"And while he waits, what are we to do (а пока он ждет, что делать нам)?" demanded Murilo.

lesson [lesn], taught [tɔ:t], mimic [ˈmɪmɪk]

"He must have heard the falling of the grating in the tunnel. It is connected with bells in the chambers above. He knows someone is in the pits, and he is waiting for him to come up the stairs. Oh, he has learned well the lessons I taught him. He has seen what happened to men who come through that door, when I tugged at the rope that hangs on yonder wall, and he waits to mimic me."

"And while he waits, what are we to do?" demanded Murilo.

"There is naught we can do, except watch him (нет ничего, что мы можем сделать = мы не можем сделать ничего, кроме как следить за ним). As long as he is in that chamber (пока он находится в этой комнате), we dare not ascend the stairs (мы не смеем подняться по лестнице). He has the strength of a true gorilla and could easily tear us all to pieces (у него сила настоящей гориллы, и он мог бы легко разорвать нас на куски). But he does not need to exert his muscles (но ему нет нужды напрягать свои мускулы; to exert — приводить в действие; прилагать усилия); if we open that door he has but to tug that rope, and blast us into eternity (если мы откроем эту дверь, ему нужно лишь дернуть ту веревку и отправить нас в вечность; to blast — взрывать; сдуть)."

"How (каким образом)?"

"I bargained to help you escape (я договаривался о том, чтобы помочь вам выбраться; to bargain — торговаться; договориться)," answered the priest (ответил жрец); "not to betray my secrets (а не выдавать свои секреты)."

naught [nɔ:t], eternity [ɪˈtə:nɪtɪ], bargain [ˈbɑ:ɡɪn]

"There is naught we can do, except watch him. As long as he is in that chamber, we dare not ascend the stairs. He has the strength of a true gorilla and could easily tear us all to pieces. But he does not need to exert his muscles; if we open that door he has but to tug that rope, and blast us into eternity."