Into, so you won't expect me to drop it entirely, will you?"

"Oh, it's all right (о, все в порядке)," he assured her (уверил он ее).

"Only it wouldn't be all right (только было бы не хорошо) if you were

actually that innocent (если вы действительно будете так невинны). We'd

never get anywhere (мы никуда не продвинемся)."

"I won't be innocent (я не буду невинной)," she promised with a hand on

her heart (пообещала она, с рукой на сердце).

"I saw Joel Cairo tonight (сегодня вечером я видел Джоэля Кейро)," he

said in the manner of one (сказал он тоном человека) making polite

conversation (поддерживающего вежливый разговор).

Gaiety went out of her face (веселье ушло с ее лица). Her eyes, focused

on his profile (ее глаза, сфокусированные на его профиле), became

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frightened, then cautious (стали испуганными, потом осторожными). He

had stretched his legs out (он вытянул ноги; leg — нога от бедра до

ступни) and was looking at his crossed feet (и стал смотреть на свои

перекрещенные ступни; foot (feet) — нога, ступня). His face did not

indicate (его лицо не выражало) that he was thinking about anything (что

он о чем-нибудь думал).

actually ['xktS(V)qlI] innocent ['Inqs(q)nt] heart [hQ:t]

"Oh, it's all right," he assured her. "Only it wouldn't be all right if

you were actually that innocent. We'd never get anywhere."

"I won't be innocent," she promised with a hand on her heart.

"I saw Joel Cairo tonight," he said in the manner of one making

polite conversation.

Gaiety went out of her face. Her eyes, focused on his profile, became

frightened, then cautious. He had stretched his legs out and was looking

at his crossed feet. His face did not indicate that he was thinking about

anything.

There was a long pause (была длинная пауза) before she asked uneasily

(после которой она спросила беспокойно):

"You — you know him (вы — вы знаете его)?"

"I saw him tonight (я видел его сегодня вечером)." Spade did not look

up (Спейд не поднимал взгляда) and he maintained his light conversational

tone (и он поддерживал свой легкий разговорный тон). "He was going to

see George Arliss (он собирался встретиться с Джорджем Эрлисом)."

"You mean you talked to him (вы хотите сказать, что вы разговаривали

с ним)?"

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"Only for a minute or two (только минуту или две), till the curtain-bell

rang (пока не прозвонил звонок к началу спектакля: «к поднятию

занавеса»)."

pause [pO:z] before [bI'fO:] conversational ["kOnvq'seIS(q)nql]

There was a long pause before she asked uneasily:

"You — you know him?"

"I saw him tonight." Spade did not look up and he maintained his

light conversational tone. "He was going to see George Arliss."

"You mean you talked to him?"

"Only for a minute or two, till the curtain-bell rang."

She got up from the settee (она поднялась с диванчика) and went to the

fireplace (и подошла к камину) to poke the fire (чтобы помешать огонь; to

poke — совать, пихать; мешать /кочергой /). She changed slightly the

position of an ornament (она слегка изменила положение украшения) on

the mantelpiece (на каминной полке), crossed the room to get a box of

cigarettes (пересекла комнату, чтобы взять коробку с сигаретами) from a

table in a corner (со стола в углу), straightened a curtain (распрямила

занавеску), and returned to her seat (и вернулась к своему месту). Her face

now was smooth and unworried (ее лицо было теперь гладким и не

волнующимся).

Spade grinned sidewise at her and said (Спейд улыбнулся ей косо, и

сказал): "You're good (вы хороши). You're very good (вы очень хороши)."

Her face did not change (ее лицо не изменилось). She asked quietly (она

тихо спросила): "What did he say (что он сказал)?"

"About what (о чем)?"

mantelpiece ['mxntlpi:s] seat [si:t] unworried [An'wArId]

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She got up from the settee and went to the fireplace to poke the fire.

She changed slightly the position of an ornament on the mantelpiece,

crossed the room to get a box of cigarettes from a table in a corner,

straightened a curtain, and returned to her seat. Her face now was

smooth and unworried.

Spade grinned sidewise at her and said: "You're good. You're very

good."

Her face did not change. She asked quietly: "What did he say?"

"About what?"

She hesitated (она поколебалась). "About me (обо мне)."

"Nothing (ничего)." Spade turned (Спейд повернулся) to hold his lighter

(чтобы держать свою зажигалку) under the end of her cigarette (под

концом ее сигареты). His eyes were shiny (его глаза блестели) in a wooden

satan's face (на деревянном сатанинском лице).

