George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter

“It’s five o’clock.”

“The clock says twenty minutes past five,” the second man said.

“It’s twenty minutes fast.”

“Oh, to hell with the clock,” the first man said. “What have you got to eat?”

“I can give you any kind of sandwiches,” George said. “You can have ham and

eggs, bacon and eggs, liver and bacon, or a steak.”

sauce [so:s] potato [p∂`teıt∂u] liver [lıv∂]

“Give me chicken croquettes (дай мне куриные крокеты) with green peas (с зеленым

горошком) and cream sauce (под белым: «сливочным» соусом) and mashed

potatoes.”

“That’s the dinner.”

“Everything we want’s the dinner (все, что мы хотим – обед), eh? That’s the way you

work it (так: «таким путем» ты это делаешь: «срабатываешь, устраиваешь» = ну и

порядки).”

“I can give you ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver – ”

“I’ll take ham and eggs (я возьму яичницу с ветчиной),” the man called Al said. He

wore a derby hat (на нем был: «он носил» котелок) and a black overcoat (и черное

пальто) buttoned across the chest (застегнутое наглухо: «через грудь»; button -

пуговица). His face was small and white (его лицо было маленьким и белым) and he

had tight lips (и у него были сжатые губы; tight – плотный, тугой). He wore a silk

muffler (шелковое кашне; to muffle – закутывать, укутывать; глушить /звук/) and

gloves (и перчатки).

“Give me bacon and eggs,” said the other man (сказал другой мужчина). He was

about the same size as Al (он был примерно того же роста: «размера», что и Эл).

Their faces were different (лица были различны), but they were dressed like twins (но

они были одеты, как близнецы). Both wore overcoats too tight for them (слишком

узкие для них). They sat leaning forward (наклонившись вперед), their elbows on the

counter (их локти на стойке).

“Give me chicken croquettes with green peas and cream sauce and mashed

potatoes.”

“That’s the dinner.”

“Everything we want’s the dinner, eh? That’s the way you work it.”

“I can give you ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver – ”

“I’ll take ham and eggs,” the man called Al said. He wore a derby hat and a black