XVIII. The Fall-Guy

(Козел отпущения)

Spade, with his arms around Brigid O'Shaughnessy (Спейд, с руками

вокруг Бриджит О’Шонесси), smiled meagerly over her head (слабо/вяло

улыбнулся над ее головой; meager — худой, изнуренный, вялый) and said:

"Sure, we'll talk (конечно, мы поговорим)."

Gutman's bulbs jounced (отвислости Гутмана затрепыхались) as he took

three waddling backward steps (когда он сделал три шага вразвалочку

назад) away from the door (от двери).

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Spade and the girl went in together (Спейд и девушка вместе вошли).

The boy and Cairo followed them in (парень и Кейро последовали за ними

внутрь). Cairo stopped in the doorway (Кейро остановился в дверном

проеме). The boy put away one of his pistols (юноша спрятал один из

своих пистолетов) and came up close behind Spade (и подошел близко

позади Спейда).

meagerly ['mi:gqlI] jounce [dZaVns] waddle ['wOdl]

Spade, with his arms around Brigid O'Shaughnessy, smiled meagerly

over her head and said: "Sure, we'll talk."

Gutman's bulbs jounced as he took three waddling backward steps

away from the door.

Spade and the girl went in together. The boy and Cairo followed them

In. Cairo stopped in the doorway. The boy put away one of his pistols and

came up close behind Spade.

Spade turned his head (Спейд повернул голову) far around (дальше

назад: «вокруг») to look down over his shoulder (чтобы посмотреть через

свое плечо) at the boy (на юнца) and said: "Get away (убирайся). You're

not going to frisk me (ты же не собираешься обыскать меня)."

The boy said ( юнец сказал): "Stand still (стой спокойно). Shut up

(заткнись)."

Spade's nostrils (ноздри Спейда) went in and out (двигались внутрь и

наружу) with his breathing (вместе с его дыханием). His voice was level

(его голос был ровным). "Get away (убирайся). Put your paw on me

(положи свою лапу на меня) and I'm going to make you use the gun (и я

заставлю тебя использовать пистолет). Ask your boss (спроси своего

босса) if he wants me shot up (хочет ли он, чтобы меня застрелили) before

we talk (прежде чем мы поговорим)."

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going ['gqVIN] paw [pO:] gun [gAn]

Spade turned his head far around to look down over his shoulder at

the boy and said: "Get away. You're not going to frisk me."

The boy said: "Stand still. Shut up."

Spade's nostrils went in and out with his breathing. His voice was

level. "Get away. Put your paw on me and I'm going to make you use the

gun. Ask your boss if he wants me shot up before we talk."

"Never mind, Wilmer (не беспокойся Вилмер)," the fat man said (сказал

толстяк). He frowned indulgently at Spade (он снисходительно нахмурился

на Спейда). "You are certainly (вы определенно) a most headstrong

individual (самая упрямая личность). Well, let's be seated (ну, давайте

сядем)."

Spade said, "I told you (я сказал вам) I didn't like that punk (что мне не

нравится этот молокосос)," and took Brigid O'Shaughnessy to the sofa by

the windows (и подвел Бриджит О’Шонесси к дивану у окон). They sat

close together (они сели близко друг к другу), her head against his left

shoulder (ее голову у его левого плеча), his left arm around her shoulders

(его левая рука вокруг ее плеч). She had stopped trembling (она перестала

дрожать; to tremble), had stopped panting (перестала задыхаться). The

appearance of Gutman (внешний вид Гутмана) and his companions (и его

компаньонов) seemed to have robbed her (казалось, лишило ее; to rob —

грабить, обкрадывать) of that freedom of personal movement (той

свободы личного движения) and emotion (и эмоции) that is animal (что

свойственны животному /организму/), leaving her alive (оставив ее

живой), conscious (в сознании), but quiescent as a plant (но

покоящейся/неподвижной, как растение).

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indulgent [In'dAldZ(q)nt] headstrong ['hedstrON]

companion [kqm'pxnIqn]

"Never mind, Wilmer," the fat man said. He frowned indulgently at

Spade. "You are certainly a most headstrong individual. Well, let's be

seated."

Spade said, "I told you I didn't like that punk," and took Brigid

O'Shaughnessy to the sofa by the windows. They sat close together, her

head against his left shoulder, his left arm around her shoulders. She had

stopped trembling, had stopped panting. The appearance of Gutman and

his companions seemed to have robbed her of that freedom of personal

movement and emotion that is animal, leaving her alive, conscious, but

quiescent as a plant.