"Well, what did he say (ну, что он сказал)?" she asked with half-playful

petulance (спросила она с полуигривым раздражением).

"He offered me five thousand dollars (он пообещал мне пять тысяч

долларов) for the black bird (за черную птицу)."

She started (она вздрогнула), her teeth tore the end of her cigarette (ее

зубы разорвали конец ее сигареты), and her eyes (и ее глаза), after a swift

alarmed glance at Spade (после быстрого встревоженного взгляда на

Спейда), turned away from him (отвернулись от него).

shiny ['SaInI] wooden ['wVdn] swift [swIft]

She hesitated. "About me."

"Nothing." Spade turned to hold his lighter under the end of her

cigarette. His eyes were shiny in a wooden satan's face.

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"Well, what did he say?" she asked with half-playful petulance.

"He offered me five thousand dollars for the black bird."

She started, her teeth tore the end of her cigarette, and her eyes, after

a swift alarmed glance at Spade, turned away from him.

"You're not going to go around poking at the fire (вы не собираетесь

пойти поковырять огонь) and straightening up the room again (и поправить

комнату снова), are you (не так ли)?" he asked lazily (лениво спросил он).

She laughed a clear merry laugh (она засмеялась ясным веселым

смехом), dropped the mangled cigarette into a tray (бросила испорченную

сигарету в пепельницу), and looked at him with clear merry eyes (и

посмотрела на него ясными радостными глазами). "I won't (я не буду),"

she promised (пообещала она). "And what did you say (и что вы сказали)?"

"Five thousand dollars is a lot of money (пять тысяч долларов —

большие деньги)."

around [q'raVnd] mangle ['mxNg(q)l] promised ['prOmIst]

"You're not going to go around poking at the fire and straightening

up the room again, are you?" he asked lazily.

She laughed a clear merry laugh, dropped the mangled cigarette into

a tray, and looked at him with clear merry eyes. "I won't," she promised.

"And what did you say?"

"Five thousand dollars is a lot of money."

She smiled (она улыбнулась ), but when, instead of smiling (но когда,

вместо улыбки), he looked gravely at her (он серьезно посмотрел на нее),

her smile became faint (ее улыбка стала слабой), confused, and presently

vanished (смущенной и вскоре исчезла). In its place came a hurt,

bewildered look (на ее место пришел страдающий, смущенный взгляд; to

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hurt — делать больно; to bewilder — смущать, ставить в тупик;

сбивать с толку). "Surely you're not really considering it (конечно, вы в

действительности не рассматриваете это /предложение/)," she said.

"Why not (почему нет)? Five thousand dollars is a lot of money (пять

тысяч долларов — большие деньги)."

"But, Mr. Spade, you promised to help me (но, мистер Спейд, вы

обещали помочь мне)." Her hands were on his arm (ее руки были на его

руке; hand — рука, кисть руки; arm — рука от плечи до кисти). "I trusted

you (я поверила вам). You can't (вы не можете) — " She broke off (она

прервалась), took her hands from his sleeve (убрала свои ладони с его

рукава) and worked them together (и соединила их вместе).

vanished ['vxnISt] bewildered [bI'wIldqd] arm [Q:m]

She smiled, but when, instead of smiling, he looked gravely at her, her

smile became faint, confused, and presently vanished. In its place came a

hurt, bewildered look. "Surely you're not really considering it," she said.

"Why not? Five thousand dollars is a lot of money."

"But, Mr. Spade, you promised to help me." Her hands were on his

arm. "I trusted you. You can't — " She broke off, took her hands from

his sleeve and worked them together.

Spade smiled gently into her troubled eyes (Спейд мягко улыбнулся в ее

встревоженные глаза). "Don't let's try to figure out (давайте не будем

пытаться выяснить) how much you've trusted me (как сильно: «насколько

много» вы доверяли мне)," he said. "I promised to help you (я обещал вам

помочь) — sure (конечно) — but you didn't say anything (но вы не сказали

ничего) about any black birds (о каких-либо черных птицах)."

"But you must've known or (но вы, должно быть. знали или) — or you

wouldn't have mentioned it to me (или вы не упомянули об этом мне). You

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do know now (теперь вы точно знаете). You won't (вы не будете) — you

can't (вы не можете) — treat me like that (обращаться со мной так)." Her

eyes were cobalt-blue prayers (ее глаза были кобальтово-синими

мольбами; prayer — молитва, просьба; проситель).

