Светлый фон
by means of — посредством; means — средства presently — лично; вскоре successful — успешный

 

key [ki:], leisurely [ˈleʒəlɪ], departure [dɪˈpɑ:ʧə]

 

The jailer was so upset that he made the mistake of entering the cell alone, without calling guards from the other parts of the prison. It was his first mistake in the line of duty, and his last. Conan brained him with the beef bone, took his poniard and his keys, and made a leisurely departure. As Murilo had said, only one guard was on duty there at night. The Cimmerian passed himself outside the walls by means of the keys he had taken and presently emerged into the outer air, as free as if Murilo's plan had been successful.

 

In the shadows of the prison walls, Conan paused to decide his next course of action (в тени тюремных стен Конан остановился, чтобы принять решение о следующем ходе действий; course of action — образ действия). It occurred to him that since he had escaped through his own actions (ему пришло в голову, что поскольку он совершил побег благодаря собственным действиям; to occur to — приходить на ум), he owed nothing to Murilo (он ничем не обязан Мурило); yet it had been the young nobleman who had removed his chains and had the food sent to him (однако именно молодой дворянин снял его цепи и велел прислать ему еду; to send — посылать), without either of which his escape would have been impossible (без того и другого его побег был бы невозможен; either — тот или другой; и тот и другой). Conan decided that he was indebted to Murilo (Конан решил, что он в долгу перед Мурило) and, since he was a man who discharged his obligations eventually (а так как он был человеком, который в конечном счете возвращал долги; to discharge — разгружать; выплачивать /долги/; eventually — в конечном счете, в конце концов; со временем), he determined to carry out his promise to the young aristocrat (он принял решение выполнить свое обещание молодому аристократу; to determine — определять; выносить решение;to carry out — выполнять). But first he had some business of his own to attend to (но прежде всего ему нужно было позаботиться о кое-каких своих делах; first — ранее, сначала; прежде всего; to attend to — заботиться /о чем-л./).

course of action — образ действия to occur to — приходить на ум to send — посылать either — тот или другой; и тот и другой to discharge — разгружать; выплачивать /долги/; eventually — в конечном счете, в конце концов; со временем to determine — определять; выносить решение;to carry out — выполнять first — ранее, сначала; прежде всего; to attend to — заботиться /о чем-л./