Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий / Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

'There is naught in this riddle that is difficult.' Then, without so much as a by-your-leave to anybody, he turned and gave this command, with the easy manner of one accustomed to doing such things: 'My Lord St. John, go you to my private cabinet in the palace — for none knoweth the place better than you — and, close down to the floor, in the left corner remotest from the door that opens from the antechamber, you shall find in the wall a brazen nail-head; press upon it and a little jewel closet will fly open which not even you do know of — no, nor any soul else in all the world but me and the trusty artisan that did contrive it for me. The first thing that falleth under your eye will be the Great Seal — fetch it hither.'

All the company wondered at this speech, and wondered still more to see the little mendicant pick out this peer without hesitancy or apparent fear of mistake, and call him by name with such a placidly convincing air of having known him all his life. The peer was almost surprised into obeying. He even made a movement as if to go, but quickly recovered his tranquil attitude and confessed his blunder with a blush. Tom Canty turned upon him and said, sharply:

'Why dost thou hesitate? Hast not heard the king's command? Go!'

The Lord St. John made a deep obeisance — and it was observed that it was a significantly cautious and non-committal one, it not being delivered at either of the kings, but at the neutral ground about half-way between the two — and took his leave.

Now began a movement (теперь началось движение; to begin — начинаться) of the gorgeous particles of that official group (разноцветных/ярких частичек этой придворной группы; gorgeous — пышный, великолепный) which was slow, scarcely perceptible (которое было медленным, едва заметным), and yet steady and persistent (и все же устойчивым и постоянным) — a movement such as is observed in a kaleidoscope (движение такое, как наблюдается в калейдоскопе) that is turned slowly (который крутится медленно), whereby the components of one splendid cluster (вследствие чего части одного прекрасного скопления) fall away (распадаются) and join themselves to another (и соединяются в другой) — a movement which (движение, которое), little by little (мало-помалу), in the present case (в настоящем случае), dissolved the glittering crowd (рассеяло сверкающую толпу) that stood about Tom Canty (которая стояла вокруг Тома Кэнти; to stand — стоять) and clustered it together again (и собрала ее вместе снова) in the neighborhood of the new-comer (в соседстве = рядом с новоприбывшим). Tom Canty stood almost alone (Том Кэнти стоял почти один). Now ensued a brief season (теперь последовало короткое время) of deep suspense and waiting (глубокого беспокойства и ожидания) — during which (в течение которого) even the few faint-hearts (даже немногие малодушные люди) still remaining near Tom Canty (все еще остававшиеся около Тома Кэнти) gradually scraped together courage (постепенно наскребли храбрости) enough to glide (достаточно /для того, чтобы/ скользнуть = незаметно перейти), one by one (один за другим), over to the majority (к большинству). So at last Tom Canty (так что наконец Том Кэнти), in his royal robes and jewels (в своей королевской мантии и драгоценных камнях), stood wholly alone (стоял совсем один; to stand — стоять) and isolated from the world (и отделенный от мира), a conspicuous figure (заметная фигура), occupying an eloquent vacancy (занимающая красноречивую пустоту).