Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Знак четырех (ASCII-IPA)

"Pshaw, my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. I don't wish to be theatrical. It is all patent and above-board. Two officers who are in command of a convict-guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure. A map is drawn for them by an Englishman named Jonathan Small. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates, — the sign of the four, as he somewhat dramatically called it. Aided by this chart, the officers — or one of them — gets the treasure and brings it to England, leaving, we will suppose, some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. Now, then, why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts. Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away."

"But this is mere speculation," said I (но ведь это просто спекуляции, — сказал я).

"It is more than that (это нечто большее). It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts (это единственная гипотеза, которая объясняет все факты). Let us see how it fits in with the sequel (давайте посмотрим, как она соответствует тому, что случилось позже; sequel — продолжение; последующее событие). Major Sholto remains at peace for some years (майор Шолто мирно поживает несколько лет; to remain — оставаться; оставаться в каком-либо состоянии; peace — мир, покой), happy in the possession of his treasure (счастливым обладателем сокровищ: «счастливый в обладании сокровищем»). Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright (потом он получает письмо из Индии, которое сильно его пугает; to give a fright — пугать). What was that (что это было)?"

"A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free (письмо, в котором сообщалось, что те, с кем он несправедливо обошелся, отпущены на свободу; to wrong — вредить, наносить ущерб; причинять зло; поступать несправедливо, нечестно; to set free — освобождать)."