Дракула: метод параллельного погружения

“Good!” he said, and then went on to ask about the means of making consignments and the forms to be gone through, and of all sorts of difficulties which might arise, but by forethought could be guarded against. I explained all these things to him to the best of my ability, and he certainly left me under the impression that he would have made a wonderful solicitor, for there was nothing that he did not think of or foresee. For a man who was never in the country, and who did not evidently do much in the way of business, his knowledge and acumen were wonderful. When he had satisfied himself on these points of which he had spoken, and I had verified all as well as I could by the books available, he suddenly stood up and said:—

“Have you written since your first letter to our friend Mr. Peter Hawkins, (Вы писали после вашего первого письма нашему другу мистеру Питеру Хокинсу; written — написали) or to any other?” (или кому-нибудь ещё; any other — кому-либо ещё) It was with some bitterness in my heart (С некоторой горечью в сердце; bitterness — горечь) that I answered that I had not, (я ответил, что не писал; had not — не делал) that as yet I had not seen any opportunity (что пока я не видел возможности; opportunity — возможность) of sending letters to anybody. (отправить письма кому-либо; letters — письма)

“Then write now, my young friend,” he said, («Тогда пишите сейчас, мой юный друг», — сказал он; young friend — юный друг) laying a heavy hand on my shoulder: (положив тяжёлую руку мне на плечо; heavy — тяжёлый) “write to our friend and to any other; (напишите нашему другу и кому угодно ещё; any other — любому другому) and say, if it will please you, (и скажите, если вам будет угодно; please you — угодно) that you shall stay with me (что вы останетесь со мной; stay with me — остаться со мной) until a month from now.” (до истечения месяца; a month from now — через месяц)

“Have you written since your first letter to our friend Mr. Peter Hawkins, or to any other?” It was with some bitterness in my heart that I answered that I had not, that as yet I had not seen any opportunity of sending letters to anybody.

“Then write now, my young friend,” he said, laying a heavy hand on my shoulder: “write to our friend and to any other; and say, if it will please you, that you shall stay with me until a month from now.”

“Do you wish me to stay so long?” I asked, (Вы желаете, чтобы я оставался так долго? — спросил я; so long — так долго) for my heart grew cold at the thought. (ибо моё сердце похолодело от этой мысли; grew cold — похолодело)

“I desire it much; (Я весьма этого желаю; desire — желать) nay, I will take no refusal. (нет, я не приму отказа; nay — нет (архаич.), take no refusal — не принимать отказ) When your master, employer, what you will, (Когда ваш хозяин, наниматель — как вам угодно; what you will — как вам угодно) engaged that someone should come on his behalf, (поручил, чтобы кто-то прибыл от его имени; on his behalf — от его имени) it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. (предполагалось, что будут учитываться лишь мои нужды; consulted — учитываться) I have not stinted. (Я не был скуп; stinted — скупиться (архаич.)) Is it not so?” (Разве не так; is it not so — разве не так)

“Do you wish me to stay so long?” I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought.

“I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I have not stinted. Is it not so?”

What could I do but bow acceptance? (Что же я мог сделать, кроме как склониться в принятии; bow acceptance — склониться, принять) It was Mr. Hawkins’s interest, not mine, (Это был интерес мистера Хокинса, а не мой; interest — интерес) and I had to think of him, not myself; (и я должен был думать о нём, а не о себе; think of — думать о) and besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, (и кроме того, пока Граф Дракула говорил; besides — кроме того) there was that in his eyes and in his bearing (в его глазах и в его манере держаться было нечто; bearing — манера держаться) which made me remember that I was a prisoner, (что заставило меня вспомнить, что я пленник; prisoner — пленник) and that if I wished it I could have no choice. (и что, даже желая, я не мог бы иметь выбора; no choice — отсутствие выбора) The Count saw his victory in my bow, (Граф увидел свою победу в моём поклоне; bow — поклон) and his mastery in the trouble of my face, (и своё владычество — в смятении моего лица; mastery — власть, господство) for he began at once to use them, (ибо он сразу начал пользоваться этим; use — использовать) but in his own smooth, resistless way:— (но своим мягким, неотразимым способом; smooth — гладкий, resistless — неотразимый)

What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins’s interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it I could have no choice. The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, but in his own smooth, resistless way:—

