Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

Франк Илья Михайлович

Poirot said gravely (Пуаро серьезно сказал): "I agree with you (я согласен с вами)."

The inspector said: "You know, Monsieur Poirot (вы знаете, мсье Пуаро), it's a nasty business (это отвратительное дело) — a nasty business). I don't like it (мне оно не нравится)."

We had two more interviews (мы провели еще две беседы) before returning to London (прежде чем вернулись в Лондон).

The first was with Mr. James Partridge (первая

была с мистером Партриджем). Mr. Partridge was the last person known (мистер Партридж был последним человеком /кто, как/ известно) to have seen Mrs. Ascher alive (видел миссис Эшер живой). He had made a purchase from her at 5:30 (он сделал у нее покупку в половине шестого).

constable ['knstbl], job [b], alive ['lav]

"No, they don't. And that's another point in his favour. I've just told the Chief Constable that I think this is a job for Scotland Yard. I don't believe it's a local crime."

Poirot said gravely: "I agree with you."

The inspector said: "You know, Monsieur Poirot, it's a nasty business — a nasty business. I don't like it."

We had two more interviews before returning to London.

The first was with Mr. James Partridge. Mr. Partridge was the last person known to have seen Mrs. Ascher alive. He had made a purchase from her at 5:30.

Mr. Partridge was a small (мистер Партридж был маленький), spare man (скромный человек; spare — запасной; скромный; худощавый), a bank clerk by profession (банковский клерк по профессии). He wore pince-nez (он носил пенсне), was very dry (был очень сухощавый; dry — сухой; сдержанный) and spare-looking (и худощавый) and extremely precise in all his utterances (и крайне точный в своих выражениях). He lived in a small house (он жил в маленьком доме) as neat and trim as himself (таком же опрятном и аккуратном, как он сам).

"Mr. (мистер) — er (э) — Poirot (Пуаро)," he said, glancing at the card (глядя на карточку) my friend had handed to him (/которую/ мой друг передал ему). "From Inspector Glen (от инспектора Глена)? What can I do for you, Mr. Poirot (что я могу сделать для вас, мистер Пуаро)?"

"I understand, Mr. Partridge (/как/ я понимаю, мистер Партридж), that you were the last person to see Mrs. Ascher alive (что вы были последним человеком, /который/ видел миссис Эшер живой)."

Mr. Partridge placed his fingertips together (мистер Партридж сложил кончики пальцев вместе; to place — размещать; класть) and looked at Poirot (и посмотрел на Пуаро) as though he were a doubtful cheque (как будто он был сомнительным /банковским/ чеком; to doubt — сомневаться).

pince-nez ['paensne], precise [pr'saz], cheque [tek]

Mr. Partridge was a small, spare man, a bank clerk by profession. He wore pince-nez, was very dry and spare-looking and extremely precise in all his utterances. He lived in a small house as neat and trim as himself.

"Mr. — er — Poirot," he said, glancing at the card my friend had handed to him. "From Inspector Glen? What can I do for you, Mr. Poirot?"

"I understand, Mr. Partridge, that you were the last person to see Mrs. Ascher alive."

Mr. Partridge placed his fingertips together and looked at Poirot as though he were a doubtful cheque.

"That is a very debatable point, Mr. Poirot," he said (это

очень спорное утверждение, мистер Пуаро; to debate — обсуждать; спорить). "Many people may have made purchases from Mrs. Ascher (много людей, вероятно, делали покупки у миссис Эшер) after I did so (после того, как /их/ сделал я)."

"If so (если так), they have not come forward to say so (они не заявили об этом; to come forward — выходить; выступать с заявлением)."

Mr. Partridge coughed (мистер Партридж кашлянул). "Some people, Mr. Poirot (некоторые люди, мистер Пуаро), have no sense of public duty (/не/ имеют никакого чувства общественного долга)."

He looked at us owlishly through his spectacles (он по-совиному посмотрел на нас сквозь очки; owl — сова).

"Exceedingly true," murmured Poirot (совершенно верно: «чрезвычайно правдиво» —пробормотал Пуаро; to exceed — превышать; превосходить). "You, I understand (вы, /как/ я понимаю), went to the police of your own accord (пошли в полицию добровольно: «по собственной воле»; accord — одобрение; согласие)?"

owlishly ['all], exceedingly [k'si:dl], accord ['k:d]

"That is a very debatable point, Mr. Poirot," he said. "Many people may have made purchases from Mrs. Ascher after I did so."

"If so, they have not come forward to say so."

Mr. Partridge coughed. "Some people, Mr. Poirot, have no sense of public duty."

He looked at us owlishly through his spectacles.

"Exceedingly true," murmured Poirot. "You, I understand, went to the police of your own accord?"

"Certainly I did (конечно, я сделал /так/). As soon as I heard of the shocking occurrence (как только я услышал о шокирующем происшествии) I perceived (я понял) that my statement might be helpful (что мое заявление может быть полезным) and came forward accordingly (и соответственно заявил).''

"A very proper spirit," said Poirot solemnly (очень надлежащий настрой, — сказал Пуаро торжественно; proper — надлежащий; правильный; подходящий; spirit — дух, душа; образ мышления; настроение). "Perhaps you will be so kind as to repeat your story to me (возможно, вы будете так любезны, чтобы повторить мне вашу историю)."

"By all means (пожалуйста/конечно: «всеми способами»). I was returning to this house (я возвращался к этому дому) and at 5:30 precisely (и, точно в половине шестого) —"