(любопытный узнать = стараясь отгадать, чем может быть этот поиск = это новое расследование) which seemed to tax his powers so sorely (которое, казалось, напрягло его силы так сильно), and yet afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts (и все же /я/ боялся вломиться в направление его мыслей = не смея прервать его раздумья). We had driven several miles (мы проехали несколько миль), and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas (и уже начинали приближаться к краю пояса пригородных вилл), when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders (когда он очнулся: «встряхнул себя», передернул плечами), and lit up his pipe with the air of a man (и зажег трубку с видом человека) who has satisfied himself that he is acting for the best (который удовлетворил себя: «убедился», что он действует самым лучшим образом).
succession [sək'seʃn], deserted [dɪ'zɜ:tɪd], beneath [bɪ'ni:θ], sorely ['sɔ:lɪ]
He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he is acting for the best.
“You have a grand gift of silence (великий дар молчания), Watson,” said he. “It makes you quite invaluable as a companion (это делает вас совершенно бесценным в качестве товарища). 'Pon my word (честное слово: «на мое слово»; 'pon = upon), it is a great thing for me to have someone to talk to (это замечательная вещь для меня – иметь кого-то, чтобы поговорить с /ним/), for my own thoughts are not over-pleasant (так как мои собственные мысли не слишком радостные). I was wondering what I should say to this dear little woman tonight (я интересовался = не имею представления, что я скажу этой милой маленькой женщине сегодня вечером) when she meets me at the door (когда она встретит меня на пороге).”
“You forget that I know nothing about it (вы забываете, что я ничего не знаю об этом /деле/).”
silence ['saɪlǝns], invaluable [ɪn'væljʋbl], wondering ['wʌndǝrɪŋ]
“You have a grand gift of silence, Watson,” said he. “It makes you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear little woman tonight when she meets me at the door.”
“You forget that I know nothing about it.”
“I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before we get to Lee
