odor ['qudq], elegance ['elIgqns], luxurious [lAg'zjuqrIqs]

She was almost driven back by the powerful odor of elegance that assailed her once she was inside. It was the same that she smelled when Lady Dent opened the doors to her wardrobe, the same that clung to the fur coat and clothes of the Countess Wyszcinska, for whom she cleaned from four to six in the afternoons, the same she sometimes sniffed in the streets when as she passed someone opened the door of a luxurious motorcar. It was compounded of perfume and fur and satins, silks and leather, jewelry and face powder. It seemed to arise from the thick gray carpets and hangings, and fill the air of the grand staircase before her.

It was the odor of the rich (это был аромат богатых), and it made her tremble once more (и он заставил ее задрожать снова) and wonder what she, Ada 'Arris, was doing there (и изумиться, что она, Ада Харрис, делала там) instead of washing up the luncheon dishes for Mrs. Fford Foulks back home (вместо мытья тарелок после ланча у миссис Ффорд Фоулкс дома), or furthering the career of a real theatrical star like Pamela Penrose (или содействия карьере настоящей театральной звезды вроде Памелы Пенроуз) by seeing that her flat was neat and tidy (следя, чтобы ее квартира была опрятной и чистой) when her producer friends came to call (когда ее друзья-продюсеры приходили навестить; to call — звонить; навещать).

instead [In'sted], career [kq'rIq], theatrical [TI'xtrIkql]

It was the odor of the rich, and it made her tremble once more and wonder what she, Ada 'Arris, was doing there instead of washing up the luncheon dishes for Mrs. Fford Foulks back home, or furthering the career of a real theatrical star like Pamela Penrose by seeing that her flat was neat and tidy when her producer friends came to call.

She hesitated (она колебалась), her feet sinking into the pile of the carpet (ее ноги тонули в ворсе ковра) seemingly up to her ankles (по-видимому до самых лодыжек). Then her fingers crept into her handbag (затем ее пальцы прокрались = скользнули в ее сумку; to creep — ползать) and tested the smooth feel of the roll of American bills (и проверили ощущение гладкой поверхности рулона американских купюр). "That's why you're 'ere, Ada 'Arris (вот зачем ты здесь, Ада Харрис). That says you're ruddy well as rich as any of 'em (это говорит о том, что ты, черт возьми, так же богата, как любой из них). Get on with it then, my girl (ну, давай: «продолжай с этим = это», моя девочка)."

hesitate ['hezIteIt], ankle [xNkl], smooth [smHD]

She hesitated, her feet sinking into the pile of the carpet seemingly up to her ankles. Then her fingers crept into her handbag and tested the smooth feel of the roll of American bills. "That's why you're 'ere, Ada 'Arris. That says you're ruddy well as rich as any of 'em. Get on with it then, my girl."

She mounted the imposing and deserted staircase (она поднялась по внушительной и пустынной лестнице), it then being half past eleven in the morning (было тогда одиннадцать тридцать утра). On the first half landing (на первой лестничной площадке) there was but a single silver slipper in a glass showcase (не было ничего, кроме одной серебряной туфельки в стеклянной витрине) let into the wall (вставленной в стену), on the second turn there was a similar showcase (на втором повороте была похожая витрина) housing an outsize bottle of Dior perfume (вмещающая необычайно большой флакон духов от Диора; outsize — необычайно большой, крупный; больше стандартного размера; нестандартный).