sidelong a уклончивый, скользящий
sinister a мрачный
slab n плита, стол
slight a незначительный, слабый, небольшой, тонкий
slums n pl трущобы
sob v рыдать, всхлипывать
spoils n pl добыча, трофеи
spring v скакать, бросаться, приливать
stagger v шататься
stagger n пошатывание
stain n пятно
striking a поразительный
supplier n поставщик
swing v вращать
T
tallow n сало
tangle v запутывать
tapping n постукивание
tell apart различать
temptation n соблазн
trace v выслеживать
treasure n сокровище
tremor n дрожь
trifle n мелочь, пустяк
trim a аккуратный, опрятный, подстриженный
trophy n трофей, добыча
trouble v тревожить(ся), утруждаться
twisted a искореженный, скрученный
U
ultimate a высший, конечный, итоговый
unimpeachable a безупречный
upper-attendant старший служащий
V
vestige n след
villain n злодей, негодяй
W
waste n ненужная трата, потеря
whimsical a причудливый
whine v ныть, хныкать
whistle n свист
windfall n опавшие плоды; неожиданная удача
wind-swept продуваемый ветром
woodcock n вальдшнеп
worse for wear видавший виды
Пляшущие человечки The Adventure of the Dancing Men Адаптация текста, упражнения, комментарии и словарь Д. В. Положенцевой
I
Holmes had been sitting for some hours in silence over a chemical vessel in which he was brewing something very unpleasant. His head was sunk upon his breast[79], and he looked from my point of view like a strange, skinny bird.
“So, Watson,” he said, suddenly, “you are not going to[80] invest money in South African securities[81]?”
I was very much surprised. Although I was accustomed to Holmes’s curious abilities, this sudden intrusion into my thoughts was rather incomprehensible.
“How on earth[82] do you know that?” I asked in amazement.
He turned his chair, holding a steaming test-tube[83] in his hand. I saw a gleam of amusement in his deep-set eyes.
“Now, Watson, confess, you are confused,” he said.
“I am.”
“I should make you write this on the piece of paper and leave your signature.”[84]
“Why?”
“Because in five minutes you will say that it is all very simple and obvious.”
“I am sure that I shall say nothing of the kind.”
“You see, my dear Watson”– he put aside his test-tube and began to lecture like a professor addressing his class —“it is not really difficult to construct a series of conclusions, each dependent on the previous one. And if you simply take away all the central elements and show your audience only the first and the last ones, it will produce an amazing effect. Now, when I noticed the groove between your left forefinger and thumb[85], it was not really difficult to understand that you do not want to invest your small capital in the goldfields.”
“I see no connection.”
“Well, I believe you, but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there for the cue[86] when you play billiards. 3. You play billiards only with Thurston. 4. You told me four weeks ago[87] that Thurston wanted to buy some South African securities and share them with you. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my table, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You are not going to invest your money in anything.”
“So simple!” I cried.
“Yes, it is!” he said. “Every problem becomes very simple when it is explained to you. But here you are[88], this one is not explained yet. Let’s see what you can say, my friend Watson.” He gave me a sheet of paper and turned to his chemical analysis.
I looked with amazement at the strange symbols on the paper.
“Well, Holmes, it is a child’s drawing,” I said.
“Oh, that’s your idea!”
‘What else should it be?”
“That is what Mr. Hilton Cubitt from Norfolk wants to know. He sent us this little puzzle and every minute we expect him. Oh, there’s a ring at the bell, Watson. I am not very much surprised if it is our guest.”
We heard heavy steps on the stairs, and a second later a tall gentleman entered. He had clear eyes and florid cheeks which told us that he led his life far from the fogs of Baker Street. He seemed to bring[89] strong, fresh air with him as he entered. He shook hands with[90] each of us and was going to sit down when he noticed the paper with the curious symbols, which I had just examined and left on the table.
“Well, Mr. Holmes, what do you think about it?” he cried. “I heard that you liked strange mysteries, and this one is the strangest, I think! I sent the paper ahead so that you have time to study it before I came.”
