“Listen, listen (слушайте)! When you’re killed, your body will be taken to a low quarter of the town (когда вас убьют, ваше тело отвезут в нижнюю часть города;
“It’s a pretty plot (неплохо придумано: «хороший план»;
“Listen, listen! When you’re killed, your body will be taken to a low quarter of the town. It will be found there. Michael will at once arrest all your friends – Colonel Sapt and Captain von Tarlenheim first – proclaim a state of siege in Strelsau, and send a messenger to Zenda. The other three will murder the King in the Castle, and the duke will proclaim either himself or the princess – himself, if he is strong enough. Anyhow, he’ll marry her, and become king in fact, and soon in name. Do you see?”
“It’s a pretty plot. But why, madame, do you —?”
“Say I’m a Christian – or say I’m jealous (скажем, я христианка, или, скажем, я ревнива). My God! shall I see him marry her (Боже мой! неужели я увижу, как он женится на ней)? Now go; but remember – this is what I have to tell you (теперь идите, но помните – это то, что я должна вам сказать) – that never, by night or by day, are you safe (никогда, ни днем ни ночью, вы не /будете/ в безопасности). Three men follow you as a guard (три человека следуют за вами в качестве охраны). Is it not so (это не так)? Well, three follow them (и трое следуют за ними); Michael’s three are never two hundred yards from you (эти трое, /посланные/ Михаэлем, всегда не дальше, чем в двухстах ярдах от вас). Your life is not worth a moment (ваша жизнь ничего не /будет/ стоить;
“And you?” I asked (а вы? – спросил я).
“I have my game to play too (мне тоже есть, чем заняться). If he finds out what I have done (если он узнает, что я сделала;
“But what will you tell him (но что вы ему скажете)?”
“That you never came – that you saw through the trick (что вы вообще не пришли, что вы разгадали обман;
I took her hand and kissed it (я взял ее руку и поцеловал).
“Say I’m a Christian – or say I’m jealous. My God! shall I see him marry her? Now go; but remember – this is what I have to tell you – that never, by night or by day, are you safe. Three men follow you as a guard. Is it not so? Well, three follow them; Michael’s three are never two hundred yards from you. Your life is not worth a moment if ever they find you alone. Now go. Stay, the gate will be guarded by now. Go down softly, go past the summer-house, on for a hundred yards, and you’ll find a ladder against the wall. Get over it, and fly for your life.”
“And you?” I asked.
“I have my game to play too. If he finds out what I have done, we shall not meet again. If not, I may yet – But never mind. Go at once.”
“But what will you tell him?”
“That you never came – that you saw through the trick.”
I took her hand and kissed it.