The Noble Bachelor (знатный холостяк) 11 page

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 421.

“What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes (что она хотела сказать этой запиской, мистер Холмс)? Do you think it points to suicide (думаете, она /записка/ указывает на самоубийство)?”

“No, no, nothing of the kind (нет, ничего подобного). It is perhaps the best possible solution (возможно, это лучшее решение /проблем/). I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your troubles (я уверен, что ваши неприятности близятся к концу).”

“Ha! You say so (вы так думаете)! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes (вы узнали что-то /новое/, мистер Холмс); you have learned something (что-то узнали)! Where are the gems (где камни)?”

“You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for them (вы не сочтете чрезмерной платой тысячу фунтов за штуку)?”

“I would pay ten (я заплатил бы десять /тысяч/).”

“That would be unnecessary (в этом нет необходимости). Three thousand will cover the matter (трех тысяч хватит: «три тысячи покроют дело»). And there is a little reward, I fancy (и небольшое вознаграждение). Have you your check-book (у вас с собой чековая книжка)? Here is a pen (вот перо). Better make it out for 4000 pounds (лучше выпишите /чек/ на четыре тысячи фунтов).”

suicide [`s(j)HIsaId], excessive [Ik`sesIv], reward [rI`wLd]

“What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it points to suicide?”

“No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your troubles.”

“Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have learned something! Where are the gems?”

“You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for them?”

“I would pay ten.”

“That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds.”

With a dazed face the banker made out the required check (в изумлении: «с изумленным лицом» банкир выписал требуемый чек). Holmes walked over to his desk (Холмс подошел к своему столу), took out a little triangular piece of gold with three gems in it (достал маленький треугольный кусочек золота с тремя бериллами), and threw it down upon the table (и бросил на стол).

With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up (с радостным криком наш клиент схватил зубец).

“You have it (вы нашли его)!” he gasped (воскликнул он, задыхаясь). “I am saved! I am saved (я спасен)!”

The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been (реакция радости = радость его была такой же бурной, как и горе), and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom (он прижал вновь обретенные камни к груди; to recover — вновь обретать; возвращать, получать обратно).

“There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder (вы должны еще кое-что, мистер Холдер),” said Sherlock Holmes rather sternly (сказал Холмс очень строго).

“Owe!” He caught up a pen (он схватил перо). “Name the sum, and I will pay it (назовите сумму, и я выплачу ее).”

“No, the debt is not to me (нет, вы должны не мне). You owe a very humble apology to that noble lad, your son (вы должны смиренно просить прощения у того благородного юноши, вашего сына; humble — скромный, смиренный; apology — извинение), who has carried himself in this matter (который держался в этом деле /так мужественно/) as I should be proud to see my own son do (что я гордился бы, если бы мой сын поступил так же), should I ever chance to have one (если бы он у меня был).”

triangular [traI`xNgjulq], bosom [`buzqm], apology [q`pOlqGI]

With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table.

With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up.

“You have it!” he gasped. “I am saved! I am saved!”

The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom.

“There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder,” said Sherlock Holmes rather sternly.

“Owe!” He caught up a pen. “Name the sum, and I will pay it.”

“No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to have one.”

“Then it was not Arthur who took them (значит, не Артур их взял)?”

“I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not (я говорил вам вчера и повторяю сегодня — не он).”

“You are sure of it (вы в этом уверены)! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him know that the truth is known (так поспешим же к нему и сообщим: «дадим ему знать», что правда /теперь/ известна = что все выяснилось).”

“He knows it already (он уже знает). When I had cleared it all up I had an interview with him (когда я распутал дело, я побеседовал с ним), and finding that he would not tell me the story (и, поняв, что он не хочет все мне рассказать об этой истории), I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was right (я сам рассказал ему, и ему пришлось признать, что я прав) and to add the very few details which were not yet quite clear to me (и добавить некоторые подробности, которые все еще были неясны мне). Your news of this morning, however, may open his lips (однако ваша утренняя новость может заставить его говорить: «разомкнуть уста»; lip — губа; not to open one's lips — не проронить ни слова).”

