Уильям Моэм - Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы

quality ['kwOlItI], gentleness ['dZentlnIs], singularly ['sINgjulqlI], persuasive [pq'sweIsIv], ascendency [q'sendqnsI]

Edward's tone had in it a quality new to Bateman. Its gentleness was singularly persuasive.

"If you put it like that, Edward, I'm bound to come," he smiled.

Bateman reflected, moreover, that it would be as well to learn what he could about Arnold Jackson. It was plain that he had a great ascendency over Edward and if it was to be combated it was necessary to discover in what exactly it consisted. The more he talked with Edward the more conscious he became that a change had taken place in him.

He had an instinct that it behooved him to walk warily (он /интуитивно/ почувствовал, что из-за этого ему надлежало вести себя осторожно; instinct — инстинкт; внутреннее чутье, интуиция; to walk — ходить, идти пешком; вести себя, жить ), and he made up his mind not to broach the real purport of his visit (и он решил не заводить разговор об истинной цели своего визита; purport — смысл, суть; цель, намерение ) till he saw his way more clearly (пока не сочтет момент наиболее подходящим: «не увидит возможности сделать это»; to see one's way /clear/ —предусматривать возможность, не видеть препятствий к чему-либо ). He began to talk of one thing and another (он завел разговор о том, о сем), of his journey and what he had achieved by it (о своей поездке, и о том, что он достиг в результате /этой поездки/), of politics in Chicago (о политической жизни в Чикаго), of this common friend and that (о тех и иных общих знакомых), of their days together at college (о днях, /проведенных/ вместе в колледже).

At last Edward said he must get back to his work (наконец Эдвард сказал, что он должен вернуться на работу) and proposed that he should fetch Bateman at five (и предложил заехать за Бейтманом в пять часов; to fetch — сходить и принести; заезжать, заходить/за кем-либо/ ) so that they could drive out together to Arnold Jackson's house (чтобы поехать вместе к дому Арнольда Джексона).

behoove [bI'hu: v], warily ['we(q)rIlI], purport ['pWpO: t, — pqt]

He had an instinct that it behooved him to walk warily, and he made up his mind not to broach the real purport of his visit till he saw his way more clearly. He began to talk of one thing and another, of his journey and what he had achieved by it, of politics in Chicago, of this common friend and that, of their days together at college.

At last Edward said he must get back to his work and proposed that he should fetch Bateman at five so that they could drive out together to Arnold Jackson's house.

"By the way, I rather thought you'd be living at this hotel (кстати, я думал, что ты живешь в этой гостинице)," said Bateman, as he strolled out of the garden with Edward (сказал Бейтман, когда они неторопливо шли из сада с Эдвардом). "I understand it's the only decent one here (как я понимаю, это единственный приличный отель здесь)."

"Not I (/только/ не я)," laughed Edward (рассмеялся Эдвард). "It's a deal too grand for me (слишком уж роскошно для меня; deal— некоторое количество; разг. большое количество;grand— грандиозный; пышный, роскошный ). I rent a room just outside the town (я снимаю комнату за городом). It's cheap and clean (она дешевая и чистенькая)."

"If I remember right (если я правильно помню) those weren't the points that seemed most important to you when you lived in Chicago (это было не самым важным: «это не были моменты, которые казались самыми важными», когда ты жил в Чикаго)."

" Chicago!"

"I don't know what you mean by that, Edward (не понимаю, что ты хочешь этим сказать, Эдвард). It's the greatest city in the world (это величайший город в мире)."

"I know (я знаю)," said Edward.

Bateman glanced at him quickly (Бейтман быстро = тут же взглянул на него), but his face was inscrutable (но его лицо было непроницаемым; to scrutinize — внимательно изучать, пристально рассматривать ).

stroll [strqul], grand [grxnd], inscrutable [In'skru: tqb(q)l]

"By the way, I rather thought you'd be living at this hotel," said Bateman, as he strolled out of the garden with Edward. "I understand it's the only decent one here."

"Not I," laughed Edward. "It's a deal too grand for me. I rent a room just outside the town. It's cheap and clean."

"If I remember right those weren't the points that seemed most important to you when you lived in Chicago."

" Chicago!"

"I don't know what you mean by that, Edward. It's the greatest city in the world."

"I know," said Edward.

Bateman glanced at him quickly, but his face was inscrutable.

"When are you coming back to it (когда ты туда возвращаешься)?"

"I often wonder (я часто задаю себе этот вопрос)," smiled Edward (улыбнулся Эдвард). This answer and the manner of it, staggered Bateman (этот ответ и то, как он был произнесен, ошеломили Бейтмана; manner— метод, способ; манера, поведение;to stagger— идти шатаясь; ошеломлять, потрясать ), but before he could ask for an explanation (но, прежде чем он смог попросить объяснений) Edward waved to a half-caste who was driving a passing motor (Эдвард помахал рукой какому-то метису, который ехал в проезжавшей мимо машине; motor— двигатель, мотор; автомобиль; half-caste — человек смешанной расы, полукровка ).

"Give us a ride down, Charlie (подвези нас, Чарли)," he said. He nodded to Bateman (он кивнул головой /на прощание/ Бейтману), and ran after the machine that had pulled up a few yards in front (и побежал за машиной, которая остановилась в нескольких ярдах впереди). Bateman was left to piece together a mass of perplexing impressions (Бейтман остался собирать в единое целое множество озадачивающих впечатлений).

stagger ['stxgq], half-cast(e) ['hQ: fkQ: st], machine [mq'Si: n], perplexing [pq'pleksIN]

"When are you coming back to it?"

"I often wonder," smiled Edward. This answer and the manner of it, staggered Bateman, but before he could ask for an explanation Edward waved to a half-caste who was driving a passing motor.