He seized Miles by the arm, dragged him to the window, and began to devour him from head to foot with his eyes, turning him this way and that, and stepping briskly around him and about him to prove him from all points of view; whilst the returned prodigal, all aglow with gladness, smiled, laughed, and kept nodding his head and saying:

'Go on, brother, go on, and fear not; thou'lt find nor limb nor feature that cannot bide the test. Scour and scan me to thy content, my dear old Hugh — I am indeed thy old Miles, thy same old Miles, thy lost brother, is't not so? Ah, 'tis a great day — I said 'twas a great day! Give me thy hand, give me thy cheek — lord, I am like to die of very joy!'

He was about to throw himself upon his brother; but Hugh put up his hand in dissent, then dropped his chin mournfully upon his breast, saying with emotion:

'Ah, God of his mercy give me strength to bear this grievous disappointment!'

Miles, amazed, could not speak for a moment; then he found his tongue, and cried out:

'What disappointment? Am I not thy brother?'

Hugh shook his head sadly, and said:

'I pray heaven it may prove so, and that other eyes may find the resemblances that are hid from mine. Alack, I fear me the letter spoke but too truly.'

'What letter?'

'One that came from oversea, some six or seven years ago. It said my brother died in battle.'

'It was a lie! Call thy father — he will know me.'

'One may not call the dead.'

'Dead?' Miles's voice was subdued, and his lips trembled. 'My father dead! — oh, this is heavy news. Half my new joy is withered now. Prithee, let me see my brother Arthur — he will know me; he will know me and console me.'

'He, also, is dead.'

'God be merciful to me, a stricken man! Gone — both gone — the worthy taken and the worthless spared in me! Ah! I crave your mercy! — do not say the Lady Edith —'

'Is dead? No, she lives.'

'Then God be praised, my joy is whole again! Speed thee, brother — let her come to me! An’ she say I am not myself — but she will not; no, no, she will know me, I were a fool to doubt it. Bring her — bring the old servants; they, too, will know me.'

'All are gone but five — Peter, Halsey, David, Bernard, and Margaret.'

So saying, Hugh left the room. Miles stood musing awhile, then began to walk the floor, muttering:

'The five arch villains (пятеро отъявленных негодяев) have survived the two-and-twenty leal and honest (пережили двух и двадцать = 22 верных и честных) — 'tis an odd thing (это странная вещь).'

He continued walking back and forth (он продолжал ходить взад и вперед), muttering to himself (бормоча себе /под нос/); he had forgotten the king entirely (он забыл короля полностью; to forget — забывать). By and by his majesty said gravely (вскоре его величество сказал важно), and with a touch of genuine compassion (и с оттенком истинного сострадания), though the words themselves (хотя сами слова) were capable of being interpreted ironically (могли быть интерпретированы иронически: «были способны…»; capable — способный):

'Mind not thy mischance (не заботься о своем злосчастье), good man (добрый человек); there be others in the world (есть и другие в мире) whose identity is denied (чья личность отрицается; to deny — отрицать), and whose claims are derided (и чьи утверждения осмеиваются). Thou hast company (у тебя есть компания = ты не один).'

'Ah, my king (ах, мой король),' cried Hendon (вскричал Хендон), coloring slightly (краснея слегка), 'do not thou condemn me (не выноси мне приговор; to condemn — приговаривать) — wait, and thou shalt see (подожди, и ты увидишь). I am no impostor (я не самозванец) — she will say it (она скажет это); you shall hear it (ты услышишь это) from the sweetest lips in England (из сладчайших губ в Англии). I an impostor (я — самозванец)? Why I know this old hall (почему же я знаю этот старый холл), these pictures of my ancestors (эти картины моих предков), and all these things that are about us (и все эти вещи, которые вокруг нас), as a child knoweth its own nursery (как ребенок знает свою собственную детскую). Here was I born and bred (здесь я был рожден и вскормлен; to bear — рождать; to breed — выкормить, разводить), my lord (милорд); I speak the truth (я говорю правду); I would not deceive thee (я не обманывал бы тебя); and should none else believe (и если никто другой не поверит; should — должен; else — еще), I pray thee do not thou doubt me (я молю тебя, не сомневайся во мне) — I could not bear it (я не мог бы этого вынести).'

'I do not doubt thee (я не сомневаюсь в тебе),' said the king (сказал король), with a childlike simplicity and faith (с детской простотой и верой).

'I thank thee out of my heart (я благодарю тебя из моего сердца = от всего сердца)!' exclaimed Hendon (воскликнул Хендон), with a fervency which showed (с горячностью, которая показала) that he was touched (что он был тронут). The king added (король добавил), with the same gentle simplicity (с той же мягкой простотой):

'Dost thou doubt me (сомневаешься ли ты во мне)?'

A guilty confusion seized upon Hendon (виноватое смущение охватило Хендона), and he was grateful (и он был благодарен) that the door opened to admit Hugh (что дверь открылась, чтобы впустить Хью), at that moment (в тот момент), and saved him the necessity of replying (и спасла его от необходимости ответить: «сберегла ему необходимость ответить»).

A beautiful lady (красивая дама), richly clothed (богато одетая), followed Hugh (проследовала за Хью), and after her came several liveried servants (и за ней пришли несколько одетых в ливреи слуг; livery — ливрея). The lady walked slowly (дама шла медленно), with her head bowed (с ее головой склоненной) and her eyes fixed upon the floor (и ее глазами уставившимися в пол). The face was unspeakably sad (лицо было несказанно грустным). Miles Hendon sprang forward (Майлс Хендон ринулся вперед; to spring — прыгнуть), crying out (крича):

'Oh, my Edith, my darling (о, моя Эдит, моя дорогая) —'

But Hugh waved him back (но Хью остановил его, махнув рукой; to wave — махать; back — назад), gravely (важно), and said to the lady (и сказал даме):

'Look upon him (взгляни на него). Do you know him (знаешь ли ты его)?'

At the sound of Miles's voice (при звуке голоса Майлса) the woman had started slightly (женщина вздрогнула слегка), and her cheeks had flushed (и ее щеки зарделись); she was trembling now (она дрожала теперь). She stood still (она стояла неподвижно; to stand — стоять), during an impressive pause of several moments (в течение впечатляющей паузы на несколько секунд); then slowly lifted up her head (затем медленно подняла вверх голову) and looked into Hendon's eyes (и заглянула в глаза Хендона) with a stony and frightened gaze (каменным и испуганным взором); the blood sank out of her face (кровь отхлынула от ее лица; to sink — тонуть, падать, снижаться), drop by drop (капля за каплей), till nothing remained (пока ничего не осталось) but the gray pallor of death (кроме серой бледности смерти); then she said (затем она сказала), in a voice as dead as the face (голосом, таким же мертвым, как лицо), 'I know him not (я не знаю его)!' and turned (и повернулась), with a moan and stifled sob (со стоном и подавленным рыданием), and tottered out of the room (и неверной походкой вышла из комнаты; to totter — идти неверной походкой).

survive [sə`vaıv], condemn [kən`dem], reply [rı`plaı]

'The five arch villains have survived the two-and-twenty leal and honest — 'tis an odd thing.'

He continued walking back and forth, muttering to himself; he had forgotten the king entirely. By and by his majesty said gravely, and with a touch of genuine compassion, though the words themselves were capable of being interpreted ironically: