We got to Waterloo at eleven, and asked where the eleven-five started from. Of course nobody knew; nobody at Waterloo ever does know where a train is going to start from, or where a train when it does start is going to, or anything about it. The porter who took our things thought it would go from number two platform, while another porter, with whom he discussed the question, had heard a rumour that it would go from number one. The station-master, on the other hand, was convinced it would start from the local.

To put an end to the matter (чтобы положить конец этому вопросу), we went upstairs, and asked the traffic superintendent (мы поднялись наверх и спросили диспетчера; traffic — движение; перевозки), and he told us that he had just met a man (и он сказал нам, что только что встретил человека; to meet), who said he had seen it at number three platform (который говорил, /что/ видел поезд на платформе номер три). We went to number three platform, but the authorities there said (мы отправились на третью платформу, но начальство там сказало; authorities — власти, начальство, администрация) that they rather thought that train was the Southampton express, or else the Windsor loop (что они скорее полагают, что этот поезд — саутгемптонский экспресс или же /поезд/ виндзорской окружной дороги; loop — петля; окружная железная дорога). But they were sure it wasn't the Kingston train (но они были уверены, что не поезд на Кингстон), though why they were sure it wasn't they couldn't say (хотя почему они уверены в этом, они не могли сказать).

Then our porter said he thought that must be it on the high-level platform (потом наш носильщик сказал, что думает, /наш/ поезд находится на верхней платформе; high-level — высоко расположенный, надземный; level — уровень); said he thought he knew the train (сказал, что, кажется, узнает этот поезд). So we went to the high-level platform, and saw the engine-driver (и мы пошли к верхней платформе и увидели машиниста; to see; engine-driver: engine — машина, двигатель; локомотив; driver — водитель, машинист), and asked him if he was going to Kingston (спросили его, едет ли он в Кингстон). He said he couldn't say for certain of course (он ответил, что не может сказать наверняка, конечно), but that he rather thought he was (но, думает, пожалуй, что да). Anyhow, if he wasn't the 11.5 for Kingston (так или иначе, если он не /поезд/ 11.05 на Кингстон), he said he was pretty confident he was the 9.32 for Virginia Water (то вполне уверен, что 9.32 на Вирджиния-Уотер), or the 10 a.m. express for the Isle of Wight (или десятичасовой экспресс на остров Уайт), or somewhere in that direction (или куда-нибудь в этом направлении), and we should all know when we got there (и мы все узнаем, когда доберемся туда). We slipped half-a-crown into his hand, and begged him to be the 11.5 for Kingston (мы сунули полкроны ему в руку и попросили его быть /поездом/ 11.05 на Кингстон; to slip into — незаметно всунуть; незаметно проскользнуть /куда-нибудь/).

authorities [O:'TOrItIz] engine ['endZIn] confident ['kOnfId(@)nt]

To put an end to the matter, we went upstairs, and asked the traffic superintendent, and he told us that he had just met a man, who said he had seen it at number three platform. We went to number three platform, but the authorities there said that they rather thought that train was the Southampton express, or else the Windsor loop. But they were sure it wasn't the Kingston train, though why they were sure it wasn't they couldn't say.

Then our porter said he thought that must be it on the high-level platform; said he thought he knew the train. So we went to the high-level platform, and saw the engine-driver, and asked him if he was going to Kingston. He said he couldn't say for certain of course, but that he rather thought he was. Anyhow, if he wasn't the 11.5 for Kingston, he said he was pretty confident he was the 9.32 for Virginia Water, or the 10 a.m. express for the Isle of Wight, or somewhere in that direction, and we should all know when we got there. We slipped half-a-crown into his hand, and begged him to be the 11.5 for Kingston.

"Nobody will ever know, on this line (никто никогда не узнает на этой линии)," we said, "what you are, or where you're going (кто вы и куда направляетесь). You know the way, you slip off quietly and go to Kingston (вы знаете дорогу, ускользните тихо и поезжайте в Кингстон)."

"Well, I don't know, gents (ну, не знаю, джентльмены; gent = gentleman)," replied the noble fellow (ответил благородный человек; fellow — приятель, товарищ, коллега, собрат), "but I suppose some train's got to go to Kingston (но полагаю, какой-нибудь поезд должен идти в Кингстон); and I'll do it (я это сделаю). Gimme the half-crown (давайте полкроны; gimme = give me)."

Thus we got to Kingston by the London and South-Western Railway (таким образом мы добрались до Кингстона по Лондонской Юго-Западной железной дороге).

We learnt, afterwards, that the train we had come by was really the Exeter mail (мы узнали впоследствии, что поезд, на котором мы прибыли, был в действительности эксетерским почтовым; to learn), and that they had spent hours at Waterloo, looking for it (и что на Ватерлоо потратили /несколько/ часов, ища его; to spend), and nobody knew what had become of it (и никто не знал, что с ним случилось; to become of — случаться, происходить /чаще о плохом событии/).

half-crown [,hA:f'kraun] London ['lVnd@n]

"Nobody will ever know, on this line," we said, "what you are, or where you're going. You know the way, you slip off quietly and go to Kingston."

"Well, I don't know, gents," replied the noble fellow, "but I suppose some train's got to go to Kingston; and I'll do it. Gimme the half-crown."

Thus we got to Kingston by the London and South-Western Railway.

We learnt, afterwards, that the train we had come by was really the Exeter mail, and that they had spent hours at Waterloo, looking for it, and nobody knew what had become of it.