и моих методах). The third of these cases was that of the Musgrave Ritual (Третьим из этих дел был обряд Месгрейвов), and it is to the interest which was aroused by that singular chain of events (и интерес, который был вызван той странной цепью событий; chain — цепь), and the large issues which proved to be at stake (и большие последствия, которые доказали), that I trace my first stride towards to position which I now hold (что я совершаю свой первый шаг к положению, которое я сейчас занимаю; stride — большой шаг).
"When I first came up to London I had rooms in Montague Street, just round the corner from the British Museum, and there I waited, filling in my too abundant leisure time by studying all those branches of science which might make me more efficient. Now and again cases came in my way, principally through the introduction of old fellow-students, for during my last years at the University there was a good deal of talk there about myself and my methods. The third of these cases was that of the Musgrave Ritual, and it is to the interest which was aroused by that singular chain of events, and the large issues which proved to be at stake, that I trace my first stride towards the position which I now hold.
"Reginald Musgrave had been in the same college as myself (Реджинальд Месгрейв учился: «был» в том же колледже, что и я), and I had some slight acquaintance with him (и я был немного знаком с ним; acquaintance — знакомство). He was not generally popular among the undergraduates (Он не был обычно популярен среди студентов; undergraduate — студент), though it always seemed to me (хотя мне всегда казалось) that what was set down as pride (что то, что считалось гордостью) was really an attempt to cover extreme natural diffidence (в действительности было попыткой скрыть чрезмерную естественную робость; diffidence — робость, скромность). In appearance he was a man of exceedingly aristocratic type (Внешне он был человеком типично аристократического типа; exceedingly — очень, чрезвычайно), thin, high-nosed, and large-eyed, with languid and yet courtly manners (худой, с большим носом и большеглазый, с медлительными и, все же, вежливыми манерами; languid — медлительный, апатичный; courtly — вежливый). He was indeed a scion of one of the very oldest families in the kingdom (Он действительно был потомком одного из древнейших родов королевства; scion — побег растения, потомок, наследник), though his branch was a cadet one which had separated (хотя его ветвь была младшей, которая отделилась) from the northern Musgraves some time in the sixteenth century (от северных Месгрейвов где-то в шестнадцатом веке), and had established itself in western Sussex (и обосновалась в западном Суссексе; to establish — основывать, учреждать), where the Manor House of Hurlstone is perhaps the oldest inhabited building in the county (где поместье Херлстоун возможно является самым старым обитаемым зданием в стране; manor house — поместье феодала; to inhabit — жить, населять, обитать). Something of his birth place seemed to cling to the man (Что-то в месте рождения, казалось, прилипло к человеку; to cling — цепляться; прилипать), and I never looked at his pale, keen face or the poise of his head (и я никогда не смотрел на его бледное, энергичное лицо или посадку головы; keen — энергичный, проницательный) without associating him with gray archways and mullioned windows (не ассоциируя его с серыми арками и сводчатыми окнами; archway — арка, свод; mullion — средник (окна или двери)) and all the venerable wreckage of a feudal keep (и всеми древними обломками главной башни феодального замка; venerable — древний, освященный веками; wreckage — обломки, руины; keep — наиболее удаленная и укрепленная часть центральной башни средневекового замка). Once or twice we drifted into talk (Раз или два мы говорили: «смещались в разговор»), and I can remember that more than once (и я помню, что больше, чем однажды) he expressed a keen interest in my methods of observation and inference (он проявлял большой интерес к моим методам наблюдения и умозаключений; keen — глубокий, сильный, интенсивный, энергичный).
"For four years I had seen nothing of him (Четыре года я ничего не слышал: «видел» о нем) until one morning he walked into my room (пока однажды утром он не вошел в мою комнату) in Montague Street (на Монтегю стрит). He had changed little, was dressed like a young man of fashion (Он мало изменился, был одет как молодой человек, придерживающийся моды; fashion — мода) — he was always a bit of a dandy (он всегда был немного франт) — and preserved the same quiet, suave manner (и сохранил ту же тихую, вежливую манеру; suave — учтивый, вежливый) which had formerly distinguished him (которая раньше отличала его; to distinguish — отличать, характеризовать).
"Reginald Musgrave had been in the same college as myself, and I had some slight acquaintance with him. He was not generally popular among the undergraduates, though it always seemed to me that what was set down as pride was really an attempt to cover extreme natural diffidence. In appearance he was a man of exceedingly aristocratic type, thin, high-nosed, and large-eyed, with languid and yet courtly manners. He was indeed a scion of one of the very oldest families in the kingdom, though his branch was a cadet one which had separated from the northern Musgraves some time in the sixteenth century, and had established itself in western Sussex, where the Manor House of Hurlstone is perhaps the oldest inhabited building in the county. Something of his birth place seemed to cling to the man, and I never looked at his pale, keen face or the poise of his head without associating him with gray archways and mullioned windows and all the venerable wreckage of a feudal keep. Once or twice we drifted into talk, and I can remember that more than once he expressed a keen interest in my methods of observation and inference.
"For four years I had seen nothing of him until one morning he walked into my room in Montague Street. He had changed little, was dressed like a young man of fashion— he was always a bit of a dandy— and preserved the same quiet, suave manner which had formerly distinguished him.
"How has all gone with you Musgrave?" I asked (“Как вы поживаете, Месгрейв?” — спросил я), after we had cordially shaken hands (после того, как мы дружески пожали руки; cordially — сердечно, искренне, дружески).
"You probably heard of my poor father's death," said he (“Вы, возможно, слышали о смерти моего бедного отца”, — сказал он); "he was carried off about two years ago (он умер около двух лет назад)". Since then I have of course had the Hurlstone estates to manage (С тех пор мне пришлось, разумеется, управлять Херлтоунскими поместьями; estate — поместье, имение), and as I am member for my district as well (и поскольку я также член своего округа; district — район, округ), my life has been a busy one (моя жизнь была занятой). But I understand, Holmes, that you are turning to practical ends (Но я понимаю, Холмс, что вы применяете на практике: «поворачиваете к практическим концам») those powers with which you used to amaze us (те силы, с помощью которых вы изумляли нас; to amaze — изумлять, поражать, удивлять)?"
"For four years I had seen nothing of him until one morning he walked into my room in Montague Street. He had changed little, was dressed like a young man of fashion — he was always a bit of a dandy — and preserved the same quiet, suave manner which had formerly distinguished him.
"'How has all gone with you Musgrave?' I asked, after we had cordially shaken hands.
"'You probably heard of my poor father's death,' said he; 'he was carried off about two years ago. Since then I have of course had the Hurlstone estates to manage, and as I am member for my district as well, my life has been a busy one. But I understand, Holmes, that you are turning to practical ends those powers with which you used to amaze us?'
"'Yes,' said I (“Да”, — сказал я), 'I have taken to living by my wits (я решил зарабатывать умом; wit — ум, разум).'
"I am delighted to hear it (Я рад слышать это; to delight — радоваться, доставлять большое удовольствие), for your advice at present would be exceedingly valuable to me (потому что ваш совет будет в настоящий момент чрезвычайно полезен мне; exceedingly — весьма, чрезвычайно). We have had some very strange doings at Hurlstone (Я нас были очень странные события в Херлстоуне), and the police have been able to throw no light upon the matter (и полиция не смогла пролить свет на дело). It is really the most extraordinary and inexplicable business (Это самое необычное и необъяснимое дело; inexplicable — необъяснимый, непостижимый).'
"You can imagine with what eagerness I listened to him, Watson (Вы может представить себе, с каким пылом я слушал его, Уотсон; eagerness — пыл, рвение, старание), for the very chance for which I had been panting (тот самый шанс, которого я страстно желал; to pant — страстно желать, томиться, тосковать) during all those months of inaction (в течение всех этих месяцев бездействия) seemed to have come within my reach (казалось, пришел ко мне: «в мою доступность»). In my inmost heart I believed that I could succeed (В глубине души я верил, что смогу достичь успеха; inmost — глубочайший, сокровенный) where others failed (там, где другие потерпели неудачу), and now I had the opportunity to test myself (и теперь у меня была возможность проверить себя; opportunity — шанс, возможность).
"'Yes,' said I, 'I have taken to living by my wits.'
"'I am delighted to hear it, for your advice at present would be exceedingly valuable to me. We have had some very strange doings at Hurlstone, and the
police have been able to throw no light upon the matter. It is really the most extraordinary and inexplicable business.'
"You can imagine with what eagerness I listened to him, Watson, for the very chance for which I had been panting during all those months of inaction seemed to have come within my reach. In my inmost heart I believed that I could succeed where others failed, and now I had the opportunity to test myself.
"Pray, let me have the details," I cried (“Умоляю, расскажите мне: «дайте мне иметь» детали”, — вскричал я). "Reginald Musgrave sat down opposite to me (Реджинальд Месгрейв сел напротив меня), and lit the cigarette which I had pushed towards him (и зажег сигарету, которую я ему предложил; to light — зажигать).
"You must know," said he (“Вы должны знать”, — сказал он), "that though I am a bachelor (что хотя я холостяк), I have to keep up a considerable staff of servants at Hurlstone (мне приходится содержать значительный штат прислуги в Херлстоуне; considerable — значительный), for it is a rambling old place (т.к. это беспорядочно выстроенное старое здание: «место»; rambling — разбросанный, беспорядочно выстроенный), and takes a good deal of looking after (и приходится тратить много сил, чтобы следить /за ним/). I preserve, too (У меня также есть заповедник; preserve — охотничий/рыболовный заповедник), and in the pheasant months I usually have a house-party (и в сезоны охоты на фазанов: «фазаньи месяцы» я обычно приглашаю гостей; house-party — гости, проводящие несколько дней в загородном доме), so that it would not do to be short-handed (так что приходится содержать много прислуги: «он не должен быть недоукомплектован прислугой»; short-handed — неукомплектованный рабочей силой). Altogether there are eight maids, the cook, the butler, two footmen, and a boy (Всего там восемь горничных, повар, дворецкий, два лакея и мальчик). The garden and the stables of course have a separate staff (В саду и конюшне, разумеется, есть отдельный штат; stable — конюшня).
"'Pray, let me have the details,' I cried.
"Reginald Musgrave sat down opposite to me, and lit the cigarette which I had pushed towards him.
"'You must know,' said he, 'that though I am a bachelor, I have to keep up a considerable staff of servants at Hurlstone, for it is a rambling old place, and takes a good deal of looking after. I preserve, too, and in the pheasant months I usually have a house-party, so that it would not do to be short-handed. Altogether there are eight maids, the cook, the butler, two footmen, and a boy. The garden and the stables of course have a separate staff.
"Of these servants the one who had been longest in our service was Brunton the butler (Из всех слуг дольше всех находился у нас на службе Брантон, дворецкий). He was a young school-master out of place (Он был молодым школьным учителем без места) when he was first taken up by my father (когда он впервые был взят моим отцом), but he was a man of great energy and character (но он был человеком огромной энергии и характера), and he soon became quite invaluable in the household (и скоро он стал совершенно бесценным в хозяйстве). He was a well-grown, handsome man, with a splendid forehead (Он был рослым, красивым мужчиной с великолепным лбом; handsome — красивый (о мужчине)), and though he has been with us for twenty years (и хотя он был с нами двадцать лет) he cannot be more than forty now (ему не может быть больше сорока сейчас). With his personal advantages and his extraordinary gifts (С его личными достоинствами и необыкновенными дарованиями; advantage — преимущество, превосходство) — for he can speak several languages (он может говорить на нескольких языках) and play nearly every musical instrument (и играть почти на всех музыкальных инструментах) — it is wonderful that he should have been satisfied so long in such a position (удивительно, что он был так долго удовлетворен таким местом; to satisfy — удовлетворять), but I suppose that he was comfortable (но я полагаю, что ему было комфортно), and lacked energy to make any change (и у него не хватало энергии для совершения перемены; to lack — не хватать, недоставать). The butler of Hurlstone is always a thing that is remembered by all who visit us (Дворецкого в Херлстоуне: «это вещь, которую» всегда помнят все, кто нас посещает).
"Of these servants the one who had been longest in our service was Brunton the butler. He was a young school-master out of place when he was first taken up by my father, but he was a man of great energy and character, and he soon became quite invaluable in the household. He was a well-grown, handsome man, with a splendid forehead, and though he has been with us for twenty years he cannot be more than forty now. With his personal advantages and his extraordinary gifts — for he can speak several languages and play nearly every musical instrument — it is wonderful that he should have been satisfied so long in such a position, but I suppose that he was comfortable, and lacked energy to make any change. The butler of Hurlstone is always a thing that is remembered by all who visit us.
