“It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honor. He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.

“And, indeed, I could not wonder (на самом деле меня не удивляло) that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him (что такой человек, как сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл, приобрел на Артура влияние), for he has frequently brought him to my house (так как мой сын часто приводил его в мой дом), and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his manner (и я сам убедился, что едва могу сопротивляться обаянию его манер). He is older than Arthur (он старше Артура), a man of the world to his finger-tips (светский человек до мозга костей: «до кончиков пальцев»), one who had been everywhere, seen everything (который везде побывал, видел все), a brilliant talker (блестящий собеседник), and a man of great personal beauty (и очень привлекательной наружности: «мужчина большой личной красоты»). Yet when I think of him in cold blood (но все же, думая о нем спокойно/хладнокровно), far away from the glamour of his presence (вдали от обаяния его общества: «присутствия»), I am convinced from his cynical speech (я убеждаюсь, судя по его циничным высказываниям) and the look which I have caught in his eyes (и взгляду, который я замечал в его глазах) that he is one who should be deeply distrusted (что этому человеку вообще нельзя доверять: «что это такой человек, которому нужно оказывать глубокое недоверие»; to distrust — доверять; сомневаться; подозревать). So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary (так думаю я и так же считает моя маленькая Мэри), who has a woman’s quick insight into character (обладающая живой женской интуицией, когда дело касается человеческого характера; insight — понимание; проницательность; способность проникновения в сущность: a man of insight — проницательный человек; insight into human character — способность понять /постигнуть/ человеческий характер; quick — быстрый, скорый; живой, чувствительный).

frequently ['fri:kw@ntlI], beauty ['bju:tI], cynical ['sInIk(@)l]

“And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman’s quick insight into character.