Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту
Шрифт:
gigantic [a'aentk], conspiracy [kn'spars], ambitious [aem'bs]
"An enemy. I must have an enemy. They are all against me. The police — everyone — all against me. It's a gigantic conspiracy."
Poirot did not reply.
Mr. Cust said: "Everyone's hand has been against me — always."
"Even when you were a child?"
Mr. Cust seemed to consider. "No — no — not exactly then. My mother was very fond of me. But she was ambitious — terribly ambitious. That's why she gave me those ridiculous names. She had some absurd idea that I'd cut a figure in the world. She was always urging me to assert myself — talking about will power … saying anyone could be master of his fate … she said I could do anything!"
He was silent for a minute (он
"She was quite wrong, of course (она была совершенно неправа, конечно). I realized that myself quite soon (я достаточно скоро это осознал сам). I wasn't the sort of person to get on in life (я был не тем человеком, чтобы преуспевать в жизни). I was always doing foolish things (я всегда делал глупости: «глупые вещи») — making myself look ridiculous (заставляя себя выглядеть нелепо). And I was timid (и я был застенчив) — afraid of people (боялся людей). I had a bad time at school (мне плохо приходилось в школе) — the boys found out my Christian names (мальчишки узнали мои имена) — they used to tease me about them (они, бывало, дразнили меня из-за них). I did very badly at school (я очень плохо успевал в школе) — in games (в играх) and work (и работе) and everything (и во всем)."
He shook his head (он покачал головой). "Just as well poor mother died (как раз тогда моя бедная мать умерла). She'd have been disappointed (она была разочарована) … Even when I was at the Commercial College (даже когда я был в колледже коммерции) I was stupid (я был туп) — it took me longer to learn typing and shorthand (у меня занимало дольше, чтобы научиться печатать и стенографировать; shorthand — стенография) than anyone else (чем у кого-либо еще). And yet I didn't feel stupid (и все же я не чувствовал себя тупым) — if you know what I mean (если вы знаете, что я имею в виду)."
timid ['tmd], tease [ti:z], shorthand [':thaend]
He was silent for a minute.
"She was quite wrong, of course. I realized that myself quite soon. I wasn't the sort of person to get on in life. I was always doing foolish things — making myself look ridiculous. And I was timid — afraid of people. I had a bad time at school — the boys found out my Christian names — they used to tease me about them. I did very badly at school — in games and work and everything."
He shook his head. "Just as well poor mother died. She'd have been disappointed … Even when I was at the Commercial College I was stupid — it took me longer to learn typing and shorthand than anyone else. And yet I didn't feel stupid — if you know what I mean."
He cast a sudden appealing look at the other man (он бросил неожиданный умоляющий взгляд на другого человека).
"I know what you mean," said Poirot (я знаю, что вы имеете в виду). "Go on (продолжайте)."
"It was just the feeling (это просто было чувство) that everybody else thought me stupid (что
"And later still in the war?" prompted Poirot (а еще позднее, на войне? — подсказал Пуаро).
Mr. Cust's face lightened up suddenly (неожиданно лицо мистера Каста просветлело). "You know," he said (вы знаете), "I enjoyed the war (я наслаждался войной). What I had of it, that was (это на самом деле так было: «что я имел из этого, это было»). I felt (я чувствовал /себя/), for the first time (в первый раз), a man like anybody else (человеком, подобным всем другим). We were all in the same box (мы были все в одинаково трудном положении; to be in a /tight/ box — быть в трудном положении: «в /тесном/ ящике»). I was as good as anyone else (я был таким же, как все: «я был так же хорош, как любой другой»)."
appealing ['pi:l], paralysing ['paerlaz], prompt [prmpt]
He cast a sudden appealing look at the other man.
"I know what you mean," said Poirot. "Go on."
"It was just the feeling that everybody else thought me stupid. Very paralysing. It was the same thing later in the office."
"And later still in the war?" prompted Poirot.
Mr. Cust's face lightened up suddenly. "You know," he said, "I enjoyed the war. What I had of it, that was. I felt, for the first time, a man like anybody else. We were all in the same box. I was as good as anyone else."
His smile faded (его улыбка померкла; to fade — вянуть, увядать).
"And then I got that wound on the head (а затем я получил то ранение в голову). Very slight (очень легкое). But they found out I had fits (но они обнаружили/выявили, что у меня были припадки) … I'd always known, of course (я всегда знал, конечно), that there were times (что были времена) when I hadn't been quite sure (когда я не был совсем уверен) what I was doing (что я делал). Lapses (провалы /памяти/), you know (вы знаете). And of course (и, конечно), once or twice I'd fallen down (раз или два я упал). But I don't really think (но я действительно не думаю) they ought to have discharged me for that (что им следовало увольнять меня из-за этого). No, I don't think it was right (я не думаю, что это было правильно)."
"And afterwards?" asked Poirot (а затем?).
fade [fed], lapse [laeps], afterwards [':ftwdz]
His smile faded.
"And then I got that wound on the head. Very slight. But they found out I had fits … I'd always known, of course, that there were times when I hadn't been quite sure what I was doing. Lapses, you know. And of course, once or twice I'd fallen down. But I don't really think they ought to have discharged me for that. No, I don't think it was right."