I thought all was over, and in deep vexation sank on the ground (я подумал, что все закончилось, и, глубоко раздосадованный, опустился на землю; vexation – досада, раздражение). But I was up again directly (но тут же вскочил на ноги), for a scream rang through the forest – a woman’s scream (потому что по лесу разнесся крик – женский крик). Putting forth the last of my strength, I ran on to the place (собрав остатки сил, я побежал к тому месту) where he had turned out of my sight (где он повернул, и я /потерял/ его из виду; to turn – сворачивать), and, turning also, I saw him again (и, тоже свернув /там/, снова увидел его). But alas (но, увы)! I could not touch him (я не смог добраться до него: «я не мог достать его»; to touch – касаться, трогать; достигать, доставать). He was in the act of lifting a girl down from her horse (он как раз снимал с лошади какую-то девочку; to be in the act of doing smth. – совершать что-л.; быть в процессе совершения чего-л.; act – дело, поступок, акт); doubtless it was her scream that I heard (несомненно, крик, который я слышал, был ее; doubt – сомнение). She looked like a small farmer’s or a peasant’s daughter (она выглядела как дочь мелкого фермера или крестьянина), and she carried a basket on her arm (на руке у нее была корзина). Probably she was on her way to the early market at Zenda (вероятно, она направлялась на утренний рынок в Зенду). Her horse was a stout, well shaped animal (ее лошадь была крепким, прекрасно сложенным животным; shaped – имеющий определенную форму; shape – форма, очертание, вид). Master Rupert lifted her down amid her shrieks (господин Руперт опустил ее на землю, /не обращая внимания/ на ее визг; amid – среди, между) – the sight of him frightened her (она испугалась при виде его); but he treated her gently, laughed, kissed her, and gave her money (но он обращался с ней осторожно, рассмеялся, поцеловал ее и дал ей денег).
He was mocking me, for he saw he had the pace of me. I was forced to pause for breath. A moment later, Rupert turned sharply to the right and was lost from my sight.
I thought all was over, and in deep vexation sank on the ground. But I was up again directly, for a scream rang through the forest – a woman’s scream. Putting forth the last of my strength, I ran on to the place where he had turned out of my sight, and, turning also, I saw him again. But alas! I could not touch him. He was in the act of lifting a girl down from her horse; doubtless it was her scream that I heard. She looked like a small farmer’s or a peasant’s daughter, and she carried a basket on her arm. Probably she was on her way to the early market at Zenda. Her horse was a stout, well shaped animal. Master Rupert lifted her down amid her shrieks – the sight of him frightened her; but he treated her gently, laughed, kissed her, and gave her money.
Then he jumped on the horse, sitting sideways like a woman (потом вскочил на лошадь, усевшись по-женски – боком); and then he waited for me (и затем /стал/ поджидать меня). I, on my part, waited for him (я, со своей стороны, ждал его).
Presently he rode towards me, keeping his distance, however (вскоре он подъехал ко мне, сохраняя, однако, дистанцию). He lifted up his hand, saying (он поднял вверх руку и сказал):
“What did you in the Castle (что вы делали в замке)?”
“I killed three of your friends (я убил трех ваших друзей),” said I.
“What! You got to the cells (что! вы пробрались в темницы)?”
“Yes.”
“And the King (а король = а что с королем)?”
“He was hurt by Detchard before I killed Detchard (его ранил Дэтчард, прежде чем я убил Дэтчарда), but I pray that he lives (но молю /Бога/, чтобы он выжил).”
“You fool!” said Rupert, pleasantly (вы болван! – сказал Руперт весело; pleasantly – приятно).
“One thing more I did (я сделал еще кое-что: «еще одну вещь»).”
“And what’s that (и что же это)?”
“I spared your life (я сохранил вам жизнь; to spare – экономить, жалеть; щадить, беречь). I was behind you on the bridge, with a revolver in my hand (я был на мосту у вас за спиной: «позади вас» с револьвером в руке).”
“No? Faith, I was between two fires (ого! клянусь честью, я был меж двух огней; no – как междометие означает удивление, возмущение)!”
