“I was quite frightened, too. But, then, I plucked up all my courage, took out my revolver, and aimed it at the monster’s only working eye. Still, the cat was far too quick. He managed to dodge the bullet, and it only scratched his temple. I pulled the trigger for a second time, but the gun jammed.”

frightened напуганный, испуганный; pluck up courage собраться с духом, набраться храбрости; aim нацелить; dodgesth уклониться, увильнуть от чего-либо; bullet пуля; scratch оцарапать; temple висок; trigger спусковой крючок ◊pull the trigger нажать на курок; gun пистолет, револьвер; jam заклинить

“Oh, no!”

“The cat saw that I was not going to let up, and became furious. He stretched out his long hairy paw to grab me, but the sudden entrance of my savior ruined his plans. With several stabs of his sword, the Chevalier Valmont sent the terrible monster into flight.”

let up сдаваться, ослабить сопротивление; become furious рассвирепеть, прийти в бешенство; grab схватить; entranceздесь: появление на сцене; savior спаситель; ruin sb’s plans сорвать, нарушить чьи-либо планы; stab колющий удар (шпагой, кинжаломипод.); flight бегство ◊send sb into flight обратить кого-либо в бегство

“But who is he, this Chevalier Valmont?”

“Oh, it’s a long story. He will tell it to you himself,” said the baron, rising. “I’m far too tired. I’ve spent a sleepless night – and what a night it’s been! I hope you’ll excuse me if I left you now. I’d like to lie down for an hour or so.”

The baron left. But before going to his bedroom, he went up to the third floor and knocked on the door of his guest’s room.

The Chevalier Valmont had already changed into his clean clothes, and now looked refreshed and rested.

“I see you’ve had quite a rest,” said the baron. “So much the better. The baroness can’t wait to meet you. (27) She is in the drawing room now. It is the first room to the right of the front door. I would have introduced you myself, but I’m afraid that if I go down once again, I won’t make it back to my room. (28) I’m ready to collapse.”

“I think I can find my way. Don’t worry.”

“Very well, then. Make yourself at home. I will join you at dinner.”

Together, they went down a flight of stairs, and the baron, mumbling something about being a bad host, disappeared in his bedroom. Valmont went to look for the baroness.

knock стучать; refreshed and rested свежий и отдохнувший; So much the better. Тем лучше; collapse упасть без сил; Make yourself at home. Чувствуйте себя как дома; join присоединиться; flightofstairs лестничный марш; лестничный пролет; host хозяин; lookforsb искать кого-либо

(28) The baroness can’t wait to meet you. – Баронессе не терпится с вами познакомиться.

Идиома I (we, they, etc.) can’twait означает «с нетерпением ждать чего-либо», «гореть от нетерпения».

(29) I won’t make it back to my room. – Я не смогу вернуться в свою комнату.

Словосочетание makeit представляет собой небольшую идиому со значением «успешно справиться с чем-либо». С чем именно, становится ясно из контекста. В нашем случае значение идиомы уточняет наречие back.

Сравните также:

He finally made it to the top of the hill. – Наконец он добрался до вершины холма.

We’ll never make it out of the city. – Нам никогда не выбраться из города.