Its hands at five minutes past two.

Spade's thick fingers made a cigarette with deliberate care, sifting a

measured quantity of tan flakes down into curved paper, spreading the

flakes so that they lay equal at the ends with a slight depression in the

middle, thumbs rolling the paper's inner edge down and up under the

outer edge as forefingers pressed it over, thumbs and fingers sliding to

the paper cylinder's ends to hold it even while tongue licked the flap, left

forefinger and thumb pinching their end while right forefinger and

thumb smoothed the damp seam, right forefinger and thumb twisting

their end and lifting the other to Spade's mouth.

He picked up the pigskin (он поднял мешочек из свиной кожи) and

nickel lighter (и никелевую зажигалку) that had fallen to the floor (которая

упала на пол), manipulated it (управился с ней), and with the cigarette

burning in a corner of his mouth stood up (и с сигаретой, горящей в углу

его рта, встал). He took off his pajamas (он снял свою пижаму). The

smooth thickness of his arms, legs, and body (гладкая плотность его рук,

ног и тела), the sag of his big rounded shoulders (изгиб его больших

круглых плеч), made his body like a bear's (делали его тело похожим на

/тело/ медведя). It was like a shaved bear's (оно было как тело выбритого

медведя): his chest was hairless (на его груди не было волос; hairless —

безволосый, лысый). His skin was childishly soft and pink (его кожа была

по-детски нежной и розовой).

pigskin ['pIgskIn] shave [SeIv] childishly ['tSaIldISlI]

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

32

He picked up the pigskin and nickel lighter that had fallen to the

floor, manipulated it, and with the cigarette burning in a corner of his

mouth stood up. He took off his pajamas. The smooth thickness of his

arms, legs, and body, the sag of his big rounded shoulders, made his body

like a bear's. It was like a shaved bear's: his chest was hairless. His skin

was childishly soft and pink.

He scratched the back of his neck (он почесал заднюю часть своей шеи;

back — спина , задняя часть) and began to dress (и начал одеваться). He

put on a thin white union-suit (он надел тонкий белый нательный

комбинезон), grey socks (серые носки), black garters (черные подвязки),

and dark brown shoes (и темно-коричневые туфли). When he had fastened

his shoes (когда он завязал /шнурки/ на ботинках) he picked up the

telephone (он поднял телефонную /трубку/), called Graystone 4500, and

ordered a taxicab (набрал: «назвал» Грэйстоун 4500, и заказал такси). He

put on a green-striped white shirt (он надел белую рубашку с зелеными

полосками; striped — полосатый), a soft white collar (мягкий белый

воротник), a green necktie (зеленый галстук), the grey suit he had worn that

day (серый костюм, который был на нем: «который он носил» в тот

день), a loose tweed overcoat (свободное твидовое пальто), and a dark grey

hat (и темно-серую шляпу). The street-door-bell rang as he stuffed tobacco

(звонок парадной двери зазвонил, когда он запихнул табак; street —

улица), keys, and money into his pockets (ключи и деньги в свои карманы).

scratch [skrxtS] necktie ['nektaI] overcoat ['qVvqkqVt]

He scratched the back of his neck and began to dress. He put on a thin

white union-suit, grey socks, black garters, and dark brown shoes. When

he had fastened his shoes he picked up the telephone, called Graystone