It was twenty-one minutes past eleven by the clock over the elevator

doors when Joel Cairo came in from the street. His forehead was

bandaged. His clothes had the limp unfreshness of too many hours'

consecutive wear. His face was pasty, with sagging mouth and eyelids.

Spade met him in front of the desk. "Good morning," Spade said

easily.

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Cairo drew his tired body up straight (Кейро выпрямил свое уставшее

тело /прямо/) and the drooping lines of his face tightened (и обвисшие

линии его лица напряглись; to droop — поникать, свисать, склонять(ся),

наклонять(ся)). "Good morning (доброе утро)," he responded without

enthusiasm (ответил он без энтузиазма).

There was a pause (повисла: «была» пауза).

Spade said: "Let's go some place (давайте пойдем в какое-нибудь

место) where we can talk (где мы можем поговорить)."

Cairo raised his chin (Кейро поднял свой подбородок). "Please excuse

me (пожалуйста, извините меня)," he said. "Our conversations in private

have not been such (наши разговоры наедине не были такими) that I am

anxious to continue them (чтобы я страстно желал продолжить их). Pardon

my speaking bluntly (извините меня за прямоту), but it is the truth (но это

правда)."

enthusiasm [In'tju:zIxz(q)m] excuse [Ik'skju:s] bluntly ['blAntlI]

Cairo drew his tired body up straight and the drooping lines of his

face tightened. "Good morning," he responded without enthusiasm.

There was a pause.

Spade said: "Let's go some place where we can talk."

Cairo raised his chin. "Please excuse me," he said. "Our

conversations in private have not been such that I am anxious to continue

them. Pardon my speaking bluntly, but it is the truth."

"You mean last night (вы имеете в виду прошлую ночь)?" Spade made

an impatient gesture (Спейд сделал нетерпеливое движение) with head and

hands (головой и руками). "What in hell else could I do (что , к черту, я мог

еще сделать)? I thought you'd see that (я думал , вы поймете это). If you

pick a fight with her (если вы начали борьбу с ней; to pick — выбирать,

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подбирать), or let her pick one with you (или позволили ей бороться с

вами), I've got to throw in with her (я должен был встать на одну сторону

с ней; to throw in — бросать, добавлять). I don't know where that damned

bird is (я не знаю, где эта проклятая птица). You don't (вы не знаете). She

does (она знает). How in hell (как, к черту ) are we going to get it (мы

собираемся получить ее) if I don't play along with her (если я не буду

играть на ее стороне: «вместе с ней»)?"

else [els] throw [TrqV] going ['gqVIN]

"You mean last night?" Spade made an impatient gesture with head

and hands. "What in hell else could I do? I thought you'd see that. If you

pick a fight with her, or let her pick one with you, I've got to throw in

with her. I don't know where that damned bird is. You don't. She does.

How in hell are we going to get it if I don't play along with her?"

Cairo hesitated (Кейро поколебался), said dubiously (сказал

нерешительно: «сомнительно»): "You have always (у вас всегда), I must

say (должен сказать), a smooth explanation ready (наготове гладкое

объяснение)."

Spade scowled (Спейд нахмурился). "What do you want me to do (что

вы хотите, чтобы я делал)? Learn to stutter (научиться заикаться)? Well,

we can talk over here (ну, мы можем поговорить здесь)." He led the way to

the divan (он повел его к дивану; to lead (led) the way — идти впереди,

показывать дорогу). When they were seated (когда они сели) he asked (он

спросил): "Dundy take you down to the Hall (Данди забрал вас в

управление)?"

"Yes."

"How long did they work on you (как долго они вас обрабатывали)?"

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dubiously ['dju:bIqslI] explanation ["eksplq'neIS(q)n] hall [hO:l]

Cairo hesitated, said dubiously: "You have always, I must say, a

smooth explanation ready."

