THE door opened and Michael Gosselyn looked up. Julia came in.

Уильям Сомерсет Моэм

Театр

William Somerset Maugham

Theatre

Роман адаптировала Ольга Ламонова

Под редакцией Ильи Франка

Метод чтения Ильи Франка

THE door opened (дверь открылась) and Michael Gosselyn looked up (и Майкл Госселин поднял глаза; to look up — поднимать голову, обращать взоры). Julia came in (вошла Джулия).

"Hulloa (привет)! I won't keep you a minute (я не задержу тебя и на минуту; to keep — держать, иметь, хранить). I was just signing some letters (я просто подписывал несколько писем; to sign — подписывать, помечать)."

"No hurry (не торопись; no hurry — /разг./ ничего спешного, не к спеху). I only came to see (я просто пришла взглянуть) what seats had been sent to the Dennorants (/билеты на/ какие места были отправлены Деннорантам; seat — место, стул, сидение). What's that young man doing here (что тот молодой человек делает здесь)?"

With the experienced actress's instinct (с внутренним чутьем: «инстинктом» опытной актрисы; experienced — знающий, сведущий) to fit the gesture to the word (подбирать точный жест к слову: «соединять жест со словом»; gesture — жест, телодвижение, действие, to fit — соответствовать, подходить, совпадать), by a movement of her neat head (движением своей аккуратной головки; neat — чистый, опрятный) she indicated the room (она указала на комнату) through which she had just passed (через которую она только что прошла).

"He's the accountant (он бухгалтер: «счетовод, ревизор»). He comes from Lawrence and Hamphreys (он от фирмы Лоренс и Хэмфри; to come from — происходить, приходить, быть из). He's been here three days (он здесь уже три дня)."

"He looks very young (он выглядит очень молодо; to look — смотреть, выглядеть, иметь вид)."

"He's an articled clerk (он клерк-стажер; clerk — конторский служащий, клерк). He seems to know his job (он, кажется, знает свою работу; to seem — казаться, представляться). He can't get over the way our accounts are kept (он никак не может поверить в то, как ведутся наши счета; way — дорога, путь, манера поведения, to keep accounts — вести счета, бухгалтерские книги). He told me (он сказал мне, /что/) he never expected a theatre to be run on such businesslike lines (он никак: «никогда» не ожидал, /что/ театром можно управлять столь по-деловому; to expect — ждать, рассчитывать, надеяться; to run — бежать, убегать; руководить, вести дело). He says (он говорит) the way some of those firms in the city keep their accounts (что то, каким образом некоторые из /тех/ фирм в Сити ведут свою бухгалтерию; the City — Сити, деловой центр Лондона; финансовые и коммерческие круги Англии) is enough to turn your hair grey (достаточно, чтобы поседеть; grey hair — седина, седые волосы; to turn grey — поседеть)."

Julia smiled at the complacency on her husband's handsome face (Джулия улыбнулась самодовольствию на красивом лице ее мужа).

"He's a young man of tact (тактичный молодой человек: «он молодой человек с тактом»)."

sign [saIn] hurry ['hArI] experienced [Ik'spI(q)rIqnst] gesture ['dZestSq]

articled clerk ['Q:tIk(q)ld'klQ:k] complacency [kqm'pleIs(q)nsI] theatre ['TIqtq]

THE door opened and Michael Gosselyn looked up. Julia came in.

"Hulloa! I won't keep you a minute. I was just signing some letters."

"No hurry. I only came to see what seats had been sent to the Dennorants. What's that young man doing here?"

With the experienced actress's instinct to fit the gesture to the word, by a movement of her neat head she indicated the room through which she had just passed.

"He's the accountant. He comes from Lawrence and Hamphreys. He's been here three days."

"He looks very young."

"He's an articled clerk. He seems to know his job. He can't get over the way our accounts are kept. He told me he never expected a theatre to be run on such businesslike lines. He says the way some of those firms in the city keep their accounts is enough to turn your hair grey."

Julia with half an ear listened to the list Margery read out and, though she knew the room so well, idly looked about her. It was a very proper room for the manager of a first-class theatre. The walls had been panelled (at cost price) by a good decorator and on them hung engravings of theatrical pictures by Zoffany and de Wilde. The armchairs were large and comfortable. Michael sat in a heavily carved Chippendale chair, a reproduction but made by a well-known firm, and his Chippendale table, with heavy ball and claw feet, was immensely solid. On it stood in a massive silver frame a photograph of herself and to balance it a photograph of Roger, their son.

