Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Первый сборник рассказов

poor [puǝ], sore [sɔ:], reward [rɪˈwɔ:d], income [ˈɪnkʌm], ungrateful [ʌnˈɡreɪtful]

"Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to — none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful."

Holmes turned to his desk (обратился к своей конторке) and, unlocking it (открывая ее) , drew out a small casebook (вытащил /оттуда/ небольшой дневник) , which he consulted (в котором он справился /о фамилии/) .

"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case (вспоминаю это дело) ; it was concerned with an opal tiara (оно касалось опаловой диадемы) . I think it was before your time (до вашего времени = до нашего знакомства) , Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case (буду счастлив посвятить то же самое внимание вашему делу) as I did to that of your friend (какое я посвятил делу вашей подруги) . As to reward (что касается награды) , my profession is its own reward (сама себе награда) ; but you are at liberty to defray (вы свободны оплатить) whatever expenses I may be put to (какие бы то ни было расходы, /которые/ я могу понести) , at the time which suits you best (во время, которое подходит вам лучше всего = когда хотите) . And now I beg (попрошу) that you will lay before us (выложите перед нами) everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter (все, что может помочь в составлении мнения по делу) ."

tiara [tɪˈɑ:rǝ], liberty [ˈlɪbǝtɪ], defray [dɪˈfreɪ], expenses [ɪkˈspensɪz]

Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small casebook, which he consulted.

"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter."

"Alas (увы) !" replied our visitor (ответила наша посетительница) , "the very horror of my situation lies (как раз весь ужас моего положения лежит = заключается) in the fact that my fears are so vague (мои страхи так неясны) , and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points (мои подозрения основываются так полностью на мелочах) , which might seem trivial to another (которые могут показаться пустыми другому) , that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice (именно у кого: «у кого из всех других» я имею право искать помощи и совета) looks upon all (смотрит на все) that I tell him about it (что я говорю ему об этом) as the fancies of a nervous woman (как на фантазии нервной женщины) . He does not say so (не говорит так) , but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes (могу прочитать это в его утешающих ответах и уклончивом взоре) . But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart (вы можете вникать глубоко в многообразные пороки человеческого сердца) . You may advise (посоветовать) me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me (как пройти среди опасностей, которые окружают меня) ."

alas [ǝˈlæs], horror [ˈhɒrǝ], vague [veɪɡ], averted [ǝˈvɜ:tɪd], manifold [ˈmænɪfǝuld]

"Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me."

"I am all attention (я весь внимание) , madam."

"My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather (с отчимом) , who is the last survivor (последний /оставшийся в живых/ наследник; to survive — выжить) of one of the oldest Saxon families (одной из старейших саксонских фамилий) in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey (на западной границе /графства/ Суррей) ."

Holmes nodded his head (кивнул) . "The name is familiar to me (имя знакомо мне) ," said he.

"I am all attention, madam."

"My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey."

Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he.

"The family was at one time (в одно время) among the richest in England (среди богатейших в Англии) , and the estates extended over (поместья распространялись до) the borders into Berkshire in the north (границ Беркшира на севере) , and Hampshire in the west (Хемпшира на западе) . In the last century (в прошлом веке) , however, four successive heirs (четыре следующих один за другим = подряд наследника) were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition (распутного и расточительного характера) , and the family ruin (семейный крах) was eventually completed (в конце концов был завершен) by a gambler (азартным игроком) in the days of the Regency (в дни = во времена Регентства /1811 — 1820/) . Nothing was left (ничего не осталось) save a few acres of ground (кроме нескольких акров земли) , and the two-hundred-year-old house (и двухсотлетнего дома) , which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage (который /сам/ раздавлен /под/ обременительным залогом) . The last squire dragged out his existence there (последний помещик влачил свое существование там) , living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper (проживая ужасную жизнь аристократического нищего) ; but his only son (но его единственный сын) , my stepfather (отчим) , seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions (видя, что он должен приспособить себя = приспособиться к новым условиям) , obtained an advance from a relative (получил аванс = взял взаймы у родственника) , which enabled him (который позволил ему) to take a medical degree (получить медицинскую степень) and went out to Calcutta (уехал в Калькутту) , where, by his professional skill (благодаря своему профессиональному навыку) and his force of character (и силе характера) , he established a large practice (основал широкую практику) . In a fit of anger (в приступе ярости) , however, caused by some robberies (вызванной кражами) which had been perpetrated in the house (которые были совершены в доме) , he beat his native butler to death (избил своего туземца-дворецкого насмерть) and narrowly escaped a capital sentence (едва избежал смертного приговора) . As it was (хотя /он избежал казни/) , he suffered a long term of imprisonment (отбыл долгий срок заключения) , and afterwards returned (затем вернулся) to England a morose and disappointed man (угрюмым и разочарованным человеком) .