case that were in the rack to the carriage madame had just left. 41 страница

сыграла такую шутку) on account of the rather violent flirtation he had been

having with Avice (из-за довольно бурного романа, который у него был с

Эвис; flirtation — флирт, ухаживание), and though, of course, it was hard luck

on Avice (и хотя, конечно же, это было несчастьем для Эвис; hard luck —

горькая судьба, неудачи) he could not help being a trifle flattered (он не мог не

чувствовать себя слегка польщенным).

damned [dxmd] violent ['vaIqlqnt] flirtation [flq:'teIS(q)n]

"And I was such a damned fool, I thought of giving her a contract," said Michael.

"Why don't you?"

"When you've got your knife into her? Not on your life. You're a naughty little

thing to be so jealous. You don't really think she means anything to me, do you?

You ought to know by now that you're the only woman in the world for me."

Michael thought that Julia had played this trick on account of the rather violent

flirtation he had been having with Avice, and though, of course, it was hard luck

on Avice he could not help being a trifle flattered.

"You old donkey (ты, старый осел)," smiled Julia, knowing exactly what he was

thinking (улыбнулась Джулия, точно зная, о чем он думал) and tickled to death

at his mistake (и веселилась до упаду над его ошибкой; to tickle — щекотать,

развлекать, угождать; death — смерть).

"After all, you are the handsomest man in London (в конце концов, ты самый

красивый мужчина в Лондоне)."

"All that's as it may be (все это хорошо; be that as it may — будь что будет, как

бы то ни было). But I don't know what the author'll say (но я не знаю, что

скажет автор). He's a conceited little ape (он самодовольная обезьянка) and it's

not a bit the scene he wrote (и это совсем не та сцена была, что он написал)."

"Oh, leave him to me (о, оставь его мне). I'll fix him (я улажу с ним; to fix —

укреплять, определять)."

There was a knock at the door (раздался стук в дверь) and it was the author

himself who came in (и это был сам автор, который и вошел в /костюмерную

Джулии/). With a cry of delight (с возгласом: «криком» восторга), Julia went up

to him (Джулия подошла к нему), threw her arms round his neck (обвила

своими руками его шею) and kissed him on both cheeks (и расцеловала его в

обе щеки).

"Are you pleased (вы довольны)?"

"It looks like a success (все выглядит, как успех)," he answered, but a trifle

coldly (ответил он, но слегка холодновато).

ape [eIp] fix [fIks] success [sqk'ses]

"You old donkey," smiled Julia, knowing exactly what he was thinking and tickled

to death at his mistake. "After all, you are the handsomest man in London."

"All that's as it may be. But I don't know what the author'll say. He's a conceited

little ape and it's not a bit the scene he wrote."

"Oh, leave him to me. I'll fix him."

There was a knock at the door and it was the author himself who came in. With a

cry of delight, Julia went up to him, threw her arms round his neck and kissed him

on both cheeks.

"Are you pleased?"

"It looks like a success," he answered, but a trifle coldly.

"My dear, it'll run for a year (дорогой мой, да она будет идти целый год)." She

placed her hands on his shoulders (она положила руки ему на плечи) and looked

him full in the face (и посмотрела прямо ему в лицо). "But you're a wicked,

wicked man (но вы гадкий, гадкий человек; wicked — злой, нехороший,

противный)."

"You almost ruined my performance (вы почти что разрушили мою игру). When

I came to that bit in the second act (когда я дошла до того места: «куска» во

втором акте) and suddenly saw what it meant (и внезапно увидела, что оно

действительно означает) I nearly broke down (я чуть не провалилась:

«потерпела неудачу»). You knew what was in that scene, you're the author (вы-

то знали, что /именно/ было в той сцене, вы же автор); why did you let us

rehearse it all the time (почему же вы позволили нам репетировать ее все это

время) as if there was no more in it than appeared on the surface (как если бы в

ней не было ничего больше, чем видно на поверхности; to appear —

появляться, показываться)? We're only actors (мы всего лишь актеры), how

can you expect us to — to fathom your subtlety (как вы можете ожидать от нас

/что мы/ сможем — сможем постичь всю вашу утонченность)? It's the best

scene in your play (эта самая лучшая сцена в вашей пьесе) and I almost bungled

it (и я чуть не испортила все дело: «ее»). No one in the world could have written

it but you (никто в мире не смог бы написать ее, кроме вас). Your play's

brilliant (ваша пьеса блестяща), but in that scene there's more than brilliance,

there's genius (но в этой сцене есть нечто большее, чем великолепие, в ней

гениальность)."

shoulder ['SqVldq] wicked ['wIkId] ruin ['ru:In] surface ['sq:fIs]

fathom ['fxD(q)m] subtlety ['sAt(q)ltI]

"My dear, it'll run for a year." She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked

him full in the face. "But you're a wicked, wicked man."

