Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды / Anthony Hope. The Prisoner Of Zenda
Шрифт:
“I need no schooling, colonel,” said Fritz, a trifle haughtily (не нужно меня учить: «я не нуждаюсь в обучении», полковник, – сказал Фриц немного высокомерно).
“Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak,” Sapt continued to me (вот, закутайтесь в этот большой плащ, – продолжал Сэпт, /обращаясь/ ко мне), “and put on this flat cap (и наденьте эту шляпу; flat cap – шляпа с низкой тульей, которую носили в Лондоне в XVI–XVIII вв.; flat – плоский). My orderly rides with me to the hunting-lodge tonight (сегодня вечером со мной в охотничий домик едет мой ординарец).”
“There’s an obstacle,” I observed (есть одно препятствие, – заметил я). “The horse doesn’t live that can carry me forty miles (в природе нет такой лошади: «такая лошадь не живет», которая сможет нести меня сорок миль).”
And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile hero produce.
“Now, Fritz,” said he, “the King goes to bed. He is upset. No one is to see him till nine o’clock tomorrow. You understand – no one?”
“I understand,” answered Fritz.
“Michael may come, and claim immediate audience. You’ll answer that only princes of the blood are entitled to it.”
“That’ll annoy Michael,” laughed Fritz.
“You quite understand?” asked Sapt again. “If the door of this room is opened while we’re away, you’re not to be alive to tell us about it.”
“I need no schooling, colonel,” said Fritz, a trifle haughtily.
“Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak,” Sapt continued to me, “and put on this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the hunting-lodge tonight.”
“There’s an obstacle,” I observed. “The horse doesn’t live that can carry me forty miles.”
“Oh, yes, he does – two of him: one here – one at the lodge (нет,
“I’m ready,” said I (я готов, – сказал я).
Fritz held out his hand (Фриц протянул руку; to hold – держать; to hold out – протягивать, предлагать).
“In case,” said he; and we shook hands heartily (на всякий случай, – сказал он, и мы сердечно пожали руки; to shake).
“Damn your sentiment!” growled Sapt. “Come along (к черту ваши сантименты! – проворчал Сэпт, – пойдемте же; to damn – проклинать; sentiment – чувство; сентиментальность).”
He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the wall (он пошел, но не к двери, а к панели в стене).
“In the old King’s time,” said he, “I knew this way well (во времена /правления/ старого короля, – сказал он, – я хорошо знал эту дорогу).”
I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate (я последовал за ним, и мы прошли, по моим подсчетам; to estimate – оценивать; подсчитывать, прикидывать), near two hundred yards along a narrow passage (примерно две сотни ярдов по узкому проходу/коридору). Then we came to a stout oak door (затем мы подошли к крепкой дубовой двери). Sapt unlocked it (Сэпт открыл ее /ключом/; lock – замок). We passed through, and found ourselves in a quiet street (мы прошли в нее и оказались на тихой улочке; to find oneself – обрести себя; оказаться, очутиться) that ran along the back of the Palace gardens (которая проходила позади дворцового сада; to run – бежать; проходить, простираться). A man was waiting for us with two horses (нас ждал какой-то человек с двумя лошадьми). One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight (одна /из них/ была великолепная гнедая, способная выдержать любого: «любой вес»; to be up to – подходить, соответствовать /чему-л., кому-л./); the other a sturdy brown (другая – бурая, выносливая /на вид/; sturdy – сильный, крепкий; стойкий). Sapt signed to me to mount the bay (Сэпт сделал мне знак сесть на гнедую). Without a word to the man, we mounted and rode away (не сказав ни слова тому человеку, мы вскочили в седла и ускакали).
“Oh, yes, he does – two of him: one here – one at the lodge. Now, are you ready?”
“I’m ready,” said I.
Fritz held out his hand.
“In case,” said he; and we shook hands heartily.
“Damn your sentiment!” growled Sapt. “Come along.”
He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the wall.
“In the old King’s time,” said he, “I knew this way well.”
I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate, near two hundred yards along a narrow passage. Then we came to a stout oak door. Sapt unlocked it. We passed through, and found ourselves in a quiet street that ran along the back of the Palace gardens. A man was waiting for us with two horses. One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight; the other a sturdy brown. Sapt signed to me to mount the bay. Without a word to the man, we mounted and rode away.
The town was full of noise and merriment (город
“Have your weapon ready,” whispered Sapt (держите оружие наготове, – прошептал Сэпт). “We must stop his mouth, if he talks (мы должны заткнуть ему рот, если он /начнет/ болтать; to stop – останавливать/ся/; затыкать).”
I put my hand on my revolver (я положил руку на /рукоятку/ револьвера). Sapt hailed the doorkeeper (Сэпт окликнул привратника). The stars fought for us (небеса были к нам благосклонны: «звезды боролись за нас»; to fight)! A little girl of fourteen tripped out (выбежала девчушка лет четырнадцати; to trip – идти быстро и легко; trip – путешествие, поездка; быстрая легкая походка, легкий шаг).
“Please, sir, father’s gone to see the King (пожалуйста, сэр, отец пошел посмотреть на короля).”
“He’d better have stayed here,” said Sapt to me, grinning (лучше бы он остался здесь, – сказал мне Сэпт, ухмыляясь).
The town was full of noise and merriment, but we took secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over half my face; the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my tell-tale hair. By Sapt’s directions, I crouched on my saddle, and rode with such a round back as I hope never to exhibit on a horse again. Down a long narrow lane we went, meeting some wanderers and some roisterers; and, as we rode, we heard the Cathedral bells still clanging out their welcome to the King. It was half past six, and still light. At last we came to the city wall and to a gate.
“Have your weapon ready,” whispered Sapt. “We must stop his mouth, if he talks.”
I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the doorkeeper. The stars fought for us! A little girl of fourteen tripped out.
“Please, sir, father’s gone to see the King.”
“He’d better have stayed here,” said Sapt to me, grinning.
“But he said I wasn’t to open the gate, sir (но он сказал, что я не должна открывать ворота, сэр).”
“Did he, my dear?” said Sapt, dismounting (он так сказал, милая? – спросил Сэпт, слезая с коня). “Then give me the key (тогда дай мне ключ).”