“I pray you, my good young friend, (Прошу вас, мой добрый юный друг; pray you — прошу (архаич.)) that you will not discourse of things other than business in your letters. (чтобы вы не рассуждали о вещах, не относящихся к делу, в ваших письмах; discourse — рассуждать) It will doubtless please your friends to know that you are well, (несомненно, вашим друзьям будет приятно узнать, что вы в порядке; doubtless — несомненно) and that you look forward to getting home to them. (и что вы с нетерпением ждёте возвращения домой к ним; look forward to — ждать с нетерпением) Is it not so?” (Разве не так; is it not so — разве не так) As he spoke he handed me three sheets of note-paper and three envelopes. (Пока он говорил, он передал мне три листа писчей бумаги и три конверта; handed — передал) They were all of the thinnest foreign post, (все они были тончайшей иностранной почтой; thinnest — самый тонкий) and looking at them, then at him, and noticing his quiet smile, (и, посмотрев на них, потом на него и заметив его тихую улыбку; quiet — тихий) with the sharp, canine teeth lying over the red underlip, (с острыми собачьими зубами, лежащими поверх красной нижней губы; canine teeth — клыки) I understood as well as if he had spoken that I should be careful what I wrote, (я понял так же ясно, как если бы он сказал, что мне следует быть осторожным в том, что я пишу; careful — осторожный) for he would be able to read it. (ибо он сможет это прочесть; read — читать)

“I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of things other than business in your letters. It will doubtless please your friends to know that you are well, and that you look forward to getting home to them. Is it not so?” As he spoke he handed me three sheets of note-paper and three envelopes. They were all of the thinnest foreign post, and looking at them, then at him, and noticing his quiet smile, with the sharp, canine teeth lying over the red underlip, I understood as well as if he had spoken that I should be careful what I wrote, for he would be able to read it.

So I determined to write only formal notes now, (Так что я решил писать теперь только формальные записки; formal notes — формальные записки) but to write fully to Mr. Hawkins in secret, (но мистеру Хокинсу писать подробно и тайно; in secret — тайно) and also to Mina, (и также Мине; имена не поясняем) for to her I could write in shorthand, (потому что ей я мог писать стенографией; shorthand — стенография) which would puzzle the Count, if he did see it. (что бы озадачило Графа Дракулу, если бы он это увидел; puzzle — ставить в тупик) When I had written my two letters (Когда я написал два своих письма; letters — письма) I sat quiet, reading a book (я тихо сидел, читая книгу; quiet — тихо) whilst the Count wrote several notes, (пока Граф Дракула писал несколько записок; notes — записки) referring as he wrote them to some books on his table. (обращаясь по мере письма к некоторым книгам на своём столе; referring to — сверяясь с) Then he took up my two and placed them with his own, (Затем он взял мои два письма и положил их к своим; placed — положил) and put by his writing materials, (и убрал свои письменные принадлежности; writing materials — письменные принадлежности) after which, the instant the door had closed behind him, (после чего, в тот же миг, как дверь закрылась за ним; the instant — в тот же миг) I leaned over and looked at the letters, (я наклонился и посмотрел на письма; leaned over — наклонился) which were face down on the table. (которые лежали на столе лицевой стороной вниз; face down — лицевой вниз) I felt no compunction in doing so, (я не чувствовал угрызений совести, поступая так; compunction — угрызения совести) for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could. (ибо при таких обстоятельствах я чувствовал, что должен защищать себя всеми возможными способами; circumstances — обстоятельства)

So I determined to write only formal notes now, but to write fully to Mr. Hawkins in secret, and also to Mina, for to her I could write in shorthand, which would puzzle the Count, if he did see it. When I had written my two letters I sat quiet, reading a book whilst the Count wrote several notes, referring as he wrote them to some books on his table. Then he took up my two and placed them with his own, and put by his writing materials, after which, the instant the door had closed behind him, I leaned over and looked at the letters, which were face down on the table. I felt no compunction in doing so, for under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I could.

One of the letters was directed to Samuel F. Billington, No. 7, The Crescent, Whitby, (Одно из писем было адресовано Сэмюэлу Ф. Биллинктону, Номер 7, Кресент, Уитби; directed — адресовано) another to Herr Leutner, Varna; (другое — герру Лойтнеру, Варна; Herr — господин (нем.)) the third was to Coutts & Co., London, (третье — в «Кутс и Ко», Лондон; Coutts & Co. — банк) and the fourth to Herren Klopstock & Billreuth, bankers, Buda-Pesth. (а четвёртое — господам Клопстоку и Билльройту, банкирам, Будапешт; Herren — господа (нем.)) The second and fourth were unsealed. (Второе и четвёртое были незапечатаны; unsealed — незапечатанный) I was just about to look at them (Я как раз собирался взглянуть на них; about to — намеревался) when I saw the door-handle move. (как увидел, что дверная ручка двинулась; door-handle — дверная ручка) I sank back in my seat, (Я откинулся назад в своём кресле; sank back — откинулся) having just had time to replace the letters as they had been (едва успев вернуть письма в прежнее положение; replace — вернуть) and to resume my book (и вновь взять в руки книгу; resume — возобновить) before the Count, holding still another letter in his hand, entered the room. (прежде чем Граф Дракула, держа в руке ещё одно письмо, вошёл в комнату; entered — вошёл) He took up the letters on the table and stamped them carefully, (Он поднял письма со стола и аккуратно проштамповал их; stamped — проштамповал) and then turning to me, said:— (а затем, повернувшись ко мне, сказал; turning to — повернувшись к)

