Venerable [`ven(q)rqbl], feudal [fjHdl], suave [swRv]

“Something of his birth place seemed to cling to the man, and I never looked at his pale, keen face or the poise of his head without associating him with gray archways and mullioned windows and all the venerable wreckage of a feudal keep. Once or twice we drifted into talk, and I can remember that more than once he expressed a keen interest in my methods of observation and inference.

“For four years I had seen nothing of him until one morning he walked into my room in Montague Street. He had changed little, was dressed like a young man of fashion — he was always a bit of a dandy — and preserved the same quiet, suave manner which had formerly distinguished him.

“‘How has all gone with you Musgrave?” I asked, after we had cordially shaken hands.

“‘You probably heard of my poor father’s death (вероятно, вы слышали о смерти моего бедного отца),’ said he; ‘he was carried off about two years ago (это случилось около двух лет назад; to carry off — унести чью-либо жизнь, свести в могилу). Since then I have of course had the Hurlstone estates to manage (с тех пор мне, разумеется, пришлось взять на себя управление Херлстонским поместьем; estate — поместье; земельное владение; имущество; to manage — управлять; заведовать, стоять во главе), and as I am member for my district as well (а поскольку я также являюсь депутатом от своего округа; member —член; депутат), my life has been a busy one (моя жизнь была очень занятой). But I understand, Holmes, that you are turning to practical ends those powers (но /насколько/ я понимаю, Холмс, вы применяете на практике: «обращаете на практические цели» те способности) with which you used to amaze us (которыми так удивляли нас)?”

“‘Yes,’ said I, ‘I have taken to living by my wits (да, я решил зарабатывать на жизнь собственным умом; to take to — обращаться, прибегать к /чему-либо/; начинать заниматься /чем-либо/: to take to literature — заняться литературой, стать писателем; to live by one's wits — кое-как выкручиваться, изворачиваться /чтобы раздобыть средства к существованию/).’

“‘I am delighted to hear it (рад это слышать), for your advice at present would be exceedingly valuable to me (поскольку ваш совет в настоящее время был бы чрезвычайно ценным для меня). We have had some very strange doings at Hurlstone (у нас в Херлстоне произошли очень странные вещи), and the police have been able to throw no light upon the matter (и полиция не сумела пролить хоть какой-то свет на это дело). It is really the most extraordinary and inexplicable business (это действительно крайне необычная, необъяснимая история; to explicate — объяснять, развивать /идею/).’

“You can imagine with what eagerness I listened to him, Watson (можете себе представить, с каким интересом я слушал его, Ватсон; eagerness — пыл, рвение, старание; eager — страстно желающий, жаждущий), for the very chance (ведь тот самый шанс) for which I had been panting during all those months of inaction (которого я так нетерпеливо ждал в течение всех этих месяцев бездеятельности; to pant — пыхтеть, тяжело дышать; to pant for smth. — страстно желать чего-либо) seemed to have come within my reach (казалось, был передо мной: «в пределах моей досягаемости»). In my inmost heart I believed (в глубине души я полагал; inmost — находящийся в самой глубине; глубочайший, сокровенный) that I could succeed where others failed (что могу добиться успеха /там/, где другие потерпели неудачу), and now I had the opportunity to test myself (и теперь у меня была возможность испытать себя).

estate [I`steIt], inexplicable ["InIk`splIkqbl], opportunity ["Opq`tjHnItI]

“‘You probably heard of my poor father’s death,’ said he; ‘he was carried off about two years ago. Since then I have of course had the Hurlstone estates to manage, and as I am member for my district as well, my life has been a busy one. But I understand, Holmes, that you are turning to practical ends those powers with which you used to amaze us?”

“‘Yes,’ said I, ‘I have taken to living by my wits.’

“‘I am delighted to hear it, for your advice at present would be exceedingly valuable to me. We have had some very strange doings at Hurlstone, and the police have been able to throw no light upon the matter. It is really the most extraordinary and inexplicable business.’

“You can imagine with what eagerness I listened to him, Watson, for the very chance for which I had been panting during all those months of inaction seemed to have come within my reach. In my inmost heart I believed that I could succeed where others failed, and now I had the opportunity to test myself.

“‘Pray, let me have the details (прошу вас, расскажите мне все подробности),’ I cried (вскричал я).

“Reginald Musgrave sat down opposite to me (Реджинальд Месгрейв сел напротив меня), and lit the cigarette which I had pushed towards him (и закурил сигарету, которую я пододвинул к нему; to light — зажигать; закуривать).

“‘You must know (вы должны знать),’ said he, ‘that though I am a bachelor (что хотя я и холостяк), I have to keep up a considerable staff of servants at Hurlstone (мне приходится держать значительный штат прислуги в Херлстоне), for it is a rambling old place (поскольку это старая, беспорядочно построенная усадьба; rambling — бродячий; разбросанный /о строениях/; беспорядочный; to ramble — бродить без цели; говорить бессвязно; place — место; имение, загородный дом), and takes a good deal of looking after (и требует постоянного присмотра; to look after — заботиться, присматривать; a good deal = a great deal много, множество; сильно). I preserve, too, and in the pheasant months I usually have a house-party (я слежу за ней, а в сезон охоты на фазанов: «в фазаньи месяцы» обычно принимаю гостей; to preserve — сохранять, оберегать; поддерживать; house party — гости, приглашенные на несколько дней /особенно в загородный дом/), so that it would not do to be short-handed (так что нельзя быть без прислуги; short-handed — испытывающий недостаток в рабочей силе; short — короткий, неполный; испытывающий нехватку; hand — рука; рабочий, работник: hands wanted! — требуется рабочая сила!). Altogether there are eight maids (всего там восемь горничных), the cook (повар; to cook — готовить), the butler (дворецкий), two footmen (два лакея), and a boy (рассыльный). The garden and the stables of course have a separate staff (в саду и конюшнях имеется, конечно, отдельный штат /прислуги/).

cigarette ["sIgq`ret], bachelor [`bxC(q)lq], pheasant [`fez(q)nt], garden [`gRd(q)n]

“‘Pray, let me have the details,’ I cried.

“Reginald Musgrave sat down opposite to me, and lit the cigarette which I had pushed towards him.

“‘You must know,’ said he, ‘that though I am a bachelor, I have to keep up a considerable staff of servants at Hurlstone, for it is a rambling old place, and takes a good deal of looking after. I preserve, too, and in the pheasant months I usually have a house-party, so that it would not do to be short-handed. Altogether there are eight maids, the cook, the butler, two footmen, and a boy. The garden and the stables of course have a separate staff.

“‘Of these servants the one (из этих слуг один) who had been longest in our service was Brunton the butler (прослужил у нас дольше всех — Брантон, дворецкий; service — служба, работа). He was a young school-master out of place (он был молодым школьным учителем без места; out of place — неподходящий, не к месту; безработный) when he was first taken up by my father (когда отец только взял его на службу; to take up — поднимать; принимать, занимать), but he was a man of great energy and character (но это был человек очень энергичный и с сильным характером), and he soon became quite invaluable in the household (и скоро он стал просто незаменим в нашем доме; invaluable — неоценимый, бесценный; value — ценность, важность; household — семейство; дом, /домашнее/ хозяйство). He was a well-grown (это был рослый), handsome man (красивый мужчина), with a splendid forehead (с великолепным лбом), and though he has been with us for twenty years (и хотя он /прожил/ с нами двадцать лет) he cannot be more than forty now (ему и сейчас не /может быть/ больше сорока).

“‘With his personal advantages and his extraordinary gifts (при своих личных преимуществах = качествах и необычайных способностях; gift — дар, дарование; талант; способность) — for he can speak several languages (ибо он может говорить на нескольких языках) and play nearly every musical instrument (и играть чуть ли не на всех музыкальных инструментах) — it is wonderful that he should have been satisfied so long in such a position (удивительно, что он так долго был удовлетворен своим положением), but I suppose that he was comfortable (но, полагаю, ему этого было достаточно/жилось хорошо; comfortable — удобный; довольный; достаточный, приличный, хороший /о заработке/), and lacked energy to make any change (и не доставало энергии, чтобы сделать какую-либо перемену = он не стремился ничего менять). The butler of Hurlstone is always a thing (дворецкий Херлстона всегда был тем) that is remembered by all who visit us (что запоминается всем, кто посещает нас = все наши гости обращали внимание на него).

school-master [`skHl"mRstq], forehead [`fLhed; `fOrId], musical [`mjHzIk(q)l]

“‘Of these servants the one who had been longest in our service was Brunton the butler. He was a young school-master out of place when he was first taken up by my father, but he was a man of great energy and character, and he soon became quite invaluable in the household. He was a well-grown, handsome man, with a splendid forehead, and though he has been with us for twenty years he cannot be more than forty now.

“‘With his personal advantages and his extraordinary gifts — for he can speak several languages and play nearly every musical instrument — it is wonderful that he should have been satisfied so long in such a position, but I suppose that he was comfortable, and lacked energy to make any change. The butler of Hurlstone is always a thing that is remembered by all who visit us.

“‘But this paragon has one fault (но у этого совершенства есть один недостаток; paragon — образец, модель совершенства). He is a bit of a Don Juan (он немного донжуан), and you can imagine that for a man like him (и вы можете себе представить, что для такого человека, как он) it is not a very difficult part to play in a quiet country district (не очень трудно играть эту роль в тихой сельской местности; country — страна; сельская местность; district — округ, район; местность). When he was married it was all right (пока он был женат, все шло хорошо), but since he has been a widower (но с тех пор, как он стал вдовцом) we have had no end of trouble with him (у нас с ним масса хлопот/неприятностей; no end of — бесконечно много; масса, множество). A few months ago we were in hopes (несколько месяцев назад мы стали надеяться) that he was about to settle down again (что он снова остепенится; to be about to do something — намереваться сделать что-либо; to settle down — осесть, поселиться; остепениться) for he became engaged to Rachel Howells (так как он обручился с Рейчел Хауэллс), our second house-maid (нашей младшей горничной; second — второй; второстепенный, подчиненный); but he has thrown her over since then (однако затем он бросил ее; to throw over) and taken up with Janet Tregellis (и увлекся Дженет Треджелис; to take up with — встречаться, увлечься), the daughter of the head game-keeper (дочерью главного егеря: «хранителя дичи»). Rachel — who is a very good girl (Рейчел — прекрасная девушка), but of an excitable Welsh temperament (но легковозбудимого/горячего уэльского нрава) — had a sharp touch of brain-fever (перенесла острый приступ воспаления мозга), and goes about the house now (и она теперь ходит по дому) — or did until yesterday (вернее, ходила до вчерашнего дня) — like a black-eyed shadow of her former self (как тень; от ее прежнего облика остались одни черные глаза; shadow — тень, призрак, привидение; self — свое «я»; сущность, облик: one's former self — то, чем человек был раньше).

paragon [`pxrqgqn], country [`kAntrI], daughter [`dLtq], fever [`fJvq]

“‘But this paragon has one fault. He is a bit of a Don Juan, and you can imagine that for a man like him it is not a very difficult part to play in a quiet country district. When he was married it was all right, but since he has been a widower we have had no end of trouble with him. A few months ago we were in hopes that he was about to settle down again for he became engaged to Rachel Howells, our second house-maid; but he has thrown her over since then and taken up with Janet Tregellis, the daughter of the head game-keeper. Rachel — who is a very good girl, but of an excitable Welsh temperament — had a sharp touch of brain-fever, and goes about the house now — or did until yesterday — like a black-eyed shadow of her former self.

