Английский с улыбкой. Брет Гарт, Стивен Ликок. Дефективный детектив

The Colonel grasped my hand warmly (полковник тепло пожал мне руку; to grasp – зажимать в руке; схватывать).

Yet I would have overlooked the theft of the opals if they had not substituted two of the Queen’s regimental buttons for the eyes of the god. This, while it did not deceive the ignorant priests, had a deep political and racial significance. You are aware, of course, that the great mutiny was occasioned by the issue of cartridges to the native troops greased with hog’s fat – forbidden by their religion.”

“But these three men could themselves alone quell a mutiny,” I replied.

The Colonel grasped my hand warmly.

“Thank you (благодарю вас). So they could (точно, «они» смогли бы). I never thought of that (я никогда не думал об этом).” He looked relieved (он выглядел успокоенным; to relieve – облегчать, ослаблять; успокаивать, утешать). For all that, he presently passed his hand over his forehead (однако тут же провел рукою по лбу; for all that – несмотря на все это, тем не менее) and nervously chewed his cheroot (и нервно сжевал свою сигару; cheroot – манильская сигара /сорт сигар с обрезанными концами/).

“There is something else,” I said (есть еще кое-что, – сказал я).

“You are right (вы правы). There is (есть). It is a secret (это тайна). Promise me it shall go no further – than the Press (обещайте мне, что это не пойдет дальше… дальше прессы)? Nay, swear that you will KEEP it for the Press (нет, поклянитесь, что вы сохраните это для прессы)!”

“I promise (я обещаю).”

“Thank you SO much (/я/ так благодарен вам). It is a matter of my own and Mulledwiney’s (это касается лишь меня и Глинтвейни: «это дело мое и Глинтвейни»; matter – вещество, материал; дело, вопрос). The fact is, we have had a PERSONAL difficulty (суть в том, что у нас были личные разногласия; fact – событие, случай; сущность, факт; difficulty – трудность; разногласия, спор).”

“Thank you. So they could. I never thought of that.” He looked relieved. For all that, he presently passed his hand over his forehead and nervously chewed his cheroot.

“There is something else,” I said.

“You are right. There is. It is a secret. Promise me it shall go no further – than the Press? Nay, swear that you will KEEP it for the Press!”

“I promise.”

“Thank you SO much. It is a matter of my own and Mulledwiney’s. The fact is, we have had a PERSONAL difficulty.”