"But this paragon has one fault (Но этот образец совершенства имеет один недостаток; paragon — образец, модель совершенства). He is a bit of a Don Juan (Он немного Дон Жуан; a bit of — немного), and you can imagine that for a man like him (и вы можете представить себе, что для человека, как он) it is not a very difficult part to play in a quiet country district (это не очень трудная роль для игры в тихом сельском районе). When he was married it was all right (Когда он был женат все было в порядке), but since he has been a widower we have had no end of trouble with him (но с тех пор, как он овдовел, у нас были бесконечные проблемы с ним; trouble — беспокойство, волнение). A few months ago we were in hopes (Несколько месяцев назад мы были в надеждах) that he was about to settle down again (что он собирается снова обустроиться) for he became engaged to Rachel Howells, our second house-maid (так как он обручился с Рэчел Хауэлз, нашей второй горничной); but he has thrown her over since then (но он бросил ее с тех пор) and taken up with Janet Tregellis (и сблизился с Дженет Треджелис; to take up with — сближаться, встречаться (с кем-л.)), the daughter of the head game-keeper (дочерью старшего егеря). Rachel — who is a very good girl, but of an excitable Welsh temperament (Рэчел, которая очень хорошая девушка, но возбудимого уэльского темперамента) — had a sharp touch of brain-fever (получила острый приступ мозговой лихорадки; fever — жар, лихорадка), and goes about the house now (и ходит по дому сейчас) — or did until yesterday (или ходила: «делала» до вчерашнего дня) — like a black-eyed shadow of her former self (как черноглазое приведенье себя предыдущей; former — бывший, давний, предшествующий). That was our first drama at Hurlstone (Это была наша первая драма в Херлстоуне); but a second one came to drive it from our minds (но вторая изгладила ее из нашей памяти), and it was prefaced by the disgrace and dismissal of butler Brunton (и ей предшествовали позор и увольнение дворецкого Брантона; to preface — предшествовать; disgrace — позор, бесчестье).
"But this paragon has one fault. He is a bit of a Don Juan, and you can imagine that for a man like him it is not a very difficult part to play in a quiet country district. When he was married it was all right, but since he has been a widower we have had no end of trouble with him. A few months ago we were in hopes that he was about to settle down again for he became engaged to Rachel Howells, our second house-maid; but he has thrown her over since then and taken up with Janet Tregellis, the daughter of the head game-keeper. Rachel — who is a very good girl, but of an excitable Welsh temperament— had a sharp touch of brain-fever, and goes about the house now — or did until yesterday — like a black-eyed shadow of her former self. That was our first drama at Hurlstone; but a second one came to drive it from our minds, and it was prefaced by the disgrace and dismissal of butler Brunton.
"This was how it came about (Вот как это произошло). I have said that the man was intelligent (Я уже сказал, что человек был умен), and this very intelligence has caused his ruin (и этот ум послужил причиной его краха), for it seems to have led to an insatiable curiosity (так как он, кажется, привел к неуемному любопытству; insatiable — ненасытный, жадный, алчный) about things which did not in the least concern him (о вещах, которые ни в малейшей степени не относятся к нему). I had no idea of the lengths to which this would carry him (У меня не было мысли как далеко: «о длинах, к которым» это приведет его), until the merest accident opened my eyes to it (пока самый обыкновенный случай открыл мне на это глаза; mere — простой, обыкновенный).
"I have said that the house is a rambling one (Я уже сказал, что дом построен беспорядочно; rambling — разбросанный, беспорядочно выстроенный). One day last week — on Thursday night, to be more exact (Однажды на прошлой неделе, в четверг ночью, чтобы быть более точным ) — I found that I could not sleep (я обнаружил, что не могу заснуть), having foolishly taken a cup of strong (по глупости выпив чашку крепкого) café noir (черного кофе (фр.)) after my dinner (после ужина). After struggling against it until two in the morning (После борьбы против нее до двух часов утра), I felt that it was quite hopeless (я почувствовал, что это было совершенно безнадежно), so I rose and lit the candle (так что я поднялся и зажег свечу) with the intention of continuing a novel which I was reading (с намерением продолжить чтение романа: «роман, который я читал»; intention — намерение, замысел). The book, however, had been left in the billiard-room (Книга, однако, была оставлена в биллиардной), so I pulled on my dressing-gown and started off to get it (так что я натянул халат и отправился забрать ее).
"This was how it came about. I have said that the man was intelligent, and this very intelligence has caused his ruin, for it seems to have led to an insatiable curiosity about things which did not in the least concern him. I had no idea of the lengths to which this would carry him, until the merest accident opened my eyes to it.
"I have said that the house is a rambling one. One day last week — on Thursday night, to be more exact — I found that I could not sleep, having foolishly taken a cup of strong cafй noir after my dinner. After struggling against it until two in the morning, I felt that it was quite hopeless, so I rose and lit the candle with the intention of continuing a novel which I was reading. The book, however, had been left in the billiard-room, so I pulled on my dressing-gown and started off to get it.
"In order to reach the billiard-room (Для того, чтобы достичь биллиардной) I had to descend a flight of stairs (я должен был спуститься по лестничному пролету; to descend — спускаться, сходить; flight of stairs — пролет лестницы) and then to cross the head of a passage (и затем пересечь начало прохода) which led to the library and the gun-room (который вел в библиотеку и оружейную). You can imagine my surprise when (Вы можете представить себе мое удивление, когда), as I looked down this corridor (посмотрев вниз по коридору), I saw a glimmer of light coming from the open door of the library (я увидел тусклый свет, идущий из открытой двери библиотеки; glimmer — мерцание, тусклый свет). I had myself extinguished the lamp (я сам потушил лампу; to extinguish — гасить, тушить) and closed the door before coming to bed (и закрыл дверь перед тем как отправился в постель). Naturally my first thought was of burglars (Естественно, моей первой мыслью была /мысль/ о ворах; burglar — вор-взломщик). The corridors at Hurlstone have their walls largely decorated with trophies of old weapons (Стены в коридорах Херлстоуна обильно украшены трофеями из старого оружия). From one of these I picked a battle-axe (с одной из них я схватил алебарду), and then, leaving my candle behind me (и затем, оставив свечку сзади меня), I crept on tiptoe down the passage and peeped in at the open door (я прокрался на цыпочках вниз по проходу и заглянул в открытую дверь; peep — заглядывать).
"In order to reach the billiard-room I had to descend a flight of stairs and then to cross the head of a passage which led to the library and the gun-room. You can imagine my surprise when, as I looked down this corridor, I saw a glimmer of light coming from the open door of the library. I had myself extinguished the lamp and closed the door before coming to bed. Naturally my first thought was of burglars. The corridors at Hurlstone have their walls largely decorated with trophies of old weapons. From one of these I picked a battle-axe, and then, leaving my candle behind me, I crept on tiptoe down the passage and peeped in at the open door.
"Brunton, the butler, was in the library (Брантон, дворецкий, был в библиотеке). He was sitting, fully dressed, in an easy-chair (он сидел, полностью одетый, в мягком кресле; easy-chair — мягкое кресло), with a slip of paper which looked lake a map upon his knee (с листом бумаги, похожим на карту, на колене; slip — узкая (и длинная) полоска бумаги), and his forehead sunk forward upon his hand in deep thought (его лоб опирался на руку в глубокой задумчивости; to sink — падать, оседать). I stood dumb with astonishment (я стоял, онемев от изумления; dumb — немой, онемевший (от удивления, страха)), watching him from the darkness (смотря на него из темноты). A small taper on the edge of the table (маленькая свеча на краю стола; taper — тонкая свеча) shed a feeble light which sufficed (излучала слабый свет, которого хватало; feeble — слабый, немощный; to suffice — быть достаточным, хватать) to show me that he was fully dressed (чтобы я увидел: «чтобы показать мне», что он был полностью одет). Suddenly, as I looked, he rose from his chair (неожиданно он поднялся со стула), and walking over to a bureau at the side (и подойдя к бюро у стены; side — стена), he unlocked it and drew out one of the drawers (он открыл его /ключом/ и вытащил один из ящиков; draw out — вытаскивать). From this he took a paper, and returning to his seat (из него он вытащил бумагу и, вернувшись на свое место) he flattened it out beside the taper on the edge of the table (он положил: «разгладил» ее рядом со свечой на краю стола; flatten out — раскатывать, расплющивать), and began to study it with minute attention (и начал изучать ее с большим вниманием; minute — детальный, обстоятельный, доскональный). My indignation at this calm examination of our family documents (мое возмущение над этим спокойным изучением наших семейных документов; indignation — негодование, возмущение) overcame me so far that I took a step forward (охватило меня настолько, что я сделал шаг вперед), and Brunton, looking up, saw me standing in the doorway (и Брантон, посмотрев вверх, увидел меня, стоящего в дверном проеме). He sprang to his feet, his face turned livid with fear (он вскочил на ноги, его лицо стало мертвенно-бледным от страха; to spring — прыгать, скакать; livid — мертвенно-бледный), and he thrust into his breast the chart-like paper (и он засунул в грудной карман: «грудь» бумагу, похожую на карту; to thrust — засовывать, совать, пихать) which he had been originally studying (которую он изначально изучал).
"Brunton, the butler, was in the library. He was sitting, fully dressed, in an easy-chair, with a slip of paper which looked lake a map upon his knee, and his forehead sunk forward upon his hand in deep thought. I stood dumb with astonishment, watching him from the darkness. A small taper on the edge of the table shed a feeble light which sufficed to show me that he was fully dressed. Suddenly, as I looked, he rose from his chair, and walking over to a bureau at the side, he unlocked it and drew out one of the drawers. From this he took a paper, and returning to his seat he flattened it out beside the taper on the edge of the table, and began to study it with minute attention. My indignation at this calm examination of our family documents overcame me so far that I took a step forward, and Brunton, looking up, saw me standing in the doorway. He sprang to his feet, his face turned livid with fear, and he thrust into his breast the chart-like paper which he had been originally studying.
"So!" said I (“Так!” — сказал я). "This is how you repay the trust which we have reposed in you (вот как вы оплачиваете доверие, которое мы вам оказали; to repose — полагаться, доверяться (кому/чему-л.)). You will leave my service to-morrow (вы покинете мою службу завтра)."
"He bowed with the look of a man (он поклонился с видом человека; to bow — кланяться) who is utterly crushed (который совершенно уничтожен), and slunk past me without a word (и крадучись прошел мимо меня без единого слова; to slink — идти крадучись). The taper was still on the table (свеча все еще была на столе), and by its light I glanced to see what the paper was (и в ее свете я мельком взглянул, что была за бумага) which Brunton had taken from the bureau (которую Брантон взял из бюро). To my surprise it was nothing of any importance at all (к моему удивлению она не представляла совершенно никакой важности), but simply a copy of the questions and answers (но просто копия вопросов и ответов) in the singular old observance called the Musgrave Ritual (в странном старом ритуале, называемом обрядом Месгрейвов; observance — обряд, ритуал, церемония). It is a sort of ceremony peculiar to our family (это вид церемонии, особенный для нашей семьи; peculiar — специфический, особенный), which each Musgrave for centuries past has gone through on his coming of age (которую каждый Месгрейв в течение веков проходит при достижении совершеннолетия) — a thing of private interest (предмет частного интереса; private — частный, личный), and perhaps of some little importance to the archaeologist (и, возможно, небольшой важности для археолога), like our own blazonings and charges (как наши геральдические гербы и символы; blazon — геральдический герб; charge — любой девиз, символ, фигура на геральдическом щите), but of no practical use whatever (но абсолютно без какого-либо практического использования; whatever — усилительное местоимение в отрицательных предложениях и с отрицательным смыслом: никакой, вообще не).'
"So!" said I. "This is how you repay the trust which we have reposed in you. You will leave my service to-morrow."
"He bowed with the look of a man who is utterly crushed, and slunk past me without a word). The taper was still on the table, and by its light I glanced to see what the paper was which Brunton had taken from the bureau. To my surprise it was nothing of any importance at all, but simply a copy of the questions and answers in the singular old observance called the Musgrave Ritual. It is a sort of ceremony peculiar to our family, which each Musgrave for centuries past has gone through on his coming of age— a thing of private interest), and perhaps of some little importance to the archaeologist, like our own blazonings and charges, but of no practical use whatever.'
"We had better come back to the paper afterwards,' said I. (“Мы лучше вернемся к бумагам позже”, — сказал я)
"If you think it really necessary (Если вы думаете, что это действительно необходимо),' he answered, with some hesitation (он ответил с некоторым сомнением; hesitation — колебание, сомнение).’To continue my statement, however (чтобы продолжить мое изложение, все же): I relocked the bureau, using the key which Brunton had left (я снова закрыл бюро, использовав ключ, который оставил Брантон; to lock — запирать ключом), and I had turned to go when I was surprised to find (я повернулся, чтобы уйти, когда с удивлением обнаружил) that the butler had returned (что дворецкий вернулся), and was standing before me (и стоял передо мной).
"Mr. Musgrave, sir," he cried (“Мистер Месгрейв, сэр”, — он закричал), in a voice which was hoarse with emotion (голосом, который был хриплым от эмоции; hoarse — хриплый), "I can't bear disgrace, sir (я не смогу вынести позора, сэр; disgrace — позор, бесчестье). I've always been proud above my station in life (я всегда был горд своим положением в жизни), and disgrace would kill me (и позор убьет меня). My blood will be on your head (моя кровь будет на вашей совести: «голове»), sir — it will, indeed (сэр, она будет, в самом деле) — if you drive me to despair (если вы доведете меня до отчаяния). If you cannot keep me after what has passed (если вы не можете оставить меня после того, что произошло), then for God's sake let me give you notice and leave in a month (тогда, ради Бога, дайте мне дать вам заявление и уйти через месяц), as if of my own free will (как будто это моя собственная свободная воля). I could stand that, Mr. Musgrave (Я смогу выдержать это, мистер Месгрейв), but not to be cast out before all the folk (но не быть выгнатым перед всем народом; to cast out — выгонять, изгонять) that I know so well (который я так хорошо знаю)."