“‘That was our first drama at Hurlstone (такова была наша первая драма в Херлстоне); but a second one came to drive it from our minds (но вторая стерла ее из нашей памяти; to drive — гнать, прогонять), and it was prefaced by the disgrace and dismissal of butler Brunton (и ей предшествовали позор и увольнение дворецкого Брантона; preface — предисловие; вступление; пролог).

“‘This was how it came about (вот как это произошло). I have said that the man was intelligent (я уже говорил, что этот человек очень умен), and this very intelligence has caused his ruin (и именно его ум стал причиной его гибели), for it seems to have led to an insatiable curiosity about things (так как, видимо, вызвал жадное любопытство к вещам; insatiable — ненасытный, жадный; неутолимый) which did not in the least concern him (которые не имели к нему ни малейшего отношения). I had no idea of the lengths to which this would carry him (я и понятия не имел о том, как далеко это могло завести его; length — длина, расстояние), until the merest accident opened my eyes to it (пока чистый случай не открыл мне глаза /на это/).

“‘I have said that the house is a rambling one (я говорил, что дом построен бестолково). One day last week (в один день на прошлой неделе) — on Thursday night, to be more exact (точнее, в четверг ночью) — I found that I could not sleep (я понял, что не могу уснуть), having foolishly taken a cup of strong café noir after my dinner (потому что по глупости выпил чашку крепкого черного кофе /франц./ после ужина). After struggling against it until two in the morning (промучившись: «проборовшись против него» до двух часов ночи: «утра»; to struggle — бороться), I felt that it was quite hopeless (я почувствовал, что это безнадежно), so I rose and lit the candle (и потому поднялся и зажег свечу) with the intention of continuing a novel which I was reading (с намерением продолжить роман, который я читал = намереваясь продолжить чтение романа). The book, however, had been left in the billiard-room (однако я забыл книгу в бильярдной), so I pulled on my dressing-gown and started off to get it (поэтому я надел халат и отправился за ней; to pull on — натягивать).

prefaced [`prefIst], insatiable [In`seISqblI], gown [gaun]

“‘That was our first drama at Hurlstone; but a second one came to drive it from our minds, and it was prefaced by the disgrace and dismissal of butler Brunton.

“‘This was how it came about. I have said that the man was intelligent, and this very intelligence has caused his ruin, for it seems to have led to an insatiable curiosity about things which did not in the least concern him. I had no idea of the lengths to which this would carry him, until the merest accident opened my eyes to it.

“‘I have said that the house is a rambling one. One day last week — on Thursday night, to be more exact — I found that I could not sleep, having foolishly taken a cup of strong café noir after my dinner. After struggling against it until two in the morning, I felt that it was quite hopeless, so I rose and lit the candle with the intention of continuing a novel which I was reading. The book, however, had been left in the billiard-room, so I pulled on my dressing-gown and started off to get it.

“‘In order to reach the billiard-room (чтобы добраться до бильярдной) I had to descend a flight of stairs (мне нужно было спуститься на один лестничный пролет) and then to cross the head of a passage (и затем пересечь переднюю часть коридора; passage — коридор; проход; переход) which led to the library and the gun-room (ведущего в библиотеку и в комнату для ружей; gun-room — комната для хранения охотничьих ружей). You can imagine my surprise (можете представить мое изумление) when, as I looked down this corridor (когда, заглянув в коридор), I saw a glimmer of light coming from the open door of the library (я увидел тусклый свет, исходивший из открытой двери библиотеки). I had myself extinguished the lamp (я сам погасил лампу) and closed the door before coming to bed (и закрыл дверь, прежде чем отправиться спать). Naturally my first thought was of burglars (разумеется, первой моей мыслью была /мысль/ о грабителях; burglar — ночной грабитель, взломщик). The corridors at Hurlstone have their walls largely decorated with trophies of old weapons (стены коридоров в Херлстоне щедро украшены трофейным старинным оружием; largely — в значительной степени, щедро, обильно). From one of these I picked a battle-axe (с одной из них я схватил боевой топор), and then, leaving my candle behind me (и, оставив свечу), I crept on tiptoe down the passage (я прокрался на цыпочках по коридору; to creep — ползать; красться) and peeped in at the open door (и заглянул в открытую дверь).

“‘Brunton, the butler, was in the library (Брантон, дворецкий, был в библиотеке). He was sitting, fully dressed, in an easy-chair (он сидел, совершенно одетый, в мягком кресле), with a slip of paper which looked like a map upon his knee (с листом бумаги на колене, похожим на какую-то карту), and his forehead sunk forward upon his hand in deep thought (лоб он опер: «опустил» на руку в глубокой задумчивости). I stood dumb with astonishment (я стоял, онемев от изумления; dumb — немой; онемевший /от внезапных чувств/), watching him from the darkness (и наблюдал за ним из темноты).

library [`laIbr(q)rI], extinguished [Ik`stINgwISt], burglar [`bq:glq], weapon [`wepqn]

“‘In order to reach the billiard-room I had to descend a flight of stairs and then to cross the head of a passage which led to the library and the gun‑room. You can imagine my surprise when, as I looked down this corridor, I saw a glimmer of light coming from the open door of the library. I had myself extinguished the lamp and closed the door before coming to bed. Naturally my first thought was of burglars. The corridors at Hurlstone have their walls largely decorated with trophies of old weapons. From one of these I picked a battle-axe, and then, leaving my candle behind me, I crept on tiptoe down the passage and peeped in at the open door.

“‘Brunton, the butler, was in the library. He was sitting, fully dressed, in an easy-chair, with a slip of paper which looked like a map upon his knee, and his forehead sunk forward upon his hand in deep thought. I stood dumb with astonishment, watching him from the darkness.

“‘A small taper on the edge of the table shed a feeble light (маленькая свечка на краю стола отбрасывала слабый свет; taper — конус; тонкая свечка) which sufficed to show me that he was fully dressed (которого было достаточно, чтобы показать мне, что дворецкий совершенно одет). Suddenly, as I looked, he rose from his chair (вдруг, в то время как я продолжал смотреть, он встал с кресла), and walking over to a bureau at the side (и, подойдя к бюро в стороне), he unlocked it and drew out one of the drawers (отпер его и выдвинул один из ящиков). From this he took a paper (из него он вытащил какую-то бумагу), and returning to his seat (и, вернувшись на место) he flattened it out beside the taper on the edge of the table (он разгладил ее возле свечи на углу стола), and began to study it with minute attention (и стал рассматривать ее очень внимательно; minute — мелкий; детальный, обстоятельный). My indignation at this calm examination of our family documents overcame me so far (ярость из-за этого спокойного изучения наших фамильных документов настолько: «так далеко» переполнила меня; indignation — негодование, возмущение; to overcome — побороть, преодолеть; охватить, обуять; переполнять /о чувстве, эмоции/) that I took a step forward (что я шагнул вперед), and Brunton, looking up, saw me standing in the doorway (и Брантон, подняв глаза, увидел, что я стою в дверях). He sprang to his feet (он вскочил на ноги), his face turned livid with fear (его лицо побледнело от страха; livid — синевато-багровый; мертвенно-бледный), and he thrust into his breast the chart-like paper (и он сунул в нагрудный /карман/ похожий на карту /лист/ бумаги) which he had been originally studying (который он только что изучал; originally — в начале, первоначально).

“‘So (так)!’ said I. “This is how you repay the trust (вот как вы отплачиваете за доверие) which we have reposed in you (оказанное вам; to repose — наделять /кого-либо чем-либо/, возлагать /что-либо на кого-либо/; вручать полномочия /кому-либо/). You will leave my service to-morrow (завтра же вы уйдете со службы: «оставите мою службу»).”

sufficed [sq`faIst], bureau [`bju(q)rqu], originally [q`rIG(q)n(q)lI]

“‘A small taper on the edge of the table shed a feeble light which sufficed to show me that he was fully dressed. Suddenly, as I looked, he rose from his chair, and walking over to a bureau at the side, he unlocked it and drew out one of the drawers. From this he took a paper, and returning to his seat he flattened it out beside the taper on the edge of the table, and began to study it with minute attention. My indignation at this calm examination of our family documents overcame me so far that I took a step forward, and Brunton, looking up, saw me standing in the doorway. He sprang to his feet, his face turned livid with fear, and he thrust into his breast the chart-like paper which he had been originally studying.

“‘So!’ said I. “This is how you repay the trust which we have reposed in you. You will leave my service to-morrow.”

“‘He bowed with the look of a man who is utterly crushed (он поклонился с видом человека, который совершенно подавлен), and slunk past me without a word (и проскользнул мимо меня без единого слова; to slink — красться). The taper was still on the table (свеча по-прежнему стояла на столе; taper — свечка /тонкая/), and by its light I glanced to see (и при ее свете я посмотрел) what the paper was which Brunton had taken from the bureau (что это за бумага, которую Брантон достал из бюро). To my surprise it was nothing of any importance at all (к моему удивлению, она не представляла никакой ценности), but simply a copy of the questions and answers (а была копией вопросов и ответов) in the singular old observance called the Musgrave Ritual (/произносимых/ при необычном старинном обряде, называемом «Обряд дома Месгрейвов»; observance — соблюдение /закона, обычая, религиозного обряда, праздника/; обряд, ритуал, церемония). It is a sort of ceremony peculiar to our family (это своего рода ритуал, характерный для нашего рода), which each Musgrave for centuries past (который каждый Месгрейв уже несколько веков) has gone through on his coming of age (проходит при достижении совершеннолетия) — a thing of private interest (он представляет частный интерес = интерес для членов нашей семьи), and perhaps of some little importance to the archaeologist (и, возможно, имеет небольшое значение для археолога), like our own blazonings and charges (как /вообще/ наша геральдика; blazon — герб, эмблема; описание герба; charge — девиз, символ, фигура /на щите/), but of no practical use whatever (но никакого практического применения не имеет).’

“‘We had better come back to the paper afterwards (лучше вернуться к этой бумаге позже),’ said I.

observance [qb`zq:v(q)ns], ceremony [`serImqnI], archaeologist ["RkI`qlqGIst]

“‘He bowed with the look of a man who is utterly crushed, and slunk past me without a word. The taper was still on the table, and by its light I glanced to see what the paper was which Brunton had taken from the bureau. To my surprise it was nothing of any importance at all, but simply a copy of the questions and answers in the singular old observance called the Musgrave Ritual. It is a sort of ceremony peculiar to our family, which each Musgrave for centuries past has gone through on his coming of age — a thing of private interest, and perhaps of some little importance to the archaeologist, like our own blazonings and charges, but of no practical use whatever.’

“‘We had better come back to the paper afterwards,’ said I.

“‘If you think it really necessary (если вы считаете, что это действительно необходимо),’ he answered, with some hesitation (ответил он с некоторым колебанием).

“‘To continue my statement, however (однако продолжу изложение /фактов/; statement — заявление, утверждение; изложение, отчет): I relocked the bureau, using the key which Brunton had left (я снова запер бюро, используя ключ, оставленный Брантоном), and I had turned to go when I was surprised to find (и я обернулся, чтобы уйти, как вдруг с удивлением обнаружил) that the butler had returned (что дворецкий вернулся), and was standing before me (и стоит передо мной).