"You almost ruined my performance. When I came to that bit in the second act and

suddenly saw what it meant I nearly broke down. You knew what was in that

scene, you're the author; why did you let us rehearse it all the time as if there was

no more in it than appeared on the surface? We're only actors, how can you expect

us to — to fathom your subtlety? It's the best scene in your play and I almost

bungled it. No one in the world could have written it but you. Your play's brilliant,

but in that scene there's more than brilliance, there's genius."

The author flushed (автор залился краской). Julia looked at him with veneration

(Джулия смотрела на него с благоговением). He felt shy and happy and proud

(он чувствовал себя смущенным, счастливым и гордым).

("In twenty-four hours the mug'll think (через сутки: «двадцать четыре часа»

этот простофиля будет думать) he really meant the scene to go like that (что он

действительно задумывал, что бы эта сцена выглядела: «была сыграна»

именно так).")

Michael beamed (Майкл сиял).

"Come along to my dressing-room and have a whisky and soda (пойдем в мою

грим-уборную и выпьем по виски с содовой). I'm sure you need a drink after all

that emotion (я уверен, что вам необходимо выпить после всех этих

переживаний; drink — питье, напиток, в т.ч. алкогольный)."

They went out as Tom came in (они вошли, когда вошел Том). Tom's face was

red with excitement (лицо Тома было красным от возбуждения).

"My dear, it was grand (дорогая моя, это было великолепно). You were simply

wonderful (ты была просто удивительна). Gosh, what a performance (Боже, что

за представление)."

"Did you like it (тебе понравилось)? Avice was good, wasn't she (Эвис была

хороша, не так ли)?"

"No, rotten (нет, отвратительна)."

"My dear, what do you mean (дорогой мой, что ты имеешь в виду)? I thought

she was charming (я думала, что она была очаровательной)."

"You simply wiped the floor with her (да ты просто разбила ее наголову:

«подтерла ею пол»). She didn't even look pretty in the second act (она даже не

выглядела хорошенькой во втором акте)."

Avice's career (Эвис и ее карьера)!

veneration ["venq'reIS(q)n] beam [bi:m] grand [grxnd]

The author flushed. Julia looked at him with veneration. He felt shy and happy and

proud.

("In twenty-four hours the mug'll think he really meant the scene to go like that.")

Michael beamed.

"Come along to my dressing-room and have a whisky and soda. I'm sure you need

a drink after all that emotion."

They went out as Tom came in. Tom's face was red with excitement.

"My dear, it was grand. You were simply wonderful. Gosh, what a performance."

"Did you like it? Avice was good, wasn't she?"

"No, rotten."

"My dear, what do you mean? I thought she was charming."

"You simply wiped the floor with her. She didn't even look pretty in the second

act."

Avice's career!

"I say, what are you doing afterwards (слушай, что ты делаешь позже)?"

"Dolly's giving a party for us (Долли устраивает прием в нашу честь: «для

нас»)."

"Can't you cut it and come along to supper with me (ты не можешь удрать и

пойти поужинать со мной)? I’m madly in love with you (я безумно люблю

тебя)."

"Oh, what nonsense (о, какая ерунда). How can I let Dolly down (как я могу

подвести Долли)?"

"Oh, do (ну пожалуйста)."

His eyes were eager (его глаза /горели/ от нетерпения). She could see that he

desired her as he had never done before (она могла видеть, что он хотел ее

больше, чем когда-либо /хотел/ раньше), and she rejoiced in her triumph (и она

обрадовалась своей победе: «триумфу»). But she shook her head firmly (но она

твердо покачала головой). There was a sound in the corridor (в коридоре

раздался звук) of a crowd of people talking (толпы разговаривающих людей),

and they both knew (и они оба поняли) that a troop of friends were forcing their

way down the narrow passage to congratulate her (что целая группа ее друзей

прокладывала себе путь по узкому проходу, чтобы поздравить ее; to force —

заставлять, принуждать).

"Damn all these people (черт побери всех этих людей). God, how I want to kiss

you (Боже, как же я хочу поцеловать тебя). I'll ring you up in the morning (я

позвоню тебе утром)."

afterwards ['Q:ftqwqdz] rejoice [rI'dZOIs] congratulate [kqn'grxtjVleIt]

"I say, what are you doing afterwards?"

"Dolly's giving a party for us."

"Can't you cut it and come along to supper with me? I’m madly in love with you."

