platform [ˈplætfɔ:m], lookout [ˈlʋkaʋt], swear [swɛǝ]
When we arrived on the platform the first person we saw was Inspector Crome.
He answered Poirot's look of inquiry. "No news as yet. All men available are on the lookout. All persons whose name begins with C are being warned by phone when possible. There's just a chance. Where's the letter?"
Poirot gave it to him.
He examined it, swearing softly under his breath. "Of all the damned luck. The stars in their courses fight for the fellow.''
"You don't think," I suggested (вы не думаете, — я предположил), "that it was done on purpose (что это было сделано специально)?"
Crome shook his head (Кроум покачал головой).
"No. He's got his rules (у него свои правила) — crazy rules (сумасшедшие правила) — and abides by them (и /он/ придерживается их; to abide by — придерживаться, оставаться верным). Fair warning (честное предупреждение). He makes a point of that (для него это важно: «он делает это пунктом»). That's where his boastfulness comes in (тут как раз вступает в действие его хвастовство; to come in — входить; участвовать /каким-либо способом/, играть определенную роль; вступать в действие). I wonder now (мне интересно сейчас) — I'd almost bet the chap drinks White Horse[23] whisky (я почти готов побиться об заклад, что парень пьет виски «Уайтхорс»)."
"Ah, c'est ingenieux ca.'' said Poirot (фр. ах, это гениально), driven to admiration in spite of himself (с восхищением, сам не замечая этого: «не смотря на себя введенный в восхищение»; to drive — вести). "He prints the letter and the bottle is in front of him (он печатает письмо, а бутылка /стоит/ перед ним)."
crazy [ˈkreɪzɪ], abide [ǝˈbaɪd], chap [tʃæp]
"You don't think," I suggested, "that it was done on purpose?"
Crome shook his head.
"No. He's got his rules — crazy rules — and abides by them. Fair warning. He makes a point of that. That's where his boastfulness comes in. I wonder now — I'd almost bet the chap drinks White Horse whisky."
"Ah, c'est ingenieux ca.'' said Poirot, driven to admiration in spite of himself. "He prints the letter and the bottle is in front of him."
"That's the way of it (это возможно: «это есть способ этого»)," said Crome. "We've all of us done much the same thing one time or another (мы все однажды так делали: «все мы делали почти подобную вещь в одно или другое время»): unconsciously copied something (неосознанно копировали что-то) that's just under the eye (что прямо перед глазами). He started off White (он начал с Уайт) and went on horse instead of haven (и продолжил /словом/ «хорс» вместо «хэйвен») …"
The inspector (инспектор), we found (/как/ мы обнаружили), was also travelling by the train (также путешествовал поездом).
"Even if by some unbelievable luck (даже если, по какой-то невероятной удаче; to believe) nothing happened (ничего /не/ случилось), Churston is the place to be (Черстон — это место /где все/ должно будет /случиться/). Our murderer is there (наш убийца там), or has been there today (или был там сегодня). One of my men is on the phone here up to the last minute (один из моих людей /сидит/ на телефоне здесь до последней минуты), in case anything comes through (в случае /если/ что-нибудь прояснится; to come through — проходить; просачиваться; проясняться)."
unbelievable [ʌnbɪˈli:vǝbl], luck [lʌk], phone [fǝʋn]
"That's the way of it," said Crome. "We've all of us done much the same thing one time or another: unconsciously copied something that's just under the eye. He started off White and went on horse instead of haven …"
The inspector, we found, was also travelling by the train.
"Even if by some unbelievable luck nothing happened, Churston is the place to be. Our murderer is there, or has been there today. One of my men is on the phone here up to the last minute in case anything comes through."
Just as the train was leaving the station (как раз когда поезд отъезжал от станции) we saw a man running down the platform (мы увидели мужчину, бегущего по платформе). He reached the inspector's window and called up something (он достиг окна инспектора и выкрикнул что-то).
As the train drew out of the station (когда поезд отошел от станции) Poirot and I hurried along the corridor (Пуаро и я торопливо прошли по коридору) and tapped on the door of the inspector's sleeper (и постучали в дверь спального /вагона/ инспектора).
"You have news — yes?" demanded Poirot (у вас есть новости, да? —спросил Пуаро).
Crome said quietly (Кроум тихо сказал): "It's about as bad as it can be (все очень плохо: «это почти так плохо, как может быть»). Sir Carmichael Clarke has been found with his head bashed in (сэр Кармайкл Кларк был обнаружен с проломленной головой; to bash — сильно ударять)."
corridor [ˈkɔrɪdǝ], sleeper [ˈsli:pǝ], bash [bæʃ]
Just as the train was leaving the station we saw a man running down the platform. He reached the inspector's window and called up something.
As the train drew out of the station Poirot and I hurried along the corridor and tapped on the door of the inspector's sleeper.
