Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me (Холмс бросил на меня торжествующий взгляд; swift — быстрый). "Oh, he mentioned his name, did he (о, он упомянул свою фамилию, не так ли)? That was imprudent (это было опрометчиво). What was the name that he mentioned (какую фамилию он назвал)?"
"His name," said the cabman, "was Mr. Sherlock Holmes (его зовут мистер Шерлок Холмс)."
embarrass [Im'b&r@s], mention ['menS(@)n], imprudent [Im'pru:d(@)nt]
"Now, Clayton, tell me all about the fare who came and watched this house at ten o'clock this morning and afterwards followed the two gentlemen down Regent Street."
The man looked surprised and a little embarrassed. "Why, there's no good my telling you things, for you seem to know as much as I do already," said he. "The truth is that the gentleman told me that he was a detective and that I was to say nothing about him to anyone."
"My good fellow, this is a very serious business, and you may find yourself in a pretty bad position if you try to hide anything from me. You say that your fare told you that he was a detective?"
"Yes, he did."
"When did he say this?"
"When he left me."
"Did he say anything more?"
"He mentioned his name."
Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me. "Oh, he mentioned his name, did he? That was imprudent. What was the name that he mentioned?"
"His name," said the cabman, "was Mr. Sherlock Holmes."
Never have I seen my friend more completely taken aback (никогда я не видел моего друга более ошеломленным; completely — полностью, совершенно) than by the cabman's reply (чем /после/ ответа кебмена). For an instant he sat in silent amazement (мгновение он сидел в молчаливом изумлении). Then he burst into a hearty laugh (потом от души рассмеялся; to burst — лопаться; внезапно начинать /что-либо/; hearty — сердечный, искренний).
"A touch, Watson — an undeniable touch (удар, Ватсон, неотразимый удар; touch — касание; удар, укол)!" said he. "I feel a foil as quick and supple as my own (я чувствую клинок, такой же быстрый и точный, как мой собственный; foil — фольга; рапира; supple — гибкий). He got home upon me very prettily that time (в этот раз он очень красиво меня провел; to get home — достичь своей цели; одержать победу). So his name was Sherlock Holmes, was it (итак, его звали Шерлок Холмс, не так ли)?"
"Yes, sir, that was the gentleman's name (да, сэр, таково было его имя)."
"Excellent (превосходно)! Tell me where you picked him up and all that occurred (расскажите, где вы подобрали его, и все, что произошло /потом/)."
"He hailed me at half-past nine in Trafalgar Square (он окликнул меня в половине десятого на Трафальгарской площади). He said that he was a detective (сказал, что он сыщик), and he offered me two guineas (предложил мне две гинеи) if I would do exactly what he wanted all day and ask no questions (если я буду выполнять все, что он хочет, в течение дня и не задам вопросов). I was glad enough to agree (я был рад согласиться = я с радостью согласился; enough — достаточно). First we drove down to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there (сперва мы поехали к гостинице "Нортумберленд" и ждали там) until two gentlemen came out and took a cab from the rank (пока оттуда не вышли два джентльмена, /которые потом/ взяли кеб; rank — ряд, линия). We followed their cab until it pulled up somewhere near here (мы следовали за их кебом, покуда он не остановился где-то тут неподалеку; to pull up — останавливать/ся/)."
"This very door (/возле/ этой самой двери)," said Holmes.
reply [rI'plaI], guinea ['gInI], agree [@'gri:]