“‘Mr. Musgrave, sir,’ he cried, in a voice which was hoarse with emotion (вскричал он голосом, хриплым от волнения), ‘I can’t bear disgrace, sir (я не вынесу позора, сэр). I’ve always been proud above my station in life (я всегда гордился выше своего положения в жизни = хоть занимал небольшое место, но у меня есть гордость), and disgrace would kill me (и бесчестье убьет меня). My blood will be on your head, sir — it will, indeed (моя кровь будет на вашей совести, сэр, именно так) — if you drive me to despair (если вы доведете меня до отчаяния). If you cannot keep me after what has passed (если вы не можете оставить меня /на службе/ после того, что случилось), then for God’s sake let me give you notice and leave in a month (тогда, ради Бога, позвольте мне уведомить вас об уходе и уйти в течение месяца; to give notice — извещать, уведомлять; предупреждать /об увольнении/), as if of my own free will (будто по собственному желанию; free will — свободная воля, свобода воли: of one's own free will — добровольно, по собственному желанию). I could stand that, Mr. Musgrave (я могу это вынести, мистер Месгрейв), but not to be cast out before all the folk that I know so well (но /только/ не изгнание на глазах всех этих людей, которых я так хорошо знаю; to cast out — выгонять, изгонять).’

hoarse [hLs], blood [blAd], folk [fquk]

“‘If you think it really necessary,’ he answered, with some hesitation.

“‘To continue my statement, however: I relocked the bureau, using the key which Brunton had left, and I had turned to go when I was surprised to find that the butler had returned, and was standing before me.

“‘Mr. Musgrave, sir,’ he cried, in a voice which was hoarse with emotion, ‘I can’t bear disgrace, sir. I’ve always been proud above my station in life, and disgrace would kill me. My blood will be on your head, sir — it will, indeed — if you drive me to despair. If you cannot keep me after what has passed, then for God’s sake let me give you notice and leave in a month, as if of my own free will. I could stand that, Mr. Musgrave, but not to be cast out before all the folk that I know so well.’

“‘You don’t deserve much consideration, Brunton (вы не заслуживаете того, чтобы с вами много церемонились, Брантон; consideration — рассмотрение; внимание, уважение),’ I answered (ответил я). ‘Your conduct has been most infamous (ваше поведение было крайне постыдным; infamous — пользующийся дурной славой; позорный, постыдный, низкий). However, as you have been a long time in the family (тем не менее, поскольку вы так долго прослужили в нашей семье), I have no wish to bring public disgrace upon you (я не хочу подвергать вас общественному позору). A month, however is too long (однако месяц — это слишком долго). Take yourself away in a week (уходите через неделю), and give what reason you like for going (причину назовите какую угодно).’

“‘Only a week, sir (только неделя, сэр)?’ he cried, in a despairing voice (вскричал он с отчаянием: «отчаянным голосом»). ‘A fortnight — say at least a fortnight (две недели — дайте хотя бы две недели)!’

“‘A week,’ I repeated (повторил я), ‘and you may consider yourself to have been very leniently dealt with (и можете считать, что с вами обошлись очень мягко; lenient — мягкий, снисходительный; терпимый; to deal with — иметь дело с; обходиться с).’

“‘He crept away, his face sunk upon his breast (он медленно побрел прочь, опустив голову на грудь), like a broken man (в полном унынии/совершенно уничтоженный; to break-broke-broken; broken — разбитый, сломанный; сломленный, сокрушенный), while I put out the light and returned to my room (а я погасил свет и вернулся к себе в комнату).

conduct [`kOndAkt], infamous [`Infqmqs], leniently [`lJnIqntlI]

“‘You don’t deserve much consideration, Brunton,’ I answered. “Your conduct has been most infamous. However, as you have been a long time in the family, I have no wish to bring public disgrace upon you. A month, however is too long. Take yourself away in a week, and give what reason you like for going.’

“‘Only a week, sir?’ he cried, in a despairing voice. ‘A fortnight — say at least a fortnight!’

“‘A week,” I repeated, “and you may consider yourself to have been very leniently dealt with.’

“‘He crept away, his face sunk upon his breast, like a broken man, while I put out the light and returned to my room.

“‘For two days after this Brunton was most assiduous in his attention to his duties (два дня после этого Брантон очень усердно выполнял свои обязанности; assiduous — усердный, прилежный, старательный). I made no allusion to what had passed (я не напоминал /ему/ о том, что произошло), and waited with some curiosity to see (и ждал с любопытством) how he would cover his disgrace (как он скроет свой позор). On the third morning, however he did not appear (однако на третье утро он не явился), as was his custom (по своему обыкновению), after breakfast to receive my instructions for the day (после завтрака, чтобы получить мои указания на день). As I left the dining-room I happened to meet Rachel Howells, the maid (выходя из столовой, я встретил Рейчел Хауэллс, горничную). I have told you that she had only recently recovered from an illness (/как/ я уже вам говорил, она только недавно оправилась от болезни), and was looking so wretchedly pale and wan (и была так бледна, у нее был такой болезненный/изнуренный вид: «выглядела столь по-жалкому бледной и изнуренной»; wretched — несчастный, жалкий) that I remonstrated with her for being at work (что я сделал ей выговор за то, что она принялась за работу; to remonstrate — протестовать, возражать; уговаривать).

“‘You should be in bed (вам следует оставаться в постели),’ I said. “Come back to your duties when you are stronger (вернитесь к исполнению своих обязанностей, когда будете сильнее = окрепнете).’

“‘She looked at me with so strange an expression (она посмотрела на меня с таким странным выражением) that I began to suspect that her brain was affected (что я начал думать, не подействовала ли /болезнь/ на ее рассудок; to affect — оказывать воздействие, влияние; затрагивать; поражать /о болезни/).

“‘I am strong enough, Mr. Musgrave (я вполне окрепла, мистер Месгрейв),’ said she.

assiduous [q`sIdjuqs], recovered [rI`kAvqd], wretchedly [`reCIdlI]

“‘For two days after this Brunton was most assiduous in his attention to his duties. I made no allusion to what had passed, and waited with some curiosity to see how he would cover his disgrace. On the third morning, however he did not appear, as was his custom, after breakfast to receive my instructions for the day. As I left the dining-room I happened to meet Rachel Howells, the maid. I have told you that she had only recently recovered from an illness, and was looking so wretchedly pale and wan that I remonstrated with her for being at work.

“‘You should be in bed,’ I said. ‘Come back to your duties when you are stronger.’

“She looked at me with so strange an expression that I began to suspect that her brain was affected.

“‘I am strong enough, Mr. Musgrave,’ said she.

“‘We will see what the doctor says (посмотрим, что скажет врач),’ I answered (ответил я). “You must stop work now (вы должны прекратить работать), and when you go downstairs just say that I wish to see Brunton (а когда пойдете вниз, скажите, что я желаю видеть Брантона).”

“‘The butler is gone (дворецкий пропал),’ said she.

“‘Gone! Gone where (куда пропал)?”

“‘He is gone (он пропал). No one has seen him (никто его не видел). He is not in his room (в комнате его нет). Oh, yes, he is gone, he is gone (о да, он пропал, пропал)!’ She fell back against the wall with shriek after shriek of laughter (она прислонилась к стене и начала истерически хохотать; to shriek — пронзительно кричать, орать; визжать; громко, истерически хохотать; laughter — cмех, хохот), while I, horrified at this sudden hysterical attack (а я, напуганный этим внезапным истерическим припадком), rushed to the bell to summon help (бросился к колокольчику, чтобы позвать на помощь; to summon — вызвать, позвать). The girl was taken to her room (девушку увели в ее комнату), still screaming and sobbing (все еще хохочущую и рыдающую), while I made inquiries about Brunton (а я тем временем стал расспрашивать о Брантоне; to make inquiries about — расспрашивать, наводить справки). There was no doubt about it that he had disappeared (несомненно, он исчез). His bed had not been slept in (его постель оказалась нетронутой: «в постели никто не спал»), he had been seen by no one since he had retired to his room the night before (его никто не видел с тех пор, как он ушел к себе в комнату накануне вечером), and yet it was difficult to see how he could have left the house (однако трудно было понять, как он вышел из дома), as both windows and doors were found to be fastened in the morning (потому что как окна, так и двери оказались запертыми утром).

laughter [`lRftq], hysterical [hI`sterIk(q)l], doubt [daut], fastened [`fRs(q)nd]

“‘We will see what the doctor says,’ I answered. “You must stop work now, and when you go downstairs just say that I wish to see Brunton.’

“‘The butler is gone,’ said she.

“‘Gone! Gone where?”

“‘He is gone. No one has seen him. He is not in his room. Oh, yes, he is gone, he is gone!’ She fell back against the wall with shriek after shriek of laughter, while I, horrified at this sudden hysterical attack, rushed to the bell to summon help. The girl was taken to her room, still screaming and sobbing, while I made inquiries about Brunton. There was no doubt about it that he had disappeared. His bed had not been slept in, he had been seen by no one since he had retired to his room the night before, and yet it was difficult to see how he could have left the house, as both windows and doors were found to be fastened in the morning.

“‘His clothes (его одежда), his watch (часы), and even his money were in his room (и даже деньги были в его комнате), but the black suit which he usually wore was missing (но черного костюма, который он обычно носил, не было). His slippers, too, were gone (его комнатные туфли тоже пропали), but his boots were left behind (но ботинки остались: «были оставлены»). Where then could butler Brunton have gone in the night (куда же мог деться дворецкий Брантон ночью), and what could have become of him now (и что с ним стало теперь)?

“‘Of course we searched the house from cellar to garret (разумеется, мы обыскали /весь/ дом от подвала до чердака), but there was no trace of him (но там не оказалось никаких его следов). It is, as I have said, a labyrinth of an old house (как я говорил, этот старинный дом — /настоящий/ лабиринт), especially the original wing (особенно самое старое крыло; original — первоначальный), which is now practically uninhabited (которое теперь практически необитаемо); but we ransacked every room and cellar without discovering the least sign of the missing man (однако мы обыскали каждую комнату и подвал, но не обнаружили ни малейшего следа пропавшего человека; to ransack — обыскивать, обшаривать). It was incredible to me (мне казалось немыслимым) that he could have gone away leaving all his property behind him (что он мог уйти, оставив все свое имущество), and yet where could he be (и все-таки где он мог быть)? I called in the local police, but without success (я вызвал местную полицию, но без результата). Rain had fallen on the night before (дождь прошел накануне вечером) and we examined the lawn and the paths all round the house, but in vain (мы осмотрели лужайку и дорожки вокруг дома, но это ни к чему не привело; in vain — напрасно, тщетно, безуспешно). Matters were in this state (дела находились в этом состоянии = так обстояло дело), when a new development quite drew our attention away from the original mystery (когда новое событие отвлекло наше внимание от первоначальной загадки).

money [`mAnI], cellar [`selq], labyrinth [`lxbqrInT], property [`prOpqtI]

“‘His clothes, his watch, and even his money were in his room, but the black suit which he usually wore was missing. His slippers, too, were gone, but his boots were left behind. Where then could butler Brunton have gone in the night, and what could have become of him now?

