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knee [ni:] absolute ['xbsqlu:t] distaste ['dIs'teIst]

The fat man agreed: "That's a hell of a lot of dough." He leaned forward and patted Spade's knee. "That is the absolute rock-bottom minimum — or Charilaos Konstantinides was a blithering idiot — and he wasn't."

Spade removed the cigar from his mouth again, frowned at it with distaste, and put it on the smoking-stand. He shut his eyes hard, opened them again. Their muddiness had thickened. He said: "The — the minimum, huh? And the maximum?" An unmistakable sh followed the x in maximum as he said it.

"The maximum?" Gutman held his empty hand out (Гутман протянул свою пустую руку), palm up (ладонью наверх). "I refuse to guess (я отказываюсь предположить). You'd think me crazy (вы подумаете, что я сумасшедший). I don't know (я не знаю). There's no telling (нельзя говорить) how high it could go, sir (как высоко это может пойти, сэр), and that's the one (и это одна) and only truth about it (и единственная правда о ней)."

Spade pulled (Спейд подтянул) his sagging lower lip (свою провисшую нижнюю губу) tight against the upper (плотно к верхней). He shook his head impatiently (он нетерпеливо покачал головой). A sharp frightened gleam (резкий испуганный блеск) awoke in his eyes (проснулся в его глазах) — and was smothered (и был погашен; to smother — душить, задыхаться, подавлять) by the deepening muddiness (все углубляющимся туманом). He stood up (он встал), helping himself up (помогая себе подняться) with his hands (своими руками) on the arms of his chair (на подлокотниках своего кресла). He shook his head again (он покачал головой снова) and took an uncertain step forward (и сделал неуверенный шаг вперед). He laughed thickly and muttered (он неразборчиво засмеялся и пробормотал): "God damn you (будьте прокляты)."

maximum ['mxksImqm] refuse ['refju:s] upper ['Apq]

"The maximum?" Gutman held his empty hand out, palm up. "I refuse to guess. You'd think me crazy. I don't know. There's no telling how high it could go, sir, and that's the one and only truth about it."

Spade pulled his sagging lower lip tight against the upper. He shook his head impatiently. A sharp frightened gleam awoke in his eyes — and was smothered by the deepening muddiness. He stood up, helping himself up with his hands on the arms of his chair. He shook his head again and took an uncertain step forward. He laughed thickly and muttered: "God damn you."

Gutman jumped up (Гутман вскочил) and pushed his chair back (и толкнул свое кресло назад). His fat globes jiggled (его толстые округлости тряслись). His eyes were dark holes (его глаза были темными дырами) in an oily pink face (на масляно-розовом лице).

Spade swung his head (Спейд качал головой) from side to side (из стороны в сторону) until his dull eyes (пока его тусклые глаза) were pointed at (не направились) — if not focused on (если не сфокусировались) — the door (на двери). He took another uncertain step (он сделал другой неуверенный шаг).

The fat man called sharply (толстяк резко позвал): "Wilmer (Вилмер)!"

globe [glqVb] jiggle ['dZIg(q)l] swung [swAN]

Gutman jumped up and pushed his chair back. His fat globes jiggled. His eyes w-ere dark holes in an oily pink face.

Spade swung his head from side to side until his dull eyes were pointed at — if not focused on — the door. He took another uncertain step.

The fat man called sharply: "Wilmer!"

A door opened (дверь открылась) and the boy came in (и парень вошел).

Spade took a third step (Спейд сделал третий шаг). His face was grey now (его лицо было теперь серым), with jaw-muscles (с мускулами челюсти) standing out like tumors (выступающими, как опухоли) under his ears (под его ушами). His legs did not straighten again (его ноги снова не выпрямились) after his fourth step (после его четвертого шага) and his muddy eyes (и его мутные глаза) were almost covered by their lids (были почти прикрыты их веками). He took his fifth step (он сделал пятый шаг).

The boy walked over (парень подошел) and stood close to Spade (и стал близко к Спейду), a little in front of him (немного впереди него), but not directly between Spade and the door (но не прямо между Спейдом и дверью). The boy's right hand (правая рука парня) was inside his coat (была внутри его пальто) over his heart (над его сердцем). The corners of his mouth twitched (уголки его рта дернулись).

third [Tq:d] tumor ['tju:mq] twitch [twItS]

A door opened and the boy came in.

Spade took a third step. His face was grey now, with jaw-muscles standing out like tumors under his ears. His legs did not straighten again after his fourth step and his muddy eyes were almost covered by their lids. He took his fifth step.

The boy walked over and stood close to Spade, a little in front of him, but not directly between Spade and the door. The boy's right hand was inside his coat over his heart. The corners of his mouth twitched.

Spade essayed his sixth step (Спейд попробовал сделать шестой шаг).

The boy's leg darted out (нога парня резко выбросилась) across Spade's leg (наперерез ноге Спейда), in front (вперед). Spade tripped over (Спейд споткнулся) the interfering leg (о мешающую ногу; to interfere — служить препятствием, мешать) and crashed face-down on the floor (и свалился с грохотом лицом на пол). The boy, keeping his right hand (парень, держа свою правую руку) under his coat (под своим пальто), looked down at Spade (посмотрел вниз на Спейда). Spade tried to get up (Спейд попытался встать). The boy drew his right foot (парень отвел свою правую ногу) far back (далеко назад) and kicked Spade's temple (и пнул висок Спейда). The kick rolled Spade over on his side (пинок опрокинул Спейда на /его/ бок). Once more (еще раз) he tried to get up (он попытался встать), could not (не смог), and went to sleep (и уснул).

dart [dQ:t] interfering ["Intq'fI(q)rIN] went [went]

Spade essayed his sixth step.

The boy's leg darted out across Spade's leg, in front. Spade tripped over the interfering leg and crashed face-down on the floor. The boy, keeping his right hand under his coat, looked down at Spade. Spade tried to get up. The boy drew his right foot far back and kicked Spade's temple. The kick rolled Spade over on his side. Once more he tried to get up, could not, and went to sleep.

Spade, coming around the corner (Спейд, выходя из-за угла) from the elevator (из лифта) at a few minutes past six in the morning (несколько минут седьмого утра), saw yellow light (увидел желтый свет) glowing through the frosted glass (светящийся сквозь матовое стекло) of his office-door (двери его офиса). He halted abruptly (он резко остановился), set his lips together (сдвинул губы), looked up and down the corridor (посмотрел взад и вперед по коридору), and advanced to the door (и продвинулся к двери) with swift quiet strides (быстрыми, тихими шагами).