Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Алмаз раджи / R. L. Stevenson. The Rajah’s Diamond

 But these few steps had not been taken before he heard a man’s voice hailing him by name with many execrations, and, looking over his shoulder, he beheld Charlie Pendragon waving him with both arms to return. The shock of this new incident was so sudden and profound, and Harry was already worked into so high a state of nervous tension, that he could think of nothing better than to accelerate his pace, and continue running.

He should certainly have remembered the scene in Kensington Gardens (конечно, он должен был вспомнить сцену в Кенсингтонском парке); he should certainly have concluded that, where the General was his enemy (конечно, он должен был заключить, что, раз генерал был ему врагом), Charlie Pendragon could be no other than a friend (Чарли Пендрагон не мог быть никем иным, как другом). But such was the fever and perturbation of his mind (но таково было возбуждение и смятение его ума) that he was struck by none of these considerations (что ему не пришло в голову ни одно из этих соображений; to strike – поразить, зд.: прийти в голову), and only continued to run the faster up the lane (и лишь продолжал бежать все быстрее по переулку). Charlie, by the sound of his voice (Чарли, /судя/ по звуку его голоса) and the vile terms that he hurled after the secretary (и по гнусным словам, которые он изрыгал вслед секретарю), was obviously beside himself with rage (был, очевидно, вне себя от ярости). He, too, ran his very best (он тоже бежал, как мог: «бежал свое лучшее»); but, try as he might (но как он ни старался), the physical advantages were not upon his side (физическое преимущество не было на его стороне), and his outcries and the fall of his lame foot on the macadam (и его выкрики и топанье хромой ноги по мостовой; macadam – щебень; щебеночная дорога) began to fall farther and farther into the wake (начали затихать вдалеке: «стихать все дальше и дальше на пути»; wake – след, кильватерная струя).

 He should certainly have remembered the scene in Kensington Gardens; he should certainly have concluded that, where the General was his enemy, Charlie Pendragon could be no other than a friend. But such was the fever and perturbation of his mind that he was struck by none of these considerations, and only continued to run the faster up the lane. Charlie, by the sound of his voice and the vile terms that he hurled after the secretary, was obviously beside himself with rage. He, too, ran his very best; but, try as he might, the physical advantages were not upon his side, and his outcries and the fall of his lame foot on the macadam began to fall farther and farther into the wake.

Harry’s hopes began once more to arise (надежды Гарри начали снова восставать = он воспрял духом). The lane was both steep and narrow (переулок был и крутой = круто поднимался в гору, и узкий), but it was exceedingly solitary (но он был совершенно безлюден), bordered on either hand by garden walls (окаймленный с обеих сторон садовыми оградами), overhung with foliage (через которые свешивалась листва; to overhang – свешиваться); and, for as far as the fugitive could see in front of him (и насколько беглец мог видеть перед собой), there was neither a creature moving nor an open door (там не было ни души, ни открытой двери: «там ни существа, которое двигалось…»). Providence, weary of persecution (провидение, уставшее от преследования /его/), was now offering him an open field for his escape (теперь предлагало ему открытое поле = свободный путь для побега).

Alas! as he came abreast of a garden door (увы! когда он поравнялся с одной садовой дверцей; abreast – вровень) under a tuft of chestnuts (под купой каштанов), it was suddenly drawn back (она вдруг открылась), and he could see inside, upon a garden path (и он смог увидеть = увидел внутри, на садовой дорожке), the figure of a butcher’s boy with his tray upon his arm (фигуру разносчика из мясной лавки с лотком в руках; butcher – мясник). He had hardly recognised the fact (он едва заметил его: «это») before he was some steps beyond upon the other side (прежде чем пробежал мимо: «оказался на несколько шагов дальше с другой стороны /двери/»). But the fellow had had time to observe him (но у юноши было время заметить его); he was evidently much surprised to see (он был явно сильно удивлен увидеть) a gentleman go by at so unusual a pace (как какой-то господин идет мимо с такой необычной скоростью); and he came out into the lane (и он вышел в переулок) and began to call after Harry with shouts of ironical encouragement (и крикнул Гарри вслед, чтобы иронически подбодрить его: «выкликал крики иронического ободрения»).

 Harry’s hopes began once more to arise. The lane was both steep and narrow, but it was exceedingly solitary, bordered on either hand by garden walls, overhung with foliage; and, for as far as the fugitive could see in front of him, there was neither a creature moving nor an open door. Providence, weary of persecution, was now offering him an open field for his escape.

