“This was not all. I have a new writing-table with a fine surface of red leather. I am prepared to swear, and so is Bannister, that it was smooth and unstained. Now I found a clean cut in it about three inches long — not a mere scratch, but a positive cut. Not only this, but on the table I found a small ball of black dough or clay, with specks of something which looks like sawdust in it. I am convinced that these marks were left by the man who rifled the papers. There were no footmarks and no other evidence as to his identity.

“I was at my wit’s end (я /уже/ совершенно растерялся; to be at one's wit's end — быть в крайнем недоумении, не знать, что делать, стать в тупик; wit — разум, ум), when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me (как вдруг счастливая мысль пришла мне на ум) that you were in the town (что вы в городке), and I came straight round to put the matter into your hands (и я пошел прямо /к вам/, чтобы передать дело в ваши руки). Do help me, Mr. Holmes (прошу вас, помогите мне, мистер Холмс). You see my dilemma (вы видите, в каком затруднительном положении я нахожусь). Either I must find the man (я должен найти этого человека) or else the examination must be postponed (иначе экзамен придется отложить) until fresh papers are prepared (пока не будет подготовлен новый материал), and since this cannot be done without explanation (а поскольку это нельзя сделать без объяснений), there will ensue a hideous scandal (разразится ужасный скандал; to ensue — получаться в результате; происходить /из-за чего-либо/), which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the university (который бросит тень не только на колледж, но и на /весь/ университет; cloud — облако, туча; нечто омрачающее; изъян, пятно, червоточина: a cloud on one's reputation — пятно на чьей-либо репутации). Above all things (больше всего: «всех вещей»), I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly (я желаю уладить дело тихо, без огласки; discreetly — осторожно, осмотрительно; обдуманно).”

“I shall be happy to look into it (буду рад заняться им; to look into smth. — изучать, расследовать что-либо) and to give you such advice as I can (и дать вам такой совет, какой смогу),” said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat (сказал Холмс, поднимаясь и надевая пальто). “The case is not entirely devoid of interest (случай небезынтересный: «не совсем лишен интереса»). Had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came to you (кто-нибудь посещал вас в вашей комнате = заходил к вам после того, как вы получили гранки)?”

ensue [In'sju:], hideous ['hIdI@s], cloud [klaud]

“I was at my wit’s end, when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me that you were in the town, and I came straight round to put the matter into your hands. Do help me, Mr. Holmes. You see my dilemma. Either I must find the man or else the examination must be postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this cannot be done without explanation, there will ensue a hideous scandal, which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the university. Above all things, I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly.”

“I shall be happy to look into it and to give you such advice as I can,” said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat. “The case is not entirely devoid of interest. Had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came to you?”

“Yes, young Daulat Ras (да, Даулат Рас), an Indian student (индийский студент), who lives on the same stair (который живет на этой же лестнице), came in to ask me some particulars about the examination (заходил спросить у меня о подробностях экзамена).”

“For which he was entered (который он /тоже/ будет сдавать: «на который он тоже был записан»; to enter for — вносить в список, вписывать для /участия в соревновании, испытании/)?”

“Yes.”

“And the papers were on your table (и гранки лежали у вас на столе)?”

“To the best of my belief, they were rolled up (насколько я помню, они были свернуты /трубочкой/; belief — вера; мнение, убеждение; to the best of my belief — насколько мне известно).”

“But might be recognized as proofs (но /они/ могли быть узнаны как гранки = можно было догадаться, что это гранки; to recognize — узнавать, опознавать)?”

“Possibly (возможно).”

Indian ['IndI@n], belief [bI'li:f], recognized ['rek@gnaIzd]

“Yes, young Daulat Ras, an Indian student, who lives on the same stair, came in to ask me some particulars about the examination.”

“For which he was entered?”

“Yes.”

“And the papers were on your table?”

“To the best of my belief, they were rolled up.”

“But might be recognized as proofs?”

“Possibly.”

“No one else in your room (больше никто /не был/ в вашей комнате)?”

“No.”

“Did anyone know that these proofs would be there (кто-нибудь знал, что эти гранки будут там)?”

“No one save the printer (никто, кроме печатника).”