niece [ni:s], daughter [ˈdɔ:tǝ], path [pɑ:Ɵ], alas [ǝˈlæs]
“And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house — sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too late — forever too late!
“Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof (теперь, мистер Холмс, вы знаете людей, которые живут под моей крышей), and I shall continue with my miserable story (и я продолжу свой печальный рассказ).
“When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dinner (когда мы пили кофе в гостиной в тот вечер после обеда), I told Arthur and Mary my experience (я рассказал Артуру и Мэри о том, что произошло; experience — /жизненный/ опыт; случай, приключение; впечатление), and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof (и о драгоценном сокровище, которое хранится под нашей крышей), suppressing only the name of my client (не назвав лишь имени моего клиента; to suppress — сдерживать, подавлять; умалчивать, утаивать). Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee (Люси Парр, подавшая кофе), had, I am sure, left the room (я уверен, уже вышла из комнаты); but I cannot swear that the door was closed (но не берусь утверждать, что дверь была закрыта; to swear — клясться). Mary and Arthur were much interested (Мэри и Артур очень заинтересовались) and wished to see the famous coronet (и захотели увидеть знаменитую диадему), but I thought it better not to disturb it (но я решил, будет лучше не трогать ее; to disturb — нарушать /покой/; тревожить, беспокоить).
“‘Where have you put it (куда ты ее положил)?’ asked Arthur.
“‘In my own bureau (в мое бюро).’
“‘Well, I hope to goodness the house won’t be burgled during the night (что ж, надеюсь, что в дом не вломятся грабители ночью; goodness — доброта; любезность; высокое качество; здесь употреблено вместо слова God — Бог; I hope to goodness — как бы мне хотелось).’ said he.
“‘It is locked up (бюро заперто),’ I answered.
continue [kǝnˈtɪnju:], treasure [ˈtreʒǝ], burgled [bǝ:ɡld]
“Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and I shall continue with my miserable story.
“When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it.
“‘Where have you put it?’ asked Arthur.
“‘In my own bureau.’
“‘Well, I hope to goodness the house won’t be burgled during the night.’ said he.
“‘It is locked up,’ I answered.
“‘Oh, any old key will fit that bureau (о, любой старый ключ подойдет к нему). When I was a youngster I have opened it myself (мальчиком я сам его открывал) with the key of the box-room cupboard (ключом от шкафа в чулане; box-room — кладовка, чулан; box — коробка, ящик, сундук; cupboard — шкаф; буфет; чулан).’
“He often had a wild way of talking (он часто нес всякий вздор), so that I thought little of what he said (поэтому я придал мало значения его словам). He followed me to my room, however, that night with a very grave face (как бы то ни было, в тот вечер Артур последовал за мной в мою комнату с очень мрачным лицом).
“‘Look here, dad (послушай, папа),’ said he with his eyes cast down (сказал он, опустив глаза), ‘can you let me have 200 pounds (ты можешь мне одолжить двести фунтов)?’
“‘No, I cannot (нет, не могу)!’ I answered sharply (резко ответил я). ‘I have been far too generous with you in money matters (я и так был слишком щедр к тебе в денежных делах).’
“‘You have been very kind (ты был очень добр),’ said he, ‘but I must have this money (но мне необходимы эти деньги), or else I can never show my face inside the club again (иначе я больше никогда не смогу показаться в клубе; to show one's face — появиться, выйти; показаться /на глаза/).’
“‘And a very good thing, too (и очень хорошо)!’ I cried.
youngster [ˈjʌŋstǝ], key [ki:], generous [ˈʤen(ǝ)rǝs]
“‘Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.’
“He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with a very grave face.
“‘Look here, dad,’ said he with his eyes cast down, ‘can you let me have 200 pounds?’
“‘No, I cannot!’ I answered sharply. ‘I have been far too generous with you in money matters.’
“‘You have been very kind,’ said he, ‘but I must have this money, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.’
“‘And a very good thing, too!’ I cried.
“‘Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonored man (да, но ты же не позволишь мне стать опозоренным человеком),’ said he. ‘I could not bear the disgrace (я не вынесу такого бесчестья). I must raise the money in some way (так или иначе, я должен найти деньги), and if you will not let me have it (и если ты мне их не дашь), then I must try other means (я буду вынужден прибегнуть к другим средствам).’
“I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the month (я очень рассердился, так как это была третья просьба за месяц).