“Yes, it is very curious,” said Holmes. “At first sight[91] one can think that it’s a child’s drawing. It consists of funny little dancing figures. Why do you pay so much attention on[92] such an object?”
“I don’t, Mr. Holmes. But my wife does. It is frightening her to death[93]. She says nothing, but I can see fear in her eyes. That’s why I want to find everything out.”
Holmes took the paper and turned to the sunlight. It was a page from a note-book. The symbols were done in pencil, and were in this order —
Holmes examined it for some time, and then folded it carefully and put it in his pocket-book.
“This promises to be a very interesting and unusual case,” he said. “You gave me a few details in your letter, Mr. Hilton Cubitt, but I would be very grateful if you tell the story again, for my friend, Dr. Watson.”
“I’m not good at telling stories,” said our visitor. He was rather nervous. “You’ll just ask questions if something is unclear. I’ll begin from my marriage last year; but I want to say first of all, that although I’m not a rich man, my family has been at Ridling Thorpe for five centuries and it is well-known in the County of Norfolk. Last year I came to London and stopped at a boarding-house[94] in Russell Square. There was an American young lady there… Elsie Patrick. Somehow we became friends, until I fell in love with[95] her as a man could be. We got quietly married and returned to Norfolk as a couple. You’ll think it is very mad, Mr. Holmes, that a man of a good old family could marry a woman like this, knowing nothing of her past or of her family. But if you saw her and knew her it would help you to understand.”
“Elsie was very straight. She gave me an opportunity to think it over and cancel the wedding if I wanted to do so. ‘I have had something very unpleasant in my life,’ she said; ‘I want to forget all about it, because it is very painful to me. If you marry me, Hilton, you will marry a woman who did nothing wrong. But you will have to believe me and to allow me to be silent about my past to the time when I became yours. If these conditions are too difficult, then leave me and go back to Norfolk. And I’ll lead my lonely life here in which you found me.’ It was the day before our wedding. I told her that I agreed with her conditions, and I keep my word.”
“Well, we have been happily married already for a year. But about a month ago, at the end of June, for the first time I saw some signs of trouble. One day my wife received a letter from America. I saw the American stamp. She turned white[96], read the letter and threw it into the fire. She didn’t tell me anything, and I didn’t say a word, because a promise is a promise; but from that moment she has always been uneasy. There is always a look of fear on her face… a look as if she is expecting something. If only she trusted me – she would see that I was her best friend. But if she doesn’t speak, I can say nothing. She is an honest woman, Mr. Holmes, and whatever trouble have been in her past life it is not her fault. I am only a simple Norfolk squire, but there is no one in England who values his family honour more than I do. She knows it well, and she knew it well before she married me. She will never leave any stain on it… I am sure.”
“Well, now I come to the strange part of my story. About a week ago… it was the Tuesday of last week… I found on one of the windowsills[97] some little dancing figures, like these on the paper. They were written with chalk. I thought that it was the stable-boy[98] who had drawn them, but he swore he knew nothing about it. Anyway, they had appeared there during the night. I had them washed out and mentioned the matter to my wife afterwards. To my surprise she took it very seriously[99], and asked me if any more figures appeared to let her see them. And yesterday morning I found this paper on the sun-dial in the garden. I showed it to Elsie, and she fainted. Since then her eyes have been full of terror. That’s why I wrote and sent the paper to you, Mr. Holmes. I think I couldn’t take it to the police, because they would have laughed at me[100], but you will tell me what to do. I am not a rich man; but if there is any danger threatening my wife I would spend my last money to save her.”
He was a kind person, this man of the old English soil, simple, straight, and gentle, with his great, earnest blue eyes and broad face. His love for his wife was true and his trust in her was touching. Holmes had listened to his story with the greatest attention, and now he sat for some time in silence.
“Don’t you think, Mr. Cubitt,” he said at last, “that it will be better to talk to your wife directly and to ask her to share her secret with you?”
Hilton Cubitt shook his big head.
“A promise is a promise, Mr. Holmes. If Elsie wished to tell me she would. If not, I can’t make her to do[101] so. But I have the right to find out everything myself… and I will.”