"Oh, what nonsense. How can I let Dolly down?"

"Oh, do."

His eyes were eager. She could see that he desired her as he had never done before,

and she rejoiced in her triumph. But she shook her head firmly. There was a sound

in the corridor of a crowd of people talking, and they both knew that a troop of

friends were forcing their way down the narrow passage to congratulate her.

"Damn all these people. God, how I want to kiss you. I'll ring you up in the

morning."

The door burst open (дверь с шумом распахнулась) and Dolly, fat, perspiring and

bubbling over with enthusiasm (и Долли, толстая, исходящая испариной:

«потеющая», кипящая от энтузиазма; to bubble — пузыриться, булькать,

бить ключом), swept in at the head of a throng that packed the dressing-room to

suffocation (ворвалась в комнату во главе целой толпы, которая набилась в

грим-уборной /Джулии/ так, что нечем стало дышать: «до удушения»; to pack

— упаковывать; заполнять, скучиваться). Julia submitted to being kissed by all

and sundry (Джулия позволяла себя целовать всем и каждому; all and sundry

— все вместе и каждый в отдельности). Among others were three or four well-

known actresses (среди других были три или четыре известные актрисы), and

they were prodigal of their praise (и они были щедры на свои похвалы). Julia

gave a beautiful performance of unaffected modesty (Джулия прекрасно

изобразила

неподдельную

скромность;

unaffected

—

простой,

непринужденный, искренний). The corridor was packed now with people

(коридор был теперь уже забит людьми) who wanted to get at least a glimpse of

her (которые хотели, по крайней мере, хоть мельком взглянуть на нее). Dolly

had to fight her way out (Долли пришлось с боем прокладывать себе путь к

выходу; to fight — сражаться, драться, бороться).

"Try not to be too late (постарайся не слишком опаздывать)," she said to Julia.

"It's going to be a heavenly party (это будет великолепный прием)."

"I'll come as soon as ever I can (я приеду так скоро, как только смогу)."

perspirable [pq'spaI(q)rqb(q)l] suffocation ["sAfq'keIS(q)n]

prodigal ['prOdIg(q)l]

The door burst open and Dolly, fat, perspiring and bubbling over with enthusiasm,

swept in at the head of a throng that packed the dressing-room to suffocation. Julia

submitted to being kissed by all and sundry. Among others were three or four well-

known actresses, and they were prodigal of their praise. Julia gave a beautiful

performance of unaffected modesty. The corridor was packed now with people

who wanted to get at least a glimpse of her. Dolly had to fight her way out.

"Try not to be too late," she said to Julia. "It's going to be a heavenly party."

"I'll come as soon as ever I can."

At last the crowd was got rid of (в конечном счете, от толпы удалось

избавиться) and Julia, having undressed, began to take off her make-up (и

Джулия, раздевшись, начала снимать грим). Michael came in, wearing a

dressing-gown (вошел Майкл, одетый в халат).

"I say, Julia, you'll have to go to Dolly's party by yourself (послушай, Джулия,

тебе придется ехать на прием к Долли одной). I've got to see the libraries (я

должен повидаться с газетчиками; library — библиотека, собрание книг;

архив газеты) and I can't manage it (и я не смогу успеть; to manage —

руководить, управлять, справиться, ухитриться). I'm going to sting them (я

собираюсь их накачать: «возбудить»; to sting — жалить, причинять острую

боль, побуждать, одурачить)."

"Oh, all right (о, хорошо)."

"They're waiting for me now (они уже ждут меня сейчас). See you in the

morning (увидимся утром)."

He went out and she was left alone with Evie (он вышел, и она осталась одна с

Эви). The dress she had arranged to wear for Dolly's party was placed over a chair

(платье, которое она собиралась надеть на прием Долли, лежало на кресле).

Julia smeared her face with cleansing cream (Джулия намазало лицо

очищающим кремом; cleansing cream — крем для снятия косметики).

library ['laIbr(q)rI] sting [stIN] smear [smIq]

At last the crowd was got rid of and Julia, having undressed, began to take off her

make-up. Michael came in, wearing a dressing-gown.

"I say, Julia, you'll have to go to Dolly's party by yourself. I've got to see the

libraries and I can't manage it. I'm going to sting them."

"Oh, all right."

"They're waiting for me now. See you in the morning."

He went out and she was left alone with Evie. The dress she had arranged to wear

for Dolly's party was placed over a chair. Julia smeared her face with cleansing

cream.

"Evie, Mr. Fennel will be ringing up tomorrow (Эви, мистер Феннелл будет

звонить завтра). Will you say I'm out (не скажешь ли ему, что меня нет на

месте)?"

