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

(он проникся убеждением: «стал убежден», что ввязался в рискованное дело; to become – стать). For half a moment he had a doubt of Lady Vandeleur herself (на полсекунды он усомнился в самой леди Венделер: «у него было сомнение»); for he found these obscure proceedings somewhat unworthy of so high a lady (ибо он находил эти таинственные процедуры несколько недостойными такой высокопоставленной дамы), and became more critical when her secrets were preserved against himself (и стал более критически настроен, когда ее тайны хранились от него самого = раз у нее были секреты даже от него). But her empire over his spirit was too complete (но ее власть над его душой была слишком безусловна), he dismissed his suspicions (он отбросил свои подозрения; to dismiss – отпускать; распускать /собрание/; отвергать, выбрасывать из головы, прогонять от себя /о мыслимом объекте, чувстве и т. п./), and blamed himself roundly for having so much as entertained them (и строго выбранил себя за то, что вообще питал их).

       All this seemed mightily mysterious, and Harry was above all astonished at the omission of the name and the formality of the receipt. He had thought little of this last when he heard it dropped in conversation; but reading it in cold blood, and taking it in connection with the other strange particulars, he became convinced that he was engaged in perilous affairs. For half a moment he had a doubt of Lady Vandeleur herself; for he found these obscure proceedings somewhat unworthy of so high a lady, and became more critical when her secrets were preserved against himself. But her empire over his spirit was too complete, he dismissed his suspicions, and blamed himself roundly for having so much as entertained them.

      In one thing, however, his duty and interest, his generosity and his terrors, coincided (в одной вещи, однако, его долг и интересы, его благородство и страхи совпадали) – to get rid of the bandbox (избавиться от шляпной картонки) with the greatest possible despatch (с наибольшей возможной поспешностью).

      He accosted the first policeman (он обратился к первому же полицейскому) and courteously inquired his way (и вежливо спросил дорогу). It turned out that he was already not far from his destination (оказалось, что он был уже недалеко от своей цели), and a walk of a few minutes brought him to a small house in a lane (и ходьба в несколько минут привела его к маленькому домику в переулке; to bring – приводить, привозить, приносить), freshly painted (свежевыкрашенному), and kept with the most scrupulous attention (и ухоженному: «хранимому с очень тщательным вниманием»; to keep – хранить, держать).

       In one thing, however, his duty and interest, his generosity and his terrors, coincided – to get rid of the bandbox with the greatest possible despatch.

      He accosted the first policeman and courteously inquired his way. It turned out that he was already not far from his destination, and a walk of a few minutes brought him to a small house in a lane, freshly painted, and kept with the most scrupulous attention.

      The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished (дверной молоток и звонок были тщательно отполированы); flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows (цветущие растения в горшках украшали подоконники разных окон); and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers (и шторы из какого-то роскошного материала скрывали интерьер от глаз любопытных прохожих). The place had an air of repose and secrecy (у этого жилища была атмосфера покоя и недоступности: «тайны»); and Harry was so far caught with this spirit (и Гарри был настолько сильно захвачен этим духом) that he knocked with more than usual discretion (что он постучал с бóльшей, нежели обычно, осторожностью), and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots (и был более обычного внимателен, чтобы отряхнуть всю грязь с сапог; impurity – грязь, загрязнение; purity – чистота).

       The knocker and bell-pull were highly polished; flowering pot-herbs garnished the sills of the different windows; and curtains of some rich material concealed the interior from the eyes of curious passengers. The place had an air of repose and secrecy; and Harry was so far caught with this spirit that he knocked with more than usual discretion, and was more than usually careful to remove all impurity from his boots.

      A servant-maid of some personal attractions immediately opened the door (горничная, /не лишенная/ некоторой личной привлекательности, немедленно открыла дверь), and seemed to regard the secretary with no unkind eyes (и, казалось, оглядела секретаря не недобрыми глазами).

      “This is the parcel from Lady Vandeleur,” said Harry (вот пакет от леди Венделер, – сказал Гарри).

      “I know,” replied the maid, with a nod (я знаю, – ответила горничная с кивком = кивнув). “But the gentleman is from home (но господин не дома: «из дома /вышел/»). Will you leave it with me (может быть, вы оставите его со мной = мне)?”

      “I cannot,” answered Harry (я не могу, – ответил Гарри).