“For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary mystery (так расскажите мне, ради Бога, об этой невероятной тайне)!”

interview [`IntqvjH], confess [kqn`fes], extraordinary [Ik`strLd(q)n(q)rI; "ekstrq`Ld(q)n(q)rI]

“Then it was not Arthur who took them?”

“I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not.”

“You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him know that the truth is known.”

“He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his lips.”

“For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary mystery!”

“I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it (я расскажу и покажу, каким образом я достиг /истины/: «покажу шаги, с помощью которых я дошел до истины»). And let me say to you, first (но сначала разрешите сообщить вам /одну весть/), that which it is hardest for me to say and for you to hear (которую мне очень тяжело говорить, а вам — слышать): there has been an understanding between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary (между сэром Джорджем Бэрнвеллом и вашей племянницей Мэри существовал сговор; understanding — понимание; договоренность, соглашение). They have now fled together (теперь они оба сбежали; to flee).”

“My Mary? Impossible (невозможно)!”

“It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain (к сожалению, более, чем возможно; это несомненный факт: «это определенно /так/»). Neither you nor your son knew the true character of this man (ни вы, ни ваш сын не знали истинного облика этого человека) when you admitted him into your family circle (когда впустили его в свою семью; to admit — допускать; принимать; family circle — семейный, домашний круг). He is one of the most dangerous men in England (это один из опаснейших субъектов Англии) — a ruined gambler (закоренелый игрок; ruined — разрушенный; опустошенный, разоренный), an absolutely desperate villain (совершенно отъявленный негодяй), a man without heart or conscience (человек без сердца и совести). Your niece knew nothing of such men (ваша племянница ничего не знала о подобных людях). When he breathed his vows to her (когда он шептал ей клятвы /в своей любви/; to breathe — дышать; негромко говорить; шептать, «ворковать»), as he had done to a hundred before her (как он делал сотне до нее = как и многим другим до нее), she flattered herself that she alone had touched his heart (Мэри тешила себя мыслью, что лишь она одна сумела завоевать: «тронуть» его сердце; to flatter oneself — тешить себя надеждой, мыслью; to flatter — льстить). The devil knows best what he said (одному дьяволу известно, что он говорил), but at least she became his tool (но так или иначе она стала орудием в его руках; at /the/ least — по крайней мере, по меньшей мере) and was in the habit of seeing him nearly every evening (и имела обыкновение видеться с ним почти каждый вечер).”

certain [sq:tn], desperate [`desp(q)rIt], conscience [`kOnS(q)ns]

“I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now fled together.”

“My Mary? Impossible!”

“It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most dangerous men in England — a ruined gambler, an absolutely desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing him nearly every evening.”

“I cannot, and I will not, believe it (я не могу и не стану этому верить)!” cried the banker with an ashen face (вскричал банкир, лицо его при этом было мертвенно-бледным; ash — пепел; ashen — пепельный, из пепла; мертвенно-бледный).

“I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night (тогда я расскажу вам, что произошло в вашем доме вчера ночью). Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room (ваша племянница, когда вы, как она подумала, ушли к себе в комнату), slipped down and talked to her lover through the window (спустилась вниз и стала говорить со своим возлюбленным через окно) which leads into the stable lane (выходящее на дорожку к конюшне). His footmarks had pressed right through the snow (его следы ясно и глубоко отпечатались на снегу), so long had he stood there (настолько долго он там стоял). She told him of the coronet (она сообщила ему о диадеме). His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news (его мерзкая страсть к золоту вспыхнула при этом известии), and he bent her to his will (и он подчинил Мэри своей воле: «склонил к своей воле»). I have no doubt that she loved you (я не сомневаюсь, что она любила вас), but there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all other loves (но есть такие женщины, для которых любовь возлюбленного затмевает все другие виды любви; to extinguish — гасить, тушить; убивать, гасить /надежду, любовь/; превосходить), and I think that she must have been one (и, думаю, Мэри из их числа). She had hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming downstairs (едва она /успела/ получить его указания, как увидела, что вы спускаетесь по лестнице), on which she closed the window rapidly (тогда: «на что» она быстро закрыла окно) and told you about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover (и сказала вам о том, что к одной из служанок приходил возлюбленный с деревянной ногой; escapade — веселая и смелая проделка; шальная выходка; побег /из заключения/), which was all perfectly true (что было совершенной правдой).

doubt [daut], extinguish [Ik`stINgwIS], escapade [`eskqpeId]

“I cannot, and I will not, believe it!” cried the banker with an ashen face.

