It were rather a joke, or a declaration as though he were laughing at himself,

In a manner that the audience found engaging. He never attempted to play

anyone but himself.

He specialized in men about town (он играл преимущественно:

«специализировался на» богатых повес; a man about town — светский

человек, жуир), gentlemanly gamblers (благородных игроков), guardsmen

(гвардейцев) and young scamps with a good side to them (и

привлекательных/добродушных молодых бездельников: «со своей хорошей

стороной»).

Managers liked him (импресарио любили его). He worked hard (он упорно

работал) and was amenable to direction (и подчинялся /их/ указаниям; amenable

— послушный, сговорчивый). So long as he could get work (пока он мог

получить работу) he didn't mind much (он не очень-то обращал внимание)

what sort of part it was (что это за роль была). He stuck out for the salary he

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thought he was worth (он требовал зарплату, которую, как он думал,

заслуживал: «стоил»; to stick out for — настаивать на чем-либо, требовать),

but if he couldn't get it (но если он не мог ее получить) was prepared to take less

(он был готов согласиться на меньшее) rather than be idle (чем остаться без

работы; idle — незанятый, безработный, свободный).

He was making his plans carefully (он прорабатывал свои планы тщательно).

During the winter that followed the end of the war (зимой: «во время зимы»,

которая последовала после окончания войны) there was an epidemic of

influenza (случилась эпидемия гриппа). His father and mother died (его

родители: «отец и мать» умерли). He inherited nearly four thousand pounds (он

унаследовал почти четыре тысячи фунтов), and this with his own savings (и эти

/деньги/, вместе его собственными накоплениями) and Julia's (и

/накоплениями/ Джулии) brought up their joint capital to seven thousand

(увеличили их совместный капитал до семи тысяч; to bring up — зд.

поднимать, доводить до определенного уровня).

gambler ['gxmblq] guardsman ['gQ:dz mqn]| (pl -men [-mqn]) amenable

[q'mi:nqbl] influenza ["InflV'enzq]

He specialized in men about town, gentlemanly gamblers, guardsmen and

young scamps with a good side to them.

Managers liked him. He worked hard and was amenable to direction. So long

as he could get work he didn't mind much what sort of part it was. He stuck

out for the salary he thought he was worth, but if he couldn't get it was

prepared to take less rather than be idle.

He was making his plans carefully. During the winter that followed the end of

the war there was an epidemic of influenza. His father and mother died. He

Inherited nearly four thousand pounds, and this with his own savings and

Julia's brought up their joint capital to seven thousand.

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But the rent of theatres had gone up enormously (но арендная плата за театры

повысилась чрезвычайно), the salaries of actors (зарплаты актеров; salary —

жалованье, заработная плата служащего) and the wages of stagehands had

increased (и зарплаты рабочих по сцене увеличились; wages — заработная

плата рабочих), so that the expense of running a theatre (и, таким образом,

затраты на руководство театром) was very much greater (были гораздо выше)

than it had been before the war (чем они были до войны). A sum that would then

have been amply sufficient to start management on (сумма, которая тогда была

бы более чем достаточна для начала собственного дела) was now inadequate

(была сейчас несоизмеримо /маленькой/; inadequate — несоответствующий,

недостаточный). The only thing was to find some rich man (единственное /что

оставалось сделать/ было найти некоего богатого человека) to go in with them

(/который/ бы вошел с ними /в долю/) so that a failure or two to begin with (так,

чтобы один или два провала для начала) would not drive them from the field (не

вышвырнули бы их из игры: «с поля»). It was said (говорили) that you could

always find a mug in the city (что всегда можно найти простофилю в городе) to

write a fat cheque (/который/ выпишет солидный чек; fat — жирный,

толстый, обильный) for the production of a play (на постановку спектакля), but

when you came down to business (но когда доходило до дела) you discovered

that the main condition was (обнаруживалось, что основным условием было то)

that the leading part should be played by some pretty lady (что главную роль

будет играть какая-то милая дамочка) in whom he was interested (в которой он

был заинтересован).

enormously [I'nO:mqslI] stagehand ['steIdZhxnd] inadequate [In'xdIkwIt]

cheque [tSek]

But the rent of theatres had gone up enormously, the salaries of actors and the

wages of stagehands had increased, so that the expense of running a theatre

was very much greater than it had been before the war. A sum that would

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then have been amply sufficient to start management on was now inadequate.

The only thing was to find some rich man to go in with them so that a failure

or two to begin with would not drive them from the field. It was said that you

could always find a mug in the city to write a fat cheque for the production of

a play, but when you came down to business you discovered that the main

condition was that the leading part should be played by some pretty lady in

whom he was interested.