‘You shall not have a farthing from me (от меня ты не получишь ни гроша; farthing — фартинг /бронзовая монета, равная 1/4 пенни/; грош),’ I cried, on which he bowed and left the room without another word (вскричал я, на что он поклонился и вышел из комнаты, не сказав ни слова).
“When he was gone I unlocked my bureau (когда он ушел, я открыл бюро), made sure that my treasure was safe (убедился, что драгоценность в безопасности), and locked it again (и снова запер его). Then I started to go round the house to see that all was secure (затем я решил обойти дом и убедиться, что все в порядке) — a duty which I usually leave to Mary (эту обязанность я обычно оставляю Мэри) but which I thought it well to perform myself that night (но в тот вечер я решил, что лучше это сделать самому: «но которую в этот вечер…»). As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the side window of the hall (спускаясь по лестнице, я увидел Мэри у бокового окна в гостиной), which she closed and fastened as I approached (которое она закрыла и заперла, когда я подошел).
demand [dɪˈmɑ:nd], farthing [ˈfɑ:ðɪŋ], fastened [ˈfɑ:s(ǝ)nd]
“‘Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonored man,’ said he. ‘I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try other means.’
“I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the month.
‘You shall not have a farthing from me,’ I cried, on which he bowed and left the room without another word.
“When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go round the house to see that all was secure — a duty which I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as I approached.
“‘Tell me, dad (скажите, папа),’ said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed (сказала она, как мне показалось, немного взволнованно), ‘did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night (вы разрешили Люси, горничной, отлучиться; to give leave to do — дать разрешение, позволить сделать что-либо)?’
“‘Certainly not (конечно, нет).’
“‘She came in just now by the back door (она только что вошла с черного хода). I have no doubt that she has only been to the side gate to see someone (не сомневаюсь, она ходила к боковой калитке повидаться с кем-то), but I think that it is hardly safe and should be stopped (но я думаю, это небезопасно и должно быть прекращено).’
“‘You must speak to her in the morning (тебе нужно поговорить с ней завтра утром), or I will if you prefer it (или я поговорю, если хочешь). Are you sure that everything is fastened (ты уверена, что все заперто)?’
“‘Quite sure, dad (вполне уверена, папа).’
“‘Then, good-night (тогда спокойной ночи).’
I kissed her and went up to my bedroom again, where I was soon asleep (я поцеловал ее и снова поднялся к себе в спальню, где вскоре и уснул).
certainly [ˈsǝ:t(ǝ)nlɪ], thought [Ɵɔ:t], prefer [prɪˈfǝ:]
“‘Tell me, dad,’ said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed, ‘did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night?’
“‘Certainly not.’
“‘She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that it is hardly safe and should be stopped.’
“‘You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?’
“‘Quite sure, dad.’
“‘Then, good-night.’
I kissed her and went up to my bedroom again, where I was soon asleep.
“I am endeavoring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes (я стараюсь рассказывать вам все, мистер Холмс), which may have any bearing upon the case (что может иметь хоть какое-нибудь отношение к делу), but I beg that you will question me upon any point (но, прошу вас, уточняйте любые моменты) which I do not make clear (которые я излагаю неясно; to make clear — прояснять, выяснять).”
“On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid (напротив, ваш рассказ необыкновенно четкий/ясный; statement — заявление, утверждение; изложение, формулировка; отчет; дача показаний; to state — заявлять, утверждать; констатировать).”
“I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be particularly so (теперь я перехожу к той части моего рассказа, в которой я хотел бы быть особенно ясным). I am not a very heavy sleeper (я не очень крепко сплю), and the anxiety in my mind tended, no doubt (и беспокойство норовило, несомненно; to tend — иметь тенденцию /к чему-либо/; клониться, склоняться /к чему-л./), to make me even less so than usual (сделать меня даже менее крепко спящим, чем обычно). About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the house (около двух утра я был разбужен каким-то шумом в доме). It had ceased ere I was wide awake (он прекратился прежде, чем я окончательно проснулся; wide awake — бодрствующий; совсем проснувшись, вполне очнувшись от сна), but it had left an impression behind it (но у меня осталось впечатление) as though a window had gently closed somewhere (будто где-то осторожно закрыли окно). I lay listening with all my ears (я лежал и напряженно прислушивался). Suddenly, to my horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps (вдруг, к своему ужасу, я услышал отчетливый звук шагов) moving softly in the next room (/человека/, мягко ступавшего в соседней комнате). I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear (я выскользнул из постели, дрожа от страха), and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door (и заглянул за угол двери = выглянул из-за двери гардеробной).