Gutman lowered himself (Гутман опустился) into the padded rocking

chair (в обитое кресло-качалку). Cairo chose the armchair by the table

(Кейро выбрал кресло у стола). The boy Wilmer did not sit down (юнец

Вилмер не сел). He stood in the doorway (он стоял в дверном проеме)

where Cairo had stood (где Кейро стоял), letting his one visible pistol

(оставив свой один видимый пистолет) hang down at his side (висящим у

своего бока), looking under curling lashes (глядя из-под изогнутых

ресниц) at Spade's body (на тело Спейда). Cairo put his pistol (Кейро

положил свой пистолет) on the table beside him (на стол рядом с ним).

Spade took off his hat (Спейд снял свою шляпу) and tossed it to the

other end of the sofa (и бросил ее на другой конец дивана). He grinned at

Gutman (он улыбнулся Гутману). The looseness of his lower lip

(расслабленность его нижней губы) and the droop of his upper eyelids (и

опущенные верхние веки; droop — наклон, спад, сутулость) combined

with the v's in his face (сочетались с «v» в его лице) to make his grin lewd

as a satyr's (и делали его улыбку непристойной, как у сатира). "That

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daughter of yours (у этой вашей дочери) has a nice belly (прекрасный

живот)," he said, "too nice (слишком прекрасный ) to be scratched up with

pins (чтобы его царапали булавками)."

visible ['vIzqb(q)l] curling ['kq:lIN] satyr ['sxtq]

Gutman lowered himself into the padded rocking chair. Cairo chose

the armchair by the table. The boy Wilmer did not sit down. He stood in

the doorway where Cairo had stood, letting his one visible pistol hang

down at his side, looking under curling lashes at Spade's body. Cairo put

his pistol on the table beside him.

Spade took off his hat and tossed it to the other end of the sofa. He

grinned at Gutman. The looseness of his lower lip and the droop of his

upper eyelids combined with the v's in his face to make his grin lewd as a

satyr's. "That daughter of yours has a nice belly," he said, "too nice to

be scratched up with pins."

Gutman's smile

was

affable

(улыбка

Гутмана

была

любезной/приветливой) if a bit oily (хоть и немного елейной; oily —

масляный, сальный, елейный).

The boy in the doorway (парень в дверном проеме) took a short step

forward (сделал короткий шаг вперед), raising his pistol (поднимая свой

пистолет) as far as his hip (на уровне своего бедра). Everybody in the room

looked at him (все в комнате посмотрели на него). In the dissimilar eyes (в

непохожих глазах ) with which Brigid O'Shaughnessy and Joel Cairo looked

at him (которыми Бриджит О’Шонесси и Джоэль Кейро смотрели на

него) there was, oddly (был, что странно), something identically reproving

(какой-то одинаковый упрек). The boy blushed (парень покраснел), drew

back his advanced foot (потянул назад свою выдвинутую ногу),

straightened his legs (выпрямил свои ноги), lowered the pistol (опустил

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пистолет) and stood as he had stood before (и встал , как он стоял раньше),

looking under lashes (глядя из-под ресниц) that hid his eyes (которые

скрывали его глаза) at Spade's chest (на грудь Спейда). The blush was pale

enough (румянец был достаточно бледным) and lasted for only an instant

(и длился всего мгновение), but it was startling on his face (но он был

поразительным на его лице) that habitually was so cold and composed

(которое обычно было таким холодным и невозмутимым).

affable ['xfqb(q)l] dissimilar [dI'sImIlq] habitually [hq'bItSVqlI]

Gutman's smile was affable if a bit oily.

The boy in the doorway took a short step forward, raising his pistol as

far as his hip. Everybody in the room looked at him. In the dissimilar

eyes with which Brigid O'Shaughnessy and Joel Cairo looked at him

there was, oddly, something identically reproving. The boy blushed, drew

back his advanced foot, straightened his legs, lowered the pistol and

stood as he had stood before, looking under lashes that hid his eyes at

Spade's chest. The blush was pale enough and lasted for only an instant,

but it was startling on his face that habitually was so cold and composed.