“I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, which was all perfectly true.

“Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you (Артур после разговора с вами отправился спать) but he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts (но он спал плохо — его тревожили клубные долги; on account of — из-за, вследствие, по причине; uneasiness — неудобство; беспокойство, тревога). In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door (среди ночи он услышал тихие шаги мимо своей двери = как кто-то тихо прошел мимо его комнаты), so he rose and, looking out (тогда он встал, выглянул за дверь), was surprised to see his cousin walking very stealthily along the passage (и с изумлением увидел свою двоюродную сестру, которая крадущейся походкой шла по коридору; stealthily — втихомолку, тайно, украдкой) until she disappeared into your dressing-room (пока она /не/ исчезла в вашей гардеробной). Petrified with astonishment (оцепенев от изумления; petrified — окаменелый; застывший; оцепеневший, парализованный), the lad slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see (юноша наскоро оделся: «накинул кое-какую одежду» и принялся ждать в темноте; to slip on — накинуть, надеть) what would come of this strange affair (как дальше станет развиваться это странное дело). Presently she emerged from the room again (вскоре она снова вышла из комнаты), and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw (и в свете коридорной лампы ваш сын увидел) that she carried the precious coronet in her hands (что в руках у нее драгоценная диадема; to carry — нести). She passed down the stairs (Мэри спустилась вниз), and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slipped behind the curtain near your door (а он, дрожа от ужаса, метнулся вперед и незаметно проскользнул за портьеру около вашей двери), whence he could see what passed in the hall beneath (откуда мог видеть, что происходит в гостиной внизу). He saw her stealthily open the window (он видел, как Мэри тихонько открыла окно), hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom (передала диадему кому-то в темноте), and then closing it once more hurry back to her room (и затем, снова закрыв окно, поспешила обратно в свою комнату), passing quite close to where he stood hid behind the curtain (пройдя совсем близко от Артура, спрятавшегося за портьерой; to hide).

debt [det], petrified [`petrIfaId], emerged [I`mq:Gd], curtain [kq:tn]

“Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close to where he stood hid behind the curtain.

“As long as she was on the scene (поскольку Мэри была на месте преступления = замешана в этом преступлении; scene — место действия /в пьесе, романе и т. п./; место происшествия, события; the scene of the crime — место преступления) he could not take any action without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved (Артур не мог ничего предпринять без ужасного разоблачения женщины = не разоблачив при этом женщину, которую любил; exposure — подвергание какому-л. воздействию; выставление, оставление /на солнце, под дождем и т. п./; разоблачение, выведение на чистую воду). But the instant that she was gone he realized (но в тот миг, как она ушла, он понял) how crushing a misfortune this would be for you (каким сокрушительным несчастьем будет для вас /пропажа диадемы/), and how all-important it was to set it right (и как важно исправить дело; all-important — имеющий первостепенное значение, крайне важный). He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet (он бросился вниз, в том виде, в каком был, босиком), opened the window (открыл окно), sprang out into the snow (выскочил на снег), and ran down the lane (и побежал по дорожке), where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight (где в лунном свете различил темную фигуру). Sir George Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him (сэр Джордж Бэрнвелл попытался бежать, но Артур догнал его), and there was a struggle between them (и между ними завязалась борьба), your lad tugging at one side of the coronet (ваш мальчик тянул диадему за один конец), and his opponent at the other (а его противник — за другой).

