Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы

Моэм Сомерсет Уильям

"I understand you're very friendly with the Longstaffes (насколько я знаю, вы очень дружны с Лонгстафами). Mary Longstaffe is my sister (Мэри Лонгстаф — моя сестра)."

conceal [kqn'si: l], confusion [kqn'fju: Z(q)n], awkward ['O: kwqd], discern [dI'sWn]

Bateman turned white and he felt his hands grow cold. This was the forger, the convict, this was Isabel's uncle. He did not know what to say. He tried to conceal his confusion. Arnold Jackson looked at him with twinkling eyes.

"I daresay my name is familiar to you."

Bateman did not know whether to say yes or no, and what made it more awkward was that both Jackson and Edward seemed to be amused. It was bad enough to have forced on him the acquaintance of the one man on the island he would rather have avoided, but worse to discern that he was being made a fool of. Perhaps, however, he had reached this conclusion too quickly, for Jackson, without a pause, added:

"I understand you're very friendly with the Longstaffes. Mary Longstaffe is my sister."

Now Bateman asked himself if Arnold Jackson could think him ignorant (теперь

Бейтман задался вопросом, уж не считает ли Арнольд Джексон, что он не знает; ignorant — невежественный; незнающий, не информированный о чем-либо) of the most terrible scandal that Chicago had ever known (о самом ужасном скандале в истории Чикаго: «который когда-либо знал Чикаго»). But Jackson put his hand on Edward's shoulder (Джексон положил свою руку Эдварду на плечо).

"I can't sit down, Teddie (я не могу к вам присоединиться: «сесть», Тедди; Teddy=Teddie— уменьш. — ласк. от Эдвард)," he said. "I'm busy (я занят). But you two boys had better come up and dine to-night (лучше уж вы, ребята: «двое ребят», приходите, поужинаем сегодня вечером)."

"That'll be fine (прекрасно)," said Edward.

"It's very kind of you, Mr. Jackson (очень любезно с вашей стороны, мистер Джексон)," said Bateman, frigidly (холодно сказал Бейтман), "but I'm here for so short a time (но я здесь не очень надолго); my boat sails to-morrow, you know (знаете ли, мой корабль отплывает завтра); I think if you'll forgive me, I won't come (я думаю, если вы не против: «если вы простите меня», я не приду)."

ignorant ['Ignqrqnt], shoulder ['Squldq], frigidly ['frIdZIdlI]

Now Bateman asked himself if Arnold Jackson could think him ignorant of the most terrible scandal that Chicago had ever known. But Jackson put his hand on Edward's shoulder.

"I can't sit down, Teddie," he said. "I'm busy. But you two boys had better come up and dine to-night."

"That'll be fine," said Edward.

"It's very kind of you, Mr. Jackson," said Bateman, frigidly, "but I'm here for so short a time; my boat sails to-morrow, you know; I think if you'll forgive me, I won't come."

"Oh, nonsense (о, какая ерунда). I'll give you a native dinner (я угощу вас ужином из местных /блюд/). My wife's a wonderful cook (моя

жена — удивительная кулинарка). Teddie will show you the way (Тедди покажет вам путь). Come early so as to see the sunset (приходите пораньше, чтобы увидеть закат). I can give you both a shake-down if you like (если захотите, я дам вам /обоим/ по соломенному тюфяку; shake-down— импровизированная постель /из соломы и т. п., чаще на полу/)."

"Of course we'll come (конечно же, мы придем)," said Edward. "There's always the devil of a row in the hotel in the night a boat arrives (в гостинице всегда невообразимый шум — в ночь, когда приходит корабль; devil — дьявол, черт; эмоц. — усил. черт) and we can have a good yarn up at the bungalow (и мы сможем как следует поболтать в бунгало; yarn — пряжа, нить; разг. длинный рассказ/о чем-либо/)."

"I can't let you off, Mr. Hunter (я не могу позволить вам уйти, мистер Хантер)," Jackson continued with the utmost cordiality (продолжил Джексон с величайшей сердечностью). "I want to hear all about Chicago and Mary (я хочу услышать все-все о Чикаго и Мэри)."

He nodded and walked away before Bateman could say another word (он кивнул /в знак прощания/ и ушел, прежде чем Бейтман смог вымолвить хоть слово).

"We don't take refusals in Tahiti (мы не принимаем отказов /здесь/ на Таити)," laughed Edward (рассмеялся Эдвард). "Besides, you'll get the best dinner on the island (кроме того, тебя угостят самым лучшим ужином на всем острове)."

yarn [jQ: n], bungalow ['bANgqlqV], refusal [rI'fju: z(q)l]

"Oh, nonsense. I'll give you a native dinner. My wife's a wonderful cook. Teddie will show you the way. Come early so as to see the sunset. I can give you both a shake-down if you like."

"Of course we'll come," said Edward. "There's always the devil of a row in the hotel in the night a boat arrives and we can have a good yarn up at the bungalow."

"I can't let you off, Mr. Hunter," Jackson continued with the utmost cordiality. "I want to hear all about Chicago and Mary."

He nodded and walked away before Bateman could say another word.

"We don't take refusals in Tahiti," laughed Edward. "Besides, you'll get the best dinner on the island."

"What did he mean by saying his wife was a good cook (что он имел в виду, когда сказал, что его жена хорошая кухарка)? I happen to know his wife in Geneva (мне случилось познакомиться с его женой в Женеве; to happen— случаться, происходить; посчастливиться: I happen to know him — мне посчастливилось знать его)."

"That's a long way off for a wife, isn't it (далековато для жены, не так ли)?" said Edward. "And it's a long time since he saw her (и уж много времени прошло с тех пор, как он видел ее). I guess it's another wife he's talking about (я думаю, что он говорит о другой жене)."