Читать интересную книгу Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр - Илья Франк

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

730

to have). What made me 'esitate was seeing you in the Edgware Road (что

заставило меня сомневаться, так это увидеть вас на Эдвард-роуд; 'esitate = to

hesitate — колебаться, не решаться). It seems so funny, if you know what I

mean (это показалось таким смешным, если вы понимаете, о чем я: «если вы

знаете, что я имею в виду»)."

cinema ['sInImq] jump [dZAmp] presence ['prez(q)ns]

"I wonder if he'll ask me to go to a hotel with him. I don't suppose he could afford

that. A cinema. That's it. It would be rather fun."

She looked him full in the face now and very nearly smiled. He took off his hat.

"Miss Lambert, isn't it?"

She almost jumped out of her skin. She was indeed so taken aback that she had not

the presence of mind to deny it.

"I thought I recognized you the moment I saw you, that's why I turned back, to

make sure, see, and I said to meself, if that's not Julia Lambert I'm Ramsay

Macdonald. Then you stopped to look in that shop window and that give me the

chance to 'ave a good look at you. What made me 'esitate was seeing you in the

Edgware Road. It seems so funny, if you know what I mean."

It was much funnier than he imagined (это было гораздо смешнее, чем он мог

себе вообразить). Anyhow it didn't matter (в любом случае, это не имело

значения) if he knew who she was (раз: «если» уж он знал, кем она была). She

ought to have guessed (ей надо было догадаться) that she couldn't go far in

London without being recognized (что она не сможет уйти далеко в Лондоне,

без того, чтобы быть узнанной). He had a cockney accent and a pasty face (у

него был акцент кокни и бледное одутловатое лицо), but she gave him a jolly,

friendly smile (но она улыбнулась ему веселой, дружеской улыбкой). He

mustn't think she was putting on airs (он не должен думать, что она важничает;

to put on airs — зазнаваться, задирать нос).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

731

"Excuse me talking to you (извините, что я заговорил с вами), not 'aving been

introduced and all that (не будучи представленным вам и все такое; 'aving =

having), but I couldn't miss the opportunity (но я не мог упустить такую

возможность). Will you oblige me with your autograph (не дадите ли вы мне

ваш автограф; to oblige — обязывать, делать одолжение, оказывать

услугу)?"

Julia caught her breath (у Джулии перехватило дыхание; to catch one's breath —

затаить дыхание, перевести дух). It couldn't be (не могло же быть так) that

this was why (что из-за этого: «что это было /тем/, почему») he had followed

her for ten minutes (он следовал за ней десять минут). He must have thought that

up (он должно быть выдумал это; to think up — продумывать, придумывать)

as an excuse for speaking to her (как повод: «отговорку», чтобы заговорить с

ней). Well, she would play up (ну, она подыграет).

"I shall be delighted (с удовольствием: «буду счастлива»). But I can't very well

give it you in the street (но не могу же я, /не удобно же/ давать вам его на

улице). People would stare so (люди будут так пялиться)."

London ['lAndqn] opportunity ["Opq'tju:nItI] excuse [Ik'skju:s]

It was much funnier than he imagined. Anyhow it didn't matter if he knew who she

was. She ought to have guessed that she couldn't go far in London without being

recognized. He had a cockney accent and a pasty face, but she gave him a jolly,

friendly smile. He mustn't think she was putting on airs.

"Excuse me talking to you, not 'aving been introduced and all that, but I couldn't

miss the opportunity. Will you oblige me with your autograph?"

Julia caught her breath. It couldn't be that this was why he had followed her for ten

minutes. He must have thought that up as an excuse for speaking to her. Well, she

would play up.

"I shall be delighted. But I can't very well give it you in the street. People would

stare so."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

732

"That's right (это точно). Look here, I was just going along to 'ave my tea

(послушайте, я как раз собирался выпить чаю; 'ave = to have). There's a Lyons

at the next corner (здесь /кафе из сети/ «Лайонз» на следующем углу). Why

don't you come in and 'ave a cup too (почему бы вам не зайти и не выпить тоже

чашку)?"

She was getting on (она делала успехи; to get on — преуспевать,

продвигаться). When they'd had tea (когда они выпьют чай) he'd probably

suggest going to the pictures (он, возможно, предложит пойти в кино).

"All right (хорошо)," she said.

They walked along till they came to the shop (они шли до тех пор, пока не

дошли до закусочной) and took their places at a small table (и сели на места:

«заняли свои места» за маленьким столом).

"Two teas, please, miss (два чая пожалуйста, мисс)," he ordered (заказал он).

"Anything to eat (что-нибудь поесть)?" And when Julia declined (и когда

Джулия отказалась): "Scone and butter for one, miss (булочку и масло — для

одного, мисс)."

