Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Знак четырех

briefly [ˈbrɪ:flɪ], senior [ˈsɪnjǝ], captain [ˈkæptɪn], throat [Ɵrǝut]

"Briefly," she continued, "the facts are these. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child. My mother was dead, and I had no relative in England. I was placed, however, in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh, and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. In the year 1878 my father, who was senior captain of his regiment, obtained twelve months' leave and came home. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe, and directed me to come down at once, giving the Langham Hotel as his address. His message, as I remember, was full of kindness and love. On reaching London I drove to the Langham, and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there, but that he had gone out the night before and had not returned. I waited all day without news of him. That night, on the advice of the manager of the hotel, I communicated with the police, and next morning we advertised in all the papers. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. He came home with his heart full of hope, to find some peace, some comfort, and instead ——" She put her hand to her throat, and a choking sob cut short the sentence.

"The date?" asked Holmes, opening his note-book (точная дата, — спросил Холмс, открывая записную книжку).

"He disappeared upon the 3d of December, 1878, — nearly ten years ago (он исчез третьего декабря 1878 года, почти десять лет назад)."

"His luggage (его багаж)?"

"Remained at the hotel (остался в отеле). There was nothing in it to suggest a clue (в нем не было ничего, за что можно было бы зацепиться: «чтобы предложить/подсказать ключ»; clue — клубок, моток; ключ к разгадке чего-либо), — some clothes, some books, and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands (одежда, книги и значительное количество сувениров с Андаманских островов; curiosity — любознательность; диковина, редкость). He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there (он был одним из офицеров, отвечавших там за охрану заключенных; charge — заряд; руководство; ответственность; convict — отбывающий наказание; заключенный; каторжник)."

"Had he any friends in town (у него были друзья в городе)?"

luggage [ˈlʌɡɪʤ], clothes [klǝuðz], curiosity [ˌkjuǝrɪˈɔsǝtɪ], island [ˈaɪlǝnd], guard [ɡɑ:d]

"The date?" asked Holmes, opening his note-book.

"He disappeared upon the 3d of December, 1878, — nearly ten years ago."

"His luggage?"

"Remained at the hotel. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue, — some clothes, some books, and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there."

"Had he any friends in town?"

"Only one that we know of, — Major Sholto, of his own regiment, the 34th Bombay Infantry (мы знаем только об одном — майоре Шолто, его собственного полка, 34-го бомбейского пехотного). The major had retired some little time before, and lived at Upper Norwood (майор вышел в отставку незадолго до него и жил в Аппер-Норвуде; to retire — уходить в отставку, на пенсию). We communicated with him, of course (мы связались с ним, конечно), but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England (но он даже не знал, что его однополчанин: «коллега-офицер» был в Англии; brother — брат; собрат; коллега)."

"A singular case," remarked Holmes (необычное дело, — заметил Холмс; singular — исключительный, необыкновенный).

major [ˈmeɪʤǝ], retire [rɪˈtaɪǝ]

"Only one that we know of, — Major Sholto, of his own regiment, the 34th Bombay Infantry. The major had retired some little time before, and lived at Upper Norwood. We communicated with him, of course, but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England."

"A singular case," remarked Holmes.

"I have not yet described to you the most singular part (я еще не описала самую необычную часть). About six years ago — to be exact, upon the 4th of May, 1882 (около шести лет назад — точнее говоря, четвертого мая 1882 года; exact — точный) — an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan (в «Таймз» появилось объявление с просьбой сообщить: «спрашивающее» адрес мисс Мэри Морстен) and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward (где утверждалось, что в ее интересах дать о себе знать; advantage — преимущество; выгода, польза; to come forward — выступить; откликаться, отзываться). There was no name or address appended (имя или адрес не сообщались; to append — прикреплять; прилагать). I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess (я как раз в это время вошла в семью миссис Сесиль Форрестер в качестве гувернантки; capacity — вместимость, емкость; объем; роль, должность). By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column (по ее совету я опубликовала свой адрес в колонке объявлений). The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me (в тот же день по почте на мое имя прибыла небольшая картонная коробка; card-board — картон), which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl (которая, как я обнаружила, содержала очень большую блестящую жемчужину; to find — находить, обнаруживать; lustrous — блестящий; глянцевитый). No word of writing was enclosed (ни слова /в письменной форме/ не прилагалось; to enclose — окружать, огораживать; вкладывать; прилагать). Since then every year upon the same date (и с этого момента каждый год в одну и ту же дату) there has always appeared a similar box, containing a similar pearl, without any clue as to the sender (всегда появлялась подобная коробка, содержащая похожую жемчужину и не содержащая ни намека на отправителя). They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value (эксперт заявил, что они относятся к редкой разновидности и имеют большую ценность; to pronounce — объявлять; декларировать; variety — многообразие, разнообразие; вид, разновидность; сорт). You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome (вы можете сами убедиться, что они очень красивы; handsome — красивый)." She opened a flat box as she spoke (при этих словах /пока она говорила/ она открыла плоскую коробочку), and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen (и показала мне шесть самых великолепных жемчужин, которые я когда-либо видел).

