staff [stA:f], business ['bIznIs], thoroughly ['TVr@lI], importance [Im'pO:t(@)ns]

“No, I have never seen this face which you show me in the photograph. You would hardly forget it, would you, sir, for I’ve seldom seen an uglier. Have we any Italians on the staff? Yes, sir, we have several among our workpeople and cleaners. I daresay they might get a peep at that sales book if they wanted to. There is no particular reason for keeping a watch upon that book. Well, well, it’s a very strange business, and I hope that you will let me know if anything comes of your inquiries.”

Holmes had taken several notes during Mr. Harding’s evidence, and I could see that he was thoroughly satisfied by the turn which affairs were taking. He made no remark, however, save that, unless we hurried, we should be late for our appointment with Lestrade. Sure enough, when we reached Baker Street the detective was already there, and we found him pacing up and down in a fever of impatience. His look of importance showed that his day’s work had not been in vain.

“Well (ну что)?” he asked (спросил он). “What luck, Mr. Holmes (какие успехи, мистер Холмс)?”

“We have had a very busy day (у нас был очень трудный/напряженный день), and not entirely a wasted one (и не совсем бесполезный; wasted — растраченный понапрасну; напрасный, бесполезный; to waste — терять даром, тратить впустую /деньги, время, энергию, усилия и т. п./),” my friend explained (объяснил мой друг). “We have seen both the retailers (мы посетили обоих лавочников) and also the wholesale manufacturers (а также массовых изготовителей; wholesale — массовый; оптовый; manufacturer — изготовитель, производитель; фабрикант, заводчик). I can trace each of the busts now from the beginning (я могу проследить /судьбу/ каждого бюста с самого начала).”

“The busts (/судьбу/ бюстов)!” cried Lestrade (воскликнул Лестрейд). “Well, well, you have your own methods, Mr. Sherlock Holmes (что ж, у вас свои методы, мистер Шерлок Холмс), and it is not for me to say a word against them (и не мне говорить слово против них = не стану с вами спорить), but I think I have done a better day’s work than you (но, думаю, я /за день/ достиг большего, чем вы; to do a good day's work — много сделать, хорошо поработать). I have identified the dead man (я установил личность убитого).”

“You don’t say so (да что вы говорите/не может быть)?”

“And found a cause for the crime (и определил причину преступления).”

“Splendid (превосходно)!”

manufacturer [,m&nju'f&ktS(@)r@], word [w@:d], identified [aI'dentIfaId], cause [kO:z]

“Well?” he asked. “What luck, Mr. Holmes?”

“We have had a very busy day, and not entirely a wasted one,” my friend explained. “We have seen both the retailers and also the wholesale manufacturers. I can trace each of the busts now from the beginning.”

“The busts!” cried Lestrade. “Well, well, you have your own methods, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and it is not for me to say a word against them, but I think I have done a better day’s work than you. I have identified the dead man.”

“You don’t say so?”

“And found a cause for the crime.”

“Splendid!”

“We have an inspector who makes a specialty of Saffron Hill and the Italian Quarter (у нас есть инспектор, который занимается /районом/ Саффрон-Хилл и итальянским кварталом; specialty = speciality — занятие, профессия, специальность, сфера деятельности; специализация). Well, this dead man had some Catholic emblem round his neck (итак, на шее: «вокруг шеи» убитого был католический символ), and that, along with his colour (и это, наряду с цветом его /кожи/; along with — вместе, наряду с), made me think he was from the South (заставляет меня думать = наводит на мысль, что он был с юга). Inspector Hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him (инспектор Хилл узнал его в тот момент, /как только/ увидел его; to catch sight of — заметить, увидеть /кого-либо, что-либо/). His name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples (его зовут: «его имя» Пьетро Венуччи, /родом/ из Неаполя), and he is one of the greatest cut-throats in London (один из самых жестоких убийц в Лондоне; great — большой; великий, значительный; опытный; cut-throat — головорез, убийца: to cut — резать; throat — горло, глотка). He is connected with the Mafia (он связан с мафией), which, as you know, is a secret political society (которая, как вы знаете, является тайным политическим обществом), enforcing its decrees by murder (приводящим в исполнение свои постановления с помощью убийств; to enforce — оказывать давление, принуждать; осуществлять, приводить в исполнение /закон, санкции/; принуждать к выполнению требований /гангстерской/ банды; decree — указ, декрет, постановление). Now, you see how the affair begins to clear up (теперь вы видите, что дело начинает проясняться; to clear up — светлеть, проясняться). The other fellow is probably an Italian also (другой человек, вероятно, тоже итальянец), and a member of the Mafia (и член мафии). He has broken the rules in some fashion (он нарушил их устав каким-то образом; to break-broke-broken; rule — правило, норма, принцип; rules — устав, перечень правил, свод положений /какого-либо общества, ордена и т. п./). Pietro is set upon his track (Пьетро идет по его следу). Probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man himself (возможно, /на/ фотографии, /которую/ мы нашли в его кармане, /изображен/ тот человек), so that he may not knife the wrong person (чтобы ему не зарезать кого-нибудь другого; wrong — неправильный, неверный; ошибочный). He dogs the fellow (он выслеживает того человека; dog — собака, пес; to dog — выслеживать, следить за кем-либо; преследовать), he sees him enter a house (видит, как тот входит в дом), he waits outside for him (ждет его снаружи), and in the scuffle he receives his own death-wound (и в драке он сам получает смертельную рану; scuffle — драка, стычка, потасовка; death — смерть). How is that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes (как вам эта /версия/, мистер Шерлок Холмс)?”

colour ['kVl@], South [sauT], secret ['si:krIt], society [s@'saI@tI], death-wound ['deTwu:nd]

“We have an inspector who makes a specialty of Saffron Hill and the Italian Quarter. Well, this dead man had some Catholic emblem round his neck, and that, along with his colour, made me think he was from the South. Inspector Hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him. His name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples, and he is one of the greatest cut-throats in London. He is connected with the Mafia, which, as you know, is a secret political society, enforcing its decrees by murder. Now, you see how the affair begins to clear up. The other fellow is probably an Italian also, and a member of the Mafia. He has broken the rules in some fashion. Pietro is set upon his track. Probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man himself, so that he may not knife the wrong person. He dogs the fellow, he sees him enter a house, he waits outside for him, and in the scuffle he receives his own death-wound. How is that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes?”

Holmes clapped his hands approvingly (Холмс одобрительно хлопнул в ладоши; to approve of something — одобрять что-либо).

“Excellent, Lestrade, excellent (превосходно, Лестрейд, превосходно)!” he cried (воскликнул он). “But I didn’t quite follow your explanation of the destruction of the busts (но я не вполне понимаю, как вы объясните уничтожение бюстов; to follow — следовать; слушать, следить /за речью/; разделять взгляды, поддерживать; explanation — объяснение, толкование; to explain — объяснять, разъяснять).”