outrageous demands. When he wrung an old trooper's hand, who was getting
seven pounds a week, and said, by God, laddie, you're stupendous, the old
trooper felt like Charles Kean.
It happened (так /уж/ случилось) that when Michael kept the appointment he had
asked for (что когда Майкл пришел на встречу, о которой просил;
был необходим /актер на роли/ молодых героев-/любовников/;
догадался) why Michael wanted to see him (почему Майкл хотел встретиться с
ним), and had gone the night before (и отправился вечером накануне) to see him
play (посмотреть, как он играет). Michael was playing Mercutio (Майкл играл
/роль/ Меркуцио) and he had not thought him very good (и он /Джимми/
подумал, что играл он не очень хорошо: «и он не думал что он был очень
хорош»), but when he came into the office (но когда он пришел /к нему/ в офис)
he was staggered by his beauty (он был потрясен его красотой). In a brown coat
(в коричневом пальто) and grey flannel trousers (и серых брюках из шерстяной
фланели), even without make-up (даже без грима;
it took your breath away (что дух захватывало;
52
непринужденные манеры) and he talked like a gentleman (и он разговаривал
как джентльмен). While Michael explained the purpose of his visit (пока Майкл
объяснял цель своего визита) Jimmie Langton observed him shrewdly (Джимми
Лэнгтон наблюдал за ним проницательно). If he could act at all (если он хоть
чуть-чуть умел играть), with those looks (с такими внешними данными;
человек просто обязан много добиться: «пойти далеко»;
juvenile ['dZu:vqnaIl] beauty ['bju:tI] trousers ['traVzqz] shrewdly ['Sru:dlI]
It happened that when Michael kept the appointment he had asked for,
Jimmie Langton was in need of a leading juvenile. He had guessed why
Michael wanted to see him, and had gone the night before to see him play.
Michael was playingMercutio and he had not thought him very good, but
when he came into the office he was staggered by his beauty. In a brown coat
and grey flannel trousers, even without make-up, he was so handsome it took
your breath away. He had an easy manner and he talked like a gentleman.
While Michael explained the purpose of his visit Jimmie Langton observed
him shrewdly. If he could act at all, with those looks that young man ought to
go far.
"I saw your Mercutio last night (я видел вас /в роли/ Меркуцио: «вашего
Меркуцио» прошлым вечером)," he said (сказал он). "What d'you think of it
yourself (что вы думаете о ней /роли/ сами)?"
"Rotten (халтура, никуда не годится;
"So do I (и я так /думаю/). How old are you (сколько вам лет)?"
"Twenty-five (двадцать пять)."
53
"I suppose you've been told you're good-looking (я полагаю, вам говорили, что
вы красивый;
"That's why I went on the stage (именно поэтому я и пошел в актеры: «вот
почему я пошел на сцену»). Otherwise (в противном случае) I'd have gone into
the army (я бы пошел в армию) like my father (как мой отец)."
"By gum (Бог ты мой), if I had your looks (мне бы ваши данные: «если бы я