Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Знак четырех (ASCII-IPA)

hoard [hO:d], tiger ['taIg@], conquer ['kOnk@]

"'There is a rajah in the northern provinces who has much wealth, though his lands are small. Much has come to him from his father, and more still he has set by himself, for he is of a low nature and hoards his gold rather than spend it. When the troubles broke out he would be friends both with the lion and the tiger, — with the Sepoy and with the Company's Raj. Soon, however, it seemed to him that the white men's day was come, for through all the land he could hear of nothing but of their death and their overthrow. Yet, being a careful man, he made such plans that, come what might, half at least of his treasure should be left to him. That which was in gold and silver he kept by him in the vaults of his palace, but the most precious stones and the choicest pearls that he had he put in an iron box, and sent it by a trusty servant who, under the guise of a merchant, should take it to the fort at Agra, there to lie until the land is at peace. Thus, if the rebels won he would have his money, but if the Company conquered his jewels would be saved to him. Having thus divided his hoard, he threw himself into the cause of the Sepoys, since they were strong upon his borders. By his doing this, mark you, Sahib, his property becomes the due of those who have been true to their salt.

"'This pretended merchant, who travels under the name of Achmet (этот мнимый купец, который путешествует под именем Ахмета; to pretend — притворяться) , is now in the city of Agra, and desires to gain his way into the fort (находится теперь в Агре и хочет попасть в крепость; to desire — испытывать сильное желание, мечтать; очень хотеть; to gain — добывать, зарабатывать; добиваться) . He has with him as travelling-companion my foster-brother Dost Akbar, who knows his secret (с ним в качестве попутчика с детства росший в нашей семье и ставший мне братом: «мой молочный брат» Дост Акбар, который знает его секрет; to foster — воспитывать, обучать, растить, проявлять родительскую заботу; foster child — ребенок, воспитываемый в семье, но не являющийся родным) . Dost Akbar has promised this night to lead him to a side-postern of the fort (Дост Акбар пообещал провести его этой ночью к боковому входу в крепость; postern — задняя дверь; боковая дорога или боковой вход) , and has chosen this one for his purpose (и выбрал именно этот для своей цели) . Here he will come presently, and here he will find Mahomet Singh and myself awaiting him (здесь он скоро появится, и здесь он обнаружит Мохаммеда Сингха и меня, поджидающими его; presently — лично, собственной персоной; некоторое время спустя) . The place is lonely, and none shall know of his coming (место это пустынное, и никто не узнает, что он тут был; lonely — одинокий; пустынный, уединенный) . The world shall know of the merchant Achmet no more (купец Ахмет перестанет существовать: «мир не будет больше знать купца Ахмета») , but the great treasure of the rajah shall be divided among us (а сокровища раджи будут поделены между нами) . What say you to it, Sahib (что ты скажешь на это, сахиб) ?'

"In Worcestershire the life of a man seems a great and a sacred thing (в Вустершире жизнь человека считается священной и неприкосновенной: «кажется великой и священной вещью») ; but it is very different when there is fire and blood all round you and you have been used to meeting death at every turn (но на это смотришь совсем иначе: «но это совсем по-другому», когда кругом огонь и кровь, а ты привык встречать смерть на каждом углу: «на каждом повороте») . Whether Achmet the merchant lived or died was a thing as light as air to me (будет жить купец Ахмет или умрет, не заботило меня нисколько: «было вещью для меня столь же легкой, как воздух») , but at the talk about the treasure my heart turned to it (но разговор о сокровищах задел мое сердце: «при разговоре о сокровищах мое сердце встрепенулось = обратилось к ним»; to turn — поворачивать/ся/; обращаться) , and I thought of what I might do in the old country with it (и я подумал, что бы я смог с ними сделать на родине; old country — родина иммигранта) , and how my folk would stare when they saw their ne'er-do-weel coming back with his pockets full of gold moidores (и как бы таращились мои родные, когда увидели бы, что их гадкий утенок вернулся с карманами, полными золота; folk — люди, определенная группа людей; родственники, родня; ne'er-do-weel = never-do-well — бездельник; никчемный человек; moidore — португальская золотая монета) . I had, therefore, already made up my mind (то есть, я уже решился; to make up one's mind — принять решение, решиться) . Abdullah Khan, however, thinking that I hesitated, pressed the matter more closely (но Абдулла Хан, думая, что я колебался, попытался меня склонить еще настойчивее; to press — жать, надавливать; оказывать давление; торопить, требовать немедленных действий; closely — близко; вплотную; тесно) .

merchant ['m@:tS(@)nt], companion [k@m'p&nj@n], sacred ['seIkrId]

"'This pretended merchant, who travels under the name of Achmet, is now in the city of Agra, and desires to gain his way into the fort. He has with him as travelling-companion my foster-brother Dost Akbar, who knows his secret. Dost Akbar has promised this night to lead him to a side-postern of the fort, and has chosen this one for his purpose. Here he will come presently, and here he will find Mahomet Singh and myself awaiting him. The place is lonely, and none shall know of his coming. The world shall know of the merchant Achmet no more, but the great treasure of the rajah shall be divided among us. What say you to it, Sahib?'

"In Worcestershire the life of a man seems a great and a sacred thing; but it is very different when there is fire and blood all round you and you have been used to meeting death at every turn. Whether Achmet the merchant lived or died was a thing as light as air to me, but at the talk about the treasure my heart turned to it, and I thought of what I might do in the old country with it, and how my folk would stare when they saw their ne'er-do-weel coming back with his pockets full of gold moidores. I had, therefore, already made up my mind. Abdullah Khan, however, thinking that I hesitated, pressed the matter more closely.