"We had better come back to the paper afterwards,' said I.
"If you think it really necessary,' he answered, with some hesitation.’To continue my statement, however: I relocked the bureau, using the key which Brunton had left, and I had turned to go when I was surprised to find that the butler had returned, and was standing before me.
"Mr. Musgrave, sir," he cried, in a voice which was hoarse with emotion, "I can't bear disgrace, sir. I've always been proud above my station in life, and disgrace would kill me. My blood will be on your head, sir — it will, indeed— if you drive me to despair. If you cannot keep me after what has passed, then for God's sake let me give you notice and leave in a month, as if of my own free will. I could stand that, Mr. Musgrave, but not to be cast out before all the folk that I know so well."
"You don't deserve much consideration, Brunton (вы не заслуживаете больших раздумий, Брантон; to deserve — заслуживать, быть достойным чего-л)," I answered (я ответил). "Your conduct has been most infamous (ваше поведение было самым бесчестным; infamous — позорный, бесчестный). However, as you have been a long time in the family (но поскольку вы долгое время были в семье), I have no wish to bring public disgrace upon you (у меня нет желания навлекать публичный позор на вас). A month, however is too long (месяц, все же, слишком долго). Take yourself away in a week (уходите через неделю), and give what reason you like for going (и дайте причину, по которой вы хотите уйти)."
"Only a week, sir (только неделя, сэр)?" he cried, in a despairing voice (он вскричал отчаянным голосом). "A fortnight — say at least a fortnight (две недели — скажите, хотя бы две недели; fortnight — две недели)!"
"You don't deserve much consideration, Brunton," I answered. "Your conduct has been most infamous. However, as you have been a long time in the family, I have no wish to bring public disgrace upon you. A month, however is too long. Take yourself away in a week, and give what reason you like for going."
"Only a week, sir?" he cried, in a despairing voice. "A fortnight — say at least a fortnight!"
"A week," I repeated (“Неделя”, — я повторил), "and you may consider yourself to have been very leniently dealt with (и вы можете считать, что с вами очень снисходительно обошлись; leniently — снисходительно, мягко)."
"He crept away, his face sunk upon his breast (он ушел: «уполз», его лицо склонилось на грудь; to creep — ползать), like a broken man (как сломленный человек), while I put out the light and returned to my room (а я тем временем выключил свет и вернулся в свою комнату).
"For two days after this (в течение двух дней после этого) Brunton was most assiduous in his attention to his duties (Брантон был самым старательным в выполнении своих обязанностей: «во внимании к своим обязанностям»; assiduous — усердный, прилежный, старательный). I made no allusion to what had passed, and waited with some curiosity (я не упоминал о том, что произошло и ждал с некоторым любопытством; allusion to — упоминание, ссылка) to see how he would cover his disgrace (чтобы увидеть, как он покроет свой позор). On the third morning, however he did not appear (на третье утро, тем не менее, он не явился), as was his custom, after breakfast (как было в его обычае, после завтрака) to receive my instructions for the day (чтобы получить мои инструкции на день; to receive — получать, принимать). As I left the dining-room I happened to meet Rachel Howells, the maid (после того, как я покинул столовую, я встретил Рэчел Хауэлз, горничную). I have told you that she had only recently recovered from an illness (я говорил вам, что она только недавно восстановилась после болезни; to recover — восстанавливаться, выздоравливать), and was looking so wretchedly pale and wan (и выглядела настолько ужасно бледной и изнуренной; wretched — бедный, несчастный, никудышный; wan — бледный, изнуренный, болезненный) that I remonstrated with her for being at work (что я сделал ей замечание за то, что она работала; remonstrate — протестовать, возражать).
"A week," I repeated, "and you may consider yourself to have been very leniently dealt with."
"He crept away, his face sunk upon his breast, like a broken man, while I put out the light and returned to my room.
"For two days after this Brunton was most assiduous in his attention to his duties. I made no allusion to what had passed, and waited with some curiosity to see how he would cover his disgrace. On the third morning, however he did not appear, as was his custom, after breakfast to receive my instructions for the day. As I left the dining-room I happened to meet Rachel Howells, the maid. I have told you that she had only recently recovered from an illness, and was looking so wretchedly pale and wan that I remonstrated with her for being at work.
"You should be in bed," I said (“Вы должны быть в постели”, — сказал я). "Come back to your duties when you are stronger (вернетесь к своим обязанностям, когда окрепните)."
"She looked at me with so strange an expression (она посмотрела на меня с таким странным выражением /лица/) that I began to suspect that her brain was affected (что я начал подозревать, что ее рассудок был затронут; to suspect — подозревать).
"I am strong enough, Mr. Musgrave," said she (“Я достаточно сильна, мистер Месгрейв”, — сказала она).
"We will see what the doctor says," I answered (“Мы посмотрим, что скажет доктор”, — ответил я). "You must stop work now (вы должны прекратить работу сейчас), and when you go downstairs just say (и когда спуститесь вниз, просто скажите) that I wish to see Brunton (что я хочу видеть Брантона)."
"The butler is gone (Дворецкий пропал: «ушел»)," said she (сказала она).
"Gone! Gone where?" (Ушел! Куда ушел?)
"You should be in bed," I said. "Come back to your duties when you are stronger."
"She looked at me with so strange an expression that I began to suspect that her brain was affected.
"I am strong enough, Mr. Musgrave," said she.
"We will see what the doctor says," I answered. "You must stop work now, and when you go downstairs just say that I wish to see Brunton."
"The butler is gone," said she.
"Gone! Gone where?"
"He is gone (Он пропал). No one has seen him (Никто не видел его). He is not in his room (Его нет в его комнате). Oh, yes, he is gone, he is gone (О да, он пропал, он пропал)!" She fell back against the wall with shriek after shriek of laughter (она прислонилась: «упала назад» к стене с воплями: «воплями после воплей» смеха; shriek — вопль, визг), while I, horrified at this sudden hysterical attack (в это время я, напуганный этим неожиданным истерическим припадком; attack — приступ болезни, припадок), rushed to the bell to summon help (бросился к звонку, чтобы вызвать помощь; to summon — вызывать, позвать). The girl was taken to her room (девушку увели: «забрали» в ее комнату), still screaming and sobbing, while I made inquiries about Brunton (все еще кричащую и рыдающую, пока я расспрашивал о Брантоне; to scream — кричать, вопить; to sob — рыдать). There was no doubt about it that he had disappeared (Не было сомнения в том, что он пропал). His bed had not been slept in (его постель была нетронута), he had been seen by no one since (его никто не ведел с тех пор) he had retired to his room the night before (как он ушел в свою комнату прошлой ночью), and yet it was difficult to see how he could have left the house (и, все же, было трудно понять, как он мог покинуть дом), as both windows and doors were found to be fastened in the morning (поскольку и окна, и двери оказались запертыми: «найдены запертыми» утром; to fasten — запирать на защелку, засов). His clothes, his watch, and even his money were in his room (его одежда, часы и даже деньги были в его комнате), but the black suit which he usually wore was missing (но черный костюм, который он обычно носил, отсутствовал). His slippers, too, were gone (его домашние туфли тоже пропали; slippers — тапочки, туфли), but his boots were left behind (но его сапоги были оставлены). Where then could butler Brunton have gone in the night (куда тогда мог дворецкий Брантон пойти ночью), and what could have become of him now (и что могло случиться с ним сейчас)?
"He is gone. No one has seen him. He is not in his room. Oh, yes, he is gone, he is gone!" She fell back against the wall with shriek after shriek of laughter, while I, horrified at this sudden hysterical attack, rushed to the bell to summon help. The girl was taken to her room, still screaming and sobbing, while I made inquiries about Brunton. There was no doubt about it that he had disappeared. His bed had not been slept in, he had been seen by no one since he had retired to his room the night before, and yet it was difficult to see how he could have left the house, as both windows and doors were found to be fastened in the morning. His clothes, his watch, and even his money were in his room, but the black suit which he usually wore was missing. His slippers, too, were gone, but his boots were left behind. Where then could butler Brunton have gone in the night, and what could have become of him now?
"Of course we searched the house from cellar to garret (конечно мы обыскали дом от подвала до чердака; cellar — подвал; garret — чердак), but there was no trace of him (но там не было его следов). It is, as I have said, a labyrinth of an old house (Как я говорил, старый дом представляет собой лабиринт), especially the original wing, which is now practically uninhabited (особенно старое крыло, которое теперь практически необитаемо); but we ransacked every room and cellar (но мы обыскали каждую комнату и подвал; to ransack — искать, обыскивать, обшаривать) without discovering the least sign of the missing man (не обнаружив малейшего знака пропавшего человека). It was incredible to me that he could have gone away (было невероятно, что он мог уйти; incredible — невероятный, немыслимый) leaving all his property behind him (оставив всю свою собственность), and yet where could he be (и все же, где бы он мог быть)? I called in the local police, but without success (я вызвал местную полицию, но безуспешно). Rain had fallen on the night before (предыдущей ночью прошел дождь) and we examined the lawn and the paths all round the house, but in vain (мы изучили лужайку и дорожки вокруг дома, но тщетно; in vain — напрасно, тщетно). Matters were in this state, when a new development (дела были в таком состоянии, когда новое событие) quite drew our attention away from the original mystery (совершенно отвлекло наше внимание от исходной тайны; to draw away — уводить, отвлекать).
"Of course we searched the house from cellar to garret, but there was no trace of him. It is, as I have said, a labyrinth of an old house, especially the original wing, which is now practically uninhabited; but we ransacked every room and cellar) without discovering the least sign of the missing man. It was incredible to me that he could have gone away leaving all his property behind him, and yet where could he be? I called in the local police, but without success. Rain had fallen on the night before and we examined the lawn and the paths all round the house, but in vain. Matters were in this state, when a new development quite drew our attention away from the original mystery.
"For two days Rachel Howells had been so ill (два дня Рэчел Хауэлз была настолько больна), sometimes delirious, sometimes hysterical (иногда бредила = находилась в бреду, иногда в истерике = истерической), that a nurse had been employed to sit up with her at night (что была нанята сиделка, чтобы сидеть с ней ночью; to employ — нанимать). On the third night after Brunton's disappearance (на третью ночь после исчезновения Брантона), the nurse, finding her patient sleeping nicely (сиделка, найдя свою пациентку мило спящей), had dropped into a nap in the arm-chair (задремала в кресле; nap — дремота, дремать), when she woke in the early morning to find (когда она проснулась рано утром, то обнаружила) the bed empty, the window open, and no signs of the invalid (кровать пустой, окно отрытым, и никаких признаков больной). I was instantly aroused, and, with the two footmen (Я был немедленно поднят и с двумя лакеями; footman — лакей), started off at once in search of the missing girl (немедленно направился на поиски пропавшей девушки). It was not difficult to tell the direction which she had taken (было нетрудно определить направление, которое она выбрала; direction — направление), for, starting from under her window, we could follow her footmarks easily (т.к., начинаясь под ее окном, мы легко могли следовать по ее следами) across the lawn to the edge of the mere (через лужайку к краю пруда; lawn — газон, лужайка; mere — водоем со стоячей водой: пруд, озеро, бассейн), where they vanished close to the gravel path (где они исчезали близко к дорожке из гравия; to vanish — исчезать, пропадать) which leads out of the grounds (которая ведет из владений). The lake there is eight feet deep (в озере там восемь футов глубины; 1 фут = 30,48 см, 8 футов ? 2 м 44 см), and you can imagine our feelings when we saw (и вы можете представить себе наши чувства, когда мы увидели) that the trail of the poor demented girl came to an end at the edge of it (что след бедной сумасшедшей девушки подходили к самому краю его; demented — сумасшедший, безумный; edge — кромка, край, грань, граница).
"For two days Rachel Howells had been so ill, sometimes delirious, sometimes hysterical, that a nurse had been employed to sit up with her at night. On the third night after Brunton's disappearance, the nurse, finding her patient sleeping nicely, had dropped into a nap in the arm-chair, when she woke in the early morning to find the bed empty, the window open, and no signs of the invalid. I was instantly aroused, and, with the two footmen, started off at once in search of the missing girl. It was not difficult to tell the direction which she had taken, for, starting from under her window, we could follow her footmarks easily across the lawn to the edge of the mere, where they vanished close to the gravel path which leads out of the grounds. The lake there is eight feet deep, and you can imagine our feelings when we saw that the trail of the poor demented girl came to an end at the edge of it.
