“You — you insult me, Mr. Holmes (вы… вы оскорбляете меня, мистер Холмс).”
“Come, come, madam, it is useless (ну, полно, мадам, это бесполезно). Give up the letter (отдайте письмо; to give up — бросать /что-либо/; сдать, уступить /что-либо кому-либо/).”
She darted to the bell (она метнулась к звонку).
“The butler shall show you out (дворецкий проводит вас).”
commissioned [k'mnd], supreme [s(j)u:'pri:m], feature ['fi:]
“Unfortunately, madam, I had no possible alternative. I have been commissioned to recover this immensely important paper. I must therefore ask you, madam, to be kind enough to place it in my hands.”
The lady sprang to her feet, with the colour all dashed in an instant from her beautiful face. Her eyes glazed — she tottered — I thought that she would faint. Then with a grand effort she rallied from the shock, and a supreme astonishment and indignation chased every other expression from her features.
“You — you insult me, Mr. Holmes.”
“Come, come, madam, it is useless. Give up the letter.”
She darted to the bell.
“The butler shall show you out.”
“Do not ring, Lady Hilda (не звоните, леди Хильда). If you do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid a scandal will be frustrated (если вы позвоните, все мои искренние попытки избежать скандала окажутся напрасными; to frustrate — расстраивать, срывать /планы/; делать тщетным). Give up the letter and all will be set right (отдайте письмо, и все устроится; to set right — приводить в порядок; улаживать). If you will work with me I can arrange everything (если вы будете сотрудничать со мной, я смогу все уладить). If you work against me I must expose you (если же нет: «если будете действовать против меня», я буду вынужден выдать вас).”
She stood grandly defiant, a queenly figure (она стояла, гордая и царственная: «грандиозно непокорная, царственная фигура»), her eyes fixed upon his as if she would read his very soul (ее глаза смотрели в его, как будто она читала его душу = будто пыталась понять, что у него на уме; to fix — устанавливать; прикреплять; to fix upon — устремлять, сосредоточивать /взгляд, внимание на ком-либо, чем-либо/). Her hand was on the bell (ее рука лежала на звонке), but she had forborne to ring it (но не звонила в него; to forbear — сдерживаться, воздерживаться от /какого-либо действия/; to forbear-forbore-forborne).
“You are trying to frighten me (вы пытаетесь меня запугать). It is not a very manly thing, Mr. Holmes (это не очень благородно, мистер Холмс; manly — мужественный, смелый; подобающий мужчине), to come here and browbeat a woman (прийти сюда запугивать и женщину). You say that you know something (вы говорите, что знаете кое-что). What is it that you know (что вы знаете)?”
“Pray sit down, madam (пожалуйста, сядьте, мадам). You will hurt yourself there if you fall (вы ушибетесь, если упадете). I will not speak until you sit down (я не буду говорить, пока вы не сядете). Thank you (благодарю вас).”
figure ['f], defiant [d'fant], browbeat ['braubi:t]
“Do not ring, Lady Hilda. If you do, then all my earnest efforts to avoid a scandal will be frustrated. Give up the letter and all will be set right. If you will work with me I can arrange everything. If you work against me I must expose you.”
She stood grandly defiant, a queenly figure, her eyes fixed upon his as if she would read his very soul. Her hand was on the bell, but she had forborne to ring it.
“You are trying to frighten me. It is not a very manly thing, Mr. Holmes, to come here and browbeat a woman. You say that you know something. What is it that you know?”
“Pray sit down, madam. You will hurt yourself there if you fall. I will not speak until you sit down. Thank you.”
