(я должен действительно = вынужден попросить вас вести себя потише)!" said Holmes severely (сказал Холмс строго). "You have already imperilled the whole success of our expedition (вы уже подвергнули опасности весь успех нашей экспедиции; peril — опасность; риск, угроза). Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes (могу ли я попросить, чтобы вы соблаговолили = будьте любезны, сядьте на одну из тех коробок; goodness — любезность), and not to interfere (и не мешайте; to interfere — вмешиваться)?"
severely [sɪˈvɪǝlɪ], imperilled [ɪmˈperɪld], success [sǝkˈses], interfere [ɪntǝˈfɪǝ]
"You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about him.
"Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise.
"I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?"
The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate (важный мистер Мерриуэзер уселся на ящик), with a very injured expression upon his face (с очень обиженным выражением на лице), while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor (в то время как Холмс упал = опустился на колени /на пол/) and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens (и с фонарем и увеличительным стеклом), began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones (начал исследовать скрупулезно трещины между камнями). A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him (нескольких секунд было достаточно, чтобы удовлетворить его), for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket (так как он снова вскочил на ноги и положил стекло = лупу в карман).
solemn [ˈsɔlǝm], injured [ˈɪnʤǝd], magnifying [ˈmæɡnɪfaɪŋ], sufficed [sǝˈfaɪst]
The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket.
"We have at least an hour before us (у нас есть впереди по крайней мере час)," he remarked, "for they can hardly take any steps (так как они едва ли могут предпринять какие-либо шаги) until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed (прежде, чем почтенный владелец ссудной кассы /благополучно/ заснет). Then they will not lose a minute (затем они не будут терять ни минуты), for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape (так как чем раньше они сделают свою работу, тем больше времени у них будет для побега). We are at present, Doctor (мы /находимся/ в настоящее время, доктор) — as no doubt you have divined (как вы, без сомнения, догадались) — in the cellar of the City branch of one of the principal London banks (в подвале отделения Сити одного из ведущих банков Лондона). Mr. Merryweather is the chairman of directors (мистер Мерриуэзер — председатель правления банка), and he will explain to you that there are reasons (и он объяснит вам, что есть причины) why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present (почему наиболее дерзким преступникам Лондона следует проявлять особый интерес к этому подвалу в настоящий момент)."
hardly [ˈhɑ:dlɪ], escape [ɪˈskeɪp], doubt [daut], principal [ˈprɪnsɪpl], chairman [ˈtʃeǝmǝn]
"It is our French gold (это наше французское золото)," whispered the director (прошептал директор). "We have had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it (мы имели несколько предупреждений, что может быть совершена попытка /похитить золото/)."
whispered [ˈwɪspǝd], warning [ˈwɔ:nɪŋ]
"We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at present, Doctor — as no doubt you have divined — in the cellar of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present."
"It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it."
"Your French gold (ваше французское золото)?"
"Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources (у нас была необходимость несколько месяцев назад усилить наши активы) and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of France (и заняли по этой причине тридцать тысяч наполеондоров у Банка Франции). It has become known that we have never had occasion to unpack the money (стало известно, что нам так и не представилось возможности распаковать деньги), and that it is still lying in our cellar (и они до сих пор лежат в нашем подвале). The crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between layers of lead foil (ящик, на котором я сижу, содержит две тысячи наполеондоров между листами свинцовой фольги). Our reserve of bullion is much larger at present (наш запас золотых слитков намного больше в настоящее время) than is usually kept in a single branch office (чем обычно хранится в одном отделении банка), and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject (и у директоров появились дурные предчувствия = опасения по этому вопросу)."
occasion [ǝˈkeɪʒn], strengthen [ˈstreŋƟ(ǝ)n], layers [ˈleɪǝz], foil [fɔɪl]
"Your French gold?"
"Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject."
"Which were very well justified (что было очень хорошо оправдано = есть все основания для опасения)," observed Holmes (подметил Холмс). "And now it is time that we arranged our little plans (и теперь /пришло/ время привести в порядок наши маленькие планы). I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head (я ожидаю, что в течение часа вопросы будут решены = достигнут решающей стадии: «придут к голове»). In the meantime (тем временем), Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern (мы должны поместить ширму на этот потайной: «темный» фонарь = закрыть чем-нибудь фонарь)."
"And sit in the dark (и сидеть в темноте)?"
justified [ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd], meantime [ˈmi:ntaɪm], screen [skri:n]
"Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime, Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern."
"And sit in the dark?"
"I am afraid so (боюсь, что так). I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket (я принес колоду карт /в моем кармане/), and I thought that, as we were a partie carree (и я думал, что раз нас здесь четверо; partie carree — прогулка вчетвером (фр.)), you might have your rubber after all (вы могли бы сыграть партию в роббер, в конце концов). But I see that the enemy's preparations have gone so far (но я вижу, что вражеские приготовления зашли так далеко) that we cannot risk the presence of a light (что мы не можем рисковать присутствием света = оставить свет). And, first of all, we must choose our positions (и, прежде всего, мы должны выбрать наши положения = подобрать /подходящее/ место). These are daring men (они дерзкие = смелые люди), and though we shall take them at a disadvantage (и хотя мы застанем их врасплох), they may do us some harm unless we are careful (они могут причинить нам вред, если мы не будем осторожны). I shall stand behind this crate (я встану за этим ящиком), and do you conceal yourselves behind those (а вы спрячьтесь: «скройте себя» за теми /ящиками). Then, when I flash a light upon them (затем, когда я направлю на них свет), close in swiftly (окружайте /их/ быстро). If they fire, Watson, have no compunction about shooting them down (если они начнут стрелять, Ватсон, без колебания стреляйте в них, пристрелите их; compunction — сожаление)."
preparation [prepǝˈreɪʃn], careful [keǝful], fire [ˈfaɪǝ], compunction [kǝmˈpʌŋkʃn]
"I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and I thought that, as we were a partie carree, you might have your rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no compunction about shooting them down."
I placed my revolver, cocked