"Of course, we had the drags at once (Конечно, мы немедленно взяли бредни; drag — бредень, невод), and set to work to recover the remains (и начали работать, чтобы найти: «восстановить» останки), but no trace of the body could we find (но мы не смогли найти следов тела). On the other hand (с другой стороны), we brought to the surface (мы вытащили на поверхность) an object of a most unexpected kind (объект самого неожиданного свойства). It was a linen bag (это был холщовый мешок) which contained within it (в котором находилась) a mass of old rusted and discolored metal (куча старого ржавого и обесцвеченного металла; rusty — ржавый) and several dull-colored pieces of pebble or glass (несколько тусклых кусков гальки или стекла; pebble — галька, гравий). This strange find was all that we could get from the mere (эта странная находка было все, что мы могли достать из пруда), and, although we made every possible search and inquiry yesterday (и хотя мы сделали все возможные поиски и расспросы вчера), we know nothing of the fate either of Rachel Howells or of Richard Brunton (мы ничего не знаем о судьбе Рэчел Хауэлз или Ричарда Брантона). The county police are at their wits' end (у местной полиции кончились идеи: «ум»; wit — разум, ум), and I have come up to you as a last resource (и вы для меня последняя возможность «я пришел к вам как к последней возможности»).'
"Of course, we had the drags at once, and set to work to recover the remains, but no trace of the body could we find. On the other hand, we brought to the surface an object of a most unexpected kind. It was a linen bag which contained within it a mass of old rusted and discolored metal and several dull-colored pieces of pebble or glass. This strange find was all that we could get from the mere, and, although we made every possible search and inquiry yesterday, we know nothing of the fate either of Rachel Howells or of Richard Brunton. The county police are at their wits' end, and I have come up to you as a last resource.'
"You can imagine (вы можете представить), Watson, with what eagerness (с каким возбуждением) I listened to this extraordinary sequence of events (я слушал эту необычную последовательность событий), and endeavored to piece them together (и пытался собрать их вместе; to endeavor — пытаться, стараться), and to devise some common thread upon which they might all hang (и найти какую-то общую нить, на которую их все можно нацепить; to devise — придумывать, изобретать; to hang — вешать). The butler was gone (дворецкий пропал). The maid was gone (горничная пропала). The maid had loved the butler (горничная любила дворецкого), but had afterwards had cause to hate him (но после имела основание ненавидеть его). She was of Welsh blood (она была уэльской крови), fiery and passionate (вспыльчивая и страстная). She had been terribly excited immediately after his disappearance (она была страшно взволнована сразу после его исчезновения). She had flung into the lake a bag containing some curious contents (она выбросила в пруд мешок с весьма любопытным содержимым; to fling — бросать, кидать). These were all factors which had to be taken into consideration (это были все факторы, которые нужно было учесть при рассуждениях), and yet none of them got quite to the heart of the matter (и, все же, ни один из них не являлся сутью: «сердцем» дела). What was the starting-point of this chain of events (что было начальной точкой этой цепочки событий)? There lay the end of this tangled line (там лежит конец этой запутанной нити; to tangle — запутывать).
"You can imagine, Watson, with what eagerness I listened to this extraordinary sequence of events, and endeavored to piece them together, and to devise some common thread upon which they might all hang. The butler was gone. The maid was gone. The maid had loved the butler, but had afterwards had cause to hate him. She was of Welsh blood, fiery and passionate. She had been terribly excited immediately after his disappearance. She had flung into the lake a bag containing some curious contents. These were all factors which had to be taken into consideration, and yet none of them got quite to the heart of the matter. What was the starting-point of this chain of events? There lay the end of this tangled line.
"I must see that paper, Musgrave,' said I (“Я должен увидеть ту бумагу, Месгрейв”, — сказал я), 'which this butler of your (которую этот ваш дворецкий) thought it worth his while to consult (считал достойной для консультации), even at the risk of the loss of his place (даже с риском потери места).'
"It is rather an absurd business, this ritual of ours (это довольно странная вещь, этот наш ритуал),' he answered (он ответил).’But it has at least the saving grace of antiquity to excuse it (Только древность оправдывает его: «но он по крайней мере имеет спасающую грацию древности, чтобы оправдать себя»). I have a copy of the questions and answers here (у меня есть копия вопросов и ответов здесь) if you care to run your eye over them (если вы хотите пробежаться глазами по ним).'
"He handed me the very paper (он дал мне ту самую бумагу) which I have here, Watson (которую я здесь имею, Уотсон), and this is the strange catechism (странный опросный лист; catechism — серия вопросов и ответов, опросный лист) to which each Musgrave had to submit when he came to man's estate (которому каждый Месгрейв должен подчиниться, когда он становится мужчиной; to submit — подчинять(ся), покорять(ся)). I will read you the questions and answers as they stand (Я прочитаю вам вопросы и ответы так, как они расположены).
"I must see that paper, Musgrave,' said I, 'which this butler of your thought it worth his while to consult, even at the risk of the loss of his place.'
"It is rather an absurd business, this ritual of ours,' he answered. ’But it has at least the saving grace of antiquity to excuse it. I have a copy of the questions and answers here if you care to run your eye over them.'
"He handed me the very paper which I have here, Watson, and this is the strange catechism to which each Musgrave had to submit when he came to man's estate. I will read you the questions and answers as they stand.
"'Whose was it?' (Чье это было)
"'His who is gone.' (Того, кто ушел)
"'Who shall have it?' (Кто будет иметь это?)
"'He who will come.' (Тот, кто придет)
"'Where was the sun?' (Где было солнце)
"'Over the oak.' (Над дубом)
"'Where was the shadow (где была тень)?'
"'Under the elm.' (Под вязом)
"How was it stepped?' (Как нужно шагать)
"'North by ten and by ten, east by five and by five, south by two and by two, west by one and by one, and so under.' (На север десять и десять, на восток пять и пять, на юг два и два, на запад один и один и вниз)
"'What shall we give for it?' (Что мы отдадим за это)
"'All that is ours.' (Все, что у нас есть)
"'Why should we give it?' (Почему мы должны отдать это?)
"'For the sake of the trust.' (Ради долга; for the sake of smth. — ради чего-либо)
"'Whose was it?'
"'His who is gone.'
"'Who shall have it?'
"'He who will come.'
"'Where was the sun?'
"'Over the oak.'
"'Where was the shadow?'
"'Under the elm.'
"How was it stepped?'
"'North by ten and by ten, east by five and by five, south by two and by two, west by one and by one, and so under.'
"'What shall we give for it?'
"'All that is ours.'
"'Why should we give it?'
"'For the sake of the trust.'
"'The original has no date (В оригинале нет даты), but is in the spelling of the middle of the seventeenth century (но по почерку это середина семнадцатого века; spelling — орфография, правописание),' remarked Musgrave (заметил Месгрейв). 'I am afraid, however, that it can be of little help to you (я боюсь, тем не менее, что это может мало помочь вам) in solving this mystery (в решении этой загадки).'
"At least,' said I (“По крайней мере”, — сказал я), 'it gives us another mystery (это дает нам другую загадку), and one which is even more interesting than the first (и даже более интересную, чем первая). It may be that the solution of the one (может быть, решение одной) may prove to be the solution of the other (может стать решением другой). You will excuse me, Musgrave (вы простите меня, Месгрейв), if I say that your butler (если я скажу, что ваш дворецкий) appears to me to have been a very clever man (кажется мне очень умным человеком), and to have had a clearer insight (и имевшим большую проницательность: “более чистую проницательность”; insight — проницательность, интуиция) that ten generations of his masters (чем десять поколений его хозяев).'
"'The original has no date, but is in the spelling of the middle of the seventeenth century,' remarked Musgrave.’I am afraid, however, that it can be of little help to you in solving this mystery.'
"At least,' said I, 'it gives us another mystery, and one which is even more interesting than the first. It may be that the solution of the one may prove to be the solution of the other. You will excuse me, Musgrave, if I say that your butler appears to me to have been a very clever man, and to have had a clearer insight that ten generations of his masters.'
"I hardly follow you,' said Musgrave (“Я с трудом понимаю вас”, — сказал Месгрейв).’The paper seems to me to be of no practical importance (я считаю, что документ не имеет практической важности: «документ кажется мне не имеющим практической важности»).'
"But to me it seems immensely practical (Но мне он кажется необычайно практичным; immense — безмерный, огромный), and I fancy that Brunton took the same view (и я думаю, что Брантон придерживался того же взгляда; to fancy — думать, считать (обычно подразумевается отсутствие у говорящего точных сведений)). He had probably seen it before that night on which you caught him (он, возможно, видел его прежде той ночи, когда вы поймали его).'
"It is very possible (это очень вероятно). We took no pains to hide it (мы не прилагали усилий, чтобы спрятать его; to take pains — прилагать усилия, стараться).'
"He simply wished, I should imagine (он просто хотел, я полагаю), to refresh his memory upon that last occasion (освежить /его/ в памяти: «свою память» в тот последний раз; occasion — случай, событие). He had, as I understand (у него была, как я понимаю), some sort of map or chart which he was comparing with the manuscript (какая-то карта или план, с которой он сравнивал рукопись), and which he thrust into his pocket when you appeared (и которую он засунул в карман, когда вы появились; thrust — засовывать, толкать, лезть, протискиваться).'
"I hardly follow you,' said Musgrave.' The paper seems to me to be of no practical importance.'
"But to me it seems immensely practical, and I fancy that Brunton took the same view. He had probably seen it before that night on which you caught him.'
"It is very possible. We took no pains to hide it.'
"He simply wished, I should imagine, to refresh his memory upon that last occasion. He had, as I understand, some sort of map or chart which he was comparing with the manuscript, and which he thrust into his pocket when you appeared.'
"That is true (это правда). But what could he have to do with this old family custom of ours (Но что мог он делать с этим нашим старым семейным обычаем), and what does this rigmarole mean (и что означает этот вздор; rigmarole — пустая болтовня, вздор)?'
"I don't think that we should have much difficulty in determining that (Я не думаю, что у нас будут большие трудности в определении этого; to determine — определять, устанавливать),' said I; 'with your permission we will take the first train down to Sussex (с вашего разрешения мы первым же поездом отправимся в Суссекс; permission — позволение, разрешение), and go a little more deeply into the matter upon the spot (и войдем немного глубже в курс дела на месте; spot — место, точка).
"That is true. But what could he have to do with this old family custom of ours, and what does this rigmarole mean?'
"I don't think that we should have much difficulty in determining that,' said I; 'with your permission we will take the first train down to Sussex, and go a little more deeply into the matter upon the spot.
"The same afternoon saw us both at Hurlstone (в тот же день мы оба были в Херлстоуне: «увидел нас обоих»). Possibly you have seen pictures and read descriptions (возможно, вы видели изображения или читали описания) of the famous old building, so I will confine my account of it (знаменитого старого здания, так что я ограничу мое описание его; to confine — ограничивать; account — отчет, сообщение, доклад) to saying that it is built in the shape of an L (сказав, что оно построено в форме /буквы/ L), the long arm being the more modern portion (длинное крыло является более современной частью), and the shorter the ancient nucleus, from which the other had developed (и более короткое — древним центром, из которого остальное развилось; nucleus — ядро; центр). Over the low, heavily-lintelled door (над низкой, с тяжелыми сводами, дверью; lintel — перемычка (над проёмом)), in the centre of this old part, is chiseled the date, 1607 (в центре этой старой части высечена дата, 1607; to chisel — работать зубилом, высекать), but experts are agreed that the beams and stone-work (но эксперты сходятся в мнении, что балки и каменная кладка; beam — балка, брус, перекладина) are really much older than this (в действительности значительно старше). The enormously thick walls and tiny windows of this part (Необыкновенно толстые стены и крошечные окна этой части /здания/; tiny — крошечный) had in the last century driven the family into building the new wing (принудили в прошлом веке семью построить новое крыло), and the old one was used now as a store-house and a cellar (и старое использовалось теперь в качестве склада и погреба; storehouse — склад), when it was used at all (когда оно вообще использовалось). A splendid park with fine old timber surrounds the house (Великолепный парк с приятным старым лесом окружает дом; timber — лес), and the lake, to which my client had referred, lay close to the avenue (и озеро, на которое ссылался мой клиент, лежало рядом с дорогой; avenue — (преим. брит.) дорога, аллея к дому), about two hundred yards from the building (приблизительно в двухстах ярдах от здания).
"The same afternoon saw us both at Hurlstone. Possibly you have seen pictures and read descriptions of the famous old building, so I will confine my account of it to saying that it is built in the shape of an L, the long arm being the more modern portion, and the shorter the ancient nucleus, from which the other had developed. Over the low, heavily-lintelled door, in the centre of this old part, is chiseled the date, 1607, but experts are agreed that the beams and stone-work are really much older than this. The enormously thick walls and tiny windows of this part had in the last century driven the family into building the new wing, and the old one was used now as a store-house and a cellar, when it was used at all. A splendid park with fine old timber surrounds the house, and the lake, to which my client had referred, lay close to the avenue, about two hundred yards from the building.
