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

concise [k@n'saIs], deter [dI't@:], bizarre [bI'zA:], conceit [k@n'si:t]

"No: it is clear and concise."

"Well, now, let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. Let us look at it from his point of view. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. He found out where Sholto lived, and very possibly he established communications with some one inside the house. There is this butler, Lal Rao, whom we have not seen. Mrs. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. Small could not find out, however, where the treasure was hid, for no one ever knew, save the major and one faithful servant who had died. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him, he runs the gauntlet of the guards, makes his way to the dying man's window, and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. Mad with hate, however, against the dead man, he enters the room that night, searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure, and finally leaves a memento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder, but, from the point of view of the four associates, something in the nature of an act of justice. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime, and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. Do you follow all this?"

"Very clearly (полностью: «очень ясно»)."

"Now, what could Jonathan Small do (теперь, что оставалось делать Джонатану Смоллу: «что мог сделать…»)? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure (он мог только продолжить вести секретное наблюдение за попытками найти сокровища; watch — пристальное наблюдение; надзор). Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals (возможно, он на время уезжает из Англии и возвращается через определенные промежутки времени; interval — интервал, промежуток; перерыв). Then comes the discovery of the garret (затем следует открытие чердака), and he is instantly informed of it (и ему немедленно сообщают об этом; to inform — сообщать, информировать, уведомлять). We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household (и снова мы видим след присутствия какого-то сообщника из домочадцев; to trace — набрасывать, чертить; обнаружить, установить; household — семейство, семья; домочадцы; все, кто живет в конкретном доме). Jonathan, with his wooden leg, is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto (Джонатан со своей деревянной ногой абсолютно неспособен забраться в так высоко расположенный кабинет Бартоломью Шолто; to reach — протягивать; достигать; lofty — очень высокий). He takes with him, however, a rather curious associate (однако он берет с собой довольно любопытного сообщника), who gets over this difficulty (который справляется с этой трудностью; to get over — преодолевать, справляться), but dips his naked foot into creosote (но попадает босой ногой в креозот; to dip — макать, окунать), whence come Toby, and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis (вследствие чего появляется Тоби, а офицер на половинном жалованье с поврежденным ахилловым сухожилием вынужден хромать шесть миль; limp — прихрамывание, хромота; медленно двигаться, с трудом передвигаться; to damage — повреждать)."