"But it was some time coming (но ему пришлось ждать, когда наступит подходящее время; to come — приходить). The old gentleman could not be decoyed outside of his grounds at night (/он/ не мог выманить пожилого джентльмена из своих владений ночью; grounds — угодья). Several times Stapleton lurked about with his hound (несколько раз Стэплтон прятался /неподалеку/ со своей собакой; to lurk — скрываться, прятаться), but without avail (но безрезультатно; avail — выгода, польза). It was during these fruitless quests (во время этих бесплодных поисков) that he, or rather his ally, was seen by peasants (он или, скорее, его друг, был замечен крестьянами), and that the legend of the demon dog (и легенда о демонической собаке) received a new confirmation (получила новое подтверждение). He had hoped that his wife might lure Sir Charles to his ruin (он надеялся, что его жена может, соблазнив сэра Чарльза, привести его к гибели; ruin — разорение; гибель), but here she proved unexpectedly independent (но здесь она оказалась неожиданно независимой = несговорчивой). She would not endeavour (она не хотела) to entangle the old gentleman in a sentimental attachment (вовлекать старого джентльмена в сердечные/любовные отношения; sentimental — сентиментальный, чувствительный; основанный на чувствах; attachment — привязанность) which might deliver him over to his enemy (которые могли доставить его /прямо в руки/ его врага). Threats and even, I am sorry to say, blows (угрозы и даже, с прискорбием говорю, побои; I am sorry to say — простите, прошу прощения /при возражении, выражении недовольства/) refused to move her (не помогали заставить ее; to refuse — отказываться; to move — двигать; заставлять). She would have nothing to do with it (она не имела никакого отношения к этому; would — указывает на повторяющееся действие в прошлом; to have nothing to do with — не иметь ничего общего с /кем-либо или чем-либо/), and for a time Stapleton was at a deadlock (и на время Стэплтон оказался в тупике).
avail [@'veIl], quest [kwest], sentimental [,sentI'mentl]
"But it was some time coming. The old gentleman could not be decoyed outside of his grounds at night. Several times Stapleton lurked about with his hound, but without avail. It was during these fruitless quests that he, or rather his ally, was seen by peasants, and that the legend of the demon dog received a new confirmation. He had hoped that his wife might lure Sir Charles to his ruin, but here she proved unexpectedly independent. She would not endeavour to entangle the old gentleman in a sentimental attachment which might deliver him over to his enemy. Threats and even, I am sorry to say, blows refused to move her. She would have nothing to do with it, and for a time Stapleton was at a deadlock.