Years before (годами раньше), Michael and Julia had often joked about the rich

old woman (Майкл и Джулия частенько шутили о богатой пожилой даме) who

would fall in love with him (которая влюбится в него) and set him up in

management (и поможет ему в открытии театра; to set smb. up in business —

помочь кому-либо устроиться, открыть дело). He had long since learnt (с тех

пор он давно усвоил: «выучил») that no rich old woman was to be found (что

никакая богатая пожилая дама не найдется) to set up in management a young

actor (/чтобы/ помочь в открытии театра молодому актеру) whose wife was an

actress (жена у которого была актрисой) to whom he was perfectly faithful (и

которой он был совершенно верен). In the end (в конце концов) the money was

found by a rich woman (деньги были найдены у богатой женщины), and not an

old one either (и не старой даже), but who was interested not in him but in Julia

(но которая была заинтересована не в нем, но в Джулии).

joke [dZqVk] faithful ['feITf(q)l] either ['aIDq]

Years before, Michael and Julia had often joked about the rich old woman

who would fall in love with him and set him up in management. He had long

since learnt that no rich old woman was to be found to set up in management

a young actor whose wife was an actress to whom he was perfectly faithful. In

the end the money was found by a rich woman, and not an old one either, but

who was interested not in him but in Julia.

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Mrs. de Vries was a widow (миссис де Фриз была вдовой). She was a short stout

woman (она была невысокой полной женщиной; short — короткий, низкий)

with a fine Jewish nose (с прекрасным еврейским носом) and fine Jewish eyes (и

прекрасными еврейскими глазами), a great deal of energy (очень энергичной),

a manner at once effusive and timid (с манерами одновременно экспансивными

и застенчивыми), and a somewhat virile air (и было в ней нечто мужское: « и

немного мужским видом»; air — воздух, атмосфера; манеры). She had a

passion for the stage (у нее была страсть к театру: «сцене»). When Julia and

Michael had decided to try their luck in London (когда Джулия и Майкл решили

попытать счастья в Лондоне; luck — судьба, случай, счастье, удача) Jimmie

Langton, to whose rescue she had sometimes come (Джимми Лэнгтон, к кому на

помощь она иногда приходила) when it looked as though he would be forced to

close his repertory theatre (когда казалось, что он будет вынужден закрыть

свой репертуарный театр; it looks as though — похоже на то, что), had written

to her (написал ей) asking her to do what she could for them (с просьбой к ней

сделать все что в ее силах: «что она могла» для них). She had seen Julia act in

Middlepool (она видела. как Джулия играла в Миддлпуле).

widow ['wIdqV] effusive [I'fju:sIv] timid ['tImId] virile ['vIraIl] rescue ['reskju:]

Mrs. de Vries was a widow. She was a short stout woman with a fine Jewish

nose and fine Jewish eyes, a great deal of energy, a manner at once effusive

and timid, and a somewhat virile air. She had a passion for the stage. When

Julia and Michael had decided to try their luck in London Jimmie Langton, to

whose rescue she had sometimes come when it looked as though he would be

forced to close his repertory theatre, had written to her asking her to do what

she could for them. She had seen Julia act in Middlepool.

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She gave parties (она устраивала приемы; to give a party — позвать гостей,

принимать гостей) so that the young actors might get to know managers (для

того, чтобы молодые актеры смогли познакомиться с импресарио; to get to

know — узнавать), and asked them to stay at her grand house near Guildford (и

приглашала их пожить в ее великолепном доме рядом с Гилфордом; to stay at

— останавливаться в), where they enjoyed a luxury (где они наслаждались

роскошью) they had never dreamt of (о которой даже и не мечтали). She did not

much like Michael (ей не очень нравился Майкл). Julia accepted the flowers

(Джулия /же/ принимала цветы) with which Dolly de Vries filled her flat and her

dressing-room (которым Долли де Фриз наполняла ее квартиру и

костюмерную /в театре/), she was properly delighted with the presents she gave

her (она подобающе радовалась подаркам, что /Долли/ дарила ей:), bags

(сумки), vanity cases (чемоданчики для косметики; vanity — тщеславие,

суета; зд. вечерняя дамская сумочка), strings of beads in semiprecious stones

(нити бус из полудрагоценных камней), brooches (броши); but appeared to be

unconscious (но, казалось, оставалась в полном неведении; to be unconscious

of — неосознающий, незнающий) that Dolly's generosity (что щедрость Долли)

was due to anything (объяснялась чем угодно; due to — благодаря, вследствие,

в результате) but admiration for her talent (кроме как восхищением ее

талантом).

luxury ['lAkS(q)rI] semiprecious ["semI'preSqs] generosity ["dZenq'rOsItI]

She gave parties so that the young actors might get to know managers, and

asked them to stay at her grand house near Guildford, where they enjoyed a

luxury they had never dreamt of. She did not much like Michael. Julia

accepted the flowers with which Dolly de Vries filled her flat and her

dressing-room, she was properly delighted with the presents she gave her,

bags, vanity cases, strings of beads in semiprecious stones, brooches; but

appeared to be unconscious that Dolly's generosity was due to anything but

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admiration for her talent.