Spade scowled. "What do you want me to do? Learn to stutter? Well,

we can talk over here." He led the way to the divan. When they were

seated he asked: "Dundy take you down to the Hall?"

"Yes."

"How long did they work on you?"

"Until a very little while ago (до совсем недавнего времени), and very

much against my will (и очень сильно против моей воли)." Pain and

indignation (боль и возмущение) were mixed in Cairo's face and voice

(смешались в лице и голосе Кейро). "I shall certainly take the matter up (я

конечно доведу дело) with the Consulate General of Greece (до

Генерального консульства Греции) and with an attorney (и адвоката)."

"Go ahead (вперед, давайте), and see what it gets you (и увидите, что

это вам даст). What did you let the police (что вы позволили полиции)

shake out of you (вытрясти из вас)?"

pain [peIn] Greece [gri:s] police [pq'li:s]

"Until a very little while ago, and very much against my will." Pain

and indignation were mixed in Cairo's face and voice. "I shall certainly

take the matter up with the Consulate General of Greece and with an

attorney."

"Go ahead, and see what it gets you. What did you let the police shake

out of you?"

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There was prim satisfaction (довольное удовлетворение было) in Cairo's

smile (в улыбке Кейро). "Not a single thing (ни единой вещи). I adhered to

the course (я придерживался курса) you indicated earlier (который вы

обозначили раньше) in your rooms (в ваших комнатах = у вас дома)." His

smile went away (его улыбка ушла). "Though I certainly wished (хотя, я,

конечно, хотел бы) you had devised (чтобы вы выдумали/разработали) a

more reasonable story (более разумную историю). I felt decidedly

ridiculous (я чувствовал решительно нелепо: «смешно») repeating it

(повторяя ее)."

Spade grinned mockingly (Спейд насмешливо улыбнулся). "Sure

(конечно)," he said, "but its goofiness (но ее глупость) is what makes it

good (это то, что делает ее хорошей). You sure you didn't give them

anything (вы уверены , что вы ничего им не рассказали: «дали»)?"

"You may rely upon it, Mr. Spade, I did not (вы можете положиться на

это, мистер Спейд, я не рассказал)."

adhere [qd'hIq] decidedly [dI'saIdIdlI] ridiculous [rI'dIkjVlqs]

There was prim satisfaction in Cairo's smile. "Not a single thing. I

adhered to the course you indicated earlier in your rooms." His smile

went away. "Though I certainly wished you had devised a more

reasonable story. I felt decidedly ridiculous repeating it."

Spade grinned mockingly. "Sure," he said, "but its goofiness is what

makes it good. You sure you didn't give them anything?"

"You may rely upon it, Mr. Spade, I did not."

Spade drummed with his fingers (Спейд постучал своими пальцами) on

the leather seat between them (по кожаному сиденью между ними). "You'll

be hearing from Dundy again (Данди снова даст о себе знать: «вы снова

услышите о Данди»). Stay dummied-up on him (молчите с ним; to dummy

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up — закрыть рот на замок, в рот воды набрать; dummy — дурак,

дебил, тупой) and you'll be all right (и с вами будет все хорошо). Don't

worry about the story's goofiness (не волнуйтесь по поводу глупости

истории). A sensible one (разумная история) would've had us all in the

cooler (увела бы нас всех в тюрьму; cooler — прохладительный напиток;

холодильник)." He rose to his feet (он поднялся на ноги). "You'll want sleep

(вы /за/хотите спать) if you've been standing up (если вы выстояли) under

a police-storm (под полицейским натиском; storm — буря, шторм) all

night (всю ночь). See you later (встретимся позже)."

drum [drAm] goofiness ['gu:fInIs] storm [stO:m]

Spade drummed with his fingers on the leather seat between them.

"You'll be hearing from Dundy again. Stay dummied-up on him and

you'll be all right. Don't worry about the story's goofiness. A sensible one

would've had us all in the cooler." He rose to his feet. "You'll want sleep