The Mysterious Disappearance of the Chevalier Valmont

announce докладывать (о прибытии посетителей); petite маленькая и хрупкая, изящная; lively живой, подвижный, веселый; than usual чем обычно; her face sank (sink; sank; sunk) она cпала с лица, осунулась

“I’m not late, am I?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, Marietta. I haven’t had a chance yet to win over the Chevalier Valmont. We start together,” reassured her the Viscountess Fumaison. Then, turning to the hostess, she said, “Which brings us back to my first question: “Where is he?”

“The chevalier has some business in town,” answered the baroness.

“Business? In Mouseville? What business could he have in a strange town (41)?” asked the viscountess.

“You’re forgetting, Marietta, that he is looking for his sister,” the countess interrupted. “And, please, lay off Margaret. Don’t you see she is not quite herself?”

“I wonder why. Wait, don’t tell me. I think I know why. You tried your feminine charms on him, but he gave you the cold shoulder. Is that it, Margaret?”

“Of course not,” answered the baroness. “He is a hero, no doubt, but not my type of hero.”

reassure обнадежить, ободрить; win

over склонить на свою сторону, расположить к себе; здесь: покорить, обаять; hostess хозяйка дома (по отношению к гостям); lay off sb отстать от кого-либо, не приставать к кому-либо, оставить в покое; not quite herself сама не своя; wonder задаваться вопросом, спрашиваться себя, гадать; I wonder why. Хотела бы я знать, почему; любопытно было бы узнать, почему; feminine женский; charms чары; give sb the cold shoulder

демонстративно игнорировать, не проявлять интереса; hero герой; doubt сомнение

“I don’t believe you, Margaret. You’re hiding something from us,” insisted the viscountess.

“I’m not. Why should I?”

“So, you wouldn’t mind us hunting on your lands, then?”

“Not at all.”

“Which reminds me. Are you sure that sister of his is really his sister, and not some third cousin?”

“I suspect she is neither,” answered the baroness. “My maid told me that he carries a ring in his pocket, which seems to be very dear to him – so he said. Maribel tried it on. It is definitely not a man’s ring.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” said the countess. “It can be an heirloom of sorts. Besides, as far as I remember, he is looking for a nun – those don’t count.”

“Thank you, Marietta, you cheered me up to no end,” said the Viscountess sarcastically.

insist настаивать; hunt охотиться; lands здесь: угодья; not at all нисколько, ничуть; remind напоминать; third cousin четвероюродная сестра;

suspect подозревать; neither ни то, ни другое; try on примерить; definitely определенно; heirloom фамильная вещь, семейная реликвия; of sorts своего рода, что-то типа; to no end крайне, бесконечно

“I have brought you your favourite 'eclairs, Margaret,” said the countess, changing the subject. “Why don’t we have tea? All this excitement has given me quite an appetite.” (42)

“How long is your guest going to stay in Mouseville?” the viscountess asked after a while.

“I think he is going to settle down here as a painter. He wants to buy a studio.”

“Buy a studio? So, he is rich, this Chevalier Valmont?”

“I don’t know how rich he is, but he is certainly not poor. He has an unlimited credit with Tomme Corse and Sons.”

“Unlimited credit! That’s something!” the viscountess cried out. “It looks like we have dug up quite the tasty morsel. (43) Say what you will, girls, but I’m going to swallow it whole,” – and she took a large bite off the 'eclair she was holding in her little hand.

subject тема разговора; excitement волнение, эмоциональное возбуждение; settle down обосноваться, поселиться; unlimited неограниченный; dig up

(dug; dug) откопать, отыскать; tasty morsel лакомый кусочек; say what you will что ни говори; swallow глотать; whole целиком; take a large bite откусить большой кусок

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(38)as far the baroness was concerned – как полагала баронесса

Конструкция as far as somebody is concerned указывает на личное мнение соответствующего лица относительно чего-либо.

Сравните также:

As far as I’m concerned, you’re no longer friends. – Насколько я понимаю. вы с ним больше не друзья.

(39) may I forever remain the widow of the good Viscount Fumaison – пусть я навсегда останусь вдовой славного виконта Фюмезона

Наряду с другими значениями, модальный глагол may используется для выражения надежд и желаний. Например:

May he rest in peace. – Да упокоится он с миром!

May the best man win! – Пусть победит сильнейший!

(40)Besecondtosomebody значит уступать первенство кому-либо, стоять ниже по положению, чем кто-то. Например:

second only to the president – второй по значимости после президента;