He certainly seemed to be getting uncomfortably near the truth (он, конечно, оказался в опасной близости к истине; uncomfortably — неудобно; тревожно). "No doubt," said I; "but how do you know (несомненно, но откуда вам известно) that he is anywhere upon the moor (что он где-то на болотах)?"
"I know it because I have seen with my own eyes (я знаю это, потому что видел своими собственными глазами) the messenger who takes him his food (посыльного, который носит ему пищу)."
excuse [ɪksˈkju:s], important [ɪmˈpɔ:t(ǝ)nt], messenger [ˈmesɪndʒǝ]
I had been casting round for some excuse by which I could get away from his gossip, but now I began to wish to hear more of it. I had seen enough of the contrary nature of the old sinner to understand that any strong sign of interest would be the surest way to stop his confidences.
"Some poaching case, no doubt?" said I, with an indifferent manner.
"Ha, ha, my boy, a very much more important matter than that! What about the convict on the moor?"
I started. "You don't mean that you know where he is?" said I.
"I may not know exactly where he is, but I am quite sure that I could help the police to lay their hands on him. Has it never struck you that the way to catch that man was to find out where he got his food, and so trace it to him?"
He certainly seemed to be getting uncomfortably near the truth. "No doubt," said I; "but how do you know that he is anywhere upon the moor?"
"I know it because I have seen with my own eyes the messenger who takes him his food."
My heart sank for Barrymore (мое сердце упало /от боязни/ за Бэрримора; to sink — тонуть; опускать/ся/). It was a serious thing (это было /очень/ серьезно) to be in the power of this spiteful old busybody (оказаться во власти этого злобного старого болтуна; busybody — человек, сующий нос не в свои дела). But his next remark (но его следующее замечание) took a weight from my mind (полностью меня успокоило; take a weight from smb.'s mind — снять тяжесть с души).
"You'll be surprised to hear (вы удивитесь, услышав) that his food is taken to him by a child (что еду ему носит ребенок). I see him every day (я каждый день вижу его) through my telescope upon the roof (через мой телескоп на крыше). He passes along the same path at the same hour (он проходит по одной и той же тропе в одно и то же время), and to whom should he be going except to the convict (а к кому он стал бы ходить, если не к каторжнику)?"
Here was luck indeed (вот это действительно была удача)! And yet I suppressed all appearance of interest (однако я подавил все проявления/признаки интереса). A child (ребенок)! Barrymore had said that our unknown was supplied by a boy (Бэрримор говорил, что нашего неизвестного снабжает мальчишка). It was on his track, and not upon the convict's (это был его след, а не каторжника), that Frankland had stumbled (на который наткнулся = который обнаружил Фрэнклэнд; to stumble — спотыкаться; случайно найти, натолкнуться на). If I could get his knowledge (если б я смог вытащить из него все, что он знает: «получить все его знания») it might save me a long and weary hunt (это могло бы избавить меня от долгой и утомительной охоты; to save — спасать; избавлять). But incredulity and indifference were evidently my strongest cards (но скептицизм и безразличие, несомненно, были моими самыми сильными картами).
spiteful [ˈspaɪtf(ǝ)l], busybody [ˈbɪzɪˌbɔdɪ], incredulity [ˌɪnkrɪˈdju:lɪtɪ]
My heart sank for Barrymore. It was a serious thing to be in the power of this spiteful old busybody. But his next remark took a weight from my mind.
"You'll be surprised to hear that his food is taken to him by a child. I see him every day through my telescope upon the roof. He passes along the same path at the same hour, and to whom should he be going except to the convict?"
Here was luck indeed! And yet I suppressed all appearance of interest. A child! Barrymore had said that our unknown was supplied by a boy. It was on his track, and not upon the convict's, that Frankland had stumbled. If I could get his knowledge it might save me a long and weary hunt. But incredulity and indifference were evidently my strongest cards.
"I should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of one of the moorland shepherds (я бы сказал, что, скорее всего, это был сын одного из местных пастухов) taking out his father's dinner (приносящий своему отцу обед)."
The least appearance of opposition (малейшие признаки противодействия) struck fire out of the old autocrat (высекали огонь из старого деспота). His eyes looked malignantly at me (его глаза злобно на меня взглянули), and his grey whiskers bristled (а в седых бакенбардах щетина встала дыбом) like those of an angry cat (как у разъяренной кошки).
"Indeed, sir!" said he (несомненно, сэр, — сказал он), pointing out over the wide-stretching moor (указывая на растянувшиеся вширь болота). "Do you see that Black Tor over yonder (видите ту Черную Скалу вон там)? Well, do you see the low hill beyond (хорошо, видите низкий холм позади /нее/) with the thorn-bush upon it (с кустами боярышника на нем)? It is the stoniest part of the whole moor (это самый каменистый участок на всех болотах). Is that a place where a shepherd would be likely to take his station (похоже оно на такое место, где пастух пас бы своих овец; likely — вероятный; похожий; station — место, местоположение)? Your suggestion, sir, is a most absurd one (ваше предположение, сэр, самое абсурдное)."
