“In mining (на /золотых/ приисках; mining — горное дело; разработка месторождений; mine — рудник; копь; шахта; прииск). He had nothing a few years ago (несколько лет назад у него не было ничего). Then he struck gold, invested it (потом он открыл месторождение золота, инвестировал капитал в него; to invest — инвестировать, вкладывать денежные средства; помещать капитал; to strike — ударять; открыть, обнаружить, достичь желаемого /внезапно/), and came up by leaps and bounds (и очень быстро пошел в гору; to come up — подниматься, повышаться; вырастать; by leaps and bounds — скачкообразно, очень быстро, стремительно: «прыжками и скачками»).”

“Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady’s (а теперь /скажите/, каково ваше впечатление о молодой леди = опишите мне молодую леди) — your wife’s character (какой характер у вашей жены)?”

The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster (лорд начал немного быстрее раскачивать пенсне; nobleman — дворянин; аристократ; to swing — раскачивать; размахивать; вертеть) and stared down into the fire (и пристально посмотрел = отвел взгляд на огонь).

Pacific [p@'sIfIk], money ['mVnI], character ['kr@kt@]

“You were travelling in the States?”

“Yes.”

“Did you become engaged then?”

“No.”

“But you were on a friendly footing?”

“I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was amused.”

“Her father is very rich?”

“He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope.”

“And how did he make his money?”

“In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds.”

“Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady’s — your wife’s character?”

The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down into the fire.