Evie looked in the mirror and caught Julia's eyes (Эви посмотрела в зеркало и

поймала взгляд Джулии).

"And if he rings up again (а если он снова позвонит)?"

"I don't want to hurt his feelings, poor lamb (мне бы не хотелось обидеть его

чувств, бедный ягненочек), but I have a notion I shall be very much engaged for

some time now (но у меня такое представление, что теперь я буду очень

сильно занята на некоторое время)."

Evie sniffed loudly (Эви громко шмыгнула носом), and with that rather

disgusting habit of hers (и, с этой своей довольно отвратительной привычкой)

drew her forefinger across the bottom of her nose (провела своим указательным

пальцем под носом: «вдоль основания своего носа»).

"I understand (я поняла)," she said dryly (сказала она сухо).

"I always said you weren't such a fool as you looked (я всегда говорила, что ты

не такая дура, как выглядишь)." Julia went on with her face (Джулия

продолжила /очищать/ лицо). "What's that dress doing on that chair (что это

платье делает на том кресле)?"

"That (то)? That's the dress you said you'd wear for the party (это то самое

платье, которое, как вы сказали, вы наденете на прием)."

"Put it away (убери его: «отложи его в сторону»). I can't go to the party without

Mr. Gosselyn (я не могу идти на прием без мистера Госселина)."

"Since when (с каких это пор)?"

sniff [snIf] disgusting [dIs'gAstIN] forefinger ['fO:"fINgq]

"Evie, Mr. Fennel will be ringing up tomorrow. Will you say I'm out?"

Evie looked in the mirror and caught Julia's eyes.

"And if he rings up again?"

"I don't want to hurt his feelings, poor lamb, but I have a notion I shall be very

much engaged for some time now."

Evie sniffed loudly, and with that rather disgusting habit of hers drew her

forefinger across the bottom of her nose.

"I understand," she said dryly.

"I always said you weren't such a fool as you looked." Julia went on with her face.

"What's that dress doing on that chair?"

"That? That's the dress you said you'd wear for the party."

"Put it away. I can't go to the party without Mr. Gosselyn."

"Shut up, you old hag (заткнись, ты старая ведьма). Phone through and say that

I've got a bad headache (дозвонись и скажи, что у меня сильная головная боль)

and had to go home to bed (и я была вынуждена поехать домой и лечь в

постель), but Mr. Gosselyn will come if he possibly can (но что мистер Госселин

приедет, если только сможет)."

"The party's being given special for you (этот прием устраивается специально в

вашу честь). You can't let the poor old gal down like that (вы же не можете вот

так вот подвести бедную старушку: «бедную старую девчушку»)?"

Julia stamped her feet (Джулия топнула ногой).

"I don't want to go to a party (я не хочу идти ни на какой прием). I won't go to a

party (я не пойду ни на какой прием)."

"There's nothing for you to eat at home (дома нечего есть: «ничего для вас нет

поесть дома»)."

"I don't want to go home (я не хочу ехать домой). I'll go and have supper at a

restaurant (я поеду и поужинаю в ресторане)."

"Who with (с кем это)?"

"By myself (одна)."

Evie gave her a puzzled glance (Эви озадаченно взглянула на нее).

"The play's a success, isn't it (спектакль же имел успех, не так ли)?"

headache ['hedeIk] special ['speS(q)l] restaurant [

"Since when?"

|

"Shut up, you old hag. Phone through and say that I've got a bad headache and had

to go home to bed, but Mr. Gosselyn will come if he possibly can."

"The party's being given special for you. You can't let the poor old gal down like

that?"

Julia stamped her feet.

"I don't want to go to a party. I won't go to a party."

"There's nothing for you to eat at home."

"I don't want to go home. I'll go and have supper at a restaurant."

"Who with?"

"By myself."

Evie gave her a puzzled glance.

"The play's a success, isn't it?"

"Yes. Everything's a success (да, все имело успех). I feel on the top of the world

(я ощущаю себя на седьмом небе: «на вершине мира»). I feel like a million

dollars (я чувствую себя превосходно: «как миллион долларов»). I want to be

alone and enjoy myself (я хочу побыть одна и насладиться этим). Ring up the

Berkeley and tell them to keep a table for one in the little room (позвони в

«Беркли» и скажи им, чтобы зарезервировали: «придержали» столик на

одного в маленькой зале). They'll know what I mean (они поймут, что я имею в

виду)."

"What's the matter with you (да что с вами такое)?"

"I shall never in all my life have another moment like this (у меня никогда

больше в жизни не будет такого момента). I'm not going to share it with anyone

(и я не собираюсь делиться с ним с кем бы то ни было)."