"Five thousand dollars is (пять тысяч долларов)," he said for the third

time (сказал он в третий раз), "a lot of money (большие деньги)."

black [blxk] mentioned ['menS(q)nd] prayer [preq]

Spade smiled gently into her troubled eyes. "Don't let's try to figure

out how much you've trusted me," he said. "I promised to help you —

sure — but you didn't say anything about any black birds."

"But you must've known or — or you wouldn't have mentioned it to

me. You do know now. You won't — you can't — treat me like that." Her

eyes were cobalt-blue prayers.

"Five thousand dollars is," he said for the third time, "a lot of

money."

She lifted her shoulders and hands (она подняла свои плечи и руки) and

let them fall (и уронила их: «дала им упасть») in a gesture (в движении)

that accepted defeat (которое признавало поражение). "It is (да, это так),"

she agreed in a small dull voice (согласилась она тихим, слабым голосом) .

"It is far more (это намного больше) than I could ever offer you (чем я

когда-либо могла бы предложить вам), if I must bid for your loyalty (если

бы я предлагала цену за вашу преданность; to bid — предлагать цену

/обыкн. на аукционе/)."

Spade laughed (Спейд засмеялся). His laughter was brief and somewhat

bitter (его смех был коротким и несколько горьким). "That is good (это

хорошо)," he said, "coming from you (что вы это говорите: «исходит от

вас»). What have you given me besides money (что вы мне дали кроме

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денег)? Have you given me any of your confidence (вы дали мне хоть

какое-то ваше доверие)? any of the truth (какую-нибудь правду)? any help

in helping you (какую-нибудь помощь, для помощи вам)? Haven't you

tried (разве вы не пытались) to buy my loyalty (купить мою преданность)

with money and nothing else (деньгами и больше ничем)? Well, if I'm

peddling it (ну так, если я торгую этим; to peddle — торговать вразнос),

why shouldn't I let it go to the highest bidder (почему я не должен отдать

это за большее предложение; bidder — покупщик, претендент)?"

accepted [qk'septId] loyalty ['lOIqltI] peddling ['pedlIN]

She lifted her shoulders and hands and let them fall in a gesture that

accepted defeat. "It is," she agreed in a small dull voice. "It is far more

than I could ever offer you, if I must bid for your loyalty."

Spade laughed. His laughter was brief and somewhat bitter. "That is

good," he said, "coming from you. What have you given me besides

money? Have you given me any of your confidence? any of the truth? any

help in helping you? Haven't you tried to buy my loyalty with money and

nothing else? Well, if I'm peddling it, why shouldn't I let it go to the

highest bidder?"

"I've given you all the money I have (я отдала вам все деньги, которые

у меня были)." Tears glistened in her white ringed eyes (слеза блеснули в

ее распахнутых глазах). Her voice was hoarse, vibrant (ее голос был

хриплым, вибрирующим). "I've thrown myself on your mercy (я отдалась:

«бросила себя» на вашу милость), told you (сказала вам) that without your

help (что без вашей помощи) I'm utterly lost (я совершенно пропала).

What else is there (что же еще)?" She suddenly moved close to him on the

settee (она неожиданно подвинулась близко к нему на диванчике) and

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cried angrily (и гневно крикнула): "Can I buy you with my body (я смогу

купить вас своим телом)?"

Their faces were few inches apart (их лица разделяли несколько

дюймов; apart — в отдалении, обособленно). Spade took her face between

his hands (Спейд взял ее лицо в свои руки) and he kissed her mouth

roughly and contemptuously (и он поцеловал ее рот грубо и

презрительно). Then he sat back and said (потом от снова откинулся /на

диванчике/ и сказал): "I'll think it over (я обдумаю это)." His face was hard

and furious (его лицо было жестким и взбешенным).

glisten ['glIs(q)n] buy [baI] contemptuously [kqn'temptSVqslI]

"I've given you all the money I have." Tears glistened in her

whiteringed eyes. Her voice was hoarse, vibrant. "I've thrown myself on

your mercy, told you that without your help I'm utterly lost. What else is

there?" She suddenly moved close to him on the settee and cried angrily:

"Can I buy you with my body?"

Their faces were few inches apart. Spade took her face between his

hands and he kissed her mouth roughly and contemptuously. Then he sat

back and said: "I'll think it over." His face was hard and furious.

