Incredulity joined astonishment in the girl's face.

Spade said: "Miles hadn't many brains (у Майлза не было много

мозгов), but, Christ (но, Боже)! he had too many years' experience (у него

было слишком много лет опыта) as a detective (как детектива) to be

caught like that (чтобы быть схваченным таким образом) by the man he

was shadowing (человеком, за которым он следил). Up a blind alley (в

тупике; blind — слепой, незрячий) with his gun (с /его/ пистолетом) tucked

away on his hip (спрятанным /в кобуре/ на его бедре) and his overcoat

buttoned (и застегнутом пальто)? Not a chance (никакой возможности).

He was as dumb (он был тупой) as any man ought to be (как любой

мужчина должен быть), but he wasn't quite that dumb (но он не был

совсем таким дураком). The only two ways out of the alley (единственные

два выхода из аллеи) could be watched (могли просматриваться) from the

edge of Bush Street (от угла Буш-стрит) over the tunnel (над туннелем).

You'd told us (ты сказала нам) Thursby was a bad actor (что Терсби плохой

актер). He couldn't have tricked Miles (он не мог заманить Майлза) into the

alley like that (в аллею подобным образом), and he couhdn't have driven

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him in (и он не мог бы загнать его туда). He was dumb (он был туповат),

but not dumb enough for that (но недостаточно тупым для этого)."

brain [breIn] buttoned [bAtnd] alley ['xlI]

Spade said: "Miles hadn't many brains, but, Christ! he had too many

years' experience as a detective to be caught like that by the man he was

shadowing. Up a blind alley with his gun tucked away on his hip and his

overcoat buttoned? Not a chance. He was as dumb as any man ought to

be, but he wasn't quite that dumb. The only two ways out of the alley

could be watched from the edge of Bush Street over the tunnel. You'd

told us Thursby was a bad actor. He couldn't have tricked Miles into the

alley like that, and he couhdn't have driven him in. He was dumb, but

not dumb enough for that."

He ran his tongue (он пробежал языком) over the inside of his lips (по

внутренней стороне своих губ) and smiled affectionately at the girl (и

нежно улыбнулся девушке). He said: "But he'd've gone up there with you

(но он пошел бы туда с тобой), angel (ангел), if he was sure (если он был

уверен) nobody else was up there (что там больше никого не было). You

were his client (ты была его клиенткой), so he would have had no reason

(поэтому у него не было бы причин) for not dropping the shadow on your

say-so (не бросить слежку по твоему распоряжению), and if you caught up

with him (и если бы ты догнала его) and asked him to go up there (и

попросила его пойти туда) he'd've gone (он бы пошел). He was just dumb

enough for that (он был достаточно глуп для этого). He'd've looked you

(он бы смотрел на тебя) up and down (так и эдак) and licked his lips (и

облизывал бы свои губы) and gone grinning from ear to ear (и пошел бы,

улыбаясь от уха до уха) — and then you could've stood (а потом ты могла

бы встать) as close to him (к нему так близко) as you liked (как ты бы

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захотела) in the dark (в темноте) and put a hole through him (и сделала бы

дырку в нем) with the gun (пистолетом) you had got from Thursby

(который ты взяла у Терсби) that evening (тем вечером)."

tongue [tAN] client ['klaIqnt] evening ['i:vnIN]

He ran his tongue over the inside of his lips and smiled affectionately

at time girl. He said: "But he'd've gone up there with you, angel, if he

was sure nobody else was up there. You were his client, so he would have

had no reason for not dropping the shadow on your say-so, and if you

caught up with him and asked him to go up there he'd've gone. He was

just dumb enough for that. He'd've looked you up and down and licked

his lips and gone grinning from ear to ear — and then you could've stood

as close to him as you liked in the dark and put a hole through him with

the gun you had got from Thursby that evening."

