Приключения Шерлока Холмса / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (сборник)

shrimp n креветка; ничтожество (перен.)

shrug v пожимать (плечами)

sidelong a уклончивый, скользящий

sinister a мрачный

slab n плита, стол

slight a незначительный, слабый, небольшой, тонкий

slums n pl трущобы

sob v рыдать, всхлипывать

spoils n pl добыча, трофеи

spring v скакать, бросаться, приливать

stagger v шататься

stagger n пошатывание

stain n пятно

striking a поразительный

supplier n поставщик

swing v вращать

T

tallow n сало

tangle v запутывать

tapping n постукивание

tell apart различать

temptation n соблазн

trace v выслеживать

treasure n сокровище

tremor n дрожь

trifle n мелочь, пустяк

trim a аккуратный, опрятный, подстриженный

trophy n трофей, добыча

trouble v тревожить(ся), утруждаться

twisted a искореженный, скрученный

U

ultimate a высший, конечный, итоговый

unimpeachable a безупречный

upper-attendant старший служащий

V

vestige n след

villain n злодей, негодяй

W

waste n ненужная трата, потеря

whimsical a причудливый

whine v ныть, хныкать

whistle n свист

windfall n опавшие плоды; неожиданная удача

wind-swept продуваемый ветром

woodcock n вальдшнеп

worse for wear видавший виды

Пляшущие человечки The Adventure of the Dancing Men Адаптация текста, упражнения, комментарии и словарь Д. В. Положенцевой

I

Holmes had been sitting for some hours in silence over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing something very unpleasant. His head was sunk upon his breast [79] , and he looked from my point of view like a strange, skinny bird.

“So, Watson,” he said, suddenly, “you are not going to [80] invest money in South African securities [81] ?”

79

His head was sunk upon his breast – его голова была опущена на грудь

80

to be going to do something – собираться что-либо сделать

81

securities – ценные бумаги

I was very much surprised. Although I was accustomed to Holmes’s curious abilities, this sudden intrusion into my thoughts was rather incomprehensible.

“How on earth [82] do you know that?” I asked in amazement.

He turned his chair, holding a steaming test-tube [83] in his hand. I saw a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes.

“Now, Watson, confess, you are confused,” he said.

82

How on earth – каким же образом

83

a steaming test-tube – дымящаяся пробирка

“I am.”

“I should make you write this on the piece of paper and leave your signature.” [84]

“Why?”

“Because in five minutes you will say that it is all very simple and obvious.”

“I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind.”

“You see, my dear Watson”– he put aside his test-tube and began to lecture like a professor addressing his class —“it is not really difficult to construct a series of conclusions, each dependent on the previous one. And if you simply take away all the central elements and show your audience only the first and the last ones, it will produce an amazing effect. Now, when I noticed the groove between your left forefinger and thumb [85] , it was not really difficult to understand that you do not want to invest your small capital in the goldfields.”

84

I should make you write this on the piece of paper and leave your signature. – Мне следовало бы заставить вас написать об этом на листочке бумаги и подписаться.

85

the groove between your left forefinger and thumb – впадинка между большим и указательным пальцами вашей левой руки

“I see no connection.”

“Well, I believe you, but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there for the cue [86] when you play billiards. 3. You play billiards only with Thurston. 4. You told me four weeks ago [87] that Thurston wanted to buy some South African securities and share them with you. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my table, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You are not going to invest your money in anything.”

86

cue – кий

87

four weeks ago – четыре недели назад

“So simple!” I cried.

“Yes, it is!” he said. “Every problem becomes very simple when it is explained to you. But here you are [88] , this one is not explained yet. Let’s see what you can say, my friend Watson.” He gave me a sheet of paper and turned to his chemical analysis.

I looked with amazement at the strange symbols on the paper.

“Well, Holmes, it is a child’s drawing,” I said.

“Oh, that’s your idea!”

‘What else should it be?”

88

here you are – вот, держите