Английский с Г. К. Честертоном. Рассказы об отце Брауне

 “Such was the valour of that English thousand, and such the genius of their commander, that if they had at once attacked the hill, even their mad march might have met some luck. But the evil mind that played with them like pawns had other aims and reasons. They must remain in the marshes by the bridge at least till British corpses should be a common sight there. Then for the last grand scene; the silver-haired soldier-saint would give up his shattered sword to save further slaughter. Oh, it was well organised for an impromptu. But I think (I cannot prove), I think that it was while they stuck there in the bloody mire that someone doubted – and someone guessed.”

He was mute a moment, and then said: “There is a voice from nowhere that tells me the man who guessed was the lover… the man to wed the old man’s child.”

“But what about Olivier and the hanging (а как же Оливье и эта казнь через повешение; hanging – смертная казнь через повешение; to hang – вешать; висеть)?” asked Flambeau.

“Olivier, partly from chivalry, partly from policy, seldom encumbered his march with captives (отчасти из рыцарства, отчасти из политических соображений Оливье редко обременял свои войска пленными; chivalry – рыцарство, благородство; encumber – загромождать; усложнять; обременять),” explained the narrator (объяснил рассказчик). “He released everybody in most cases (в большинстве случаев он всех отпускал; to release – избавлять, освобождать /от обязательств/; освобождать /из заключения/, выпускать на волю). He released everybody in this case (в тот раз он отпустил всех).

“Everybody but the general (всех, кроме генерала),” said the tall man (сказал высокий человек).

“Everybody (всех),” said the priest (сказал священник).

Flambeau knit his black brows (Фламбо нахмурил черные брови; to knit – вязать; хмурить /брови/). “I don’t grasp it all yet (я все еще не понимаю),” he said.

 “But what about Olivier and the hanging?” asked Flambeau.

“Olivier, partly from chivalry, partly from policy, seldom encumbered his march with captives,” explained the narrator. “He released everybody in most cases. He released everybody in this case.

“Everybody but the general,” said the tall man.

“Everybody,” said the priest.

Flambeau knit his black brows. “I don’t grasp it all yet,” he said.