Энтони Хоуп - Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды / Anthony Hope. The Prisoner Of Zenda

A real king’s life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretended king’s is, I warrant, much harder. On the next day, Sapt instructed me in my duties – what I ought to do and what I ought to know – for three hours; then I snatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me that the King always took white wine in the morning and was known to detest all highly seasoned dishes. Then came the Chancellor, for another three hours; and to him I had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we turned that bullet to happy account) prevented me from writing – whence arose great to-do, hunting of precedents and so forth, ending in my “making my mark,” and the Chancellor attesting it with a superfluity of solemn oaths. Then the French ambassador was introduced, to present his credentials; here my ignorance was of no importance, as the King would have been equally raw to the business (we worked through the whole corps diplomatique in the next few days, a demise of the Crown necessitating all this bother).

Then, at last, I was left alone (потом, наконец, меня оставили в покое). I called my new servant (я крикнул своему новому слуге) (we had chosen, to succeed poor Josef, a young man (мы выбрали преемником бедняги Жозефа молодого парня; to choose; to succeed – достигнуть цели, добиться; наследовать, быть преемником ) who had never known the King (который никогда не знал короля)), had a brandy-and-soda brought to me (чтобы принес мне бренди с содовой), and observed to Sapt that I trusted that I might now have a rest (и заметил Сэпту, что, надеюсь, могу теперь отдохнуть: «иметь отдых»; to trust – доверять, верить; надеяться, полагать ). Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by (Фриц фон Тарленхайм стоял рядом).

“By heaven!” he cried, “we waste time (ей-богу, мы теряем время). Aren’t we going to throw Black Michael by the heels (неужели мы не собираемся бросить Черного Михаэля в темницу; to throw – бросать, кидать; to clap / lay smb. by the heels – схватить, посадить в тюрьму кого-л. )?”

“Gently, my son, gently,” said Sapt, knitting his brows (тише, сынок, тише, – сказал Сэпт, хмуря брови; gently – мягко, нежно; тише! легче! ). “It would be a pleasure, but it might cost us dear (это удовольствие могло бы нам дорого стоить). Would Michael fall and leave the King alive (неужели Михаэль сам погибнет, а короля в живых оставит; to fall – падать; гибнуть )?”

“And,” I suggested, “while the King is here in Strelsau, on his throne (и, – высказался: «предположил» я, – пока король здесь, в Стрелсо, на своем троне), what grievance has he against his dear brother Michael (что он имеет против своего дорого брата Михаэля; grievance – обида, повод для недовольства )?”

“Are we to do nothing, then (выходит, мы ничего не должны делать)?”

“We’re to do nothing stupid,” growled Sapt (мы не должны делать никаких глупостей: «ничего глупого»).

Then, at last, I was left alone. I called my new servant (we had chosen, to succeed poor Josef, a young man who had never known the King), had a brandy-and-soda brought to me, and observed to Sapt that I trusted that I might now have a rest. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by.

“By heaven!” he cried, “we waste time. Aren’t we going to throw Black Michael by the heels?”

“Gently, my son, gently,” said Sapt, knitting his brows. “It would be a pleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the King alive?”

“And,” I suggested, “while the King is here in Strelsau, on his throne, what grievance has he against his dear brother Michael?”

“Are we to do nothing, then?”

“We’re to do nothing stupid,” growled Sapt.

“In fact, Fritz,” said I, “I am reminded of a situation in one of our English plays – The Critic (к тому же, Фриц, мне это напоминает ситуацию из одной нашей английской пьесы – «Критик») – have you heard of it (вы не слышали о ней)? Or, if you like, of two men, each covering the other with a revolver (или, если хотите, двух людей, целящихся друг в друга из револьвера). For I can’t expose Michael without exposing myself (потому что я не могу разоблачить Михаэля, не раскрыв себя) – ”

“And the King,” put in Sapt (и короля, – вставил Сэпт).

“And, hang me if Michael won’t expose himself (и, будь я проклят, если Михаэль не раскроет себя сам), if he tries to expose me (если попытается разоблачить меня)!”

“It’s very pretty (очень мило),” said old Sapt.

“If I’m found out,” I pursued (если меня раскроют, – продолжал я), “I will make a clean breast of it, and fight it out with the duke (я чистосердечно во всем признаюсь и этого герцогу так не оставлю; to make a clean breast of smth. – чистосердечно признаваться в чем-л.; to fight smth. out – довести борьбу / спор до конца; to fight – драться, сражаться, бороться ); but at present I’m waiting for a move from him (но в данный момент я жду шага с его стороны).”

“He’ll kill the King (он убьет короля),” said Fritz.

“Not he,” said Sapt (нет, – сказал Сэпт).

“Half of the Six are in Strelsau (половина = трое из Шестерых в Стрелсо),” said Fritz.

“Only half? You’re sure?” asked Sapt eagerly (только трое, вы уверены? – нетерпеливо спросил Сэпт).

“Yes – only half (да, только трое).”

“Then the King’s alive, for the other three are guarding him (значит король жив, потому что оставшиеся трое стерегут его)!” cried Sapt.

“In fact, Fritz,” said I, “I am reminded of a situation in one of our English plays – The Critic – have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of two men, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can’t expose Michael without exposing myself – ”

“And the King,” put in Sapt.

“And, hang me if Michael won’t expose himself, if he tries to expose me!”

“It’s very pretty,” said old Sapt.