The Inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story (инспектор и два детектива торопливо посовещались по поводу того, насколько уместно будет позволить ему рассказать свою историю; advisability — целесообразность; advisable — достойный быть рекомендованным, предложенным; целесообразный, разумный; to advise — советовать).

"Do you consider, Doctor, that there is immediate danger?" the former asked (считаете ли вы, доктор, что существует прямая угроза его жизни? — спросил первый).

"Most certainly there is," I answered (несомненно, существует, — ответил я).

"In that case it is clearly our duty, in the interests of justice, to take his statement," said the Inspector (в таком случае это, очевидно, наш долг — в интересах правосудия — выслушать его заявление, — сказал инспектор). "You are at liberty, sir, to give your account (вы вольны, сэр, изложить свою историю; to give account — давать отчет, отчитываться; излагать), which I again warn you will be taken down (которая, я вновь вас предупреждаю, будет записана)."

aneurism ['aenjurzm], advisability [dvaz'blt], warn [w:n]

"Why," I cried, "you have an aortic aneurism!"

"That's what they call it," he said, placidly. "I went to a Doctor last week about it, and he told me that it is bound to burst before many days passed. It has been getting worse for years. I got it from over-exposure and under-feeding among the Salt Lake Mountains. I've done my work now, and I don't care how soon I go, but I should like to leave some account of the business behind me. I don't want to be remembered as a common cut-throat."

The Inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story.

"Do you consider, Doctor, that there is immediate danger?" the former asked.

"Most certainly there is," I answered.

"In that case it is clearly our duty, in the interests of justice, to take his statement," said the Inspector. "You are at liberty, sir, to give your account, which I again warn you will be taken down."

"I'll sit down, with your leave (с вашего позволения, я сяду)," the prisoner said, suiting the action to the word (сказал пленник, и так и сделал; to suit the action to the word — подкреплять слово делом; to suit — приспосабливать, приводить в соответствие). "This aneurism of mine makes me easily tired (с этим моим аневризмом я быстро устаю: «этот мой аневризм заставляет меня легко уставать»), and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters (и потасовка, что случилась у нас полчаса назад, дело не улучшила; to mend — чинить, ремонтировать). I'm on the brink of the grave (я на краю могилы), and I am not likely to lie to you (и мне незачем вам лгать; likely — вероятный, возможный). Every word I say is the absolute truth (каждое мое слово — абсолютная правда), and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me (а как вы это используете, для меня значения не имеет: «дело никакого значения = неважно для меня»)."