exalt [ɪɡˈzɔ:lt], routine [ru:ˈti:n], gnaw [nɔ:]

Another jailer took his place, a stolid, dependable creature whom no amount of bribery could have shaken from his duty. He was unimaginative, but he had an exalted idea of the importance of his job.

After Athicus had been marched away to be formally arraigned before a magistrate, this jailer made the round of the cells as a matter of routine. As he passed that of Conan, his sense of propriety was shocked and outraged to see the prisoner free of his chains and in the act of gnawing the last shreds of meat from a huge beefbone.

The jailer was so upset that he made the mistake of entering the cell alone (тюремщик так огорчился, что допустил ошибку, войдя в камеру один; upset — расстроенный, огорченный; to make a mistake — сделать ошибку), without calling guards from the other parts of the prison (не позвав караульных из других частей тюрьмы). It was his first mistake in the line of duty, and his last (это была его первая ошибка в служебных обязанностях и последняя; line of duty — служебные обязанности). Conan brained him with the beef bone (Конан размозжил ему голову говяжьей костью), took his poniard and his keys, and made a leisurely departure (забрал его кинжал и ключи, и неторопливо удалился; to make one's departure — уходить; departure — отправление, уход). As Murilo had said (как говорил Мурило), only one guard was on duty there at night (лишь один караульный дежурил там ночью; to be on duty — дежурить; duty — долг, обязательство; служебные обязанности; дежурство). The Cimmerian passed himself outside the walls by means of the keys he had taken (киммериец выбрался сам за стены с помощью ключей, которые он забрал; by means of — посредством; means — средства) and presently emerged into the outer air (и вскоре вышел на открытый воздух /снаружи/; presently — лично; вскоре), as free as if Murilo's plan had been successful (такой же свободный, как если бы удался план Мурило; successful — успешный).