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

At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell, an authoritative voice in the hall, and, to my surprise, no less a person than Mr. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. Very different was he, however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.

"Good-day, sir; good-day," said he. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, I understand."

"Yes, and I cannot be sure when he will be back. But perhaps you would care to wait. Take that chair and try one of these cigars."

"Thank you; I don't mind if I do," said he, mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief.

"And a whisky-and-soda (виски с содовой)?"

"Well, half a glass (ну, полстаканчика). It is very hot for the time of year (очень жарко для этого времени года); and I have had a good deal to worry and try me (а у меня много было поводов для беспокойства и раздражения: «я имел многое = мне пришлось пройти сквозь многое, что беспокоило и раздражало меня»; a good deal — очень много, изрядное количество; to try — пытаться; мучить, раздражать). You know my theory about this Norwood case (вы знакомы с моей теорией о норвудском деле)?"

"I remember that you expressed one (я помню, что вы высказывали одну; to express — изображать; выражать; высказывать)."

"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it (ну, я был вынужден пересмотреть ее). I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto, sir (моя сеть была плотно затянута вокруг мистера Шолто, сэр), when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it (когда он неожиданно выскочил: «когда — бух! — и он выскочил» через дыру в ее середине; pop — хлоп, бух). He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken (он смог предоставить алиби, в котором невозможно усомниться; to shake — трясти; расшатываться). From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other (с того времени, как он покинул комнату брата, он постоянно находился в чьем-либо присутствии: «он никогда не выходил из поля зрения того или иного»; sight — зрение; поле зрения, видимость). So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors (поэтому он не может быть тем, кто карабкался по крышам и лазил через люки). It's a very dark case, and my professional is at stake (это исключительно темное дело, и на карту поставлена моя профессиональная репутация; credit — доверие, вера; хорошая репутация; stake — столб, кол; столб, к которому привязывали присужденного к сожжению; to be at stake — быть поставленным на карту, находиться под угрозой). I should be very glad of a little assistance (я был бы очень рад небольшой помощи)."

"We all need help sometimes," said I (нам всем подчас нужна помощь, — сказал я).

oblige [@b'laIdZ], tightly ['taItlI], alibi ['&lIbaI]

"And a whisky-and-soda?"

"Well, half a glass. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me. You know my theory about this Norwood case?"

"I remember that you expressed one."

"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto, sir, when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. It's a very dark case, and my professional credit is at stake. I should be very glad of a little assistance."

"We all need help sometimes," said I.