Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды

“Yes, as quick as your legs will carry you. One thing more. Carry this note to madame – oh, it’s in French, you can’t read it – and charge her, for the sake of all our lives, not to fail in what it orders.”

The man was trembling but I had to trust to what he had of courage and to what he had of honesty. I dared not wait, for I feared that the King would die.

When the fellow was gone, I called Sapt and Fritz to me, and unfolded the plan that I had formed. Sapt shook his head over it.

“Why can’t you wait?” he asked.

“The King may die.”

“Michael will be forced to act before that.”

“Then,” said I, “the King may live.”

“Well, and if he does?”

“For a fortnight?” I asked simply.

And Sapt bit his moustache.

Suddenly Fritz von Tarlenheim laid his hand on my shoulder (вдруг Фриц фон Тарленхайм положил руку мне на плечо; to lay).

“Let us go and make the attempt (давайте мы пойдем и попробуем: «сделаем попытку»),” said he.

“I mean you to go – don’t be afraid (я вас и имел в виду, не переживайте: «не бойтесь»),” said I.

“Ay, but do you stay here, and take care of the princess (да, а вы оставайтесь здесь и позаботьтесь о принцессе).”

A gleam came into old Sapt’s eye (во взгляде старины Сэпта мелькнул /озорной/ огонек).

“We should have Michael one way or the other then,” he chuckled (мы бы достали Михаэля так или иначе, – усмехнулся он); “whereas if you go and are killed with the King (тогда как, если вы пойдете и вас убьют /вместе/ с королем), what will become of those of us who are left (что станет с теми из нас, кто останется)?”

“They will serve Queen Flavia,” said I, “and I would to God I could be one of them (они будут служить принцессе Флавии, – сказал я, – и, клянусь Богом, я мог бы быть одним из них).”

A pause followed (наступило молчание: «последовала пауза»). Old Sapt broke it by saying sadly (старый Сэпт нарушил его, сказав грустно), yet with an unmeant drollery that set Fritz and me laughing (однако с непроизвольным юмором, от чего мы с Фрицем рассмеялись):

“Why didn’t old Rudolf the Third marry your – great-grandmother, was it (почему старина Рудольф Третий не женился на вашей прабабушке, а)?”

“Come,” said I, “it is the King we are thinking about (да бросьте, – сказал я, – мы сейчас думаем, /как спасти/ короля).”

“It is true (это точно),” said Fritz.

Suddenly Fritz von Tarlenheim laid his hand on my shoulder.

“Let us go and make the attempt,” said he.

“I mean you to go – don’t be afraid,” said I.

“Ay, but do you stay here, and take care of the princess.”

A gleam came into old Sapt’s eye.

“We should have Michael one way or the other then,” he chuckled; “whereas if you go and are killed with the King, what will become of those of us who are left?”

“They will serve Queen Flavia,” said I, “and I would to God I could be one of them.”

A pause followed. Old Sapt broke it by saying sadly, yet with an unmeant drollery that set Fritz and me laughing:

“Why didn’t old Rudolf the Third marry your – great-grandmother, was it?”

“Come,” said I, “it is the King we are thinking about.”

“It is true,” said Fritz.

“Moreover,” I went on, “I have been an impostor for the profit of another (кроме того, – продолжал я, – я стал самозванцем ради другого; profit – выгода, польза), but I will not be one for my own (но я не стану им ради самого себя); and if the King is not alive and on his throne before the day of betrothal comes (и если король не вернется на трон живым /и здоровым/, прежде чем наступит день помолвки), I will tell the truth, come what may (я расскажу правду, /и/ будь что будет).”

“You shall go, lad (тебе стоит пойти, парень),” said Sapt.