Английский с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Алмаз раджи / R. L. Stevenson. The Rajah’s Diamond. Роберт Льюис Стивенсон

weak and ignorant (и /так как/ его единственный оставшийся родитель был и слаб, и невежествен), he was permitted thenceforward (ему было позволено впредь) to spend his time in the attainment of petty and purely elegant accomplishments (тратить свое время на приобретение незначительных и чисто светских достоинств). Two years later (два года спустя), he was left an orphan and almost a beggar (он остался сиротой и почти нищим: «был оставлен…»; to leave – оставлять, покидать).

       Up to the age of sixteen, at a private school and afterwards at one of those great institutions for which England is justly famous, Mr. Harry Hartley had received the ordinary education of a gentleman. At that period, he manifested a remarkable distaste for study; and his only surviving parent being both weak and ignorant, he was permitted thenceforward to spend his time in the attainment of petty and purely elegant accomplishments. Two years later, he was left an orphan and almost a beggar.

      For all active and industrious pursuits (для всех деятельных и энергичных занятий), Harry was unfitted alike by nature and training (Гарри был неприспособлен равно по природе и образованию). He could sing romantic ditties (он умел петь романтические песенки), and accompany himself with discretion on the piano (и аккомпанировать себе с ловкостью на фортепиано); he was a graceful although a timid cavalier (он был грациозным, хоть и робким наездником); he had a pronounced taste for chess (у него был отчетливо выраженный вкус к шахматам); and nature had sent him into the world with one of the most engaging exteriors (и природа послала его в мир с одной из самых привлекательных наружностей; to send – послать) that can well be fancied (которую можно вообразить). Blond and pink (белокурый и розовый = розовощекий), with dove’s eyes (с глазами голубки = с невинным взором) and a gentle smile (и кроткой улыбкой), he had an air of agreeable tenderness and melancholy (он имел вид приятной нежности и задумчивости), and the most submissive and caressing manners (и крайне смирные и ласковые манеры). But when all is said (но когда все сказано = но при всем этом), he was not the man to lead armaments of war (он не был таким человеком, /который мог бы/ повести войска в бой), or direct the councils of a State (или управлять государством: «советами государства»).

       For all active and industrious pursuits, Harry was unfitted alike by nature and training. He could sing romantic ditties, and accompany himself with discretion on the piano; he was a graceful although a timid cavalier; he had a pronounced taste for chess; and nature had sent him into the world with one of the most engaging exteriors that can well be fancied. Blond and pink, with dove’s eyes and a gentle smile, he had an air of agreeable tenderness and melancholy, and the most submissive and caressing manners. But when all is said, he was not the man to lead armaments of war, or direct the councils of a State.

      A fortunate chance and some influence (счастливый случай и некоторая протекция: «влияние») obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement (раздобыли для Гарри во время его лишений), the position of private secretary (место личного секретаря) to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B. (у генерал-майора сэра Томаса Венделера, кавалера Ордена Бани третьей степени). Sir Thomas was a man of sixty (сэр Томас был человек шестидесяти /лет/), loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering (громогласный, шумливый и властный). For some reason (по какой-то причине), some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied (/за/ какую-то услугу, суть которой часто называлась шепотом и постоянно опровергалась; to whisper – шептать), the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer (раджа Кашгара наградил этого офицера) with the sixth known diamond of the world (шестым /по величине/ известным алмазом в мире).

       A fortunate chance and some influence obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement, the position of private secretary to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B. Sir Thomas was a man of sixty, loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering. For some reason, some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied, the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer with the sixth known diamond of the world.

      The gift transformed General Vandeleur from a poor into a wealthy man (этот подарок превратил генерала Венделера из бедного в богатого человека), from an obscure and unpopular soldier into one of the lions of London society (из никому не известного и непопулярного вояки – в одного из львов лондонского света); the possessor of the Rajah’s Diamond was welcome in the most exclusive circles (владелец Алмаза раджи был желанным /гостем/ в самых узких/высокопоставленных кругах); and he had found a lady (и он нашел женщину; to find – найти), young, beautiful, and well-born (молодую, красивую и из хорошей семьи: «хорошо-рожденную»), who was willing to call the diamond hers (которая пожелала