Brigid O'Shaughnessy shrank back from him (Бриджит О’Шонесси

отшатнулась от него) until the edge of the table (пока угол стола) stopped

her (не остановил ее). She looked at him (она посмотрела на него) with

terrified eyes (испуганными глазами) and cried (и заплакала): "Don't (не)

— don't talk to me like that, Sam (не говори со мной так, Сэм)! You know I

didn't (ты знаешь, это не я)! You know (ты знаешь) — "

"Stop it (перестань)." He looked at the watch on his wrist (он посмотрел

на часы на своем запястье). "The police will be blowing in (полиция

примчится) any minute now (сейчас в любую минуту) and we're sitting on

dynamite (и мы сидим на динамите). Talk (говори)!"

shrank [ SrxNk] terrify ['terIfaI] minute ['mInIt]

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Brigid O'Shaughnessy shrank back from him until the edge of the

table stopped her. She looked at him with terrified eyes and cried:

"Don't — don't talk to me like that, Sam! You know I didn't! You know

— "

"Stop it." He looked at the watch on his wrist. "The police will be

blowing in any minute now and we're sitting on dynamite. Talk!"

She put the back of a hand (она положила тыльную часть ладони) on

her forehead (на свой лоб). "Oh, why do you accuse me (о, почему ты

обвиняешь меня) of such a terrible (в таком ужасном)— ?"

"Will you stop it (ты перестанешь)?" he demanded (/требовательно/

спросил он) in a low impatient voice (тихим нетерпеливым голосом).

"This isn't the spot (здесь не место) for the schoolgirl-act (для спектаклей

школьниц). Listen to me (послушай меня). The pair of us are sitting (мы с

тобой на пару сидим) under the gallows (под виселицей)." He took hold of

her wrists (он взял ее запястья) and made her stand up (и заставил ее

встать) straight in front of him (прямо перед ним). "Talk (говори)!"

"I (я) — I (я) — How did you know he (откуда ты знаешь, что он) — he

licked his lips and looked (что он облизывал губы и смотрел) —?"

accuse [q'kju:z] straight [streIt] lick [lIk]

She put the back of a hand on her forehead. "Oh, why do you accuse

me of such a terrible — ?"

"Will you stop it?" he demanded in a low impatient voice. "This isn't

the spot for the schoolgirl-act. Listen to me. The pair of us are sitting

under the gallows." He took hold of her wrists and made her stand up

straight in front of him. "Talk!"

"I — I — How did you know he — he licked his lips and looked — ?"

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Spade laughed harshly (Спейд резко засмеялся). "I knew Miles (я знал

Майлза). But never mind that (но не обращай внимания на это). Why did

you shoot him (почему ты застрелила его)?"

She twisted her wrists (она вывернула свои запястья) out of Spade's

fingers (из пальцев Спйэда) and put her hands up (и положила свои

ладони) around the back of his neck (вокруг задней части его шеи), pulling

his head down (потянув его голову вниз) until his mouth all but touched

hers (пока его губы не коснулись ее губ). Her body was flat against his (ее

тело плотно прилегало к его телу; flat — плоский, ровный) from knees to

chest (от коленей до груди). He put his arms around her (он положил свои

руки вокруг нее), holding her tight to him (держа ее близко к себе).

laugh [lQ:f] mind [maInd] arm [Q:m]

Spade laughed harshly. "I knew Miles. But never mind that. Why did

you shoot him?"

She twisted her wrists out of Spade's fingers and put her hands up

around the back of his neck, pulling his head down until his mouth all

but touched hers. Her body was flat against his from knees to chest. He

put his arms around her, holding her tight to him.

Her dark-lashed lids (ее веки с черными ресницами) were half down (были

полуопущены) over velvet eyes (над ее бархатными глазами). Her voice

was hushed, throbbing (ее голос был тихим, беспокойным): "I didn't mean

to, at first (я не намеревалась /застрелить его/, поначалу). I didn't, really

(не думала, правда). I meant (я имела в виду то) what I told you (что

сказала тебе), but when I saw (но когда я увидела) Floyd couldn't be

frightened (что Флойда не возможно напугать) I (я) — "

Spade slapped her shoulder (Спейд шлепнул ее по плечу). He said:

"That's a lie (это ложь). You asked Miles and me (ты попросила Майлза и

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меня) to handle it ourselves (заняться этим самим). You wanted to be sure

(ты хотела быть уверенной) the shadower was somebody (что следящим

был бы кто-то) you knew (кого ты знала) and who knew you (и кто знал

тебя), so they'd go with you (тогда бы он пошел с тобой).

velvet ['velvIt] shadower ['SxdqVq] somebody ['sAmbqdI]

Her dark-lashed lids were half down over velvet eyes. Her voice was

hushed, throbbing: "I didn't mean to, at first. I didn't, really. I meant

what I told you, but when I saw Floyd couldn't be frightened I — "

Spade slapped her shoulder. He said: "That's a lie. You asked Miles and

me to handle it ourselves. You wanted to he sure the shadower was

somebody you knew and who knew you, so they'd go with you.