“‘Of course we searched the house from cellar to garret, but there was no trace of him. It is, as I have said, a labyrinth of an old house, especially the original wing, which is now practically uninhabited; but we ransacked every room and cellar without discovering the least sign of the missing man. It was incredible to me that he could have gone away leaving all his property behind him, and yet where could he be? I called in the local police, but without success. Rain had fallen on the night before and we examined the lawn and the paths all round the house, but in vain. Matters were in this state, when a new development quite drew our attention away from the original mystery.

“‘For two days Rachel Howells had been so ill (два дня Рейчел Хауэллс была настолько больна), sometimes delirious (временами находилась в бреду; delirious — /находящийся/ в бреду; delirium — делирий, бред, расстройство сознания /сопровождаемое галлюцинациями, обычно зрительными/), sometimes hysterical (временами — в истерике), that a nurse had been employed to sit up with her at night (так что /пришлось/ приглашать к ней сиделку на ночь; to employ — нанимать; пользоваться услугами; использовать; to sit up — не ложиться спать, бодрствовать; дежурить у постели больного). On the third night after Brunton’s disappearance (на третью ночь после исчезновения Брантона), the nurse, finding her patient sleeping nicely (сиделка, увидев, что больная спокойно спит; nicely — мило, хорошо, вполне), had dropped into a nap in the arm-chair (задремала в своем кресле; nap — дремота; короткий сон: to have/take a nap — вздремнуть), when she woke in the early morning to find the bed empty (когда она проснулась рано утром, то обнаружила, что кровать пуста; to wake), the window open (окно открыто), and no signs of the invalid (а больная исчезла: «больной нет ни следа»; sign — знак, признак; свидетельство).

“‘I was instantly aroused (меня тотчас разбудили), and, with the two footmen (и с двумя лакеями), started off at once in search of the missing girl (я немедленно отправился на поиски пропавшей девушки). It was not difficult to tell the direction which she had taken (нетрудно было определить направление, которое она выбрала), for, starting from under her window (так как, начиная от ее окна; from under — из-под), we could follow her footmarks easily across the lawn to the edge of the mere (мы легко проследили ее следы, /они шли/ по газону до кромки пруда; mere — озеро, пруд), where they vanished close to the gravel path (где они кончались рядом с посыпанной гравием дорожкой) which leads out of the grounds (выводящей из владений; grounds — угодья; сад, парк, участок земли вокруг дома). The lake there is eight feet deep (пруд в этом месте глубиной восемь футов; lake — озеро), and you can imagine our feelings when we saw (вы можете себе представить наши чувства, когда мы увидели) that the trail of the poor demented girl came to an end at the edge of it (что следы бедной помешанной девушки кончались у кромки воды; trail — след /человека или животного/: to be on the trail of somebody — напасть на чей-либо след; demented — сумасшедший; помешавшийся: to become demented — сойти с ума, лишиться рассудка).

delirious [dI`lI(q)rIqs], lawn [lLn], mere [mIq], demented [dI`mentId]

“‘For two days Rachel Howells had been so ill, sometimes delirious, sometimes hysterical, that a nurse had been employed to sit up with her at night. On the third night after Brunton’s disappearance, the nurse, finding her patient sleeping nicely, had dropped into a nap in the arm-chair, when she woke in the early morning to find the bed empty, the window open, and no signs of the invalid.

“‘I was instantly aroused, and, with the two footmen, started off at once in search of the missing girl. It was not difficult to tell the direction which she had taken, for, starting from under her window, we could follow her footmarks easily across the lawn to the edge of the mere, where they vanished close to the gravel path which leads out of the grounds. The lake there is eight feet deep, and you can imagine our feelings when we saw that the trail of the poor demented girl came to an end at the edge of it.

“‘Of course, we had the drags at once (разумеется, мы немедленно схватили драги; drag — драга; кошка, трал /устройство для извлечения предметов со дна рек или водоемов, особенно для извлечения тел утопленников/; to drag — тащить, волочить), and set to work to recover the remains (и принялись за дело, чтобы вытащить останки; to set to work — приступать к делу, приниматься за работу; to recover — вновь обретать; доставать; находить), but no trace of the body could we find (но тела не нашли). On the other hand (с другой стороны), we brought to the surface an object of a most unexpected kind (мы извлекли на поверхность совершенно неожиданный предмет; to bring; to expect — ожидать). It was a linen bag (это был полотняный мешок) which contained within it a mass of old rusted and discolored metal (содержавший множество /кусков/ старого заржавленного, потерявшего цвет металла; to discolor — обесцвечиваться, выцветать) and several dull-colored pieces of pebble or glass (и несколько тусклых осколков гальки или стекла; pebble — голыш, галька, булыжник; линза из горного хрусталя). This strange find was all that we could get from the mere (эта странная находка была всем, что мы достали = кроме этой странной находки мы ничего не достали из пруда), and, although we made every possible search and inquiry yesterday (и, несмотря на все наши поиски и расспросы, /сделанные/ вчера; every possible — всевозможный, всякий), we know nothing of the fate either of Rachel Howells or of Richard Brunton (мы ничего не знаем о судьбе ни Рейчел Хауэллс, ни Ричарда Брантона). The county police are at their wits’ end (полиция графства зашла в тупик; to be at one's wit's end — быть в крайнем недоумении, в тупике; не знать, что делать, как поступить: «быть у конца своего разума»), and I have come up to you as a last resource (и я пришел к вам как к последней надежде; resource — ресурс; возможность, средство; шанс /спасения/).’

“You can imagine, Watson, with what eagerness I listened to this extraordinary sequence of events (можете себе представить, Ватсон, с каким интересом я слушал этот необыкновенный рассказ: «последовательность событий»), and endeavored to piece them together (и пытался связать их вместе), and to devise some common thread upon which they might all hang (и найти общую нить, на которой они все висели/держались; to devise — разрабатывать, продумывать /планы, идеи/; thread — нить, связь).

surface [`sq:fIs], glass [glRs], although [Ll`Dqu], sequence [`sJkwqns]

“‘Of course, we had the drags at once, and set to work to recover the remains, but no trace of the body could we find. On the other hand, we brought to the surface an object of a most unexpected kind. It was a linen bag which contained within it a mass of old rusted and discolored metal and several dull-colored pieces of pebble or glass. This strange find was all that we could get from the mere, and, although we made every possible search and inquiry yesterday, we know nothing of the fate either of Rachel Howells or of Richard Brunton. The county police are at their wits’ end, and I have come up to you as a last resource.’

“You can imagine, Watson, with what eagerness I listened to this extraordinary sequence of events, and endeavored to piece them together, and to devise some common thread upon which they might all hang.

“The butler was gone (дворецкий пропал). The maid was gone (горничная пропала). The maid had loved the butler (горничная любила дворецкого), but had afterwards had cause to hate him (но потом получила основания ненавидеть его). She was of Welsh blood, fiery and passionate (она была уроженка Уэльса: «уэльской крови», необузданная и горячая; passionate — страстный; вспыльчивый, горячий). She had been terribly excited immediately after his disappearance (она была крайне возбуждена сразу после его исчезновения). She had flung into the lake a bag containing some curious contents (она бросила в пруд мешок с довольно странным содержанием; to fling). These were all factors which had to be taken into consideration (все эти факторы необходимо было принять во внимание), and yet none of them got quite to the heart of the matter (однако ни один из них не раскрывал сути дела; to get to the heart of the matter — дойти до сути /дела/). What was the starting-point of this chain of events (где была отправная точка этой цепи событий)? There lay the end of this tangled line (/передо мной/ лежал /лишь/ конец этой запутанной веревки = цепи).

“‘I must see that paper, Musgrave (мне необходимо увидеть ту бумагу, Месгрейв),’ said I, ‘which this butler of yours thought it worth his while to consult (изучение которой ваш дворецкий считал очень важным; worth one's while — стоящий затраченного времени или труда; to consult — советоваться; справляться), even at the risk of the loss of his place (даже /несмотря на/ риск потерять место; loss — потеря, утрата).’

fiery [`faIqrI], curious [`kjuqrIqs], contents [`kOntqnts], consult [kqn`sAlt]

“The butler was gone. The maid was gone. The maid had loved the butler, but had afterwards had cause to hate him. She was of Welsh blood, fiery and passionate. She had been terribly excited immediately after his disappearance. She had flung into the lake a bag containing some curious contents. These were all factors which had to be taken into consideration, and yet none of them got quite to the heart of the matter. What was the starting‑point of this chain of events? There lay the end of this tangled line.

“‘I must see that paper, Musgrave,’ said I, ‘which this butler of yours thought it worth his while to consult, even at the risk of the loss of his place.’

“‘It is rather an absurd business (это довольно нелепое дело/нелепая вещь), this ritual of ours (этот наш обряд),’ he answered (ответил он). ‘But it has at least the saving grace of antiquity to excuse it (единственное, что его оправдывает, — его древность; saving grace — спасительная благодать; положительное качество, перевешивающее недостатки; to excuse — извинять/ся/, прощать; оправдывать). I have a copy of the questions and answers here (вот копия вопросов и ответов) if you care to run your eye over them (если хотите взглянуть на них; to run one's eye over something — бегло взглянуть на что-либо, пробежать глазами).’

“He handed me the very paper which I have here, Watson (он передал мне ту самую бумагу, которую я держу /в руках/, Ватсон), and this is the strange catechism to which each Musgrave had to submit (и это есть то странное испытание, которому должен был подвергаться каждый Месгрейв; catechism — катехизис; изложение основ чего-либо в форме вопросов и ответов; ряд вопросов и ответов; to submit — подчинять/ся/, покорять/ся/; подвергать) when he came to man’s estate (когда достигал совершеннолетия; man’s estate — возмужалость, зрелость, совершеннолетие мужчины; estate — состояние, положение). I will read you the questions and answers as they stand (я прочитаю вам вопросы и ответы /так/, как они записаны здесь; as it stands — в данных условиях, так, как есть: «как это стоит»).

“‘Whose was it (кому это принадлежало)?’

“‘His who is gone (тому, кто ушел).’

“‘Who shall have it (кому это будет принадлежать)?’

“‘He who will come (тому, кто придет).’

“‘What was the month (в каком месяце это было)?’

“‘The sixth from the first (в шестом, начиная с первого).’

“‘Where was the sun (где было солнце)?’

“‘Over the oak (над дубом).’

antiquity [xn`tIkwItI], catechism [`kxtqkIz(q)m], submit [sqb`mIt]

“‘It is rather an absurd business, this ritual of ours,’ he answered. ‘But it has at least the saving grace of antiquity to excuse it. I have a copy of the questions and answers here if you care to run your eye over them.’

“He handed me the very paper which I have here, Watson, and this is the strange catechism to which each Musgrave had to submit when he came to man’s estate. I will read you the questions and answers as they stand.

“‘Whose was it?’

“‘His who is gone.’

“‘Who shall have it?’

“‘He who will come.’

“‘What was the month?’

“‘The sixth from the first.’

“‘Where was the sun?’

“‘Over the oak.’

“‘Where was the shadow (где была тень)?’

“‘Under the elm (под вязом).’

“‘How was it stepped (сколько надо было сделать шагов; to step — ступать, шагать, делать шаг; step — шаг)?’

“‘North by ten and by ten (на север — десять и десять), east by five and by five (на восток — пять и пять), south by two and by two (на юг — два и два), west by one and by one (на запад — один и один), and so under (и затем вниз).’

