“How did you deduce the select (как вы определили, что это первоклассная гостиница)?”

“By the select prices (по первоклассным ценам). Eight shillings for a bed (восемь шиллингов за кровать = за номер) and eight-pence for a glass of sherry (и восемь пенсов за стакан хереса) pointed to one of the most expensive hotels (указывает на одну из самых дорогих гостиниц). There are not many in London which charge at that rate (в Лондоне немного /гостиниц/ с такими ценами; to charge — назначать, запрашивать цену, плату; взимать; rate — норма, ставка, расценка, тариф). In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue (во второй гостинице, которую я посетил на Нортумберленд-авеню), I learned by an inspection of the book (я узнал, изучив книгу регистрации постояльцев) that Francis H. Moulton, an American gentleman (что Фрэнсис Х. Моултон, американский джентльмен), had left only the day before (выехал как раз накануне), and on looking over the entries against him (а просмотрев записи напротив его имени = его счета), I came upon the very items which I had seen in the duplicate bill (я обнаружил те самые статьи расходов, которые видел в копии счета).

value ['vlju:], eight [eIt], deduce [dI'dju:s], item ['aIt@m]

“It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held information in his hands the value of which he did not himself know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels.”

“How did you deduce the select?”

“By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eight-pence for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I had seen in the duplicate bill.

“His letters were to be forwarded to 226 Gordon Square (его письма должны были пересылаться /по адресу/: Гордон-сквер, 226); so thither I travelled (туда я и направился), and being fortunate enough to find the loving couple at home (и поскольку мне посчастливилось застать влюбленную пару дома), I ventured to give them some paternal advice (я отважился дать им отеческий совет) and to point out to them that it would be better in every way (и обратил их внимание на то, что будет лучше во всех отношениях) that they should make their position a little clearer (если они немного разъяснят свое положение) both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in particular (широкой публике и особенно лорду Сент-Саймону). I invited them to meet him here (я пригласил их, чтобы они встретились с ним здесь), and, as you see, I made him keep the appointment (и, как видите, я убедил лорда явиться на это свидание; appointment — встреча, свидание).”

“But with no very good result (но результат не очень хороший),” I remarked (заметил я). “His conduct was certainly not very gracious (его поведение определенно было не слишком любезно).”