“I must go tonight, before more people have seen me (я должен уехать сегодня вечером, прежде чем еще кто-либо: «больше людей» увидит меня). And how would you have me stay, sweetheart, except (и как =
“If I could come with you!” she whispered very low (если бы я могла поехать с тобой! – прошептала она очень тихо).
“My God!” said I roughly, “don’t talk about that (о, Боже! – сказал я резко, – не говори об этом)!” and I thrust her a little back from me (и немножко оттолкнул ее от себя).
“Why not (почему же нет)? I love you (я люблю тебя). You are as good a gentleman as the King (ты ничем не хуже короля: «такой же хороший джентльмен, как король»)!”
Then I was false to all that I should have held by (тут я позабыл обо всем, чего мне следовало придерживаться;
“I know, I know! What are we to do now, Rudolf?”
I put my arm round her and held her up while I said:
“I am going away tonight.”
“Ah, no, no!” she cried. “Not tonight!”
“I must go tonight, before more people have seen me. And how would you have me stay, sweetheart, except —?”
“If I could come with you!” she whispered very low.
“My God!” said I roughly, “don’t talk about that!” and I thrust her a little back from me.
“Why not? I love you. You are as good a gentleman as the King!”
Then I was false to all that I should have held by. For I caught her in my arms and prayed her, in words that I will not write, to come with me, daring all Ruritania to take her from me. And for a while she listened, with wondering, dazzled eyes. But as her eyes looked on me, I grew ashamed, and my voice died away in broken murmurs and stammerings, and at last I was silent.
She drew herself away from me and stood against the wall (она отстранилась: «увела себя прочь» от меня и встала у стены;
“I am mad!” I said sullenly (я сумасшедший, – сказал я угрюмо).
“I love your madness, dear,” she answered (я люблю твое сумасшествие, дорогой, – ответила она).
Her face was away from me (ее лицо было /направлено/ прочь от меня = она, отвернувшись, смотрела в сторону), but I caught the sparkle of a tear on her cheek (но я заметил, как на ее щеке блеснула слезинка;