Between these was a magnificent silver ink-stand (между ними располагался: «был» великолепный чернильный прибор; ink — чернила) that she had herself given him (который она сама подарила: «дала» ему) on one of his birthdays (на один из /его/ дней рождения) and behind it a rack in red morocco (и за ним /стояла/ подставка из красного сафьяна), heavily gilt (богато золоченная), in which he kept his private paper (в которой он хранил свои личные бумаги; private — частный, закрытый) in case (на случай: «в случае») he wanted to write a letter in his own hand (/если/ он захотел бы написать письмо своею собственной рукой). The paper bore the address, Siddons Theatre (на бумаге был написан адрес, «Сиддонс-театр»; to bear (bore, borne) — переносить, иметь, нести на себе), and the envelope his crest (и на конверте был его герб), a boar's head with the motto underneath (голова вепря с девизом под ней; boar — боров, хряк, вепрь): Nemo me impune lacessit (= Nobody can offend me without impunity: лат.Никто не тронет меня безнаказанно). A bunch of yellow tulips in a silver bowl (букет: «пучок, связка» желтых тюльпанов в серебряной вазе), which he had got (которую он получил) through winning the theatrical golf tournament (победив: «через победу» в театральном турнире по гольфу; to win — победить, выиграть, заслужить) three times running (три раза кряду), showed Margery's care (/все это/ отражало: «показывало» заботу Марджери). Julia gave her a reflective glance (Джулия задумчиво взглянула на нее: reflective — отражающий, размышляющий, задумчивый, glance — быстрый взгляд). Notwithstanding her cropped peroxide hair (не смотря на ее /коротко/ стриженные осветленные волосы; to crop — зд. подстригать, подрезать) and her heavily-painted lips (и ее ярко накрашенные губы) she had the neutral look (у нее был неприметный: «нейтральный» вид) that marks the perfect secretary (который присущ: «отмечает» идеальному секретарю).

magnificent [mxg'nIfIs(q)nt] underneath ["Andq'ni:T]

tournament ['tVq|nqmqnt, 'tO:-] neutral ['nju:trql]

Between these was a magnificent silver ink-stand that she had herself given him on one of his birthdays and behind it a rack in red morocco, heavily gilt, in which he kept his private paper in case he wanted to write a letter in his own hand. The paper bore the address, Siddons Theatre, and the envelope his crest, a boar's head with the motto underneath: Nemo me impune lacessit. A bunch of yellow tulips in a silver bowl, which he had got through winning the theatrical golf tournament three times running, showed Margery's care. Julia gave her a reflective glance. Notwithstanding her cropped peroxide hair and her heavily-painted lips she had the neutral look that marks the perfect secretary.

She had been with Michael for five years (она работала: «была» с Майклом уже пять лет). In that time (за это время) she must have got to know him (она, должно быть, узнала его) inside and out (вдоль и поперек: «внутри и снаружи»). Julia wondered (Джулия задавала себе вопрос; to wonder — интересоваться, желать знать, изумляться) if she could be such a fool (была ли та настолько глупа = «могла ли она быть такой дурой»; a fool — дурак, глупец, шут) as to be in love with him (чтобы быть влюбленным в него; to be in love — быть влюбленным, любить).

But Michael rose from his chair (но Майкл поднялся с /его/ кресла; to rise (rose; risen) — восходить, вставать, подниматься).

"Now, darling, I'm ready for you (теперь, дорогая, я готов для тебя; ready — готовый, подготовленный)."

Margery gave him his black Homburg hat (Марджери подала ему его черную мягкую фетровую шляпу) and opened the door for Julia and Michael to go out (и открыла дверь для Джулии и Майкла, что бы они вышли). As they entered the office (как только они вошли в канцелярию: «офис») the young man Julia had noticed (молодой человек, которого Джулия заметила ранее) turned round and stood up (повернулся и поднялся).

"I should like to introduce you to Miss Lambert (я хотел бы представить вас Мисс Ламберт)," said Michael (сказал Майкл). Then with the air of an ambassador (и затем, с видом посла; air — воздух, атмосфера, манеры) presenting an attaché to the sovereign of the court (представляющего атташе монарху при дворе) to which he is accredited (к которому он аккредитован): "This is the gentleman (это тот самый джентльмен) who is good enough (который настолько добр: «достаточно хорош») to put some order (что внес некоторый порядок; to put — класть, ставить, излагать) into the mess we make of our accounts (в ту сумятицу, в которую мы превратили наши счета; mess — беспорядок, грязь)."

ambassador [xm'bxsqdq] attache [q'txSeI] sovereign ['sovrIn]

The young man went scarlet. He smiled stiffly in answer to Julia's warm, ready smile and she felt the palm of his hand wet with sweat when she cordially grasped it. His confusion was touching. That was how people had felt when they were presented to Sarah Siddons. She thought that she had not been very gracious to Michael when he had proposed asking the boy to luncheon. She looked straight into his eyes. Her own were large, of a very dark brown, and starry. It was no effort to her, it was as instinctive as brushing away a fly that was buzzing round her, to suggest now a faintly amused, friendly tenderness.

