precisely [prɪˈsaɪslɪ], uncourteous [unˈkɜ:tɪǝs], doubts [dauts]
"The paper was made in Bohemia," I said.
"Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence — 'This account of you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts."
As he spoke (когда он сказал /это/) there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs (послышался: «там был» резкий стук лошадиных копыт; sharp — острый, резкий) and grating wheels against the curb (и визг колес об обочину; to grate — скрипеть; curb — тротуар, обочина), followed by a sharp pull at the bell (затем кто-то резко дернул звонок; to follow — следовать). Holmes whistled (свистнул).
sound [saund], curb [kɜ:b]
"A pair, by the sound (пара /лошадей/, судя по звуку)," said he. "Yes," he continued (продолжал он), glancing out of the window (выглянув из окна). "A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties (милая маленькая карета и пара красавиц). A hundred and fifty guineas apiece (по сто пятьдесят гиней за каждую). There's money in this case (/там/ деньги в этом деле = дело пахнет деньгами), Watson, if there is nothing else (если ничего другого нет = так или иначе)."
"I think that I had better go (я думаю, что мне лучше уйти), Holmes."
brougham [ˈbru:ǝm], beauty [ˈbju:tɪ], guineas [ˈɡɪnɪz]
As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled.
"A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else."
"I think that I had better go, Holmes."
"Not a bit (вовсе нет = ничуть), Doctor. Stay where you are (оставайтесь /где вы есть/). I am lost without my Boswell (я потерян = что бы я делал без моего Босуэлла /James Boswell (1740 — 1795) — шотландский биограф/). And this promises to be interesting (и это /дело/ обещает быть интересным; to promise — обещать). It would be a pity to miss it (будет жаль пропустить его; to miss — упускать)."
"But your client (но ваш клиент) — "
"Never mind him (не обращайте на него внимания). I may want your help (мне может понадобиться ваша помощь), and so may he (и ему также). Here he comes (вот он идет). Sit down in that armchair (садитесь в это кресло), Doctor, and give us your best attention (и дайте нам ваше лучшее внимание = будьте очень внимательны)."
"Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it."
"But your client — "
"Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention."
A slow and heavy step (медленные тяжелые шаги; step — шаг, походка), which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage (которые были слышны на лестнице и в коридоре), paused immediately outside the door (затихли немедленно перед дверью; to pause — делать паузу; outside — снаружи). Then there was a loud and authoritative tap (затем раздался: «там был» громкий и властный стук).
heavy [ˈhevɪ], authoritative [ɔ:ˈƟɒrɪtǝtɪv]
"Come in (войдите)!" said Holmes.
A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap.
"Come in!" said Holmes.
A man entered (вошел человек) who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height (который мог едва ли быть меньше, чем шесть футов шесть дюймов ростом; foot — фут), with the chest and limbs of a Hercules (с грудью и конечностями Геркулеса = геркулесовского сложения). His dress was rich (он был одет богато; dress — одежда; rich — богатый) with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste (с богатством, которое в Англии сочли бы безвкусицей; to look upon — считать за; akin to — похожий на). Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat (рукава и отвороты его двубортного пальто были оторочены тяжелыми полосами из каракуля; to slash — полосовать; across — вдоль; double — двойной; breast — грудь), while the deep blue cloak (тогда как темно-синий плащ; deep — глубокий) which was thrown over his shoulders (который был накинут на его плечи) was lined with flame-colored silk (был подбит огненно-красным шелком; to line — обивать изнутри; flame — пламя; color — цвет) and secured at the neck with a brooch (и застегнут на шее брошью) which consisted of a single flaming beryl (которая состояла из одного пылающего берилла; to consist of — состоять из; single — одиночный). Boots which extended halfway up his calves (сапоги, которые доходили до половины его икр; to extend — простираться), and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur (и которые были обшиты сверху дорогим коричневым мехом), completed the impression of barbaric opulence (дополняли /то/ впечатление варварского богатства) which was suggested by his whole appearance (которое производила вся его внешность; to suggest — предлагать). He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand (в руке он нес широкополую шляпу), while he wore across the upper part of his face (в то время как он носил на: «поперек» верхней части своего лица), extending down past the cheekbones (опускавшуюся ниже скул), a black vizard mask (черную маску; vizard — козырек /фражки/; забрало; маска), which he had apparently adjusted that very moment (которую он, видимо, надел только что; to adjust — приспособить, установить), for his hand was still raised to it as he entered (так как его рука все еще была поднята к ней, когда он вошел). From the lower part of the face (судя по нижней части лица) he appeared to be a man of strong character (он был человеком сильного характера; to appear to be — оказываться, казаться), with a thick, hanging lip (с толстой выпяченной губой), and a long, straight chin (и длинным прямым подбородком) suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy (говорящими о решительности, переходящей в упрямство; to push — толкать, наталкивать; length — длина, продолжительность).
opulence [ˈɔpjulǝns], appearance [ǝˈpɪǝrǝns], obstinacy [ˈɔbstɪnǝsɪ]
A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-colored silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.
"You had my note (вы получили мою записку)?" he asked with a deep harsh voice (спросил он низким грубым голосом) and a strongly marked German accent (с сильным немецким акцентом; to mark — отмечать). "I told you that I would call (я сообщил, что приду к вам)." He looked from one to the other of us (он смотрел то на одного из нас, то на другого), as if uncertain which to address (как будто неуверенный, к кому обратиться).
harsh [hɑ:ʃ], uncertain [ʌnˈsǝ:tn]
"Pray take a seat (пожалуйста, садитесь; seat — место, сиденье)," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague (коллега), Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases (который время от времени любезно помогает мне в моих делах). Whom have I the honor to address (с кем имею честь говорить)?"
"You may address me as the Count Von Kramm (вы можете обращаться ко мне как к графу фон Крамму), a Bohemian nobleman (богемскому дворянину; noble — благородный). I understand that this gentleman (я полагаю, что этот джентльмен), your friend, is a man of honor and discretion (человек чести и благоразумия/осторожности), whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance (кому я могу доверить дело самой чрезвычайной важности; to trust — верить). If not (если это не так), I should much prefer to communicate with you alone (я предпочел бы беседовать с вами наедине)."
"You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.
"Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honor to address?"
"You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honor and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone."
I rose to go (я встал, чтобы уйти; to rise — подниматься), but Holmes caught me by the wrist (но Холмс схватил меня за руку; to catch — хватать; wrist — запястье) and pushed me back into my chair (и толкнул меня обратно в кресло). "It is both, or none (оба или никакой = говорите либо с нами обоими, либо не говорите)," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me (вы можете сказать в присутствии этого джентльмена все, что сказали бы мне)."
The Count shrugged his broad shoulders (граф пожал своими широкими плечами). "Then I must begin (тогда я должен начать)," said he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years (связывая вас обоих абсолютной тайной = обязуя вас обоих сохранять абсолютную тайну два года); at the end of that time (по прошествии этого времени) the matter will be of no importance (дело будет никакой важности = не будет иметь значения). At present it is not too much to say (в настоящее время это не слишком много сказать = я могу без преувеличения сказать) that it is of such weight (что это /дело/ такого веса = настолько серьезно) it may have an influence upon European history (что может иметь влияние = повлиять на историю Европы)."
