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"Was — was he married (был — был он женат)?"

blame [bleIm] throat [TrqVt] chance [tSQ:ns]

She said, "Thank you," very softly, and then moved her head from side to side. "But I'll always blame myself." She put a hand to her throat. "Mr. Archer was so — so alive yesterday afternoon, so solid and hearty and — "

"Stop it," Spade commanded. "He knew what he was doing. They're the chances we take."

"Was — was he married?"

"Yes, with ten thousand insurance (да, с десятью тысячами страховки), no children (детей нет), and a wife who didn't like him (и жена, которая не любила его)."

"Oh, please don't (о, пожалуйста, не надо)!" she whispered (прошептала она).

Spade shrugged again (Спейд снова пожал плечами). "That's the way it was (это то, как было = вот так обстояли дела)." He glanced at his watch (он взглянул на свои часы) and moved from his chair to the settee beside her (и пересел: «передвинулся» со своего стула на диванчик рядом с ней). "There's no time for worrying about that now (нет времени волноваться об этом сейчас)." His voice was pleasant but firm (его голос был приятным, но твердым). "Out there a flock of policemen and assistant district attorneys (там, снаружи, толпы полицейских и помощников окружных прокуроров) and reporters (и репортеров) are running around (бегают вокруг) with their noses to the ground (и роют носом землю: «с носами к земле»). What do you want to do (что вы хотите делать)?"

thousand ['TaVz(q)nd] insurance [In'SV(q)rqns] whisper ['wIspq]

"Yes, with ten thousand insurance, no children, and a wife who didn't like him."

"Oh, please don't!" she whispered.

Spade shrugged again. "That's the way it was." He glanced at his watch and moved from his chair to the settee beside her. "There's no time for worrying about that now." His voice was pleasant but firm. "Out there a flock of policemen and assistant district attorneys and reporters are running around with their noses to the ground. What do you want to do?"

"I want you to save me from — from it all (я хочу, чтобы вы спасли меня от — от этого всего)," she replied in a thin tremulous voice (ответила она тонким трепетным голосом). She put a timid hand on his sleeve (она положила робкую руку на его рукав). "Mr. Spade, do they know about me (мистер Спейд, они знают обо мне)?"

"Not yet (пока нет). I wanted to see you first (я хотел сначала увидеть вас)."

"What — what would they think (что — что они подумают) if they knew about the way I came to you (если они узнают о том, как я пришла к вам) — with those lies (с той ложью)?"

"It would make them suspicious (это сделает их подозрительными = внушит им подозрение). That's why I've been stalling them (это то, почему я задерживал их; to stall— отвлекать внимание, увиливать) till I could see you (пока я не смог встретиться с вами). I thought maybe (я думал, может быть) we wouldn't have to let them know all of it (нам не понадобится давать им полную информацию обо всем этом; to let smb. know smth. — дать знать, сообщить что-либо кому-либо). We ought to be able to fake a story (мы должны быть готовы выдумать историю; to fake— подделывать, мошенничать) that will rock them to sleep (которая убаюкает их: «укачает до сна»), if necessary (если необходимо)."

tremulous ['tremjVlqs] sleeve [sli:v] suspicious [sq'spISqs]

"I want you to save me from — from it all," she replied in a thin tremulous voice. She put a timid hand on his sleeve. "Mr. Spade, do they know about me?"

"Not yet. I wanted to see you first."

"What — what would they think if they knew about the way I came to you — with those lies?"

"It would make them suspicious. That's why I've been stalling them till I could see you. I thought maybe we wouldn't have to let them know all of it. We ought to be able to fake a story that will rock them to sleep, if necessary."

"You don't think I had anything to do with the (вы не думаете, что я была как-то связана с) — the murders (убийствами) — do you (не так ли)?"

Spade grinned at her and said (Спейд улыбнулся ей и сказал): "I forgot to ask you that (я забыл спросить вас об этом). Did you (вы были)?"

"No (нет)."

"That's good (это хорошо). Now what are we going to tell the police (теперь, что мы собираемся сказать полиции)?"

She squirmed on her end of the settee (она заерзала на своем конце диванчика) and her eyes wavered between heavy lashes (и ее глаза дрогнули между тяжелыми ресницами; to waver — колыхаться, колебаться; дрогнуть), as if trying and failing to free their gaze from his (словно пытаясь и не имея возможности освободить их взгляд от его /взгляда/; to fail — потерпеть неудачу, не удаваться). She seemed smaller (она казалась меньше), and very young and oppressed (и очень молодой и подавленной).

squirm [skwq:m] waver ['weIvq] young [jAN]

"You don't think I had anything to do with the — the murders — do you?"

Spade grinned at her and said: "I forgot to ask you that. Did you?"

"No."

"That's good. Now what are we going to tell the police?"

She squirmed on her end of the settee and her eyes wavered between heavy lashes, as if trying and failing to free their gaze from his. She seemed smaller, and very young and oppressed.

"Must they know about me at all (они должны вообще знать обо мне)?" she asked (спросила она). "I think I'd rather die than that, Mr. Spade (я думаю, я бы лучше умерла, чем это, мистер Спейд). I can't explain now (я не могу сейчас объяснить), but can't you somehow manage so (но не могли бы вы как-нибудь устроить так) that you can shield me from them (чтобы вы смогли защитить меня от них), so I won't have to answer their questions (так, чтобы мне не нужно было отвечать на их вопросы)? I don't think I could stand being questioned now (я не думаю, что я смогу выдержать допросы сейчас: «быть допрашиваемой»; to question— задавать вопросы, спрашивать). I think I would rather die (я думаю, я бы лучше умерла). Can't you, Mr. Spade (не могли бы вы /сделать что-нибудь/, мистер Спейд)?"

"Maybe (может быть)," he said, "but I'll have to know what it's all about (но я должен буду узнать, в чем тут дело: «о чем это все»)."

rather ['rQ:Dq] manage ['mxnIdZ] question ['kwestS(q)n]

"Must they know about me at all?" she asked. "I think I'd rather die than that, Mr. Spade. I can't explain now, but can't you somehow manage so that you can shield me from them, so I won't have to answer their questions? I don't think I could stand being questioned now. I think I would rather die. Can't you, Mr. Spade?"

"Maybe," he said, "but I'll have to know what it's all about."

She went down on her knees at his knees (она опустилась на колени у его коленей). She held her face up to him (она подняла свое лицо к нему). Her face was wan, taut, and fearful (ее лицо было изнуренным, напряженным и полным страха) over tight-clasped hands (над плотно сжатыми ладонями). "I haven't lived a good life (я не жила хорошей жизнью)," she cried (заплакала она). "I've been bad (я была плохой)— worse than you could know (хуже, чем вы можете представить: «знать») — but I'm not all bad (но я не совсем плохая). Look at me, Mr. Spade (посмотрите на меня, мистер Спейд). You know I'm not all bad, don't you (вы знаете, я не совсем плохая, не так ли)? You can see that, can't you (вы можете видеть это, не так ли)? Then can't you trust me a little (тогда не могли бы вы доверять мне немного)? Oh, I'm so alone and afraid (о, я так одинока и испугана), and I've got nobody to help me (у меня нет никого, кто бы помог мне) if you won't help me (если вы мне не поможете).