Gutman turned (Гутман повернул) his sleek-eyed fat smile (свою

елейную жирную улыбку; -eyed — как компонент сложных слов —

имеющий такие-то глаза) on Spade again (снова к Спейду). His voice was

a suave purring (его голос был вкрадчивым мурлыканьем). "Yes, sir, that

was a shame (да сэр, это было стыдно), but you must admit (но вы должны

признать) that it served its purpose (что это послужило своей цели)."

Spade's brows twitched together (брови Спейда дернулись вместе).

"Anything would've (что угодно послужило бы)," he said. "Naturally I

wanted to see you (конечно, я хотел вас видеть) as soon as I had the falcon

(как только я получил сокола). Cash customers (покупатели с наличными)

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— why not (почему нет)? I went to Burlingame (я поехал в Бэрлингем)

expecting to run into this sort of a meeting (ожидая попасть на такого рода

встречу). I didn't know (я не знал) you were blundering around (что вы

двигаетесь ощупью/предпринимаете неверные шаги; blunder — грубая

ошибка; промах; to blunder — двигаться ощупью; спотыкаться (about,

along); грубо ошибаться), half an hour late (спустя полчаса), trying to get

me out of the way (пытаясь убрать меня с дороги) so you could find Jacobi

again (чтобы вы могли найти Якоби снова) before he found me (прежде

чем он найдет меня)."

Gutman chuckled (Гутман хихикнул). His chuckle seemed to hold

nothing (казалось, его хихиканье не содержало ничего ) but satisfaction

(кроме удовлетворения). "Well, sir (ну, сэр)," he said, "in any case (в

любом случае), here we are having our little meeting (мы здесь на нашей

маленькой встрече), if that's what you wanted (если это то, что вы

хотели)."

suave [swQ:v] blunder ['blAndq] satisfaction ["sxtIs'fxkS(q)n]

Gutman turned his sleek-eyed fat smile on Spade again. His voice was

a suave purring. "Yes, sir, that was a shame, but you must admit that it

served its purpose."

Spade's brows twitched together. "Anything would've," he said.

"Naturally I wanted to see you as soon as I had the falcon. Cash

customers — why not? I went to Burlingame expecting to run into this

sort of a meeting. I didn't know you were blundering around, half an

hour late, trying to get me out of the way so you could find Jacobi again

before he found me."

Gutman chuckled. His chuckle seemed to hold nothing but

satisfaction. "Well, sir," he said, "in any case, here we are having our

little meeting, if that's what you wanted."

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"That's what I wanted (это то, что я хотел). How soon (как скоро) are

you ready to make the first payment (вы готовы сделать первый платеж)

and take the falcon off my hands (и забрать сокола из моих рук)?"

Brigid O'Shaughnessy sat up straight (Бриджит О’Шонесси села прямо)

and looked at Spade (и посмотрела на Спейда) with surprised blue eyes

(удивленными голубыми глазами). He patted her shoulder inattentively (он

небрежно: «невнимательно» похлопал ее по плечу ). His eyes were steady

on Gutman's (его глаза были постоянно на Гутмане). Gutman's twinkled

merrily (Гутман весело моргнул) between sheltering fat puffs (между

нависающими жирными вздутиями; to shelter — приютить, укрыть,

защитить). He said: "Well, sir, as to that (ну, сэр, раз так)," and put a hand

inside the breast (и сунул руку в верхнюю часть; breast — грудь) of his

coat (своего пальто).

Cairo, hands on thighs (Кейро, руки на бедрах), leaned forward in his

chair (наклонился вперед в своем кресле), breathing between parted soft

lips (дыша через: «между» раскрытые мягкие губы). His dark eyes (его

темные глаза) had the surface-shine of lacquer (имели внешний блеск

лакировки). They shifted their focus warily (они осторожно меняли свой

фокус) from Spade's face to Gutman's (от Спейда к Гутману), from

Gutman's to Spade's (от Гутмана к Спейду).

shelter ['Seltq] puff [pAf] lacquer ['lxkq]

"That's what I wanted. How soon are you ready to make the first

payment and take the falcon off my hands?"

Brigid O'Shaughnessy sat up straight and looked at Spade with

surprised blue eyes. He patted her shoulder inattentively. His eyes were

steady on Gutman's. Gutman's twinkled merrily between sheltering fat

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puffs. He said: "Well, sir, as to that," and put a hand inside the breast of

his coat.

