"After all (в конце концов: «после всего»), Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe (протягивая руку за глиняной трубкой), "I am not retained by the police (не нанят полицией) to supply their deficiencies (чтобы восполнять их недостатки, промахи). If Horner were in danger (если бы Хорнер был в опасности) it would be another thing (это была бы другая вещь = дело); but this fellow will not appear against him (не будет свидетельствовать против него), and the case must collapse (дело должно провалиться = заглохнуть). I suppose that I am commuting a felony (смягчаю преступление = делаюсь укрывателем; felony — уголовное преступление), but it is just possible that I am saving a soul (но вполне может быть, что я спасаю душу). This fellow will not go wrong again (не пойдет неправильным путем снова); he is too terribly frightened (он слишком ужасно напуган). Send him to jail now (пошлите его в тюрьму сейчас), and you make him a jailbird for life (сделаете его арестантом/закоренелым преступником на всю жизнь). Besides (кроме того), it is the season of forgiveness (сейчас время прощения). Chance (случай, жизнь) has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem (поставила на наш путь весьма странную и причудливую загадку = столкнула нас со странной и причудливой загадкой), and its solution is its own reward (ее решение — /и есть/ само по себе награда). If you will have the goodness to touch the bell (если вы будете так любезны дернуть звонок), Doctor, we will begin another investigation (начнем другое расследование), in which also a bird will be the chief feature (в котором снова птица будет главной чертой = играть основную роль)."
deficiencies [dI'fIS@nsIz], danger ['deIndZ@], jailbird ['dZeIlb@:d], chief [tSi:f]
"After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to jail now, and you make him a jailbird for life. Besides, it is the season of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin another investigation, in which also a bird will be the chief feature."
THE SPECKLED BAND
(ПЕСТРАЯ ЛЕНТА)