Английский с А. Конан Дойлем. Пиратские истории

 One morning, some two years after his misfortune, Mr. Copley Banks strode into his own office with his old air of energy and alertness. The manager stared at him in surprise, for it was months since he had shown any interest in business.

“Good morning, Mr. Banks!” said he.

“Good morning, Freeman. I see that Ruffling Harry is in the Bay.”

“Yes, sir; she clears for the Windward Islands on Wednesday.”

“I have other plans for her, Freeman. I have determined upon a slaving venture to Whydah.”

“But her cargo is ready, sir.”

“Then it must come out again, Freeman (тогда его нужно выгрузить, Фримэн; to come out /зд./ – извлекать). My mind is made up (решение принято; to make up one’s mind – принять решение), and the Ruffling Harry must go slaving to Whydah (и «Задира Гарри» должен идти в Уиду за невольниками).”

All argument and persuasion were vain (все доводы и убеждения были напрасны; vain – напрасный, тщетный), so the manager had dolefully to clear the ship once more (так что управляющему со страдальческим /лицом/ пришлось /приказать/ снова разгружать судно; to clear /зд./ – разгружать).

And then Copley Banks began to make preparations for his African voyage (и вот Копли Бэнкс начал делать приготовления к плаванию в Африку; to begin). It appeared that he relied upon force rather than barter for the filling of his hold (казалось, что, наполняя трюмы, он полагался более на /грубую/ силу, чем на торговлю; barter – меновая торговля), for he carried none of those showy trinkets which savages love (поскольку не брал с собой никаких ярких безделушек, которые обожают дикари; to carry – нести, носить; иметь при себе), but the brig was fitted with eight nine-pounder guns (зато вооружил бриг восемью девятифунтовыми пушками; to fit with – снаряжать, оснащать) and racks full of muskets and cutlasses (а оружейные шкафы его были полны мушкетов и абордажных сабель; rack – полка, подставка, вешалка; пирамида /ящик для хранения оружия/).

 “Then it must come out again, Freeman. My mind is made up, and the Ruffling Harry must go slaving to Whydah.”

All argument and persuasion were vain, so the manager had dolefully to clear the ship once more.

And then Copley Banks began to make preparations for his African voyage. It appeared that he relied upon force rather than barter for the filling of his hold, for he carried none of those showy trinkets which savages love, but the brig was fitted with eight nine-pounder guns and racks full of muskets and cutlasses.