“There’s none within ten miles (в десяти милях нет ни одного), and a thousand doctors wouldn’t take him to Strelsau today (да и тысяча врачей не доставят его в Стрелсо сегодня;
“But the coronation!” I cried in horror (но коронация! – выкрикнул я в ужасе).
Fritz shrugged his shoulders (Фриц пожал плечами), as I began to see was his habit on most occasions (что, как я начинал понимать, было его привычкой в большинстве случаев).
“We must send word that he’s ill (мы должны сообщить, что он болен;
“I suppose so (я /тоже/ так думаю),” said I.
Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a daisy (старина Сэпт, который казался свежим, как маргаритка = как огурчик), had lit his pipe and was puffing hard at it (зажег свою трубку и раскурил ее;
“We’ve spent half an hour on him,” said Fritz.
“He drank three times what either of you did,” growled Sapt.
I knelt down and felt his pulse. It was alarmingly languid and slow. We three looked at one another.
“Was it drugged – that last bottle?” I asked in a whisper.
“I don’t know,” said Sapt.
“We must get a doctor.”
“There’s none within ten miles, and a thousand doctors wouldn’t take him to Strelsau today. I know the look of it. He’ll not move for six or seven hours yet.”
“But the coronation!” I cried in horror.
Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as I began to see was his habit on most occasions.
“We must send word that he’s ill,” he said.
“I suppose so,” said I.
Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a daisy, had lit his pipe and was puffing hard at it.
“If he’s not crowned today (если его не коронуют сегодня),” said he, “I’ll lay a crown he’s never crowned (я поставлю крону, что его не коронуют никогда;
“But heavens, why (но почему, черт возьми;
“The whole nation’s there to meet him (весь народ /собрался/ там, чтобы встретить его); half the army – ay, and Black Michael at the head (половина армии – да, и с Черным Михаэлем во главе). Shall we send word that the King’s drunk (нужно ли нам сообщать, что король пьян)?”
“That he’s ill,” said I, in correction (что он болен, – сказал я, поправив /его/).
“Ill!” echoed Sapt, with a scornful laugh (болен! – повторил Сэпт с презрительным смешком). “They know his illnesses too well (они знают его болезнь слишком хорошо). He’s been ‘ill’ before (он был болен и раньше)!”
“Well, we must chance what they think,” said Fritz helplessly (но мы должны рискнуть, что /бы/ они /ни/ подумали). “I’ll carry the news and make the best of it (я сообщу: «разнесу» эту новость и попытаюсь все уладить;
Sapt raised his hand (Сэпт поднял руку).
“Tell me,” said he. “Do you think the King was drugged (скажите мне, – сказал он, – вы думаете, король был отравлен)?”
“I do,” said I (я думаю, /что так/, – сказал я).
“And who drugged him (а кто отравил его)?”
“That damned hound, Black Michael,” said Fritz between his teeth (этот проклятый мерзавец, Черный Михаэль, – сказал
“If he’s not crowned today,” said he, “I’ll lay a crown he’s never crowned.”
“But heavens, why?”
“The whole nation’s there to meet him; half the army – ay, and Black Michael at the head. Shall we send word that the King’s drunk?”
“That he’s ill,” said I, in correction.
“Ill!” echoed Sapt, with a scornful laugh. “They know his illnesses too well. He’s been ‘ill’ before!”
“Well, we must chance what they think,” said Fritz helplessly. “I’ll carry the news and make the best of it.”
Sapt raised his hand.
“Tell me,” said he. “Do you think the King was drugged?”
“I do,” said I.
“And who drugged him?”
“That damned hound, Black Michael,” said Fritz between his teeth.