It was long after noon, and the day was already failing, before the door was opened and Dick taken forth and led up-stairs to where, in a warm cabinet, Earl Risingham sat musing over the fire.

On his captive's entrance he looked up.

"Sir," he said, "I knew your father, who was a man of honour, and this inclineth me to be the more lenient; but I may not hide from you that heavy charges lie against your character. Ye do consort with murderers and robbers; upon a clear probation ye have carried war against the king's peace; ye are suspected to have piratically seized upon a ship; ye are found skulking with a counterfeit presentment in your enemy's house; a man is slain that very evening — "

"An it like you, my lord," Dick interposed (если позволите, милорд, — перебил /его/ Дик), "I will at once avow my guilt, such as it is (я тут же признаю свою вину — такой, какая она есть). I slew this fellow Rutter (я убил этого парня, Раттера; to slay — убить); and to the proof" — searching in his bosom (а в доказательство /этого/, — пошарив у себя за пазухой) — "here is a letter from his wallet (вот письмо из его сумки)."

Lord Risingham took the letter (лорд Райзингем взял письмо), and opened and read it twice (и открыл, и прочел его дважды).

"Ye have read this?" he inquired (вы читали это? — спросил он).

"I have read it," answered Dick (я читал это, — ответил Дик).

"Are ye for York or Lancaster?" the earl demanded (вы за Йорка или за Ланкастера? — спросил граф).

"My lord, it was but a little while back that I was asked that question (милорд, лишь недавно мне задали этот вопрос), and knew not how to answer it," said Dick (и я не знал, как ответить на него, — сказал Дик); "but having answered once, I will not vary (но, ответив однажды, я не изменю /своего ответа/). My lord, I am for York (милорд, я за Йорка)."

avow [q`vaV], guilt [gIlt], vary [`veqrI]

"An it like you, my lord," Dick interposed, "I will at once avow my guilt, such as it is. I slew this fellow Rutter; and to the proof" — searching in his bosom — "here is a letter from his wallet."

Lord Risingham took the letter, and opened and read it twice.

"Ye have read this?" he inquired.

"I have read it," answered Dick.

"Are ye for York or Lancaster?" the earl demanded.

"My lord, it was but a little while back that I was asked that question, and knew not how to answer it," said Dick; "but having answered once, I will not vary. My lord, I am for York."

The earl nodded approvingly (граф одобрительно кивнул; to approve — одобрять).

"Honestly replied," he said (честно отвечено, — сказал он). "But wherefore, then, deliver me this letter (но зачем тогда вручать мне это письмо)?"

"Nay, but against traitors, my lord, are not all sides arrayed?" cried Dick (но против предателей, милорд, разве не все партии воюют: «выстроены»? — воскликнул Дик; to array — выстраивать /войска/).

"I would they were, young gentleman," returned the earl (я хотел бы, чтобы было так, юный джентльмен, — ответил граф); "and I do at least approve your saying (и я, по крайней мере, одобряю ваши слова). There is more youth than guile in you, I do perceive (в вас больше юношеского пыла: «юности», чем коварства, как я понимаю; to perceive — воспринимать, понимать, осознавать; постигать); and were not Sir Daniel a mighty man upon our side (и если бы сэр Дэниел не был сильным человеком на нашей стороне), I were half-tempted to espouse your quarrel (я был бы наполовину искушен поддержать ваш спор = вас; espouse — жениться; поддерживать /какое-л. дело, идею и т. п./). For I have inquired (ибо я навел справки: «расследовал»), and it appears ye have been hardly dealt with (и, кажется, с вами дурно обошлись; to deal — обходиться), and have much excuse (и у вас большие оправдания). But look ye, sir, I am, before all else, a leader in the queen's interest (но посмотрите, сэр, я прежде всего военачальник в интересах королевы = предводитель партии королевы); and though by nature a just man, as I believe (и хотя /я/ по природе — справедливый человек, я полагаю), and leaning even to the excess of mercy (и склоняюсь даже чересчур к милосердию: «к избытку милосердия»), yet must I order my goings for my party's interest (все же я должен подчинять свои поступки интересам моей партии), and, to keep Sir Daniel, I would go far about (и чтобы сохранить сэра Дэниела, я далеко пойду = на многое)."

espouse [I`spaVz], excess [Ik`ses]

The earl nodded approvingly.

