Английский язык с Грэмом Грином. Третий человек

Martins was not able to tell me very much about the meeting (Мартинс не был способен рассказать мне очень много о встрече): his mind was still dazed with the death (его разум был все еще затуманен смертью): when he looked up he expected to see at any moment the child Hänsel (когда он поднимал глаза, он ожидал увидеть в любой момент ребенка Хензеля) and hear that persistent informative refrain (и услышать этот настойчивый информативный рефрен), "Papa, Papa." Apparently Crabbin opened the proceedings (очевидно, Крэббин открывал заседание), and knowing Crabbin I am sure (и, зная Крэббина, я уверен) that it was a very lucid, very fair and unbiased picture of the contemporary English novel (что это была очень ясная, очень справедливая и беспристрастная картина современного английского романа; bias — наклон, покатость, склон, уклон; to bias — склонять; оказывать влияние /обыкн. плохое/; настраивать to bias against — настраивать против кого-л.; unbiased — беспристрастный, объективный, непредубежденный). I have heard him give that talk so often (я так часто слышал, как он произносит эту речь), varied only by the emphasis given to the work of the particular English visitor (изменяемую только особым упором на работу: «данным работе» конкретного английского посетителя). He would have touched lightly on various problems of technique (он касался легко разнообразных проблем техники)—the point of view (точки зрения), the passage of time (течения времени), and then he would have declared the meeting open for questions and discussions (а затем он объявлял собрание открытым для вопросов и обсуждений).

desperate ['desp(q)rqt], gather ['gxDq], shovel [SAvl], sugar ['Sugq], prefer [prI'fq:], breathe [bri:D], approve [q'pru:v], circle [sq:kl], persistent [pq'sIst(q)nt], informative [In'fO:mqtIv], proceeding [prq'si:dIN], unbiased ['An'baIqst], emphasis ['emfqsIs], particular [pq'tIkjulq]

He said desperately to Mr. Crabbin, "I'm sorry, but..."

"Don't think any more about it," Mr. Crabbin said. "One cup of coffee and then let's go on to the discussion. We have a very good gathering tonight. They'll put you on your mettle, Mr. Dexter." One of the young men placed a cup in his hand, the other shovelled in sugar before he could say he preferred his coffee unsweetened. The youngest man breathed into his ear, "Afterwards would you mind signing one of your books, Mr. Dexter?" A large woman in black silk bore down upon him and said, "I don't mind if the Gräfin does hear me, Mr. Dexter, but I don't like your books, I don't approve of them. I think a novel should tell a good story."

"So do I," Martins said hopelessly.

"Now Mrs. Bannock, wait for question time."

"I know I'm downright, but I'm sure Mr. Dexter values honest criticism."

An old lady, who he supposed was the Gräfin, said, "I do not read many English books, Mr. Dexter, but I am told that yours ..."

"Do you mind drinking up?" Crabbin said and hustled him through into an inner room where a number of elderly people were sitting on a semi-circle of chairs with an air of sad patience.

Martins was not able to tell me very much about the meeting: his mind was still dazed with the death: when he looked up he expected to see at any moment the child Hänsel and hear that persistent informative refrain, "Papa, Papa." Apparently Crabbin opened the proceedings, and knowing Crabbin I am sure that it was a very lucid, very fair and unbiased picture of the contemporary English novel. I have heard him give that talk so often, varied only by the emphasis given to the work of the particular English visitor. He would have touched lightly on various problems of technique—the point of view, the passage of time, and then he would have declared the meeting open for questions and discussions.

Martins missed the first question altogether (Мартинс пропустил первый вопрос совершенно), but luckily Crabbin filled the gap (но к счастью: «счастливо» Крэббин заполнил лакуну) and answered it satisfactorily (и ответил на него удовлетворительно). A woman wearing a brown hat and a piece of fur round her throat (женщина, носившая коричневую шляпу и кусок меха вокруг своего горла = женщина, на которой были…) said with passionate interest (сказала со страстным интересом): "May I ask Mr. Dexter if he is engaged on a new work (могу я спросить мистера Декстера, занят ли он новой работой)?"

"Oh yes ... Yes."

"May I ask the title (могу я спросить заглавие)?"

"The Third Man («Третий человек»)," Martins said and gained a spurious confidence as the result of taking that hurdle (сказал Мартинс и обрел иллюзорную уверенность /в себе/ как результат взятия этого барьера; spurious — поддельный; подложный, фальшивый, фиктивный; ложный, иллюзорный).