"We're the best judge of that. Let's have the facts, Mr. Hartigan."
"Well, it's like this, sir. I've got a young lady, you see, and her mother lets rooms. Up Camden Town way. Their second floor back has been let for over a year to a man called Cust."
"Cust — eh (Каст — э)?"
"That's right, sir (именно так, сэр). A sort of middle-aged bloke (как бы малый средних лет) what's rather vague and soft (который в некоторой степени неопределенный и мягкий) — and come down in the world a bit (и опустившийся немного по жизни), I should say (я должен сказать). Sort of creature who wouldn't hurt a fly (как бы существо, которое мухи не обидит), you'd say (вы бы сказали) — and I'd never of dreamed of anything being wrong (и я бы никогда не подумал, что что-то не так) if it hadn't been for something rather odd (если бы не что-то достаточно странное)."
In a somewhat confused manner (слегка сбивчиво: «в слегка сбивчивой манере; confused — смущенный; сбивчивый) and repeating himself once or twice (и повторясь раз или два), Tom described his encounter with Mr. Cust at Euston Station (Том описал его случайную встречу с мистером Кастом на станции Юстон) and the incident of the dropped ticket (и инцидент с оброненным билетом).
bloke [blǝʋk], creature [ˈkri:tʃǝ], encounter [ɪnˈkaʋntǝ]
"Cust — eh?"
"That's fight, sir. A sort of middle-aged bloke what's rather vague and soft — and come down in the world a bit, I should say. Sort of creature who wouldn't hurt a fly, you'd say — and I'd never of dreamed of anything being wrong if it hadn't been for something rather odd."
In a somewhat confused manner and repeating himself once or twice, Tom described his encounter with Mr. Cust at Euston Station and the incident of the dropped ticket.
"You see, sir (вы понимаете, сэр), look at it how you will (смотрите на это, как хотите), it's funny like (это странно как-то). Lily (Лили), that's my young lady, sir (это моя невеста, сэр) — she was quite positive (она была совершенно уверена) that it was Cheltenham he said (что это был Челтнем, /как/ он сказал), and her mother says the same (и ее мать говорит тоже) — says she remembers distinctly (говорит, что она точно помнит) talking about it the morning he went off (/как/ говорили об этом в утро, /когда/ он уехал). Of course (конечно), I didn't pay much attention to it at the time (я не обратил внимания на это в то время). Lily — my young lady said (моя невеста сказала) as how she hoped (так как она надеялась) he wouldn't cop it for this A.B.C. fellow (что он не попадет в неприятности из-за этого парня Эй-би-си; to cop — поймать; попасть в неприятную историю) going to Doncaster (едущего в Донкастер) — and then she says (а затем она говорит) it's rather a coincidence (это, скорее, совпадение) because he was down Churston way at the time of the last crime (потому что он был в Черстоне во время последнего преступления).
Laughing like (смеха ради), I asks her whether he was at Bexhill the time before (я спрашиваю ее, был ли он в Бэксхилле до этого), and she says (и она говорит) she don't know where he was (она не знает, где он был), but he was away at the seaside (но он уезжал на побережье) — that she does know (это она действительно знает). And then I said to her (а затем я сказал ей) it would be odd (это было бы странно) if he was the A.B.C. himself (если он был сам Эй-би-си) and she said (и она сказала) poor Mr. Cust wouldn't hurt a fly (бедный мистер Каст не обидит и мухи) — and that was all at the time (и это было все на то время). We didn't think no more about it (мы больше об этом не думали). At least (в конце), in a sort of way I did, sir (каким-то образом я это делал, сэр), underneath like (как-то подсознательно; underneath — вниз; внизу). I began wondering about this Cust fellow (я начал интересоваться этим парнем, Кастом) and thinking that (и думая что), after all (в конце концов), harmless as he seemed (безвредным, как он казался), he might be a bit batty (он, возможно, был слегка того)."
distinctly [dɪsˈtɪnktlɪ], cop [kɔp], underneath [ˌʌndǝˈni:Ɵ]
"You see, sir, look at it how you will, it's funny like. Lily, that's my young lady, sir — she was quite positive that it was Cheltenham he said, and her mother says the same — says she remembers distinctly talking about it the morning he went off. Of course, I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. Lily — my young lady said as how she hoped he wouldn't cop it for this A.B.C. fellow going to Doncaster — and then she says it's rather a coincidence because he was down Churston way at the time of the last crime.
Laughing like, I asks her whether he was at Bexhill the time before, and she says she don't know where he was, but he was away at the seaside — that she does know. And then I said to her it would be odd if he was the A.B.C. himself and she said poor Mr. Cust wouldn't hurt a fly — and that was all at the time. We didn't think no more about it. At least, in a sort of way I did, sir, underneath like. I began wondering about this Cust fellow and thinking that, after all, harmless as he seemed, he might be a bit batty."
