I took it all in in a second, and nodded my head (через мгновение все это до меня дошло, и я кивнул головой; to take in – принимать, предоставлять приют; понять сущность /довода, факта/; second – секунда, момент, мгновение).

“There’s a chance,” said Fritz, with his first sign of hopefulness (шанс есть, – сказал Фриц, /подавая/ первые симптомы оптимизма; sign – знак, символ; признак, симптом; hope – надежда).

“If I escape detection (если меня не раскусят: «если я избегну обнаружения»; to escape – бежать /из заключения/; избежать; to detect – открывать, обнаруживать /отсюда: детектор/),” said I.

“If we’re detected (если нас раскусят),” said Sapt. “I’ll send Black Michael down below before I go myself (я пошлю Черного Михаэля в преисподнюю: «вниз» прежде, чем сам туда попаду), so help me heaven (да помогут мне небеса)! Sit in that chair, man (садитесь в это кресло, приятель).”

“Yes, I’ll go,” said I, and I turned my eyes on the prostrate figure of the King on the floor.

“Tonight,” Sapt went on in a hasty whisper, “we are to lodge in the Palace. The moment they leave us you and I will mount our horses – Fritz must stay there and guard the King’s room – and ride here at a gallop. The King will be ready – Josef will tell him – and he must ride back with me to Strelsau, and you ride as if the devil were behind you to the frontier.”

I took it all in in a second, and nodded my head.

“There’s a chance,” said Fritz, with his first sign of hopefulness.

“If I escape detection,” said I.

“If we’re detected,” said Sapt. “I’ll send Black Michael down below before I go myself, so help me heaven! Sit in that chair, man.”

I obeyed him (я повиновался: «подчинился ему»).

He darted from the room, calling “Josef! Josef (он бросился из комнаты, крича: Жозеф! Жозеф)!” In three minutes he was back, and Josef with him (через три минуты он вернулся, а с ним – Жозеф). The latter carried a jug of hot water, soap and razors (последний нес кувшин с горячей водой, мыло и бритвы). He was trembling as Sapt told him how the land lay (он задрожал, когда Сэпт рассказал ему, как обстоят дела; how the land lies – каково положение дел; land – земля; to lie – лежать), and bade him shave me (и приказал побрить меня).

Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh (вдруг Фриц ударил себя по ноге: «по бедру»; to smite):

“But the guard! They’ll know! they’ll know (но /почетный/ караул! они узнают)!”

“Pooh! We shan’t wait for the guard (уф! мы не будем дожидаться караула). We’ll ride to Hofbau and catch a train there (мы поскачем в Хофбо и сядем там на поезд). When they come, the bird’ll be flown (когда они прибудут, птичка улетит; to fly).”

“But the King (а король)?”

“The King will be in the wine-cellar (король будет в винном погребе). I’m going to carry him there now (сейчас я собираюсь отнести его туда).”

“If they find him (а если они его найдут)?”

“They won’t (не найдут). How should they (как они /его найдут/)? Josef will put them off (Жозеф их спровадит; to put off – откладывать; отделываться).”

I obeyed him.

He darted from the room, calling “Josef! Josef!” In three minutes he was back, and Josef with him. The latter carried a jug of hot water, soap and razors. He was trembling as Sapt told him how the land lay, and bade him shave me.

Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh:

“But the guard! They’ll know! they’ll know!”

“Pooh! We shan’t wait for the guard. We’ll ride to Hofbau and catch a train there. When they come, the bird’ll be flown.”

“But the King?”

“The King will be in the wine-cellar. I’m going to carry him there now.”