"I was already firmly convinced, Watson (Я был уже твердо убежден, Уотсон; firmly — крепко, твердо, стойко, решительно), that there were not three separate mysteries here, but one only (что здесь не было трех разных загадок, а только одна; mystery — тайна, загадка), and that if I could read the Musgrave Ritual aright (что если я смогу правильно прочитать обряд Месгрейвов) I should hold in my hand the clue (я буду держать в руке ключ; clue — ключ к разгадке чего-л) which would lead me to the truth concerning (который приведет меня к правде, относительно) both the butler Brunton and the maid Howells (и дворецкого Брантона, и горничной Хауэлз). To that then I turned all my energies (На это я направил тогда всю свою энергию). Why should this servant be so anxious to master this old formula (Почему этот слуга так желал постигнуть эту старую формулу; anxious — тревожный, беспокойный, сильно желающий)? Evidently because he saw something in it (Очевидно, потому что он увидел в ней что-то) which had escaped all those generations of country squires (что ускользнуло от всех поколений сельских помещиков; to escape — бежать, ускользать, уходить от реальности; generation — поколение), and from which he expected some personal advantage (и от чего он ожидал какой-то личной выгоды; advantage — выгода, польза). What was it then (Что это было тогда), and how had it affected his fate (и как это повлияло на его судьбу)?
"I was already firmly convinced, Watson, that there were not three separate mysteries here, but one only, and that if I could read the Musgrave Ritual aright I should hold in my hand the clue which would lead me to the truth concerning both the butler Brunton and the maid Howells. To that then I turned all my energies. Why should this servant be so anxious to master this old formula? Evidently because he saw something in it which had escaped all those generations of country squires, and from which he expected some personal advantage. What was it then, and how had it affected his fate?
"It was perfectly obvious to me, on reading the ritual (Мне было совершенно ясно при чтении обряда; obvious — очевидный, ясный), that the measurements must refer to some spot (что измерения должны относиться к какому-то месту; measurement — измерение; spot — место, точка) to which the rest of the document alluded (на которое ссылается остальная часть документа; to allude — упоминать, ссылаться), and that if we could find that spot (и если бы мы смогли найти то место), we should be in a fair way (мы будем на правильном пути) towards finding what the secret was which the old Musgraves (к нахождению секрета, который старые Месгрейвы) had thought it necessary to embalm in so curious a fashion (посчитали необходимым сохранять его таким странным образом; to embalm — бальзамировать, мумифицировать, сохранять, сберегать; fashion — способ действия, стиль, мода). There were two guides given us to start with (было два ориентира, данных нам для начала), an oak and an elm (дуб и вяз). As to the oak there could be no question at all (Что касается дуба, то здесь не могло быть вопроса). Right in front of the house (Прямо спереди дома), upon the left-hand side of the drive (на левой стороне от дороги), there stood a patriarch among oaks (стоял патриарх среди дубов), one of the most magnificent trees that I have ever seen (одно из самых замечательных деревьев, которые я когда-либо видел; magnificent — великолепный, величественный).
"It was perfectly obvious to me, on reading the ritual, that the measurements must refer to some spot to which the rest of the document alluded, and that if we could find that spot, we should be in a fair way towards finding what the secret was which the old Musgraves had thought it necessary to embalm in so curious a fashion). There were two guides given us to start with, an oak and an elm. As to the oak there could be no question at all. Right in front of the house, upon the left-hand side of the drive, there stood a patriarch among oaks, one of the most magnificent trees that I have ever seen.
"That was there when you ritual was drawn up (Оно было там, когда был составлен ваш обряд; draw up — составлять документ),' said I, as we drove past it (сказал я, когда мы проезжали мимо него).
"It was there at the Norman Conquest in all probability (Оно было там во времена норманнского завоевания, скорее всего),' he answered (ответил он).’It has a girth of twenty-three feet (Оно имеет обхват в двадцать три фута; ? 7,01 м).'
"Have you any old elms (У вас есть какие-нибудь старые вязы)?' I asked (спросил я).
"There used to be a very old one over yonder (Был один очень старый вон там; yonder — вон там, в ту сторону, туда) but it was struck by lightning ten years ago (но в него ударила молния десять лет назад), and we cut down the stump (и мы срубили пень; stump — пень),'
"You can see where it used to be (Вы можете видеть, где оно было)?'
"Oh, yes.' (О, да)
"There are no other elms?' (А других вязов нет)
"No old ones, but plenty of beeches.' (Старых нет, но много буков)
"I should like to see where it grew.' (Я бы хотел видеть, где он рос)
"That was there when you ritual was drawn up,' said I, as we drove past it.
"It was there at the Norman Conquest in all probability,' he answered.’ It has a girth of twenty-three feet.'
"Have you any old elms?' I asked.
"There used to be a very old one over yonder but it was struck by lightning ten years ago, and we cut down the stump,'
"You can see where it used to be?'
"Oh, yes.'
"There are no other elms?'
"No old ones, but plenty of beeches.'
"I should like to see where it grew.'
"We had driven up in a dogcart (Мы подъехали на двуколке), and my client led me away at once, without our entering the house (и мой клиент немедленно повел меня, не входя в дом), to the scar on the lawn where the elm had stood (к месту: «шраму» на лужайке, где стоял вяз; scar — рубец, шрам). It was nearly midway between the oak and the house (Он был примерно посередине между дубом и домом). My investigation seemed to be progressing (Мое расследование, казалось, прогрессировало; investigation — расследование, научное исследование).
"I suppose it is impossible to find out how high the elm was (Я полагаю, невозможно определить какова была высота вяза)?' I asked (спросил я).
"I can give you it at once (Я могу сказать: «дать» вам ее немедленно). It was sixty-four feet (В нем было шестьдесят четыре фута; фут = 30,48 см, 64 фута ? 19,51 м).'
"How do you come to know it (Как вы узнали об этом: «пришли к узнаванию этого»)?' I asked, in surprise (я спросил с удивлением).
"When my old tutor (Когда мой старый учитель; tutor — домашний учитель) used to give me an exercise in trigonometry (задавал мне задачу по тригонометрии), it always took the shape of measuring heights (она всегда касалась измерения высоты; to take shape — принять определенную форму, воплотиться). When I was a lad (Когда я был мальчиком; lad — мальчик, парень) I worked out every tree and building in the estate (я измерил каждое дерево и здание в поместье; to work out — решать (задачу), зд. измерять).'
"We had driven up in a dogcart, and my client led me away at once, without our entering the house, to the scar on the lawn where the elm had stood. It was nearly midway between the oak and the house. My investigation seemed to be progressing.
"I suppose it is impossible to find out how high the elm was?' I asked.
"I can give you it at once. It was sixty-four feet).'
"How do you come to know it?' I asked, in surprise.
"When my old tutor used to give me an exercise in trigonometry, it always took the shape of measuring heights. When I was a lad I worked out every tree and building in the estate.'
"This was an unexpected piece of luck (Это была неожиданная удача). My data were coming more quickly than I could have reasonably hoped (Мои данные приходили быстрее, чем я мог разумно надеяться; reasonably — разумно, здраво).
"Tell me,' I asked (“Скажите мне”, — спросил я), 'did your butler ever ask you such a question (ваш дворецкий когда-либо задавал такой вопрос)?'
"Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment (Реджинальд Месгрейв посмотрел на меня с изумлением).’Now that you call it to my mind (Теперь, когда вы говорите мне: «вызываете это в мой ум»),' he answered (он ответил), 'Brunton did ask me about the height of the tree some months ago (Брантон спрашивал меня о высоте дерева несколько месяцев назад), in connection with some little argument with the groom (в связи с небольшим спором с конюхом; groom — конюх),'
"This was excellent news, Watson (Это была великолепная новость, Уотсон), for it showed me that I was on the right road (потому что это показывало мне, что я был на правильном пути). I looked up at the sun (Я посмотрел вверх на солнце). It was low in the heavens (Оно было низко на небе; heaven — небеса, небо), and I calculated that in less than an hour it would lie (и я вычислил, что меньше, чем через час оно будет находиться) just above the topmost branches of the old oak (прямо над верхними ветвями старого дуба). One condition mentioned in the Ritual would then be fulfilled (Одно условие, упомянутое в обряде тогда будет выполнено). And the shadow of the elm must mean the farther end of the shadow (И тень вяза должна означать дальний конец тени; shadow — тень), otherwise the trunk would have been chosen as the guide (иначе ствол был бы выбран как путеводитель; trunk — ствол). I had, then, to find (Мне нужно было, тогда, найти) where the far end of the shadow would fall (где будет лежать дальний конец тени) when the sun was just clear of the oak (когда солнце находится прямо над дубом)."
"This was an unexpected piece of luck. My data were coming more quickly than I could have reasonably hoped.
"Tell me,' I asked, 'did your butler ever ask you such a question?'
"Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment.’Now that you call it to my mind,' he answered, 'Brunton did ask me about the height of the tree some months ago, in connection with some little argument with the groom,'
"This was excellent news, Watson, for it showed me that I was on the right road. I looked up at the sun. It was low in the heavens, and I calculated that in less than an hour it would lie just above the topmost branches of the old oak. One condition mentioned in the Ritual would then be fulfilled. And the shadow of the elm must mean the farther end of the shadow, otherwise the trunk would have been chosen as the guide. I had, then, to find where the far end of the shadow would fall when the sun was just clear of the oak."
"That must have been difficult, Holmes, when the elm was no longer there (Это должно было быть трудно, Холмс, когда вяза там больше не было)."
"Well, at least I knew (Ну, по крайней мере, я знал) that if Brunton could do it, I could also (что если Брантон смог это сделать, я тоже смогу). Besides, there was no real difficulty (Кроме того, в этом не было действительной трудности). I went with Musgrave to his study (Я пошел с Месгрейвом в его кабинет; study — рабочий кабинет) and whittled myself this peg (и вырезал себе этот колышек; to whittle — строгать, вырезать; peg — колышек), to which I tied this long string (к которому я привязал эту длинную веревку; string — веревка, шнурок) with a knot at each yard (с узлом на каждом ярде; knot — узел; yard = 91,44 см). Then I took two lengths of a fishing-rod (Затем я связал два: «взял две длины» удилища; fishing-rod — удилище), which came to just six feet (которые дали точно шесть футов), and I went back with my client to where the elm had been (и я вернулся со своим клиентом туда, где был вяз). The sun was just grazing the top of the oak (Солнце как раз слегка касалось вершины дуба; to graze — слегка касаться, задевать). I fastened the rod on end (Я зафиксировал конец удилища; to fasten — прикреплять, фиксировать; rod — ветка, удилище), marked out the direction of the shadow, and measured it (отметил направление тени, и измерил ее). It was nine feet in length (Она была девять футов длиной).
"That must have been difficult, Holmes, when the elm was no longer there."
"Well, at least I knew that if Brunton could do it, I could also. Besides, there was no real difficulty. I went with Musgrave to his study and whittled myself this peg, to which I tied this long string with a knot at each yard. Then I took two lengths of a fishing-rod, which came to just six feet, and I went back with my client to where the elm had been. The sun was just grazing the top of the oak. I fastened the rod on end, marked out the direction of the shadow, and measured it. It was nine feet in length.
"Of course the calculation now was a simple one (Конечно, расчет был теперь простым). If a rod of six feet threw a shadow of nine (Если палка трех футов отбрасывала тень в девять; rod — ветка, стержень, прут), a tree of sixty-four feet would throw one of ninety-six (то дерево в шестьдесят четыре фута будет отбрасывать /тень/ в девяносто шесть; feet = 30,48 см), and the line of the one would of course the line of the other (и направление одной, разумеется, совпадает с направлением другой). I measured out the distance (Я отмерил расстояние), which brought me almost to the wall of the house (которое привело меня почти к стене дома), and I thrust a peg into the spot (и воткнул колышек в это место; to thrust — втыкать, колоть). You can imagine my exultation, Watson (Вы можете представить себе мое торжество, Уотсон; exultation — ликование, торжество), when within two inches of my peg (когда в двух дюймах от моего колышка; peg — колышек) I saw a conical depression in the ground (я увидел коническое углубление в земле; depression — углубление, впадина). I knew that it was the mark made by Brunton in his measurements (Я знал, что это была отметка, сделанная Брантоном при его измерениях), and that I was still upon his trail (и что я все еще шел у него по следу).
"From this starting-point I proceeded to step (Из этой начальной точки я продолжал идти; to proceed — продолжать), having first taken the cardinal points by my pocket-compass (сначала взяв направление: «кардинальные точки» с помощью моего карманного компаса). Ten steps with each foot took me along parallel with the wall of the house (Десять шагов каждой ногой вели меня параллельно стене дома), and again I marked my spot with a peg (и снова я отметил место колышком). Then I carefully paced off five to the east and two to the south (Затем я аккуратно прошел пять шагов на восток и два на юг; to pace — шагать, расхаживать, измерять шагами). It brought me to the very threshold of the old door (Это привело меня к самому порогу старой двери; threshold — ворота, вход, порог). Two steps to the west meant now (Два шага на запад означали теперь) that I was to go two paces down the stone-flagged passage (что я должен был пройти два шага вниз по мощеному камнями проходу; to flag — выстилать мостовую или тротуар плитами), and this was the place indicated by the Ritual (и это было место, обозначенное в обряде).
"Of course the calculation now was a simple one. If a rod of six feet threw a shadow of nine, a tree of sixty-four feet would throw one of ninety-six, and the line of the one would of course the line of the other. I measured out the distance, which brought me almost to the wall of the house, and I thrust a peg into the spot. You can imagine my exultation, Watson, when within two inches of my peg I saw a conical depression in the ground. I knew that it was the mark made by Brunton in his measurements, and that I was still upon his trail.