“‘What shall we give for it (что мы отдадим за это)?’

“‘All that is ours (все, что наше = все, что у нас есть).’

“‘Why should we give it (ради чего мы отдадим это)?’

“‘For the sake of the trust (ради долга; trust — вера, доверие; долг).’

“‘The original has no date (в оригинале нет даты), but is in the spelling of the middle of the seventeenth century (но, судя по орфографии, он /относится/ к середине семнадцатого века; spelling — орфография, правописание; to spell — писать или произносить /слово/ по буквам),’ remarked Musgrave (заметил Месгрейв). ‘I am afraid, however (впрочем, боюсь), that it can be of little help to you in solving this mystery (что он мало поможет вам в раскрытии этой тайны).’

south [sauT], century [`senC(q)rI], remarked [rI`mRkt]

“‘Where was the shadow?’

“‘Under the elm.’

“‘How was it stepped?’

“‘North by ten and by ten, east by five and by five, south by two and by two, west by one and by one, and so under.’

“‘What shall we give for it?’

“‘All that is ours.’

“‘Why should we give it?’

“‘For the sake of the trust.’

“‘The original has no date, but is in the spelling of the middle of the seventeenth century,’ remarked Musgrave. ‘I am afraid, however, that it can be of little help to you in solving this mystery.’

“‘At least (по крайней мере),’ said I, ‘it gives us another mystery (он ставит перед нами: «дает нам» другую загадку), and one which is even more interesting than the first (даже еще более интересную, чем первая). It may be that the solution of the one (может случиться так, что решение одной) may prove to be the solution of the other (окажется решением и другой). You will excuse me, Musgrave, if I say (извините меня = надеюсь, вы не обидитесь, Месгрейв, если я скажу) that your butler appears to me to have been a very clever man (что ваш дворецкий кажется мне очень умным человеком), and to have had a clearer insight (обладающим большей проницательностью; insight — проницательность; понимание) than ten generations of his masters (чем десять поколений его господ).’

“‘I hardly follow you (я вас не понимаю; hardly — едва, вряд ли; с трудом),’ said Musgrave. ‘The paper seems to me to be of no practical importance (мне кажется, эта бумага не имеет никакого практического значения).’

“‘But to me it seems immensely practical (а мне она кажется чрезвычайно практической = важной в практическом плане), and I fancy that Brunton took the same view (и, полагаю, Брантон придерживался того же мнения). He had probably seen it before that night on which you caught him (вероятно, он видел бумагу и до той ночи, когда вы застали его /в библиотеке/; to catch — ловить).’

generation ["Genq`reIS(q)n], immensely [I`menslI], view [vjH], caught [kLt]

“‘At least,’ said I, ‘it gives us another mystery, and one which is even more interesting than the first. It may be that the solution of the one may prove to be the solution of the other. You will excuse me, Musgrave, if I say that your butler appears to me to have been a very clever man, and to have had a clearer insight than ten generations of his masters.’

“‘I hardly follow you,’ said Musgrave. ‘The paper seems to me to be of no practical importance.’

“‘But to me it seems immensely practical, and I fancy that Brunton took the same view. He had probably seen it before that night on which you caught him.’

“‘It is very possible (вполне вероятно). We took no pains to hide it (мы и не старались спрятать ее; to take pains — прилагать усилия, стараться).’

“‘He simply wished, I should imagine (надо полагать, он просто хотел), to refresh his memory upon that last occasion (освежить свою память в последний раз; occasion — возможность, /благоприятный/ случай, шанс). He had, as I understand, some sort of map or chart (как я понимаю, у него была своего рода карта или план; chart — карта; график, диаграмма, схема, план) which he was comparing with the manuscript (который он сравнивал с манускриптом), and which he thrust into his pocket when you appeared (и который он сунул в карман, когда вы появились).’

“‘That is true (верно). But what could he have to do with this old family custom of ours (но какое отношение он имеет к нашему старинному семейному обряду: «обычаю»; to have to do with smth. — иметь дело с чем-либо, иметь отношение к чему-либо), and what does this rigmarole mean (и что означает этот вздор; rigmarole — пустая болтовня, вздор)?’

“‘I don’t think that we should have much difficulty in determining that (не думаю, что у нас будет много затруднений в определении этого = думаю, это мы выясним без особого труда),’ said I; ‘with your permission we will take the first train down to Sussex (с вашего позволения, мы первым /же/ поездом отправимся в Суссекс; to permit — позволять, разрешать), and go a little more deeply into the matter upon the spot (и вникнем в дело немного глубже на месте).’

occasion [q`keIZ(q)n], chart [CRt], rigmarole [`rIgmqrqul]

“‘It is very possible. We took no pains to hide it.’

“‘He simply wished, I should imagine, to refresh his memory upon that last occasion. He had, as I understand, some sort of map or chart which he was comparing with the manuscript, and which he thrust into his pocket when you appeared.’

“‘That is true. But what could he have to do with this old family custom of ours, and what does this rigmarole mean?’

“‘I don’t think that we should have much difficulty in determining that,’ said I; ‘with your permission we will take the first train down to Sussex, and go a little more deeply into the matter upon the spot.’

“The same afternoon saw us both at Hurlstone (тот же день застал нас в Херлстоне = в тот же день мы прибыли в Херлстон). Possibly you have seen pictures and read descriptions of the famous old building (возможно, вы видели изображения и читали описания этого знаменитого старинного здания), so I will confine my account of it to saying (поэтому я ограничу свой рассказ о нем = скажу лишь; to confine — ограничивать; confine — граница, предел) that it is built in the shape of an L (что оно построено в виде /буквы/ «L»; shape —форма, очертание, вид), the long arm being the more modern portion (длинное крыло является более современной частью; arm — рука; стрела /крана/; плечо /рычага/; portion — часть, доля, отдел), and the shorter the ancient nucleus (более короткое — древним центром; nucleus — ядро, центр), from which the other had developed (из которого выросло второе /крыло/; to develop — развивать/ся/, расти). Over the low, heavily-lintelled door (над низкой, массивной дверью; lintel — притолока; перемычка /над оконным или дверным проемом/), in the centre of this old part (в центре старинной части), is chiseled the date, 1607 (высечена дата «1607»; chisel — долото, стамеска; to chisel — высекать, чеканить), but experts are agreed that the beams and stone-work (но знатоки сходятся во мнении, что балки и каменная кладка; beam — луч; балка; брус) are really much older than this (на самом деле значительно старше). The enormously thick walls and tiny windows of this part (чрезвычайно толстые стены и крошечные окна этой части /здания/) had in the last century driven the family into building the new wing (в прошлом веке побудили семейство построить новое крыло; to drive-drove-driven — гнать; побуждать), and the old one was used now as a store-house and a cellar (а старое теперь использовалось как кладовая и погреб), when it was used at all (если вообще использовалось). A splendid park with fine old timber surrounds the house (великолепный парк с прекрасными старыми деревьями окружает дом; timber — лесоматериал; лесистый участок, район; лесные угодья), and the lake, to which my client had referred (а пруд, о котором упоминал мой клиент), lay close to the avenue (находился недалеко от аллеи; to lie — лежать; располагаться), about two hundred yards from the building (примерно в двухстах ярдах от здания).

building [`bIldIN], nucleus [`njHklIqs], enormously [I`nLmqslI], avenue [`xvqnjH]

“The same afternoon saw us both at Hurlstone. Possibly you have seen pictures and read descriptions of the famous old building, so I will confine my account of it to saying that it is built in the shape of an L, the long arm being the more modern portion, and the shorter the ancient nucleus, from which the other had developed. Over the low, heavily-lintelled door, in the centre of this old part, is chiseled the date, 1607, but experts are agreed that the beams and stone‑work are really much older than this. The enormously thick walls and tiny windows of this part had in the last century driven the family into building the new wing, and the old one was used now as a store‑house and a cellar, when it was used at all. A splendid park with fine old timber surrounds the house, and the lake, to which my client had referred, lay close to the avenue, about two hundred yards from the building.

“I was already firmly convinced, Watson (я был уже твердо убежден, Ватсон), that there were not three separate mysteries here (что тут не было трех отдельных загадок), but one only, and that if I could read the Musgrave Ritual aright (а только одна, и что если бы я смог правильно понять «Обряд дома Месгрейвов») I should hold in my hand the clue (у меня бы появилась нить) which would lead me to the truth concerning both the butler Brunton and the maid Howells (которая привела бы меня к правде относительно = к разгадке исчезновения и дворецкого Брантона, и горничной Хауэллс). To that then I turned all my energies (на это я направил все силы). Why should this servant be so anxious to master this old formula (почему слуга так стремился проникнуть в /суть/ этой старинной формулы; to master — одолевать; овладевать, усваивать)? Evidently because he saw something in it (очевидно, потому что он увидел в ней нечто) which had escaped all those generations of country squires (что ускользало от /внимания/ всех тех поколений местных помещиков; country — страна; /сельская/ местность, территория; squire — сквайр; /местный/ помещик, самый влиятельный землевладелец в округе), and from which he expected some personal advantage (и из чего он предполагал /извлечь/ какую-то личную выгоду). What was it then, and how had it affected his fate (что же это было и как это отразилось на его судьбе)?

“It was perfectly obvious to me, on reading the ritual (мне стало совершенно ясно, когда я прочитал обряд), that the measurements must refer to some spot (что цифры: «измерения» относятся к какому-то месту; to measure — измерять) to which the rest of the document alluded (на которое ссылается остальная часть документа), and that if we could find that spot (и что если бы мы нашли это место), we should be in a fair way towards finding what the secret was (мы оказались бы на верном пути к выяснению тайны) which the old Musgraves had thought it necessary to embalm in so curious a fashion (которую прежние Месгрейвы сочли необходимым сохранить таким странным способом; to embalm — бальзамировать /тело/; сохранять от забвения).

formula [`fLmjulq], measurement [`meZqmqnt], embalm [Im`bRm]

“I was already firmly convinced, Watson, that there were not three separate mysteries here, but one only, and that if I could read the Musgrave Ritual aright I should hold in my hand the clue which would lead me to the truth concerning both the butler Brunton and the maid Howells. To that then I turned all my energies. Why should this servant be so anxious to master this old formula? Evidently because he saw something in it which had escaped all those generations of country squires, and from which he expected some personal advantage. What was it then, and how had it affected his fate?

“It was perfectly obvious to me, on reading the ritual, that the measurements must refer to some spot to which the rest of the document alluded, and that if we could find that spot, we should be in a fair way towards finding what the secret was which the old Musgraves had thought it necessary to embalm in so curious a fashion.

“There were two guides given us to start with (для начала нам были даны два ориентира), an oak and an elm (дуб и вяз). As to the oak there could be no question at all (что касается дуба, то тут вообще не было никаких затруднений; question — вопрос; сомнение, возражение; to make no question of something — не сомневаться в чем-либо). Right in front of the house (прямо перед домом), upon the left-hand side of the drive (слева от дороги; drive — езда; дорога для экипажей; подъездная аллея /к дому/), there stood a patriarch among oaks (стоял дуб-патриарх: «патриарх среди дубов»), one of the most magnificent trees that I have ever seen (одно из великолепнейших = внушительнейших деревьев, что я когда-либо видел).

