Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

"O.K. I'll get away from the office (хорошо, я улизну из офиса). Half-past four (в

половине пятого)? 138, Tavistock Square (Тэвисток-сквер, 138)."

It was nice of him (было очень мило с его стороны) to have suggested that

(предложить именно это). He might so easily have mentioned some fashionable

place (он мог совершенно легко упомянуть какое-нибудь модное местечко)

where people would stare at her (где люди бы пялились на нее). It proved (это

доказывало) that he didn't just want to be seen with her (что он не хотел, чтобы

его просто увидели с ней).

away [q'weI] half [hQ:f] fashionable ['fxS(q)nqb(q)l]

She did not feel at all like going to bed that afternoon.

"Today."

"O.K. I'll get away from the office. Half-past four? 138, Tavistock Square."

It was nice of him to have suggested that. He might so easily have mentioned

some fashionable place where people would stare at her. It proved that he

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didn't just want to be seen with her.

She took a taxi to Tavistock Square (она взяла такси до Тэвисток-сквер). She

was pleased with herself (она была довольна собой). She was doing a good

action (она совершала хороший поступок). It would be wonderful for him in

after years (это будет так удивительно для него, годами позже) to be able to tell

his wife and children that Julia Lambert had been to tea with him (иметь

возможность рассказать его жене и детям, что сама Джулия Лэмберт пила с

ним чай) when he was just a little insignificant clerk in an accountant's office

(когда он был всего лишь незначительным клерком в бухгалтерской

конторе). And she had been so simple and so natural (и она была так проста и

естественна). No one to hear her prattling away (никто, кто слышал, как она

разговаривала; to prattle — щебетать, болтать, журчать) would have

guessed (не догадался бы) that she was the greatest actress in England (что она

была величайшей актрисой Англии). And if they didn't believe him (и, если бы

они ему не поверили) he'd have her photograph to prove it (так у него была ее

фотография, чтобы подтвердить /историю/), signed yours sincerely

(подписанная: «Искренне Ваша»). He'd laugh (он рассмеется) and say that of

course if he hadn't been such a kid (и скажет, что, конечно, если бы он не был

таким молодым: «ребенком») he'd never have had the cheek to ask her (он

никогда бы не набрался храбрости чтобы пригласить ее; to have the cheek —

иметь наглость, дерзость; cheek — щека

).

children ['tSIldrqn] insignificant ["InsIg'nIfIkqnt] sincerely [sIn'sIqlI]

She took a taxi to Tavistock Square. She was pleased with herself. She was

doing a good action. It would be wonderful for him in after years to be able to

tell his wife and children that Julia Lambert had been to tea with him when

he was just a little insignificant clerk in an accountant's office. And she had

been so simple and so natural. No one to hear her prattling away would have

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293

guessed that she was the greatest actress in England. And if they didn't believe

him he'd have her photograph to prove it, signed yours sincerely. He'd laugh

and say that of course if he hadn't been such a kid he'd never have had the

cheek to ask her.

When she arrived at the house (когда она подъехала к дому) and had paid off the

taxi (и расплатилась за такси) she suddenly remembered (она внезапно

вспомнила) that she did not know his name (что она не знает его имени) and

when the maid answered the door (и когда служанка ответит /на звонок/ в

дверь) would not know whom to ask for (не будет знать, кого спросить). But on

looking for the bell (но, в поисках звонка) she noticed that there were eight of

them, four rows of two (она увидела, что их было /не один, а/ целых восемь,

расположенных в четыре ряда, по два звонка в каждом), and by the side of

each (и со стороны от каждого звонка) was a card or a name written in ink on a