When he awoke (когда он проснулся;
"You fell asleep at dinner (ты уснул за обедом)," Percy was saying. "I nearly did, too (я тоже почти = чуть не уснул;
effort ['efqt], dessert [dI'zWt], subtle [sAtl]
"Yes," he replied with a polite effort, "it certainly is hot enough for me down there."
He managed to add a ghostly laugh; then, without movement, without resistance, he seemed to float off and away, leaving an iced dessert that was pink as a dream. He fell asleep.
When he awoke he knew that several hours had passed. He was in a great quiet room with ebony walls and a dull illumination that was too faint, too subtle, to be called a light. His young host was standing over him.
"You fell asleep at dinner," Percy was saying. "I nearly did, too — it was such a treat to be comfortable again after this year of school. Servants undressed and bathed you while you were sleeping."
"Is this a bed or a cloud (это постель или облако)?" sighed John (вздохнул Джон). "Percy, Percy — before you go (пока ты не ушел: «прежде чем ты пойдешь»), I want to apologize (я хочу попросить /у тебя/ прощения)."
"For what?"
"For doubting you when you said (за то, что не поверил тебе, когда ты сказал;
Percy smiled (улыбнулся).
"I thought you didn't believe me (я /так и/ думал, /что/ ты мне не поверил). It's that mountain (это /ведь/ гора), you know."
"What mountain (какая гора)?"
"The mountain the ch^ateau rests on (на которой стоит замок). It's not very big, for a mountain (она не очень большая, для горы). But except about fifty feet of sod and gravel on top (но за исключением примерно пятнадцати метров дерна и гравия сверху) it's solid diamond (это/она цельный алмаз).
But John T. Unger had again fallen asleep (снова уснул).
sighed [saId], doubting ['daVtIN], listening ['lIs(q)nIN]
"Is this a bed or a cloud?" sighed John. "Percy, Percy — before you go, I want to apologize."
"For what?"
"For doubting you when you said you had a diamond as big as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel."
Percy smiled.
"I thought you didn't believe me. It's that mountain, you know."
"What mountain?"
"The mountain the ch^ateau rests on. It's not very big, for a mountain. But except about fifty feet of sod and gravel on top it's solid diamond.
But John T. Unger had again fallen asleep.
III
Morning (утро). As he awoke (как только он проснулся) he perceived drowsily (он сквозь дрему ощутил;