Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.

 

"Pray be precise as to details (пожалуйста, будьте точны /в том/ что касается деталей)," said he.

cushion [`kuSn] glanced [glRnst] precise [prI`saIs]

"It is easy for me to be so (это легко для меня быть такой = точной), for every event of that dreadful time (так как каждое событие того кошмарного времени) is seared into my memory (врезалось в мою память; to sear — выжигать, иссушать). The manor house (помещичий дом) is, as I have already said (как я уже сказала), very old, and only one wing is now inhabited (только одно крыло сейчас обитаемо). The bedrooms in this wing (спальни в этом крыле) are on the ground floor (находятся на нижнем этаже), the sitting-rooms (гостиные) being in the central block of the buildings (в центральном массиве зданий = в центре). Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylott's (из этих спален первая доктора Ройлотта), the second my sister's (вторая — моей сестры), and the third my own (третья — моя собственная). There is no communication between them (нет сообщения между ними), but they all open out into the same corridor (они все выходят в один /и тот же/ коридор). Do I make myself plain (я делаю себя простой = достаточно ли ясно объясняю)?"

dreadful [`dredful] manor [`mxnq] wing [wIN]

"Perfectly so (совершенно /так/)."

 

"Pray be precise as to details," said he.

"It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful time is seared into my memory. The manor house is, as I have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?"

"Perfectly so."

 

"The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn (окна /всех/ трех комнат выходят на лужайку). That fatal night (той роковой ночью) Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early (ушел в свою комнату рано), though we knew that he had not retired to rest (хотя мы знали, что он не лег отдыхать = спать), for my sister was troubled (так как моя сестра была потревожена) by the smell of the strong Indian cigars (запахом крепких индийских сигар) which it was his custom to smoke (что было его обычаем = привычкой курить). She left her room, therefore (она вышла из своей комнаты, поэтому; to leave — покидать, оставлять), and came into mine (и пришла в мою), where she sat for some time (где сидела какое-то время), chatting about her approaching wedding (болтая о своей приближающейся свадьбе). At eleven o'clock she rose to leave me (в одиннадцать часов она встала, чтобы покинуть меня = уйти), but she paused at the door and looked back (но задержалась у двери и оглянулась).

lawn [lLn] night [naIt] therefore [`DeqfL]

"'Tell me, Helen (скажи мне, Хелен),' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle (ты когда-нибудь слышала, будто кто-то свистит) in the dead of the night (глухой ночью = поздно ночью)?'

 

"The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back.

"'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle in the dead of the night?'

 

"'Never (никогда),' said I.

"'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle yourself in your sleep (я полагаю = думаю, что ты не могла /возможно/ свистеть сама = тебе не случалось свистеть во сне)?'

"'Certainly not (конечно нет). But why (но почему /ты спрашиваешь/)?'

"'Because during the last few nights (потому что во время последних нескольких ночей) I have always, about three in the morning (я всегда = постоянно около трех /часов/ утром), heard a low, clear whistle (слышала тихий, отчетливый свист). I am a light sleeper (я сплю чутко), and it has awakened me (он разбудил меня). I cannot tell where it came from (не могу сказать = понять, откуда он идет = исходит) perhaps from the next room (возможно, из следующей = соседней комнаты), perhaps from the lawn (может быть, с лужайки). I thought that I would just ask you (я подумала, что просто спрошу тебя) whether you had heard it (слышала ли ты его).'

during [`djuqrIN] whistle [`wIsl] whether [`weDq]

 

"'Never,' said I.

"'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle yourself in your sleep?'

"'Certainly not. But why?'

"'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would just ask you whether you had heard it.'

 

"'No, I have not (нет, не слышала). It must be those wretched gypsies in the plantation (это, должно быть, те жалкие /гнусные/ цыгане на лужайке; plantation — насаждения, лесопосадка).'

"'Very likely (очень возможно). And yet if it were on the lawn (и все-таки, если бы это было на лужайке = свист шел с лужайки), I wonder that you did not hear it also (я удивляюсь, что ты тоже не слышала его).'

"'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you (но я сплю более тяжело = крепче, чем ты).'

"'Well, it is of no great consequence (это не великой важности = пустяки), at any rate (во всяком случае).' She smiled back at me (улыбнулась обратно на меня = ответила улыбкой), closed my door, and a few moments later (закрыла мою дверь, и, несколько мгновений спустя) I heard her key turn in the lock (я слышала /как/ ее ключ повернулся в замке)."

consequence [`kPnsIkwqns] door [dL] key [kJ]

 

"'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gypsies in the plantation.'

"'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you did not hear it also.'

"'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.'

"'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her key turn in the lock."

 

"Indeed (действительно)," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night (было это вашей привычкой = вы всегда запирали себя /внутри комнаты/ на ночь)?"

"Always (всегда)."

"And why (и почему)?"