"From this starting-point I proceeded to step, having first taken the cardinal points by my pocket-compass. Ten steps with each foot took me along parallel with the wall of the house, and again I marked my spot with a peg. Then I carefully paced off five to the east and two to the south. It brought me to the very threshold of the old door. Two steps to the west meant now that I was to go two paces down the stone-flagged passage, and this was the place indicated by the Ritual.
"Never have I felt such (Никогда я не испытывал такого) a cold chill of disappointment, Watson (горького разочарования: “холодного холода разочарования”, Уотсон; chill — холод). For a moment is seemed to me that there must be (На мгновение мне показалось, что должна быть) some radical mistake in my calculations (какая-то радикальная ошибка в моих вычислениях; radical — коренной, радикальный). The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor (Заходящее солнце ярко светило на пол прохода; passage — проход, коридор), and I could see that the old, foot-worn gray stones (и я мог видеть, что старые, стертые подошвами серые камни; worn — потертый, изношенный) with which it was paved were firmly cemented together (которыми он был вымощен, были крепко зацементированы; to pave — мостить; firmly — крепко, плотно), and had certainly not been moved for many a long year (и, конечно, не двигались много лет). Brunton had not been at work here (Брантон не был здесь). I tapped upon the floor, but it sounded the same all over (Я постучал по полу, но звучало везде одинаково; to tap — стучать, постукивать, обстукивать), and there was no sign of any crack or crevice (и там не было признака какой-либо трещины или щели; crack — трещина, щель; crevice — трещина, расщелина, щель). But, fortunately, Musgrave, (Но, к счастью, Месгрейв) who had begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings (который начал понимать значение моих действий; to appreciate — оценивать, понимать), and who was now as excited as myself (и был теперь так же возбужден, как и я), took out his manuscript to check my calculation (вытащил свою рукопись, чтобы проверить мои расчеты).
"Never have I felt such a cold chill of disappointment, Watson. For a moment is seemed to me that there must be some radical mistake in my calculations. The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor, and I could see that the old, foot-worn gray stones with which it was paved were firmly cemented together, and had certainly not been moved for many a long year. Brunton had not been at work here. I tapped upon the floor, but it sounded the same all over, and there was no sign of any crack or crevice. But, fortunately, Musgrave, who had begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings, and who was now as excited as myself, took out his manuscript to check my calculation.
“And under,” he cried (“И вниз”, — закричал он). 'You have omitted the "and under (Вы пропустили “и вниз”; to omit — пропускать)."
"I had thought that it meant that we were to dig (Я думал, что это означало, что мы должны были копать; to dig — копать, рыть), but now, of course, I saw at once that I was wrong (но теперь, конечно, я сразу увидел, что был неправ).
'There is a cellar under this then (Тогда под ним есть подвал)?' I cried (воскликнул я).
"Yes, and as old as the house (Да, и такой же старый, как и дом). Down here, through this door (Вниз здесь, через эту дверь).'
“And under,” he cried. 'You have omitted the "and under."
"I had thought that it meant that we were to dig, but now, of course, I saw at once that I was wrong.
'There is a cellar under this then?' I cried.
"Yes, and as old as the house. Down here, through this door.'
"We went down a winding stone stair (Мы спустились по винтовой каменной лестнице; winding — извилистый, витой), and my companion, striking a match (и мой спутник, чиркнув спичкой), lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner (зажег большой фонарь, который стоял на бочке в углу; lantern — фонарь; barrel — бочка). In an instant it was obvious (Немедленно стало очевидно) that we had at last come upon the true place (что мы, наконец, пришли в нужное место), and that we had not been the only people (и что мы были не единственными людьми) to visit the spot recently (посетившими это место недавно; spot — место, точка).
"It had been used for the storage of wood, but the billets (Оно использовалось как хранилище дров, но поленья; billet — полено), which had evidently been littered over the floor (которые, очевидно, были разбросаны по полу; to litter — разбрасывать в беспорядке, мусорить), were now piled at the sides (были теперь сложены вдоль стен: «по бокам»; to pile — складывать, сваливать в кучу), so as to leave a clear space in the middle (чтобы освободить свободное пространство посередине). In this space lay a large and heavy flagstone (В этом месте находилась большая и тяжелая плита; flagstone — плита) with a rusted iron ring in the centre (с ржавым железным кольцом в центре; rusted — ржавый) to which a thick shepherd's-check muffler was attached (к которому был привязан толстый шарф в черно-белую клеточку; shepherd's-check — узор на ткани, состоящий из маленьких черно-белых клеточек; muffler — толстый, теплый шарф; to attach — привязывать, присоединять).
"We went down a winding stone stair, and my companion, striking a match, lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner. In an instant it was obvious that we had at last come upon the true place, and that we had not been the only people to visit the spot recently.
"It had been used for the storage of wood, but the billets, which had evidently been littered over the floor, were now piled at the sides, so as to leave a clear space in the middle. In this space lay a large and heavy flagstone with a rusted iron ring in the centre to which a thick shepherd's-check muffler was attached.
"'By Jove (Ей-Богу: «клянусь Юпитером»)!' cried my client (воскликнул мой клиент).’That's Brunton's muffler (Это шарф Брантона; muffler — толстый, теплый шарф). I have seen it on him (Я видел его на нем), and could swear to it (и могу поклясться в этом; to swear — клясться; присягать). What has the villain been doing here (Что этот негодяй здесь делал; villain — злодей, негодяй)?'
"At my suggestion a couple of the county police (По моему предложению пара местных полицейских; couple — пара, двое) were summoned to be present (была вызвана для присутствия; to summon — вызывать, позвать), and I then endeavored to raise the stone (и затем я попытался поднять камень; to endeavor — пытаться, стараться) by pulling on the cravat (потянув за шарф; cravat — шарф). I could only move it slightly (Я смог только немного его подвинуть), and it was with the aid of one of the constables (и с помощью одного из констеблей) that I succeeded at last in carrying it to one side (я, наконец, благополучно сдвинул ее на одну сторону; to succeed — достигать цели, преуспевать). A black hole yawned beneath (Черная дыра зияла внизу; to yawn — зевать, зиять) into which we all peered (в которую мы все вгляделись; to peer — вглядываться), while Musgrave, kneeling at the side, pushed down the lantern (пока Месгрейв, стоя на коленях на краю, сунул вниз фонарь lantern — фонарь).
"'By Jove!' cried my client.’That's Brunton's muffler. I have seen it on him, and could swear to it. What has the villain been doing here?'
"At my suggestion a couple of the county police were summoned to be present, and I then endeavored to raise the stone by pulling on the cravat. I could only move it slightly, and it was with the aid of one of the constables that I succeeded at last in carrying it to one side. A black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered, while Musgrave, kneeling at the side, pushed down the lantern.
"A small chamber (Маленькая комната) about seven feet deep (около семи футов глубиной; feet = 30,48 см) and four feet square lay open to us (и четырех футов шириной лежала перед нами: «открытой для нас»). At one side of this was a squat (На одной стороне был низкий и широкий; squat — низкий и широкий), brass-bound wooden box (окованный медью деревянный ящик; brass — латунь, желтая медь; bind – bound – bound — связывать, оковывать), the lid of which was hinged upwards (крышка которого была поднята наверх; lid — крышка; to hinge — висеть, вращаться на петлях), with this curious old-fashioned key projecting from the lock (с этим странным старомодным ключом, выступавшим из замка; to project — выдаваться, выступать). It was furred outside by a thick layer of dust (Снаружи он был покрыт толстым слоем пыли; to fur — покрывать(ся) налетом; dust — пыль), and damp and worms had eaten through the wood (сырость и черви проели дерево насквозь; damp — сырость, влажность), so that a crop of livid (так что плодовые тела серовато-синих; crop — шарообразное вздутие, верхняя часть растений; livid — серовато-синий, мертвенно-бледный) fungi was growing on the inside of it (плесневых грибков росли внутри него; fungus — гриб, плесень). Several discs of metal, old coins apparently (Несколько металлических дисков, очевидно, старые монеты; apparently — очевидно, несомненно), such as I hold here (такие как я держу здесь), were scattered over the bottom of the box (были разбросаны по дну ящика; to scatter — разбрасывать, раскидывать), but it contained nothing else (но он ничего больше не содержал).
"A small chamber about seven feet deep and four feet square lay open to us. At one side of this was a squat, brass-bound wooden box, the lid of which was hinged upwards, with this curious old-fashioned key projecting from the lock. It was furred outside by a thick layer of dust, and damp and worms had eaten through the wood, so that a crop of livid fungi was growing on the inside of it. Several discs of metal, old coins apparently, such as I hold here, were scattered over the bottom of the box, but it contained nothing else.
"At the moment, however, we had no thought for the old chest (В тот момент, тем не менее, мы не думали о старом сундуке), for our eyes were riveted (так как наши глаза были устремлены; to rivet — поглощать внимание, устремлять взор) upon that which crouched beside it (на то, что было припало к земле рядом с ним; to crouch — припадать к земле, сжиматься). It was the figure of a man, clad in a suit of black (Это было тело человека, одетого в черный костюм; to clothe — одевать), who squatted down upon him hams (который сидел на корточках, опершись на бедра; to squat — сидеть на корточках; ham — бедро, ляжка) with his forehead sunk upon the edge of the box (его лоб был опущен на край ящика; to sink — опускаться, снижаться) and his two arms thrown out on each side of it (и две руки разбросаны по обеим сторонам его). The attitude had drawn all the stagnant blood to the face (В этом положении всю застоявшуюся кровь притянуло к лицу: «положение притянуло»; attitude — позиция; stagnant — стоячий, застойный), and no man could have recognized (и ни один человек не смог бы опознать; to recognize — узнавать, опознавать) that distorted liver-colored countenance (это искаженное, темно-каштановое = цвета печени лицо; countenance — выражение лица, глаз); but his height, his dress, and his hair (но его рост, одежда и волосы) were all sufficient to show my client (оказались достаточны, чтобы показать моему клиенту), when we had drawn the body up (когда мы подняли тело), that it was indeed his missing butler (что это, несомненно, был его пропавший дворецкий). He had been dead some days (Он был мертв уже несколько дней), but there was no wound or bruise upon his person (но на его теле не было раны или кровоподтека; wound — рана; bruise — синяк, кровоподтек) to show how he had met his dreadful end (чтобы показать, как он встретил свой страшный конец; dreadful — страшный, ужасный). When his body had been carried from the cellar (Когда его тело вытащили из подвала) we found ourselves still confronted with a problem (перед нами встала задача: «мы нашли себя все еще перед задачей») which was almost as formidable as that with which we had started (которая была почти такой же огромной, как и та, с которой мы начинали; formidable — огромный, гигантский).
"At the moment, however, we had no thought for the old chest, for our eyes were riveted upon that which crouched beside it. It was the figure of a man, clad in a suit of black, who squatted down upon him hams with his forehead sunk upon the edge of the box and his two arms thrown out on each side of it. The attitude had drawn all the stagnant blood to the face, and no man could have recognized that distorted liver-colored countenance; but his height, his dress, and his hair were all sufficient to show my client, when we had drawn the body up, that it was indeed his missing butler. He had been dead some days, but there was no wound or bruise upon his person to show how he had met his dreadful end. When his body had been carried from the cellar we found ourselves still confronted with a problem which was almost as formidable as that with which we had started.
"I confess that so far, Watson (Я признаюсь, что до сих пор, Уотсон; to confess — признавать(ся)), I had been disappointed in my investigation (я был разочарован в моем расследовании). I had reckoned upon solving the matter (Я считал, что, решив задачу; to reckon — считать, подсчитывать, вычислять) when once I had found the place referred to in the Ritual (когда я найду место, обозначенное в обряде); but now I was there (но теперь я был там), and was apparently as far as ever from knowing what it was (и был, очевидно, так же далеко от знания того, что было то) which the family had concealed with such elaborate precautions (что семья спрятала с такими тщательными предосторожностями; elaborate — тщательно, детально разработанный; precaution — предосторожность). It is true that I had thrown a light (Правда, что я бросил свет) upon the fate of Brunton (на судьбу Брантона), but now I had to ascertain (но сейчас я должен был выяснить; to ascertain — выяснять, обнаруживать) how that fate had come upon him (как его постигла такая судьба), and what part had been played in the matter by the woman who had disappeared (и какую роль играла в происшествии женщина, которая исчезла). I sat down upon a keg in the corner and thought the whole matter carefully over (Я сел на бочонок в углу и заново внимательно обдумал все дело; keg — бочонок емкостью до 10 галлонов = 45,4 л, например, для пороха).
"I confess that so far, Watson, I had been disappointed in my investigation. I had reckoned upon solving the matter when once I had found the place referred to in the Ritual; but now I was there, and was apparently as far as ever from knowing what it was which the family had concealed with such elaborate precautions. It is true that I had thrown a light upon the fate of Brunton, but now I had to ascertain how that fate had come upon him, and what part had been played in the matter by the woman who had disappeared. I sat down upon a keg in the corner and thought the whole matter carefully over.