One of the letters was directed to Samuel F. Billington, No. 7, The Crescent, Whitby, another to Herr Leutner, Varna; the third was to Coutts & Co., London, and the fourth to Herren Klopstock & Billreuth, bankers, Buda-Pesth. The second and fourth were unsealed. I was just about to look at them when I saw the door-handle move. I sank back in my seat, having just had time to replace the letters as they had been and to resume my book before the Count, holding still another letter in his hand, entered the room. He took up the letters on the table and stamped them carefully, and then turning to me, said:—

“I trust you will forgive me, (Надеюсь, вы простите меня; trust — надеяться, forgive — простить) but I have much work to do in private this evening. (но у меня много работы наедине этим вечером; in private — наедине) You will, I hope, find all things as you wish.” (Вы, я надеюсь, найдёте всё так, как желаете; as you wish — как вы желаете) At the door he turned, (У двери он обернулся; turned — обернулся) and after a moment’s pause said:— (и, сделав короткую паузу, сказал; pause — пауза)

“I trust you will forgive me, but I have much work to do in private this evening. You will, I hope, find all things as you wish.” At the door he turned, and after a moment’s pause said:—

“Let me advise you, my dear young friend— (Позвольте мне дать вам совет, мой юный друг; advise — советовать) nay, let me warn you with all seriousness, (нет — позвольте предостеречь вас со всей серьёзностью; nay — нет (архаич.), warn — предостеречь) that should you leave these rooms (что если вы покинете эти комнаты; leave — покинуть) you will not by any chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle. (вы ни в коем случае не должны засыпать в какой-либо другой части замка; by any chance — ни в коем случае) It is old, and has many memories, (он стар и хранит множество воспоминаний; memories — воспоминания) and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. (и дурные сны приходят к тем, кто спит неосторожно; unwisely — неосторожно) Be warned! (Будьте предупреждены; warned — предупреждённый) Should sleep now or ever overcome you, (Если сон ныне или когда-либо одолеет вас; overcome — одолеть) or be like to do, (или будет близок к тому; be like to — быть склонным (архаич.)) then haste to your own chamber or to these rooms, (то поспешите в свои покои или в эти комнаты; haste — поспешить, chamber — покои) for your rest will then be safe. (ибо ваш сон тогда будет в безопасности; rest — отдых) But if you be not careful in this respect, then”— (Но если вы не будете осторожны в этом отношении, тогда—; be not careful — не быть осторожным (архаич.)) He finished his speech in a gruesome way, (Он закончил свою речь жутким образом; gruesome — жуткий) for he motioned with his hands as if he were washing them. (ибо он сделал руками жест, словно омывал их; motioned — сделал жест) I quite understood; (Я всё прекрасно понял; understood — понял) my only doubt was as to whether any dream could be more terrible (моё единственное сомнение было в том, может ли какой-либо сон быть ужаснее; terrible — ужасный) than the unnatural, horrible net of gloom and mystery (чем неестественная, ужасная сеть мрака и тайны; gloom — мрак, mystery — тайна) which seemed closing around me. (которая, казалось, смыкалась вокруг меня; closing around — смыкаться вокруг)

“Let me advise you, my dear young friend—nay, let me warn you with all seriousness, that should you leave these rooms you will not by any chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle. It is old, and has many memories, and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. Be warned! Should sleep now or ever overcome you, or be like to do, then haste to your own chamber or to these rooms, for your rest will then be safe. But if you be not careful in this respect, then”—He finished his speech in a gruesome way, for he motioned with his hands as if he were washing them. I quite understood; my only doubt was as to whether any dream could be more terrible than the unnatural, horrible net of gloom and mystery which seemed closing around me.

Later.— (Позже; later — позже) I endorse the last words written, (Я подтверждаю последние написанные слова; endorse — подтверждать) but this time there is no doubt in question. (но теперь никаких сомнений нет; no doubt — нет сомнений) I shall not fear to sleep in any place where he is not. (Я не буду бояться спать в любом месте, где его нет; fear — бояться) I have placed the crucifix over the head of my bed— (Я поместил распятие над изголовьем своей кровати; crucifix — распятие, head of my bed — изголовье кровати) I imagine that my rest is thus freer from dreams; (мне кажется, что мой сон благодаря этому свободнее от сновидений; rest — отдых, сон) and there it shall remain. (и там оно и останется; remain — оставаться)

Later.—I endorse the last words written, but this time there is no doubt in question. I shall not fear to sleep in any place where he is not. I have placed the crucifix over the head of my bed—I imagine that my rest is thus freer from dreams; and there it shall remain.

