jargon [ˈʤɑ:ɡǝn], scientific [ˌsaɪǝnˈtɪfɪk], society [sǝˈsaɪǝtɪ]
"Hm," said the A.C.. "That's the jargon that's talked nowadays. In my day if a man was mad he was mad and we didn't look about for scientific terms to soften it down. I suppose a thoroughly up-to-date doctor would suggest putting a man like A.B.C. in a nursing home, telling him what a fine fellow he was for forty-five days on end and then letting him out as a responsible member of society."
Poirot smiled (Пуаро улыбнулся) but did not answer (но не ответил).
The conference broke up (совещание прервалось).
"Well," said the Assistant Commissioner (так, — сказал заместитель комиссара). "As you say, Crome (как вы говорите, Кроум), pulling him in is only a matter of time (арестовать его — это только дело времени; to pull in — разг. арестовывать)."
"We'd have had him before now," said the inspector (мы бы схватили его до настоящего момента), "if he wasn't so ordinary-looking (если бы он не был таким внешне обычным). We've worried enough perfectly inoffensive citizens as it is (мы достаточно побеспокоили совершенно безобидных граждан из-за этого: «как это есть»)."
"I wonder (мне интересно) where he is at this minute," said the Assistant Commissioner (где он в данную минуту).
inoffensive [ˌɪnǝˈfensɪv], citizen [ˈsɪtɪzǝn], perfectly [ˈpǝ:fǝktlɪ]
Poirot smiled but did not answer.
The conference broke up.
"Well," said the Assistant Commissioner. "As you say, Crome, pulling him in is only a matter of time."
"We'd have had him before now," said the inspector, "if he wasn't so ordinary-looking. We've worried enough perfectly inoffensive citizens as it is."
"I wonder where he is at this minute," said the Assistant Commissioner.
XXX. (Not from Captain Hastings' Personal Narrative)
(не из личного повествования капитана Гастингса)
Mr. Cust stood by a greengrocer's shop (мистер Каст стоял у магазина зеленщика).
He stared across the road (он пристально смотрел через дорогу).
Yes, that was it (да, вот оно).
Mrs. Ascher (миссис Эшер). Newsagent (владелица газетного киоска) and Tobacconist (и продавщица табачных изделий) … In the empty window was a sign (в пустом окне был знак).
To Let (сдается).
Empty (пусто) …
Lifeless (безжизненно) …
across [ǝkˈrɔs], tobacconist [tǝˈbækǝnɪst], lifeless [ˈlaɪflǝs]
Mr. Cust stood by a greengrocer's shop.
He stared across the road.
Yes, that was it.
Mrs. Ascher. Newsagent and Tobacconist … In the empty window was a sign.
To Let.
Empty …
Lifeless …
"Excuse me, sir (извините меня, сэр)."
The greengrocer's wife (жена зеленщика), trying to get at some lemons (пытающаяся дотянуться до каких-то лемонов).
He apologized (он извинился), moved to one side (сдвинулся в одну сторону).
Slowly he shuffled away (медленно волоча ноги, он двинулся прочь) — back towards the main street of the town (назад к главной улице города) …
It was difficult (это было трудно) — very difficult (очень трудно) — now that he hadn't any money left (теперь, когда у него не осталось денег) …
Not having had anything to eat all day (если не поешь целый день) made one feel very queer (это заставит тебя чувствовать очень странно) and light-headed (и /заставит испытывать/ головокружение) …
He looked at a poster outside a newsagent's shop (он посмотрел на плакат на газетном киоске: «снаружи газетного киоска»).
lemon [ˈlemǝn], shuffle [ʃʌfl], poster [ˈpǝʋstǝ]
"Excuse me, sir."
The greengrocer's wife, trying to get at some lemons.
He apologized, moved to one side.
Slowly he shuffled away — back towards the main street of the town …
It was difficult — very difficult — now that he hadn't any money left …
Not having had anything to eat all day made one feel very queer and light-headed …
He looked at a poster outside a newsagent's shop.
The A.B.C. Case(дело Эй-би-си). Murderer Still at Large(убийца все еще на свободе; to be at large — быть на свободе; на просторе). Interview with M. Hercule Poirot(интервью с мсье Эркюлем Пуаро).
Mr. Cust said to himself (мистер Каст сказал самому себе): "Hercule Poirot (Эркюль Пуаро). I wonder if he knows (мне интересно, знает ли он) —"
He walked on again (он снова подолжил идти).
It wouldn't do to stand staring at that poster (не годилось стоять, уставившись на этот плакат) …
He thought (он подумал): "I can't go on much longer (я больше не могу: «я не могу дольше продолжать»)."
Foot in front of foot (шаг за шагом: «ступня впереди ступни»; foot — ступня; шаг) … what an odd thing walking was (какая странная вещь ходьба) …
Foot in front of foot (шаг за шагом) — ridiculous (нелепо).
large [lɑ:ʤ], again [ǝˈɡeɪn], walking [ˈwɔ:kɪŋ]
The A.B.C. Case. Murderer Still at Large. Interview with M. Hercule Poirot.