Julia was able now to have a good look at him (Джулия теперь смогла

хорошенько его рассмотреть). Though stocky and short (хотя коренастый и

невысокий) he had good features (у него были хорошие черты лица), his black

hair was plastered down on his head (его черные волосы были прилизаны по

/его/ голове) and he had fine eyes (и у него были красивые глаза), but his teeth

were poor (но его зубы были плохие) and his pale skin gave him an unhealthy

look (и его бледная кожа придавала ему нездоровый вид). There was a sort of

impudence in his manner (была некая дерзость в его манере поведения) that

Julia did not much like (которая Джулии не особо нравилась), but then, as she

sensibly reflected (но тогда, когда она благоразумно поразмыслила), you could

hardly expect the modesty of the violet in a young man (что нельзя: «вряд ли

можно» ожидать скромности фиалки от молодого человека; a blushing violet

— чрезвычайно застенчивый человек) who picked you up in the Edgware Road

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

733

(который подбирает девушек на Эдвард-роуд).

"Before we go any further (до того, как мы продолжим: «пойдем дальше») let's

'ave this autograph, eh (давайте сделаем этот автограф, да)? Do it now, that's my

motto (не откладывай: «делай это сейчас» — вот мой девиз)."

corner ['kO:nq] impudence ['ImpjVd(q)ns] autograph ['O:tqgrQ:f]

"That's right. Look here, I was just going along to 'ave my tea. There's a Lyons at

the next corner. Why don't you come in and 'ave a cup too?"

She was getting on. When they'd had tea he'd probably suggest going to the

pictures.

"All right," she said.

They walked along till they came to the shop and took their places at a small table.

"Two teas, please, miss," he ordered. "Anything to eat?" And when Julia declined:

"Scone and butter for one, miss."

Julia was able now to have a good look at him. Though stocky and short he had

good features, his black hair was plastered down on his head and he had fine eyes,

but his teeth were poor and his pale skin gave him an unhealthy look. There was a

sort of impudence in his manner that Julia did not much like, but then, as she

sensibly reflected, you could hardly expect the modesty of the violet in a young

man who picked you up in the Edgware Road.

"Before we go any further let's 'ave this autograph, eh? Do it now, that's my

motto."

He took a fountain pen from his pocket (он достал авторучку из своего кармана;

fountain — фонтан, ключ, источник, резервуар авторучки) and from a bulging

pocket-book a large card (и из разбухшей записной книжки: «бумажника» —

большую карточку; pocket — карман, сумка, деньги).

"One of our trade cards (одна из наших фирменных карточек; trade — ремесло,

торговля, клиентура)," he said. "That'll do O.K. (она подойдет отлично)."

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

734

Julia thought it silly to carry the subterfuge to this length (Джулия думала, что

было глупым растягивать уловку /для знакомства с ней/ до такой длины;

subterfuge — увертка, отговорка, to carry smth. to a certain condition —

доводить что-либо до какого-либо состояния), but she good-humouredly

signed her name on the back of the card (но она добродушно написала свое имя

на обороте карточки).

"Do you collect autographs (вы собираете автографы)?" she asked him with a

subtle smile (спросила она его с нежной улыбкой).

"Me (я)? Noa (не-а). I think it's a lot of tommy rot (я думаю, что это просто

чушь: «куча нелепостей»). My young lady does (моя девушка

/коллекционирует/; my young lady — моя барышня — о возлюбленной). She's

got Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and I don't know what all (у нее есть

/автографы/ Чарли Чаплина и Дугласа Фербенкса и я не знаю, кого еще:

«каких всех»). Show you 'er photo if you like (покажу вам ее фото, если хотите;

'er = her)."

From his pocket-book (из своего бумажника) he extracted a snapshot of a rather

pert-looking young woman (он извлек моментальный снимок довольно-таки

развязно выглядевшей молодой женщины) showing all her teeth in a cinema

smile (показывающей все свои зубы в киношной улыбке).

"Pretty (хорошенькая)," said Julia.

fountain ['faVntIn] bulging ['bAldZIN] snapshot ['snxpSOt]

He took a fountain pen from his pocket and from a bulging pocket-book a large

card.

"One of our trade cards," he said. "That'll do O.K."

Julia thought it silly to carry the subterfuge to this length, but she good-

humouredly signed her name on the back of the card.

"Do you collect autographs?" she asked him with a subtle smile.

"Me? Noa. I think it's a lot of tommy rot. My young lady does. She's got Charlie

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

735

Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks and I don't know what all. Show you 'er photo if

you like."

From his pocket-book he extracted a snapshot of a rather pert-looking young

woman showing all her teeth in a cinema smile.

"Pretty," said Julia.

"And how (и какая). We're going to the pictures tonight (мы пойдем в кино

сегодня вечером). She will be surprised when I give her your autograph (она

будет так удивлена, когда я дам ей ваш автограф). The first thing I said to

meself when I knew it was you was (первое, что я сказал себе, когда я понял,