She sat still (она неподвижно сидела) holding her numb face (держа в

руках свое оцепеневшее лицо) where his hands had left it (где его руки

оставили его).

He stood up and said (он встал и сказал): "Christ (Боже)! there's no

sense to this (в этом нет смысла)." He took two steps towards the fireplace

and stopped (он сделал два шага в сторону камина и остановился),

glowering at the burning logs (сердито глядя на горящие поленья),

grinding his teeth together (скрежеща зубами ; to grind — молоть,

перемалывать).

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She did not move (она не двигалась).

He turned to face her (он повернулся к ней лицом). The two vertical

lines (две вертикальные линии) above his nose (над его носом) were deep

clefts (были глубокими расселинами ) between red wales (между двумя

красными рубцами). "I don't give a damn about your honesty (мне

наплевать на вашу честность)," he told her (сказал он ей), trying to make

himself speak calmly (пытаясь заставить себя говорить спокойно). "I don't

care (мне все равно) what kind of tricks you're up to (какого рода трюки вы

собираетесь сделать), what your secrets are (какие у вас секреты), but I've

got to have something (но мне нужно что-нибудь) to show that you know

what you're doing (показывающее что вы знаете, что вы делаете»)."

burning ['bq:nIN ] log [lOg] secret ['si:krIt]

She sat still holding her numb face where his hands had left it.

He stood up and said: "Christ! there's no sense to this." He took two

steps towards the fireplace and stopped, glowering at the burning logs,

grinding his teeth together.

She did not move.

He turned to face her. The two vertical lines above his nose were deep

clefts between red wales. "I don't give a damn about your honesty," he

told her, trying to make himself speak calmly. "I don't care what kind of

tricks you're up to, what your secrets are, but I've got to have something

to show that you know what you're doing."

"I do know (я знаю). Please believe that I do (пожалуйста, поверьте, что

я знаю), and that it's all for the best, and (и это все к лучшему, и) —."

"Show me (покажите мне)," he ordered (приказал он). "I'm willing to

help you (я хочу помочь вам). I've done what I could so far (я уже сделал

все, что мог; so far — до сих пор; пока; до настоящего времени). If

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necessary I'll go ahead blindfolded (если нужно, я пойду вперед вслепую),

but I can't do it (но я не могу сделать это) without more confidence in you

(без большего доверия к вам) than I've got now (чем у меня есть сейчас).

You've got to convince me (вы должны убедить меня) that you know what

it's all about (что вы знаете, о чем речь-то идет), that you're not simply

fiddling around (что вы не просто тратите время/суетитесь; fiddle —

cкрипка; to fiddle — играть на скрипке; мошенничать, совершать

махинации; тратить, растрачивать /время , деньги и т. п ./) by guess and

by God (как Бог на душу положит; guess — догадка, предположение),

hoping (надеясь) it'll come out all right somehow (что все как-нибудь

хорошо закончится) in the end (в конце концов)."

"Can't you trust me just a little longer (вы не могли бы доверять мне

немного дольше)?"

blindfold ['blaIndfqVld] convince [kqn'vIns] simply ['sImplI]

"I do know. Please believe that I do, and that it's all for the best, and

— "

"Show me," he ordered. "I'm willing to help you. I've done what I

could so far. If necessary I'll go ahead blindfolded, but I can't do it

without more confidence in you than I've got now. You've got to convince

me that you know what it's all about, that you're not simply fiddling

around by guess and by God, hoping it'll come out all right somehow in

the end."

"Can't you trust me just a little longer?"

"How much is a little (насколько дольше)? And what are you waiting for

(и чего вы ждете)?"

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She bit her lip and looked down (она прикусила губу и посмотрела

вниз). "I must talk to Joel Cairo (я должна поговорить с Джоэлем Кейро),"

she said almost inaudibly (сказала она почти неслышно).

"You can see him tonight (вы можете увидеть его сегодня вечером),"

Spade said, looking at his watch (сказал Спейд, глядя на свои часы). "His

show will be out soon (его спектакль скоро заканчивается). We can get him

on the phone at his hotel (мы сможем застать его по телефону в его

отеле)."

She raised her eyes, alarmed (она подняла свои глаза, встревоженная).

