Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды

In the morning of the day after that on which I swore my oath against the Six, I gave certain orders, and then rested in greater contentment than I had known for some time. I was at work; and work, though it cannot cure love, is yet a narcotic to it; so that Sapt, who grew feverish, marvelled to see me sprawling in an armchair in the sunshine, listening to one of my friends who sang me amorous songs in a mellow voice and induced in me a pleasing melancholy. Thus was I engaged when young Rupert Hentzau, who feared neither man nor devil, and rode through the demesne – where every tree might hide a marksman, for all he knew – as though it had been the park at Strelsau, cantered up to where I lay, bowing with burlesque deference, and craving private speech with me in order to deliver a message from the Duke of Strelsau. I made all withdraw, and then he said, seating himself by me:

“The King is in love, it seems?”

“Not with life, my lord,” said I, smiling (но не в жизнь, милорд, – сказал я с улыбкой).

“It is well,” he rejoined (это хорошо, – отозвался он; to rejoin – отвечать, возражать). “Come, we are alone, Rassendyll (ну, что ж, мы одни, Рассендил) – ”

I rose to a sitting posture (я приподнялся: «поднялся до сидячего положения»).

“What’s the matter?” he asked (в чем дело? – спросил он).

“I was about to call one of my gentlemen to bring your horse, my lord (я собираюсь позвать кого-то из моих дворян, чтобы он привел вашу лошадь, милорд). If you do not know how to address the King (если вы не знаете, как обращаться к королю), my brother must find another messenger (то моему брату придется найти другого посыльного).”

“Why keep up the farce?” he asked (к чему продолжать эту комедию? – спросил он; to keep up – продолжать/ся/, не прекращать/ся/; farce – грубый юмор, фарс; комедия, фарс /театр./), negligently dusting his boot with his glove (небрежно смахивая пыль с сапога своей перчаткой).

“Because it is not finished yet; and meanwhile I’ll choose my own name (потому что она еще не закончена; а пока я сам выберу себе имя).”

“Oh, so be it (о, пусть будет так)! Yet I spoke in love for you (до сих пор я говорил с вами полюбовно); for indeed you are a man after my own heart (поскольку вы мне и вправду по душе; to be a man after one’s own heart – быть кому-л. по душе).”

“Saving my poor honesty,” said I, “maybe I am (если не считать моей несчастной честности, возможно, я и был бы /вам по душе/; poor – бедный, нищий; жалкий, ничтожный /часто ирон., шутл./). But that I keep faith with men, and honour with women, maybe I am, my lord (за исключением того, что я честен с мужчинами и храню верность женщинам, возможно, так и есть, милорд).”

He darted a glance at me – a glance of anger (он метнул в меня гневный взгляд).

“Not with life, my lord,” said I, smiling.

“It is well,” he rejoined. “Come, we are alone, Rassendyll – ”

I rose to a sitting posture.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I was about to call one of my gentlemen to bring your horse, my lord. If you do not know how to address the King, my brother must find another messenger.”

“Why keep up the farce?” he asked, negligently dusting his boot with his glove.

“Because it is not finished yet; and meanwhile I’ll choose my own name.”

“Oh, so be it! Yet I spoke in love for you; for indeed you are a man after my own heart.”

“Saving my poor honesty,” said I, “maybe I am. But that I keep faith with men, and honour with women, maybe I am, my lord.”

He darted a glance at me – a glance of anger.

“Is your mother dead (ваша мать умерла)?” said I.

“Ay, she’s dead (да, она умерла).”

“She may thank God,” said I, and I heard him curse me softly (она может благодарить Бога, – сказал я и услышал, как он тихо проклял меня). “Well, what’s the message?” I continued (ну, что за послание? – продолжал я).

I had touched him on the raw, for all the world knew (я задел его за живое: «коснулся его больного места», поскольку все на свете знали) he had broken his mother’s heart and flaunted his mistresses in her house (что он разбил сердце свой матери, таская в ее дом своих любовниц; to flaunt – реять, гордо развеваться /о знаменах и т. п./; щеголять, афишировать; mistress – хозяйка /дома/; любовница); and his airy manner was gone for the moment (и его веселость: «веселая манера» исчезла в один миг; airy – воздушный, легкий; веселый).