“‘That was there when you ritual was drawn up (он был здесь, когда ваш обряд был записан; to draw up — составлять /документ/),’ said I, as we drove past it (спросил я, когда мы проезжали мимо него).

“‘It was there at the Norman Conquest in all probability (по всей вероятности, он стоял здесь /еще/ во время Нормандского завоевания; Norman Conquest — Нормандское завоевание /завоевание Англии норманнами в 1066 году/),’ he answered (ответил он). ‘It has a girth of twenty-three feet (он имеет двадцать три фута в обхвате; girth — обхват /дерева, талии/).’

“‘Have you any old elms (у вас есть старые вязы)?’ I asked.

“‘There used to be a very old one over yonder (был один очень старый вон там) but it was struck by lightning ten years ago (но в него ударила молния десять лет назад; to strike), and we cut down the stump (и мы срубили то, что осталось; stump — пень, обрубок; дерево с обрезанной верхушкой).’

guide [gaId], patriarch [`peItrIRk], conquest [`kONkwest]

“There were two guides given us to start with, an oak and an elm. As to the oak there could be no question at all. Right in front of the house, upon the left‑hand side of the drive, there stood a patriarch among oaks, one of the most magnificent trees that I have ever seen.

“‘That was there when you ritual was drawn up,’ said I, as we drove past it.

“‘It was there at the Norman Conquest in all probability,’ he answered. ‘It has a girth of twenty-three feet.’

“‘Have you any old elms?’ I asked.

“‘There used to be a very old one over yonder but it was struck by lightning ten years ago, and we cut down the stump.’

“‘You can see where it used to be (вы знаете, где он был раньше)?’

“‘Oh, yes (ну да, /конечно/).’

“‘There are no other elms (а других вязов здесь нет)?’

“‘No old ones, but plenty of beeches (старых нет, но много буков).’

“‘I should like to see where it grew (мне хотелось бы взглянуть, где он рос).’

“We had driven up in a dogcart (мы приехали в двуколке; dogcart — двухколесный двухместный экипаж; /под задним сиденьем находится место для охотничьих собак/; cart — телега; повозка; двуколка; dog — собака), and my client led me away at once (и мой клиент повел меня сразу), without our entering the house (не заходя в дом), to the scar on the lawn where the elm had stood (к тому месту на газоне, где прежде рос вяз; scar — рубец, шрам). It was nearly midway between the oak and the house (оно находилось примерно посередине между дубом и домом). My investigation seemed to be progressing (мое расследование шло успешно: «казалось продвигающимся»).

“‘I suppose it is impossible to find out how high the elm was (полагаю, /теперь/ невозможно определить высоту вяза: «насколько высоким был вяз»; to find out — узнать, выяснить)?’ I asked (спросил я).

dogcart [`dOgkRt], scar [skR], progressing [`prqugresIN]

“‘You can see where it used to be?’

“‘Oh, yes.’

“‘There are no other elms?’

“‘No old ones, but plenty of beeches.’

“‘I should like to see where it grew.’

“We had driven up in a dogcart, and my client led me away at once, without our entering the house, to the scar on the lawn where the elm had stood. It was nearly midway between the oak and the house. My investigation seemed to be progressing.

“‘I suppose it is impossible to find out how high the elm was?’ I asked.

“‘I can give you it at once (могу вам сейчас же это сказать). It was sixty-four feet (он был шестьдесят четыре фута высотой /около 19, 5 м/).’

“‘How do you come to know it (как вам удалось это узнать)?’ I asked, in surprise (спросил я с удивлением).

“‘When my old tutor used to give me an exercise in trigonometry (когда мой старый домашний учитель задавал мне задачи по тригонометрии), it always took the shape of measuring heights (они всегда принимали форму измерения высот = были построены на измерении высоты). When I was a lad (когда я был мальчиком) I worked out every tree and building in the estate (я высчитал высоту каждого дерева и строения в поместье; to work out — высчитать, вычислить; решить /задачу/).’

“This was an unexpected piece of luck (это была неожиданная удача). My data were coming more quickly (сведения приходили ко мне быстрее) than I could have reasonably hoped (чем я мог рассчитывать; reasonably — разумно; рассудительно).

“‘Tell me (скажите),’ I asked, ‘did your butler ever ask you such a question (а ваш дворецкий когда-нибудь задавал вам тот же вопрос)?’

“Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment (Реджинальд Месгрейв посмотрел на меня удивленно).

‘Now that you call it to my mind (теперь, когда вы напомнили мне = теперь припоминаю),’ he answered, ‘Brunton did ask me about the height of the tree some months ago (Брантон действительно спрашивал меня о высоте этого дерева несколько месяцев назад), in connection with some little argument with the groom (в связи с каким-то незначительным спором с конюхом; to groom — ходить за лошадью, чистить лошадь; ухаживать, холить),’

trigonometry ["trIgq`nOmItrI], height [haIt], argument [`Rgjumqnt]

“‘I can give you it at once. It was sixty-four feet.’

“‘How do you come to know it?’ I asked, in surprise.

“‘When my old tutor used to give me an exercise in trigonometry, it always took the shape of measuring heights. When I was a lad I worked out every tree and building in the estate.’

“This was an unexpected piece of luck. My data were coming more quickly than I could have reasonably hoped.

“‘Tell me,’ I asked, ‘did your butler ever ask you such a question?’

“Reginald Musgrave looked at me in astonishment.

‘Now that you call it to my mind,’ he answered, ‘Brunton did ask me about the height of the tree some months ago, in connection with some little argument with the groom,’

“This was excellent news, Watson (это было превосходное известие, Ватсон), for it showed me that I was on the right road (поскольку оно показало, что я на правильном пути). I looked up at the sun (я взглянул на солнце). It was low in the heavens (оно находилось низко на небесах = заходило), and I calculated that in less than an hour it would lie just above the topmost branches of the old oak (и я рассчитал, что меньше чем через час оно будет как раз над самыми верхними ветвями старого дуба). One condition mentioned in the Ritual would then be fulfilled (одно условие, упомянутое в «Обряде», тогда будет выполнено). And the shadow of the elm must mean the farther end of the shadow (а тень от вяза должна означать самый дальний конец этой тени), otherwise the trunk would have been chosen as the guide (в противном случае в качестве указателя выбрали бы ствол; to choose-chose-chosen). I had, then, to find where the far end of the shadow would fall (итак, мне нужно было определить, куда упадет /дальний/ конец тени) when the sun was just clear of the oak (когда солнце окажется прямо над дубом; clear — ясный, четкий; полный, целый).”

“That must have been difficult, Holmes (должно быть, это было трудно, Холмс), when the elm was no longer there (ведь вяза больше там не было).”

“Well, at least I knew that if Brunton could do it, I could also (по крайней мере я знал, что если Брантон мог это сделать, то и я смогу). Besides, there was no real difficulty (кроме того, на самом деле это было нетрудно). I went with Musgrave to his study and whittled myself this peg (я пошел вместе с Месгрейвом в его кабинет и сам вырезал этот колышек; to whittle — строгать или оттачивать ножом /дерево/; вырезать), to which I tied this long string with a knot at each yard (к которому привязал эту длинную веревку с узелком на каждом ярде = отметив каждый ярд узелком).

calculated [`kxlkjuleItId], mentioned [`menS(q)nd], knot [nOt]

“This was excellent news, Watson, for it showed me that I was on the right road. I looked up at the sun. It was low in the heavens, and I calculated that in less than an hour it would lie just above the topmost branches of the old oak. One condition mentioned in the Ritual would then be fulfilled. And the shadow of the elm must mean the farther end of the shadow, otherwise the trunk would have been chosen as the guide. I had, then, to find where the far end of the shadow would fall when the sun was just clear of the oak.”

“That must have been difficult, Holmes, when the elm was no longer there.”

“Well, at least I knew that if Brunton could do it, I could also. Besides, there was no real difficulty. I went with Musgrave to his study and whittled myself this peg, to which I tied this long string with a knot at each yard.

“Then I took two lengths of a fishing-rod (затем я взял два куска удилища /и соединил их/; length — длина; кусок, отрезок /троса, трубы или провода/; to fish — ловить рыбу; rod — прут, стержень, ветвь; удочка), which came to just six feet (что составило шесть футов), and I went back with my client to where the elm had been (и мы с клиентом вернулись к /тому месту/, где рос вяз). The sun was just grazing the top of the oak (солнце как раз касалось вершины дуба; to graze — слегка касаться, задевать; скользить по поверхности /о луче света/). I fastened the rod on end (я установил палку вертикально; on end — стоймя; дыбом; вертикально), marked out the direction of the shadow (отметил направление тени), and measured it (измерил ее). It was nine feet in length (она была девять футов длиной).

“Of course the calculation now was a simple one (естественно, теперь вычисления были простыми). If a rod of six feet threw a shadow of nine (если палка длиной шесть футов отбрасывает тень в девять /футов/), a tree of sixty-four feet would throw one of ninety-six (то дерево /высотой/ шестьдесят четыре фута отбросит тень в девяносто шесть футов), and the line of the one would of course the line of the other (и направление одной, разумеется, совпадет с направлением другой). I measured out the distance (я отмерил это расстояние), which brought me almost to the wall of the house (которое привело меня почти к стене дома), and I thrust a peg into the spot (и я воткнул колышек в том месте). You can imagine my exultation, Watson (можете представить мое торжество, Ватсон), when within two inches of my peg (когда в двух дюймах от своего колышка) I saw a conical depression in the ground (я увидел конусообразное углубление в земле). I knew that it was the mark made by Brunton in his measurements (я понял, что это была отметина, сделанная Брантоном при его измерениях), and that I was still upon his trail (и что я по-прежнему шел по его следу).

fastened [`fRs(q)nd], brought [brLt], exultation ["egzAl`teIS(q)n]

“Then I took two lengths of a fishing-rod, which came to just six feet, and I went back with my client to where the elm had been. The sun was just grazing the top of the oak. I fastened the rod on end, marked out the direction of the shadow, and measured it. It was nine feet in length.

“Of course the calculation now was a simple one. If a rod of six feet threw a shadow of nine, a tree of sixty-four feet would throw one of ninety-six, and the line of the one would of course the line of the other. I measured out the distance, which brought me almost to the wall of the house, and I thrust a peg into the spot. You can imagine my exultation, Watson, when within two inches of my peg I saw a conical depression in the ground. I knew that it was the mark made by Brunton in his measurements, and that I was still upon his trail.

“From this starting-point I proceeded to step (от этой исходной точки я начал /отсчитывать/ шаги; to proceed to — приступать к; приниматься за), having first taken the cardinal points by my pocket-compass (сначала определив страны света с помощью карманного компаса; cardinal — основной, главный). Ten steps with each foot took me along parallel with the wall of the house (десять шагов каждой ногой повели меня параллельно стене дома), and again I marked my spot with a peg (и снова я отметил место колышком). Then I carefully paced off five to the east (затем я тщательно отсчитал пять /шагов/ на восток) and two to the south (и два на юг). It brought me to the very threshold of the old door (они привели меня к самому порогу старой двери). Two steps to the west meant now (два шага на запад означали теперь) that I was to go two paces down the stone-flagged passage (что мне придется сделать два шага по выложенному каменными плитами коридору; to flag — мостить плитами; flag — каменная плита; плитняк), and this was the place indicated by the Ritual (это и было место, указанное в «Обряде»).