Cairo, hands on thighs, leaned forward in his chair, breathing

between parted soft lips. His dark eyes had the surface-shine of lacquer.

They shifted their focus warily from Spade's face to Gutman's, from

Gutman's to Spade's.

Gutman repeated (Гутман повторил), "Well, sir, as to that (ну, сэр, раз

так)," and took a white envelope (и достал белый конверт) from his pocket

(из своего кармана). Ten eyes (десять глаз) — the boy's now only half

obscured by his lashes (/глаза/ юнца, теперь только наполовину скрытые

его ресницами) — looked at the envelope (смотрели на конверт). Turning

the envelope over in his swollen hands (поворачивая конверт в своих

пухлых руках), Gutman studied for a moment its blank white front (Гутман

мгновение изучал его чистую белую поверхность /передней стороны/)

and then its back (потом заднюю сторону), unsealed (незапечатанную),

with the flap tucked in (с заправленным клапаном). He raised his head (он

поднял свою голову), smiled amiably (дружелюбно улыбнулся), and

scaled the envelope at Spade's lap (и бросил конверт на колени Спейду).

obscure [qb'skjVq] eyelash ['aIlxS] scale [skeIl]

Gutman repeated, "Well, sir, as to that," and took a white envelope

from his pocket. Ten eyes — the boy's now only half obscured by his

lashes — looked at the envelope. Turning the envelope over in his swollen

hands, Gutman studied for a moment its blank white front and then its

back, unsealed, with the flap tucked in. He raised his head, smiled

amiably, and scaled the envelope at Spade's lap.

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The envelope, though not bulky (конверт, хотя и не объемный), was

heavy enough (был достаточно тяжел) to fly true (чтобы лететь прямо;

true — правдиво, честно, точно). It struck the lower part of Spade's chest

(он ударил нижнюю часть груди Спейда) and dropped down (и упал вниз)

on his thighs (на его бедра). He picked it up deliberately (он поднял его

неторопливо) and opened it deliberately (и открыл его неторопливо), using

both hands (используя обе руки), having taken his left arm (сняв свою

вторую руку) from around the girl (с девушки). The contents of the

envelope (содержимым конверта) were thousand-dollar bills (были купюры

по тысяче долларов), smooth and stiff and new (гладкие и жесткие и

новые). Spade took them out (Спейд вытащил их) and counted them (и

пересчитал их). There were ten of them (там было десять /купюр/). Spade

looked up smiling (Спейд поднял взгляд, улыбаясь). He said mildly (он

мягко сказал): "We were talking about more money than this (мы говорили

о больших деньгах, чем эти)."

bulky ['bAlkI] deliberately [dI'lIb(q)rItlI] count [kaVnt]

The envelope, though not bulky, was heavy enough to fly true. It

struck the lower part of Spade's chest and dropped down on his thighs.

He picked it up deliberately and opened it deliberately, using both hands,

having taken his left arm from around the girl. The contents of the

envelope were thousand-dollar bills, smooth and stiff and new. Spade

took them out and counted them. There were ten of them. Spade looked

up smiling. He said mildly: "We were talking about more money than

this."

"Yes, sir, we were (да, сэр, мы говорили)," Gutman agreed (согласился

Гутман), "but we were talking then (но мы говорили тогда). This is actual

money (это реальные деньги), genuine coin of the realm, sir (истинные

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деньги государства, сэр; coin — монета; realm — осударство,

королевство; /перен./ царство). With a dollar of this (с таким долларом)

you can buy more (вы можете купить больше) than with ten dollars of talk

(чем с десятью долларами разговора)." Silent laughter (беззвучный смех)

shook his bulbs (потряс его округлости). When their commotion stopped

(когда их волнение закончилось) he said more seriously (он сказал более

серьезно), yet not altogether seriously (но в тоже время не совсем

серьезно): "There are more of us (нас больше) to be taken care of nosy (и

нам надо позаботиться о любопытных; nosy — носатый; длинноносый;

любопытный; пронырливый)." He moved his twinkling eyes (он двинул

своими мигающими глазами) and his fat head (и своей толстой головой)

to indicate Cairo (чтобы указать на Кейро). "And (и) — well, sir, in short

(ну, сэр, короче) — the situation has changed (ситуация изменилась)."

coin [kOIn] realm [relm] nosy ['nqVzI]

"Yes, sir, we were," Gutman agreed, "but we were talking then. This