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

much [mʌtʃ], grotesque [ɡrǝ(u)ˈtesk], design [dɪˈzaɪn]

"So much for the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. You perceive the devilish cunning of it, for really it would be almost impossible to make a case against the real murderer. His only accomplice was one who could never give him away, and the grotesque, inconceivable nature of the device only served to make it more effective. Both of the women concerned in the case, Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Laura Lyons, were left with a strong suspicion against Stapleton. Mrs. Stapleton knew that he had designs upon the old man, and also of the existence of the hound. Mrs. Lyons knew neither of these things, but had been impressed by the death occurring at the time of an uncancelled appointment which was only known to him. However, both of them were under his influence, and he had nothing to fear from them. The first half of his task was successfully accomplished, but the more difficult still remained.

"It is possible that Stapleton did not know (возможно, Стэплтон не знал) of the existence of an heir in Canada (о существовании наследника из Канады) . In any case he would very soon learn it from his friend Dr. Mortimer (в любом случае, он, видимо, очень скоро узнал об этом от своего друга, доктора Мортимера) , and he was told by the latter all details (и тот: «последний» ему поведал все подробности) about the arrival of Henry Baskerville (/касающиеся/ приезда: «прибытия» Генри Баскервиля) . Stapleton's first idea was (первая мысль Стэплтона была /о том/) that this young stranger from Canada (что этот юный иностранец из Канады) might possibly be done to death in London (может быть просто убит в Лондоне) without coming down to Devonshire at all (вообще не доехав до Девоншира) . He distrusted his wife ever since (он не доверял своей жене с тех пор) she had refused to help him in laying a trap for the old man (/как/ она отказалась помочь ему поставить ловушку старику) , and he dared not leave her long out of his sight for fear (и он не рисковал оставлять ее надолго без присмотра из опасения; to dare — осмеливаться; рисковать) he should lose his influence over her (что он утратит свое влияние на нее) . It was for this reason (по этой причине) that he took her to London with him (он взял ее с собой в Лондон) .

heir [ɛǝ], arrival [ǝˈraɪv(ǝ)l], distrust [dɪsˈtrʌst]

"It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the existence of an heir in Canada. In any case he would very soon learn it from his friend Dr. Mortimer, and he was told by the latter all details about the arrival of Henry Baskerville. Stapleton's first idea was that this young stranger from Canada might possibly be done to death in London without coming down to Devonshire at all. He distrusted his wife ever since she had refused to help him in laying a trap for the old man, and he dared not leave her long out of his sight for fear he should lose his influence over her. It was for this reason that he took her to London with him.

"They lodged, I find, at the Mexborough Private Hotel, in Craven Street (они проживали, как я выяснил, в гостинице "Мексборо Прайвит" на Крэйвен-стрит) , which was actually one of those (которая, кстати, была одной из тех) called upon by my agent in search of evidence (куда заходил мой агент в поисках доказательств) . Here he kept his wife imprisoned in her room (здесь он держал свою жену взаперти в ее комнате; to imprison — заключать в тюрьму; лишать свободы; prison — тюрьма) while he, disguised in a beard, followed Dr. Mortimer to Baker Street (тогда как сам, /нацепив/ для маскировки бороду, проследовал за доктором Мортимером на Бейкер-стрит) and afterwards to the station and to the Northumberland Hotel (а впоследствии на вокзал и в гостиницу "Нортумберленд") . His wife had some inkling of his plans (его жена имела смутное представление о его намерениях) ; but she had such a fear of her husband (но испытывала такой страх перед своим мужем) — a fear founded upon brutal ill-treatment (страх, порожденный его жестоким /с ней/ обращением; to found — основывать; создавать) — that she dare not write to warn the man (что она не осмеливалась написать /письмо/, чтобы предупредить человека) whom she knew to be in danger (который, как она знала, был в опасности) . If the letter should fall into Stapleton's hands (если бы письмо попало в руки Стэплтона; to fall — падать; попадать) her own life would not be safe (ее собственная жизнь была бы в опасности: «не была бы в безопасности») . Eventually, as we know, she adopted the expedient of cutting out the words (в итоге, как мы знаем, она применила уловку, вырезав слова /из газеты/; to adopt — усыновлять; принимать) which would form the message (которые составляли сообщение) , and addressing the letter in a disguised hand (и надписала адрес измененным почерком; hand — рука; почерк; to address — обращаться /к кому-либо/; надписать адрес) . It reached the Baronet (оно попало к баронету) , and gave him the first warning of his danger (и дало ему = стало первым предупреждением об опасности) .

hotel [hǝ(u)ˈtel], treatment [ˈtri:tmǝnt], address [ǝˈdres]

"They lodged, I find, at the Mexborough Private Hotel, in Craven Street, which was actually one of those called upon by my agent in search of evidence. Here he kept his wife imprisoned in her room while he, disguised in a beard, followed Dr. Mortimer to Baker Street and afterwards to the station and to the Northumberland Hotel. His wife had some inkling of his plans; but she had such a fear of her husband — a fear founded upon brutal ill-treatment — that she dare not write to warn the man whom she knew to be in danger. If the letter should fall into Stapleton's hands her own life would not be safe. Eventually, as we know, she adopted the expedient of cutting out the words which would form the message, and addressing the letter in a disguised hand. It reached the Baronet, and gave him the first warning of his danger.

"It was very essential for Stapleton (Стэплтону было необходимо) to get some article of Sir Henry's attire (заполучить какой-нибудь предмет из одежды сэра Генри; attire — одеяние, облачение) so that, in case he was driven to use the dog (так, чтобы в случае, если ему придется использовать собаку; to drive — гнать; побуждать, заставлять) , he might always have the means of setting him upon his track (он мог всегда иметь возможность пустить ее по его следу) . With characteristic promptness and audacity (с характерными расторопностью и смелостью; prompt — проворный, быстрый; исполнительный, расторопный) he set about this at once (он сразу же приступил /к выполнению/ этого; to set about — начинать) , and we cannot doubt that the boots or chambermaid of the hotel (и мы не можем сомневаться = можем не сомневаться, что чистильщику обуви или горничной гостиницы) was well bribed to help him in his design (было хорошо заплачено за помощь ему в его замыслах; to bribe — подкупать) . By chance, however, the first boot (однако случайно первый ботинок) which was procured for him was a new one (который был ему доставлен, оказался новым) and, therefore, useless for his purpose (и поэтому бесполезным для его цели) . He then had it returned and obtained another (тогда он приказал его вернуть и получил другой) — a most instructive incident since it proved conclusively to my mind (очень поучительный случай, поскольку он окончательно доказал мне: «моему разуму») , that we were dealing with a real hound (что мы имеем дело с настоящей собакой) , as no other supposition could explain this anxiety to obtain an old boot (поскольку никакое другое предположение не могло объяснить это желание получить старый ботинок) and this indifference to a new one (и это полное безразличие к новому) .