We could distinguish the approaching party now (теперь мы могли разглядеть приближающихся людей;
We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where the hills begin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes up, admiring the massive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a cortege winding slowly down the hill. On it came.
“Let us go back,” said Sapt.
“I should like to stay,” said Flavia; and I reined my horse beside hers.
We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first two mounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge. These were followed by a car drawn by four horses: on it, under a heavy pall, lay a coffin; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying his hat in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping by me and laying her hand on my arm.
“It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect (это один из джентльменов, убитых в той стычке, как мне кажется),” she said.
I beckoned to a groom (я подозвал конюха).
“Ride and ask whom they escort,” I ordered (съезди и спроси, кого они провожают: «сопровождают», – приказал я).
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentleman who rode behind (он подъехал к слугам, и я увидел, как он двинулся дальше, к джентльмену, который ехал позади).
“It’s Rupert of Hentzau,” whispered Sapt (это Руперт из Хенцо, – прошептал Сэпт).
Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession to stand still (то был действительно Руперт, и тотчас же, махнув рукой процессии остановиться;
“Your Majesty asks whom we escort (ваше величество интересуется: «спрашивает», кого мы сопровождаем),” said Rupert. “It is my dear friend, Albert of Lauengram (это мой дорогой друг, Альберт из Лауэнграма).”
“Sir,” said I, “no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than I (сэр, никто не сожалеет об этом несчастном случае больше меня). My ordinance, which I mean to have obeyed, is witness to it (мой указ, которому, надеюсь, подчинятся все, – свидетельство тому;
“It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect,” she said.
I beckoned to a groom.
“Ride and ask whom they escort,” I ordered.
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentleman who rode behind.
“It’s Rupert of Hentzau,” whispered Sapt.
Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession to stand still, Rupert trotted up to me. He was in a frock-coat, tightly buttoned, and trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness, and he bowed with profound respect. Yet suddenly he smiled, and I smiled too, for old Sapt’s hand lay in his left breast-pocket, and Rupert and I both guessed what lay in the hand inside the pocket.