Then he jumped on the horse, sitting sideways like a woman; and then he waited for me. I, on my part, waited for him.
Presently he rode towards me, keeping his distance, however. He lifted up his hand, saying:
“What did you in the Castle?”
“I killed three of your friends,” said I.
“What! You got to the cells?”
“Yes.”
“And the King?”
“He was hurt by Detchard before I killed Detchard, but I pray that he lives.”
“You fool!” said Rupert, pleasantly.
“One thing more I did.”
“And what’s that?”
“I spared your life. I was behind you on the bridge, with a revolver in my hand.”
“No? Faith, I was between two fires!”
“Get off your horse,” I cried, “and fight like a man (слезайте с вашей лошади, – крикнул я, – и сражайтесь как мужчина).”
“Before a lady!” said he, pointing to the girl (перед дамой! – сказал он, указывая на девчушку). “Fie, your Majesty (стыдитесь, ваше величество; fie /межд./ – фу! тьфу!)!”
Then in my rage, hardly knowing what I did, I rushed at him (тогда, от ярости едва осознавая, что делаю, я бросился к нему). For a moment he seemed to waver (на мгновение показалось, что он колебался). Then he reined his horse in and stood waiting for me (затем натянул поводья и остановился, поджидая меня). On I went in my folly (забыв обо всем, я продолжал бежать; folly – глупость, безрассудство). I seized the bridle and I struck at him (я ухватился за уздечку и нанес ему удар). He parried and thrust at me (он парировал и сделал выпад в мою /сторону/). I fell back a pace and rushed at him again (я отступил на шаг и снова бросился на него); and this time I reached his face and laid his cheek open (и на этот раз я целил в лицо и поранил ему щеку; to reach – протягивать, вытягивать; ударить, нанести удар; to lay smth. open – разрезать, повредить), and darted back almost before he could strike me (и отскочил назад прежде, чем он смог нанести удар мне). He seemed almost dazed at the fierceness of my attack (он, казалось, был изрядно удивлен свирепостью моего натиска); otherwise I think he must have killed me (иначе, я думаю, он, скорее всего, убил бы меня). I sank on my knee panting, expecting him to ride at me (тяжело дыша, я опустился на колени, ожидая, что он помчится на меня; to sink). And so he would have done, and then and there, I doubt not (и поступи он так, то тут же, я /в этом/ не сомневаюсь; then and there – в этот момент, тотчас же), one or both of us would have died (один из нас или мы оба были бы мертвы); but at the moment there came a shout from behind us (но в этот момент позади нас раздался крик), and, looking round, I saw, just at the turn of the avenue, a man on a horse (и, оглянувшись, я увидел прямо на повороте дороги всадника: «человека на коне»).
“Get off your horse,” I cried, “and fight like a man.”
“Before a lady!” said he, pointing to the girl. “Fie, your Majesty!”
Then in my rage, hardly knowing what I did, I rushed at him. For a moment he seemed to waver. Then he reined his horse in and stood waiting for me. On I went in my folly. I seized the bridle and I struck at him. He parried and thrust at me. I fell back a pace and rushed at him again; and this time I reached his face and laid his cheek open, and darted back almost before he could strike me. He seemed almost dazed at the fierceness of my attack; otherwise I think he must have killed me. I sank on my knee panting, expecting him to ride at me. And so he would have done, and then and there, I doubt not, one or both of us would have died; but at the moment there came a shout from behind us, and, looking round, I saw, just at the turn of the avenue, a man on a horse.
He was riding hard, and he carried a revolver in his hand (он мчался во весь опор, в руке держа револьвер). It was Fritz von Tarlenheim, my faithful friend (это был Фриц фон Тарленхайм, мой верный друг). Rupert saw him, and knew that the game was up (Руперт увидел его и понял, что игра окончена; up – наверху, вверх; указ. на истечение срока, завершение или результат действия). He checked his rush at me and flung his leg over the saddle (он сдержал свой порыв и перекинул ногу через седло; to check – останавливать, сдерживать; rush – стремительное движение; натиск, напор), but yet for just a moment he waited (но еще с мгновение медлил). Leaning forward, he tossed his hair off his forehead (наклонившись вперед, он откинул волосы со лба) and smiled, and said: “Au revoir, Rudolf Rassendyll (и, улыбнувшись, сказал: Прощайте, Рудольф Рассендил; au revoir /фр./ – до свидания)!”
