Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose."

 

"Certainly (непременно), sir," said Baker, who had risen (поднялся) and tucked his newly gained property under his arm (сунул свою вновь обретенную собственность под руку = под мышку). "There are a few of us (там есть несколько из нас = наша небольшая компания) who frequent the Alpha Inn (которая /посещает/ трактир «Альфа»), near the Museum (рядом с музеем) — we are to be found (нас можно найти) in the Museum itself (в самом музее) during the day (в течение дня), you understand (понимаете). This year our good host (в этом году наш хороший хозяин), Windigate by name (по имени), instituted a goose club (учредил гусиный клуб), by which (с помощью которого), on consideration (при выплате) of some few pence every week (нескольких фунтов каждую неделю), we were each to receive (мы были /должны/ каждый получить) a bird at Christmas (к Рождеству). My pence were duly paid (были своевременно/надлежащим образом уплачены; due — должное; то, что причитается), and the rest is familiar to you (остальное знакомо = известно вам). I am much indebted to you (весьма обязан вам; debt — долг), sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity (так как шотландская шапочка не подходит ни для моих годов, ни для моей степенности = солидному человеку моего возраста неудобно носить шотландскую шапочку)." With a comical pomposity of manner (с комичной напыщенностью /стиля/) he bowed solemnly (поклонился торжественно) to both of us (нам обоим) and strode off upon his way (зашагал прочь своей дорогой; to stride — шагать /большими шагами/).

frequent [`frJkwqnt] indebted [In`detId] pomposity [pPm`pPsItI] solemnly [`sPlqmlI]

 

"Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum — we are to be found in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way.

 

"So much for Mr. Henry Baker (довольно о мистере Генри Бейкере)," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him (позади него). "It is quite certain (вполне определенно) that he knows nothing whatever about the matter (что он совсем ничего не знает об этом деле). Are you hungry (вы голодны), Watson?"

"Not particularly (не особенно)."

"Then I suggest (предлагаю) that we turn our dinner into a supper (превратим наш обед в ужин) and follow up this clew while it is still hot (последуем по этой нити, пока она все еще горячая = отправимся по горячим следам; clew — клубок /ниток/)."

"By all means (непременно: «всеми средствами»)."

 

"So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?"

"Not particularly."

"Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow up this clew while it is still hot."

"By all means."

 

It was a bitter night (морозный вечер; bitter — горький; сильный, резкий), so we drew on our ulsters (надели пальто; to draw on) and wrapped cravats about our throats (обмотали шарфы вокруг горла). Outside (снаружи), the stars were shining coldly (звезды сияли холодно) in a cloudless sky (на безоблачном небе), and the breath of the passers-by (/пар от/ дыхания прохожих) blew out into smoke (выдувался в дым; to blow out) like so many pistol shots (как от множества пистолетных выстрелов). Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly (звуки наших шагов звенели = раздавались твердо и громко) as we swung through the doctors' quarter (когда мы мерно шли через докторский квартал; to swing — качаться, колебаться; идти мерным шагом), Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour (через четверть часа) we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house (питейное заведение, кабак) at the corner of one of the streets (на углу одной из улиц) which runs down into (которая спускается к: «бежит вниз») Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door (открыл, толкнул дверь) of the private bar (частного бара /дополнительный бар в некоторых пабах/) and ordered two glasses of beer (заказал два стакана пива) from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord (краснолицему, в белом переднике, хозяину).

cravats [krq`vxts] cloudless [`klaudlIs] breath [breT] private [`praIvIt]

"Your beer should be excellent (должно быть превосходным) if it is as good as your geese (если оно так же хорошо, как ваши гуси)," said he.

 

It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord.

"Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," said he.

 

"My geese!" The man seemed surprised (выглядел удивленным).

"Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago (говорил лишь полчаса назад) to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club (который был членом вашего гусиного клуба)."

"Ah! yes, I see (понимаю). But you see, sir, them's not our geese (они не наши гуси; them's = them is — неправильная форма от they are)."

"Indeed! Whose, then (чьи тогда)?"

"Well, I got the two dozen (получил две дюжины) from a salesman (от одного торговца) in Covent Garden."

 

"My geese!" The man seemed surprised.

"Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club."

"Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese."

"Indeed! Whose, then?"

"Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden."

 

"Indeed (правда)? I know some of them (знаю кое-что о них /торговцах/). Which was it (какой из них был это = у кого вы купили)?"

"Breckinridge is his name."

"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health (вот ваше хорошее здоровье = ну, за ваше здоровье) landlord, and prosperity to your house (и за процветание вашего дома = заведения). Good-night (доброй ночи)."

health [helT] prosperity [prP`sperItI] night [naIt]

 

"Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?"

"Breckinridge is his name."

"Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good-night."

 

"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued (продолжил), buttoning up his coat (застегивая пальто) as we came out into the frosty air (вышли на морозный воздух). "Remember (запомните), Watson that though (хотя) we have so homely a thing as a goose (имеем такую простую/обыденную вещь, как гусь) at one end of this chain (на одном конце нашей цепи), we have at the other (на другом) a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude (который, несомненно, получит семилетние каторжные работы) unless we can establish his innocence (если мы не сможем установить его невиновность). It is possible (возможно) that our inquiry (исследование) may but confirm his guilt (может лишь подтвердить его вину); but, in any case (в любом случае), we have a line of investigation (линию = нить расследования) which has been missed by the police (которая была пропущена полицией), and which a singular chance has placed in our hands (и которую странный случай поместил в наши руки). Let us follow it out to the bitter end (давайте осуществим его до горького конца = доведем до самого конца, каким бы печальным он ни был). Faces to the south (лица на юг = поворот на юг), then, and quick march (быстрый марш = шагом марш)!"

servitude [`sE:vItjHd] guilt [gilt] south [sauT] march [mRtS]

 

"Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and quick march!"

 

We passed across (пересекли) Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums (через зигзаг трущоб) to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stalls (одна из самых больших лавок) bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor (владелец), a horsy-looking man (выглядящий как жокей человек; horsy — относящийся к лошадям; подражающий жокею), with a sharp face (с хитрым лицом) and trim side-whiskers (и холеными бакенбардами; trim — подрезка, стрижка) was helping a boy to put up the shutters (был помогающим мальчику запереть ставни).

stalls [stLlz] proprietor [prq`praIqtq] horsy [`hLsI] whiskers [`wIskqz]

"Good-evening (добрый вечер). It's a cold night," said Holmes.

The salesman nodded (кивнул) and shot a questioning glance at my companion (бросил вопросительный взгляд на моего товарища).

 

We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor a horsy-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was helping a boy to put up the shutters.

"Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.