The Chimes / Колокола. Книга для чтения на английском языке

�Halloa there! Porter!’ beckoning with his head to Trotty Veck. �Come here. What’s that? Your dinner?’

�Yes, sir,’ said Trotty, leaving it behind him in a corner.

�Don’t leave it there,’ exclaimed the gentleman. �Bring it here, bring it here. So! This is your dinner, is it?’

�Yes, sir,’ repeated Trotty, looking with a fixed eye and a watery mouth, at the piece of tripe he had reserved for a last delicious tit-bit; which the gentleman was now turning over and over on the end of the fork.

Two other gentlemen had come out with him. One was a low-spirited gentleman of middle age, of a meagre habit, and a disconsolate face; who kept his hands continually in the pockets of his scanty pepper-and-salt trousers, very large and dog’s-eared[11 - very large and dog’s-eared – (зд.) очень большие и отвисшие] from that custom; and was not particularly well brushed or washed. The other, a full-sized, sleek, well-conditioned gentleman, in a blue coat with bright buttons, and a white cravat.

This gentleman had a very red face, as if an undue proportion of the blood in his body were squeezed up into his head; which perhaps accounted for his having also the appearance of being rather cold about the heart.

He who had Toby’s meat upon the fork, called to the first one by the name of Filer; and they both drew near together. Mr. Filer being exceedingly short-sighted, was obliged to go so close to the remnant of Toby’s dinner before he could make out what it was, that Toby’s heart leaped up into his mouth.

But Mr. Filer didn’t eat it.

�This is a description of animal food, Alderman,’ said Filer, making little punches in it with a pencil-case, �commonly known to the labouring population of this country, by the name of tripe.’

The Alderman laughed, and winked; for he was a merry fellow, Alderman Cute. Oh, and a sly fellow too! A knowing fellow.

Up to everything.[12 - Up to everything. – (разг.) Вечно что-то придумывает.] Not to be imposed upon. Deep in the people’s hearts! He knew them, Cute did. I believe you!

�But who eats tripe?’ said Mr. Filer, looking round. �Tripe is without an exception the least economical, and the most wasteful article of consumption that the markets of this country can by possibility produce.