" ‘What do you think of Lucy Ferrier now?’ I cried, locking the door, and shaking the key in his face. ‘Punishment has been slow in coming, but it has overtaken you at last.’ I saw his coward lips tremble as I spoke. He would have begged for his life, but he knew well that it was useless.

" ‘Would you murder me?’ he stammered.

" ‘There is no murder,’ I answered. ‘Who talks of murdering a mad dog? What mercy had you upon my poor darling, when you dragged her from her slaughtered father, and bore her away to your accursed and shameless harem?’

" ‘It was not I who killed her father,’ he cried (это не я убил ее отца, — вскричал он).

" ‘But it was you who broke her innocent heart (но это ты разбил ее невинное сердце),’ I shrieked, thrusting the box before him (крикнул я и сунул ему коробочку; to thrust — пихать, толкать). ‘Let the high God judge between us (пусть Всевышний рассудит нас). Choose and eat (выбирай и глотай: «ешь»). There is death in one and life in the other (в одной — смерть, в другой — жизнь). I shall take what you leave (я проглочу ту, что останется после тебя: «я приму ту, что ты оставишь»). Let us see if there is justice upon the earth (давай посмотрим, есть ли справедливость на земле), or if we are ruled by chance (или нами правит случай).’

"He cowered away with wild cries and prayers for mercy (он отпрянул, дико завопив и взывая к милосердию; to cower — сжиматься, съеживаться), but I drew my knife and held it to his throat until he had obeyed me (но я достал нож и приставил ему к горлу, пока он не сделал так, как я хотел; to draw — тащить; to hold — держать; to obey — подчиняться, слушаться, повиноваться). Then I swallowed the other (потом я проглотил другую пилюлю), and we stood facing one another in silence for a minute or more (а затем минуту или больше мы стояли и молча смотрели друг на друга), waiting to see which was to live and which was to die (ожидая, кто останется в живых, а кто умрет). Shall I ever forget the look which came over his face (забуду ли я когда-нибудь то выражение на его лице: «которое прошло по его лицу») when the first warning pangs told him that the poison was in his system (когда первые предупреждающие спазмы сказали ему, что в его организме был яд)? I laughed as I saw it (я захохотал, когда увидел это), and held Lucy's marriage ring in front of his eyes (и поднес к его глазам обручальное кольцо Люси). It was but for a moment (это длилось лишь мгновение), for the action of the alkaloid is rapid (так как алкалоид действует быстро). A spasm of pain contorted his features (спазм боли исказил его черты); he threw his hands out in front of him (он выбросил вперед руки), staggered (зашатался), and then, with a hoarse cry (а затем, с хриплым криком), fell heavily upon the floor (тяжело рухнул на пол). I turned him over with my foot (я перевернул его ногой), and placed my hand upon his heart (и положил руку ему на сердце). There was no movement (оно не билось: «движения не было»). He was dead (он был мертв)!

knife [naf], spasm [spaezm], heart [h:t]

" ‘It was not I who killed her father,’ he cried.

" ‘But it was you who broke her innocent heart,’ I shrieked, thrusting the box before him. ‘Let the high God judge between us. Choose and eat. There is death in one and life in the other. I shall take what you leave. Let us see if there is justice upon the earth, or if we are ruled by chance.’