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

Then, fearing Michael would say something which I must appear to resent (for, though I might show him my hate, I must seem to be full of favour), I began to compliment him on the magnificent condition of his regiment, and of their loyal greeting to me on the day of my coronation. Thence I passed to a rapturous description of the hunting-lodge which he had lent me. But he rose suddenly to his feet. His temper was failing him, and, with an excuse, he said farewell. However, as he reached the door he stopped, saying:

“Three friends of mine are very anxious to have the honour of being presented to you, sire. They are here in the ante-chamber.”

I joined him directly, passing my arm through his. The look on his face was honey to me. We entered the ante-chamber in fraternal fashion. Michael beckoned, and three men came forward.

“These gentlemen,” said Michael, with a stately courtesy (эти джентльмены, – сказал Михаэль с величавой учтивостью) which, to do him justice, he could assume with perfect grace and ease (которую, /нужно/ отдать ему должное, он смог напустить на себя с безупречным изяществом и непринужденностью; to do justice – воздать должное ), “are the loyalest and most devoted of your Majesty’s servants (самые надежные и преданные слуги вашего величества; loyal – верный, преданный; надежный ), and are my very faithful and attached friends (и мои доверенные и близкие друзья; very – настоящий, истинный / усил. / ; faithful – верный, преданный; faith – вера, доверие; attached – прикрепленный; преданный, привязанный ).”

“On the last ground as much as the first (последнее /значит/ так же много, как и первое; ground – земля, почва; основание, мотив ),” said I, “I am very pleased to see them (я очень рад их видеть).”

They came one by one and kissed my hand (они подошли один за другим и поцеловали мне руку) – De Gautet, a tall lean fellow, with hair standing straight up and waxed moustache (Де Готе, высокий тощий малый, с волосами, торчащими: «стоящими прямо» вверх, и нафабренными усами; to wax – вощить; нафабривать / усы /); Bersonin, the Belgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald head (though he was not far past thirty) (Берзонин – бельгиец – дородный мужчина среднего роста с лысой головой (хотя ему было немногим больше тридцати)); and last, the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-faced fellow (и последний – англичанин Дэтчард – узколицый малый), with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion (с коротко стрижеными светлыми волосами и загорелым лицом; bronzed – бронзовый, цвета бронзы; загорелый; complexion – цвет лица ). He was a finely made man, broad in the shoulder and slender in the hips (он был превосходно сложен – широк в плечах и с узкими бедрами). A good fighter, but a crooked customer, I put him down for (хороший боец, но бесчестный тип, таким он мне показался; crooked – изогнутый, кривой; нечестный; customer – покупатель; тип, субъект / разг. / ; to put smb. down for smth. – считать кого-л. кем-л. ). I spoke to him in English, with a slight foreign accent (я заговорил с ним по-английски с легким иностранным акцентом), and I swear the fellow smiled, though he hid the smile in an instant (и, клянусь, парень улыбнулся, хотя тут же спрятал улыбку).

“These gentlemen,” said Michael, with a stately courtesy which, to do him justice, he could assume with perfect grace and ease, “are the loyalest and most devoted of your Majesty’s servants, and are my very faithful and attached friends.”

“On the last ground as much as the first,” said I, “I am very pleased to see them.”

They came one by one and kissed my hand – De Gautet, a tall lean fellow, with hair standing straight up and waxed moustache; Bersonin, the Belgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald head (though he was not far past thirty); and last, the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-faced fellow, with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion. He was a finely made man, broad in the shoulder and slender in the hips. A good fighter, but a crooked customer, I put him down for. I spoke to him in English, with a slight foreign accent, and I swear the fellow smiled, though he hid the smile in an instant.

“So Mr. Detchard is in the secret,” thought I (выходит, мистер Дэтчард в курсе дела, – подумал я; to be in the secret – быть посвященным в тайну ).

Having got rid of my dear brother and his friends (избавившись от своего дорогого братца и его друзей; to get rid of – избавиться, отделаться от / кого-л., чего-л. /), I returned to make my adieu to my cousin (я вернулся пожелать кузине всего хорошего; to make one’s adieu – прощаться ). She was standing at the door (она стояла у дверей). I bade her farewell, taking her hand in mine (я прощался с ней, взяв ее руку в свою; to bid farewell – прощаться; to bid – предлагать цену; объявлять, заявлять; farewell – прощание ).

“Rudolf,” she said, very low, “be careful, won’t you (Рудольф, – сказала она очень тихо, – береги себя, хорошо)?”

“Of what (от чего)?”

“You know – I can’t say (ты же знаешь, я не могу сказать). But think what your life is to (но помни, что значит твоя жизнь для) – ”

“Well to (ну, для) —?”

“To Ruritania (для Руритании).”

Was I right to play the part, or wrong to play the part (я был прав или неправ, играя свою роль)? I know not: evil lay both ways, and I dared not tell her the truth (я не знаю, зло имело место в обоих случаях, и я не осмелился сказать ей правду; to lie – лежать; находиться, заключаться ).

“So Mr. Detchard is in the secret,” thought I.

Having got rid of my dear brother and his friends, I returned to make my adieu to my cousin. She was standing at the door. I bade her farewell, taking her hand in mine.