Arthur Conan Doyle - Английский язык с Шерлоком Холмсом. Второй сборник рассказов
exercise [ˈeksǝsaɪz], remunerative [rɪˈmju:nǝrǝtɪv], unimpeachable [ˌʌnɪmˈpi:ʧǝb(ǝ)l]
“I feel that time is of value,” said he; “that is why I hastened here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure your cooperation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can.
“It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction during the last few years, and there are many noble families to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their pictures, libraries, or plate.
“Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank (вчера утром я сидел в своем кабинете в банке) when a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks (когда один из клерков принес мне визитную карточку). I started when I saw the name (я вздрогнул, увидев имя), for it was that of none other than (так как это был не кто иной, как) — well, perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name (впрочем, пожалуй, даже вам я скажу лишь: «мне лучше сказать не больше, чем», что это имя) which is a household word all over the earth (известное всему миру; household word — повседневное, хорошо знакомое слово, выражение) — one of the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England (/имя/ одной из самых высокопоставленных и знатных особ Англии; exalted — высокий; благородный; высокопоставленный; высокий /о положении, сане/). I was overwhelmed by the honor (я был ошеломлен /оказанной мне/ честью) and attempted, when he entered, to say so (и попытался, когда он вошел, сказать об этом), but he plunged at once into business with the air of a man (но он сразу перешел к делу с видом человека; to plunge — погружать/ся/; окунать/ся/; пускаться /во что-либо/, начинать /что-либо/) who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task (который желает побыстрее разобраться с неприятной ситуацией; to hurry through — делать наспех, наскоро; task — задача, задание; урок).
“‘Mr. Holder,’ said he, ‘I have been informed that you are in the habit of advancing money (мне сообщили, что вы предоставляете ссуды; to be in the habit of doing something — иметь привычку делать что-либо).’
“‘The firm does so when the security is good (наша фирма дает ссуды под надежные гарантии).’ I answered (ответил я).
clerk [klɑ:k], exalted [ɪɡˈzɔ:ltɪd], overwhelmed [ˌǝuvǝˈwelmd]
“Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I saw the name, for it was that of none other than — well, perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which is a household word all over the earth — one of the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the honor and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task.
“‘Mr. Holder,’ said he, ‘I have been informed that you are in the habit of advancing money.’
“‘The firm does so when the security is good.’ I answered.
“‘It is absolutely essential to me (мне совершенно необходимы),’ said he, ‘that I should have 50,000 pounds at once (пятьдесят тысяч фунтов, и немедленно). I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sum ten times over from my friends (конечно, я мог бы одолжить сумму в десять раз больше, чем этот пустяк, у своих друзей), but I much prefer to make it a matter of business (но предпочитаю сделать это в деловом порядке; matter of business — деловой вопрос) and to carry out that business myself (и самому заниматься этим делом; to carry out — выполнять, осуществлять). In my position you can readily understand (вы легко можете понять, что в моем положении) that it is unwise to place one’s self under obligations (неблагоразумно вмешивать сюда кого-то постороннего: «ставить себя под обязательства = в положение обязанного /кому-либо/»; under obligation — обязанный сделать что-либо, связанный /обязательствами, договором/).’
“‘For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum (могу я спросить, на какой срок вам нужна эта сумма)?’ I asked.
“‘Next Monday I have a large sum due to me (в следующий понедельник мне вернут крупную сумму; due to — из-за, обусловленный; принадлежащий, причитающийся), and I shall then most certainly repay what you advance (и тогда я непременно погашу вашу ссуду), with whatever interest you think it right to charge (с уплатой любого процента, который вы сочтете нужным запросить). But it is very essential to me that the money should be paid at once (но для меня очень важно получить деньги сразу).’
essential [ɪˈsenʃ(ǝ)l], prefer [prɪˈfǝ:], advance [ǝdˈvɑ:ns]
“‘It is absolutely essential to me,’ said he, ‘that I should have 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place one’s self under obligations.’
“‘For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?’ I asked.
“‘Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the money should be paid at once.’
“‘I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my own private purse (я был бы счастлив сразу же дать вам ссуду из своих личных средств; parley — переговоры; without further parley — без долгих разговоров; purse — кошелек; деньги, денежные средства; the public purse — казна),’ said I, ‘were it not that the strain would be rather more than it could bear (если бы эта нагрузка не была больше того, что я могу перенести = однако эта слишком крупная для меня сумма). If, on the other hand (с другой стороны, если), I am to do it in the name of the firm (я сделаю это от имени фирмы), then in justice to my partner I must insist that (тогда, отдавая должное своему компаньону, я вынужден настаивать на том), even in your case, every businesslike precaution should be taken (чтобы, даже в вашем случае, были приняты все меры деловой предосторожности).’
“‘I should much prefer to have it so (я бы охотно предпочел, чтобы это было так = ну разумеется, о чем речь),’ said he, raising up a square, black morocco case (сказал он и взял квадратный футляр из черного сафьяна) which he had laid beside his chair (который перед тем положил возле своего стула). ‘You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet (вы, несомненно, слышали о берилловой диадеме)?’
“‘One of the most precious public possessions of the empire (это одно из ценнейших сокровищ, достояние империи; possessions — собственность; имущество),’ said I.
purse [pǝ:s], precaution [prɪˈkɔ:ʃ(ǝ)n], beryl [ˈberɪl], precious [ˈpreʃǝs]
“‘I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my own private purse,’ said I, ‘were it not that the strain would be rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution should be taken.’
“‘I should much prefer to have it so,’ said he, raising up a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. ‘You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?’
“‘One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,’ said I.
“‘Precisely (совершенно верно).’ He opened the case (он открыл футляр), and there, imbedded in soft, flesh-colored velvet (и в нем на мягком бархате телесного цвета; to imbed — вставлять, врезать, вделывать), lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which he had named (лежало великолепное произведение ювелирного искусства, о котором он говорил). ‘There are thirty-nine enormous beryls (в диадеме тридцать девять огромных бериллов),’ said he, ‘and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable (а ценность золотой оправы неизмерима; chasing — чеканка; гравировка; резная работа; to calculate — вычислять, исчислять). The lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the sum which I have asked (по самой минимальной оценке диадема стоит вдвое больше суммы, запрошенной мной). I am prepared to leave it with you as my security (я готов оставить ее у вас в качестве залога).’
