formidable [ˈfɔ:mɪdǝbl], either [ˈaɪðǝ], rejoin [rɪˈʤɔɪnt]
"And when I raise my hand — so — you will throw into the room what I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of fire. You quite follow me?"
"Entirely."
"It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke rocket, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?"
"I am to remain neutral (должен оставаться нейтральным), to get near the window (стать рядом с окном), to watch you (наблюдать за вами), and at the signal (по сигналу) to throw in this object (забросить эту вещь), then to raise the cry of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street (ждать вас на углу улицы)."
"Precisely (совершенно верно)."
"Then you may entirely rely on me (тогда вы можете полностью положиться на меня)."
"That is excellent (/это/ отлично). I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I prepare for the new role (я думаю, пожалуй, это почти то время, когда я должен подготовиться = пора подготовиться к новой роли) I have to play (которую я вынужден играть)."
excellent [ˈeksǝlǝnt], prepare [priˈpeǝ]
"I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street."
"Precisely."
"Then you may entirely rely on me."
"That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I prepare for the new role I have to play."
He disappeared into his bedroom (он исчез в своей спальне) and returned in a few minutes (и вернулся через несколько минут) in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman (в виде любезного и простодушного нонкомформистского священника; simple-minded: simple — простой, mind — ум). His broad black hat (его широкая черная шляпа), his baggy trousers (мешковатые брюки; bag — мешок), his white tie (белый галстук), his sympathetic smile (привлекательная улыбка), and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity (и общее выражение благожелательного любопытства; to peer — всматриваться) were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled (были бесподобны: «были сравнимы лишь с мистером Джоном Хэром»). It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume (/дело/ было не только лишь в том, что Холмс сменил костюм). His expression, his manner, his very soul (выражение его /лица/, его манеры, самая душа его) seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed (казалось, изменялись с каждой новой: «свежей» ролью, которую он играл: «напускал на себя»). The stage lost a fine actor (сцена потеряла прекрасного актера), even as science lost an acute reasoner (равно как наука потеряла тонкого мыслителя), when he became a specialist in crime (когда он стал специалистом по /расследованию/ преступлений).
disappeared [dɪsǝˈpɪǝd], amiable [ˈeɪmɪǝbl], trousers [ˈtrauzǝz], science [ˈsaɪǝns]
He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime.
It was a quarter past six (было четверть седьмого: «четверть после шести») when we left Baker Street (когда мы покинули Бэйкер-стрит = вышли из дома), and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour (и это требовало еще десять минут до того часа = до назначенного часа оставалось еще десять минут) when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue (когда мы оказались: «нашли себя» на Серпентайн-авеню). It was already dusk (уже смеркалось; dusk — сумерки), and the lamps were just being lighted (и фонари только что зажглись: «были зажжены») as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge (когда мы расхаживали мимо Брайони-лодж), waiting for the coming of its occupant (ожидая прибытия его жильца). The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes's succinct description (дом был точно такой, как я себе представлял по краткому/сжатому описанию Шерлока Холмса), but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected (но окрестность оказалась не такой безлюдной: «менее закрытой для публики», чем я ожидал). On the contrary (напротив), for a small street in a quiet neighborhood (для маленькой улицы в тихом районе), it was remarkably animated (она была необыкновенно оживленной). There was a group of shabbily dressed men (там была группа убого одетых людей = оборванцев) smoking and laughing in a corner (курящих и смеющихся на углу), a scissors-grinder with his wheel (точильщик /ножниц/ со своим колесом; scissors — ножницы), two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl (два гвардейца, которые флиртовали с нянькой), and several well-dressed young men (и несколько хорошо одетых молодых людей) who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths (которые слонялись туда-сюда с сигарами во рту: «в их ртах»).
quarter [ˈkwɔ:tǝ], occupant [ˈɔkjupǝnt], succinct [sǝkˈsɪŋkt], scissors [ˈsɪzǝz]
It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes's succinct description, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighborhood, it was remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths.
"You see (видите ли)," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the house (заметил Холмс, когда мы бродили туда-сюда перед домом), "this marriage rather simplifies matters (эта свадьба значительно упрощает дело). The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now (фотография стала теперь обоюдоострым оружием; edge — кромка, край). The chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton (шансы таковы = возможно, что она так же не хочет, чтобы фотографию увидел Годфри Нортон; averse — неохотный, нерасположенный), as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his princess (как не хочется нашему клиенту, чтобы она попалась на глаза его принцессе). Now the question is (теперь вопрос такой = в том) — Where are we to find the photograph (где мы найдем фотографию)?"
"Where, indeed (действительно, где)?"
weapon [ˈwepǝn], averse [ǝvǝ:s], client [ˈklaɪǝnt]
"You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his princess. Now the question is — Where are we to find the photograph?"
"Where, indeed?"
"It is most unlikely (наиболее = совершенно невероятно) that she carries it about with her (что она носит ее с собой). It is cabinet size (/фотография/ кабинетного размера). Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress (слишком большая для легкого утаивания под женским платьем). She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched (она знает, что король способен ее куда-нибудь заманить и обыскать). Two attempts of the sort have already been made (две попытки такого рода уже были сделаны). We may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her (мы можем принять это = заключить, что она не носит это с собой)."
"Where, then (где тогда)?"
size [saɪz], concealment [kǝnˈsɪlmǝnt], capable [ˈkeɪpǝbl]
"It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her."
"Where, then?"
"Her banker or her lawyer (ее банкир или ее адвокат = у банкира или адвоката). There is that double possibility (возможно, и то, и другое = двойная возможность). But I am inclined to think neither (но я склонен думать, /что/ ни то, ни другое). Women are naturally secretive (женщины по природе своей скрытны), and they like to do their own secreting (и они любят окружать себя секретами). Why should she hand it over to anyone else (почему она должна передавать это кому-то еще = делиться тайной с кем-то еще)? She could trust her own guardianship (она могла положиться на собственное умение хранить вещи: «довериться своему собственному попечительству»; guardian — опекун), but she could not tell (но она не могла сказать = не была уверена) what indirect or political influence (какое непрямое или политическое влияние) might be brought to bear upon a businessman (может быть оказано: «принесено» в отношении делового человека; to bear upon — касаться, относиться к). Besides (кроме того), remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days (вспомните, что она решила использовать фотографию в ближайшие дни). It must be where she can lay her hands upon it (это должно быть /там/, где она может положить руки на нее = снимок должен быть под рукой). It must be in her own house (он должен быть в ее собственном доме)."
"But it has twice been burgled (но он был дважды подвергнут работе взломщиков)."
"Pshaw (подумаешь!)! They did not know how to look (они не знали, как надо искать)."
possibility [ˌpɔsǝˈbɪlɪtɪ], secretive [sɪˈkrɪtɪv], guardianship [ˈɡɑ:dɪǝnʃɪp]
"Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a businessman. Besides, remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house."