“In the scuffle, your son struck Sir George (в драке ваш сын ударил сэра Джорджа) and cut him over the eye (и рассек ему бровь). Then something suddenly snapped (затем что-то неожиданно хрустнуло), and your son, finding that he had the coronet in his hands (и ваш сын, почувствовав, что диадема у него в руках), rushed back (бросился назад), closed the window (закрыл окно), ascended to your room (поднялся в вашу комнату), and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the struggle (и только тут заметил, что диадема погнута во время борьбы) and was endeavoring to straighten it (и пытался распрямить ее) when you appeared upon the scene (когда появились вы).”

scene [sJn], exposure [Ik`spquZq], opponent [q`pqunqnt], ascended [q`sendIN]

“As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the instant that she was gone he realized how crushing a misfortune this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the coronet, and his opponent at the other.

“In the scuffle, your son struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the struggle and was endeavoring to straighten it when you appeared upon the scene.”

“Is it possible (возможно ли это)?” gasped the banker (задыхаясь, воскликнул банкир).

“You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment (затем вы разозлили его: «вызвали его гнев» своими оскорблениями в тот момент) when he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks (когда он заслуживал ваших самых искренних/теплых благодарностей). He could not explain the true state of affairs without betraying one (он не мог объяснить истинное положение вещей, чтобы не выдать ту) who certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands (которая, безусловно, не заслуживала снисхождения и защиты от него; consideration — внимание, предупредительность; уважение; благодарность). He took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her secret (Артур повел себя как рыцарь и сохранил ее тайну; chivalrous — рыцарский, благородный).”

“And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the coronet (вот почему она вскрикнула и упала в обморок, когда увидела диадему),” cried Mr. Holder. “Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been (Боже мой! каким же я был слепым глупцом)! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes (а ведь он просил позволить ему выйти на пять минут)! The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the scene of the struggle (мой дорогой мальчик хотел посмотреть, не осталось ли пропавшего куска на месте борьбы). How cruelly I have misjudged him (как жестоко я в нем ошибался; to misjudge — составить себе неправильное, ошибочное мнение)!'

roused [rauzd], chivalrous [`SIv(q)lrqs], misjudged [mIs`GAGd]

“Is it possible?” gasped the banker.

“You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her secret.”

“And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the coronet,” cried Mr. Holder. “Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!'

“When I arrived at the house (когда я прибыл в этот дом),” continued Holmes (продолжал Холмс), “I at once went very carefully round it to observe (я сразу же очень тщательно его обошел = осмотрел его, чтобы проверить) if there were any traces in the snow which might help me (нет ли на снегу каких-либо следов, которые могут мне помочь). I knew that none had fallen since the evening before (я знал, что со вчерашнего вечера снега не выпадало; to fall-fell-fallen), and also that there had been a strong frost to preserve impressions (и что сильный мороз, должно быть, сохранил следы). I passed along the tradesmen's path (я прошел по дорожке, по которой подвозят продукты), but found it all trampled down and indistinguishable (но она вся была утоптана, и /следы на ней/ были неразличимы; to distinguish — различать). Just beyond it, however, at the far side of the kitchen door (однако сразу за ней, на противоположной стороне от кухонной двери; far side — дальняя сторона: at the far side of the garden — в дальнем углу сада), a woman had stood and talked with a man (стояла женщина и разговаривала с мужчиной), whose round impressions on one side showed that he had a wooden leg (чьи круглые отпечатки с одной стороны показывали, что у него деревянная нога).

“I could even tell that they had been disturbed (я даже смог определить, что их побеспокоили), for the woman had run back swiftly to the door (поскольку женщина быстро побежала обратно к двери), as was shown by the deep toe and light heel marks (что видно по глубоким отпечаткам носков и слабым отпечаткам пяток), while Wooden-leg had waited a little, and then had gone away (в то время как «Деревянная нога» подождал немного, а затем ушел). I thought at the time that this might be the maid and her sweetheart (тогда я подумал, что это, должно быть, горничная и ее возлюбленный), of whom you had already spoken to me (о которых вы уже говорили мне), and inquiry showed it was so (и расследование показало, что так оно и есть). I passed round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks (я обошел сад, но больше ничего не нашел, кроме беспорядочных следов; random — случайный; произвольный; беспорядочный), which I took to be the police (которые я посчитал следами полиции); but when I got into the stable lane (но когда я вышел на дорожку, ведущую к конюшне) a very long and complex story was written in the snow in front of me (очень длинная и запутанная история была написана на снегу передо мной).

preserve [prI`zq:v], path [pRT], random [`rxndqm]

“When I arrived at the house,” continued Holmes, “I at once went very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed that he had a wooden leg.

