Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту
Шрифт:
He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to the Black Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom, a stuffy little room on the second floor, giving over a paved inner court and garage.
As he entered the room, his smile faded suddenly. There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff. He touched it tentatively — wet and red — blood …
His hand dipped into his pocket (его рука опустилась в карман; to dip — макать; опускаться) and brought out something (и
Mr. Cust sat there a long time (мистер Каст сидел там долгое время).
Once his eyes shot round the room (один раз его глаза оглядели комнату; to shoot) like those of a hunted animal (как /глаза/ затравленного зверя; to hunt — охотиться; травить /зверя/). His tongue passed feverishly over his lips (его язык лихорадочно провел по губам; fever — лихорадка) …
"It isn't my fault," said Mr. Cust (это не моя вина).
He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody (он звучал /так/, как будто спорил с кем-то) — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster (школьник, умоляющий своего учителя; to plead — просить, умолять).
He passed his tongue over his lips again (он снова провел языком по губам) …
knife [naf], fault [f:lt], plead [pli:d]
His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something — a long, slender knife. The blade of that, too, was sticky and red …
Mr. Cust sat there a long time.
Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips …
"It isn't my fault," said Mr. Cust.
He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster.
He passed his tongue over his lips again …
Again (снова), tentatively (осторожно; tentatively — неуверенно, осторожно, с сомнением), he felt his coat sleeve (он пощупал рукав пальто).
His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin (его взгляд пересек комнату, /остановившись/ на рукомойнике: «его глаза пересекли комнату до рукомойника»; washbasin — /умывальный/ таз, раковина).
A minute later (минуту спустя) he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin (он наливал воду в таз из старомодного кувшина). Removing his coat (сняв пальто), he rinsed the sleeve (он прополоскал рукав), carefully squeezing it out (тщательно
Ugh (ух)! The water was red now (вода теперь была красная).
A tap on the door (/раздался/ стук в дверь).
He stood there frozen into immobility (он замер: «он стоял там, замерший до неподвижности»; mobile — подвижной, мобильный) — staring (уставившись /на дверь/).
washbasin ['wbesn], jug [], squeeze [skwi:z]
Again, tentatively, he felt his coat sleeve.
His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin.
A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin. Removing his coat, he rinsed the sleeve, carefully squeezing it out …
Ugh! The water was red now …
A tap on the door.
He stood there frozen into immobility — staring.
The door opened (дверь открылась). A plump young woman (пухленькая молодая женщина /вошла/) — jug in hand (/с/ кувшином в руке).
"Oh, excuse me, sir (о, извините меня, сэр). Your hot water, sir (ваша горячая вода, сэр)."
He managed to speak then (тогда ему удалось заговорить).
"Thank you (благодарю вас). I've washed in cold (я /уже/ умылся в холодной)."
Why had he said that (зачем он сказал это)? Immediately her eyes went to the basin (немедленно ее взгляд перешел к тазу).
He said frenziedly (он взбешенно сказал; frenzy — безумие, бешенство; неистовство): "I (я) — I've cut my hand (я порезал руку) …"
There was a pause (была пауза) — yes, surely a very long pause (да, несомненно очень долгая пауза) — before she said (прежде чем она сказала): "Yes, sir (да, сэр)."
plump [plmp], immediately ['mi:djtl], frenziedly ['frenzdl]
The door opened. A plump young woman — jug in hand.
"Oh, excuse me, sir. Your hot water, sir."
He managed to speak then.
Thank you. I've washed in cold."
Why had he said that? Immediately her eyes went to the basin.
He said frenziedly: "I — I've cut my hand …"
There was a pause — yes, surely a very long pause — before she said: "Yes, sir."
She went out (она вышла), shutting the door (закрывая /за собой/ дверь).