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

 “And why?” asked Craven, amused with the little man’s hobby.

“I’m doubtful about it,” said the other, “because old Gow was doubtful about it himself. He put his spade in methodically in every place but just this. There must be a mighty fine potato just here.”

Flambeau pulled up the spade and impetuously drove it into the place. He turned up, under a load of soil, something that did not look like a potato, but rather like a monstrous, over-domed mushroom. But it struck the spade with a cold click; it rolled over like a ball, and grinned up at them.

“The Earl of Glengyle (граф Гленгайл)

,” said Brown sadly, and looked down heavily at the skull (сказал /отец/ Браун грустно и с тоской: «тяжело» посмотрел на череп).

Then, after a momentary meditation, he plucked the spade from Flambeau, and, saying (затем он подумал минутку: «после мгновенного размышления», вырвал лопату у Фламбо и, сказав) “We must hide it again (мы должны его снова закопать: «спрятать»),” clamped the skull down in the earth (утрамбовал череп в землю; to clamp – складывать в кучу; устанавливать; закреплять

). Then he leaned his little body and huge head on the great handle of the spade (затем он оперся /своим/ маленьким телом и большой головой на большую ручку лопаты), that stood up stiffly in the earth (которая была воткнута в землю: «стояла неподвижно = замерев, в земле»; stiff – тугой, негибкий, неэластичный, жесткий; окостеневший, одеревенелый), and his eyes were empty and his forehead full of wrinkles (глаза выглядели пустыми, лоб – в морщинах: «полон морщин»)

. “If one could only conceive (если бы только можно было понять; to conceive – постигать; понимать),” he muttered (сказал он тихо; to mutter – бормотать; говорить тихо), “the meaning of this last monstrosity

(что означает весь этот ужас: «значение этой последней чудовищности»).” And leaning on the large spade handle, he buried his brows in his hands, as men do in church (и, опершись на большую ручку лопаты, он закрыл лицо руками: «зарыл/погрузил лицо в руки», как люди /обычно/ делают в церкви: «обхватил руками лоб»; brow – бровь; лоб; чело).

 “The Earl of Glengyle,” said Brown sadly, and looked down heavily at the skull.

Then, after a momentary meditation, he plucked the spade from Flambeau, and, saying “We must hide it again,” clamped the skull down in the earth. Then he leaned his little body and huge head on the great handle of the spade, that stood up stiffly in the earth, and his eyes were empty and his forehead full of wrinkles. “If one could only conceive,” he muttered, “the meaning of this last monstrosity.” And leaning on the large spade handle, he buried his brows in his hands, as men do in church.