In front of the second house from the corner Spade halted. On one of

the gateposts that were massive out of all proportion to the fence

flanking them a 2 and a 6 of pale metal caught what light there was. A

square white card was nailed over them. Putting his face close to the

card, Spade could see that it was a For Sale or Rent sign. There was no

gate between the posts. Spade went up the cement walk to the house. He

stood still on the walk at the foot of the porch-steps for a long moment.

No sound came from the house. The house was dark except for another

pale square card nailed on its door.

Spade went up to the door and listened (Спейд поднялся к двери и

прислушался). He could hear nothing (он не слышал ничего). He tried to

look through the glass of the door (он пытался посмотреть сквозь стекло

двери). There was no curtain (там не было занавески) to keep his gaze out

(/которая могла бы/ помешать его взгляду; to keep out — держать вне),

but inner darkness (но внутренняя темнота /в помещении/). He tiptoed to a

window (он подошел на цыпочках к окну) and then to another (а потом к

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574

другому). They, like the door (они, как и дверь), were uncurtained (были

без занавесок; curtain — занавеска ) except by inner darkness (за

исключением внутренней темноты). He tried both windows (он

попробовал оба окна). They were locked (они были закрыты). He tried the

door (он попробовал дверь). It was locked (она была закрыта).

tiptoe ['tIptqV] uncurtained ["An'kq:tnd] tried [traId]

Spade went up to the door and listened. He could hear nothing. He

tried to look through the glass of the door. There was no curtain to keep

his gaze out, but inner darkness. He tiptoed to a window and then to

another. They, like the door, were uncurtained except by inner darkness.

He tried both windows. They were locked. He tried the door. It was

locked.

He left the porch (он покинул крыльцо) and, stepping carefully (и,

осторожно ступая) over dark unfamiliar ground (по темной, незнакомой

земле), walked through weeds (прошел через сорняки) around the house

(вокруг дома). The side-windows (боковые окна) were too high (были

слишком высокими) to be reached from the ground (чтобы /их/ можно

было достать с земли). The back door (задняя дверь) and the one back

window (и одно заднее окно) he could reach (которых он мог достичь)

were locked (были заперты).

Spade went back (Спейд снова вернулся назад) to the gatepost (к

стойкам ворот) and, cupping the flame between his hands (и, прикрывая

огонь между своими ладонями; to cup — придавать форму чашки,

складывать пригоршней), held his lighter up (поднял свою зажигалку) to

the For Sale or Rent sign (к знаку «Продается» или «Сдается»). It bore the

printed name and address (на нем было напечатанное имя и адрес; to bear

(bore, born) — переносить, перевозить, нести на себе) of a San Mateo

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575

real-estate-dealer (агента недвижимости Сан-Матео) and a line penciled in

blue (и строчка, написанная голубым карандашом): Key at 31 (ключ в

31).

unfamiliar ["Anfq'mIlIq] could [kVd] penciled ['pens(q)ld]

He left the porch and, stepping carefully over dark unfamiliar

ground, walked through weeds around the house. The side-windows were

too high to be reached from the ground. The back door and the one back

window he could reach were locked.

Spade went back to the gatepost and, cupping the flame between his

hands, held his lighter up to the For Sale or Rent sign. It bore the printed

name and address of a San Mateo real-estate-dealer and a line penciled