Английский с Г. К. Честертоном. Рассказы об отце Брауне / Gilbert Keith Chesterton. The Innocence of Father Brown

 The silvery figure among the green leaves seems to linger as if hypnotised, though his escape is easy behind him; he is staring at the man below.

“Oh, yes,” says the man below, “I know all about it. I know you not only forced the pantomime, but put it to a double use. You were going to steal the stones quietly; news came by an accomplice that you were already suspected, and a capable police officer was coming to rout you up that very night. A common thief would have been thankful for the warning and fled; but you are a poet. You already had the clever notion of hiding the jewels in a blaze of false stage jewellery.

Now, you saw that if the dress were a harlequin’s (вот вы и решили, если /на вас/ будет наряд Арлекина; to see – видеть; понимать; считать; вообразить) the appearance of a policeman would be quite in keeping (то появление полицейского будет естественным: «в соответствии»). The worthy officer started from Putney police station to find you (достойный офицер /полиции/ отправился из полицейского участка в Патни, чтобы найти вас), and walked into the queerest trap ever set in this world (и попал: «вошел» в самую странную ловушку, которую когда-либо расставляли в этом мире). When the front door opened he walked straight on to the stage of a Christmas pantomime (когда отворились передние двери дома, он вошел /и попал/ прямо на сцену с рождественской пантомимой), where he could be kicked, clubbed, stunned and drugged by the dancing harlequin (где танцующий Арлекин мог его пинать, бить дубинкой, оглушить и одурманить), amid roars of laughter from all the most respectable people in Putney (посреди взрывов смеха самых респектабельных жителей Патни). Oh, you will never do anything better (да, ничего лучше этого вам не сделать). And now, by the way, you might give me back those diamonds (а сейчас, кстати говоря, вы могли бы отдать мне те бриллианты).”

 Now, you saw that if the dress were a harlequin’s the appearance of a policeman would be quite in keeping. The worthy officer started from Putney police station to find you, and walked into the queerest trap ever set in this world. When the front door opened he walked straight on to the stage of a Christmas pantomime, where he could be kicked, clubbed, stunned and drugged by the dancing harlequin, amid roars of laughter from all the most respectable people in Putney. Oh, you will never do anything better. And now, by the way, you might give me back those diamonds.”

The green branch on which the glittering figure swung, rustled as if in astonishment (зеленая ветка, на которой покачивалась сверкающая фигура, зашелестела, словно от изумления; to swing – качаться); but the voice went on (но голос продолжал; to go on – продолжать):