At last the lodge came in sight (наконец, показался охотничий домик; to come in sight – появиться, показаться). Spurring our horses to a last gallop (пришпорив коней в последнем рывке; gallop – галоп; быстрая езда), we rode up to the gate (мы подскакали к воротам). All was still and quiet (все было тихо и спокойно). Not a soul came to meet us (ни одна душа не вышла встретить нас). We dismounted in haste (мы торопливо спешились). Suddenly Sapt caught me by the arm (вдруг Сэпт схватил меня за руку).

“Look there!” he said, pointing to the ground (взгляните сюда, – сказал он, указывая на землю).

I looked down (я посмотрел вниз). At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs (у моих ног лежало пять или шесть шелковых платков), torn and slashed and rent (порванных и порезанных; to tear – рвать; rent – разорванный, порванный; to rend – отрывать, отдирать; рвать, разрывать). I turned to him questioningly (я повернулся к нему с вопросительным /видом/; question – вопрос).

“You see,” said Sapt, “they’ve sent him news that all is well.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“God knows,” said Sapt, frowning heavily. “But it’s brought him from Strelsau in a rare puzzle.”

Then we mounted, and rode as fast as our weary horses could lay their feet to the ground. For those last eight miles we spoke no more. Our minds were full of apprehension. “All is well.” What did it mean? Was all well with the King?

At last the lodge came in sight. Spurring our horses to a last gallop, we rode up to the gate. All was still and quiet. Not a soul came to meet us. We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt caught me by the arm.

“Look there!” he said, pointing to the ground.

I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs, torn and slashed and rent. I turned to him questioningly.

“They’re what I tied the old woman up with (это те, которыми я связал старуху),” said he. “Fasten the horses, and come along (привяжите коней и пойдемте).”

The handle of the door turned without resistance (дверная ручка повернулась легко: «без сопротивления»). We passed into the room which had been the scene of last night’s bout (мы прошли в комнату, представлявшую собой сцену вчерашней ночной пирушки; last – последний; bout – припадок, приступ; кутеж). It was still strewn with the remnants of our meal and with empty bottles (повсюду все еще валялись остатки нашего ужина и пустые бутылки; to strew – разбрасывать; усеивать, усыпать).

“Come on,” cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last almost given way (идемте, – воскликнул Сэпт, которому, в конце концов, почти изменило его удивительное хладнокровие; to give way – отступать, сдаваться).

We rushed down the passage towards the cellars (мы бросились по коридору к подвалам). The door of the coal-cellar stood wide open (дверь угольного подвала была: «стояла» открытой настежь; to stand; wide – широко).

“They found the old woman (они нашли старуху),” said I.

“You might have known that from the handkerchiefs (вы могли бы догадаться об этом по платкам),” he said.

Then we came opposite the door of the wine-cellar (затем мы подошли к двери напротив, /ведущей/ в винный погреб). It was shut (она была закрыта). It looked in all respects as it had looked (она выглядела в точности так, как выглядела; in all respects – во всех отношениях) when we left it that morning (когда мы оставили ее тем утром).

“Come, it’s all right (пойдемте, все в порядке),” said I.

“They’re what I tied the old woman up with,” said he. “Fasten the horses, and come along.”

The handle of the door turned without resistance. We passed into the room which had been the scene of last night’s bout. It was still strewn with the remnants of our meal and with empty bottles.

“Come on,” cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last almost given way.

We rushed down the passage towards the cellars. The door of the coal-cellar stood wide open.