"Honestly replied," he said. "But wherefore, then, deliver me this letter?"

"Nay, but against traitors, my lord, are not all sides arrayed?" cried Dick.

"I would they were, young gentleman," returned the earl; "and I do at least approve your saying. There is more youth than guile in you, I do perceive; and were not Sir Daniel a mighty man upon our side, I were half-tempted to espouse your quarrel. For I have inquired, and it appears ye have been hardly dealt with, and have much excuse. But look ye, sir, I am, before all else, a leader in the queen's interest; and though by nature a just man, as I believe, and leaning even to the excess of mercy, yet must I order my goings for my party's interest, and, to keep Sir Daniel, I would go far about."

"My lord," returned Dick, "ye will think me very bold to counsel you (милорд, — ответил Дик, — вы сочтете меня очень самоуверенным — советовать вам); but do ye count upon Sir Daniel's faith (но полагаетесь ли вы на верность сэра Дэниела)? Methought he had changed sides intolerably often (мне кажется, он переходил из партию в партию: «менял стороны» непозволительно часто; to tolerate — терпеть, относиться терпимо)."

"Nay, it is the way of England (что ж, это обычай в Англии). What would ye have?" the earl demanded (чего же вы хотите? — спросил граф). "But ye are unjust to the knight of Tunstall (но вы несправедливы к Танстоллскому рыцарю); and as faith goes, in this unfaithful generation (и, насколько можно говорить о верности, в этом неверном поколении), he hath of late been honourably true to us of Lancaster (он в последнее время был благородно верен нам — ланкастерцам). Even in our last reverses he stood firm (даже в наших последних неудачах он выстоял прочно)."

"An it pleased you, then," said Dick, "to cast your eye upon this letter (тогда, если вы соблаговолите, — сказал Дик, — бросить взгляд на это письмо: «глаз»), ye might somewhat change your thought of him (вы можете несколько изменить свое мнение о нем);" and he handed to the earl Sir Daniel's letter to Lord Wensleydale (и он протянул графу письмо сэра Дэниела лорду Уэнслидейлу).

reverse [rI`vWs]

"My lord," returned Dick, "ye will think me very bold to counsel you; but do ye count upon Sir Daniel's faith? Methought he had changed sides intolerably often."

"Nay, it is the way of England. What would ye have?" the earl demanded. "But ye are unjust to the knight of Tunstall; and as faith goes, in this unfaithful generation, he hath of late been honourably true to us of Lancaster. Even in our last reverses he stood firm."

"An it pleased you, then," said Dick, "to cast your eye upon this letter, ye might somewhat change your thought of him;" and he handed to the earl Sir Daniel's letter to Lord Wensleydale.

The effect upon the earl's countenance was instant (эффект на выражение лица графа был мгновенным); he lowered like an angry lion (он нахмурился, как рассерженный лев), and his hand, with a sudden movement, clutched at his dagger (и его рука внезапным движением сжала кинжал).

"Ye have read this also?" he asked (вы это тоже читали? — спросил он).

"Even so," said Dick (так точно, — сказал Дик). "It is your lordship's own estate he offers to Lord Wensleydale (не ваше ли собственное поместье он предлагает лорду Уэнслидейлу)?"

"It is my own estate, even as ye say!" returned the earl (это мое собственное поместье, как вы и говорите! — ответил граф). "I am your bedesman for this letter (я у вас в долгу за это письмо: «благодарный должник»). It hath shown me a fox's hole (оно указало мне лисью нору; to show — показывать). Command me, Master Shelton (приказывайте мне, мастер Шелтон); I will not be backward in gratitude (я не буду медлителен = не замедлю с благодарностью), and to begin with, York or Lancaster, true man or thief (и для начала — йоркист вы или ланкастерец, честный человек или вор), I do now set you at freedom (я теперь же отпускаю вас на свободу). Go, a Mary's name (ступайте, во имя Девы Марии)! But judge it right that I retain and hang your fellow, Lawless (но сочтите правильным, что я удержу = не отпущу и повешу вашего товарища, Лоулесса). The crime hath been most open (преступление было откровенным), and it were fitting that some open punishment should follow (и нужно, чтобы последовало какое-либо откровенное наказание; fitting — подходящий; to fit — быть впору, быть в самый раз; подходить, быть подходящим для /чего-л./, соответствовать /чему-л./)."

