mystery ['mIst(@)rI], thoroughly [' [email protected]], creak [kri:k]
I have said "by one night's work," but, in truth, it was by two nights' work, for on the first we drew entirely blank. I sat up with Sir Henry in his room until nearly three o'clock in the morning, but no sound of any sort did we hear except the chiming clock upon the stairs. It was a most melancholy vigil, and ended by each of us falling asleep in our chairs. Fortunately we were not discouraged, and we determined to try again. The next night we lowered the lamp and sat smoking cigarettes, without making the least sound. It was incredible how slowly the hours crawled by, and yet we were helped through it by the same sort of patient interest which the hunter must feel as he watches the trap into which he hopes the game may wander. One struck, and two, and we had almost for the second time given it up in despair, when in an instant we both sat bolt upright in our chairs, with all our weary senses keenly on the alert once more. We had heard the creak of a step in the passage.
Very stealthily we heard it pass along (мы услышали, /как кто-то/ прошел /мимо нашей двери/; stealthily — тайно, украдкой) until it died away in the distance (и /его шаги/ замерли вдалеке; until — /до тех пор/ пока). Then the baronet gently opened his door (тогда баронет тихонько открыл дверь; gently — мягко; тихо, осторожно) and we set out in pursuit (и мы начали преследование; to set out — начинать). Already our man had gone round the gallery (наш человек = тот, за кем мы охотились уже обошел галерею), and the corridor was all in darkness (и коридор был полностью /погружен/ во тьму). Softly we stole along (мы бесшумно двигались /по коридору/; to steal — воровать; прокрасться) until we had come into the other wing (пока не вошли = не попали в другое крыло). We were just in time (мы подоспели как раз вовремя) to catch a glimpse of the tall, black-bearded figure, his shoulders rounded (чтобы заметить мелькнувшую высокую чернобородую фигуру с покатыми плечами; to catch a glimpse — увидеть мельком), as he tip-toed down the passage (идущую на цыпочках по коридору). Then he passed through the same door as before (потом он прошел в ту же дверь, что и раньше), and the light of the candle framed it in the darkness (и свет свечи обозначил ее в темноте; to frame — собирать /конструкцию/; обрамлять) and shot one single yellow beam across the gloom of the corridor (бросив одинокий желтый лучик сквозь мрак коридора; to shoot — стрелять; бросать). We shuffled cautiously towards it (мы осторожно заскользили по направлению к нему; to shuffle — волочить /ноги/; скользить по полу), trying every plank (проверяя каждую половицу) before we dared to put our whole weight upon it (прежде чем отважиться перенести на нее весь свой вес). We had taken the precaution of leaving our boots behind us (мы из предосторожности /заранее/ сняли ботинки: «оставили наши ботинки позади»), but, even so, the old boards snapped and creaked beneath our tread (но все равно старые доски потрескивали и скрипели под нашими шагами; tread — поступь, шаги). Sometimes it seemed impossible (иногда казалось невозможным) that he should fail to hear our approach (чтобы он не услышал нашего приближения; to fail — потерпеть неудачу; не удаваться).
gently ['dZentlI], stealthily ['stelTIlI], tread [tred]
Very stealthily we heard it pass along until it died away in the distance. Then the baronet gently opened his door and we set out in pursuit. Already our man had gone round the gallery, and the corridor was all in darkness. Softly we stole along until we had come into the other wing. We were just in time to catch a glimpse of the tall, black-bearded figure, his shoulders rounded, as he tip-toed down the passage. Then he passed through the same door as before, and the light of the candle framed it in the darkness and shot one single yellow beam across the gloom of the corridor. We shuffled cautiously towards it, trying every plank before we dared to put our whole weight upon it. We had taken the precaution of leaving our boots behind us, but, even so, the old boards snapped and creaked beneath our tread. Sometimes it seemed impossible that he should fail to hear our approach.
However, the man is fortunately rather deaf (однако этот человек, к счастью, глуховат), and he was entirely preoccupied in that which he was doing (и /к тому же/ он был полностью поглощен тем, что он делал = своим занятием). When at last we reached the door and peeped through (когда наконец мы достигли двери и заглянули /внутрь/) we found him crouching at the window, candle in hand (мы нашли его согнувшимся у окна со свечой в руке), his white, intent face pressed against the pane (с бледным, напряженным лицом, прижатым к оконному стеклу), exactly as I had seen him two nights before (в точности так, как я видел его позапрошлой ночью).
We had arranged no plan of campaign (мы /заранее/ не подготовили плана действий), but the baronet is a man (но баронет такой человек) to whom the most direct way is always the most natural (для которого самый прямой путь — всегда самый естественный). He walked into the room (он вошел в комнату), and as he did so Barrymore sprang up from the window (и как только он это сделал, Бэрримор отпрыгнул от окна) with a sharp hiss of his breath (c резким свистом вдохнув /воздух/), and stood, livid and trembling, before us (и стал, мертвенно-бледный и дрожащий, перед нами). His dark eyes, glaring out of the white mask of his face (его глаза, сверкающие на белой маске лица), were full of horror and astonishment (были полны ужаса и удивления) as he gazed from Sir Henry to me (когда он переводил взгляд с сэра Генри на меня; to gaze — пристально смотреть; уставиться).
crouch [krautS], sharp [SA:p], mask [mA:sk]
However, the man is fortunately rather deaf, and he was entirely preoccupied in that which he was doing. When at last we reached the door and peeped through we found him crouching at the window, candle in hand, his white, intent face pressed against the pane, exactly as I had seen him two nights before.
We had arranged no plan of campaign, but the baronet is a man to whom the most direct way is always the most natural. He walked into the room, and as he did so Barrymore sprang up from the window with a sharp hiss of his breath, and stood, livid and trembling, before us. His dark eyes, glaring out of the white mask of his face, were full of horror and astonishment as he gazed from Sir Henry to me.
"What are you doing here, Barrymore (что вы здесь делаете, Бэрримор)?"
"Nothing, sir (ничего, сэр)." His agitation was so great that he could hardly speak (его волнение было столь велико, что он едва мог говорить), and the shadows sprang up and down from the shaking of his candle (и тени прыгали вверх-вниз от свечи, дрожащей /в его руке/). "It was the window, sir (это окно, сэр). I go round at night to see that they are fastened (я обхожу /дом/ по ночам, посмотреть = убедиться, что они заперты)."
"On the second floor (на втором этаже)?"
"Yes, sir, all the windows (да, сэр, все окна)."
"Look here, Barrymore," said Sir Henry, sternly (послушайте: «взгляните сюда», Бэрримор, — сказал сэр Генри сурово); "we have made up our minds to have the truth out of you (мы решили узнать у вас правду; to have out — выяснять), so it will save you trouble (так что вы избежите неприятностей) to tell it sooner rather than later (рассказав обо всем лучше раньше, чем позже). Come, now! No lies (давайте-ка, и не лгать)! What were you doing at that window (что вы делали у того окна)?"
The fellow looked at us in a helpless way (он беспомощно посмотрел на нас), and he wrung his hands together like one (и заломил руки; to wring one’s hands — заламывать руки) who is in the last extremity of doubt and misery (как человек, /находящийся/ в крайней степени сомнения и страданий).
"I was doing no harm, sir (я не делал вреда, сэр). I was holding a candle to the window (я держал свечу у окна)."
"And why were you holding a candle to the window (а зачем вы держали свечу у окна)?"
"Don't ask me, Sir Henry — don't ask me (не спрашивайте меня, сэр Генри, не спрашивайте)! I give you my word, sir (даю вам слово, сэр), that it is not my secret (что это не моя тайна), and that I cannot tell it (и что я не могу раскрыть ее). If it concerned no one but myself (если бы это не касалось никого, кроме меня) I would not try to keep it from you (я бы и не пытался утаить ее от вас)."
A sudden idea occurred to me (внезапная мысль пришла мне в голову; to occur — происходить; приходить на ум), and I took the candle from the window-sill (и я взял свечу с подоконника), where the butler had placed it (где ее поставил дворецкий).
"He must have been holding it as a signal (он, должно быть, держал ее как сигнал)," said I. "Let us see if there is any answer (давайте посмотрим, не будет ли какого ответа)." I held it as he had done (я держал ее так, как он это делал), and stared out into the darkness of the night (и всматривался в темноту ночи). Vaguely I could discern the black bank of the trees (я едва мог разглядеть темную линию деревьев) and the lighter expanse of the moor (и более светлую ширь болот), for the moon was behind the clouds (так как луна спряталась за тучи: «была позади туч»). And then I gave a cry of exultation (и тут я издал торжествующий крик), for a tiny pin-point of yellow light (потому что крошечная точечка желтого света; pin-point — острие булавки; что-либо очень маленькое) had suddenly transfixed the dark veil (внезапно пронизала темную пелену), and glowed steadily in the centre of the black square framed by the window (и ровно засияла в центре черного квадрата, обрамленного оконной рамой).
agitation [,&dZI'teIS(@)n], truth [tru:T], discern [dI' [email protected]:n]
"What are you doing here, Barrymore?"
"Nothing, sir." His agitation was so great that he could hardly speak, and the shadows sprang up and down from the shaking of his candle. "It was the window, sir. I go round at night to see that they are fastened."
"On the second floor?"
"Yes, sir, all the windows."
"Look here, Barrymore," said Sir Henry, sternly; "we have made up our minds to have the truth out of you, so it will save you trouble to tell it sooner rather than later. Come, now! No lies! What were you doing at that window?"
The fellow looked at us in a helpless way, and he wrung his hands together like one who is in the last extremity of doubt and misery.
"I was doing no harm, sir. I was holding a candle to the window."
"And why were you holding a candle to the window?"
"Don't ask me, Sir Henry — don't ask me! I give you my word, sir, that it is not my secret, and that I cannot tell it. If it concerned no one but myself I would not try to keep it from you."
A sudden idea occurred to me, and I took the candle from the window-sill, where the butler had placed it.
"He must have been holding it as a signal," said I. "Let us see if there is any answer." I held it as he had done, and stared out into the darkness of the night. Vaguely I could discern the black bank of the trees and the lighter expanse of the moor, for the moon was behind the clouds. And then I gave a cry of exultation, for a tiny pin-point of yellow light had suddenly transfixed the dark veil, and glowed steadily in the centre of the black square framed by the window.
