dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers (словно вывалившись в полной апатии из его пальцев). I took two steps forward and looked back (я сделал два шага вперед и оглянулся). It took all my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment (потребовалось все мое самообладание, чтобы сдержать меня от того, чтобы я разразился криком удивления). He had turned his back so that none could see him but I (он повернул свою спину так, чтобы никто не мог видеть его /лицо/, кроме меня). His form had filled out (его фигура пополнела), his wrinkles were gone (его морщины ушли), the dull eyes had regained their fire (тусклые глаза вновь обрели свой /привычный/ блеск), and there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise (сидящим у огня и ухмыляющимся над моим удивлением), was none other than Sherlock Holmes (был не кто иной, как Шерлок Холмс). He made a slight motion to me to approach him (он сделал легкое движение = знак мне, чтобы я приблизился к нему), and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the company once more (и тотчас, повернувшись снова лицом вполоборота к присутствующим), subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility (превратился в дрожащего с отвисшей губой старика; to subside – погрузиться, упасть; senility – старость, дряхлость).
narrow ['nærəʋ], breath [breθ], wrinkled ['rɪŋkld], lassitude ['læsɪtju:d], senility [sɪ'nɪlǝtɪ]
I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, “Walk past me, and then look back at me.” The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided into a doddering, loose-lipped senility.
“Holmes!” I whispered (прошептал я), “what on earth are you doing in this den (что, черт возьми, вы делаете в этом притоне)?”
“As low as you can (/говорите/ так тихо, как только можете),” he answered; “I have excellent ears (у меня превосходный слух: «уши»). If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours (если вы сделаете большое одолжение избавиться от вашего одурманенного друга) I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you (я буду чрезвычайно рад немного поболтать с вами: «иметь маленький разговор»).”
kindness ['kaɪndnɪs], exceedingly [ɪk'si:dɪŋlɪ]
“Holmes!” I whispered, “what on earth are you doing in this den?”
“As low as you can,” he answered; “I have excellent ears. If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you.”
“I have a cab outside (меня ждет кэб снаружи).”
“Then pray send him home in it (тогда, пожалуйста, отправьте его домой в нем). You may safely trust him (вы можете без риска довериться ему), for he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief (так как он кажется слишком слабым, чтобы попасть в какую-нибудь беду; limp – мягкий, нежесткий; слабый). I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife (я бы рекомендовал вам также послать с кучером записку вашей жене) to say that you have thrown in your lot with me (чтобы сказать, что вы остались со мной; to throw in one's lot with somebody – разделить чью-либо участь; lot – участь, судьба, компания). If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes (если вы подождете снаружи, я буду с вами через пять минут).”
mischief ['mɪstʃɪf], recommend [,rekə'mend], note [nəʋt]
“I have a cab outside.”
“Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes.”
It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes's requests (было трудно отказаться от любой из просьб Шерлока Холмса), for they were always so exceedingly definite (так как они всегда были /так/ исключительно точны), and put forward with such a quiet air of mastery (и выражены с таким властным видом; mastery – мастерство; власть, влияние). I felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in the cab (я чувствовал, как бы то ни было, что когда
