Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Собака Баскервилей

spiteful [ˈspaɪtf(ǝ)l], busybody [ˈbɪzɪˌbɔdɪ], incredulity [ˌɪnkrɪˈdju:lɪtɪ]

My heart sank for Barrymore. It was a serious thing to be in the power of this spiteful old busybody. But his next remark took a weight from my mind.

"You'll be surprised to hear that his food is taken to him by a child. I see him every day through my telescope upon the roof. He passes along the same path at the same hour, and to whom should he be going except to the convict?"

Here was luck indeed! And yet I suppressed all appearance of interest. A child! Barrymore had said that our unknown was supplied by a boy. It was on his track, and not upon the convict's, that Frankland had stumbled. If I could get his knowledge it might save me a long and weary hunt. But incredulity and indifference were evidently my strongest cards.

"I should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of one of the moorland shepherds (я бы сказал, что, скорее всего, это был сын одного из местных пастухов) taking out his father's dinner (приносящий своему отцу обед) ."

The least appearance of opposition (малейшие признаки противодействия) struck fire out of the old autocrat (высекали огонь из старого деспота) . His eyes looked malignantly at me (его глаза злобно на меня взглянули) , and his grey whiskers bristled (а в седых бакенбардах щетина встала дыбом) like those of an angry cat (как у разъяренной кошки) .

"Indeed, sir!" said he (несомненно, сэр, — сказал он) , pointing out over the wide-stretching moor (указывая на растянувшиеся вширь болота) . "Do you see that Black Tor over yonder (видите ту Черную Скалу вон там) ? Well, do you see the low hill beyond (хорошо, видите низкий холм позади /нее/) with the thorn-bush upon it (с кустами боярышника на нем) ? It is the stoniest part of the whole moor (это самый каменистый участок на всех болотах) . Is that a place where a shepherd would be likely to take his station (похоже оно на такое место, где пастух пас бы своих овец; likely — вероятный; похожий; station — место, местоположение) ? Your suggestion, sir, is a most absurd one (ваше предположение, сэр, самое абсурдное) ."

I meekly answered (я смиренно отвечал) that I had spoken without knowing all the facts (что я говорил, не зная всех фактов) . My submission pleased him (моя покорность понравилась ему) and led him to further confidences (и склонила его к дальнейшим откровенностям; to lead — вести; побуждать, склонять) .

"You may be sure, sir (можете быть уверены, сэр) , that I have very good grounds (что я всегда все тщательно проверяю; to have good grounds — иметь достаточно оснований; убедиться) before I come to an opinion (прежде чем прихожу к /какому-то/ убеждению) . I have seen the boy again and again with his bundle (я не раз: «снова и снова» видел мальчишку с его узелком) . Every day, and sometimes twice a day, I have been able (каждый день, иногда дважды, я мог) — but wait a moment, Dr. Watson (но, подождите-ка, доктор Ватсон) . Do my eyes deceive me (/либо/ мои глаза обманывают меня) , or is there at the present moment something moving upon that hillside (либо в данный момент что-то движется по склону холма) ?"

shepherd [ˈʃepǝd], malignantly [mǝˈlɪɡnǝntlɪ], absurd [ǝbˈsǝ:d]

"I should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of one of the moorland shepherds taking out his father's dinner."

The least appearance of opposition struck fire out of the old autocrat. His eyes looked malignantly at me, and his grey whiskers bristled like those of an angry cat.

"Indeed, sir!" said he, pointing out over the wide-stretching moor. "Do you see that Black Tor over yonder? Well, do you see the low hill beyond with the thorn-bush upon it? It is the stoniest part of the whole moor. Is that a place where a shepherd would be likely to take his station? Your suggestion, sir, is a most absurd one."

I meekly answered that I had spoken without knowing all the facts. My submission pleased him and led him to further confidences.

"You may be sure, sir, that I have very good grounds before I come to an opinion. I have seen the boy again and again with his bundle. Every day, and sometimes twice a day, I have been able — but wait a moment, Dr. Watson. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there at the present moment something moving upon that hillside?"

It was several miles off (я был в нескольких милях /оттуда/) , but I could distinctly see (но я мог отчетливо видеть) a small dark dot against the dull green and grey (маленькую черную точку на тусклом зелено-сером фоне; dull — глупый; неяркий, тусклый) .

"Come, sir, come (пойдемте, сэр) !" cried Frankland, rushing upstairs (закричал Фрэнклэнд, бросаясь вверх по лестнице) . "You will see with your own eyes (вы увидите собственными глазами) and judge for yourself (и /будете/ судить сами) ."

The telescope, a formidable instrument mounted upon a tripod (телескоп, огромное приспособление на треноге; mounted — приподнятый; установленный) , stood upon the flat leads of the house (стоял на плоской крыше дома; leads — покрытая свинцом крыша) . Frankland clapped his eye to it (Фрэнклэнд припал к нему глазом; to clap — хлопать; сделать быстрое, энергичное движение) and gave a cry of satisfaction (и издал удовлетворенное восклицание) .

"Quick, Dr. Watson, quick (быстрее, доктор Ватсон) , before he passes over the hill (пока он не зашел за холм) !"

There he was, sure enough (действительно, вот он) , a small urchin with a little bundle upon his shoulder (маленький парнишка с небольшим узелком на плече; urchin — мальчишка, пострел) , toiling slowly up the hill (медленно взбирающийся на холм; to toil — усиленно трудиться; идти с трудом) . When he reached the crest (когда он достиг гребня /холма/) I saw the ragged, uncouth figure (я увидел одетую в лохмотья, неуклюжую фигуру; ragged — зазубренный; рваный, изорванный /в клочья/) outlined for an instant against the cold blue sky (очерченную на мгновенье на фоне холодной синевы неба) . He looked round him (он взглянул вокруг) , with a furtive and stealthy air (с вороватым и таинственным видом) , as one who dreads pursuit (как человек, который опасается преследования) . Then he vanished over the hill (потом он исчез за холмом) .