Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды

“These women are the deuce – ” he began (эти женщины – чертовки, – начал он); when suddenly the great bell of the Castle started to ring furiously (как вдруг в замке яростно зазвонил: «начал яростно звонить» большой колокол), and a loud shout reached us from the moat (и громкий возглас из рва достиг наших /ушей/).

Ah, he had found it! A low shout of triumph came from him. He laid hold of it and began to haul himself up. I was near enough to hear him mutter: “How the devil comes this here?” I was at the rope, and he, hanging in mid air, saw me, but I could not reach him.

“Hullo! who’s here?” he cried in startled tones.

For a moment, I believe, he took me for the King – I dare say I was pale enough to lend colour to the thought; but an instant later he cried:

“Why it’s the play-actor! How come you here, man?”

And so saying he gained the bank.

I laid hold of the rope, but I paused. He stood on the bank, sword in hand, and he could cut my head open or spit me through the heart as I came up. I let go the rope.

“Never mind,” said I; “but as I am here, I think I’ll stay.”

He smiled down on me.

“These women are the deuce – ” he began; when suddenly the great bell of the Castle started to ring furiously, and a loud shout reached us from the moat.

Rupert smiled again, and waved his hand to me (Руперт снова улыбнулся и помахал мне рукой).

“I should like a turn with you, but it’s a little too hot (я бы с удовольствием прогулялся с вами, но немного жарковато; turn – оборот, поворот; короткая прогулка)!” said he, and he disappeared from above me (сказал он и пропал с глаз; from above – сверху).

In an instant, without thinking of danger, I laid my hand to the rope (через мгновенье, не думая об опасности, я ухватился за веревку). I was up (я /вскарабкался/ наверх). I saw him thirty yards off (и в тридцати ярдах впереди увидел его), running like a deer towards the shelter of the forest (бегущего, как олень, под прикрытие леса). For once Rupert Hentzau had chosen discretion for his part (на этот раз Руперт Хенцо поступил осмотрительно: «выбрал благоразумие со своей стороны»). I laid my feet to the ground and rushed after him, calling to him to stand (я поставил ноги на землю = я взобрался на вал и бросился за ним, крича ему, чтобы остановился). He would not (он не собирался; would /зд./ – модальный глагол, выражающий желание). Unwounded and vigorous, he gained on me at every step (невредимый: «не раненый» и бодрый, он с каждым шагом все сильнее отрывался от меня: «выигрывал у меня каждый шаг»; to gain – добывать; выигрывать); but, forgetting everything in the world except him and my thirst for his blood (но, позабыв обо всем на свете, кроме него и своей жажды его крови), I pressed on, and soon the deep shades of the forest of Zenda (я побежал быстрее, и вскоре густая тень леса Зенды; to press on – торопиться, спешить /разг./) engulfed us both, pursued and pursuer (поглотила нас обоих, преследуемого и преследователя).

It was three o’clock now, and day was dawning (было уже три часа, и занималась заря; to dawn – /рас/светать; dawn – рассвет, утренняя заря). I was on a long straight grass avenue (я оказался на длинной, прямой, заросшей травой дороге), and a hundred yards ahead ran young Rupert (а в сотне ярдов впереди бежал юный Руперт), his curls waving in the fresh breeze (кудри его развевал свежий ветерок). I was weary and panting (я устал и тяжело дышал); he looked over his shoulder and waved his hand again to me (он оглянулся через плечо и снова махнул мне рукой).

Rupert smiled again, and waved his hand to me.

“I should like a turn with you, but it’s a little too hot!” said he, and he disappeared from above me.

In an instant, without thinking of danger, I laid my hand to the rope. I was up. I saw him thirty yards off, running like a deer towards the shelter of the forest. For once Rupert Hentzau had chosen discretion for his part. I laid my feet to the ground and rushed after him, calling to him to stand. He would not. Unwounded and vigorous, he gained on me at every step; but, forgetting everything in the world except him and my thirst for his blood, I pressed on, and soon the deep shades of the forest of Zenda engulfed us both, pursued and pursuer.

It was three o’clock now, and day was dawning. I was on a long straight grass avenue, and a hundred yards ahead ran young Rupert, his curls waving in the fresh breeze. I was weary and panting; he looked over his shoulder and waved his hand again to me.