In London and read that his establishment had been burglarized and him

murdered. I was in Paris the next day." He shook his head sadly. "The

bird was gone. By Gad, sir, I was wild. I didn't believe anybody else knew

what it was. I didn't believe he had told anybody but me. A great

quantity of stuff had been stolen.

That made me think (это заставило меня думать) that the thief had simply

taken the bird along (что вор просто взял птицу) with the rest of his plunder

(вместе с другим награбленным), not knowing what it was (не зная, что

это). Because I assure you (потому что, я уверяю вас) that a thief who knew

its value (что вор, который знал бы ее ценность) would not burden himself

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with anything else (не стал бы обременять себя чем-то еще) — no, sir (нет,

сэр) — at least not anything less than crown jewels (по крайней мере, не

чем-то меньшим, чем королевские регалии и драгоценности; crown —

корона, венец)."

He shut his eyes (он закрыл глаза) and smiled complacently (и

самодовольно улыбнулся) at an inner thought (внутренней мысли). He

opened his eyes and said (он открыл свои глаза и сказал): "That was

seventeen years ago (это было семнадцать лет назад). Well, Sir, it took me

seventeen years (так, сэр, это заняло у меня семнадцать лет) to locate that

bird (чтобы установить местонахождение этой птицы), but I did it (но я

сделал это). I wanted it (я хотел ее), and I'm not a man (и я не человек)

that's easily discouraged (который просто падает духом; courage —

бесстрашие, мужество, « кураж»; to discourage — лишать мужества,

силы духа, уверенности в себе; обескураживать) when he wants

something (когда он хочет чего-нибудь)."

crown [kraVn] locate [lqV'keIt] discourage [dIs'kArIdZ]

That made me think that the thief had simply taken the bird along with

the rest of his plunder, not knowing what it was. Because I assure you

that a thief who knew its value would not burden himself with anything

else — no, sir — at least not anything less than crown jewels."

He shut his eyes and smiled complacently at an inner thought. He opened

his eyes and said: "That was seventeen years ago. Well, Sir, it took me

seventeen years to locate that bird, but I did it. I wanted it, and I'm not a

man that's easily discouraged when he wants something."

His smile grew broad (его улыбка расплылась: «стала широкой»). "I

wanted it and I found it (я хотел ее, и я нашел ее). I want it and I'm going to

have it (я хочу ее, и я собираюсь заполучить ее)." He drained his glass (он

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осушил свой бокал), dried his lips again (снова насухо вытер свои губы),

and returned his handkerchief to his pocket (и вернул свой носовой платок

в свой карман). "I traced it to the home of a Russian general (я проследил

ее до дома некоего русского генерала) — one Kemidov (некий Кемидов)

— in a Constantinople suburb (в пригороде Константинополя). He didn't

know a thing about it (он ничего не знал об этом). It was nothing but a

black enameled figure to him (для него это не было ничем, кроме черной

эмалированной фигуры), but his natural contrariness (но его природное

упрямство) — the natural contrariness of a Russian general (природное

упрямство русского генерала) — kept him from selling it to me (удержало

его от продаже ее мне) when I made him an offer (когда я сделал ему

предложение). Perhaps in my eagerness (наверное, в моем рвении) I was a

little unskillful (я был немного неумелым; skill — мастерство, умение;

сноровка), though not very (хотя не очень).

general ['dZen(q)rql] contrariness [kqn'tre(q)rInIs] unskillful ["An'skIlful]

His smile grew broad. "I wanted it and I found it. I want it and I'm going

to have it." He drained his glass, dried his lips again, and returned his

handkerchief to his pocket. "I traced it to the home of a Russian general

— one Kemidov — in a Constantinople suburb. He didn't know a thing

about it. It was nothing but a black enameled figure to him, but his

natural contrariness — the natural contrariness of a Russian general —

kept him from selling it to me when I made him an offer. Perhaps in my

eagerness I was a little unskillful, though not very.

I don't know about that (я не знаю об этом). But I did know I wanted it (но я

знал, я хочу ее) and I was afraid this stupid soldier (и я боялся, что этот

глупый военный: «солдат») might begin to investigate his property (может

начать исследовать свою собственность), might chip off some of the

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enamel (может отколоть немного эмали). So I sent some (так я послал

несколько) — ah (э) — agents to get it (агентов, чтобы получить ее). Well,

sir, they got it (ну, сэр, они получили ее) and I haven't got it (а я не

получил ее)." He stood up (он встал) and carried his empty glass (и отнес

свой пустой бокал) to the table (к столу). "But I'm going to get it (но я

собираюсь получить ее). Your glass , sir (ваш бокал, сэр)."

"Then the bird doesn't belong to any of you (тогда птица не

принадлежит никому из вас)?" Spade asked (спросил Спейд), "but to a

General Kemidov (а генералу Кемидову)?"

stupid ['stju:pId] investigate [In'vestIgeIt] property ['prOpqtI]