Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды

It may seem strange that I had never visited that country yet; but my father (in spite of a sneaking fondness for the Elphbergs, which led him to give me, his second son, the famous Elphberg name of Rudolf) had always been averse from my going, and, since his death, my brother, prompted by Rose, had accepted the family tradition which taught that a wide berth was to be given to that country. But the moment Ruritania had come into my head I was eaten up with a curiosity to see it. After all, red hair and long noses are not confined to the House of Elphberg, and the old story seemed a preposterously insufficient reason for debarring myself from acquaintance with a highly interesting and important kingdom, one which had played no small part in European history, and might do the like again under the sway of a young and vigorous ruler, such as the new King was rumoured to be. My determination was clinched by reading in The Times that Rudolf the Fifth was to be crowned at Strelsau in the course of the next three weeks, and that great magnificence was to mark the occasion.

At once I made up my mind to be present (я сразу же решил /при этом/ присутствовать: «быть присутствующим»; to make up one’s mind – решить, принять решение), and began my preparations (и начал свои приготовления = и стал собираться в дорогу; to begin). But, inasmuch as it has never been my practice (но ввиду того, что в моей практике никогда не было такого) to furnish my relatives with an itinerary of my journeys (чтобы я ставил в известность родственников о маршруте своего путешествия; to furnish – снабжать; предоставлять

/объяснения/) and in this case I anticipated opposition to my wishes (а в этом случае я ожидал противодействий своим намерениям; opposition – сопротивление, противодействие; оппозиция; wish – желание; намерение), I gave out that I was going for a ramble in the Tyrol (я объявил, что еду развеяться в Тироль; to give out – раздавать, распределять; объявлять, провозглашать; ramble – прогулка, поездка /без определенной цели/) – an old haunt of mine (издавна любимое мною место; old – старый, давнишний; haunt – часто посещаемое, любимое место

) – and propitiated Rose’s wrath by declaring (и предотвратил гнев Роуз, заявив; to propitiate – успокаивать, умиротворять) that I intended to study the political and social problems of the interesting community (что намерен изучить политические и социальные вопросы любопытной общины) which dwells in that neighbourhood (проживающей: «которая проживает» по соседству).

“Perhaps,” I hinted darkly (возможно, – загадочно намекнул я; darkly – мрачно; загадочно, неясно), “there may be an outcome of the expedition (будет /кое-какой/ результат от этой поездки; expedition – экспедиция).”

“What do you mean?” she asked (что ты имеешь в виду, – спросила она).

“Well,” said I carelessly, “there seems a gap (ну, – сказал я небрежно, – кажется, есть /некоторый/ пробел; care – забота; careless – небрежный; беззаботный

) that might be filled by an exhaustive work on (который мог бы быть заполнен всесторонним изучением; exhaustive – исчерпывающий, обстоятельный; work – работа, труд; сочинение, произведение) – ”

“Oh! will you write a book (о, ты напишешь книгу)?” she cried, clapping her hands (воскликнула она, хлопая в ладоши; to cry – кричать; восклицать; hand – рука /кисть/). “That would be splendid, wouldn’t it, Robert (это было бы великолепно, верно, Роберт)?”

At once I made up my mind to be present, and began my preparations. But, inasmuch as it has never been my practice to furnish my relatives with an itinerary of my journeys and in this case I anticipated opposition to my wishes, I gave out that I was going for a ramble in the Tyrol – an old haunt of mine – and propitiated Rose’s wrath by declaring that I intended to study the political and social problems of the interesting community which dwells in that neighbourhood.

“Perhaps,” I hinted darkly, “there may be an outcome of the expedition.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well,” said I carelessly, “there seems a gap that might be filled by an exhaustive work on – ”

“Oh! will you write a book?” she cried, clapping her hands. “That would be splendid, wouldn’t it, Robert?”