Английский с Дэвидом Г. Лоуренсом. Тень в розовом саду

 “Do you know anything about a letter – in French – that my wife opened – a letter of mine?”

“Yes,” said I. “She asked me to read it to her.”

He looked square at me. He did not know exactly how to feel.

“What was there in it?” he asked.

“Why?” I said. “Don’t you know?”

“She makes out she’s burnt it,” he said.

“Without showing it you?” I asked.

He nodded slightly.

He seemed to be meditating as to what line of action he should take (он, казалось, раздумывал над тем, какую линию поведения избрать). He wanted to know the contents of the letter: he must know (он желал знать содержание письма; он должен знать): and therefore he must ask me, for evidently his wife had taunted him (и поэтому должен спросить меня, поскольку, очевидно, его жена отделалась от него колкостями; to taunt – насмехаться; говорить колкости; дразнить). At the same time, no doubt (в то же время, без сомнения), he would like to wreak untold vengeance on my unfortunate person (он хотел бы излить невысказанную месть на мою несчастную персону; to wreak – давать выход, волю /чувству, особ. злобному/; unfortunate – несчастный, несчастливый; fortune – счастье; удача). So he eyed me, and I eyed him, and neither of us spoke (поэтому он не спускал с меня глаз, а я – с него, и ни один из нас не говорил; to eye – разглядывать, рассматривать; следить). He did not want to repeat his request to me (он не желал повторять свою просьбу ко мне). And yet I only looked at him, and considered (однако я только смотрел на него и размышлял).

Suddenly he threw back his head and glanced down the valley (вдруг он запрокинул голову и мельком взглянул на долину). Then he changed his position and he looked at me more confidentially (потом изменил положение и посмотрел на меня более доверительно; confidential – конфиденциальный; доверительный; пользующийся доверием).

“She burnt the blasted thing before I saw it (она сожгла проклятое письмо прежде, чем я его увидел; blasted – разрушенный /действием природных сил/; /разг./ проклятый, чертов; to blast – взрывать; губить; ругать, проклинать),” he said.

 He seemed to be meditating as to what line of action he should take. He wanted to know the contents of the letter: he must know: and therefore he must ask me, for evidently his wife had taunted him. At the same time, no doubt, he would like to wreak untold vengeance on my unfortunate person. So he eyed me, and I eyed him, and neither of us spoke. He did not want to repeat his request to me. And yet I only looked at him, and considered.

Suddenly he threw back his head and glanced down the valley. Then he changed his position and he looked at me more confidentially.

“She burnt the blasted thing before I saw it,” he said.

“Well,” I answered slowly (что ж, – медленно ответил я), “she doesn’t know herself what was in it (она сама не знает, что в нем было).”