“Then I will help you with all my heart[102]. So, first of all, have you heard of any strangers in your neighbourhood?”
“No.”
“I suppose that it is a very quiet place. You would notice any new face, wouldn’t you?”
“In my neighbourhood, yes. But we have several small villages not very far away. And the farmers rent houses.”
“These symbols have evidently a meaning. If it is random, it may be impossible for us to solve it. If, on the other hand[103], it is systematic, I am sure that we shall read this riddle. But this one is so short that I can do nothing. And the facts which you have told us are not enough that we have a basis for investigation. I would suggest that you return to Norfolk, that you watch everything closely, and that you take an exact copy of any dancing men which may appear. It is a pity[104] that we have not a copy of those which were done in chalk on the windowsill. Make inquiries[105] about any strangers in the neighbourhood. When you have collected some evidence, come to me again. That is the best advice which I can give you, Mr. Hilton Cubitt. If you need my help, I shall be always ready to come and see you in your Norfolk house.”
Exercises
1. How did Sherlock Holmes impress Dr. Watson?
1) He knew what Dr. Watson wanted to say.
2) He knew what Dr. Watson was thinking about.
3) He managed to make a love potion.
4) He played the violin the whole day.
2. What method Sherlock Holmes use to produce an amazing effect on Dr. Watson?
1) He constructed a series of conclusions, each dependent on the previous one and took away all the central elements and showed only the first and the last ones.
2) He constructed a series of conclusions, each dependent on the previous one and showed only the last one.
3) He didn’t construct any series of conclusions and just guessed.
4) It is not mentioned in the text.
3. What did Dr. Watson think of a sheet of paper that Holmes gave him?
1) He thought it was a letter from Mr.Cubitt.
2) He thought it was a puzzle.
3) He thought it meant nothing.
4) He thought it was a child’s drawing.
4. What did Mr. Hilton Cubitt send to Sherlock Holmes?
1) A letter
2) A telegram
3) A letter and a puzzle
4) A postcard
5. What conditions did Elsie have before the marriage? Choose the right variants:
1) To let her be silent about her past.
2) To buy a lot of jewelry.
3) To believe her that she didn’t do anything wrong.
4) To invite all her relatives to the marriage.
6. How long have the Cubitts been married?
1) Six months
2) 10 years
3) 5 years
4) 1 year
7. Did Mr. Cubitt want to talk to his wife directly?
1) Yes, he did.
2) Yes, he did, but he couldn’t.
3) No, he didn’t. He didn’t take care of her.
4) No, he didn’t. He was afraid of her.
8. What was “the homework” for Mr Cubitt?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. Choose the right verbs:
She…………… me an opportunity to…………… it over and…………… the wedding if I wanted to…………… so.
1) gave, thought, canceled, do
2) gives, think, cancels, do
3) gave, think, cancel, do
4) had given, think, canceled, did
10. Complete the sentences with these words and expressions:
ago, at first sight, turned white, took it, shook hands, with all my heart
1) She……………, read the letter and threw it into the fire.
2) You told me four weeks…………… that Thurston wanted to buy some South African securities and share them with you.
3) Then I will help you…………….
4) To my surprise she…………… very seriously, and asked me if any more dancing figures appeared to let her see them.
5) …………… one can think that it’s a child’s drawing.
6) He…………… with each of us and was going to sit down.
11. Insert the right prepositions:
at, aside, to, from, for (2), about, in, of, into
1) But…………… a month ago…………… the end of June…………… the first time I saw some signs of trouble.
2) Although I was accustomed…………… Holmes’s curious abilities, this sudden intrusion…………… my thoughts was rather incomprehensible.
3) He looked…………… my point of view like a strange, skinny bird.
4) It consists…………… funny little dancing figures.
5) He put…………… his test-tube and began to lecture like a professor addressing his class.
6) Your cheque-book is locked…………… my table, and you have not asked…………… the key.
