Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Странная история доктора Джекила и мистера Хайда

The solemn butler knew and welcomed him; he was subjected to no stage of delay, but ushered direct from the door to the dining-room, where Dr. Lanyon sat alone over his wine. This was a hearty, healthy, dapper, red-faced gentleman, with a shock of hair prematurely white, and a boisterous and decided manner. At sight of Mr. Utterson, he sprang up from his chair and welcomed him with both hands. The geniality, as was the way of the man, was somewhat theatrical to the eye; but it reposed on genuine feeling. For these two were old friends, old mates both at school and college, both thorough respecters of themselves and of each other, and, what does not always follow, men who thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.

After a little rambling talk (после недолгого разговора о том о сем; rambling – бродячий; хаотичный, бессвязный /о речи/; to ramble – бродить, блуждать), the lawyer led up to the subject which so disagreeably preoccupied his mind (нотариус постепенно перешел к предмету, который столь неприятно занимал все его мысли; to lead up – вести куда-либо; наводить /разговор и т. п./, подводить /к чему-либо/; to preoccupy – занимать, поглощать /внимание/).

“I suppose, Lanyon (пожалуй, Лэньон; to suppose – предполагать),” said he, “you and I must be the two oldest friends that Henry Jekyll has (мы с вами, должно быть, самые старые друзья Генри Джекила)?”

“I wish the friends were younger (хотелось бы, чтобы друзья были помоложе = жаль, что не самые молодые),” chuckled Dr. Lanyon (усмехнулся/хмыкнул доктор Лэньон; to chuckle – издать смешок). “But I suppose we are (но, полагаю, так и есть). And what of that (и что из этого)? I see little of him now (я его теперь редко вижу).”

“Indeed (в самом деле)?” said Utterson. “I thought you had a bond of common interest (а я думал, что вас связывают общие интересы; bond – узы, связь).”

After a little rambling talk, the lawyer led up to the subject which so disagreeably preoccupied his mind.

“I suppose, Lanyon,” said he, “you and I must be the two oldest friends that Henry Jekyll has?”

“I wish the friends were younger,” chuckled Dr. Lanyon. “But I suppose we are. And what of that? I see little of him now.”

“Indeed?” said Utterson. “I thought you had a bond of common interest.”