"Why, surely a man of his holy profession would not deceive us!" | - Духовная особа не станет нас обманывать. |
"Well," replied La Carconte, "do as you like. For my part, I wash my hands of the affair." | - Делай как хочешь, - сказала Карконта, - мое дело- сторона. |
So saying, she once more climbed the staircase leading to her chamber, her body convulsed with chills, and her teeth rattling in her head, in spite of the intense heat of the weather. | И она опять пошла на лестницу, дрожа от лихорадки. Зубы ее стучали, несмотря на жару. |
Arrived at the top stair, she turned round, and called out, in a warning tone, to her husband, | На последней ступеньке она задержалась. |
"Gaspard, consider well what you are about to do!" | - Подумай хорошенько, Гаспар, - сказала она. |
"I have both reflected and decided," answered he. | - Я решился, - отвечал Кадрусс. |
La Carconte then entered her chamber, the flooring of which creaked beneath her heavy, uncertain tread, as she proceeded towards her arm-chair, into which she fell as though exhausted. | Карконта со вздохом скрылась в своей комнате; слышно было, как пол заскрипел под ее ногами и как затрещало кресло, в которое она упала. |
"Well," asked the abbe, as he returned to the apartment below, "what have you made up your mind to do?" | - На что это вы решились? - спросил аббат. |
"To tell you all I know," was the reply. | - Рассказать вам все, - отвечал Кадрусс. |
"I certainly think you act wisely in so doing," said the priest. "Not because I have the least desire to learn anything you may please to conceal from me, but simply that if, through your assistance, I could distribute the legacy according to the wishes of the testator, why, so much the better, that is all." | - По правде сказать, мне кажется, это лучшее, что вы можете сделать, - сказал священник. - Не потому, чтобы мне хотелось узнать то, что вы предпочли бы скрыть от меня, а потому, что будет лучше, если вы мне поможете разделить наследство согласно с волей завещателя. |
"I hope it may be so," replied Caderousse, his face flushed with cupidity. | - Надеюсь, что так, - отвечал Кадрусс, щеки которого пылали от надежды и алчности. |
"I am all attention," said the abbe. | - Я вас слушаю, - произнес аббат. |
"Stop a minute," answered Caderousse; "we might be interrupted in the most interesting part of my story, which would be a pity; and it is as well that your visit hither should be made known only to ourselves." | - Постойте, - сказал Кадрусс, - нас могут некстати прервать, и это будет неприятно. Притом же другим незачем знать, что вы были здесь. |
With these words he went stealthily to the door, which he closed, and, by way of still greater precaution, bolted and barred it, as he was accustomed to do at night. | Он подошел к двери, запер ее и для большей верности наложил ночной засов. |
During this time the abbe had chosen his place for listening at his ease. He removed his seat into a corner of the room, where he himself would be in deep shadow, while the light would be fully thrown on the narrator; then, with head bent down and hands clasped, or rather clinched together, he prepared to give his whole attention to Caderousse, who seated himself on the little stool, exactly opposite to him. | Между тем аббат выбрал себе удобное местечко; он уселся в уголок, чтобы оставаться в тени, в то время как свет будет падать на лицо собеседника. Опустив голову и сложив, или, вернее, стиснув руки, он весь превратился в слух. Кадрусс придвинул табурет и сел против него. |