Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

"I guess you've heard of Arnold Jackson," he said, looking at Edward with a frown.

Edward hesitated. His natural truthfulness obliged him to admit a knowledge he would gladly have been able to deny.

"Yes, I have. But it's a long time ago. I guess I didn't pay very much attention."

"There are not many people in Chicago who haven't heard of Arnold Jackson," said Mr. Longstaffe bitterly, "and if there are they'll have no difficulty in finding someone who'll be glad to tell them. Did you know he was Mrs. Longstaffe's brother?"

"Yes, I knew that."

"Of course we've had no communication with him for many years (конечно, мы не поддерживали с ним связь долгие годы). He left the country as soon as he was able to (он уехал из страны, как только смог), and I guess the country wasn't sorry to see the last of him (и, полагаю, что страна была рада отделаться от него: «не пожалела, что отделалась от него»; to see the last of smb. — видеть кого-либо в последний раз, отделаться от кого-либо). We understand he lives in Tahiti (насколько мы знаем, он живет на Таити; to understand— понимать; услышать, узнать). My advice to you is to give him a wide berth (мой тебе совет — избегай его; to give a wide berth to smb. — обходить, избегать /кого-либо/;berth— койка /на пароходе и т. п./; якорное место; причал; место у причала), but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know (но если ты узнаешь о нем что-нибудь, я и миссис Лонгстаф будем очень рады, если ты сообщишь нам /об этом/; to hear— слышать; услышать, узнать;to let smb.know— дать знать, сообщить кому-либо)."

"Sure (конечно)."

"That was all I wanted to say to you (вот и все, что я хотел тебе сказать). Now I daresay you'd like to join the ladies (а теперь, полагаю, ты захочешь присоединиться к дамам; to join— соединять, связывать; присоединяться, входить в компанию)."

berth [bWT], sure [Suq], daresay [(")deq'seI]

"Of course we've had no communication with him for many years. He left the country as soon as he was able to, and I guess the country wasn't sorry to see the last of him. We understand he lives in Tahiti. My advice to you is to give him a wide berth, but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know."

"Sure."

"That was all I wanted to say to you. Now I daresay you'd like to join the ladies."