“Lord Robert St. Simon,” announced our page-boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-colored gaiters. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his golden eyeglasses.

“Good-day, Lord St. Simon (добрый день, лорд Сент-Саймон),” said Holmes, rising and bowing (сказал Холмс, поднимаясь и кланяясь). “Pray take the basket-chair (садитесь, пожалуйста, в плетеное кресло). This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson (это мой друг и коллега, доктор Ватсон). Draw up a little to the fire (придвиньтесь поближе к огню), and we will talk this matter over (и обсудим ваше дело).”

“A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr. Holmes (очень мучительное для меня, как вы легко можете себе представить, мистер Холмс; readily — охотно, быстро, с готовностью; легко, без труда). I have been cut to the quick (я глубоко потрясен; to cut to the quick — глубоко задеть /чьи-либо чувства/; задеть за живое, глубоко уязвить). I understand that you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir (понимаю, что вы уже расследовали несколько щекотливых дел подобного рода, сэр; to manage — управлять/ся/, справляться), though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society (хотя, полагаю, едва ли /ваши клиенты/ принадлежали к тому же классу общества).”

“No, I am descending (нет, я спускаюсь /на ступень/ вниз).”

“I beg pardon (простите)?”

colleague ['kOli:g], presume [prI'zju:m], society [s@'saI@tI], pardon ['pA:d(@)n]

“Good-day, Lord St. Simon,” said Holmes, rising and bowing. “Pray take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this matter over.”

“A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society.”

“No, I am descending.”

“I beg pardon?”

“My last client of the sort was a king (моим последним клиентом /по делу/ такого рода был король).”

“Oh, really (вот как)! I had no idea (я не знал). And which king (какой король)?”

“The King of Scandinavia (король Скандинавии).”

“What! Had he lost his wife (как! и у него пропала жена)?”

“You can understand (вы понимаете),” said Holmes suavely (сказал Холмс учтиво; suave — учтивый, обходительный; вежливый), “that I extend to the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy (что на дела моих клиентов распространяется такая же конфиденциальность; to extend — распространять/ся/; простирать/ся/; выказывать, выражать) which I promise to you in yours (какую я обещаю вам в ваших /делах/).”

“Of course (разумеется)! Very right (/вы/ совершенно правы)! very right! I’m sure I beg pardon (прошу прощения). As to my own case, I am ready to give you any information (что касается моего случая, я готов сообщить вам любые сведения) which may assist you in forming an opinion (которые могут помочь вам составить мнение).”

Scandinavia [,skndI'neIvI@], suavely ['swA:vlI], opinion [@'pInj@n]