"But he can't come here (но он не может прийти сюда). I can't let him know

where I am (я не могу дать ему узнать, где я). I'm afraid (я боюсь)."

little ['lItl] phone [fqVn] alarmed [q'lQ:md]

"How much is a little? And what are you waiting for?"

She bit her lip and looked down. "I must talk to Joel Cairo," she said

almost inaudibly.

"You can see him tonight," Spade said, looking at his watch. "His

show will be out soon. We can get him on the phone at his hotel."

She raised her eyes, alarmed. "But he can't come here. I can't let him

know where I am. I'm afraid."

"My place (у меня)," Spade suggested (предложил Спейд).

She hesitated (она поколебалась), working her lips together (потирая

губы друг о друга), then asked (потом спросила): "Do you think he'd go

there (вы считаете, он туда придет)?"

Spade nodded (Спейд кивнул).

"All right (хорошо)," she exclaimed (воскликнула она), jumping up

(вскакивая), her eyes large and bright (ее глаза большие и светящиеся ).

"Shall we go now (может пойдем сейчас)?"

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She went into the next room (она пошла в соседнюю комнату). Spade

went to the table in the corner (Спейд подошел к столу в углу) and silently

pulled the drawer out (и тихо вытянул ящик). The drawer held two packs of

playingcards (в ящике были две пачки игральных карт), a pad of score-

cards for bridge (пачка карточек для подсчета очков в бридже), a brass

screw (медный винт), a piece of red string (кусок красного шнура), and a

gold pencil (и золотой карандаш). He had shut the drawer (он закрыл

ящик) and was lighting a cigarette (и зажигал сигарету) when she returned

(когда она вернулась) wearing a small dark hat (одетая в маленькую

темную шляпу) and a grey kidskin coat (и серое лайковое пальто; kid —

козленок; skin — кожа, шкура), carrying his hat and coat (неся его шляпу

и пальто).

lip [lIp] large [lQ:dZ] kidskin ['kIdskIn]

"My place," Spade suggested.

She hesitated, working her lips together, then asked: "Do you think

he'd go there?"

Spade nodded.

"All right," she exclaimed, jumping up, her eyes large and bright.

"Shall we go now?"

She went into the next room. Spade went to the table in the corner

and silently pulled the drawer out. The drawer held two packs of

playingcards, a pad of score-cards for bridge, a brass screw, a piece of

red string, and a gold pencil. He had shut the drawer and was lighting a

cigarette when she returned wearing a small dark hat and a grey kidskin

coat, carrying his hat and coat.

Their taxicab drew up behind a dark sedan (такси остановилось за

темным седаном) that stood directly in front of Spade's street-door

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(который стоял прямо перед парадной дверью Спейда). Iva Archer was

alone in the sedan (Ива Арчер была одна в седане), sitting at the wheel

(сидя за рулем; wheel — колесо, штурвал). Spade lifted his hat to her

(Спейд поднял свою шляпу, приветствуя ее: «перед ней») and went

indoors with Brigid O’Shaughnessy (и вошел внутрь вместе с Бриджит

О’Шонесси). In the lobby he halted (в вестибюле он остановился) beside

one of the benches (рядом с одной из скамеек) and asked (и спросил): "Do

you mind waiting here a moment (вы не возражаете подождать здесь один

момент)? I won't be long (я не задержусь: «не буду долго»)."

"That's perfectly all right (это совершенно в порядке)," Brigid

O'Shaughnessy said, sitting down (сказала Бриджит О’Шонесси,

присаживаясь). "You needn't hurry (вам не нужно торопиться)."

Spade went out to the sedan (Спейд вышел к седану). When he had

opened the sedan's door (когда он открыл дверь седана) Iva spoke quickly

(Ива быстро спросила): "I've got to talk to you, Sam (мне нужно

поговорить с тобой , Сэм). Can't I come in (не могу ли я войти)?" Her face

was pale and nervous (ее лицо было бледным и нервным).

taxicab ['txksIkxb] wheel [wi:l] quickly ['kwIklI]

Their taxicab drew up behind a dark sedan that stood directly in

front of Spade's street-door. Iva Archer was alone in the sedan, sitting at

the wheel. Spade lifted his hat to her and went indoors with Brigid

O’Shaughnessy. In the lobby he halted beside one of the benches and

asked: "Do you mind waiting here a moment? I won't be long."

"That's perfectly all right," Brigid O'Shaughnessy said, sitting down.

"You needn't hurry."

Spade went out to the sedan. When he had opened the sedan's door