Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham. Mr. Know-All. Stories

Jean was tortured by remorse. What he had suffered before was nothing to what he suffered now. The anguish that the recollection of his treachery caused him was worse than a physical pain gnawing at his vitals. It would assail him suddenly when he was in the middle of his work and twist his heartstrings with a violent pang. His agony was such that he craved for relief, and it was only by an effort of all his will that he prevented himself from making a full confession to Marie-Louise.

But he knew how she would take it (но он знал, как она это воспримет; to take — брать, хватать; воспринимать, реагировать); she would not be shocked (она не будет потрясена), she would think it rather a clever trick (она подумает, что это вполне ловкий трюк; clever — умный; ловкий, умелый) and be even subtly flattered that for her sake he had been guilty of a despicable act (и будет даже немного польщена тем, что ради нее он виновен /в совершении/ такого достойного презрения поступка). She could not help him (она не могла помочь ему). He began to dislike her (он начал испытывать к ней неприязнь). For it was for her that he had done the shameful thing (потому что ради нее он совершил этот позорный поступок; shame— стыд; позор;thing— вещь, предмет; действие, поступок), and what was she (а кем она была)? An ordinary, commonplace, rather calculating little woman (заурядной, посредственной, довольно расчетливой бабенкой; ordinary— обычный; заурядный, посредственный).

"What a fool I’ve been (каким же глупцом я был)," he repeated (повторил он).

subtly ['sAtlI], guilty ['gIltI], despicable [dI'spIkqbl, 'despIkqbl]

But he knew how she would take it; she would not be shocked, she would think it rather a clever trick and be even subtly flattered that for her sake he had been guilty of a despicable act. She could not help him. He began to dislike her. For it was for her that he had done the shameful thing, and what was she? An ordinary, commonplace, rather calculating little woman.

"What a fool I’ve been," he repeated.

He did not even find her pretty any more (он даже не считал ее больше хорошенькой; tofind— находить, отыскивать; считать, находить). He knew now that she was terribly stupid (теперь он знал, что она была ужасно глупа). But of course she was not to blame for that (но, конечно же, ее нельзя было за это винить), she was not to blame because he had been false to his friend (ее нельзя было винить потому, что он обманул своего друга; false— ложный, неверный; фальшивый, неискренний, вероломный); and he forced himself to be as sweet and tender to her as he had always been (и он заставлял себя быть с ней таким же приветливым и нежным, каким он был всегда; sweet— сладкий; милый, любезный, приветливый). He did whatever she wanted (он делал все, что она хотела). She had only to express a wish for him to fulfil it (ей было достаточно только высказать ему /свое/ желание, и он исполнял его) if it was in his power (если это было в его власти; power— сила, мощь; могущество, сила, власть).

stupid ['stju: pId], fulfil [ful'fIl], power ['pauq]