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Butterfield was a stranger to the paradise that was White City, but that night the mise en scène that otherwise would have enthralled them — the oval track outlined in electric light, the rush and roar of the mechanical rabbit, the pulsating ribbon of the dogs streaming behind in its wake, the bustling crowds in the betting queues and the packed stands — was no more than the means to an end. Mrs. Butterfield too, by this time, had caught the fever, and went waddling in Mrs. Harris' wake from paddock to stands and back again without protest.
They did not even pause for a cup of tea and a sausage at the refreshment booth (они даже не сделали паузу, чтобы /выпить/ чашку чая и /съесть/ сосиску в закусочной; refreshment — восстановление сил; отдых; подкрепление; что-л. освежающее, восстанавливающее силы: to take refreshment — подкрепиться; booth — киоск; палатка; будка), so intent were they upon attuning themselves to the work in hand (так они были сосредоточены на настраивании себя на предстоящее дело: «дело в руке»). They searched the race cards for clues (они изучали программы гонок /в поисках/ наводящей информации: «ключей»), they examined the long (они рассматривали длинных), thin (тонких), stringy animals (мускулистых животных; stringy — волокнистый; жилистый; мускулистый; string — веревка; струна; тетива), they kept their ears flapping for possible tidbits of information (они внимательно прислушивались: «держали уши хлопающими» к возможным отрывкам информации), and it was this last precaution (и это была последняя предосторожность) that eventually yielded results (которая в конечном счете принесла свои плоды: «привела к данным/результатам») — results of such stunning portent (данным настолько ошеломляющего чуда) that there could be no question of either authenticity or outcome (что не могло быть и вопроса о достоверности или результате).
clue [klH], stringy ['strINI], precaution [prI'kLSqn]
They did not even pause for a cup of tea and a sausage at the refreshment booth, so intent were they upon attuning themselves to the work in hand. They searched the race cards for clues, they examined the long, thin, stringy animals, they kept their ears flapping for possible tidbits of information, and it was this last precaution that eventually yielded results — results of such stunning portent that there could be no question of either authenticity or outcome.
Crushed in the crowd at the paddock (втиснувшись в толпу у загона) where the entrants for the fourth race were being paraded (где участники четвертой гонки были выставлены напоказ; entrant — «входящий» — спорт. /заявленный/ участник /соревнования, состязания и т. п./), Mrs. Harris listened to the conversation of two sporty-looking gentlemen (миссис Харрис прислушалась к разговору двух спортивного вида джентльменов) standing just beside them (стоя совсем рядом с ними). The first gentleman was engaged in digging into his ear with his little finger (первый джентльмен был занят ковырянием в ухе мизинцем) and studying his card at the same time (и изучением своей программки в то же самое время: card — карта; программа/скачек, гонок/). "Haut Coutoure, that's the one («От Кутюр», вот то, что надо; haute couture — фр. высокая мода)."
paddock ['pxdqk], conversation ["kOnvq'seISqn], engage [In'geIG]
Crushed in the crowd at the paddock where the entrants for the fourth race were being paraded, Mrs. Harris listened to the conversation of two sporty-looking gentlemen standing just beside them. The first gentleman was engaged in digging into his ear with his little finger and studying his card at the same time. "Haut Coutoure, that's the one. |
