Chapter 2
The baron couldn’t be in two places at once, but even if he could, it would be wise of him to stay away from the forest inn. The place served as a hideout for the outcasts of forest society, and had a very bad reputation.
As for the two of us, my dear reader, we can enter the place entirely unnoticed, and have a look around.
wise of sb мудро с чьей-либо стороны; stay away держаться подальше; serve служить, играть роль; hideout тайное убежище, логово, место тайных встреч; outcast изгой, изгнанник, пария, отверженный; forest society лесное сообщество; as for что касается; entirely полностью, совершенно, абсолютно; unnoticed незамеченный
But, wait – what is that? It looks like we’re a little late. (7) One of the characters at the table nearest to the door is getting up to leave.
He rose, took one last sip from his wine glass (8), nodded to his companion, then turned on his heel and marched through the open door.
character здесь: субъект, личность; rise (rose; risen) подняться (с места), встать; sip небольшой глоток; nod кивать; companion спутник; компаньон; собеседник; heel пятка ◊ turn on your heel круто повернуться (и уйти); march решительно шагать
His companion remained where he was. He picked up the leather purse left on the table by the other, taking time to weigh it in his hairy paw. (9) His yellow eyes narrowed with pleasure. A second later, the purse disappeared into his colourful robes.
pick up здесь: взять в руки (со стола); leather кожа; purse кошель; weigh взвешивать; hairy волосатый, мохнатый, косматый; paw лапа; narrow сузиться; with pleasure здесь: от удовольствия; disappear исчезать; colourful яркий, красочный, пестрый; robe одежда, одеяние
Having finished his simple supper which had consisted of milk with a drop of valerian, he turned his attention to his appearance. Out of his pocket, he removed a black eye patch and put it over his right eye. To do that, he had to take off his hat (10) decorated with two white feathers. By the way he handled it (11), one could see that this item of his equipment was particularly dear to him. He then bent down, picked up his rucksack, and took out some elongated object which he shoved under his hat.
consist of состоять из; drop капля; valerian валерьяна; turn attention to переключить внимание на; appearance внешность, внешний вид; remove вынуть, извлечь; eye patch глазная повязка; decorate украшать; feather перо; handle обращаться с чем-либо (определенным образом); item предмет (в ряду других предметов, в данном случае среди предметов его экипировки); particularly особенно, исключительно; bend down нагнуться; rucksack заплечный мешок, вещмешок, рюкзак; elongated продолговатый, удлиненный; object предмет, вещь; shove засунуть, запихнуть, затолкать
None of these manipulations seemed to attract any attention from any of the other guests. Obviously, they were not in the habit of sticking their noses into other creatures’ business, especially if that other creature was a hairy monster five times their own size.
attract attention привлекать внимание; obviously очевидно, по-видимому; habit привычка ◊ they were not in the habit у них не было привычки; stick your nose into sth совать свой нос во что-либо; creature живое существо, (божья) тварь, личность; especially особенно; monster монстр; size размер ◊ five times your own size в пять раз превосходить тебя размерами
The strange guest returned his rucksack under the table and stood up. He doubled over to squeeze himself through the low door, hardly concerned about the rucksack – it was safe where it was. No one would dare touch it.
Once outside, he straightened up, and started toward the dark highway.
double over согнуться пополам, низко наклониться; squeeze yourself протиснуться; hardly concerned ничуть не беспокоясь, особенно не тревожась; dare сметь, осмелиться; once outside оказавшись снаружи; straighten up распрямиться; start toward двинуться, отправиться, зашагать по направлению к; highway большая дорога, основной тракт