Tom took a breath (Том вдохнул) and then went on (а затем продолжил). Inspector Crome was listening intently now (теперь инспектор Кроум слушал внимательно; intent — внимательный, пристальный).
"And then after the Doncaster murder, sir (а затем, после донкастерского убийства, сэр), it was in all the papers (это было во всех газетах) that information was wanted (что информация требовалась) as to the whereabouts of a certain A.B. Case or Cash (о местонахождении некоего Эй. Би. Кейса или Кэша; whereabouts — местонахождение), and it gave a description (и давалось описание) that fitted well enough (которое достаточно хорошо подходило). First evening off I had (в первый выходной вечер, который у меня был), I went round to Lily's (я поехал к Лили) and asked her what her Mr. Cust's initials were (и спросил ее, какие у ее мистера Каста были инициалы). She couldn't remember at first (сначала она не могла вспомнить), but her mother did (но ее мать /вспомнила/)."
intently [ˈɪntǝntlɪ], whereabouts [ˈwɛǝrǝbaʋts], initial [ɪˈnɪʃɪǝl]
Tom took a breath and then went on. Inspector Crome was listening intently now.
"And then after the Doncaster murder, sir, it was in all the papers that information was wanted as to the whereabouts of a certain A.B. Case or Cash, and it gave a description that fitted well enough. First evening off I had, I went round to Lily's and asked her what her Mr. Cust's initials were. She couldn't remember at first, but her mother did."
"Said they were A. B. right enough (сказала, что они как раз были Эй. Би.). Then we got down to it (затем мы засели за это) and tried to figure out (и попытались выяснить) if Cust had been away at the time of the first murder at Andover (был ли мистер Каст в отсутствии во время первого убийства в Эндовере). Well, as you know, sir (как вы знаете, сэр), it isn't too easy to remember things three months back (непросто вспомнить вещи, которые случились три месяца назад). We had a job of it (мы потрудились: «мы имели работу из этого»), but we got it fixed down in the end (но у нас все сошлось в конце), because Mrs. Marbury had a brother come from Canada to see her on June 21st (потому что у миссис Марбери был брат, который приехал навестить ее из Канады двадцать первого июня).
He arrived unexpected like (он приехал как-то неожиданно) and she wanted to give him a bed (и она хотела предложить ему переночевать: «кровать»), and Lily suggested (и Лили предложила) that as Mr. Cust was away (что, так как мистер Каст отсутствовал) Bert Marbury might have his bed (Берт Марбери мог бы получить /в распоряжение/ его кровать). But Mrs. Marbury wouldn't agree (но миссис Марбери не согласилась), because she said (потому что она сказала) it wasn't acting right by her lodger (это было неправильное поведение /по отношению/ к ее жильцу), and she always liked to act fair and square (а ей всегда нравилось вести себя правильно и честно). But we fixed the date all right (но мы определили точную дату) because of Bert Marbury's ship docking at Southampton that day (потому что корабль Берта Марбери стоял в доке в Саусгэмптоне в тот день)."
Canada [ˈkænǝdǝ], lodger [ˈlɔʤǝ], dock [dɔk]
"Said they were A.B. right enough. Then we got down to it and tried to figure out if Cust had been away at the time of the first murder at Andover. Well, as you know, sir, it isn't too easy to remember things three months back. We had a job of it, but we got it fixed down in the end, because Mrs. Marbury had a brother come from Canada to see her on June 21st.
He arrived unexpected like and she wanted to give him a bed, and Lily suggested that as Mr. Cust was away Bert Marbury might have his bed. But Mrs. Marbury wouldn't agree, because she said it wasn't acting right by her lodger, and she always liked to act fair and square. But we fixed the date all right because of Bert Marbury's ship docking at Southampton that day."
Inspector Crome had listened very attentively (инспектор Кроум выслушал очень внимательно), jotting down an occasional note (временами делая краткие записи; to jot down — кратко записать; бегло набросать; записать).
"That's all?" he asked (это все?).
"That's all, sir (это все, сэр). I hope (я надеюсь) you don't think I'm making a lot of nothing (вы не думаете, что я делаю много /шума/ из ничего)." Tom flushed slightly (Том слегка покраснел).
"Not at all (вовсе нет). You were quite right to come here (вы были совершенно правы, что пришли сюда). Of course, it's very slight evidence (конечно, это очень незначительные свидетельства; slight — легкий, небольшой, незначительный) — these dates may be mere coincidence (эти даты могут быть просто совпадениями) and the likeness of the name, too (и похожесть имени тоже). But it certainly warrants my having an interview with your Mr. Cust (но это, конечно, дает мне основания побеседовать с вашим мистером Кастом; warrant — ордер; основание; to warrant — служить оправданием, основанием; давать право, полномочия). Is he at home now (он дома сейчас)?"
"Yes, sir."
"When did he return (когда он вернулся)?"
"The evening of the Doncaster murder, sir (в вечер донкастерского убийства, сэр)."