describe [dɪˈskraɪb], advertisement [ǝdˈvǝ:tɪsmǝnt], column [ˈkɔlǝm], pearl [pǝ:l], handsome [ˈhænsǝm]

"I have not yet described to you the most singular part. About six years ago — to be exact, upon the 4th of May, 1882 — an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. There was no name or address appended. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me, which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. No word of writing was enclosed. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box, containing a similar pearl, without any clue as to the sender. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome." She opened a flat box as she spoke, and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen.

"Your statement is most interesting," said Sherlock Holmes (ваше сообщение чрезвычайно интересно, — сказал Шерлок Холмс; statement — заявление, утверждение; показания). "Has anything else occurred to you (с вами еще что-нибудь случилось)?"

"Yes, and no later than to-day (да, и не далее чем сегодня; later — более поздний; позже). That is why I have come to you (поэтому я к вам и пришла). This morning I received this letter, which you will perhaps read for yourself (этим утром я получила это письмо, которое вы, пожалуй, прочитаете сами)."

"Thank you," said Holmes. "The envelope too, please (спасибо, — сказал Холмс, — и конверт тоже, пожалуйста). Post-mark, London, S. W. (почтовый штемпель — Лондон, юго-западный округ; S. W. = south-west — юго-запад; юго-западный). Date, July 7 (дата: 7 июля). Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner, — probably postman (хм! в уголке отпечаток большого пальца — вероятно, почтальона; thumb — большой палец руки). Best quality paper (бумага высшего качества). Envelopes at sixpence a packet (конверт — шесть пенсов за пачку). Particular man in his stationery (разборчивый человек в том, что касается канцелярских принадлежностей; particular — редкий, особенный; привередливый, разборчивый; stationery — канцелярские принадлежности). No address (адреса нет). `Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to-night at seven o'clock (будьте у третьей колонны слева от входа /снаружи/ в театр «Лицеум» сегодня вечером в семь часов; pillar — столб, колонна). If you are distrustful, bring two friends (если у вас есть опасения, приведите с собой двух друзей; distrustful — недоверчивый; подозрительный; to distrust — не доверять; to trust — доверять). You are a wronged woman, and shall have justice (вы невинно пострадавшая женщина, и справедливость будет восстановлена; to wrong — вредить, наносить ущерб; причинять зло, поступать несправедливо; justice — справедливость). Do not bring police (не приводите полицию). If you do, all will be in vain (если приведете, все будет напрасно; vain — тщетный, напрасный). Your unknown friend (ваш неизвестный друг).' Well, really, this is a very pretty little mystery (ну, действительно, это очаровательная маленькая загадка; mystery — тайна, загадка). What do you intend to do, Miss Morstan (что вы намереваетесь делать, мисс Морстен)?"

occur [ǝˈkǝ:], particular [pǝˈtɪkjulǝ], thumb [Ɵʌm]

"Your statement is most interesting," said Sherlock Holmes. "Has anything else occurred to you?"

"Yes, and no later than to-day. That is why I have come to you. This morning I received this letter, which you will perhaps read for yourself."

"Thank you," said Holmes. "The envelope too, please. Post-mark, London, S. W. Date, July 7. Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner, — probably postman. Best quality paper. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. Particular man in his stationery. No address. `Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to-night at seven o'clock. If you are distrustful, bring two friends. You are a wronged woman, and shall have justice. Do not bring police. If you do, all will be in vain. Your unknown friend.' Well, really, this is a very pretty little mystery. What do you intend to do, Miss Morstan?"

"That is exactly what I want to ask you (это в точности то, что я хочу спросить у вас)."

"Then we shall most certainly go (тогда мы совершенно определенно пойдем). You and I and — yes, why, Dr. Watson is the very man (вы, я и — да, как же, доктор Ватсон — самый подходящий человек; very — тот самый; именно тот). Your correspondent says two friends (ваш корреспондент говорит «два друга»). He and I have worked together before (он /доктор Ватсон/ и я работали вместе и раньше)."