For, let her cousin and sovereign send what command he chose (or Colonel Sapt chose for him), and let Marshal Strakencz insist as he would, the Princess Flavia was in no way minded to rest at Tarlenheim while her lover lay wounded at Zenda; and when the Marshal, with a small suite, rode forth from Tarlenheim on the way to Zenda, the princess’s carriage followed immediately behind, and in this order they passed through the town, where the report was already rife that the King, going the night before to remonstrate with his brother, in all friendliness, for that he held one of the King’s friends in confinement in the Castle, had been most traitorously set upon; that there had been a desperate conflict; that the duke was slain with several of his gentlemen; and that the King, wounded as he was, had seized and held the Castle of Zenda. All of which talk made, as may be supposed, a mighty excitement: and the wires were set in motion, and the tidings came to Strelsau only just after orders had been sent thither to parade the troops and overawe the dissatisfied quarters of the town with a display of force.
Thus the Princess Flavia came to Zenda (итак, принцесса Флавия отправилась в замок). And as she drove up the hill, with the Marshal riding by the wheel (и когда они подъехали к холму с маршалом, скачущим рядом: «у колеса») and still imploring her to return in obedience to the King’s orders (и все еще упрашивающим ее вернуться, повинуясь приказам короля; obedience – послушание, повиновение), Fritz von Tarlenheim, with the prisoner of Zenda, came to the edge of the forest (Фриц фон Тарленхайм с узником замка Зенды вышли на опушку леса). I had revived from my swoon, and walked, resting on Fritz’s arm (я уже оправился от своего обморока и шел, опираясь на руку Фрица; to revive – возрождаться, воскресать; приходить в сознание; to rest – отдыхать; опираться /на что-л./); and looking out from the cover of the trees, I saw the princess (и выглянув из-под покрова деревьев, я увидел принцессу). Suddenly understanding from a glance at my companion’s face (взглянув на лицо своего спутника, я внезапно понял) that we must not meet her (что мы не должны встретиться с ней), I sank on my knees behind a clump of bushes (и опустился на колени позади зарослей кустарника; clump – группа /деревьев, кустов и т. п./). But there was one whom we had forgotten (но был один /человек/, о котором мы забыли), but who followed us, and was not disposed to let slip the chance (но который следовал за нами и был несклонен упустить свой шанс: «дать шансу ускользнуть») of earning a smile and maybe a crown or two (заслужить улыбку, а может, и пару крон; to earn – зарабатывать; заслуживать); and, while we lay hidden, the little farm-girl came by us (и пока мы, притаившись, лежали /в кустах/, маленькая фермерша, миновав нас) and ran to the princess, curtseying and crying (подбежала к принцессе, делая реверанс и крича):
“Madame, the King is here – in the bushes (госпожа, король здесь, в кустах)! May I guide you to him, madame (могу я отвести вас к нему, госпожа)?”
Thus the Princess Flavia came to Zenda. And as she drove up the hill, with the Marshal riding by the wheel and still imploring her to return in obedience to the King’s orders, Fritz von Tarlenheim, with the prisoner of Zenda, came to the edge of the forest. I had revived from my swoon, and walked, resting on Fritz’s arm; and looking out from the cover of the trees, I saw the princess. Suddenly understanding from a glance at my companion’s face that we must not meet her, I sank on my knees behind a clump of bushes. But there was one whom we had forgotten, but who followed us, and was not disposed to let slip the chance of earning a smile and maybe a crown or two; and, while we lay hidden, the little farm-girl came by us and ran to the princess, curtseying and crying:
“Madame, the King is here – in the bushes! May I guide you to him, madame?”
“Nonsense, child!” said old Strakencz (глупости, дитя! – сказал старый Штракенц); “the King lies wounded in the Castle (король лежит раненый в замке).”
“Yes, sir, he’s wounded, I know (да, сэр, он ранен, я знаю); but he’s there – with Count Fritz – and not at the Castle,” she persisted (но он там, с графом Фрицем, а /совсем/ не в замке).
“Is he in two places, or are there two Kings?” asked Flavia, bewildered (он, что, в двух местах /сразу/, или существует два короля? – удивленно спросила Флавия). “And how should he be there (и с какой стати ему быть там)?”
“He pursued a gentleman, madame, and they fought till Count Fritz came (он преследовал /какого-то/ джентльмена, госпожа, и они дрались, пока не появился граф Фриц); and the other gentleman took my father’s horse from me and rode away (а тот другой джентльмен взял у меня лошадь моего отца и ускакал прочь); but the King is here with Count Fritz (но король здесь с графом Фрицем). Why, madame, is there another man in Ruritania like the King (разве есть, госпожа, в Руритании другой человек, похожий на короля)?”