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

lair [le@], tongue [tVN], suspicion [s@'spIS(@)n]

"It seems to me to be a little weak," said I. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition."

"No, I hardly think so. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. But a second consideration struck me. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion, however much he may have top-coated him, would give rise to gossip, and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. He was quite sharp enough to see that. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness, and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. Now, it was past three o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when they got the boat. It would be quite bright, and people would be about in an hour or so. Therefore, I argued, they did not go very far. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue, reserved his launch for the final escape, and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure-box. In a couple of nights, when they had time to see what view the papers took, and whether there was any suspicion, they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs, where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies."

"But the launch (но катер)? They could not have taken that to their lodgings (не могли же они взять его с собой в свою нору)."

"Quite so (конечно). I argued that the launch must be no great way off (я пришел к выводу, что катер должен быть где-то недалеко), in spite of its invisibility (хотя его никто не видел: «несмотря на его невидимость»). I then put myself in the place of Small (затем я поставил себя на место Смолла), and looked at it as a man of his capacity would (и посмотрел на проблему так, как бы это сделал человек его способностей). He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf (он, вероятно, считал, что отослать катер назад или держать его на каком-нибудь причале) would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track (облегчило бы преследование, если бы полиция напала на их след; to happen — случаться, происходить). How, then, could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted (как тогда мог он скрыть катер и все же иметь его под рукой, если он потребуется: «когда пожелается»; to conceal — скрывать; маскировать; прятать)? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes (я задумался, что бы я сам сделал, если бы был на его месте; to wonder — удивляться; интересоваться; размышлять, задаваться вопросом; to be in one's shoes — оказаться на месте другого). I could only think of one way of doing it (я смог придумать только один способ сделать это). I might hand the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer (я бы передал катер кому-то, кто строит или ремонтирует суда: «строителю судов или ремонтнику»; to repair — ремонтировать), with directions to make a trifling change in her (с указаниями изменить в нем какую-нибудь мелочь: «сделать пустяковую перемену в нем»). She would then be removed to his shed or yard (его тогда поставили бы в его сарай или док; to remove — передвигать, перемещать; убирать), and so be effectually concealed (и он был бы эффективно скрыт), while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice (а в то же время я мог бы получить его назад, предупредив за несколько часов; notice — извещение, уведомление; предупреждение)."

"That seems simple enough (это кажется совсем простым)."

invisibility [In,vIz@'bIl@tI], conceal [k@n'si:l], trifling ['traIflIN]