“Never have I felt such a cold chill of disappointment, Watson (никогда я не испытывал такого горького разочарования, Ватсон; chill — холод; озноб, дрожь). For a moment is seemed to me (на минуту мне показалось) that there must be some radical mistake in my calculations (что в моих вычислениях /допущена/ какая-то грубая, существенная ошибка). The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor (заходящее солнце ярко освещало пол коридора; to shine), and I could see that the old, foot-worn gray stones (и я видел, что старые, истертые ногами серые каменные плиты; foot-worn — исхоженный, утоптанный, истертый ногами) with which it was paved were firmly cemented together (которыми он был выложен, крепко связаны замазкой), and had certainly not been moved for many a long year (и, естественно, их не сдвигали с места в течение многих лет).

parallel [`pxrqlel], threshold [`TreS(h)quld], cemented [sI`mentId]

“From this starting-point I proceeded to step, having first taken the cardinal points by my pocket-compass. Ten steps with each foot took me along parallel with the wall of the house, and again I marked my spot with a peg. Then I carefully paced off five to the east and two to the south. It brought me to the very threshold of the old door. Two steps to the west meant now that I was to go two paces down the stone-flagged passage, and this was the place indicated by the Ritual.

“Never have I felt such a cold chill of disappointment, Watson. For a moment is seemed to me that there must be some radical mistake in my calculations. The setting sun shone full upon the passage floor, and I could see that the old, foot‑worn gray stones with which it was paved were firmly cemented together, and had certainly not been moved for many a long year.

“Brunton had not been at work here (Брантон здесь ничего не делал: «не поработал»). I tapped upon the floor (я постучал по полу /в нескольких местах/), but it sounded the same all over (но он всюду звучал одинаково), and there was no sign of any crack or crevice (не было никаких признаков трещины или щели). But, fortunately, Musgrave, who had begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings (но к счастью, Месгрейв, который начал понимать смысл моих действий; to begin-began-begun), and who was now as excited as myself (и который был теперь так же взволнован, как и я), took out his manuscript to check my calculation (достал манускрипт, чтобы проверить мои расчеты).

“‘And under (и вниз),’ he cried (вскричал он). ‘You have omitted the “and under (вы упустили /слова/: «и вниз»).”’

“I had thought that it meant that we were to dig (я думал, это означало, что нам нужно копать; to mean), but now, of course, I saw at once that I was wrong (но теперь, разумеется, я тотчас понял, что ошибался).

‘There is a cellar under this then (значит, там внизу есть подвал)?’ I cried.

“‘Yes, and as old as the house (да, такой же старый, как и дом). Down here, through this door (вниз, через эту дверь).’

appreciate [q`prJSIeIt], excited [Ik`saItId], course [kLs], cellar [`selq], door [dL]

“Brunton had not been at work here. I tapped upon the floor, but it sounded the same all over, and there was no sign of any crack or crevice. But, fortunately, Musgrave, who had begun to appreciate the meaning of my proceedings, and who was now as excited as myself, took out his manuscript to check my calculation.

“‘And under,’ he cried. ‘You have omitted the “and under.”’

“I had thought that it meant that we were to dig, but now, of course, I saw at once that I was wrong.

‘There is a cellar under this then?’ I cried.

“‘Yes, and as old as the house. Down here, through this door.’

“We went down a winding stone stair (мы спустились вниз по винтовой каменной лестнице), and my companion, striking a match (и мой спутник, чиркнув спичкой), lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner (зажег большой фонарь, стоявший на бочке в углу). In an instant it was obvious (в одно мгновение стало очевидно) that we had at last come upon the true place (что мы наконец-то нашли то, что искали: «истинное место»; to come upon smth. — напасть неожиданно, натолкнуться на что-либо), and that we had not been the only people to visit the spot recently (и что мы были не единственными людьми, кто недавно посетил это место).

“It had been used for the storage of wood (подвал использовался для хранения дров), but the billets, which had evidently been littered over the floor (но поленья, которые, по-видимому, /раньше/ были разбросаны по полу; to litter — сорить, разбрасывать вещи, делать беспорядок), were now piled at the sides (теперь были отодвинуты в стороны; to pile — складывать, сваливать в кучу), so as to leave a clear space in the middle (так, чтобы оставить свободное пространство посередине). In this space lay a large and heavy flagstone (здесь лежала огромная и тяжелая каменная плита) with a rusted iron ring in the centre (с заржавленным железным кольцом в центре) to which a thick shepherd’s-check muffler was attached (к которому был привязан толстый клетчатый шарф; shepherd’s-check — мелкий шашечный рисунок; черно-белая клетка; шерстяная ткань в черно-белую клетку; shepherd — пастух).

“‘By Jove (черт возьми: «клянусь Юпитером!»)!’ cried my client (вскричал мой клиент). ‘That’s Brunton’s muffler (это шарф Брантона). I have seen it on him, and could swear to it (я видел этот шарф на нем, могу поклясться в этом). What has the villain been doing here (что этот негодяй здесь делал)?’

lantern [`lxntqn], recently [`rJs(q)ntlI], storage [`stLrIG], iron [`aIqn]

“We went down a winding stone stair, and my companion, striking a match, lit a large lantern which stood on a barrel in the corner. In an instant it was obvious that we had at last come upon the true place, and that we had not been the only people to visit the spot recently.

“It had been used for the storage of wood, but the billets, which had evidently been littered over the floor, were now piled at the sides, so as to leave a clear space in the middle. In this space lay a large and heavy flagstone with a rusted iron ring in the centre to which a thick shepherd’s-check muffler was attached.

“‘By Jove!’ cried my client. ‘That’s Brunton’s muffler. I have seen it on him, and could swear to it. What has the villain been doing here?’

“At my suggestion a couple of the county police were summoned to be present (по моему предложению были вызваны два /констебля из/ полиции графства; to be present — присутствовать), and I then endeavored to raise the stone by pulling on the cravat (и затем я попытался поднять плиту, потянув за шарф). I could only move it slightly (я лишь едва мог двинуть ее), and it was with the aid of one of the constables (и только с помощью одного из констеблей) that I succeeded at last in carrying it to one side (мне удалось наконец сдвинуть: «перенести» ее в сторону). A black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered (черная яма зияла под ней, в которую мы все заглянули), while Musgrave, kneeling at the side (а Месгрейв, встав на колени на краю), pushed down the lantern (опустил туда фонарь).

“A small chamber about seven feet deep (маленькая комнатка примерно семь футов глубиной) and four feet square lay open to us (с квадратным основанием, шириной и длиной около четырех /футов/, открылась перед нами; square — квадрат; квадратный, с квадратным основанием). At one side of this was a squat (в одной стороне стоял низкий и широкий), brass-bound wooden box (отделанный медью деревянный сундук; brassbound — отделанный медью: brassbound box — коробка с медными накладками), the lid of which was hinged upwards (крышка которого была откинута), with this curious old-fashioned key projecting from the lock (этот необычный старомодный ключ торчал из замка). It was furred outside by a thick layer of dust (снаружи он был покрыт толстым слоем пыли; fur — мех; накипь /в чайнике, котле/; осадок /в винной бочке/), and damp and worms had eaten through the wood (сырость и черви так изъели дерево), so that a crop of livid fungi was growing on the inside of it (что плесень росла внутри сундука; crop —урожай; обилие, масса; livid — синевато-серый, серовато-синий; мертвенно бледный). Several discs of metal (несколько металлических кружков), old coins apparently (очевидно, старинных монет), such as I hold here (таких, как эти; to hold — держать; хранить), were scattered over the bottom of the box (валялись: «были разбросаны» на дне сундука), but it contained nothing else (но больше в нем ничего не было).

cravat [krq`vxt], yawned [jLnd], kneeling [`nJlIN], metal [metl]

“At my suggestion a couple of the county police were summoned to be present, and I then endeavored to raise the stone by pulling on the cravat. I could only move it slightly, and it was with the aid of one of the constables that I succeeded at last in carrying it to one side. A black hole yawned beneath into which we all peered, while Musgrave, kneeling at the side, pushed down the lantern.

“A small chamber about seven feet deep and four feet square lay open to us. At one side of this was a squat, brass-bound wooden box, the lid of which was hinged upwards, with this curious old-fashioned key projecting from the lock. It was furred outside by a thick layer of dust, and damp and worms had eaten through the wood, so that a crop of livid fungi was growing on the inside of it. Several discs of metal, old coins apparently, such as I hold here, were scattered over the bottom of the box, but it contained nothing else.

“At the moment, however (однако в ту минуту), we had no thought for the old chest (мы не думали о старом сундуке), for our eyes were riveted upon that which crouched beside it (наши взгляды были прикованы к тому, что находилось рядом с ним; to rivet — клепать, склепывать; сосредоточивать /внимание/; устремлять /взгляд/; rivet — заклепка; to crouch — припадать к земле; согнуться, склониться). It was the figure of a man (это был человек), clad in a suit of black (одетый в черный костюм), who squatted down upon his hams (который сидел на корточках; ham — бедро, ляжка; to squat on one's hams — сидеть на корточках) with his forehead sunk upon the edge of the box (упершись лбом в край сундука) and his two arms thrown out on each side of it (и обхватив его руками: «обхватив каждую сторону»; to throw out — выставить, выпрямить, протянуть /ногу, руку/). The attitude had drawn all the stagnant blood to the face (такое положение вогнало всю застоявшуюся кровь в лицо = от такого положения лицо налилось кровью), and no man could have recognized that distorted liver-colored countenance (и никто бы не узнал это искаженное/перекошенное лицо темно-каштанового цвета; countenance — выражение лица, лицо; liver — печень); but his height (но его роста), his dress (одежды), and his hair were all sufficient to show my client (и волос было достаточно, чтобы мой клиент смог определить: «указать моему клиенту»), when we had drawn the body up (когда мы приподняли тело; to draw up — выпрямлять/ся/, вытягивать/ся/), that it was indeed his missing butler (что это действительно его пропавший дворецкий). He had been dead some days (он был мертв /уже/ несколько дней), but there was no wound or bruise upon his person to show (но на теле не было ни ран, ни кровоподтеков, указывавших на то) how he had met his dreadful end (каким образом он встретил свою страшную смерть). When his body had been carried from the cellar (когда его тело вытащили из подвала) we found ourselves still confronted with a problem (перед нами по-прежнему стояла загадка; to confront — встретиться лицом к лицу; столкнуться /с трудностями, проблемами и т. д./) which was almost as formidable as that with which we had started (почти такая же трудноразрешимая, как и та, с которой мы начинали; formidable — страшный; труднопреодолимый; очень трудный: formidable task — невероятно трудная задача).

crouched [krauCt], blood [blAd], distorted [dIs`tLtId], countenance [`kauntInqns], sufficient [sq`fIS(q)nt], bruise [brHz]

“At the moment, however, we had no thought for the old chest, for our eyes were riveted upon that which crouched beside it. It was the figure of a man, clad in a suit of black, who squatted down upon his hams with his forehead sunk upon the edge of the box and his two arms thrown out on each side of it. The attitude had drawn all the stagnant blood to the face, and no man could have recognized that distorted liver‑colored countenance; but his height, his dress, and his hair were all sufficient to show my client, when we had drawn the body up, that it was indeed his missing butler. He had been dead some days, but there was no wound or bruise upon his person to show how he had met his dreadful end. When his body had been carried from the cellar we found ourselves still confronted with a problem which was almost as formidable as that with which we had started.