Then, with his cheek streaming blood, but his lips laughing (потом с кровоточащей щекой, но с улыбкой на губах; to stream – течь, струиться) and his body swaying with ease and grace (покачивая телом с легкостью и грацией), he bowed to me; and he bowed to the farm-girl (он поклонился мне, поклонился /маленькой/ фермерше), who had drawn near in trembling fascination (которая подошла ближе, дрожа от восторга; to draw near – приблизиться, подойти; fascination – очарование, притягательность), and he waved his hand to Fritz (и помахал рукой Фрицу), who was just within range and let fly a shot at him (который, будучи уже недалеко, выстрелил в него; range – ряд, линия; дальность, дистанция; to let fly – стрелять). The ball came nigh doing its work, for it struck the sword he held (пуля прошла рядом, сделав свое дело, так как попала в меч, который он держал; to strike – ударять/ся/, бить), and he dropped the sword with an oath, wringing his fingers (и он, выругавшись и изогнув пальцы, бросил меч; to wring – скручивать) and clapped his heels hard on his horse’s belly, and rode away at a gallop (с силой хлопнул = ударил пятками по животу лошади и галопом поскакал прочь).
He was riding hard, and he carried a revolver in his hand. It was Fritz von Tarlenheim, my faithful friend. Rupert saw him, and knew that the game was up. He checked his rush at me and flung his leg over the saddle, but yet for just a moment he waited. Leaning forward, he tossed his hair off his forehead and smiled, and said: “Au revoir, Rudolf Rassendyll!”
Then, with his cheek streaming blood, but his lips laughing and his body swaying with ease and grace, he bowed to me; and he bowed to the farm-girl, who had drawn near in trembling fascination, and he waved his hand to Fritz, who was just within range and let fly a shot at him. The ball came nigh doing its work, for it struck the sword he held, and he dropped the sword with an oath, wringing his fingers and clapped his heels hard on his horse’s belly, and rode away at a gallop.
And I watched him go down the long avenue (я наблюдал, как он удаляется по длинной = прямой дороге), riding as though he rode for his pleasure and singing as he went (скача, как будто для своего удовольствия, и /что-то/ напевая по пути), for all there was that gash in his cheek (несмотря на рану на щеке; for all – хотя, несмотря на).
Once again he turned to wave his hand (он еще раз обернулся и помахал рукой), and then the gloom of thickets swallowed him (потом сумрак густых зарослей поглотил его; gloom – мрак, темнота; thicket – чаща, заросли; thick – толстый; густой, частый) and he was lost from our sight (и он пропал у нас из виду; to lose). Thus he vanished – reckless and wary (вот так он и исчез, безрассудный и осторожный), graceful and graceless (грациозный и безнравственный; игра слов: grace – грация, изящество; приличие, такт), handsome (красивый), debonair (жизнерадостный), vile (подлый), and unconquered (и непобежденный; to conquer – покорять, завоевывать; побеждать). And I flung my sword passionately on the ground (и я в сердцах швырнул меч на землю; to fling; passionate – вспыльчивый, горячий; passion – страсть, пыл; вспышка гнева) and cried to Fritz to ride after him (и крикнул Фрицу, чтобы скакал за ним). But Fritz stopped his horse, and leapt down and ran to me (но Фриц остановил коня, спрыгнул вниз и подбежал ко мне), and knelt, putting his arm about me (/потом/ опустился на колени, подхватив меня рукой; to kneel – становиться на колени; to put one’s arm about/round – обнимать /разг./). And indeed it was time, for the wound that Detchard had given me was broken forth afresh (и, в этот самый момент рана, которую мне нанес Дэтчард, снова открылась; to break forth – вырваться; прорваться), and my blood was staining the ground (и моя кровь пятнами /стала/ покрывать землю; to stain – пятнать, покрывать пятнами).