You got the gun from Thursby that day (ты взяла пистолет у Терсби тем

днем) — that night (той ночью). You had already rented the apartment at the

Coronet (ты уже сняла квартиру в «Коронете»). You had trunks there (твои

чемоданы были там) and none at the hotel (а не в отеле; none — никто, ни

один, никакой) and when I looked the apartment over (и когда я обыскал

квартиру) I found a rent-receipt (я нашел счет за аренду ) dated five or six

days (датированный пятью или шестью днями) before the time (до того

времени) you told me you rented it (когда ты сказала мне, что сняла ее)."

already [O:l'redI] apartment [q'pQ:tmqnt] rent [rent]

You got the gun from Thursby that day — that night. You had already

rented the apartment at the Coronet. You had trunks there and none at

the hotel and when I hooked the apartment over I found a rent-receipt

dated five or six days before the time you told me you rented it."

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She swallowed with difficulty (она сглотнула с трудом) and her voice

was humble (и ее голос был смиренным). "Yes, that's a lie, Sam (да, это

ложь, Сэм). I did intend to (я действительно собиралась) if Floyd (если

Флойд) — I (я) — I can't look at you (я не могу смотреть на тебя) and tell

you this, Sam (и говорить тебе это, Сэм)." She pulled his head farther down

(она опустила его голову еще дальше вниз) until her cheek (пока ее щека)

was against his cheek (не была у его щеки), her mouth by his ear (ее рот у

его ушей), and whispered (и прошептала): "I knew (я знала) Floyd wouldn't

be easily frightened (что Флойда нелегко можно будет напугать), but I

thought (но я подумала) that if he knew (что если он узнает) somebody was

shadowing him (что кто-то следил за ним) either he'd (он бы либо) — Oh, I

can't say it, Sam (о, я не могу сказать это, Сэм)!" She clung to him, sobbing

(она прижалась к нему, всхлипывая).

swallow ['swOlqV] humble ['hAmb(q)l] clung [klAN]

She swallowed with difficulty and her voice was humble. "Yes, that's

a lie, Sam. I did intend to if Floyd — I — I can't look at you and tell you

this, Sam." She pulled his head farther down until her cheek was against

his cheek, her mouth by his ear, and whispered: "I knew Floyd wouldn't

be easily frightened, but I thought that if he knew somebody was

shadowing him either he'd — Oh, I can't say it, Sam!" She clung to him,

sobbing.

Spade said: "You thought Floyd would tackle him (ты думала , что

Флойд набросится на него; tackle — инструмент, принадлежности;

снаряжение; снасти; to tackle — привязывать, укреплять, закреплять

/блоком, веревкой, снастями и т. п./; схватить, поймать; энергично, с

усердием браться /за что-л./ ; набрасываться /на какое-л. дело, еду и т.

п./) and one or the other of them (и один или другой из них) would go down

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(проиграет). If Thursby was the one (если это будет Терсби) then you were

rid of him (тогда ты бы избавилась от него). If Miles was (если бы это был

Майлз), then you could see (тогда ты могла бы проследить) that Floyd was

caught (чтобы Флойда бы схватили) and you'd be rid of him (и ты бы

избавилась от него). That it (это так)?"

"S-something like that (что-то похожее)."

"And when you found (и когда ты обнаружила) that Thursby didn't mean

to tackle him (что Терсби и не думает набрасываться на него) you

borrowed the gun (ты позаимствовала пистолет) and did it yourself (и

сделала это сама). Right (правильно)?"

"Yes — though not exactly (хотя не совсем так)."

tackle ['txk(q)l] rid [rId] exactly [Ig'zxktlI]

Spade said: "You thought Floyd would tackle him and one or the

other of them would go down. If Thursby was the one then you were rid

of him. If Miles was, then you could see that Floyd was caught and you'd

be rid of him. That it?"

"S-something like that."

"And when you found that Thursby didn't mean to tackle him you

borrowed the gun and did it yourself. Right?"

"Yes — though not exactly."

