“In case you’ve not seen, or not noticed, a picture of Rudolf V, there he is (на случай, если ты не видела или не обращала внимания на фотографии Рудольфа Пятого, вот он). Don’t you think they might recall the story, if I appeared at the Court of Ruritania (тебе не кажется, что могут вспомнить ту историю, если я появлюсь при дворе Руритании)?”
My sister-in-law looked at the portrait, and then at me (моя невестка посмотрела на портрет, потом на меня).
“Good gracious!” she said, and flung the photograph down on the table (Боже правый! – сказала она и бросила фотографию на стол).
“Strelsau! H’m!” said I, glancing at my brother.
“Oh,
“I don’t know that I care about it!”
“Oh, you’re too exasperating!”
“And I don’t think I can go to Strelsau. My dear Rose, would it be – suitable?”
“Oh, nobody remembers that horrid old story now.”
Upon this, I took out of my pocket a portrait of the King of Ruritania. It had been taken a month or two before he ascended the throne. She could not miss my point when I said, putting it into her hands:
“In case you’ve not seen, or not noticed, a picture of Rudolf V, there he is. Don’t you think they might recall the story, if I appeared at the Court of Ruritania?”
My sister-in-law looked at the portrait, and then at me.
“Good gracious!” she said, and flung the photograph down on the table.
“What do you say, Bob?” I asked (а ты что скажешь, Боб, – спросил я).
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner of the room (Берлисдон встал, прошел в угол комнаты), and searched in a heap of newspapers (и порылся в кипе газет). Presently he came back with a copy of the Illustrated London News (через минуту он вернулся с экземпляром «Иллюстрейтед Лондон Ньюс»;
“It’s a remarkable likeness, you see (удивительная схожесть, ты же видишь),” said I. “I really think I had better not go to Ruritania (я и в самом деле считаю, что мне лучше не ехать в Руританию).”
Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon her position (Роуз, хотя уже почти убежденная, не желала сдавать своих позиций).
“What do you say, Bob?” I asked.
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner of the room, and searched in a heap of newspapers. Presently he came back with a copy of the Illustrated London News. Opening the paper, he displayed a double-page engraving of the Coronation of Rudolf V at Strelsau. The photograph and the picture he laid side by side. I sat at the table fronting them; and, as I looked, I grew absorbed. My eye travelled from my own portrait to Sapt, to Strakencz, to the rich robes of the Cardinal, to Black Michael’s face, to the stately figure of the princess by his side. Long I looked and eagerly. I was roused by my brother’s hand on my shoulder. He was gazing down at me with a puzzled expression.
“It’s a remarkable likeness, you see,” said I. “I really think I had better not go to Ruritania.”
Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon her position.
“It’s just an excuse,” she said pettishly (это просто отговорка, – раздраженно сказала она;