Dashiell Hammett: Мальтийский сокол. Английский язык с Д. Хэмметом.

breath [breT] swallow ['swOlqV] torture ['tO:tSq]

Miss Wonderly watched the grey flakes twitch and crawl. Her eyes were uneasy. She sat on the very edge of the chair. Her feet were flat on the floor, as if she were about to rise. Her hands in dark gloves clasped a flat dark handbag in her lap. Spade rocked back in his chair and asked: "Now what can I do for you, Miss Wonderly?"

She caught her breath and looked at him. She swallowed and said hurriedly: "Could you — ? I thought — I — that is — " Then she tortured her lower lip with glistening teeth and said nothing. Only her dark eyes spoke now, pleading.

Spade smiled and nodded (Спейд улыбнулся и кивнул) as if he understood her (словно он понял ее), but pleasantly (но приятно), as if nothing serious were involved (словно ничего серьезного не было затронуто; to involve — включать, подразумевать, влечь за собой ). He said (он сказал): "Suppose you tell me about it, from the beginning (предположим = предлагаю, вы расскажете мне об этом, с самого начала), and then we'll know what needs doing (а потом мы будем знать, что нужно делать: «нуждается в том, чтобы быть сделанным»). Better begin as far back as you can (лучше начните с как можно более ранних событий: «так далеко назад, как вы можете»)."

"That was in New York (это было в Нью-Йорке)."

"Yes (да)."

understood ["Andq'stVd] nothing ['nATIN] involved [In'vOlvd]

Spade smiled and nodded as if he understood her, but pleasantly, as if nothing serious were involved. He said: "Suppose you tell me about it, from the beginning, and then we'll know what needs doing. Better begin as far back as you can."

"That was in New York."

"Yes."

"I don't know where she met him (я не знаю, где она встретила его). I mean I don't know where in New York (я имею в виду, я не знаю, где в Нью-Йорке). She's five years younger than I (она на пять лет младше меня) — only seventeen (только семнадцать) — and we didn't have the same friends (и у нас не было общих друзей). I don't suppose (я не думаю) we've ever been as close as sisters should be (что мы когда-нибудь были так близки, как должны быть /близки/ сестры). Mama and Papa are in Europe (мама и папа в Европе). It would kill them (это убьет их). I've got to get her back before they come home (я должна вернуть ее: «получить ее назад», прежде чем они вернутся домой»)."

"Yes (да)," he said (сказал он).

"They're coming home the first of the month (они возвращаются домой первого /числа следующего/ месяца)."

Spade's eyes brightened (глаза Спейда прояснились). "Then we've two weeks (тогда у нас есть две недели)," he said.

suppose [sq'pqVz] month [mAnT] brighten ['braItn]

"I don't know where she met him. I mean I don't know where in New York. She's five years younger than I — only seventeen — and we didn't have the same friends. I don't suppose we've ever been as close as sisters should be. Mama and Papa are in Europe. It would kill them. I've got to get her back before they come home."

"Yes," he said.

"They're coming home the first of the month."

Spade's eyes brightened. "Then we've two weeks," he said.

"I didn't know what she had done (я не знала, что она сделала) until her letter came (пока не пришло ее письмо). I was frantic (я была в ярости)." Her lips trembled (ее губы дрожали). Her hands mashed the dark handbag in her lap (ее руки мяли темную сумочку, /лежащую/ на ее коленях). "I was too afraid (я слишком боялась) she had done something like this (что она сделала что-то такое /как, например/) to go to the police (пойти в полицию), and the fear that something had happened to her (а страх, что что-то случилось с ней /самой/) kept urging me to go (побуждал меня пойти; to keep doing smth. — продолжать действовать, делать что-либо ). There wasn't anyone (не было никого) I could go to for advice (к кому я могла бы пойти за советом). I didn't know what to do (я не знала, что делать). What could I do (что я могла сделать)?"

"Nothing, of course (ничего, конечно)," Spade said (сказал Спейд), "but then her letter came (но потом пришло письмо)?"

frantic ['frxntIk] mash [mxS] urge [q:dZ]

"I didn't know what she had done until her letter came. I was frantic." Her lips trembled. Her hands mashed the dark handbag in her lap. "I was too afraid she had done something like this to go to the police, and the fear that something had happened to her kept urging me to go. There wasn't anyone I could go to for advice. I didn't know what to do. What could I do?"

"Nothing, of course," Spade said, "but then her letter came?"

"Yes, and I sent her a telegram (да, и я послала ей телеграмму) asking her to come home (упрашивая ее вернуться домой). I sent it to General Delivery here (я послала ее сюда «до востребования»; delivery — доставка, разноска ). That was the only address she gave me (это был единственный адрес, который она дала мне). I waited a whole week (я ждала целую неделю), but no answer came (но ответ не пришел), not another word from her (ни одного словечка: «и не было другого слова» от нее). And Mama and Papa's return was drawing nearer and nearer (а возвращение мамы и папы приближалось все ближе и ближе). So I came to San Francisco to get her (так я приехала в Сан-Франциско, «чтобы получить ее» = за ней). I wrote her I was coming (я написала ей, что я приезжаю). I shouldn't have done that, should I (я не должна была этого делать, так)?"

"Maybe not (может быть, нет). It's not always easy to know what to do (не всегда легко знать, что делать). You haven't found her (вы не нашли ее)?"

answer ['Q:nsq] drawing ['drO:IN] always ['O:lw(e)Iz]

"Yes, and I sent her a telegram asking her to come home. I sent it to General Delivery here. That was the only address she gave me. I waited a whole week, but no answer came, not another word from her. And Mama and Papa's return was drawing nearer and nearer. So I came to San Francisco to get her. I wrote her I was coming. I shouldn't have done that, should I?"

"Maybe not. It's not always easy to know what to do. You haven't found her?"

"No, I haven't (нет, не нашла). I wrote her that I would go to the St. Mark (я написала ей, что я приеду в гостиницу «Св. Марка»), and I begged her to come (и я умоляла ее прийти) and let me talk to her (и позволить мне поговорить с ней) even if she didn't intend to go home with me (даже если она не намеревалась ехать домой со мной). But she didn't come (но она не пришла). I waited three days (я ждала три дня), and she didn't come (но она не пришла), didn't even send me a message of any sort (даже не прислала мне сообщение какого-либо рода)." Spade nodded his blond satan's head (Спейд кивнул своей сатанинской белокурой головой), frowned sympathetically (сочувственно сдвинул брови: «насупился»), and tightened his lips together (и сжал губы /вместе/).