Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов (ASCII-IPA)

The butler had hardly closed the door behind him when Lady Hilda was down on her knees at Holmes’s feet, her hands outstretched, her beautiful face upturned and wet with her tears.

“Oh, spare me, Mr. Holmes! Spare me!” she pleaded, in a frenzy of supplication. “For heaven’s sake, don’t tell him! I love him so! I would not bring one shadow on his life, and this I know would break his noble heart.”

Holmes raised the lady (Холмс поднял леди).

“I am thankful, madam, that you have come to your senses even at this last moment (я благодарен вам, мадам, что вы опомнились — даже в этот последний момент; to come to one's senses — образумиться, взяться за ум, опомниться)! There is not an instant to lose (нельзя терять ни минуты; instant — мгновение, миг; минута). Where is the letter (где письмо)?”

She darted across to a writing-desk, unlocked it (она бросилась к письменному столу, отперла его), and drew out a long blue envelope (и вытащила длинный голубой конверт).

“Here it is, Mr. Holmes (вот оно, мистер Холмс). Would to heaven I had never seen it (о Господи, лучше бы я никогда его не видела; would to heaven! — о Господи!)!”

“How can we return it (как нам вернуть его)?” Holmes muttered (раздумывал Холмс; to mutter — бормотать; говорить тихо, невнятно). “Quick, quick, we must think of some way (быстрее, быстрее, мы должны что-нибудь придумать)! Where is the despatch-box (где чемоданчик для документов)?”

“Still in his bedroom (все еще в спальне).”

“What a stroke of luck (какая удача; stroke — удар; проявление)! Quick, madam, bring it here (скорее, мадам, принесите его сюда)!”

A moment later she had appeared with a red flat box in her hand (через минуту она появилась, держа в руке красный плоский ящичек).

“How did you open it before (как вы открывали его раньше)? You have a duplicate key (у вас есть ключ-дубликат)? Yes, of course you have (да, конечно, есть). Open it (откройте его)!”

envelope ['env@l@up], appeared [@'pI@d], duplicate ['dju:plIk@t], key [ki:]

Holmes raised the lady.

“I am thankful, madam, that you have come to your senses even at this last moment! There is not an instant to lose. Where is the letter?”

She darted across to a writing-desk, unlocked it, and drew out a long blue envelope.

“Here it is, Mr. Holmes. Would to heaven I had never seen it!”

“How can we return it?” Holmes muttered. “Quick, quick, we must think of some way! Where is the despatch-box?”

“Still in his bedroom.”

“What a stroke of luck! Quick, madam, bring it here!”

A moment later she had appeared with a red flat box in her hand.

“How did you open it before? You have a duplicate key? Yes, of course you have. Open it!”

From out of her bosom Lady Hilda had drawn a small key (из-за корсета леди Хильда вытащила маленький ключ; bosom — грудь; пазуха). The box flew open (чемоданчик распахнулся). It was stuffed with papers (он был набит бумагами). Holmes thrust the blue envelope deep down into the heart of them (Холмс сунул голубой конверт глубоко, в самую середину; heart — сердце; сердцевина, ядро; очаг, центр), between the leaves of some other document (между листами какого-то другого документа). The box was shut, locked (чемоданчик закрыли, заперли), and returned to the bedroom (и вернули в спальню).