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

In a fraction of a second the lightning mind of the Great Detective had penetrated the whole mystery (за долю секунды молниеносному разуму Великого Сыщика открылась вся /суть/ этой загадки; to penetrate – проникать внутрь; понимать, постигать).

THE PRINCE WAS A DOG (Принц был собакой)!!!!

Then at last a clue came which gave him a solution of the mystery.

On the wall of the Countess’s boudoir was a large framed engraving.

It was a portrait.

Under it was a printed legend:

THE PRINCE OF WURTTEMBERG

The portrait was that of a Dachshund.

The long body, the broad ears, the unclipped tail, the short hind legs – all was there.

In a fraction of a second the lightning mind of the Great Detective had penetrated the whole mystery.

THE PRINCE WAS A DOG!!!!

Hastily throwing a domino over his housemaid’s dress, he rushed to the street (торопливо набросив домино поверх платья горничной, он устремился на улицу). He summoned a passing hansom, and in a few moments was at his house (он подозвал проезжавшую мимо пролетку и через несколько мгновений оказался у себя в конторе; house – дом, здание; заведение, учреждение).

“I have it,” he gasped to his secretary (я нашел ответ; to have it – найти решение, догадаться). “The mystery is solved (загадка решена). I have pieced it together (я собрал все по крупинкам; to piece together – соединять, собирать по кусочкам). By sheer analysis I have reasoned it out (посредством абсолютного анализа я пришел к решению; to reason smth. out – доходить своим умом до чего-л.).

Listen – hind legs, hair on back, wet snout, pup (слушайте: задние ноги, шерсть на спине, слюнявая морда, щенок) – eh, what? does that suggest nothing to you (а, что? это вам ни о чем не говорит; to suggest – предлагать, советовать; намекать, наводить на мысль)?”

“Nothing,” said the secretary; “it seems perfectly hopeless (ни о чем, – сказал секретарь, – /дело/ кажется мне совершенно безнадежным).”

Hastily throwing a domino over his housemaid’s dress, he rushed to the street. He summoned a passing hansom, and in a few moments was at his house.

“I have it,” he gasped to his secretary. “The mystery is solved.

I have pieced it together. By sheer analysis I have reasoned it out.

Listen – hind legs, hair on back, wet snout, pup – eh, what? does that suggest nothing to you?”

“Nothing,” said the secretary; “it seems perfectly hopeless.”

The Great Detective, now recovered from his excitement, smiled faintly (Великий Сыщик, теперь уже оправившийся от волнения, слегка улыбнулся; to recover – вновь обретать, получать обратно; оправляться /от болезни/, приходить в себя; faintly – бледно, слабо; едва, еле-еле).