Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы
Шрифт:
"Shall I tell you what I did (сказать вам, что я сделал)? I called them and gave the whole bally lot the sack (я позвал их и уволил всю /эту/ проклятую компанию; to give the sack — уволить кого-либо; lot — лот, жребий; компания). I gave them ten minutes to get out of the compound (я дал им десять минут, чтобы покинуть мой дом: «уйти из строения»)."
Mr. Warburton shrugged his shoulders (мистер Уорбертон пожал плечами).
"What makes you think you can get others (что заставляет вас думать = почему вы думаете, что вы можете нанять: «получить» других)?"
"I`ve told my own clerk to see about it (я сказал/велел своему личному секретарю об этом позаботиться; to see about — позаботиться о чем-либо)."
Mr. Warburton reflected for a moment (мистер Уорбертон минуту подумал).
"I think you behaved very foolishly (я
signify [`sIgnIfaI], sack [sxk], reflect [rI`flekt]
Mr. Warburton nodded to signify that the interview was at an end. Cooper took no notice.
"Shall I tell you what I did? I called them and gave the whole bally lot the sack. I gave them ten minutes to get out of the compound."
Mr. Warburton shrugged his shoulders.
"What makes you think you can get others?"
"I`ve told my own clerk to see about it."
Mr. Warburton reflected for a moment.
"I think you behaved very foolishly. You will do well to remember in future that good masters make good servants."
"Is there anything else you want to teach me (есть еще что-то, чему = чему еще вы хотите меня учить)?"
"I should like to teach you manners (я бы хотел поучить вас хорошим манерам), but it would be an arduous task (но это будет трудной задачей; arduous — трудный, тяжелый), and I have not the time to waste (а у меня нету времени, чтобы его тратить впустую). I will see that you get boys (я посмотрю/позабочусь, чтобы у вас была прислуга: «чтобы вы получили боев»)."
"Please don`t put yourself to any trouble on my account (пожалуйста, не беспокойтесь обо мне: «насчет меня»). I`m quite capable of getting them for myself (я вполне способен получить/достать = найти их себе)."
Mr. Warburton smiled acidly (мистер Уорбертон едко/кисло улыбнулся). He had an inkling that Cooper disliked him as much as he disliked Cooper (он подозревал: «имел легкое подозрение», что Купер не любил его так же, как он не любил Купера), and he knew that nothing is more galling than to be forced to accept the favours of a man you detest (и он знал, что нет ничего более раздражающего, чем быть вынужденным принять одолжения/услуги от человека, которого ненавидишь; gall— желчь;to gall— раздражать).
arduous [`Q: djuqs], manner [`mxnq], gall [gxl], accept [qk`sept], favour [`feIvq]
"Is there anything else you want to teach me?"
"I should like to teach you manners, but it would be an arduous task, and I have not the time to waste. I will see that you get boys."
"Please don`t put yourself to any trouble on my account. I`m quite capable of getting them for myself."
Mr. Warburton smiled acidly. He had an inkling that Cooper disliked him as much as he disliked Cooper, and he knew that nothing is more galling than to be forced to accept the favours of a man you detest.
"Allow me to tell you that you have no more chance of getting Malay or Chinese servants here now (разрешите мне = позвольте сказать вам, что теперь у вас не больше возможности получить = нанять здесь малайских или китайских слуг) than you have of getting an English butler or a French chef (чем получить = нанять английского/англичанина-дворецкого или французского повара/повара-француза). No one will come to you except on an order from me (никто не придет к вам, кроме как по моему распоряжению: «по распоряжению от меня»). Would you like me to give it (хотите, чтобы я его отдал)?”
"No."
"As you please (как вам угодно). Good morning (хорошего вам утра)."
chance [tSQ: ns], except [I'ksept]
"Allow me to tell you that you have no more chance of getting Malay or Chinese servants here now than you have of getting an English butler or a French chef. No one will come to you except on an order from me. Would you like me to give it?"
"No."
"As you please. Good morning."
Mr. Warburton watched the development of the situation with acrid humour (мистер
humour [`hju: mq], coarse [kO: s], sullen [`sAlqn], violent [`vaIqlqnt], humiliation [hju: mIlI`eISn], idiosyncrasy [IdIq`sINkrqsI], malicious [mq`lISqs]
Mr. Warburton watched the development of the situation with acrid humour. Cooper`s clerk was unable to persuade Malay, Dyak or Chinese to enter the house of such a master. Abas, the boy who remained faithful to him, knew how to cook only native food, and Cooper, a coarse feeder, found his gorge rise against the everlasting rice. There was no water-carrier, and in that great heat he needed several baths a day. He cursed Abas, but Abas opposed him with sullen resistance and would not do more than he chose. It was galling to know that the lad stayed with him only because the Resident insisted. This went on for a fortnight and then, one morning, he found in his house the very servants whom he had previously dismissed. He fell into a violent rage, but he had learnt a little sense, and this time, without a word, he let them stay. He swallowed his humiliation, but the impatient contempt he had felt for Mr. Warburton`s idiosyncrasies changed into a sullen hatred: the Resident with this malicious stroke had made him the laughing-stock of all the natives.