Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

be known about her, and the chef de train told her that every sleeper was

engaged. The only chance was that someone should not turn up at the last

moment. She did not like the idea of sitting up all night in the corner of a first-

class carriage, and went into dinner with a perturbed mind. She was given a

table for two, and soon a man came and sat down opposite her. She paid no

attention to him. Presently the chef de train came along and told her that he

was very sorry, but he could do nothing for her.

She made a useless scene (она устроила /совершенно/ бесполезную сцену; to

make a scene — закатить сцену). When the official had gone (когда чиновник

ушел; official — должностное лицо, служащий), the man at her table addressed

her (мужчина, /сидящий/ за ее столом, обратился к ней). Though he spoke

fluent, idiomatic French (и хотя он говорил на беглом, разговорном:

«идиоматичном» французском), she recognized by his accent (она поняла по

его акценту) that he was not a Frenchman (что он не был французом). She told

him in answer to his polite inquiry the whole story (она рассказала ему, в ответ

на его вежливый вопрос, всю историю) and gave him her opinion of the travel

agency (и высказала ему свое мнение о том бюро путешествий; to give an

opinion —выразитьмнение,датьоценку), the railway company (о

железнодорожной компании), and the general inefficiency of the human race (и

всеобщей недееспособности человечества: «человеческой расы»). He was

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316

very sympathetic (он был полон сочувствия). He told her that after dinner (он

сказал ей, что после обеда) he would go along the train (он пройдется по

поезду) and see for himself if something could not be arranged (и сам посмотрит,

что может быть сделано: «и убедиться сам, может ли что-нибудь быть

улажено»; to see for oneself — убедиться в чем-либо самому). One never knew

(никогда не знаешь) what one of the conductors could not manage for a tip (чего

не сможет сделать: «устроить» один из проводников: «кондукторов» за

вознаграждение: «чаевые»).

official [q'fIS(q)l] fluent ['flu:qnt] idiomatic ["IdIq'mxtIk]

inquiry [In'kwaI(q)rI]

She made a useless scene. When the official had gone, the man at her table

addressed her. Though he spoke fluent, idiomatic French, she recognized by

his accent that he was not a Frenchman. She told him in answer to his polite

inquiry the whole story and gave him her opinion of the travel agency, the

railway company, and the general inefficiency of the human race. He was very

sympathetic. He told her that after dinner he would go along the train and see

for himself if something could not be arranged. One never knew what one of

the conductors could not manage for a tip.

"I'm simply tired out (я просто вымотана; tired out — переутомленный, очень

уставший, to tire —утомлять,утомляться,уставать)," she said. "I'd

willingly give five hundred francs for a sleeper (я бы с удовольствием: «с

готовностью» отдала пятьсот франков за спальное место)."

The conversation thus started (/после того, как/ разговор начался таким

образом), he told her that he was an attachй at the Spanish Embassy in Paris (он

рассказал ей, что был атташе испанского посольства в Париже) and was going

down to Cannes for Easter (и /что он/ едет в Канны на Пасху). Though she had

been talking to him for a quarter of an hour (хотя она и разговаривала с ним

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317

/уже добрую/ четверть часа) she had not troubled to notice (она не потрудилась

обратить внимание) what he was like (как он выглядел). She observed now (она