Елизавета Хейнонен The Mysterious Disappearance of the Chevalier Valmont
Chapter 1
Monsieur Rollot, the owner of a small roadside hotel, let out a light snore, waking himself. He glanced around to make sure that nobody had seen him doze off behind the reception desk, and locked eyes with one of his guests, the Baron San Simón da Costa.
mysterious таинственный, загадочный; disappearance исчезновение; owner владелец; roadside придорожный; let out a light snore издать легкий храп; glance around = look around; make sure убедиться; doze off задремать (обычно ненадолго и непреднамеренно); reception desk стойка регистрации (в отеле), lock eyes with sb встретиться глазами с кем-либо; guest постоялец (отеля)
“I must have fallen asleep (1),” he said apologetically. “Is there anything I can do for Monsieur le Baron?” (2)
“Yes,” answered the guest. “I would like to pay for my room, please.”
“Your Excellency is leaving us?”
“I’m afraid I am. I’m leaving in half an hour.”
“In half an hour! But it’s already seven o’clock! In two hours, it’ll be completely dark! These roads are not safe at night. Why don’t you wait till morning?”
“I wish I could – but I cannot.” (3)
“You’re a very brave fellow, Monsieur le Baron.”
“Unfortunately, not as brave as I would like to be.”
fall asleep уснуть, провалиться в сон; apologetically извиняющимся тоном; your excellency ваша светлость, ваша милость; in half an hour через полчаса; completely совершенно, абсолютно; brave смелый, храбрый; fellow парень; unfortunately к сожалению
Here we must say that, indeed, the Baron San Simón da Costa had every reason to be worried. The road to Mouseville, the capital of the Mouse Kingdom, went through the forest, and where there is a forest, there are robbers. But there was nothing he could do. His Majesty the Mouse King was expecting him, and kings never like to be kept waiting (4).
The baron would have been even more worried could he have heard (5) the conversation that was going on at that very moment (6) at one of the tables in the forest inn, some 50 mouse leagues away.
indeed в самом деле, действительно; every reason все основания; capital столица; kingdom королевство; through через; robber разбойник; his majesty его величество; there was nothing he could do он ничего не мог поделать; expect ожидать; keep waiting заставлять ждать; conversation разговор; go on здесь: проходить, иметь место; inn таверна, трактир, постоялый двор; some здесь: около, приблизительно; league лье (старинная французская единица измерения расстояния)