"You have news — yes?" demanded Poirot.
Crome said quietly: "It's about as bad as it can be. Sir Carmichael Clarke has been found with his head bashed in."
Sir Carmichael Clarke (сэр Кармайкл Кларк), although his name was not very well known to the general public (хотя его имя не было хорошо известно широкой публике), was a man of some eminence (был человеком, занимающим довольно высокое положение; eminence — высота; высокое положение; высокий чин). He had been in his time a very well-known throat specialist (он был в свое время хорошо известным специалистом-отоларингологом: «специалистом по горлу»). Retiring from his profession (выйдя в отставку), very comfortably off (весьма обеспеченный; well-off — богатый, зажиточный, обеспеченный, состоятельный; comfortably — уютно), he had been able to indulge (он смог погрузиться; to indulge — потворствовать, потакать; удовлетворять свои желания) what had been one of the chief passions of his life (/в то/, что было одной из главных страстей его жизни) — a collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain (собирание китайской керамики и фарфора).
A few years later (несколько лет спустя), inheriting a considerable fortune from an elderly uncle (унаследовав значительное состояние от своего пожилого дяди), he had been able to indulge his passion to the full (он смог полностью отдаться своей страсти), and he was now the possessor of one of the best-known collections of Chinese art (и теперь он был владельцем одной из наиболее известных коллекций китайского искусства). He was married but had no children (он был женат, но не имел детей), and lived in a house he had built for himself near the Devon coast (и жил в доме, который он себе построил на девонском побережье), only coming to London on rare occasions (приезжая в Лондон только по редким случаям) such as when some important sale was on (таким, как серьезные сделки: «когда важная продажа была в разгаре»).
eminence [ˈemɪnǝns], porcelain [ˈpɔ:s(ǝ)lɪn], inherit [ɪnˈherɪt]
Sir Carmichael Clarke, although his name was not very well known to the general public, was a man of some eminence. He had been in his time a very well-known throat specialist. Retiring from his profession, very comfortably off, he had been able to indulge what had been one of I the chief passions of his life — a collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain.
A few years later, inheriting a considerable fortune from an elderly uncle, he had been able to indulge his passion to the full, and he was now the possessor of one of the best-known collections of Chinese art. He was married but had no children, and lived in a house he had built for himself near the Devon coast, only coming to London on rare occasions such as when some important sale was on.
It did not require much reflection to realize (это не требовало больших раздумий, чтобы понять) that his death (что его смерть), following that of the young and pretty Betty Barnard (последовавшая за /смертью/ молодой и красивой Бетти Барнард), would provide the best newspaper sensation in years (обеспечит самую большую газетную сенсацию за /многие/ годы). The fact that it was August (факт, что был август) and that the papers were hard up for subject matter (и что газеты нуждались в предмете /обсуждения/; to be hard up for — не хватать, нуждаться) would make matters worse (сделает дело /только/ хуже).
"Eh bien," said Poirot (фр. ну ладно). "It is possible (возможно) that publicity may do (что публичность может сделать /то/) what private efforts have failed to do (с чем частные усилия не справились). The whole country now will be looking for A.B.C. (вся страна теперь будет искать Эй-би-си)."
provide [prǝˈvaɪd], private [ˈpraɪvɪt], effort [ˈefǝt]
It did not require much reflection to realize that his death, following that of the young and pretty Betty Barnard, would provide the best newspaper sensation in years. The fact that it was August and that the papers were hard up for subject matter would make matters worse.
"Eh bien," said Poirot. "It is possible that publicity may do what private efforts have failed to do. The whole country now will be looking for A.B.C.."
"Unfortunately," I said (к сожалению: «несчастливо = к несчастью»), "that's what he wants (это то, что он хочет)."
"True (верно). But it may (но это может), all the same (все-таки), be his undoing (быть его уничтожением). Gratified by success (довольный успехом; to gratify — уст. вознаграждать; удовлетворять; доставлять удовольствие; радовать), he may become careless (он, возможно, станет беспечным: «он может стать беспечным») … That is what I hope (это /то, на/ что я надеюсь) — that he may be drunk with his own cleverness (что он, возможно, будет в упоении от собственной хитрости/ловкости; to drink — пить; drunk — пьяный, опьяненный; cleverness — ум, даровитость, талантливость; мастерство, умение, сноровка)."
"How odd all this is, Poirot," I exclaimed (как странно все это, Пуаро, — я воскликнул), struck suddenly by an idea (пораженный неожиданной идеей). "Do you know (вы знаете), this is the first crime of this kind (это есть первое преступление этого вида) that you and I have worked on together (над которым вы и я работаем вместе)? All our murders have been (все наши убийства были) — well, private murders (ну, частными преступлениями), so to speak (так сказать)."