"But exact enough (но достаточно точно). And you had that plan (и ты

имела этот план) up your sleeve (про запас: «в рукаве») from the first (с

самого начала). You thought (ты думала) Floyd would he nailed (Флойда

арестуют; nail — гвоздить; to nail — пригвоздить) for the killing (за

убийство)."

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735

"I (я) — I thought they'd hold him (я думала, они задержат его) at least

(по крайней мере) until after Captain Jacobi had arrived (до тех пор, пока

не прибудет капитан Якоби) with the falcon and (с соколом и) — "

sleeve [sli:v] nail [neIl] falcon ['fO:lkqn]

"But exact enough. And you had that plan up your sleeve from the

first. You thought Floyd would he nailed for the killing."

"I — I thought they'd hold him at least until after Captain Jacobi had

arrived with the falcon and — "

"And you didn't know then (и ты не знала тогда) that Gutman was here

(что Гутман был здесь и) hunting for you (охотится за тобой). You didn't

suspect that (ты не подозревала этого) or you wouldn't have shaken (или ты

бы не избавилась от; to shake (shook, shaken) — трясти, дрожать) your

gunman (своего бандита). You knew Gutman was here (ты узнала, что

Гутман здесь) as soon as you heard (как только ты услышала) Thursby had

been shot (что Терсби застрелили). Then you knew (тогда ты поняла) you

needed another protector (что тебе был нужен другой защитник), so you

came back to me (поэтому ты вернулась ко мне). Right (правильно)?"

"Yes, but (да, но) — oh, sweetheart (о, дорогой)! — it wasn't only that

(это было не только из-за этого). I would have come back to you (я бы

вернулась к тебе) sooner or later (раньше или позже). From the first instant

(с первого мгновения) I saw you (когда я тебя увидела) I knew (я поняла)

— "

hunting ['hAntIN] suspect [sV'spekt] instant ['Instqnt]

"And you didn't know then that Gutman was here hunting for you.

You didn't suspect that or you wouldn't have shaken your gunman. You

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knew Gutman was here as soon as you heard Thursby had been shot.

Then you knew you needed another protector, so you came back to me.

Right?"

"Yes, but — oh, sweetheart! — it wasn't only that. I would have come

back to you sooner or later. From the first instant I saw you I knew — "

Spade said tenderly (Спейд сказал нежно): "You angel (ты — ангел)!

Well, if you get a good break (ну, если тебе повезет; break — зд. шанс,

счастливый случай) you'll be out of San Quentin (ты выйдешь из Сан-

Квентина) in twenty years (через двадцать лет) and you can come back to

me then (и ты сможешь вернуться ко мне тогда)."

She took her cheek away from his (она отодвинула свою щеку от его),

drawing her head far back (откидывая голову далеко назад) to stare up

(чтобы посмотреть) without comprehension (не понимая) at him (на него).

He was pale (он был бледен). He said tenderly (он сказал нежно): "I

hope to Christ (я, честное слово, надеюсь) they don't hang you (что они не

повесят тебя), precious (дорогая), by that sweet neck (за эту

очаровательную шею)." He slid his hands up (он скользнул руками вверх)

to caress her throat (чтобы приласкать ее горло).

tenderly

['tendqlI]

drawing

['drO:IN]

comprehension

["kOmprI'henS(q)n]

Spade said tenderly: "You angel! Well, if you get a good break you'll

be out of San Quentin in twenty years and you can come back to me

then."

She took her cheek away from his, drawing her head far back to stare

up without comprehension at him.

He was pale. He said tenderly: "I hope to Christ they don't hang you,

precious, by that sweet neck." He slid his hands up to caress her throat.

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In an instant (в мгновение) she was out of his arms (она вырвалась из

его объятий: «была вне его рук»), back against the table (снова у стола),

crouching (сжавшись ), both hands (обе руки) spread over her throat

(распростерты над ее горлом). Her face was wild-eyed (ее лицо было с

дикими глазами), haggard (измученное). Her dry mouth (ее сухой рот)

opened and closed (открылся и закрылся). She said in a small (она сказала

тихим) palsied voice (дрожащим /как при параличе/ голосом; palsy —

паралич; to palsy — парализовать; разбивать параличом; делать

беспомощным): "You're not (ты не) — " She could get no other words out

(она не могла произнести остальных слов).

crouch [kraVtS] palsied ['pO:lzIt] other ['ADq]