The case of the discontented husband
rum sorf of show 'rum' is a rather obsolescent colloquialism, meaning 'strange', 'puzzling', 'mysterious'; it usually has an added sense of 'disreputable' or 'suspicious'.
a tall order an idiom meaning 'an unreasonable request'; 'a task difficult to perform'
to hit it = to hit the nail on the head, i.e. to guess right; to say or do exactly the right thing (see also the note to 'The Case of the City Clerk')
to see eye to eye (with ) to agree entirely, to have identical views.
to play the game(fig) to be fair and honest; to observe the code of honour
to knock balls about the reference here is to outdoor games (see in the text below) (cf.Rus "люблю погонять мяч")
prowess ['prauis] here: unusual skill or ability
to have an affair (with smb) to have an emotional (and sexual) relationship with smb to whom one is not married.
to pick and choose an idiom meaning 'to choose and select carefully'; 'to make careful or fastidious selection'.
your stock goes up (fig) = "ваши акции растут в цене".
to do the trick slang for 'to accomplish one's purpose'.
to live and let live to be tolerant; to ignore the failings of others in order that one's failings may be ignored.
to hem and haw usu. 'hum and haw': a colloquial expression meaning 'to make sounds expressing hesitation or doubt' (cf.Rus "мямлить, запинаться").
How rotten for you! 'rotten' here is slang for 'very unplesant or undesirable'.
arty colloquial for 'pretending or falsely claiming to be artistic'.
highbrow (person) with tastes and interests considered to be superior (often used contemptuously for intellectual)
to care a pin (usually in negative ) = to have no concern about, to be quite indifferent to; also not to care a twopence, a brass farthing, a fig, a damn.
to rake here: to sweep with the eye or glance
to take smb by surprise = to catch smb unprepared;(cf. Rus. "захватить кого-л. врасплох")
Reggie Wade had a fresh bulletin to impart 'bulletin', its direct meaning being 'official statement of news' is used here somewhat ironically. (Cf. Rus. = Реджи Уэйд принес очередное официальное заявление)
Enter the Queen of Vamps the structure of the statement is similar to that of a stage direction in a printed play (Cf.Rus. Входит Королева-Вамп)
uphill (fig) here: very difficult
to dance attendance on smb an idiom meaning 'to follow smb about, to pay great attention to his wishes, etc.' It originates from the ancient custom, in accordance with which the bride was obliged to dance with any guest at her wedding party. (Cf. Rus. "увиваться, бегать за кем-л., ухаживать (особ. за женщиной).")
to have knock-knees = to be knock-kneed, i.e. having legs curved so that the knees touch when walking.
not to give a damn = not to care a damn (see also the note to p...)
Dash it ! a colloquialism used as a mild substitute for 'Damn!' (Cf.Rus. "Черт возьми!")
THE ORACLE AT DELPHI
Delphi
In one's secret heart intrinsically; also at heart, in heart; in one's heart of hearts.(Cf.Rus. "в душе", "в глубине души").
soft-pile with soft, thick, hair-like surface (of carpets, velvet, etc.)
Parthenon [pa:'OenCn] the temple of Athene on the Acropolis of Athens, structurally completed about 438 B.C. and regarded as the finest example of Doric architecture.
Athens
Corinth [kC'rinO] a city of ancient Greece noted for its artistic adornment, luxury, and licentiousness.
Mycenae
the last straw an addition to the task, burden, etc, that makes it intolerable (= "последняя капля"). Note also the proverb It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
Byzantine [bi'zantin], [bizan'tin] of or pertaining to the ancient city of Constantinople (formerly Byzantium, modern Istambul) after 330 AD, when it became the new Roman imperial capital, until 1453, when Constantinople fell to the Turks.
Owing to Constantinople's position as a meeting point of Asia and Europe, the bright colours and intricacy of oriental design mingle in Byzantine mozaics and icons with Christian symbolism. The characterictic brickwork, pillars, and internal mozaics of Byzantine buildings also had a profound effect on western architecture from the spectacular St. Mark's (11th century) in Venice to Westminster Cathedral in London in the 20th century.
to leave one cold to leave one unmoved, unimpressed.
middle name second of two given names, e. g. Bernard in George Bernard Shaw.
Grecian Art
Kyria
letter of credit letter from a bank to its agent(s) giving authority for credit to the holder.
the Oracle ['OrEkl] (in ancient Greece) a place where questions about the future were asked of the gods; priest(ess) giving the answers.
out of hand an idiom meaning here 'at once', 'without hesitation'.
safe and sound an idiom meaning 'secure and unharmed'; (cf.Rus. "цел и невредим").
in touch (with) here:in regular communication (with).
her heart missed a bit = ее сердце замерло от волнения.
paste replica [peist 'replikE] here: an artificail diamond, since 'replica' is an exact copy usu. of a thing of art; 'paste' is a glass-like material used in making artificial diamonds.
within earshot = within hearing distance.
Itea
bon courage
Mrs Peters was a woman of a single idea = Mrs Peters was able to think only about one thing at a time.
to put our/your/their/ heads together an idiom meaning 'to consult together'; also to lay one's heads together.
under lock and key in smth(room, container, etc) fitted with lock. (Cf. Rus. "под замком").
in vain an idiom meaning here 'without the desired result', originating from Latin in vanum; cf. Rus. "понапрасну", "тщетно", "безуспешно".
THE PEARL OF PRICE
Amman
Petra
Nabataen (-s) a member of people of ancient Arabia, whose settlement lay in the border-lands between Syria and Arabia, from the Euphratus river to the Red Sea.
Little is known about them before 312 BC, when they were unsuccessfully attacked by Demetrius I Poliocetes, king of Makedonia. In 63 BC, upon the Roman general Pompey's entry into Palestine, Nabatean king Aretas became a Roman vassal. The final period of Nabatean history was one of peaceful prosperity as allies of Rome.
to back smb up
to drop a brick
the beaking-point
the straw that breaks the camel's back
Purse-proud hog!
several times over
to be far away
Hammurabi the king of Babylon (1792-1750 BC). After defeating the kingdoms of Eshanna, Elam and Ashur, Hammurabi turned against his former allies, the kingdoms of Larsa and Mari. The Code of Hammurabi, a collection of Babulonian laws, has survived in the Akkadian language.
Placticine
For a moment a spell of the past was laid upon them
to get a wink of sleep
Bedouin (-s) a member of nomadic Arab tribes of the Syrian and Arabic deserts and other desert regions of the Arab world, their economy based on camels, sheep, goats. At present they are found within the political boundaries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, and the Magrib countries (i.e. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya).
But my, ...
to come around
a stiffed fish