"I fail to see how you could have done more."

"On observing the cab I should have instantly turned and walked in the other direction. I should then at my leisure have hired a second cab and followed the first at a respectful distance, or, better still, have driven to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there. When our unknown had followed Baskerville home we should have had the opportunity of playing his own game upon himself, and seeing where he made for. As it is, by an indiscreet eagerness, which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man."

We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this conversation, and Dr. Mortimer, with his companion, had long vanished in front of us.

"There is no object in our following them (нет смысла идти за ними; object — предмет; цель)," said Holmes. "The shadow has departed and will not return (их "хвост" уехал и не вернется). We must see what further cards we have in our hands (мы должны посмотреть, какие карты у нас на руках; further — сравн. степень от far — далекий; дальний), and play them with decision (и решительно их разыграть; decision — решительность). Could you swear to that man's face within the cab (вы смогли бы опознать по лицу того человека в кебе; to swear — клясться; давать показания под присягой)?"

"I could swear only to the beard (я заметил только бороду)."

"And so could I (я тоже) — from which I gather (из чего следует вывод; to gather — собирать; делать вывод) that in all probability it was a false one (что, по всей вероятности, она была ненастоящая; false — неверный; фальшивый, поддельный). A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no use for a beard (умному человеку, /идущему/ на такое деликатное = требующее осторожности дело, борода ни к чему; errand — поручение, задание) save to conceal his features (кроме как для маскировки; save — за исключением, кроме; to conceal — скрывать; маскировать; features — черты лица). Come in here, Watson (заходите сюда, Ватсон)!"

He turned into one of the district messenger offices (он завернул в одну из районных рассыльных контор), where he was warmly greeted by the manager (где его тепло приветствовал управляющий).

"Ah, Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case (а, Уилсон, вижу, вы не забыли то небольшое дельце) in which I had the good fortune to help you (в котором мне посчастливилось вам помочь; good fortune — удача, счастье)?"

"No, sir, indeed I have not (нет, сэр, конечно не /забыл/). You saved my good name, and perhaps my life (вы спасли мое доброе имя, и, возможно, жизнь)."

"My dear fellow, you exaggerate (мой дорогой друг, вы преувеличиваете). I have some recollection, Wilson (мне помнится, Уилсон; to have a recollection — помнить), that you had among your boys a lad named Cartwright (что среди ваших ребят был паренек по имени Картрайт), who showed some ability during the investigation (показавший = проявивший некоторые способности во время расследования)."

"Yes, sir, he is still with us (да, сэр, он все еще у нас работает: «он все еще с нами»)."

"Could you ring him up? — thank you (вы могли бы его вызвать? — благодарю; to ring — звенеть; звонить)! And I should be glad to have change of this five-pound note (и я был бы рад получить сдачу с этой пятифунтовой банкноты = и разменяйте мне, пожалуйста эти пять фунтов)."

swear ['swE@], exaggerate [Ig'z&dZereIt], ability [@'bIlItI]

"There is no object in our following them," said Holmes. "The shadow has departed and will not return. We must see what further cards we have in our hands, and play them with decision. Could you swear to that man's face within the cab?"

"I could swear only to the beard."

"And so could I — from which I gather that in all probability it was a false one. A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no use for a beard save to conceal his features. Come in here, Watson!"

He turned into one of the district messenger offices, where he was warmly greeted by the manager.

"Ah, Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case in which I had the good fortune to help you?"

"No, sir, indeed I have not. You saved my good name, and perhaps my life."

"My dear fellow, you exaggerate. I have some recollection, Wilson, that you had among your boys a lad named Cartwright, who showed some ability during the investigation."

"Yes, sir, he is still with us."