When Julia had got her face clean she left it (когда Джулия очистила лицо, она

оставила его /как есть/). She neither painted her lips nor rouged her cheeks (она

не накрасила губы и не нарумянила щеки). She put on again the brown coat and

skirt in which she had come to the theatre and the same hat (она надела снова те

же самые коричневые пиджак и юбку, в которых она приехала в театр, и ту

же самую шляпку). It was a felt hat with a brim (это была фетровая шляпа с

полями), and this she pulled down over one eye (и ее она надвинула: «натянула»

низко на один бок: «над одним глазом») so that it should hide as much of her

face as possible (так, чтобы она скрыла как можно больше ее лицо: «так много

ее лица, как только возможно»). When she was ready she looked at herself in the

glass (когда она была готова, она взглянула на себя в зеркало).

success [sqk'ses] million ['mIljqn] hide [haId]

"Yes. Everything's a success. I feel on the top of the world. I feel like a million

dollars. I want to be alone and enjoy myself. Ring up the Berkeley and tell them to

keep a table for one in the little room. They'll know what I mean."

"What's the matter with you?"

"I shall never in all my life have another moment like this. I'm not going to share it

with anyone."

When Julia had got her face clean she left it. She neither painted her lips nor

rouged her cheeks. She put on again the brown coat and skirt in which she had

come to the theatre and the same hat. It was a felt hat with a brim, and this she

pulled down over one eye so that it should hide as much of her face as possible.

When she was ready she looked at herself in the glass.

"I look like a working dressmaker (я выгляжу, как работающая портниха) whose

husband's left her (которую оставил муж: «чей муж оставил ее»), and who can

blame him (и кто может винить его)? I don't believe a soul would recognize me

(не поверю, что хоть одна душа узнает меня)."

Evie had had the telephoning done from the stage-door (Эви ходила звонить /по

телефону/ к служебному входу), and when she came back Julia asked her if there

were many people waiting for her there (и, когда она вернулась, Джулия

спросила ее, много ли людей ожидает /ее/ там).

"About three 'undred I should say (около трехсот, я бы сказала; 'undred =

hundred)."

"Damn (черт побери)." She had a sudden desire to see nobody and be seen by

nobody (у нее появилось внезапное желание никого не видеть, и не быть ни

кем увиденной). She wanted just for one hour to be obscure (ей хотелось хоть на

один час побыть неизвестной).

"Tell the fireman to let me out at the front (скажи пожарному, чтобы выпустил

меня с парадного выхода) and I'll take a taxi (и я возьму такси), and then as

soon as I've got out let the crowd know there's no use in their waiting (и тогда, как

только я выйду, скажите толпе, что нет никакого смысла: «толку» в

ожидании)."

dressmaker ['dres"meIkq] stage door ["steIdZ'dO:] obscure [qb'skjVq]

"I look like a working dressmaker whose husband's left her, and who can blame

him? I don't believe a soul would recognize me."

Evie had had the telephoning done from the stage-door, and when she came back

Julia asked her if there were many people waiting for her there.

"About three 'undred I should say."

"Damn." She had a sudden desire to see nobody and be seen by nobody. She

wanted just for one hour to be obscure. "Tell the fireman to let me out at the front

and I'll take a taxi, and then as soon as I've got out let the crowd know there's no

use in their waiting."

"God only knows what I 'ave to put up with (только Бог знает, с чем мне

приходится мириться; to put up with — терпеливо сносить)," said Evie darkly

(сказала Эви мрачно).

"You old cow (ах ты, старая корова)."

Julia took Evie's face in her hands (Джулия взяла лицо Эви /своими/ руками)

and kissed her raddled cheeks (и поцеловала ее раскрасневшиеся щеки; raddled

= ruddled — покрытый охрой, вспыхнувший); then slipped out of her dressing-

room (затем выскользнула из своей грим-уборной), on to the stage (на сцену)

and through the iron door into the darkened auditorium (и затем, через железную

дверь, в затемненный зрительный зал).

Julia's simple disguise was evidently adequate (простая маскировка Джулии

была очевидно достаточной), for when she came into the little room at the

Berkeley (так как, когда она вошла в маленькую залу в «Беркли») of which she

was peculiarly fond (которую она особенно любила), the head waiter did not

immediately know her (метрдотель не сразу узнал ее; immediately —

немедленно).

"Have you got a corner that you can squeeze me into (нет ли у вас уголка, куда

вы могли бы меня втиснуть; to squeeze — сжимать, выжимать,

впихивать)?" she asked diffidently (спросила она неуверенно).