"What do you think of it, sir?" they both asked.

"It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you," remarked my friend. "You are doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere." There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke. "If you will let me know how your investigations go," he continued, "I shall be happy to give you any help I can. In the meantime I should like to speak to the constable who found the body. Can you give me his name and address?"

Lestrade glanced at his note-book (Лестрейд заглянул в свою записную книжку). "John Rance," he said (Джон Рэнс, — сказал он). "He is off duty now (он сейчас не на дежурстве). You will find him at 46, Audley Court, Kennington Park Gate (вы найдете его по адресу: Кеннингтон-парк-гейт, Одли-корт, 46)."

Holmes took a note of the address (Холмс записал адрес; to take a note — делать заметки, записывать).

"Come along, Doctor," he said (пойдемте, доктор, — сказал он; to come along — сопровождать кого-либо, идти с кем-либо); "we shall go and look him up (мы пойдем и навестим его; to look up — навещать). I'll tell you one thing which may help you in the case (я скажу вам одно, что может помочь вам в этом деле)," he continued, turning to the two detectives (продолжил он, поворачиваясь к следователям). "There has been murder done, and the murderer was a man (совершено убийство, и убийца — мужчина). He was more than six feet high (он более шести футов росту), was in the prime of life (в расцвете сил; in the prime of life — в расцвете сил; prime — расцвет, лучшая пора), had small feet for his height (у него маленькие ноги для его роста), wore coarse, square-toed boots (носит грубые башмаки с квадратными носками; to wear; toe — палец ноги; носок башмака) and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar (и курит трихинопольские сигары). He came here with his victim in a four-wheeled cab (он приехал сюда со своей жертвой в четырехколесном экипаже), which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off fore leg (запряженном лошадью с тремя старыми подковами и одной новой на правом переднем копыте; to draw — тянуть; off — правый). In all probability the murderer had a florid face (по всей видимости, у убийцы налитое кровью лицо; probability — вероятность; florid — покрасневший, порозовевший; румяный), and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long (а ногти его правой руки очень длинные; remarkably — удивительно; необыкновенно). These are only a few indications (приметы, конечно, немногочисленны; indication —указание; намек; признак), but they may assist you (но они могут вам помочь)."

height [haIt], coarse [kO:s], wheel [wi:l]

Lestrade glanced at his note-book. "John Rance," he said. "He is off duty now. You will find him at 46, Audley Court, Kennington Park Gate."

Holmes took a note of the address.

"Come along, Doctor," he said; "we shall go and look him up. I'll tell you one thing which may help you in the case," he continued, turning to the two detectives. "There has been murder done, and the murderer was a man. He was more than six feet high, was in the prime of life, had small feet for his height, wore coarse, square-toed boots and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar. He came here with his victim in a four-wheeled cab, which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off fore leg. In all probability the murderer had a florid face, and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long. These are only a few indications, but they may assist you."

Lestrade and Gregson glanced at each other with an incredulous smile (Лестрейд и Грегсон глянули друг на друга с недоверчивыми улыбками).

"If this man was murdered, how was it done?" asked the former (если этот человек убит, как это было сделано? — спросил первый; former — первый из двух).

"Poison," said Sherlock Holmes curtly, and strode off (яд, — лаконично ответил Шерлок Холмс и зашагал прочь; to stride — шагать большими шагами). "One other thing, Lestrade (и еще, Лестрейд)," he added, turning round at the door (добавил он, оборачиваясь у двери): " ‘Rache,’ is the German for ‘revenge;’ so don't lose your time looking for Miss Rachel («Rache» — по-немецки «месть», так что не теряйте времени в поисках мисс Рейчел)."

With which Parthian shot he walked away (выпустив эту парфянскую стрелу, он вышел: «ушел прочь»; Parthian shot — парфянская стрела, враждебная фраза или жест, приберегаемые на конец разговора), leaving the two rivals open-mouthed behind him (оставив двух соперников стоять с открытыми ртами).

incredulous [In'kredjul@s], revenge [rI'vendZ], rival ['raIv(@)l]

Lestrade and Gregson glanced at each other with an incredulous smile.

"If this man was murdered, how was it done?" asked the former.

"Poison," said Sherlock Holmes curtly, and strode off. "One other thing, Lestrade," he added, turning round at the door: " ‘Rache,’ is the German for ‘revenge;’ so don't lose your time looking for Miss Rachel."

With which Parthian shot he walked away, leaving the two rivals open-mouthed behind him.

(Что рассказал Джон Рэнс)

IT was one o'clock when we left No. 3, Lauriston Gardens (был час дня, когда мы вышли из дома № 3 по Лористон-гарденз; to leave — оставить, покинуть). Sherlock Holmes led me to the nearest telegraph office (Шерлок Холмс направился: «повел меня» к ближайшему телеграфу; to lead — вести, быть проводником), whence he dispatched a long telegram (откуда он отправил длинную телеграмму). He then hailed a cab (затем он подозвал кеб; to hail — звать, окликать), and ordered the driver to take us to the address given us by Lestrade (и сказал кебмену отвезти нас по адресу, данному нам Лестрейдом; to order — приказывать; to take — доставлять).