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

 If anyone saw him it was a solitary man-servant, something between a groom and a gardener. He was so deaf that the more business-like assumed him to be dumb; while the more penetrating declared him to be half-witted. A gaunt, red-haired labourer, with a dogged jaw and chin, but quite blank blue eyes, he went by the name of Israel Gow, and was the one silent servant on that deserted estate. But the energy with which he dug potatoes, and the regularity with which he disappeared into the kitchen gave people an impression that he was providing for the meals of a superior, and that the strange earl was still concealed in the castle. If society needed any further proof that he was there, the servant persistently asserted that he was not at home.

One morning the provost and the minister (for the Glengyles were Presbyterian) were summoned to the castle (однажды утром мэра города и пастора (ибо Гленгайлы принадлежали к пресвитерианской церкви: «были пресвитерианцами») позвали в замок; to summon – вызвать; позвать; minister – министр; посланник; священник)

. There they found that the gardener, groom and cook had added to his many professions that of an undertaker (там они обнаружили, что садовник, конюх и повар добавил к своим многим профессиям и /профессию/ гробовщика; to find – находить, обнаруживать), and had nailed up his noble master in a coffin (и заколотил в гроб своего высокородного хозяина; to nail up – заколачивать; nail – ноготь; гвоздь

). With how much or how little further inquiry this odd fact was passed (в какой степени: «много или мало» продвигалось дальнейшее расследование этого странного случая; inquiry – вопрос; запрос; расследование; fact – обстоятельство; факт; событие; случай), did not as yet very plainly appear (не было пока на данный момент /очень/ понятно;

as yet – пока; на данный момент; plainly – ясно); for the thing had never been legally investigated (поскольку этот случай никогда не расследовался официально; thing – вещь; ситуация; legal – правовой; судебный; законный; investigation – расследование) till Flambeau had gone north two or three days before

(пока Фламбо, дня через два-три, не отправился на север; before – впереди; вперед; до, раньше /указывает на предшествование во времени/). By then the body of Lord Glengyle (if it was the body) had lain for some time in the little churchyard on the hill (к тому времени тело графа Гленгайла (если то было его тело) покоилось: «пролежало» на маленьком церковном кладбище, на холме, в течение некоторого времени; to lie; church – церковь; yard – ярд; внутренний двор).