“I confess that so far, Watson (признаюсь, Ватсон, что пока), I had been disappointed in my investigation (я был разочарован /результатами/ расследования). I had reckoned upon solving the matter (я рассчитывал решить эту задачу; to reckon on — рассчитывать на; полагаться на; to reckon — считать, полагать) when once I had found the place referred to in the Ritual (обнаружив место, указанное в «Обряде»); but now I was there, and was apparently as far as ever from knowing (но теперь я стоял там /на том месте/, и, по-видимому, был так же далек от разгадки) what it was which the family had concealed with such elaborate precautions (что же было спрятано семейством с такими тщательными предосторожностями; precaution — предусмотрительность; мера предосторожности). It is true that I had thrown a light upon the fate of Brunton (правда, я пролил свет на участь Брантона), but now I had to ascertain how that fate had come upon him (но теперь мне нужно было выяснить, каким образом эта участь его постигла), and what part had been played in the matter by the woman who had disappeared (и какую роль сыграла в этом женщина, которая исчезла). I sat down upon a keg in the corner (я сел на бочонок в углу) and thought the whole matter carefully over (и тщательно обдумал все это дело).

“You know my methods in such cases, Watson (вы знаете мои методы в подобных случаях, Ватсон). I put myself in the man’s place (я ставлю себя на место действующего лица) and, having first gauged his intelligence (и, прежде оценив его умственные способности; to gauge — измерять; оценивать /человека, характер и т. д./), I try to imagine how I should myself have proceeded under the same circumstances (я пытаюсь представить, как бы я сам поступил при тех же обстоятельствах).

concealed [kqn`sJld], precaution [prI`kLS(q)n], gauged [geIGd]

“I confess that so far, Watson, I had been disappointed in my investigation. I had reckoned upon solving the matter when once I had found the place referred to in the Ritual; but now I was there, and was apparently as far as ever from knowing what it was which the family had concealed with such elaborate precautions. It is true that I had thrown a light upon the fate of Brunton, but now I had to ascertain how that fate had come upon him, and what part had been played in the matter by the woman who had disappeared. I sat down upon a keg in the corner and thought the whole matter carefully over.

“You know my methods in such cases, Watson. I put myself in the man’s place and, having first gauged his intelligence, I try to imagine how I should myself have proceeded under the same circumstances.

“In this case the matter was simplified by Brunton’s intelligence being quite first-rate (в этом случае дело упрощалось, так как Брантон обладал весьма незаурядным умом; first-rate — первоклассный, отличный, превосходный), so that it was unnecessary to make any allowance for the personal equation (так что не было необходимости делать поправку на разницу нашего с ним мышления; to make allowance for — принимать что-либо во внимание, в расчет; делать поправку на что-либо; personal equation — поправка на личные особенности; equation — выравнивание, уравнивание), as the astronomers have dubbed it (как это назвали астрономы; to dub — ровнять; дать прозвище, окрестить). He knew that something valuable was concealed (он знал, что нечто ценное было спрятано). He had spotted the place (он определил это место). He found that the stone which covered it (обнаружил, что плита, закрывающая /вход туда/) was just too heavy for a man to move unaided (слишком тяжелая, чтобы поднять ее без посторонней помощи; aid — помощь). What would he do next (что бы он сделал затем)? He could not get help from outside (он не мог прибегнуть к помощи /людей/ со стороны), even if he had some one whom he could trust (даже если бы у него был кто-то, кому он мог доверять), without the unbarring of doors and considerable risk of detection (не отпирая двери и не подвергаясь значительному риску быть обнаруженным: «риску обнаружения»; bar — брусок; засов). It was better, if he could, to have his helpmate inside the house (было бы лучше, если бы он сумел найти помощника внутри дома). But whom could he ask (но к кому он мог обратиться)?

“This girl had been devoted to him (та девушка была предана ему; to devote — посвящать, отдавать). A man always finds it hard to realize (мужчине всегда трудно поверить) that he may have finally lost a woman’s love (что он окончательно потерял любовь женщины), however badly he may have treated her (как бы плохо он с ней ни обходился).

allowance [q`lauqns], equation [I`kweIZ(q)n], astronomer [q`strOnqmq], unaided ["An`eIdId]

“In this case the matter was simplified by Brunton’s intelligence being quite first-rate, so that it was unnecessary to make any allowance for the personal equation, as the astronomers have dubbed it. He knew that something valuable was concealed. He had spotted the place. He found that the stone which covered it was just too heavy for a man to move unaided. What would he do next? He could not get help from outside, even if he had some one whom he could trust, without the unbarring of doors and considerable risk of detection. It was better, if he could, to have his helpmate inside the house. But whom could he ask?

“This girl had been devoted to him. A man always finds it hard to realize that he may have finally lost a woman’s love, however badly he may have treated her.

“He would try by a few attentions to make his peace with the girl Howells (возможно, оказывая знаки внимания, он попытался помириться с горничной Хауэллс; attention — внимание; ухаживание), and then would engage her as his accomplice (а потом сделал ее сообщницей; to engage — нанимать; привлекать, заинтересовывать). Together they would come at night to the cellar (ночью они вместе спустились в погреб), and their united force would suffice to raise the stone (и их совместных/объединенных усилий хватило, чтобы поднять камень). So far I could follow their actions as if I had actually seen them (до этого момента я мог проследить за их действиями, будто видел их на самом деле).

“But for two of them, and one a woman (но для двух /человек/, /особенно если/ один из них женщина), it must have been heavy work the raising of that stone (поднять камень, должно быть, явилось нелегкой работой). A burly Sussex policeman and I had found it no light job (мне и дюжему суссекскому полисмену это не показалось легкой работой). What would they do to assist them (что же они сделали, чтобы помочь себе)? Probably what I should have done myself (вероятно, /то же/, что сделал бы я сам). I rose and examined carefully the different billets of wood (я встал и внимательно осмотрел поленья; to rise; different — различный) which were scattered round the floor (валявшиеся на полу). Almost at once I came upon what I expected (почти сразу же я нашел то, что ожидал /найти/). One piece, about three feet in length (одно полено, примерно три фута длиной), had a very marked indentation at one end (имело очень отчетливое углубление на конце; indentation — вдавленность; впадина; отпечаток), while several were flattened at the sides (а несколько /других/ были сплющены на концах; flat — плоский) as if they had been compressed by some considerable weight (как будто они сдавливались значительной тяжестью).

accomplice [q`kOmplIs], burly [`bq:lI], several [`sev(q)rql], weight [weIt]

“He would try by a few attentions to make his peace with the girl Howells, and then would engage her as his accomplice. Together they would come at night to the cellar, and their united force would suffice to raise the stone. So far I could follow their actions as if I had actually seen them.

“But for two of them, and one a woman, it must have been heavy work the raising of that stone. A burly Sussex policeman and I had found it no light job. What would they do to assist them? Probably what I should have done myself. I rose and examined carefully the different billets of wood which were scattered round the floor. Almost at once I came upon what I expected. One piece, about three feet in length, had a very marked indentation at one end, while several were flattened at the sides as if they had been compressed by some considerable weight.

“Evidently, as they had dragged the stone up (по-видимому, приподняв плиту) they had thrust the chunks of wood into the chink (они просовывали эти поленья в щель; chunk — колода, чурбан), until at last, when the opening was large enough to crawl through (пока наконец отверстие не стало достаточно большим, чтобы протиснуться: «проползти» через него), they would hold it open by a billet placed lengthwise (они держали его открытым = подперли плиту поленом, поставленным вертикально; lengthwise — продольный, направленный в длину), which might very well become indented at the lower end (которое вполне могло получить вмятину на нижнем конце; indented — вдавленный, вогнутый), since the whole weight of the stone (так как весь вес плиты) would press it down on to the edge of this other slab (прижимал его к краю другой плиты; slab — плита; лист, пластина). So far I was still on safe ground (пока у меня по-прежнему были обоснованные предположения: «я был на надежной почве»).

“And now how was I to proceed to reconstruct this midnight drama (как же я должен был теперь восстанавливать /картину/ той полуночной драмы; to proceed — продолжать движение; действовать, поступать)? Clearly, only one could fit into the hole, and that one was Brunton (ясно, что только один /из них/ мог пролезть в отверстие, и это был Брантон; to fit — подходить, быть впору; умещаться). The girl must have waited above (девушка, должно быть, ждала наверху). Brunton then unlocked the box (затем Брантон отпер сундук), handed up the contents presumably (и, вероятно, передал наверх его содержимое) — since they were not to be found (поскольку его /содержимое/ не нашли) — and then — and then what happened (а потом… что же произошло потом)?

crawl [krLl], reconstruct ["rJkqn`strAkt], presumably [prI`zjHmqblI]

Evidently, as they had dragged the stone up they had thrust the chunks of wood into the chink, until at last, when the opening was large enough to crawl through, they would hold it open by a billet placed lengthwise, which might very well become indented at the lower end, since the whole weight of the stone would press it down on to the edge of this other slab. So far I was still on safe ground.

“And now how was I to proceed to reconstruct this midnight drama? Clearly, only one could fit into the hole, and that one was Brunton. The girl must have waited above. Brunton then unlocked the box, handed up the contents presumably — since they were not to be found — and then — and then what happened?

“What smouldering fire of vengeance (какой тлеющий огонь мести) had suddenly sprung into flame (внезапно вспыхнул; flame — пламя) in this passionate Celtic woman’s soul (в пылкой душе этой кельтской женщины) when she saw the man who had wronged her (когда она увидела, что мужчина, который обидел ее; to wrong — причинять зло, обижать; поступать несправедливо, подло; wrong — вред, зло; обида) — wronged her, perhaps, far more than we suspected (обидел, возможно, намного сильнее, чем мы подозревали) — in her power (находится в ее власти)? Was it a chance that the wood had slipped (случайно ли полено соскользнуло), and that the stone had shut Brunton into what had become his sepulcher (и плита замуровала Брантона в /комнатке/, которая стала его могилой; sepulcher — склеп, могила, гробница)? Had she only been guilty of silence as to his fate (виновна ли она только в молчании относительно его судьбы = только в том, что умолчала о его судьбе)? Or had some sudden blow from her hand dashed the support away (или внезапный удар ее руки выбил подпорку) and sent the slab crashing down into its place (и плита упала с грохотом на свое /прежнее/ место: «и послал плиту грохнуться…»)? Be that as it might (как бы то ни было: «пусть будет так, как это могло бы»), I seemed to see that woman’s figure still clutching at her treasure trove (я словно видел, как эта женщина прижимает к себе сокровище; treasure trove — найденный клад /не имеющий владельца/; trove — находка) and flying wildly up the winding stair (и летит = стремительно бежит вверх по винтовой лестнице), with her ears ringing perhaps with the muffled screams from behind her (а в ее ушах звучат приглушенные крики, /раздающиеся/ ей вслед; from behind — из-за, позади) and with the drumming of frenzied hands against the slab of stone (отчаянный стук рук по каменной плите; drum — барабан; to drum — барабанить, стучать, колотить; frenzied — бешеный, яростный; лихорадочный) which was choking her faithless lover’s life out (под которой задыхался ее неверный возлюбленный; to choke — душить; задыхаться; заглушать; faithless — вероломный, неверный).