"I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon (я думаю = кажется, я упомянула /вам/, что доктор держал гепарда и бабуина). We had no feeling of security (мы не имели чувства = не чувствовали себя в безопасности) unless our doors were locked (пока наши двери не были закрыты; unless — пока не, если не)."

"Quite so (несомненно: «вполне так»). Pray proceed with your statement (пожалуйста, продолжайте с вашим изложением = свой рассказ; to proceed with — возобновлять)."

 

"Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night?"

"Always."

"And why?"

"I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were locked."

"Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement."

 

"I could not sleep that night (я не могла спать той ночью). A vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me (смутное ощущение неминуемого несчастья охватило меня; to impress — производить впечатление, поражать). My sister and I, you will recollect, were twins (моя сестра и я, /как/ вы помните, были близнецами; to recollect — припоминать, помнить), and you know how subtle are the links (вы знаете, как тонки связи, узы) which bind two souls (которые связывают две души) which are so closely allied (которые так близко родственны; allied — родственный, близкий, союзный). It was a wild night (была дикая = жуткая ночь). The wind was howling outside (ветер завывал снаружи), and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows (дождь бил и барабанил в окна; to beat — бить, колотить; to splash — брызгать, плескаться, шлепать). Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale (внезапно, посреди всего грохота бури; hubbub — шум, гам, гвалт), there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman (раздался дикий крик испуганной женщины; to burst forth — внезапно возникнуть, прорываться, вырваться). I knew that it was my sister's voice (я знала, что это был голос моей сестры). I sprang from my bed (вскочила с кровати), wrapped a shawl round me (я накинула шаль; to wrap round — навивать, обматывать), and rushed into the corridor (бросилась в коридор). As I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle (когда я открыла дверь, мне показалось, что я слышу тихий свист), such as my sister described (какой моя сестра описывала), and a few moments later a clanging sound (и несколько мгновений спустя /услышала/ лязгающий звук), as if a mass of metal had fallen (как если бы груда металла = тяжелый металлический предмет упал). As I ran down the passage (пробежав по коридору /до ее комнаты/; to run down — настигнуть, сбегать /вниз/), my sister's door was unlocked (/я увидела/, что дверь /комнаты/ моей сестры незаперта = открыта), and revolved slowly upon its hinges (и поворачивалась медленно на петлях). I stared at it horror-stricken (я уставилась на нее, охваченная ужасом), not knowing what was about to issue from it (нет зная, что бы это могло значить; to be about — касаться, иметь отношение; to issue from — исходить из). By the light of the corridor-lamp (при свете коридорной лампы) I saw my sister appear at the opening (я увидела, как появилась моя сестра при открытии /двери/ = в дверях), her face blanched with terror (с лицом, побледневшим от ужаса), her hands groping for help (с руками, протянутыми за помощью; to grope — ощупывать, идти ощупью), her whole figure swaying to and fro (вся ее фигура качалась из стороны в сторону, туда-сюда) like that of a drunkard (как /фигура/ пьяницы = словно она была пьяна; like that — так, таким образом). I ran to her and threw my arms round her (я подбежала к ней и обняла ее), but at that moment her knees seemed to give way (но в это мгновение ее колени /показалось/ не выдержали = подогнулись) and she fell to the ground (упала на землю). She writhed as one who is in terrible pain (она корчилась, словно человек, который находится в ужасной боли = испытывает нестерпимую боль), and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed (ее конечности сильно: «ужасно» сводило судорогой). At first I thought that she had not recognized me (сначала я подумала, что она не узнала меня), but as I bent over her (но когда я наклонилась над ней) she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget (она внезапно вскрикнула голосом, который я никогда не забуду), 'Oh, my God (Боже мой)! Helen! It was the band (это была лента; band — лента, банда)! The speckled band (пестрая лента)!' There was something else which she would fain have said (там было что-то еще, что она сказала бы = хотела сказать; fain — охотно, с готовностью), and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the doctor's room (и она указала пальцем в сторону комнаты доктора; to stab — колоть, пронзать; air — воздух; in the direction — по направлению), but a fresh convulsion seized her (но новая судорога охватила ее; to seize — овладеть, захватить) and choked her words (оборвала ее слова; to choke — душить, заглушать, засорять). I rushed out, calling loudly for my stepfather (я выскочила, зовя громко отчима), and I met him hastening from his room in his dressing-gown (и встретила его спешащим из своей комнаты в халате). When he reached my sister's side (когда он достиг места, где была моя сестра) she was unconscious (она была без сознания), and though he poured brandy down her throat (и хотя он влил коньяку ей в рот; throat — горло, гортань) and sent for medical aid from the village (послал за медицинской помощью из деревни), all efforts were in vain (все усилия были напрасны), for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her consciousness (так как она медленно слабела и умирала не приходя в сознание; to sink — тонуть; оседать; ослабевать). Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister (таков был ужасный конец моей любимой сестры)."

misfortune [mIs`fLtSqn] subtle [`sAtl] voice [vOIs] band [bxnd] seized [sJzd]

 

"I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not recognized me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister."

