Английский с Г. К. Честертоном. Рассказы об отце Брауне

 There was another stillness, and then the tall man resumed: “Do you mean that when a wise man has to hide a real diamond he has been known to hide it among sham ones?”

“No, no,” said the little man with a laugh, “we will let bygones be bygones.”

He stamped his cold feet for a second or two, and then said: “I’m not thinking of that at all, but of something else; something rather peculiar. Just strike a match, will you?”

The big man fumbled in his pocket, and soon a scratch and a flare painted gold the whole flat side of the monument (большой человек порылся в своем кармане, вскоре чиркнула спичка, и пламя окрасило ярко-желтым светом плоскую поверхность памятника; to fumble – нащупывать; шарить; to scratch – царапать, скрести; чесать; чиркать; flare – яркий, неровный свет; flat – плоская поверхность). On it was cut in black letters the well-known words which so many Americans had reverently read (на ней черными буквами были высечены хорошо известные слова, которые с благоговением прочитали многие американцы; to cut – высекать, гравировать /на камне/; reverent – почтительный, уважительный; благоговейный

): “Sacred to the Memory of General Sir Arthur St. Clare, Hero and Martyr (священной памяти генерала сэра Артура Сент-Клэра, героя и мученика; sacred to the memory of – священной памяти; martyr – мученик; мученица), who Always Vanquished his Enemies and Always Spared them (всегда побеждавшего своих врагов и всегда щадившего их;

to vanquish enemies – побеждать врагов; to spare – беречь; жалеть; экономить; щадить), and Was Treacherously Slain by them At Last (но предательски убитого ими в конце концов; treachery – вероломство, измена, предательство; to slay – убивать, уничтожать, лишать жизни). May God in whom he Trusted both Reward and Revenge him

(да вознаградит его Господь, на которого он уповал, и да отомстит за него; to trust – верить, доверять, полагаться; уповать; to reward – награждать; вознаграждать; воздавать должное; to revenge – мстить).”

 The big man fumbled in his pocket, and soon a scratch and a flare painted gold the whole flat side of the monument. On it was cut in black letters the well-known words which so many Americans had reverently read: “Sacred to the Memory of General Sir Arthur St. Clare, Hero and Martyr, who Always Vanquished his Enemies and Always Spared them, and Was Treacherously Slain by them At Last. May God in whom he Trusted both Reward and Revenge him.”