Alas! as he came abreast of a garden door under a tuft of chestnuts, it was suddenly drawn back, and he could see inside, upon a garden path, the figure of a butcher’s boy with his tray upon his arm. He had hardly recognised the fact before he was some steps beyond upon the other side. But the fellow had had time to observe him; he was evidently much surprised to see a gentleman go by at so unusual a pace; and he came out into the lane and began to call after Harry with shouts of ironical encouragement.

His appearance gave a new idea to Charlie Pendragon (его появление подало новую мысль Чарли Пендрагону), who, although he was now sadly out of breath (который, хотя и прискорбно запыхался: «не имел дыхания»; be out of smth. – не иметь чего-то), once more upraised his voice (снова возвысил голос).

“Stop, thief!” he cried (остановись, ворюга! – крикнул он; thief – вор).

And immediately the butcher’s boy had taken up the cry (и немедленно разносчик от мясника подхватил этот крик; to take up – подхватить) and joined in the pursuit (и присоединился к погоне).

This was a bitter moment for the hunted secretary (это был ужасный момент для затравленного секретаря). It is true that his terror enabled him once more to improve his pace (действительно, его ужас позволил ему снова прибавить: «улучшить» скорость), and gain with every step on his pursuers (и с каждым шагом уходить от своих преследователей; to gain on – нагонять, выигрывать расстояние; зд.: уходить от погони); but he was well aware that he was near the end of his resources (но он хорошо понимал, что он уже на исходе своих сил), and should he meet any one coming the other way (и если он встретит кого-нибудь, идущего с другой стороны), his predicament in the narrow lane would be desperate indeed (его положение в узком переулке будет поистине отчаянным).

 His appearance gave a new idea to Charlie Pendragon, who, although he was now sadly out of breath, once more upraised his voice.

“Stop, thief!” he cried.

And immediately the butcher’s boy had taken up the cry and joined in the pursuit.

This was a bitter moment for the hunted secretary. It is true that his terror enabled him once more to improve his pace, and gain with every step on his pursuers; but he was well aware that he was near the end of his resources, and should he meet any one coming the other way, his predicament in the narrow lane would be desperate indeed.

“I must find a place of concealment,” he thought (я должен найти место для укрытия, – подумал он), “and that within the next few seconds (и /нужно сделать/ это в течение ближайших нескольких секунд), or all is over with me in this world (или мне конец: «все кончится со мной в этом мире»; to be over – кончиться).”

Scarcely had the thought crossed his mind (едва эта мысль пришла ему в голову: «пересекла его мысли») than the lane took a sudden turning (как переулок внезапно повернул); and he found himself hidden from his enemies (и он оказался скрытым от своих врагов: «нашел себя спрятанным»; to hide – прятать/ся/). There are circumstances in which even the least energetic of mankind (есть обстоятельства, в которых даже наименее энергичные /представители/ человечества) learn to behave with vigour and decision (научаются вести себя с энергией и решительностью); and the most cautious forget their prudence (и самые осмотрительные забывают свою осторожность) and embrace foolhardy resolutions (и принимают отчаянные решения). This was one of those occasions for Harry Hartley (это был как раз один из таких случаев для Гарри Хартли); and those who knew him best (и те, кто знали его лучше всех) would have been the most astonished at the lad’s audacity (были бы больше всего поражены отвагой этого юноши). He stopped dead (он резко остановился), flung the bandbox over a garden wall (перебросил шляпную картонку через садовую ограду; to fling – кидать), and leaping upward with incredible agility (и, подпрыгнув с невероятной ловкостью) and seizing the copestone with his hands (и схватившись руками за верх стены: «карнизный камень»), he tumbled headlong after it into the garden (он рухнул вверх тормашками за ней в сад; headlong – головой вперед /при падении вниз, нырянии/).

 “I must find a place of concealment,” he thought, “and that within the next few seconds, or all is over with me in this world.”

Scarcely had the thought crossed his mind than the lane took a sudden turning; and he found himself hidden from his enemies. There are circumstances in which even the least energetic of mankind learn to behave with vigour and decision; and the most cautious forget their prudence and embrace foolhardy resolutions. This was one of those occasions for Harry Hartley; and those who knew him best would have been the most astonished at the lad’s audacity. He stopped dead, flung the bandbox over a garden wall, and leaping upward with incredible agility and seizing the copestone with his hands, he tumbled headlong after it into the garden.