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

He touched a bell and a page appeared, who was ordered to desire the presence of Sir William Herbert. This gentleman came straightway, and conducted Tom to an inner apartment. Tom's first movement there was to reach for a cup of water; but a silk-and-velvet servitor seized it, dropped upon one knee, and offered it to him on a golden salver.

Next, the tired captive sat down and was going to take off his buskins, timidly asking leave with his eye, but another silk-and-velvet discomforter went down upon his knees and took the office from him. He made two or three further efforts to help himself, but being promptly forestalled each time, he finally gave up, with a sigh of resignation and a murmured 'Beshrew me, but I marvel they do not require to breathe for me also!' Slippered, and wrapped in a sumptuous robe, he laid himself down at last to rest, but not to sleep, for his head was too full of thoughts and the room too full of people. He could not dismiss the former, so they stayed; he did not know enough to dismiss the latter, so they stayed also, to his vast regret — and theirs.

Tom's departure (уход Тома) had left his two noble guardians alone (оставил его двух благородных стражей одних). They mused awhile (они находились в задумчивости некоторое время), with much headshaking (с покачиваниями головой; to shake — трясти) and walking the floor (и ходьбой туда-сюда; floor — пол), then Lord St. John said (затем лорд Сент-Джон сказал):

'Plainly (итак, по совести; plain — плоский, ровный; очевидный, явный, ясный), what dost thou think (что ты думаешь)?'

'Plainly, then, this (откровенно, значит, вот что). The king is near his end (король близок к концу), my nephew is mad (мой племянник безумен), mad will mount the throne (безумным взойдет на трон; to mount — вскарабкаться, забраться), and mad remain (и безумным останется). God protect England (защити Бог Англию), since she will need it (ибо она будет нуждаться в этом; to need — нуждаться)!'

'Verily it promiseth so (истинно это обещает (быть) так; to promise — обещать), indeed (действительно). But (но)... have you no misgivings (не имеешь ли ты дурных предчувствий) as to... as to... (касательно… касательно…)'

The speaker hesitated (говорящий запнулся), and finally stopped (и наконец остановился = замолк). He evidently felt (он, очевидно, почувствовал; to feel — чувствовать) that he was upon delicate ground (что он ступил на деликатную территорию). Lord Hertford stopped before him (лорд Хартфорд остановился перед ним), looked into his face with a clear, frank eye (посмотрел ему в лицо ясным, прямым взглядом: «глазом»), and said (и сказал):

'Speak on (говори дальше = продолжай) — there is none to hear but me (некому услышать, кроме меня). Misgivings as to what (предчувствий касательно чего)?'