"You know my methods in such cases, Watson (Вы знаете мои методы в таких делах, Уотсон). I put myself in the man's place (Я ставлю себя на место человека) and, having first gauged his intelligence (и, оценив сперва его интеллект; gauge — оценивать (человека, характер)), I try to imagine how I should myself have proceeded under the same circumstances (я пытаюсь представить себе, как я бы сам действовал в таких же обстоятельствах; proceed — действовать). In this case the matter was simplified by Brunton's intelligence being quite first-rate (В этом случае дело упрощалось превосходным умом Брантона; first-rate — первоклассный, превосходный), so that it was unnecessary to make any allowance (так что было излишне делать какие-либо допущения; allowance — допущение, принятие во внимание) for the personal equation (по поводу личностного равенства), as the astronomers have dubbed it (как астрономы называют это; to dub — дать название, снабдить кличкой). He know that something valuable was concealed (Он знает, что что-то ценное было спрятано; conceal — скрывать, утаивать). He had spotted the place (Он определил место). He found that the stone which covered it (Он обнаружил, что камень, который закрывал его) was just too heavy for a man to move unaided (был слишком тяжел для одного человека, чтобы сдвинуть его без помощи). What would he do next (Что бы он делал дальше)? He could not get help from outside (Он не мог получить помощь снаружи), even if he had some one whom he could trust (даже если у него был кто-то, кому он мог доверять), without the unbarring of doors and considerable risk of detection (без открытия двери и значительного риска обнаружения; to unbar — отодвигать засов; considerable — значительный, существенный). It was better, if he could, to have his helpmate inside the house (Было бы лучше, если бы он мог иметь помощника внутри дома). But whom could he ask (Но кого он мог просить)? This girl had been devoted to him (Эта девушка была предана ему). A man always finds it hard to realize (Мужчине всегда трудно понять; to realize — понимать, осознавать) that he may have finally lost a woman's love (что он может окончательно потерять женскую любовь), however badly he may have treated her (как бы плохо он с ней ни обращался; to treat — обращаться с кем-л.). He would try by a few attentions (Он мог бы попытаться с помощью нескольких знаков внимания; attention — внимание, забота) to make his peace with the girl Howells (помириться с девушкой Хауэлз), and then would engage her as his accomplice (и затем сделать ее своей сообщницей; to engage — вовлекать; accomplice — сообщник). Together they would come at night to the cellar (Вместе они придут ночью в подвал), and their united force would suffice to raise the stone (и их объединенных усилий будет достаточно, чтобы поднять камень; to suffice — быть достаточным, хватать). So far I could follow their actions (До сих пор я мог следовать за их действиями) as if I had actually seen them (так, как если бы я на самом деле видел их).
"You know my methods in such cases, Watson. I put myself in the man's place and, having first gauged his intelligence, I try to imagine how I should myself have proceeded under the same circumstances. In this case the matter was simplified by Brunton's intelligence being quite first-rate, so that it was unnecessary to make any allowance for the personal equation, as the astronomers have dubbed it. He know that something valuable was concealed. He had spotted the place. He found that the stone which covered it was just too heavy for a man to move unaided. What would he do next? He could not get help from outside, even if he had some one whom he could trust, without the unbarring of doors and considerable risk of detection. It was better, if he could, to have his helpmate inside the house. But whom could he ask? This girl had been devoted to him. A man always finds it hard to realize that he may have finally lost a woman's love, however badly he may have treated her. He would try by a few attentions to make his peace with the girl Howells, and then would engage her as his accomplice. Together they would come at night to the cellar, and their united force would suffice to raise the stone. So far I could follow their actions as if I had actually seen them.
"But for two of them, and one a woman (Но для двоих, и одна женщина), it must have been heavy work the raising of that stone (это должна была быть тяжелая работа, поднятие этого камня). A burly Sussex policeman and I (Крепкий суссекский полисмен и я; burly — крепкий, плотный) had found it no light job (нашли, что это нелегкая работа). What would they do to assist them (Что бы они сделали, чтобы помочь себе; to assist — помогать, содействовать)? Probably what I should have done myself (Возможно, то, что я сделал бы сам). I rose and examined carefully the different billets of wood (Я встал и внимательно изучил различные деревянные поленья; billet — полено) which were scattered round the floor (которые были разбросаны по полу; to scatter — разбрасывать, раскидывать). Almost at once I came upon what I expected (Почти сразу я нашел то, что искал; to come upon — натолкнуться на что-л., неожиданно найти). One piece, about three feet in length (Один кусок, около трех футов длиной), had a very marked indentation at one end (имел очень заметную вмятину на одном конце; indentation — углубление, вмятина, отпечаток), while several were flattened at the sides (несколько были расплющены по бокам; to flatten — расплющивать, выравнивать) as if they had been compressed by some considerable weight (как если бы они были сжаты каким-то значительным весом; to compress — сжимать, сдавливать). Evidently, as they had dragged the stone up (Очевидно, поскольку они тянули камень вверх; to drag — тянуть, волочить) they had thrust the chunks of wood into the chink (они засовывали поленья в щель; thrust — засовывать, пихать, толкать; chunk — чурбан, колода; chink — трещинка, щель), until at last, when the opening was large enough to crawl through (пока, наконец, отверстие стало достаточно большим, чтобы через него вползти; to crawl — ползать), they would hold it open by a billet placed lengthwise (они держали бы его открытым с помощью полена, положенного вдоль; billet — полено, чурбак), which might very well become indented at the lower end (которое вполне могло стать помятым на нижнем конце; to indent —делать вмятину, углубление), since the whole weight of the stone would press it down (поскольку весь вес камня будет давить) on to the edge of this other slab (на конец этого горбыля; slab — горбыль (крайняя доска при продольной распилке бревна)). So far I was still on safe ground (До сих пор я все еще был на твердом основании: «безопасной почве»).
"But for two of them, and one a woman, it must have been heavy work the raising of that stone. A burly Sussex policeman and I had found it no light job. What would they do to assist them? Probably what I should have done myself. I rose and examined carefully the different billets of wood which were scattered round the floor. Almost at once I came upon what I expected. One piece, about three feet in length, had a very marked indentation at one end, while several were flattened at the sides as if they had been compressed by some considerable weight. Evidently, as they had dragged the stone up they had thrust the chunks of wood into the chink), until at last, when the opening was large enough to crawl through, they would hold it open by a billet placed lengthwise, which might very well become indented at the lower end), since the whole weight of the stone would press it down on to the edge of this other slab. So far I was still on safe ground.
"And now how was I to proceed to reconstruct this midnight drama (И теперь как я мог продолжать восстанавливать эту полночную драму)? Clearly, only one could fit into the hole (Ясно, что только один мог протиснуться в дыру; fit into — приноравливать(ся), подходить), and that one was Brunton (и это был Брантон). The girl must have waited above (Девушка должна была ждать наверху). Brunton then unlocked the box (Брантон открыл ящик), handed up the contents presumably (отдал содержимое, вероятно; to hand up — подавать снизу вверх) — since they were not to be found (поскольку оно не было обнаружено) — and then — and then what happened (а потом — что случилось потом)?
"What smouldering fire of vengeance (Какой тлеющий огонь мести; to smoulder — тлеть; vengeance — месть) had suddenly sprung into flame (неожиданно превратился в пламя; to spring — вырастать, подниматься, возникать; flame — огонь, пламя) in this passionate Celtic woman's soul (в душе этой страстной кельтской женщины; passionate — пылкий, страстный) when she saw the man who had wronged her (когда она увидела /что/ мужчина, который обманул ее) — wronged her, perhaps, far more than we suspected — in her power (обманул ее, возможно, значительно больше, чем мы подозреваем, — в ее власти; to suspect — подозревать)? Was it a chance that the wood had slipped (Было ли случайностью то, что дерево выскользнуло; to slip — скользить), and that the stone had shut Brunton into what (и что камень запер Брантона в том; to shut — закрывать, запирать) had become his sepulchre (что стало его могилой; sepulchre — могила, гробница, склеп)? Had she only been guilty of silence as to his fate (Была ли она виновна только в молчании о его судьбе; guilty — виновный)? Or had some sudden blow from her hand dashed the support away (Или неожиданный удар ее руки сбросил подпорку; blow — удар, столкновение, конфликт; to dash — бросить, швырнуть) and sent the slab crashing down into its place (и опрокинул: «послал» плиту на свое место; slab — плита)? Be that as it might (Так или иначе), I seemed to see that woman's figure (я, казалось, видел фигуру той женщины) still clutching at her treasure trove (все еще сжимающую свой найденный клад; to clutch — схватить, зажать; treasure trove — найденный клад) and flying wildly up the winding stair (и дико бегущую вверх по винтовой лестнице; to fly — улепетывать, удирать, спасаться бегством, убегать; winding — извилистый, витой), with her ears ringing perhaps with the muffled screams from behind her (в ее ушах, возможно, звучали приглушенные крики позади нее; to ring — звенеть, звучать; to muffle — заглушать (звук)) and with the drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone (и стук обезумевших рук по каменной плите; to drum — барабанить; frenzy — безумие, бешенство; slab — плита) which was choking her faithless lover's life out (которая душила жизнь ее неверного любовника; to choke — душить).
"And now how was I to proceed to reconstruct this midnight drama? Clearly, only one could fit into the hole, and that one was Brunton. The girl must have waited above. Brunton then unlocked the box, handed up the contents presumably— since they were not to be found— and then — and then what happened?
"What smouldering fire of vengeance had suddenly sprung into flame in this passionate Celtic woman's soul when she saw the man who had wronged her— wronged her, perhaps, far more than we suspected — in her power? Was it a chance that the wood had slipped, and that the stone had shut Brunton into what had become his sepulchre? Had she only been guilty of silence as to his fate? Or had some sudden blow from her hand dashed the support away and sent the slab crashing down into its place? Be that as it might, I seemed to see that woman's figure still clutching at her treasure trove and flying wildly up the winding stair, with her ears ringing perhaps with the muffled screams from behind her and with the drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone which was choking her faithless lover's life out.
"Here was the secret of her blanched face (здесь был секрет ее бледного лица; to blanch — бледнеть), her shaken nerves, her peals of hysterical laughter on the next morning (её потрясенных нервов, взрывов её истерического смеха на следующее утро; peal — взрыв смеха). But what had been in the box (но что было в ящике)? What had she done with that (что она сделала с этим)? Of course, it must have been the old metal (конечно, это должен был быть старый металл) and pebbles which my client had dragged from the mere (и камни, которые мой клиент вытащил из пруда; pebble — галька, булыжник, гравий; to drag — тянуть, тащить, волочить). She had thrown them in there at the first opportunity (она выбросила их туда при первой возможности) to remove the last trace of her crime (чтобы уничтожить последний след своего преступления; trace — след).
"For twenty minutes I had sat motionless (двадцать минут я сидел без движения), thinking the matter out (обдумывая происшествие). Musgrave still stood with a very pale face (все еще стоял с очень бледным лицом), swinging his lantern (покачивая фонарем) and peering down into the hole (и вглядываясь вниз в дыру).
"Here was the secret of her blanched face, her shaken nerves, her peals of hysterical laughter on the next morning. But what had been in the box? What had she done with that? Of course, it must have been the old metal and pebbles which my client had dragged from the mere. She had thrown them in there at the first opportunity to remove the last trace of her crime.
"For twenty minutes I had sat motionless, thinking the matter out. Musgrave still stood with a very pale face, swinging his lantern and peering down into the hole.
"These are coins of Charles the First,' said he (“Это монеты Карла Первого”, — сказал он), holding out the few which had been in the box (протягивая те немногие, которые были в ящике; to hold out — протягивать; предлагать); 'you see we were right in fixing our date for the Ritual (видите, мы были правы в определении даты обряда).'
"We may find something else of Charles the First,' I cried (“Мы можем найти еще кое-что от Карла Первого”, — воскликнул я), as the probable meaning of the first two questions of the Ritual (когда возможное значение первых двух вопросов обряда) broke suddenly upon me (неожиданно озарило меня; to break — объяснить, найти решение, распутать).’Let me see the contents of the bag which you fished from the mere (позвольте мне увидеть содержимое мешка, который вы выудили из пруда; mere — водоем со стоячей водой: пруд, озеро, бассейн).'
"These are coins of Charles the First,' said he, holding out the few which had been in the box; 'you see we were right in fixing our date for the Ritual.'
"We may find something else of Charles the First,' I cried, as the probable meaning of the first two questions of the Ritual broke suddenly upon me).’Let me see the contents of the bag which you fished from the mere.'
"We ascended to his study (Мы поднялись в его кабинет; to ascend — восходить, взбираться, подниматься), and he laid the debris before me (он положил осколки передо мной; debris — осколки, обломки). I could understand his regarding it as of small importance (Я мог понять, почему он не придавал им значения: «его оценку этого как небольшой важности»; to regard — расценивать, рассматривать) when I looked at it (когда я посмотрел на них), for the metal was almost black and the stones lustreless and dull (потому что металл был почти черным, а камни тусклыми и серыми; lustreless — матовый, тусклый; dull — тусклый, неясный, слабый, серый (о цвете)). I rubbed one of them on my sleeve (я потер один из них о рукав; to rub — тереть), however, and it glowed afterwards (и он засверкал потом; to glow — светиться, сверкать) like a spark (как /электрическая/ искра) in the dark hollow of my hand (в темной впадине моей руки; hollow — впадина, углубление, полость). The metal work was in the form of a double ring (Металлические части имели вид двойного обруча), but it had been bent and twisted out of its original shape (но они были погнуты и выкручены из своей изначальной формы; to bend — сгибать; shape — форма).