When Michael went away to the war (когда Майкл уехал на войну) Dolly

pressed her to come and live in her house in Montagu Square (Долли настаивала,

чтобы она переехала и жила в ее доме на Монтегью Сквер; to press — жать,

нажимать, давить, прессовать), but Julia, with protestations of extravagant

gratitude (но Джулия, с торжественными заверениями в бесконечной

благодарности), refused in such a way (отказалась таким образом) that Dolly,

with a sigh and a tear, could only admire her the more (что Долли, со вздохом и

слезами: «слезой», могла только восхищаться ей еще больше). When Roger

was born (когда родился Роджер) Julia asked her to be his godmother (Джулия

попросила ее стать его крестной матерью).

For some time (некоторое время) Michael had been turning over in his mind

(Майкл мысленно обдумывал; to turn over — переворачивать, вращать,

обдумывать) the possibility that Dolly de Vries might put up the money

(возможность того, что Долли де Фриз даст деньги; to put up — зд.

финансировать, вкладывать деньги) they needed (/которые/ им были нужны),

but he was shrewd enough to know (но он был достаточно проницательным для

того, чтобы знать) that while she might do it for Julia (что, в то время как, она

может сделать это для Джулии) she would not do it for him (она не будет

делать это ради него). Julia refused to approach her (Джулия отказалась

обратиться к ней; to approach — подходить, приближаться, обращаться с

просьбой).

"She's already been so kind to us (она уже была так добра к нам) I really couldn't

ask her (я действительно не могу просить ее), and it would be so humiliating if

she refused (и это будет так унизительно, если она откажет)."

extravagant [Ik'strxvqgqnt] gratitude ['grxtItju:d] approach [q'prqVtS]

When Michael went away to the war Dolly pressed her to come and live in her

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200

house in Montagu Square, but Julia, with protestations of extravagant

gratitude, refused in such a way that Dolly, with a sigh and a tear, could only

admire her the more. When Roger was born Julia asked her to be his

godmother.

For some time Michael had been turning over in his mind the possibility that

Dolly de Vries might put up the money they needed, but he was shrewd

enough to know that while she might do it for Julia she would not do it for

him. Julia refused to approach her.

"She's already been so kind to us I really couldn't ask her, and it would be so

humiliating if she refused."

"It's a good gamble (это хорошая авантюра: «азартная игра»), and even if she

lost the money (и даже если она потеряет деньги) she wouldn't feel it (она этого

не почувствует). I'm quite sure (я полностью уверен) you could get round her

(ты смогла бы обвести ее /вокруг пальца/) if you tried (если бы ты захотела =

попыталась)."

Julia was pretty sure she could too (Джулия тоже была совершенно уверена, что

она смогла бы). Michael was very simple-minded in some ways (Майкл был

очень глуповатым: «бесхитростным» в некоторых отношениях); she did not

feel called upon (она не сочла необходимым; to feel called upon —

чувствовать призвание, потребность, быть призванным) to point out to him

the obvious facts (указать ему на очевидные факты).

But he was not a man who let a thing drop (но он не был человеком, который /с

легкостью/ бросал /идею/; to let drop smth. — выпустить, выронить,

обронить) when he had set his mind to it (когда он сосредоточился на ней).

They were going to Guildford to spend the week-end with Dolly (они ехали в

Гилфорд, чтобы провести выходные: «уик-энд» с Долли), and were driving

down after the Saturday night's performance (и выезжали /за город/ после

субботнего вечернего представления) in the new car (в новой машине) that

Julia had given Michael for his birthday (которую Джулия подарила Майклу на

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его день рождения).

gamble ['gxmb(q)l] simple-minded ["sImp(q)l'maIndId] Saturday ['sxtqdI]

"It's a good gamble, and even if she lost the money she wouldn't feel it. I'm

quite sure you could get round her if you tried."

Julia was pretty sure she could too. Michael was very simple-minded in some

ways; she did not feel called upon to point out to him the obvious facts.

But he was not a man who let a thing drop when he had set his mind to it.

They were going to Guildford to spend the week-end with Dolly, and were

driving down after the Saturday night's performance in the new car that Julia

had given Michael for his birthday.

It was a warm beautiful night (ночь была теплая и красивая). Michael had

bought options (Майкл купил опционы: «преимущественные права покупки»),

though it wrung his heart to write the cheques (хотя это и разрывало его сердце

— выписывать чеки), on three plays that they both liked (на три пьесы, которые

им обоим понравились), and he had heard of a theatre (и он слышал о театре)

that they could get on reasonable terms (который они могли бы получить на

разумных условиях). Everything was ready for the venture (все было готово для

открытия /нового предприятия/) except the capital (за исключением капитала).

He urged Julia (он убеждал Джулию) to seize the opportunity (воспользоваться

удачным случаем; to seize — хватать, схватить, завладеть) that the week-

end presented (который предлагал этот уик-энд).

"Ask her yourself then (проси ее сам в таком случае: «тогда»)," said Julia

impatiently (сказала Джулия с раздражением: «нетерпеливо»). "I tell you, I'm

not going to (/я/ говорю тебе, я не собираюсь /просить/)."

"She wouldn't do it for me (она не сделает этого для меня). You can twist her

round your little finger (ты же можешь окрутить ее: «обернуть ее вокруг твоего

маленького пальца = мизинца»)."

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venture ['ventSq] impatient [Im'peIS(q)nt] twist [twIst]