When I came to the outer courtyard (когда я подошел ко внешнему двору) I stood on one stool and took the other in my hand (я стал на один табурет, другой взял в руку;
putting [pVtIN], innermost ['InqmqVst], imagine [I'mxGIn]
When I came to the outer courtyard I stood on one stool and took the other in my hand and lifted it over the roof, putting it down gently in the space between the outer and inner courtyards. I then stepped over the buildings from one stool to the other, and pulled up the first after me with a hooked stick. This is how I managed to get into the innermost courtyard. Then, lying down on my side, I was able to see through the windows into the most splendid apartments you can imagine. I saw the Empress and her young Princes there. Her Majesty smiled at me and put her hand out of the window for me to kiss.
One morning about two weeks after I was set free (однажды утром, приблизительно через две недели после того, как меня освободили), Reldresal, Principal Secretary of Private Affairs, came to my house (в мое жилище прибыл Релдресел, главный секретарь по тайным делам). He ordered his coach to wait (он распорядился, чтобы его карета оставалась на месте: «ожидала») and asked to speak to me (и попросил =
affair [q'fFq], preferred [prI'fWd], conversation ["kOnvq'seIS(q)n]
One morning about two weeks after I was set free, Reldresal, Principal Secretary of Private Affairs, came to my house. He ordered his coach to wait and asked to speak to me. I agreed and offered to lie down. But he preferred to let me hold him in my hand during our conversation.