The effect upon the earl's countenance was instant; he lowered like an angry lion, and his hand, with a sudden movement, clutched at his dagger.

"Ye have read this also?" he asked.

"Even so," said Dick. "It is your lordship's own estate he offers to Lord Wensleydale?"

"It is my own estate, even as ye say!" returned the earl. "I am your bedesman for this letter. It hath shown me a fox's hole. Command me, Master Shelton; I will not be backward in gratitude, and to begin with, York or Lancaster, true man or thief, I do now set you at freedom. Go, a Mary's name! But judge it right that I retain and hang your fellow, Lawless. The crime hath been most open, and it were fitting that some open punishment should follow."

"My lord, I make it my first suit to you to spare him also," pleaded Dick (милорд, я подаю вам свое первое прошение — пощадить и его тоже, — попросил Дик).

"It is an old, condemned rogue (это старый, прóклятый плут; to condemn — приговаривать, выносить приговор), thief, and vagabond, Master Shelton," said the earl (вор и бродяга, мастер Шелтон, — сказал граф). "He hath been gallows-ripe this score of years (он созрел для виселицы вот уже двадцать лет тому назад). And, whether for one thing or another (за одно или за другое), whether to-morrow or the day after (завтра или послезавтра), where is the great choice (большая ли разница: «где большой выбор»)?"

"Yet, my lord, it was through love to me that he came hither," answered Dick (и все же, милорд, это из любви ко мне он пришел сюда, — ответил Дик), "and I were churlish and thankless to desert him (и я был бы груб и неблагодарен, если бы бросил его)."

hither [`hIDq]

"My lord, I make it my first suit to you to spare him also," pleaded Dick.

"It is an old, condemned rogue, thief, and vagabond, Master Shelton," said the earl. "He hath been gallows-ripe this score of years. And, whether for one thing or another, whether to-morrow or the day after, where is the great choice?"

"Yet, my lord, it was through love to me that he came hither," answered Dick, "and I were churlish and thankless to desert him."

"Master Shelton, ye are troublesome," replied the earl, severely (мастер Шелтон, вы причиняете хлопоты, — строго ответил граф; trouble — беспокойство, волнение, тревога; troublesome — причиняющий беспокойство; трудный; беспокойный). "It is an evil way to prosper in this world (это — дурной способ процветать в мире). Howbeit, and to be quit of your importunity (однако, чтобы избавиться от вашей назойливости; to importune — домогаться; надоедать /просьбами/), I will once more humour you (я еще раз угожу вам). Go, then, together (значит, ступайте вместе); but go warily, and get swiftly out of Shoreby town (но идите осторожно и быстро выбирайтесь из города Шорби). For this Sir Daniel (whom may the saints confound (ибо этот сэр Дэниел, которого святые да накажут)!) thirsteth most greedily to have your blood (страстно жаждет вашей крови: «жадно»)."

"My lord, I do now offer you in words my gratitude (милорд, я сейчас предлагаю вам мою благодарность на словах), trusting at some brief date to pay you some of it in service (надеясь в скором времени отплатить вам ею на деле: «службой»)," replied Dick, as he turned from the apartment (ответил Дик, поворачиваясь = уходя из комнаты).

prosper [`prOspq]

"Master Shelton, ye are troublesome," replied the earl, severely. "It is an evil way to prosper in this world. Howbeit, and to be quit of your importunity, I will once more humour you. Go, then, together; but go warily, and get swiftly out of Shoreby town. For this Sir Daniel (whom may the saints confound!) thirsteth most greedily to have your blood."

"My lord, I do now offer you in words my gratitude, trusting at some brief date to pay you some of it in service," replied Dick, as he turned from the apartment.