“I could even tell that they had been disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in front of me.

“There was a double line of tracks of a booted man (одна двойная линия следов, /принадлежавших/ обутому человеку), and a second double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked feet (а вторая, как я с удовлетворением заметил, принадлежала человеку с босыми ногами). I was at once convinced from what you had told me (я сразу же понял, /вспомнив/, что вы мне говорили) that the latter was your son (что вторым человеком был ваш сын). The first had walked both ways (первый человек прошел туда и обратно), but the other had run swiftly (а второй быстро пробежал), and as his tread was marked in places over the depression of the boot (и, так как его следы кое-где остались поверх отпечатков ботинок), it was obvious that he had passed after the other (было ясно, что он преследовал другого = что второй преследовал первого). I followed them up and found they led to the hall window (я пошел по следам и обнаружил, что они ведут к окну гостиной), where Boots had worn all the snow away while waiting (где этот «Ботинки» истоптал весь снег, ожидая /кого-то/; to wear away — стирать, изнашивать).

“Then I walked to the other end (затем я пошел к другому концу /следов/), which was a hundred yards or more down the lane (они тянулись по дорожке на сотню ярдов или больше). I saw where Boots had faced round (я увидел, где «Ботинки» развернулся), where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle (в том месте снег был сильно истоптан, словно там произошла борьба; to cut up — разрезать, разрубать на куски; разбивать, уничтожать), and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen (и наконец /я нашел место/, где упало несколько капель крови), to show me that I was not mistaken (и это свидетельствовало о том, что я не ошибся). Boots had then run down the lane (человек в ботинках затем побежал по дорожке), and another little smudge of blood showed (а еще одно небольшое пятно крови говорило о том) that it was he who had been hurt (что ранен был именно он). When he came to the highroad at the other end (когда он вышел на главную дорогу; highroad — большая/столбовая дорога; главный путь), I found that the pavement had been cleared (я обнаружил, что /снег/ с тротуара был счищен), so there was an end to that clew (и там следы обрывались; clew = clue — путеводная нить; улика).

naked [`neIkId], blood [blAd], pavement [`peIvmqnt]

“There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while waiting.

“Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clew.

“On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember (войдя в дом, я осмотрел, как вы помните), the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens (подоконник и раму окна гостиной с помощью лупы), and I could at once see that someone had passed out (и сразу обнаружил, что кто-то вылезал из окна; to pass — идти, проходить, переходить). I could distinguish the outline of an instep (я смог разглядеть очертания следа /там/; outline — очертание, контур, абрис; instep — подъем /ноги, ботинка/) where the wet foot had been placed in coming in (где /кто-то/ поставил мокрую ногу, залезая внутрь). I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what had occurred (тогда я был в состоянии составить мнение относительно того, что произошло). A man had waited outside the window (какой-то человек ждал на улице у окна); someone had brought the gems (кто-то принес /и передал ему/ камни); the deed had been overseen by your son (это действие случайно увидел ваш сын); he had pursued the thief (он погнался за вором); had struggled with him (вступил с ним в борьбу); they had each tugged at the coronet (каждый из них тянул диадему /к себе/), their united strength causing injuries which neither alone could have effected (их общее усилие вызвало такие повреждения, которые ни один из них не смог бы причинить /диадеме/ в одиночку). He had returned with the prize (Артур вернулся с диадемой: «наградой»), but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent (но оставил кусок в руках у противника; grasp — схватывание; крепкое сжатие; хватка). So far I was clear (пока все было понятно). The question now was (но возникал вопрос), who was the man and who was it brought him the coronet (кто же тот человек, и кто принес ему диадему)?