“I must pray pardon, sire, for my presumption,” said I. “I trust it will not forfeit your Majesty’s favour.”
“By Heaven! you’ll always enjoy the King’s countenance,” he laughed, “whether I like it or not; and, sir, I shall very gladly add to it what services I can. Where are you travelling to?”
“To Strelsau, sire – to the coronation.”
The King looked at his friends: he still smiled, though his expression hinted some uneasiness. But the humorous side of the matter caught him again.
“Fritz, Fritz!” he cried, “a thousand crowns for a sight of brother Michael’s face when he sees a pair of us!” and the merry laugh rang out again.
“Seriously,” observed Fritz von Tarlenheim (/говоря/ серьезно, – заметил Фриц фон Тарленхайм), “I question Mr. Rassendyll’s wisdom in visiting Strelsau just now (я сомневаюсь, что в настоящий момент есть смысл мистеру Рассендилу ехать в Стрелсо;
The King lit a cigarette (король зажег сигарету;
“Well, Sapt?” said he, questioningly (ну, /а ты/, Сэпт? – вопросительно сказал он).
“He mustn’t go,” growled the old fellow (он не должен ехать, – прорычал старик).
“Come, colonel, you mean that I should be in Mr. Rassendyll’s debt, if (погоди, полковник, ты имеешь в виду, что я был бы перед мистером Рассендилом в долгу, если бы;
“Oh, ay! wrap it up in the right way (о, да! закончим все, как нужно;
“Enough, sire,” said I. “I’ll leave Ruritania today (довольно, сир, сказал я, – сегодня я покину Руританию).”
“No, by thunder, you shan’t (нет, разрази меня гром, вы не /уедете сегодня/) – and that’s sans phrase, as Sapt likes it (и без лишних слов, как это любит Сэпт;
“We dine sparingly tonight,” said Fritz von Tarlenheim (у нас будет сегодня скромный обед: «сегодня вечером мы обедаем скудно», – сказал Фриц фон Тарленхайм).
“Not we – with our new cousin for a guest!” cried the King (нет, у нас в гостях наш новый кузен, – воскликнул король); and, as Fritz shrugged his shoulders, he added (и, когда Фриц пожал плечами, он добавил): “Oh! I’ll remember our early start, Fritz (о, я буду помнить /о том/, =
“Seriously,” observed Fritz von Tarlenheim, “I question Mr. Rassendyll’s wisdom in visiting Strelsau just now.”
The King lit a cigarette.
“Well, Sapt?” said he, questioningly.
“He mustn’t go,” growled the old fellow.
“Come, colonel, you mean that I should be in Mr. Rassendyll’s debt, if – ”
“Oh, ay! wrap it up in the right way,” said Sapt, hauling a great pipe out of his pocket.
“Enough, sire,” said I. “I’ll leave Ruritania today.”
“No, by thunder, you shan’t – and that’s sans phrase, as Sapt likes it. For you shall dine with me tonight, happen what will afterwards. Come, man, you don’t meet a new relation every day!”
“We dine sparingly tonight,” said Fritz von Tarlenheim.
“Not we – with our new cousin for a guest!” cried the King; and, as Fritz shrugged his shoulders, he added: “Oh! I’ll remember our early start, Fritz.”
“So will I – tomorrow morning,” said old Sapt, pulling at his pipe (и я не забуду – завтра утром, – сказал старый Сэпт, затягиваясь трубкой;
“O wise old Sapt!” cried the King (о, мудрый старина Сэпт, – воскликнул король). “Come, Mr. Rassendyll – by the way, what name did they give you (пойдемте-же, мистер Рассендил; кстати, какое имя вам дали)?”
“Your Majesty’s,” I answered, bowing (/такое же, как/ у вашего величества, – ответил я, кланяясь).