"I wonder (мне интересно) if we could persuade you (сможем ли мы уговорить вас; to persuade — убеждать, склонять) to come and eat a chop with us (поехать: «пойти» и съесть по отбивной /котлете/ с нами). Michael will drive you back after lunch (Майкл привезет вас обратно после ланча; to drive (drove; driven) — водить (машину), ездить, гнать)."

The young man blushed again (молодой человек снова вспыхнул) and his Adam's apple moved in his thin neck (и его кадык: «адамово яблоко» задвигался по его тощей шее).

"It's awfully kind of you (это ужасно мило с вашей стороны)." He gave his clothes a troubled look (он озабоченно оглядел свою одежду; trouble — беспокойство, волнение, неприятность). "I'm absolutely filthy (я совершенно грязный; filthy — немытый, отвратительный)."

"You can have a wash (вы сможете умыться; wash — мытье, умывание) and brush up (и причесаться) when we get home (когда мы попадем домой: «доберемся до дома»)."

The car was waiting for them at the stage door (машина ожидала их у служебного входа в театр; to wait /for/ — ждать, дожидаться; stage — сцена, подмостки, эстрада), a long car in black and chromium (длинная машина /вся/ черная и хромированная), upholstered in silver leather (/сиденья/ обтянуты серебряной кожей), and with Michael's crest discreetly emblazoned on the doors (и сдержанно украшенная на дверцах гербом Майкла: «и с гербом Майкла благоразумно/сдержанно украшенным на дверях»). Julia got in (Джулия села в /автомобиль/; to get in — входить, влезать).

"Come and sit with me (идите, сядьте рядом со мной). Michael is going to drive (Майкл поведет машину)."

persuade [pq'sweId] filthy ['fIlTI] chromium ['krqVmIqm] leather ['leDq]

"I wonder if we could persuade you to come and eat a chop with us. Michael will drive you back after lunch."

They lived in Stanhope Place, and when they arrived Julia told the butler to show the young man where he could wash his hands. She went up to the drawing-room. She was painting her lips when Michael joined her.

"I've told him to come up as soon as he's ready."

"By the way, what's his name?"

"I haven't a notion."

"Darling, we must know. I'll ask him to write in our book."

"Damn it, he's not important enough for that." Michael asked only very distinguished people to write in their book. "We shall never see him again."

At that moment the young man appeared. In the car Julia had done all she could to put him at his ease, but he was still very shy. The cocktails were waiting and Michael poured them out. Julia took a cigarette and the young man struck a match for her, but his hand was trembling so much that she thought he would never be able to hold the light near enough to her cigarette, so she took his hand and held it.

"Poor lamb," she thought, "I suppose this is the most wonderful moment in his whole life. What fun it'll be for him when he tells his people. I expect he'll be a blasted little hero in his office."

Julia talked very differently (Джулия разговаривала совершенно по-разному): to herself (сама с собой) and to other people (и с другими людьми) when she talked to herself (когда она говорила с собой) her language was racy (ее язык был колоритным; racy — острый, пикантный, скабрезный). She inhaled the first whiff of her cigarette with delight (она с удовольствием затянулась: “она вдохнула первый дымок своей сигареты с удовольствием»; whiff — дуновение, затяжка, сигаретный дым). It was really rather wonderful (это действительно было достаточно замечательно), when you came to think of it (когда поразмыслишь об этом), that just to have lunch with her (что только /возможность/ позавтракать с ней) and talk to her for three quarters of an hour (и поговорить с ней три четверти часа), perhaps (пожалуй), could make a man quite important (может сделать человека достаточно важным) in his own scrubby little circle (в его собственном ничтожном кружке; scrubby — низкорослый, мелкий, захудалый).

The young man forced himself to make a remark (молодой человек заставил себя сказать несколько слов: «сделать замечание»; remark — замечание, примечание, наблюдение).

"What a stunning room this is (какая это потрясающая комната)."

language ['lxNgwIdZ] delight [dI'laIt] circle ['sq:k(q)l]

Julia talked very differently to herself and to other people: when she talked to herself her language was racy. She inhaled the first whiff of her cigarette with delight. It was really rather wonderful, when you came to think of it, that just to have lunch with her and talk to her for three quarters of an hour, perhaps, could make a man quite important in his own scrubby little circle.