"We ascended to his study, and he laid the debris before me. I could understand his regarding it as of small importance when I looked at it, for the metal was almost black and the stones lustreless and dull. I rubbed one of them on my sleeve, however, and it glowed afterwards like a spark in the dark hollow of my hand. The metal work was in the form of a double ring, but it had been bent and twisted out of its original shape.
"You must bear in mind,' said I (“Вы должны помнить” — сказал я; to bear in mind — помнить), 'that the royal party made head in England (что королевская партия главенствовала в Англии) even after the death of the king (даже после смерти короля), and that when they at last fled they probably left (и когда они, наконец, бежали, они, вероятно, оставили; to flee — убегать, спасаться бегством) many of their most precious possessions buried behind them (множество своего самого ценного имущества, спрятанного за ними; possessions — собственность, имущество; to bury — хоронить, прятать, скрывать), with the intention of returning (с намерением вернуться) for them in more peaceful times (за ним в более мирные времена).'
"My ancestor, Sir Ralph Musgrave, (Мой предок, сэр Ральф Месгрейв; ancestor — предок) as a prominent Cavalier (как выдающийся роялист) and the right-hand man of Charles the Second in his wanderings (и правая рука Карла Второго в его скитаниях; wandering — блуждание, странствие, скитание),' said my friend (сказал мой друг).
"You must bear in mind,' said I, 'that the royal party made head in England even after the death of the king, and that when they at last fled they probably left many of their most precious possessions buried behind them, with the intention of returning for them in more peaceful times.'
"My ancestor, Sir Ralph Musgrave, as a prominent Cavalier and the right-hand man of Charles the Second in his wanderings,' said my friend.
"'Ah, indeed!' I answered (“А, действительно!” — ответил я). 'Well now, I think that really should give us (Ну теперь, я думаю, что это должно дать нам) the last link that we wanted (последнюю связь, которая нам нужна). I must congratulate you on coming into the possession (Я должен поздравить вас со вступлением в обладание; possession — владение, собственность), though in rather a tragic manner of a relic (хотя достаточно трагичным образом, реликвией) which is of great intrinsic value (которая имеет огромную собственную ценность; intrinsic — внутренний), but of even greater importance as an historical curiosity (но даже большей важности как историческая редкость; curiosity — диковина, редкость).'
"What is it, then (Тогда что это)?' he gasped in astonishment. (Он /спросил/, задыхаясь от изумления; to gasp — дышать с трудом, задыхаться)
"'It is nothing less than the ancient crown of the kings of England.' (Это есть ни что иное, как древняя корона английских королей)
"The crown (корона)!'
"'Ah, indeed!' I answered. 'Well now, I think that really should give us the last link that we wanted. I must congratulate you on coming into the possession, though in rather a tragic manner of a relic which is of great intrinsic value, but of even greater importance as an historical curiosity.'
"What is it, then?' he gasped in astonishment.
"'It is nothing less than the ancient crown of the kings of England.'
"The crown!'
"'Precisely. (Точно) Consider what the Ritual says: (Вспомните, что сказано в обряде) How does it run (Что там говориться)? "Whose was it (Чье это было)?" "His who is gone (Того, кто ушел)." That was after the execution of Charles (Это было после казни Карла). Then, "Who shall have it (Затем, “кто будет иметь это”)?" "He who will come (Тот, кто придет)." That was Charles the Second, whose advent was already foreseen (Это был Карл Второй, чье пришествие уже предвиделось; advent — прибытие, приход; to foresee — предвидеть, предвосхищать). There can, I think, be no doubt (В этом, я думаю, не может быть сомнения) that this battered and shapeless diadem (что эта сплющенная и бесформенная диадема; to batter — плющить (металл)) once encircled the brows of the royal Stuarts (однажды венчала: «окружала брови» королей /династии/ Стюартов).'
"And how came it in the pond?' (И как оно попало в пруд; pond — пруд)
"Ah, that is a question that will take some time to answer (А, это вопрос, который займет некоторое время, чтобы ответить /на него/).' And with that I sketched out to him (И затем я изобразил ему в общих чертах; to sketch — рисовать эскиз, описывать в общих чертах) the whole long chain of surmise (всю длинную цепочку догадок = предположений) and of proof which I had constructed (и доказательств, которую я создал). The twilight had closed in (Сумерки наступили; twilight — сумерки, полумрак) and the moon was shining brightly in the sky (и луна ярко светила на небе) before my narrative was finished (перед тем, как мой рассказ был закончен; narrative — рассказ; повесть).
"'Precisely. Consider what the Ritual says: How does it run? "Whose was it?" "His who is gone." That was after the execution of Charles. Then, "Who shall have it?" "He who will come." That was Charles the Second, whose advent was already foreseen. There can, I think, be no doubt that this battered and shapeless diadem once encircled the brows of the royal Stuarts.'
"And how came it in the pond?'
"Ah, that is a question that will take some time to answer.' And with that I sketched out to him the whole long chain of surmise and of proof which I had constructed. The twilight had closed in and the moon was shining brightly in the sky before my narrative was finished.
"And how was it then that Charles did not get his crown when he returned (И как тогда получилось, что Карл не получил корону, когда он вернулся)?' asked Musgrave (спросил Месгрейв), pushing back the relic into its linen bag (кладя реликвию назад в полотняный мешок; linen — полотно, парусина, холст).
"Ah, there you lay your finger upon the one point (А, вы спросили: «положили ваш палец» о том) which we shall probably never be able to clear up (что мы, вероятно, никогда не сможем узнать). It is likely that the Musgrave who held the secret (Возможно, Месгрейв, который хранил секрет) died in the interval, and by some oversight left this guide (умер в промежутке, и по какой-то оплошности оставил этот путеводитель; oversight — недосмотр, оплошность, упущение) to his descendant without explaining the meaning of it (своему потомку, не объяснив его значения; descendant — потомок). From that day to this it has been handed down from father to son (С того дня и до сих пор: «до этого» он передавался от отца к сыну; hand down — передавать по наследству), until at last it came within reach of a man (пока наконец он не попал к человеку) who tore its secret out of it and lost his life in the venture (который вырвал секрет из него и потерял жизнь в авантюре; venture — рискованное предприятие).'
"And how was it then that Charles did not get his crown when he returned?' asked Musgrave, pushing back the relic into its linen bag.
"Ah, there you lay your finger upon the one point which we shall probably never be able to clear up. It is likely that the Musgrave who held the secret died in the interval, and by some oversight left this guide to his descendant without explaining the meaning of it. From that day to this it has been handed down from father to son, until at last it came within reach of a man who tore its secret out of it and lost his life in the venture.'
"And that's the story of the Musgrave Ritual, Watson (И это история об обряде Месгрейвов, Уотсон). They have the crown down at Hurlstone (Они хранят корону в Херлстоуне) — though they had some legal bother (хотя у них были некоторые юридические хлопоты; legal — правовой, юридический; bother — беспокойство, хлопоты) and a considerable sum to pay (и /им пришлось/ заплатить значительную сумму) before they were allowed to retain it (перед тем, как им разрешили сохранить ее; to retain — держать, хранить). I am sure that if you mentioned my name (Я уверен, что если вы упомянете мое имя; to mention — упоминать) they would be happy to show it to you (они будут рады показать ее вам). Of the woman nothing was ever heard (О женщине ничего не было слышно), and the probability is that she got away out of England (и, вероятно, она уехала из Англии) and carried herself and the memory of her crime to some land beyond the seas (и унесла себя и память о своем преступлении в заморские земли)."
"And that's the story of the Musgrave Ritual, Watson. They have the crown down at Hurlstone — though they had some legal bother and a considerable sum to pay before they were allowed to retain it. I am sure that if you mentioned my name they would be happy to show it to you. Of the woman nothing was ever heard, and the probability is that she got away out of England and carried herself and the memory of her crime to some land beyond the seas."
The July which immediately succeeded my marriage (Июль, который сразу последовал за моей женитьбой; to succeed — следовать за чем-л) was made memorable by three cases of interest (запомнился тремя интересными делами), in which I had the privilege of being associated with Sherlock Holmes (в которых я имел честь быть связанным с Шерлоком Холмсом; to associate — ассоциировать, связывать) and of studying his methods (и изучать его методы). I find them recorded in my notes under the headings of (Я нахожу их занесенными в мои записи под заголовками; heading — заголовок) "The Adventure of the Second Stain," "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty," and "The Adventure of the Tired Captain." (приключение “Второе пятно”, приключение “Морской договор” и приключение “Усталый капитан”) The first of these, however (Первое из них, тем не менее), deals with interest of such importance (связано с интересами такой важности; to deal — вести дела, работать) and implicates so many of the first families in the kingdom (и вовлекает столько представителей первых семейств королевства; to implicate — вовлекать, впутывать) that for many years it will be impossible to make it public (что в течение многих лет будет невозможно опубликовать его). No case, however, in which Holmes was engaged (Ни одно из дел, которыми занимался Холмс; engaged — занятый) has ever illustrated the value of his analytical methods so clearly (не показывало так ясно ценность его аналитических методов) or has impressed those who were associated with him so deeply (или впечатляло тех, кто был связан с ним, настолько сильно).
The July which immediately succeeded my marriage was made memorable by three cases of interest, in which I had the privilege of being associated with Sherlock Holmes and of studying his methods. I find them recorded in my notes under the headings of "The Adventure of the Second Stain," "The Adventure of the Naval Treaty," and "The Adventure of the Tired Captain." The first of these, however, deals with interest of such importance and implicates so many of the first families in the kingdom that for many years it will be impossible to make it public. No case, however, in which Holmes was engaged has ever illustrated the value of his analytical methods so clearly or has impressed those who were associated with him so deeply.
I still retain an almost verbatim report of the interview (Я все еще помню почти дословный отчет о беседе; to retain — помнить; verbatim — дословный, буквальный) in which he demonstrated the true facts of the case (в которой он продемонстрировал настоящие факты дела) to Monsieur Dubugue of the Paris police (месье Дюбюку из парижской полиции), and Fritz von Waldbaum, the well-known specialist of Dantzig (и Фрицу фон Вальдбауму, известному специалисту из Данцига), both of whom had wasted their energies (оба из них попусту потратили свою энергию) upon what proved to be side-issues (на нити, оказавшиеся второстепенными; side-issue —второстепенный, побочный, несущественный вопрос). The new century will have come (Наступит новый век), however, before the story can be safely told (перед тем, как можно будет безопасно рассказать историю). Meanwhile I pass on to the second on my list (А я тем временем перейду ко второму в моем списке), which promised also at one time to be of national importance (которое в одно время тоже обещало стать делом национальной важности), and was marked by several incidents (и было отмечено несколькими происшествиями) which give it a quite unique character (которые придают ему совершенно уникальный характер; quite — вполне, совершенно).
I still retain an almost verbatim report of the interview in which he demonstrated the true facts of the case to Monsieur Dubugue of the Paris police, and Fritz von Waldbaum, the well-known specialist of Dantzig, both of whom had wasted their energies upon what proved to be side-issues. The new century will have come, however, before the story can be safely told. Meanwhile I pass on to the second on my list, which promised also at one time to be of national importance, and was marked by several incidents which give it a quite unique character.
During my school-days I had been intimately associated (В школьные годы я был близко знаком; schooldays — школьные годы) with a lad named Percy Phelps (с мальчиком, которого звали Перси Фелпс; lad — мальчик, парень), who was of much the same age as myself (который был почти того же возраста, что и я), though he was two classes ahead of me (хотя он учился на два класса впереди меня). He was a very brilliant boy (Он был очень выдающимся мальчиком; brilliant — блестящий, выдающийся), and carried away every prize which the school had to offer (и завоевывал любой приз, который предлагала школа), finished his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him (завершил свои подвиги, выиграв стипендию, по которой его послали; exploit — подвиг, деяние; scholarship — стипендия) on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge (для продолжения триумфальной карьеры в Кембридж). He was, I remember (Он имел, как я помню), extremely well connected (очень большие родственные связи; connected — имеющий большие/родственные связи), and even when we were all little boys together (и даже когда мы все вместе были маленькими мальчиками) we knew that his mother's brother was Lord Holdhurst (мы знали, что брат его матери лорд Холдхэрст), the great conservative politician (крупный консервативный политик).
During my school-days I had been intimately associated with a lad named Percy Phelps, who was of much the same age as myself, though he was two classes ahead of me. He was a very brilliant boy, and carried away every prize which the school had to offer, finished his exploits by winning a scholarship which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge. He was, I remember, extremely well connected, and even when we were all little boys together we knew that his mother's brother was Lord Holdhurst, the great conservative politician.