Mr. Cust said to himself: "Hercule Poirot. I wonder if he knows — "
He walked on again.
It wouldn't do to stand staring at that poster …
He thought: "I can't go on much longer …"
Foot in front of foot … what an odd thing walking was …
Foot in front of foot — ridiculous.
Highly ridiculous (совершенно нелепо) …
But man was a ridiculous animal anyway (но человек — нелепое существо все равно) …
And he (а он), Alexander Bonaparte Cust (Александр Бонапарт Каст), was particularly ridiculous (был особенно нелеп) …
He always had been (он всегда был) …
People had always laughed at him (люди всегда смеялись над ним) …
He couldn't blame them (он не мог винить их) …
Where was he going (куда он шел)? He didn't know (он не знал). He'd come to the end (он дошел до предела). He no longer looked anywhere (он больше никуда не смотрел) but at his feet (кроме как под ноги).
Alexander [ˌælɪkˈzɑ:ndǝ], Bonaparte [ˈbǝʋnǝpɑ:t], anywhere [ˈenɪwɛǝ]
Highly ridiculous …
But man was a ridiculous animal anyway …
And he, Alexander Bonaparte Cust, was particularly ridiculous …
He always had been …
People had always laughed at him …
He couldn't blame them …
Where was he going? He didn't know. He'd come to the end. He no longer looked anywhere but at his feet.
Foot in front of foot (шаг за шагом).
He looked up (он посмотрел вверх). Lights in front of him (огни перед ним). And letters (и буквы) …
Police Station (полицейский участок).
"That's funny," said Mr. Cust (это забавно). He gave a little giggle (и слегка хихикнул: «он издал небольшое хихиканье»).
Then he stepped inside (затем он ступил внутрь). Suddenly (неожиданно), as he did so (когда он так сделал), he swayed and fell forward (он покачнулся и упал вперед).
letter [ˈletǝ], inside [ɪnˈsaɪd], sway [sweɪ]
Foot in front of foot.
He looked up. Lights in front of him. And letters …
Police Station.
"That's funny," said Mr. Cust. He gave a little giggle.
Then he stepped inside. Suddenly, as he did so, he swayed and fell forward.
XXXI. Hercule Poirot Asks Questions
(Эркюль Пуаро задает вопросы)
It was a clear November day (был ясный ноябрьский день). Dr. Thompson and Chief Inspector Japp had come round (зашли доктор Томпсон и главный инспектор Джепп) to acquaint Poirot with the result of the police court proceedings in the case of Rex v. Alexander Bonaparte Cust (чтобы ознакомить Пуаро с результатом разбирательств полицейского суда по делу «Король против Александра Бонапарта Каста»; v. = vs. = versus — против).
Poirot himself had had a slight bronchial chill (у самого Пуаро была легкая простуда: «легкая бронхиальная простуда»; chill — простуда; озноб) which had prevented his attending (которая помешала ему присутствовать). Fortunately (к счастью) he had not insisted on having my company (он не настаивал на том, чтобы я составил ему компанию: «он не настаивал на /том, чтобы/ иметь мою компанию»).
proceeding [prǝˈsi:dɪŋ], versus [ˈvǝ:sǝs], bronchial [ˈbrɔŋkjǝl]
It was a clear November day. Dr. Thompson and Chief Inspector Japp had come round to acquaint Poirot with the result of the police court proceedings in the case of Rex v. Alexander Bonaparte Cust.
Poirot himself had had a slight bronchial chill which had prevented his attending. Fortunately he had not insisted on having my company.
"Committed for trial," said Japp (передано в суд; to commit — совершать; передавать). "So that's that (так, такие-то дела)."
"Isn't it unusual," I asked (не правда ли, это необычно: «разве это не необычно»), "for a defence to be offered at this stage (чтобы защита была предложена на этой ступени; stage — сцена; период, ступень)? I thought prisoners always reserved their defence (я думал, заключенные всегда приберегают защиту)."
"It's the usual course," said Japp (это обычный ход /вещей/). "I suppose (я полагаю) young Lucas thought (молодой Лукас думал) he might rush it through (что он, вероятно, сможет быстро провести это /дело/; to rush — мчаться; выполнять слишком поспешно). He's a trier (он из тех, кто всегда старается взять нахрапом; trier — человек, делающий все, что в его силах; to try — пробовать, стараться, пытаться), I will say (я скажу). Insanity's the only defence possible (невменяемость является единственной возможной защитой)."
Poirot shrugged his shoulders (Пуаро пожал плечами). "With insanity there can be no acquittal (с невменяемостью там не может быть никакого оправдания). Imprisonment during His Majesty's pleasure[44] is hardly preferable to death (бессрочное заключение: «заключение пока угодно Его Величеству» является едва ли предпочтительнее смерти)."
trial [ˈtraɪǝl], trier [ˈtraɪǝ], acquittal [ǝkˈwɪtl]
