Wishing to make an effective entrance, he flung it wide open, when a heavy jug of water fell right down on him, wetting him to the skin, and just missing his left shoulder by a couple of inches. At the same moment he heard stifled shrieks of laughter proceeding from the four-post bed. The shock to his nervous system was so great that he fled back to his room as hard as he could go, and the next day he was laid up with a severe cold. The only thing that at all consoled him in the whole affair was the fact that he had not brought his head with him, for, had he done so, the consequences might have been very serious.

“a heavy jug of water fell right down on him.”

He now gave up all hope of ever frightening this rude American family (теперь он простился со всякой надеждой когда-либо напугать эту грубую американскую семью; to give up smth. – оставить, отказаться /например, от надежды, планов/; бросить /привычку/), and contented himself, as a rule, with creeping about the passages in list slippers (и, как правило, удовлетворялся /тем/, что пробирался по коридорам в плетеных комнатных тапочках), with a thick red muffler round his throat for fear of draughts (с толстым теплым красным шарфом вокруг шеи из-за боязни сквозняков), and a small arquebuse, in case he should be attacked by the twins (и с небольшой аркебузой на случай атаки со стороны близнецов; аркебуза – фитильное ружье, заряжавшееся с дула каменными, а позднее – свинцовыми пулями; пищаль). The final blow he received occurred on the 19th of September (последний удар, который он получил, случился 19 сентября).

He now gave up all hope of ever frightening this rude American family, and contented himself, as a rule, with creeping about the passages in list slippers, with a thick red muffler round his throat for fear of draughts, and a small arquebuse, in case he should be attacked by the twins. The final blow he received occurred on the 19th of September.

He had gone downstairs to the great entrance-hall (он спустился вниз по лестнице в большой холл; entrance – вход), feeling sure that there, at any rate (чувствуя себя уверенным, что там, по крайней мере), he would be quite unmolested (его совершенно оставят в покое), and was amusing himself by making satirical remarks (и развлекался: «забавлял себя» тем, что делал иронические замечания) on the large Saroni [21] photographs of the United States Minister and his wife (относительно больших фотографий посла Соединенных Штатов Америки и его жены, выполненных Сарони) which had now taken the place of the Canterville family pictures (которые теперь заняли место фотографий семьи Кентервиль). He was simply but neatly clad in a long shroud (он оделся просто, но опрятно, в длинный саван; to be clad – быть одетым /во что-либо/), spotted with churchyard mould (местами подпорченный кладбищенской плесенью), had tied up his jaw with a strip of yellow linen (подвязал свою челюсть желтой тряпицей), and carried a small lantern and a sexton’s spade (и нес маленький фонарик и заступ могильщика).

He had gone downstairs to the great entrance-hall, feeling sure that there, at any rate, he would be quite unmolested, and was amusing himself by making satirical remarks on the large Saroni photographs of the United States Minister and his wife which had now taken the place of the Canterville family pictures. He was simply but neatly clad in a long shroud, spotted with churchyard mould, had tied up his jaw with a strip of yellow linen, and carried a small lantern and a sexton’s spade.

In fact, he was dressed for the character of “Jonas the Graveless, or the Corpse-Snatcher of Chertsey Barn (на самом деле, он был одет для роли «Ионы Непогребенного, или Похитителя Трупов в Чертси Барн»),” one of his most remarkable impersonations (одного из его наиболее замечательных перевоплощений), and one which the Cantervilles had every reason to remember (и одного из тех, которые Кентервили имели все причины помнить), as it was the real origin of their quarrel with their neighbour, Lord Rufford (так как это было действительной причиной их ссоры с соседом, лордом Раффордом). It was about a quarter-past two o’clock in the morning (было около четверти третьего ночи), and, as far as he could ascertain, no one was stirring (и, насколько он мог судить, все спали; no one – никто; to stir – шевелиться, двигаться). As he was strolling towards the library, however (однако, в то время как он пробирался к библиотеке), to see if there were any traces left of the blood-stain (чтобы увидеть, остались ли какие-либо следы от пятна крови), suddenly there leaped out on him from a dark corner two figures (внезапно на него прыгнули из темного угла две фигуры), who waved their arms wildly above their heads (которые дико махали руками над своими головами), and shrieked out “BOO!” in his ear (и орали «У-у-у!» /прямо/ ему в ухо).

“suddenly there leaped out two figures.”

In fact, he was dressed for the character of “Jonas the Graveless, or the Corpse-Snatcher of Chertsey Barn,” one of his most remarkable impersonations, and one which the Cantervilles had every reason to remember, as it was the real origin of their quarrel with their neighbour, Lord Rufford. It was about a quarter-past two o’clock in the morning, and, as far as he could ascertain, no one was stirring. As he was strolling towards the library, however, to see if there were any traces left of the blood-stain, suddenly there leaped out on him from a dark corner two figures, who waved their arms wildly above their heads, and shrieked out “BOO!” in his ear.

Seized with a panic (охваченный паникой), which, under the circumstances, was only natural (которая, при данных обстоятельствах, была вполне естественной), he rushed for the staircase (он бросился к лестнице), but found Washington Otis waiting for him there with the big garden-syringe (но обнаружил Вашингтона Отиса, ожидающего его там с большим садовым опрыскивателем), and being thus hemmed in by his enemies on every side (и, будучи таким образом зажат врагами со всех сторон; on every side – с каждой стороны), and driven almost to bay (и доведенный почти до состояния загнанного зверя; to drive – гнать; bay – бухта, залив; тупик; положение загнанного в угол, безвыходное положение), he vanished into the great iron stove (он исчез в большой железной печи), which, fortunately for him, was not lit (которая, к счастью для него, не была затоплена; to light – зажигать) and had to make his way home through the flues and chimneys (и ему пришлось пробираться в свое убежище через дымоходы и печные трубы), arriving at his own room in a terrible state of dirt, disorder, and despair (и он добрался до своей комнаты в ужасном состоянии, грязный, в расстройстве и отчаянии: «в состоянии грязи, расстройства и отчаяния»).

Seized with a panic, which, under the circumstances, was only natural, he rushed for the staircase, but found Washington Otis waiting for him there with the big garden-syringe, and being thus hemmed in by his enemies on every side, and driven almost to bay, he vanished into the great iron stove, which, fortunately for him, was not lit, and had to make his way home through the flues and chimneys, arriving at his own room in a terrible state of dirt, disorder, and despair.