As things were now, I had more work than Sapt and Fritz could manage (при сложившихся обстоятельствах у меня было больше работы, чем /та, с которой/ Сэпт и Фриц могли бы справиться), for they must come with me to Zenda (поскольку они должны были ехать со мной в Зенду), and I wanted a man to guard what I loved most in all the world (а я хотел, чтобы кто-то охранял то, что я любил больше всего на свете), and suffer me to set about my task of releasing the King with a quiet mind (и позволил мне приступить к задаче по освобождению короля с чистым сердцем: «со спокойным разумом»;
The Marshal received me with most loyal kindness (маршал принял меня очень радушно: «с самой преданной сердечностью»). To some extent, I took him into my confidence (не вдаваясь в подробности, я посвятил его в свой замысел;
“You may be right, sire,” said he, shaking his grey head sadly (возможно, вы правы, сир, – сказал он, печально качнув своей седой головой). “I have known better men than the duke do worse things than that for love (я знал лучших людей, чем герцог, /способных/ ради любви совершить более худшее).”
I could quite appreciate the remark, but I said (я оценил: «смог вполне оценить» это замечание, но /все же/ сказал;
“There’s something beside love, Marshal (есть кое-что помимо любви, маршал). Love’s for the heart; is there nothing my brother might like for his head (любовь – для души: «для сердца»; /но разве/ нет ничего, что мой брат желал бы /приобрести/ для своей головы;
“I pray that you wrong him, sire (молю /Бога/, чтобы вы /оказались/ несправедливы к нему, сир).”
As things were now, I had more work than Sapt and Fritz could manage, for they must come with me to Zenda, and I wanted a man to guard what I loved most in all the world, and suffer me to set about my task of releasing the King with a quiet mind.
The Marshal received me with most loyal kindness. To some extent, I took him into my confidence. I charged him with the care of the princess, looking him full and significantly in the face as I bade him let no one from her cousin the duke approach her, unless he himself were there and a dozen of his men with him.
“You may be right, sire,” said he, shaking his grey head sadly. “I have known better men than the duke do worse things than that for love.”
I could quite appreciate the remark, but I said:
“There’s something beside love, Marshal. Love’s for the heart; is there nothing my brother might like for his head?”
“I pray that you wrong him, sire.”
“Marshal, I’m leaving Strelsau for a few days (маршал, я покидаю Стрелсо на несколько дней). Every evening I will send a courier to you (каждый вечер я буду посылать к вам гонца). If for three days none comes (если в течение трех дней никого не будет: «никто не приедет»), you will publish an order which I will give you (вы огласите указ, который я вам дам;
“Ay, sire (да, сир).”