Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

Франк Илья Михайлович

raise [rez], enthusiasm [n'ju:zaezm], significant [s'nfknt]

I think that I can date my interest in the case from the first mention of the A.B.C. railway guide. Up till then I had not been able to raise much enthusiasm. This sordid murder of an old woman in a back street shop was so like the usual type of crime reported in the newspapers that it failed to strike a significant note. In my own mind I had put down the anonymous letter with its mention of the 21^st as a mere coincidence.

Mrs. Ascher (миссис

Эшер), I felt reasonably sure (я чувствовал достаточно уверенно; to feel), had been the victim of her drunken brute of a husband (была жертвой /этого/ пьяного животного — ее мужа; brute — животное; «скотина»). But now the mention of the railway guide (но теперь упоминание железнодорожного справочника) (so familiarly known by its abbreviation of A.B.C. (столь привычно знакомого из-за своей аббревиатуры Эй-би-си; familiar — привычный; знакомый; to know — знать), listing as it did all railway stations in their alphabetical order (перечисляющего, как он делал, все железнодорожные станции в их алфавитном порядке)) sent a quiver of excitement through me (послало волну возбуждения сквозь меня; to send — посылать, отправлять). Surely (конечно/несомненно) — surely (конечно) this could not be a second coincidence (это не могло быть вторым совпадением)?

The sordid crime took on a new aspect (жалкое убийство приобретало новый аспект; to take on — принимать на службу; приобретать /качество/).

Who was the mysterious individual (кто была эта загадочная личность) who had killed Mrs. Ascher (которая убила миссис Эшер) and left an A.B.C. railway guide behind him (и оставила после себя железнодорожный справочник «Эй-би-си»)?

familiarly [f'mll], quiver ['kwv], mysterious [ms'trs]

Mrs. Ascher, I felt reasonably sure, had been the victim of her drunken brute of a husband. But now the mention of the railway guide (so familiarly known by its abbreviation of A.B.C., listing as it did all railway stations in their alphabetical order) sent a quiver of excitement through me. Surely — surely this could not be a second coincidence?

The sordid crime took on a new aspect.

Who was the mysterious individual who had killed Mrs. Ascher and left an A.B.C. railway guide behind him?

When we left the police station (когда мы вышли из полицейского участка) our first visit was to the mortuary (наш первый визит был в морг) to see the body of the dead woman (/чтобы/ увидеть тело мертвой женщины). A strange feeling came over me (странное чувство охватило меня) as I gazed down on that wrinkled old face (когда я разглядывал это морщинистое лицо) with the scanty grey hair (с редкими седыми волосами) drawn back tightly from the temples (гладко стянутыми назад с висков; to draw —

тащить; стягивать). It looked so peaceful (оно выглядело таким мирным; peace — мир), so incredibly remote from violence (таким невероятно отдаленным от насилия; credible — вероятный, правдоподобный).

"Never knew who or what struck her," observed the sergeant (никогда = так и не узнала, кто или что ударило ее, — заметил сержант; to know).

"That's what Dr. Kerr says (доктор Керр именно так и говорит: «это то, что говорит Доктор Керр»). I'm glad it was that way (я рад, что это было так), poor old soul (бедняжка: «бедная старая душа»). A decent woman she was (славной женщиной она была; decent — приличный; пристойный; разг. славный, хороший)."

mortuary ['m:tur], violence ['valns], decent ['di:snt]

When we left the police station our first visit was to the mortuary to see the body of the dead woman. A strange feeling came over me as I gazed down on that wrinkled old face with the scanty grey hair drawn back tightly from the temples. It looked so peaceful, so incredibly remote from violence.

"Never knew who or what struck her," observed the sergeant.

"That's what Dr. Kerr says. I'm glad it was that way, poor old soul. A decent woman she was."

"She must have been beautiful once," said Poirot (она, должно быть, когда-то была красива, — сказал Пуаро; beauty — красота).

"Really?" I murmured incredulously (действительно? — я пробормотал недоверчиво; credulous — доверчивый, легковерный).

"But yes (о, да), look at the line of the jaw (посмотрите на линию челюсти), the bones (кости), the moulding of the head (форму головы; moulding — отливка, формовка)."

He sighed as he replaced the sheet (он вздохнул, когда вернул на место простыню) and we left the mortuary (и мы вышли из морга).

Our next move was a brief interview with the police surgeon (нашим следующим ходом был короткий разговор с полицейским хирургом; interview — встреча; беседа, разговор; опрос).

Dr. Kerr was a competent-looking middle-aged man (доктор Керр был компетентно выглядящим человеком средних лет). He spoke briskly and with decision (он говорил живо / отрывисто и решительно: «с решением»).

incredulously [n'kredjulsl], moulding ['mld], interview ['ntvju:]

"She must have been beautiful once," said Poirot.

"Really?" I murmured incredulously.

"But yes, look at the line of the jaw, the bones, the moulding of the head."

He sighed as he replaced the sheet and we left the mortuary.

Our next move was a brief interview with the police surgeon.

Dr. Kerr was a competent-looking middle-aged man. He spoke briskly and with decision.