Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small casebook, which he consulted.

"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the matter."

 

"Alas (увы)!" replied our visitor (ответила наша посетительница), "the very horror of my situation lies (как раз весь ужас моего положения лежит = заключается) in the fact that my fears are so vague (мои страхи так неясны), and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points (мои подозрения основываются так полностью на мелочах), which might seem trivial to another (которые могут показаться пустыми другому), that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice (что даже он, именно у кого: «у кого из всех других» я имею право искать помощи и совета) looks upon all (смотрит на все) that I tell him about it (что я говорю ему об этом) as the fancies of a nervous woman (как на фантазии нервной женщины). He does not say so (не говорит так), but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes (могу прочитать это в его утешающих ответах и уклончивом взоре). But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart (вы можете вникать глубоко в многообразные пороки человеческого сердца). You may advise (посоветовать) me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me (как пройти среди опасностей, которые окружают меня)."

alas [q`lxs] horror [`hPrq] vague [veIg] averted [q`vE:tId] manifold [`mxnIfquld]

 

"Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the dangers which encompass me."

 

"I am all attention (я весь внимание), madam."

"My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather (с отчимом), who is the last survivor (последний /оставшийся в живых/ наследник; to suvive — выжить) of one of the oldest Saxon families (одной из старейших саксонских фамилий) in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey (на западной границе /графства/ Суррей)."

Holmes nodded (кивнул) his head. "The name is familiar to me (имя знакомо мне)," said he.

 

"I am all attention, madam."

"My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Surrey."

Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he.

 

"The family was at one time (в одно время) among the richest in England (среди богатейших в Англии), and the estates extended over (поместья распространялись до) the borders into Berkshire in the north (границ Беркшира на севере), and Hampshire in the west (Хемпшира на западе). In the last century (в прошлом веке), however, four successive heirs (четыре следующих один за другим = подряд наследника) were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition (распутного и расточительного характера), and the family ruin (семейный крах) was eventually completed (в конце концов был завершен) by a gambler (азартным игроком) in the days of the Regency (в дни = во времена Регентства /1811-1820/). Nothing was left (ничего не было оставлено) save a few acres of ground (кроме нескольких акров земли), and the two-hundred-year-old house (и двухсотлетнего дома), which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage (который /сам/ раздавлен /под/ обременительным залогом). The last squire dragged out his existence there (последний помещик влачил свое существование там), living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper (проживая ужасную жизнь аристократического нищего); but his son only (но его единственный сын), my stepfather (отчим), seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions (видя, что он должен приспособить себя = приспособиться к новым условиям), obtained an advance from a relative (получил аванс = взял взаймы у родственника), which enabled him (который позволил ему) to take a medical degree (получить медицинскую, докторскую степень) and went out to Calcutta (уехал в Калькутту), where, by his professional skill (благодаря своему профессиональному навыку) and his force of character (и силе характера), he established a large practice (основал широкую практику). In a fit of anger (в приступе ярости), however, caused by some robberies (вызванной кражами) which had been perpetrated in the house (которые были совершены в доме), he beat his native butler to death (избил своего туземца-дворецкого насмерть) and narrowly escaped a capital sentence (едва избежал смертного приговора). As it was (хотя /он избежал казни/), he suffered a long term of imprisonment (отбыл долгий срок заключения), and afterwards returned (затем вернулся) to England a morose and disappointed man (угрюмым и разочарованным человеком).

century [`sentSqrI] heirs [eqz] Regency [`rJGqnsI] mortgage [`mLgIG] morose [mq`rqus]

 

"The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment, and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man.

 

"When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother (женился на моей матери), Mrs. Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner (молодой вдове генерал-майора Стонера), of the Bengal Artillery (бенгальской артиллерии). My sister Julia and I were twins (близнецы), and we were only two years old at the time of my mother's re-marriage (ко времени новой женитьбы). She had a considerable sum of money (изрядное денежное состояние) — not less (не менее) than 1000 pounds a year (в год) — and this she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely (завещала доктору Ройлотту полностью) whilst we resided with him (пока мы проживали с ним), with a provision that a certain annual sum (с условием, что определенная ежегодная сумма) should be allowed (предоставлена) to each of us in the event of our marriage (в случае нашего замужества). Shortly after our return (вскоре после нашего возвращения) to England my mother died (умерла) — she was killed eight years ago (была убита восемь лет назад) in a railway accident (в железнодорожной катастрофе) near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice (оставил попытки обосноваться в практике = практикуя) in London and took us to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran (и забрал нас жить с ним в старый родовой дом в Сток-Морене). The money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants (деньги, которые оставила нам наша мать, были достаточны для всех наших желаний), and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness (и казалось, не было препятствия нашему счастью).

marriage [`mxrIG] bequeathed [bI`kwJDd] obstacle [`Pbstqkl]

 

"When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable sum of money — not less than 1000 pounds a year — and this she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely whilst we resided with him, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return to England my mother died — she was killed eight years ago in a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness.

