Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

"Who's she (кто это: «кто она такая»)?"

"Don't you remember (неужели ты не помнишь), they had a big party at their

place in Cheshire (они устраивали большой прием в своем имении в Чешире) a

few weeks ago (несколько недель тому назад) and the Prince of Wales was there

(и /сам/ принц Уэльский был там; Prince of Wales — принц Уэльский,

наследный принц в Англии). It was in the Bystander (об этом писали: «это

было» в «Наблюдателе»)."

Oh, that was how he got all his information (о, значит вот как он получал всю

/свою/ информацию). Poor sweet (милый бедняжка). He read about grand

people in the papers (он читал о знатных людях в газетах) and now and then (и,

время от времени), at a restaurant or a theatre (в ресторане или театре), saw

them in the flesh (видел их во плоти). Of course it was a thrill for him (конечно,

для него это было сенсацией). Romance (романтика). If he only knew how dull

they were really (если бы он только знал, насколько скучны они на самом

деле)! This innocent passion for the persons (эта его невинная страсть к

персонажам) whose photographs appear in the illustrated papers (чьи

фотографии появляются в иллюстрированных изданиях: «газетах») made him

seem incredibly naпve (делала его: «заставляла казаться» неправдоподобно

наивным), and she looked at him with tender eyes (и она смотрела на него

нежными глазами).

Cheshire ['tSeSq] thrill [TrIl] naпve, naive [ |

It seemed a matter of no interest to her. A few minutes later another couple passed

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them.

"Look, there's Lady Lepard."

"Who's she?"

"Don't you remember, they had a big party at their place in Cheshire a few weeks

ago and the Prince of Wales was there. It was in the Bystander."

Oh, that was how he got all his information. Poor sweet. He read about grand

people in the papers and now and then, at a restaurant or a theatre, saw them in the

flesh. Of course it was a thrill for him. Romance. If he only knew how dull they

were really! This innocent passion for the persons whose photographs appear in the

illustrated papers made him seem incredibly naive, and she looked at him with

tender eyes.

"Have you ever taken an actress out to supper before (ты когда-нибудь

приглашал актрису на ужин в ресторан раньше)?"

He blushed scarlet (он пунцово зарделся).

"Never (никогда)."

She hated to let him pay the bill (ей очень не хотелось, чтобы он оплачивал

счет; to hate — ненавидеть, испытывать отвращение, очень сожалеть), she

had an inkling (она подразумевала) that it was costing pretty well his week's

salary (что /ужин/ стоил совершенно спокойно: «довольно хорошо», его

недельную зарплату), but she knew it would hurt his pride (но она знала, что это

заденет его самолюбие; to hurt — причинять боль) if she offered to pay it

herself (если она предложит оплатить его самой). She asked casually (она

спросила между делом) what the time was (который час: «сколько времени»)

and instinctively he looked at his wrist (и по привычке: «инстинктивно»

посмотрел на свое запястье).

"I forgot to put on my watch (я забыл надеть часы)."

She gave him a searching look (она посмотрела на него проницательно).

"Have you pawned it (ты заложил их)?"

He reddened again (он снова покраснел).

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359

"No. I dressed in rather a hurry tonight (нет, я одевался в спешке сегодня

вечером)."

blush [blAS] inkling ['INklIN] instinctively [In'stINktIvlI] pawn [pO:n]

"Have you ever taken an actress out to supper before?"

He blushed scarlet.

"Never."

She hated to let him pay the bill, she had an inkling that it was costing pretty well

his week's salary, but she knew it would hurt his pride if she offered to pay it

herself. She asked casually what the time was and instinctively he looked at his

wrist.

"I forgot to put on my watch."

She gave him a searching look.

"Have you pawned it?"

He reddened again.

"No. I dressed in rather a hurry tonight."

She only had to look at his tie (ей достаточно было взглянуть на его галстук) to

know that he had done no such thing (чтобы понять: «знать» что он не делал

ничего подобного). He was lying to her (он лгал ей). She knew that he had

pawned his watch (она знала, что он заложил свои часа) in order to take her out

to supper (для того, чтобы пригласить ее в ресторан поужинать). A lump came

into her throat (комок подступил ей к горлу). She could have taken him in her

arms (она могла бы заключить его в объятья: «взять его в свои руки») then and

there (тут же, на месте) and kissed his blue eyes (и целовать его голубые глаза).

She adored him (она обожала его).

"Let's go (пойдем)," she said.

They drove back to his bed-sitting room in Tavistock Square (и они поехали