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"And now (а теперь = дальше)?" I asked.

"It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to me that our lady of today had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all."

"And now?" I asked.

"Our quest is practically finished (наши поиски практически закончены). I shall call with the King tomorrow (я навещу /Ирэн Адлер/ с королем завтра), and with you, if you care to come with us (и с вами, если вы захотите пойти с нами). We will be shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady (нас попросят подождать леди в гостиной: «мы будем проведены в гостиную, чтобы подождать леди»); but it is probable that when she comes (но, вероятно, что когда она придет) she may find neither us nor the photograph (она может не найти ни нас, ни фотографии; neither… nor — ни тот, ни другой). It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty (это может быть удовлетворением для его величества = его величеству, возможно, будет приятно) to regain it with his own hands (достать ее своими собственными руками; to regain — получить обратно)."

"And when will you call (а когда вы отправитесь /туда/)?"

quest [kwest], practically [ˈpræktɪklɪ], satisfaction [sætɪsˈfækʃn]

"Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King tomorrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady; but it is probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it with his own hands."

"And when will you call?"

"At eight in the morning (в восемь, утром). She will not be up (она еще будет в постели; to be up — проснуться; быть на ногах; бодрствовать), so that we shall have a clear field (так что нам обеспечена полная свобода действий: «у нас будет чистое поле»). Besides, we must be prompt (кроме того, мы должны быть быстрыми), for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits (потому что эта свадьба может означать полное изменение = могла полностью изменить ее жизнь и привычки). I must wire to the King without delay (я должен телеграфировать королю немедленно: «без задержки»)."