“I never could remember all these silly rules (я никогда не мог запомнить все эти глупые правила),” said I, rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up (довольно неубедительно произнес я, в душе проклиная Фрица, что /он/ не сообщил мне /об этом/;
I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the ante-room (я вскочил, настежь распахнул дверь и направился в приемную). Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face (Михаэль сидел за столом с весьма недовольным лицом;
“An excellent etiquette!” I cried. “But I had clean forgotten it; and if I were alone with someone else, couldn’t you be announced?”
“You know as well as I do. I could be, because I am of the Blood;” and she still looked puzzled.
“I never could remember all these silly rules,” said I, rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up. “But I’ll repair my fault.”
I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the ante-room. Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face. Everyone else was standing, save that impudent young dog Fritz, who was lounging easily in an armchair, and flirting with the Countess Helga. He leapt up as I entered, with a deferential alacrity that lent point to his former nonchalance. I had no difficulty in understanding that the duke might not like young Fritz.
I held out my hand, Michael took it, and I embraced him (я протянул руку, Михаэль принял ее, и я его обнял). Then I drew him with me into the inner room (потом я повел его за собой в комнату: «во внутреннюю комнату»).
“Brother,” I said, “if I had known you were here (брат, если бы я знал, что ты здесь), you should not have waited a moment (ты не ждал бы и минуты) before I asked the princess to permit me to bring you to her (прежде чем я попросил бы принцессу позволить мне провести тебя к ней).”