When he left me I went to my room. (Когда он ушёл от меня, я пошёл в свою комнату; left me — оставил меня) After a little while, not hearing any sound, (Спустя немного времени, не услышав никакого звука; not hearing — не услышав) I came out and went up the stone stair to where I could look out towards the South. (я вышел и поднялся по каменной лестнице туда, откуда мог смотреть на юг; stone stair — каменная лестница) There was some sense of freedom in the vast expanse, (В огромном просторе было какое-то чувство свободы; vast expanse — огромный простор) inaccessible though it was to me, (хотя он был недоступен для меня; inaccessible — недоступный) as compared with the narrow darkness of the courtyard. (по сравнению с узкой темнотой двора; courtyard — двор) Looking out on this, I felt that I was indeed in prison, (Глядя на это, я почувствовал, что действительно нахожусь в тюрьме; in prison — в заточении) and I seemed to want a breath of fresh air, though it were of the night. (и будто захотел вдохнуть свежего воздуха, пусть даже ночного; breath — дыхание) I am beginning to feel this nocturnal existence tell on me. (Я начинаю чувствовать, как эта ночная жизнь сказывается на мне; nocturnal — ночной, tell on — сказываться) It is destroying my nerve. (Она разрушает мои нервы; nerve — нервы) I start at my own shadow, and am full of all sorts of horrible imaginings. (Я вздрагиваю от собственной тени и полон всевозможных страшных воображений; horrible imaginings — страшные образы)

When he left me I went to my room. After a little while, not hearing any sound, I came out and went up the stone stair to where I could look out towards the South. There was some sense of freedom in the vast expanse, inaccessible though it was to me, as compared with the narrow darkness of the courtyard. Looking out on this, I felt that I was indeed in prison, and I seemed to want a breath of fresh air, though it were of the night. I am beginning to feel this nocturnal existence tell on me. It is destroying my nerve. I start at my own shadow, and am full of all sorts of horrible imaginings.

God knows that there is ground for my terrible fear in this accursed place! (Бог знает, что у моего ужасного страха есть основания в этом проклятом месте; accursed — проклятый) I looked out over the beautiful expanse, (Я смотрел на прекрасный простор; expanse — простор) bathed in soft yellow moonlight till it was almost as light as day. (залитый мягким жёлтым лунным светом, так что он был почти светел, как день; bathed — залитый) In the soft light the distant hills became melted, (В мягком свете далёкие холмы словно растворялись; melted — растворённые) and the shadows in the valleys and gorges of velvety blackness. (а тени в долинах и ущельях были бархатно-чёрными; gorges — ущелья, velvety — бархатный) The mere beauty seemed to cheer me; (Одна лишь красота, казалось, подбадривала меня; cheer — подбадривать) there was peace and comfort in every breath I drew. (в каждом моём вдохе были покой и утешение; comfort — утешение)

God knows that there is ground for my terrible fear in this accursed place! I looked out over the beautiful expanse, bathed in soft yellow moonlight till it was almost as light as day. In the soft light the distant hills became melted, and the shadows in the valleys and gorges of velvety blackness. The mere beauty seemed to cheer me; there was peace and comfort in every breath I drew.

As I leaned from the window (Когда я наклонился из окна; leaned — наклонился) my eye was caught by something moving a storey below me, (мой взгляд привлекло нечто, движущееся этажом ниже; a storey below — этажом ниже) and somewhat to my left, (и немного слева; somewhat — немного) where I imagined, from the order of the rooms, (где, судя по расположению комнат, я предполагал; imagined — предполагал) that the windows of the Count’s own room would look out. (что окна комнаты самого Графа Дракулы выходят наружу; look out — выходить) The window at which I stood was tall and deep, (Окно, у которого я стоял, было высоким и глубоким; tall and deep — высокое и глубокое) stone-mullioned, (с каменными переплётами; mullioned — с каменным переплётом) and though weatherworn, (и хотя оно было выветрившимся; weatherworn — выветрившийся) was still complete; (всё же оставалось целым; complete — целый) but it was evidently many a day since the case had been there. (но, по-видимому, прошло много дней с тех пор, как оконная рама была на месте; case — оконная рама) I drew back behind the stonework, (Я отступил назад за каменную кладку; drew back — отступил) and looked carefully out. (и осторожно выглянул; carefully — осторожно)