H.G. Wells «The Door in the Wall» (24/27)
@english_frankГ. Дж. Уэллс «Дверь в стене»
“‘I’ve made a great sacrifice (я принес великую жертву),’ I told the whip as I got in (сказал я парламентскому организатору партии, когда прибыл). ‘They all have (они все /принесли жертвы/),’ he said, and hurried by (сказал он и поспешил дальше).
“I do not see how I could have done otherwise then (я не знаю, как я мог поступить иначе тогда). And the next occasion was as I rushed to my father’s bedside to bid that stern old man farewell (а следующий случай был = произошел, когда я несся к одру отца, чтобы попрощаться с этим суровым стариком). Then, too, the claims of life were imperative (тогда тоже требования жизни были безоговорочны). But the third time was different (но в третий раз было иначе); it happened a week ago (это случилось неделю назад). It fills me with hot remorse to recall it (воспоминание об этом наполняет меня пылким раскаянием). I was with Gurker and Ralphs (я был с Гуркером и Ральфсом) — it’s no secret now you know that I’ve had my talk with Gurker (теперь это уже не секрет, ты знаешь, что у меня был разговор с Гуркером). We had been dining at Frobisher’s (мы обедали у Фробишера), and the talk had become intimate between us (и разговор между нами стал очень личным). The question of my place in the reconstructed ministry lay always just over the boundary of the discussion (вопрос о моем месте в новом: «реконструированном» министерстве лежал = стоял еще безусловно за границами обсуждения). Yes — yes (да, да). That’s all settled (это полностью / все согласовано / решено). It needn’t be talked about yet (об этом еще не нужно говорить), but there’s no reason to keep a secret from you (но нет причины скрывать это от тебя; to keep a secret — держать в секрете)… Yes — thanks! thanks (да, спасибо, спасибо)! But let me tell you my story (но позволь рассказать тебе мою историю).
“Then, on that night things were very much in the air (тогда, в тот вечер очень многое висело в воздухе; to be in the air — быть в неопределенном положении, висеть в воздухе). My position was a very delicate one (мое положение было очень щекотливым). I was keenly anxious to get some definite word from Gurker (мне очень хотелось получить какое-нибудь определенное слово от Гуркера), but was hampered by Ralphs’ presence (но мне мешало присутствие Ральфса; to hamper — препятствовать, мешать /чему-л./). I was using the best power of my brain (я использовал лучшую силу = всю мощь моего мозга) to keep that light and careless talk not too obviously directed to the point that concerns me (на поддержание этого легкого и беззаботного разговора, не слишком явно направленного на вопрос, который волнует меня). I had to (мне пришлось). Ralphs’ behaviour since has more than justified my caution (поведение Ральфса с тех пор более чем подтвердило мою осторожность)… Ralphs, I knew, would leave us beyond the Kensington High Street (Ральфс, я знал, покинет нас за Кенсингтон-Хай-Стрит, главной улицей Кенсингтона), and then I could surprise Gurker by a sudden frankness (и тогда я могу удивить Гуркера внезапной прямотой). One has sometimes to resort to these little devices (иногда приходится прибегать к этим мелким уловкам)… And then it was that in the margin of my field of vision I became aware once more of the white wall (и именно тогда краем глаза: «на краю моего поля зрения» я еще раз осознал = заметил белую стену; to become aware of — знать, сознавать), the green door before us down the road (/и/ зеленую дверь перед нами на дороге).
“‘I’ve made a great sacrifice,’ I told the whip as I got in. ‘They all have,’ he said, and hurried by.
“I do not see how I could have done otherwise then. And the next occasion was as I rushed to my father’s bedside to bid that stern old man farewell. Then, too, the claims of life were imperative. But the third time was different; it happened a week ago. It fills me with hot remorse to recall it. I was with Gurker and Ralphs — it’s no secret now you know that I’ve had my talk with Gurker. We had been dining at Frobisher’s, and the talk had become intimate between us. The question of my place in the reconstructed ministry lay always just over the boundary of the discussion. Yes — yes. That’s all settled. It needn’t be talked about yet, but there’s no reason to keep a secret from you… Yes — thanks! thanks! But let me tell you my story.
“Then, on that night things were very much in the air. My position was a very delicate one. I was keenly anxious to get some definite word from Gurker, but was hampered by Ralphs’ presence. I was using the best power of my brain to keep that light and careless talk not too obviously directed to the point that concerns me. I had to. Ralphs’ behaviour since has more than justified my caution… Ralphs, I knew, would leave us beyond the Kensington High Street, and then I could surprise Gurker by a sudden frankness. One has sometimes to resort to these little devices… And then it was that in the margin of my field of vision I became aware once more of the white wall, the green door before us down the road.