 

"One moment (один момент = позвольте спросить)," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and metallic sound (вы уверены насчет этого свиста и металлического звука)? Could you swear to it (могли ли бы вы поклясться в этом = показать это под присягой)?"

"That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry (это было /то/, о чем следователь графства спросил меня на допросе). It is my strong impression that I heard it (это мое сильное впечатление = мне кажется, что я слышала его), and yet, among the crash of the gale and the creaking of an old house (и, тем не менее, посреди грохота бури и поскрипывании старого дома), I may possibly have been deceived (я могла, возможно, обмануться)."

county [`kauntI] coroner [`kPrqnq] inquiry [In`kwaIqrI] gale [geIl]

"Was your sister dressed (была ли ваша сестра одета)?"

 

"One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?"

"That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have been deceived."

"Was your sister dressed?"

 

"No, she was in her night-dress (нет, она была в ночной рубашке). In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match (в ее правой руке был найден обугленный остаток спички), and in her left a match-box (а в левой — спичечная коробка)."

"Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her (показывающая = это доказывает, что она зажгла свет и оглядывалась /по сторонам/) when the alarm took place (когда тревога произошла: «взяла место» = когда ее что-то напугало). That is important (это важно). And what conclusions did the coroner come to (и к каким заключениям следователь пришел)?"

match [mxtS] light [laIt] alarm [q`lRm]

 

"No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box."

"Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the coroner come to?"

 

"He investigated the case with great care (он расследовал дело тщательно: «с большим вниманием»), for Dr. Roylott's conduct had long been notorious in the county (так как поведение доктора Ройлотта было долго /печально/ известно в графстве; notorious — пользующийся дурной славой), but he was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death (но он был неспособен найти какую-либо удовлетворительную причину смерти). My evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side (мое свидетельство показало = я сказала на следствии, что дверь была заперта изнутри), and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars (а окна были закрыты старинными /старомодными/ ставнями с широкими железными засовами), which were secured every night (которые запирались каждую ночь; to secure — замыкать, запирать; страховать). The walls were carefully sounded (стены были тщательно проверены; to sound — прощупать, прозондировать, выстукивать), and were shown to be quite solid all round (были показаны, выявлены = признаны вполне прочными повсюду), and the flooring was also thoroughly examined (пол был также основательно исследован), with the same result (с тем же результатом). The chimney is wide (дымовая труба широкая), but is barred up by four large staples (запирается четырьмя большими скобами). It is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end (это несомненно, поэтому, что моя сестра была совершенно одна, когда она встретила свой конец = погибла). Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her (кроме того, там не было /найдено/ следов какого-либо насилия над ней)."

care [keq] notorious [nqu`tLrIqs] cause [kLz] fastened [`fRsnd] thoroughly [`TArqlI]

"How about poison (как насчет яда)?"

 

"He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her."

"How about poison?"

 

"The doctors examined her for it (врач исследовал ее на наличие яда), but without success (но без успеха)."

"What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then (от чего вы думаете, /что/ эта несчастная дама умерла, в таком случае)?"

"It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock (это мое мнение = мне кажется, что она умерла от подлинного = сильного страха и нервного потрясения), though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine (хотя, что это было, что напугало ее, я не могу себе представить)."

success [sqk`sqs] unfortunate [An`fLtSunIt] pure [pjuq] frightened [`fraItnd]

 

"The doctors examined her for it, but without success."

"What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?"

"It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine."

 

"Were there gypsies in the plantation at the time (были ли цыгане на территории усадьбы в то время; plantation — насаждения, посадка)?"

"Yes, there are nearly always some there (да, почти всегда некоторые = немного /цыгaн/ живет там)."

"Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band (и что вы заключили из этого упоминания о ленте /банде/; to gather — собирать, делать вывод, умозаключать) — a speckled band (о пестрой ленте /банде/)?"

 

"Were there gypsies in the plantation at the time?"

"Yes, there are nearly always some there."

"Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band — a speckled band?"

 

"Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of delirium (иногда я думала, что это было лишь дикий разговор исступления = эти слова сказаны в бреду), sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people (иногда — что это могло относиться к какой-то банде людей), perhaps to these very gypsies in the plantation (возможно, к тем самым цыганам на лужайке). I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads (не знаю, могли ли крапчатые платки, которые многие из них носят на своих головах) might have suggested the strange adjective which she used (вызвать странное определение: «прилагательное», которое она использовала)."

delirium [dI`lIqrIum] handkerchiefs [`hxNkqtSIfs] adjective [`xGIktIv]

Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied (покачал головой неудовлетворенно: «как человек, который далек от /того, чтобы/ быть удовлетворенным»).

"These are very deep waters (это очень глубокие воды = это дело темное)," said he; "pray go on with your narrative (пожалуйста, продолжайте со своим рассказом = продолжайте ваш рассказ)."

 

"Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gypsies in the plantation. I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used."