excluded [ɪkˈsklu:dɪd], truth [tru:Ɵ], conjecture [kǝnˈʤekʧǝ]
“It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should retain her secret — the more so as the secret was a disgraceful one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture became a certainty.
“And who could it be who was her confederate (но кто же мог быть ее сообщником)? A lover evidently, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude (очевидно, возлюбленный, потому что кто еще мог пересилить любовь и благодарность) which she must feel to you (которые она должна была питать к вам = должно быть, питала к вам)? I knew that you went out little (я знал, что вы мало бываете в обществе), and that your circle of friends was a very limited one (и что круг ваших друзей очень ограничен). But among them was Sir George Burnwell (но среди них был сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл). I had heard of him before as being a man of evil reputation among women (я и раньше слышал о нем как о человеке дурной репутации среди женщин = что он нехорошо поступает по отношению к женщинам). It must have been he who wore those boots and retained the missing gems (должно быть, это он носил те ботинки и держал у себя пропавшие бериллы = это он человек в ботинках, и у него находятся пропавшие бериллы; to wear — носить /обувь, одежду/; to retain — держать /у себя/; удерживать). Even though he knew that Arthur had discovered him (даже если он и понимал, что Артур узнал его), he might still flatter himself that he was safe (он все равно мог тешить себя мыслью, что находится в безопасности; safe — защищенный от опасности; в безопасности), for the lad could not say a word without compromising his own family (так как ваш сын не мог бы сказать ни слова, не скомпрометировав /при этом/ свою собственную семью).
“Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took next (ваш здравый смысл предположит = логика подскажет вам, какие меры я предпринял затем). I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George’s house (переодевшись бродягой: «в виде бродяги» я отправился к дому сэра Джорджа), managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet (сумел познакомиться с его лакеем), learned that his master had cut his head the night before (узнать он него, что его хозяин расшиб голову накануне вечером), and, finally, at the expense of six shillings (и наконец за шесть шиллингов: «ценой шести шиллингов»), made all sure by buying a pair of his cast-off shoes (удостовериться во всем, купив пару старых ботинок сэра Джорджа; cast-off — выброшенная, ненужная вещь). With these I journeyed down to Streatham (с ними я отправился в Стритем) and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks (и убедился, что они в точности соответствуют следам /на снегу/).”
outweigh [autˈweɪ], among [ǝˈmʌŋ], compromising [ˈkɔmprǝmaɪzɪŋ], measure [ˈmeʒǝ]
“And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his own family.
“Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George’s house, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks.”
“I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening (я видел какого-то скверно одетого бродягу на тропинке вчера вечером),” said Mr. Holder.
“Precisely (совершенно верно). It was I (это был я). I found that I had my man (я понял, что сэр Джордж у меня в руках: «что я получил моего человека»), so I came home and changed my clothes (поэтому я пошел домой и переоделся: «переменил одежду»). It was a delicate part which I had to play then (мне нужно было играть деликатную роль = действовать очень осторожно), for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert scandal (так как я осознавал, что необходимо было избежать /судебного/ преследования, чтобы предотвратить скандал; prosecution — ведение /войны, судебного дела и т.д./; судебное преследование; обвинение; to avoid — избегать, остерегаться, сторониться, уклоняться), and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our hands were tied in the matter (и знал, что такой хитрый/проницательный негодяй понимает, что у нас связаны руки). I went and saw him (я пошел и навестил его). At first, of course, he denied everything (сначала он, разумеется, все отрицал). But when I gave him every particular that had occurred (но когда я рассказал во всех подробностях, что произошло /ночью/; particular — частность, подробность; particulars — подробный отчет: to give particulars of — давать /представлять/ подробный отчет), he tried to bluster and took down a life-preserver from the wall (он попытался угрожать и снял со стены тяжелую трость; life-preserver: «спаситель жизни» — спасательный пояс, спасательный жилет; тяжелая дубинка или трость, налитая свинцом /применяемая для самообороны/). I knew my man, however (однако я знал его = с кем имею дело), and I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike (я приставил револьвер к его голове, прежде чем тот успел ударить; to clap — хлопать; сделать быстрое, энергичное движение). Then he became a little more reasonable (тогда он стал немного благоразумнее). I told him that we would give him a price for the stones he held 1000 pounds apiece (я сказал, что мы дадим ему за камни, которые он держит у себя, по тысяче фунтов за каждый). That brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown (тут он обнаружил первые признаки огорчения; to bring out — выявлять, обнаруживать).
‘Why, dash it all (черт побери)!’ said he, ‘I’ve let them go at six hundred for the three (я уже отдал три камня за шестьсот /фунтов/)!’
vagabond [ˈvæɡǝbɔnd], astute [ǝˈstju:t], denied [dɪˈnaɪd], life-preserver [ˈlaɪfprɪˌzǝ:vǝ]
“I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening,” said Mr. Holder.
“Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give him a price for the stones he held 1000 pounds apiece. That brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown.
‘Why, dash it all!’ said he, ‘I’ve let them go at six hundred for the three!’
“I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had them (вскоре мне удалось узнать адрес скупщика, у которого были камни; receiver — получатель; укрыватель или скупщик краденого), on promising him that there would be no prosecution (пообещав сэру Джорджу, что /против него/ не будет возбуждено расследование). Off I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pounds apiece (я поехал туда и после долгого торга выкупил камни по тысяче фунтов каждый; to chaffer — спорить о цене, торговаться). Then I looked in upon your son (затем я навестил вашего сына), told him that all was right (сказал ему, что все в порядке), and eventually got to my bed about two o’clock (и в конце концов около двух /ночи/ лег спать: «добрался до кровати»), after what I may call a really hard day’s work (после действительно тяжелого трудового дня).”
“A day which has saved England from a great public scandal (дня, который спас Англию от огромного государственного скандала),” said the banker, rising (сказал банкир, поднимаясь). “Sir, I cannot find words to thank you (сэр, у меня не хватает слов, чтобы выразить благодарность), but you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done (но вы не найдете меня неблагодарным за то, что вы сделали = вы убедитесь, что я не забуду того, что вы сделали). Your skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it (ваше искусство действительно превзошло все, что я слышал о нем). And now I must fly to my dear boy (а сейчас я должен поспешить к моему дорогому мальчику) to apologize to him for the wrong which I have done him (и извиниться перед ним за то, что так несправедливо обошелся с ним; wrong — зло, несправедливость). As to what you tell me of poor Mary (что касается вашего рассказа о бедной Мэри), it goes to my very heart (то он проник в самое мое сердце = ее поступок глубоко поразил меня). Not even your skill can inform me where she is now (но даже вы со всем вашим искусством не сможете сообщить мне, где она).”
“I think that we may safely say (думаю, можно с уверенностью сказать; safely —безопасно; надежно: it may safely be said — можно с уверенностью сказать),” returned Holmes (возразил Холмс), “that she is wherever Sir George Burnwell is (что она там же, где и сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл). It is equally certain, too, that whatever her sins are (и несомненно также, что, каковы бы ни были ее грехи; equally — в равной степени; равным образом), they will soon receive a more than sufficient punishment (они в скором времени получат = скоро она понесет за них более чем достаточное наказание).”
receiver [rɪˈsi:vǝ], wrong [rɔŋ], sufficient [sǝˈfɪʃ(ǝ)nt]
“I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o’clock, after what I may call a really hard day’s work.”
“A day which has saved England from a great public scandal,” said the banker, rising. “Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I must fly to my dear boy to apologize to him for the wrong which I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now.”