12. Complete the table:
II
After the interview Sherlock Holmes was very thoughtful. Several times in the next few days he took this piece of paper from his note-book and looked long at the curious figures on it. He didn’t share his ideas with me. But one day, two weeks later, when I was going out he said to me:
“You had better[106] stay here, Watson.”
“Why?”
“Because Hilton Cubitt called me this morning. Do you remember Hilton Cubitt, the case of the dancing men? He may be here at any moment. As far as I understood[107] there were some new incidents.”
We didn’t have to wait for a long time, because our Norfolk squire came straight from the station as fast as he could. He looked worried and depressed, his eyes were tired.
“It’s getting on my nerves[108], this business, Mr. Holmes,” he said, as he seated into the armchair. “I feel really bad, I’m surrounded by invisible unknown people, who want something from me and my family. But in addition to that it’s frightening to see that it’s slowly killing your wife. She’s just dying before my eyes, Mr. Holmes!”
“Has she said anything yet?”
“No, Mr. Holmes, she has not. Sometimes I saw that my poor wife wanted to speak, but could not do it. I have tried to help her; but I must say I’m a clumsy man in these things, and scared her off from it[109]. She has spoken about my old family, and our reputation in the county, and our pride and honour. And I always felt it was very close to the point… but somehow she couldn’t go further.”
“But you have found out something, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Mr. Holmes. I have several fresh dancing men pictures for you, and, what is more important, I have seen that man.”
“What, the man who draws them?”
“Yes, I saw him while he was doing it. But I will tell you everything in order. When I got back after my visit to you, the very first thing I saw next morning was some fresh dancing men. They were drawn in chalk on the black wooden door of the tool-house, which stands beside the lawn in front of windows. I took an exact copy, and here it is.” He took out a paper and laid it on the table. Here is a copy of it:
“Excellent!” said Holmes. “Excellent! Pray, continue!”
“When I had taken the copy I washed the marks out. But two mornings later fresh symbols appeared. I have a copy of it here”:
Holmes rubbed his hands[110] and said with delight:
“Our material is quickly growing.”
“Three days later another message was left written on the paper. I found it on the sun-dial. Here it is. The symbols are, as you see, exactly the same as the last one. After that I decided to hide and wait. So I got out my revolver and I sat up in my room, from where I could see the lawn and garden. About two in the morning I was seated by the window, it was very dark, when I heard steps behind me, and there was my wife in her dressing-gown. She tried to persuade me to come to bed. I told her frankly that I wished to see who it was who played such stupid tricks on us[111]. She answered that it was just a silly joke, and that I should not think about it.
“‘If it really annoys you, Hilton, we might go and travel, you and I, and so avoid this nuisance.’
“‘What? It means that we will leave our own house because of some jokers?’ I said. ‘The whole county will be laughing at us.’
“‘Well, come to bed,’ she said, ‘and we can discuss it in the morning.’
“Suddenly, as she spoke, I saw that her pale face became paler, and her hand grabbed mine. Something was moving in the shadow of the tool-house. I saw a dark figure which stopped in front of the door. I took my revolver and was going to run out, when my wife tried to stop me and held me with her arms. I tried to get rid of her, but she held me very desperately. At last I broke free[112], but by the time I had opened the door and reached the house the man disappeared. He had left some dancing men, but their arrangement was the same, which the previous and which I have copied on that paper. I couldn’t find that man anywhere, although I ran all over the garden. But the amazing thing is that he must have been there all the time, because when I examined the door again, he had drawn some more of his pictures under the line which I had already seen.”
“Do you have that fresh drawing?”
“Yes, it is very short, but I made a copy of it, and here it is.”
Again he showed a paper. The new dance was in this form:
“Tell me,” said Holmes – and I could see that he was very much excited – “was this an addition to the first, or did it appear separately?”
“It was on a different panel of the door.”
“Excellent! This is very important for us. It fills me with hopes. Now, Mr. Hilton Cubitt, please continue your interesting story.”