I meekly answered (я смиренно отвечал) that I had spoken without knowing all the facts (что я говорил, не зная всех фактов). My submission pleased him (моя покорность понравилась ему) and led him to further confidences (и склонила его к дальнейшим откровенностям; to lead — вести; побуждать, склонять).
"You may be sure, sir (можете быть уверены, сэр), that I have very good grounds (что я всегда все тщательно проверяю; to have good grounds — иметь достаточно оснований; убедиться) before I come to an opinion (прежде чем прихожу к /какому-то/ убеждению). I have seen the boy again and again with his bundle (я не раз: «снова и снова» видел мальчишку с его узелком). Every day, and sometimes twice a day, I have been able (каждый день, иногда дважды, я мог) — but wait a moment, Dr. Watson (но, подождите-ка, доктор Ватсон). Do my eyes deceive me (/либо/ мои глаза обманывают меня), or is there at the present moment something moving upon that hillside (либо в данный момент что-то движется по склону холма)?"
shepherd [ˈʃepǝd], malignantly [mǝˈlɪɡnǝntlɪ], absurd [ǝbˈsǝ:d]
"I should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of one of the moorland shepherds taking out his father's dinner."
The least appearance of opposition struck fire out of the old autocrat. His eyes looked malignantly at me, and his grey whiskers bristled like those of an angry cat.
"Indeed, sir!" said he, pointing out over the wide-stretching moor. "Do you see that Black Tor over yonder? Well, do you see the low hill beyond with the thorn-bush upon it? It is the stoniest part of the whole moor. Is that a place where a shepherd would be likely to take his station? Your suggestion, sir, is a most absurd one."
I meekly answered that I had spoken without knowing all the facts. My submission pleased him and led him to further confidences.
"You may be sure, sir, that I have very good grounds before I come to an opinion. I have seen the boy again and again with his bundle. Every day, and sometimes twice a day, I have been able — but wait a moment, Dr. Watson. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there at the present moment something moving upon that hillside?"
It was several miles off (я был в нескольких милях /оттуда/), but I could distinctly see (но я мог отчетливо видеть) a small dark dot against the dull green and grey (маленькую черную точку на тусклом зелено-сером фоне; dull — глупый; неяркий, тусклый).
"Come, sir, come (пойдемте, сэр)!" cried Frankland, rushing upstairs (закричал Фрэнклэнд, бросаясь вверх по лестнице). "You will see with your own eyes (вы увидите собственными глазами) and judge for yourself (и /будете/ судить сами)."
The telescope, a formidable instrument mounted upon a tripod (телескоп, огромное приспособление на треноге; mounted — приподнятый; установленный), stood upon the flat leads of the house (стоял на плоской крыше дома; leads — покрытая свинцом крыша). Frankland clapped his eye to it (Фрэнклэнд припал к нему глазом; to clap — хлопать; сделать быстрое, энергичное движение) and gave a cry of satisfaction (и издал удовлетворенное восклицание).
"Quick, Dr. Watson, quick (быстрее, доктор Ватсон), before he passes over the hill (пока он не зашел за холм)!"
There he was, sure enough (действительно, вот он), a small urchin with a little bundle upon his shoulder (маленький парнишка с небольшим узелком на плече; urchin — мальчишка, пострел), toiling slowly up the hill (медленно взбирающийся на холм; to toil — усиленно трудиться; идти с трудом). When he reached the crest (когда он достиг гребня /холма/) I saw the ragged, uncouth figure (я увидел одетую в лохмотья, неуклюжую фигуру; ragged — зазубренный; рваный, изорванный /в клочья/) outlined for an instant against the cold blue sky (очерченную на мгновенье на фоне холодной синевы неба). He looked round him (он взглянул вокруг), with a furtive and stealthy air (с вороватым и таинственным видом), as one who dreads pursuit (как человек, который опасается преследования). Then he vanished over the hill (потом он исчез за холмом).
dull [dʌl], formidable [ˈfɔ:mɪdǝbl], urchin [ˈǝ:tʃɪn]
It was several miles off, but I could distinctly see a small dark dot against the dull green and grey.
"Come, sir, come!" cried Frankland, rushing upstairs. "You will see with your own eyes and judge for yourself."
The telescope, a formidable instrument mounted upon a tripod, stood upon the flat leads of the house. Frankland clapped his eye to it and gave a cry of satisfaction.
"Quick, Dr. Watson, quick, before he passes over the hill!"
There he was, sure enough, a small urchin with a little bundle upon his shoulder, toiling slowly up the hill. When he reached the crest I saw the ragged, uncouth figure outlined for an instant against the cold blue sky. He looked round him, with a furtive and stealthy air, as one who dreads pursuit. Then he vanished over the hill.
"Well! Am I right (ну, я прав)?"
"Certainly, there is a boy who seems to have some secret errand (несомненно, это мальчик, у которого, похоже, какое-то тайное поручение)."
"And what the errand is even a county constable could guess (а что за поручение даже окружной констебль мог бы догадаться). But not one word shall they have from me (но ни слова они не услышат от меня), and I bind you to secrecy also, Dr. Watson (и я призываю вас также хранить /тайну/; to bind — связывать; обязывать; secrecy — секретность; тайна). Not a word! You understand (ни слова, вы поняли)?"
