Роберт Льюис Стивенсон - Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Алмаз раджи / R. L. Stevenson. The Rajah’s Diamond

A fortunate chance and some influence(счастливый случай и некоторая протекция: «влияние») obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement(раздобыли для Гарри во время его лишений) , the position of private secretary(место личного секретаря) to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B.(у генерал-майора сэра Томаса Венделера, кавалера Ордена Бани третьей степени) . Sir Thomas was a man of sixty(сэр Томас был человек шестидесяти /лет/) , loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering(громогласный, шумливый и властный) . For some reason(по какой-то причине) , some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied(/за/ какую-то услугу, суть которой часто называлась шепотом и постоянно опровергалась; to whisper – шептать ) , the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer(раджа Кашгара наградил этого офицера) with the sixth known diamond of the world(шестым /по величине/ известным алмазом в мире).

A fortunate chance and some influence obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement, the position of private secretary to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B. Sir Thomas was a man of sixty, loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering. For some reason, some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied, the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer with the sixth known diamond of the world.

The gift transformed General Vandeleur from a poor into a wealthy man(этот подарок превратил генерала Венделера из бедного в богатого человека) , from an obscure and unpopular soldier into one of the lions of London society(из никому не известного и непопулярного вояки – в одного из львов лондонского света) ; the possessor of the Rajah’s Diamond was welcome in the most exclusive circles(владелец Алмаза раджи был желанным /гостем/ в самых узких/высокопоставленных кругах) ; and he had found a lady(и он нашел женщину; to find – найти ) , young, beautiful, and well-born(молодую, красивую и из хорошей семьи: «хорошо-рожденную») , who was willing to call the diamond hers(которая пожелала назвать алмаз своим) even at the price of marriage with Sir Thomas Vandeleur(даже ценой брака с сэром Томасом Венделером) . It was commonly said at the time(повсеместно говорилось в то время) that, as like draws to like, one jewel had attracted another(что, как подобное притягивается к подобному, одна драгоценность привлекла другую) ; certainly Lady Vandeleur was not only a gem of the finest water in her own person(несомненно, леди Венделер не только была самоцветом чистейшей воды сама по себе) , but she showed herself to the world in a very costly setting(но она /также/ показывала себя миру в очень дорогой оправе) ; and she was considered by many respectable authorities(и она считалась многими уважаемыми знатоками) , as one among the three or four best dressed women in England(одной из трех или четырех лучше всего одетых женщин в Англии).

The gift transformed General Vandeleur from a poor into a wealthy man, from an obscure and unpopular soldier into one of the lions of London society; the possessor of the Rajah’s Diamond was welcome in the most exclusive circles; and he had found a lady, young, beautiful, and well-born, who was willing to call the diamond hers even at the price of marriage with Sir Thomas Vandeleur. It was commonly said at the time that, as like draws to like, one jewel had attracted another; certainly Lady Vandeleur was not only a gem of the finest water in her own person, but she showed herself to the world in a very costly setting; and she was considered by many respectable authorities, as one among the three or four best dressed women in England.

Harry’s duty as secretary was not particularly onerous(обязанности Гарри как секретаря были не особенно обременительны) ; but he had a dislike for all prolonged work(но он питал отвращение к любой продолжительной работе) ; it gave him pain to ink his fingers(пачкать чернилами свои пальцы причиняло ему /душевную/ боль: «давало»; to give – давать ) ; and the charms of Lady Vandeleur and her toilettes(и очарование леди Венделер и ее туалетов) drew him often from the library to the boudoir(часто влекло его из библиотеки в будуар; to draw – тянуть ) . He had the prettiest ways among women(он имел приятнейшее обхождение среди женщин = умел с ними обходиться) , could talk fashions with enjoyment(мог обсуждать моды с наслаждением) , and was never more happy than when criticising a shade of ribbon(и никогда не был счастливее, чем когда критиковал оттенок ленты) , or running on an errand to the milliner’s(или бежал с поручением к модистке) . In short, Sir Thomas’s correspondence fell into pitiful arrears(коротко говоря, корреспонденция сэра Томаса оказалась запущена: «пала в прискорбную задолженность/отставание»; to fall – падать ) , and my Lady had another lady’s maid(а миледи приобрела новую горничную; to have – иметь ).

Harry’s duty as secretary was not particularly onerous; but he had a dislike for all prolonged work; it gave him pain to ink his fingers; and the charms of Lady Vandeleur and her toilettes drew him often from the library to the boudoir. He had the prettiest ways among women, could talk fashions with enjoyment, and was never more happy than when criticising a shade of ribbon, or running on an errand to the milliner’s. In short, Sir Thomas’s correspondence fell into pitiful arrears, and my Lady had another lady’s maid.