“I have nothing more to say, Mr. Holmes, except that I was angry with my wife that night. She held me when I could catch this terrible man. She said that she feared that he could hurt me. For a second an idea came to my mind that perhaps what she really feared was that I could hurt him. I could not doubt that she knew who this man was and what he meant by these strange symbols. But my wife has such a tone in her voice, Mr. Holmes, and a look in her eyes which forbid doubt – I am sure that she told me the truth. That’s it, and now I want your advice, what I should do. My own idea is to ask my farm friends to hide in the garden, and when this man comes again we can give him such a lesson[113] that he will leave us in peace.”
“I fear it will not be enough,” said Holmes. “How long can you stay in London?”
“I must come back today. I can’t leave my wife alone all night. She is very nervous and begged me to come back.”
“I think you are right. But then we could return together in a day or two. Anyway, leave me these papers, and I think that I’ll visit your house soon. And we’ll be able to throw some light on[114] your case.”
Sherlock Holmes looked professionally calm until our visitor had left us. But it was easy for me, who knew him so well, to see that he was very excited. The moment that Hilton Cubitt’s left, my friend rushed to the table, laid out all the pieces of paper containing dancing men in front of him and began examining them.
For two hours I watched him – he was very busy copying dancing men and writing letters, he was so completely occupied with this task that he had evidently forgotten about me. Sometimes he was making progress[115] and whistled or sang something. Sometimes he became puzzled, and could sit for hours looking absent-minded. Finally he jumped up from his chair with a cry of satisfaction, and walked up and down the room rubbing his hands together. Then he wrote a long telegram.
“If my answer to this is right, you will have a very pretty case to your collection, Watson,” he said. “I think that we should go down to Norfolk tomorrow. And we will finally solve this puzzle, which worries our friend so much.”
Of course I was filled with curiosity, but I knew that Holmes liked to make his conclusions at his own time and in his own way. So I waited.
Exercises
1. When did Mr. Cubitt visit Sherlock Holmes again?
1) The next day
2) A week later
3) A month later
4) Two weeks later
2. Why did Mr. Cubitt look worried and depressed?
1) His wife was very afraid.
2) This business was getting on his nerves.
3) He didn’t like London.
4) Sherlock Holmes couldn’t help him.
3. Why couldn’t Mr. Cubitt just talk to his wife and find out the truth?
1) He was afraid of his wife.
2) He was scary and he didn’t want to scary her off.
3) He had no time for it.
4) He was a clumsy man in these things.
4. What did he find out?
1) He brought some new drawings of dancing men and saw the man who drew them.
2) He caught the joker – it was his stable-boy.
3) He didn’t find out anything.
4) He found out that there were several men who drew these pictures.
5. What was Mrs. Cubitt’s suggestion?
1) To hide and wait
2) To travel in order to avoid this nuisance
3) To sell the house
4) To call the police
6. Why was Mr. Cubitt angry with his wife?
1) She didn’t want to come to bed.
2) She didn’t want to talk to him.
3) She told him that she knew this man.
4) She held him when he could catch this man.
7. What did Sherlock Holmes do when Mr. Cubitt left?
1) He was tired and went to bed.
2) He decided to have dinner and then started working.
3) He started working, he was very busy copying dancing men and writing letters.
4) He solved the riddle very quickly and wrote a long telegram.
8. Why didn’t Sherlock Holmes share his ideas with Dr. Watson?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
9. Choose the right line:
Sherlock Holmes…………… to the table…………… out all the pieces of paper…………… dancing men in front of him and…………… examining them.
1) was rushing, lay, contained, began
2) rushed, lay, containing, began
3) rushed, laid, containing, began
4) was rushing, laid, containing, beginning
10. Complete the sentences with these words and expressions:
as far as, played such stupid tricks, on my nerves, a lesson, progress, had better
1) When this man comes again we can give him such…………… that he will leave us in peace.
2) I told her frankly that I wished to see who it was who…………… on us.
3) “…………… I understood there were some new incidents.”
4) Sometimes he was making…………… and whistled or sang something.
5) “You…………… stay here, Watson.”
6) “It’s getting……………, this business, Mr. Holmes,” he said.
11. Insert the right prepositions: