quote [ [email protected]], narrative ['n& [email protected]], abortive [@'bO:tIv]
SO far I have been able to quote from the reports which I have forwarded during these early days to Sherlock Holmes. Now, however, I have arrived at a point in my narrative where I am compelled to abandon this method and to trust once more to my recollections, aided by the diary which I kept at the time. A few extracts from the latter will carry me on to those scenes which are indelibly fixed in every detail upon my memory. I proceed, then, from the morning which followed our abortive chase of the convict and our other strange experiences upon the moor.
October 16th. — A dull and foggy day, with a drizzle of rain. The house is banked in with rolling clouds, which rise now and then to show the dreary curves of the moor, with thin, silver veins upon the sides of the hills, and the distant boulders gleaming where the light strikes upon their wet faces. It is melancholy outside and in. The baronet is in a black reaction after the excitements of the night.
I am conscious myself of a weight at my heart (я сам чувствую тяжесть на сердце) and a feeling of impending danger (и ощущение нависшей опасности) — ever-present danger, which is the more terrible (постоянно присутствующей опасности, которая тем более страшит) because I am unable to define it (что я не в состоянии распознать: «определить» ее; to define — определять, давать определение).
And have I not cause for such a feeling (и разве нет у меня повода для таких чувств)? Consider the long sequence of incidents (обратите внимание на длинную последовательность событий; incident — случай; происшествие, событие; to consider — рассматривать; принимать во внимание) which have all pointed to some sinister influence (которые все указывают на какую-то зловещую силу; influence — влияние; лицо или фактор, оказывающие влияние) which is at work around us (действующую вокруг нас). There is the death of the last occupant of the Hall (это — смерть последнего обитателя Баскервиль-холла), fulfilling so exactly the conditions of the family legend (столь точно соответствующая условиям семейного предания; to fulfil — выполнять; удовлетворять /требованиям/), and there is the repeated reports from peasants (и непрекращающиеся слухи среди местных жителей) of the appearance of a strange creature upon the moor (о появлении странного существа на болотах). Twice I have with my own ears heard the sound (дважды я своими собственными ушами слышал звук) which resembled the distant baying of a hound (который напоминал отдаленный лай собаки). It is incredible, impossible (невероятно, невозможно), that it should really be outside the ordinary laws of Nature (чтобы это и впрямь было вне обычных законов природы).
weight [weIt], death [deT], resemble [rI'zembl]
I am conscious myself of a weight at my heart and a feeling of impending danger — ever-present danger, which is the more terrible because I am unable to define it.
And have I not cause for such a feeling? Consider the long sequence of incidents which have all pointed to some sinister influence which is at work around us. There is the death of the last occupant of the Hall, fulfilling so exactly the conditions of the family legend, and there is the repeated reports from peasants of the appearance of a strange creature upon the moor. Twice I have with my own ears heard the sound which resembled the distant baying of a hound. It is incredible, impossible, that it should really be outside the ordinary laws of Nature.
A spectral hound which leaves material footmarks (призрачная собака, оставляющая материальные = реальные следы) and fills the air with its howling (и наполняющая воздух своим воем) is surely not to be thought of (несомненно, в счет не идет; to think of — думать о /ком-либо, чем-либо/). Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition, and Mortimer also (Стэплтон может разделять такое суеверие, да и Мортимер тоже; to fall in — соглашаться, поддерживать); but if I have one quality upon earth it is common sense (но если у меня и есть какая-то характерная черта, так это здравый смысл; quality — качество; свойство, особенность; on earth — употребляется в качестве усиления сказанного), and nothing will persuade me to believe in such a thing (и ничто не заставит меня поверить в это: «в такую вещь»; to persuade — убеждать). To do so would be to descend to the level of these poor peasants (сделать так = поверить в это означало бы опуститься до уровня этих бедняг — местных жителей) who are not content with a mere fiend dog (которые не довольствуются лишь /слухами/ о дьявольской собаке), but must needs describe him with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes (а должны непременно описывать ее с извергающими адский огонь пастью и глазами). Holmes would not listen to such fancies (Холмс не /стал/ бы прислушиваться к таким выдумкам: «фантазиям»), and I am his agent (а я — его представитель). But facts are facts (но факты остаются фактами), and I have twice heard this crying upon the moor (и я дважды слышал этот вой на болотах). Suppose that there were really some huge hound loose upon it (/если/ предположить, что действительно какая-то огромная собака разгуливает по болотам); that would go far to explain everything (этого было бы достаточно, /чтобы/ объяснить все; to go far — далеко пойти /разг./; хватать, быть достаточным).
material [ [email protected]' [email protected]@l], quality ['kwOlItI], agent ['eIdZ(@)nt]
A spectral hound which leaves material footmarks and fills the air with its howling is surely not to be thought of. Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition, and Mortimer also; but if I have one quality upon earth it is common sense, and nothing will persuade me to believe in such a thing. To do so would be to descend to the level of these poor peasants who are not content with a mere fiend dog, but must needs describe him with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes. Holmes would not listen to such fancies, and I am his agent. But facts are facts, and I have twice heard this crying upon the moor. Suppose that there were really some huge hound loose upon it; that would go far to explain everything.
But where could such a hound lie concealed (но где могла прятаться: «находиться, прячась» такая собака), where did it get its food (где она добывала пищу), where did it come from (откуда она взялась; to come from — происходить /из какой-либо местности/), how was it that no one saw it by day (как так /могло/ быть, что никто ее не видел днем = при свете дня)? It must be confessed that the natural explanation (нужно признать, что объяснение /всего этого/ естественными /причинами/) offers almost as many difficulties as the other (влечет за собой: «предлагает» не меньшие затруднения: «почти столько же затруднений, как и другое»). And always, apart from the hound, there was the fact of the human agency in London (и неизменно присутствовал, помимо собаки, фактор человеческой деятельности в Лондоне), the man in the cab (человек в кебе), and the letter which warned Sir Henry against the moor (и письмо, предупреждавшее сэра Генри /об опасности, грозящей ему/ на болотах). This at least was real (это, по крайней мере, было реальным), but it might have been the work of a protecting friend (но это могло бы быть делом рук друга; to protect — защищать) as easily as an enemy (столь же легко, как и врага). Where was that friend or enemy now (где находился этот друг или враг сейчас)? Had he remained in London (остался ли он в Лондоне), or had he followed us down here (или последовал за нами сюда)? Could he — could he be the stranger (неужели это тот незнакомец) whom I had seen upon the tor (которого я видел на скале)?
offer [' [email protected]], almost ['O: [email protected]], enemy ['enImI]
But where could such a hound lie concealed, where did it get its food, where did it come from, how was it that no one saw it by day? It must be confessed that the natural explanation offers almost as many difficulties as the other. And always, apart from the hound, there was the fact of the human agency in London, the man in the cab, and the letter which warned Sir Henry against the moor. This at least was real, but it might have been the work of a protecting friend as easily as an enemy. Where was that friend or enemy now? Had he remained in London, or had he followed us down here? Could he — could he be the stranger whom I had seen upon the tor?
It is true that I have had only the one glance at him (правда, и видел-то я его только мельком), and yet there are some things (но, однако, есть кое-что) to which I am ready to swear (в чем я готов поклясться). He is no one whom I have seen down here (он не из тех, кого я видел здесь), and I have now met all the neighbours (а сейчас я уже знаком со всеми соседями). The figure was far taller than that of Stapleton (/его/ фигура была намного выше, чем Стэплтона), far thinner than that of Frankland (намного худее, чем Фрэнклэнда). Barrymore it might possibly have been (это мог бы быть Бэрримор), but we had left him behind us (но мы оставили его в доме: «позади нас»), and I am certain that he could not have followed us (и я уверен, что он не мог последовать за нами). A stranger then is still dogging us (значит, кто-то: «незнакомец» по-прежнему выслеживает нас), just as a stranger had dogged us in London (как какой-то незнакомец выслеживал нас в Лондоне). We have never shaken him off (нам /не удалось/ от него избавиться; to shake off — стряхнуть; избавиться). If I could lay my hands upon that man (если б я смог схватить его; to lay hands on — схватывать), then at last we might find ourselves at the end of all our difficulties (тогда наконец мы могли бы положить конец всем нашим затруднениям; to find ourselves — оказаться). To this one purpose I must now devote all my energies (этой единственной цели я должен теперь посвятить все свои силы; energy — энергия, сила).
swear [ [email protected]], certain [ [email protected]:tn], devote [dI' [email protected]]
It is true that I have had only the one glance at him, and yet there are some things to which I am ready to swear. He is no one whom I have seen down here, and I have now met all the neighbours. The figure was far taller than that of Stapleton, far thinner than that of Frankland. Barrymore it might possibly have been, but we had left him behind us, and I am certain that he could not have followed us. A stranger then is still dogging us, just as a stranger had dogged us in London. We have never shaken him off. If I could lay my hands upon that man, then at last we might find ourselves at the end of all our difficulties. To this one purpose I must now devote all my energies.
My first impulse was to tell Sir Henry all my plans (моим первым побуждением было рассказать сэру Генри обо всех моих планах; impulse — толчок; порыв, побуждение). My second and wisest one (вторым и самым мудрым) is to play my own game (стало /решение/ сыграть свою собственную игру) and speak as little as possible to anyone (и говорить /об этом/ с кем бы то ни было как можно меньше). He is silent and distrait (он = сэр Генри молчалив и рассеян). His nerves have been strangely shaken (его нервы совершенно: «удивительно» расшатаны; to shake — трясти; ослабить) by that sound upon the moor (тем звуком на болотах). I will say nothing to add to his anxieties (я ничего не скажу, /чтобы не/ усиливать его беспокойства; to add —прибавлять; увеличивать, усиливать), but I will take my own steps (но я предприму свои собственные шаги) to attain my own end (чтобы достичь своего собственного результата/цели).