 

"But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time (но ужасная перемена овладела нашим отчимом около этого времени). Instead of making friends (вместо делания друзей = приобретения друзей) and exchanging visits with our neighbors (и обмена визитами с нашими соседями), who had at first been overjoyed to see (которые сначала были очень счастливы видеть) a Roylott of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat (/что/ Ройлотт из Сток-Морена вернулся в старое родовое поместье), he shut himself up (запер себя) in his house and seldom came out (редко выходил наружу) save (кроме как) to indulge in ferocious quarrels (чтобы доставить себе удовольствие /ввязаться в/ дикие ссоры) with whoever might cross his path (с кем бы то ни было, /кто/ мог пересечь его тропу = с первым встречным). Violence of temper (неистовство нрава) approaching to mania (доходящая до мании) has been hereditary in the men of the family (было наследственно по мужской линии в этой семье), and in my stepfather's case (в случае моего отчима) it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics (было усилено долгим жительством в тропиках). A series of disgraceful brawls took place (серия, полоса постыдных скандалов произошла), two of which ended in the police-court (два из которых окончились в полицейском суде), until at last he became the terror of the village (пока, наконец, он не стал кошмаром селения), and the folks would fly at his approach (люди убегали при его приближении), for he is a man of immense strength (огромной силы), and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger (совершенно неконтролируемый в своем гневе).

neighbors [`neIbq] ferocious [fq`rquSqs] quarrels [`kwPrqlz] hereditary [hI`redItqrI]

 

"But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbors, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger.

 

"Last week he hurled (швырнул) the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream (местного кузнеца через перила в реку), and it was only by paying over all the money (и только выплачиванием всех денег) which I could gather together (которые я могла собрать) that I was able to avert another public exposure (смогла избежать другого публичного скандала: «представления»). He had no friends at all (вообще) save the wandering gypsies (кроме странствующих цыган), and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp (давал этим бродягам позволение располагаться лагерем) upon the few acres of bramble-covered land (на нескольких акрах заросшей: «покрытой» ежевикой земли) which represent the family estate (которая представляет = составляет родовое имение), and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents (принимал в обмен гостеприимство их шатров), wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end (кочуя вместе с ними иногда недели напролет). He has a passion also for Indian animals (имеет страсть также к индийским животным), which are sent over to him (пересылаются ему) by a correspondent (корреспондентом = приятелем), and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon (имеет сейчас гепарда и бабуина), which wander freely over his grounds (которые разгуливают свободно по его землям) and are feared by the villagers (их опасаются /сельские/ жители) almost as much as their master (почти столь же сильно, как и их хозяина).

blacksmith [`blxksmIT] exposure [Ik`spquZq] gypsies [`GipsIz] cheetah [`tSJtq]

 

"Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I could gather together that I was able to avert another public exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gypsies, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the villagers almost as much as their master.

 

"You can imagine from what I say (вы можете себе представить из того, что я говорю) that my poor sister (моя бедная сестра) Julia and I had no great pleasure in our lives (жили не очень весело: «имели невеликое удовольствие в наших жизнях»). No servant would stay with us (никто из слуг не хотел оставаться с нами), and for a long time we did all the work of the house (и долгое время мы делали всю работу дома = выполняли домашнюю работу). She was but thirty (ей было лишь тридцать /лет/) at the time of her death (ко времени ее смерти), and yet her hair had already begun to whiten (и однако волосы ее начали седеть), even as mine has (точно так же, как и мои)."

servant [`sE:vqnt] death [deT] whiten [`waItn]

"Your sister is dead (умерла), then (значит: «тогда»)?"

 

"You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already begun to whiten, even as mine has."

"Your sister is dead, then?"

 

"She died just two years ago, and it is of her death (это о ее смерти = как раз о ее смерти) that I wish to speak to you. You can understand (понять) that, living the life which I have described (описала), we were little likely (были мало вероятны = имели мало возможностей) to see anyone of our own age and position (видеть = встретить кого-то нашего собственного возраста и положения). We had, however (однако), an aunt (тетка), my mother's maiden sister (незамужняя сестра моей матери; maiden — дева, девица), Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed (и нам время от времени позволялось) to pay short visits (наносить короткие визиты) at this lady's house. Julia went there at Christmas (на Рождество) two years ago, and met there a half-pay major of marines (встретила там отставного: «полуоплачиваемого» майора флота), to whom she became engaged (стала помолвлена). My stepfather learned of the engagement (узнал о помолвке) when my sister returned and offered no objection to the marriage (не выразил никакой протест = не возражал против этого брака); but within a fortnight (не позднее двух недель) of the day which had been fixed for the wedding (перед днем, установленным для свадьбы), the terrible event occurred (ужасное событие случилось) which has deprived me of my only companion (которое лишило меня моей единственной компаньонки = подруги)."

age [eIG] major [`meIGq] engagement [In`geIGmqnt]

Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair (сидел, откинувшись назад в своем кресле) with his eyes closed and (с закрытыми глазами) his head sunk in a cushion (и с головой, положенной на диванную подушку; to sink — падать, опускать, осесть), but he half opened his lids now (но теперь он наполовину открыл = приоткрыл веки) and glanced across at his visitor (и взглянул на свою посетительнницу).

 

"She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event occurred which has deprived me of my only companion."