Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

Франк Илья Михайлович

Ball struck in. "The lass told me that he had his coat off and that he was holding the sleeve of it, and it was all wet — that's right, eh, lass?"

"Yes, sir, that's right, sir."

She plunged on: "And his face, sir, it looked queer, mortal queer it looked. Gave me quite a turn."

"When was this?" asked Anderson sharply.

"About a quarter after five, so near as I can reckon."

"Over three hours ago," snapped Anderson. "Why didn't you come at once?"

"Didn't hear about it at once," said Ball (не сразу услышал об этом). "Not till news came along (пока новости не пришли) as there'd been another murder done (что

произошло еще одно убийство). And then the lass (а затем девушка) she screams out (она закричала) as it might have been blood in the basin (что это могла быть кровь в тазу), and I asked her (и я спросил ее) what she means (что она имеет в виду), and she tells me (и она рассказывает мне). Well, it doesn't sound right to me (мне не показалось это правильным: «это не прозвучало для меня правильно») and I went upstairs myself (и я пошел наверх сам). Nobody in the room (никого в комнате). I asks a few questions (я задаю несколько вопросов) and one of the lads in courtyard says (и один из парней во дворе говорит) he saw a fellow sneaking out that way (он видел, как человек крался наружу туда: «в том направлении»; to sneak — красться) and by his description it was the right one (и по описанию, это был тот, кто нужно; right — именно тот, который нужен). So I says to the missus (так я сказал хозяйке; missus — Mrs — mistress — хозяйка /дома/) as Mary here had best go to police (что Мэри лучше пойти в полицию). She doesn't like the idea (ей не нравится эта идея), Mary doesn't (Мэри не /нравится/), and I says (и я говорю) I'll come along with her (я пойду с ней)."

Inspector Crome drew a sheet of paper towards him (инспектор Кроум протянул ему лист бумаги).

sneak [sni:k], missus ['msz], sheet [i:t]

"Didn't hear about it at once," said Ball. "Not till news came along as there'd been another murder done. And then the lass she screams out as it might have been blood in the basin, and I asked her what she means, and she tells me. Well, it doesn't sound right to me and I went upstairs myself. Nobody in the room. I asks a few questions and one of the lads in courtyard says he saw a fellow sneaking out that way and by his description it was the right one. So I says to the missus as Mary here had best go to police. She doesn't like the idea, Mary doesn't, and I says I'll come along with her."

Inspector Crome drew a sheet of paper towards him.

"Describe this man," he said (опишите этого человека). "As quick as you can (как можно быстрее: «так быстро, как вы можете»). There's no time to be lost (нельзя терять время: «там нет времени, чтобы его терять»)."

"Medium-sized, he were," said Mary (среднего роста: «среднего размера» он был). "And stooped (и сутулый; to stoop — наклоняться; сутулиться) and wore glasses (и носил очки = на нем были очки; to wear).''

"His clothes (его одежда)?"

"A dark suit (темный костюм) and a Homburg [42] hat (и хомбургская шляпа). Rather shabby-looking (довольно

потрепанный; shabby — поношенный; потрепанный, протертый)."

She could add little to this description (она могла мало добавить к этому описанию).

Inspector Crome did not insist unduly (инспектор Кроум не настаивал чрезмерно; duly — должным образом; достаточно). The telephone wires were soon busy (телефонные провода были скоро заняты), but neither the inspector (но ни инспектор) nor the Chief Constable were overoptimistic (ни начальник полиции не были слишком оптимистичны).

42

Homburg hat — хомбург (мужская фетровая шляпа с узкими, немного загнутыми полями и продольной вмятиной на мягкой тулье) названа по Гамбургу, где впервые делались такие шляпы).

Crome elicited the fact (Кроум выяснил тот факт; to elicit — извлекать; вытягивать, допытываться; вызывать, выявлять) that the man (что мужчина), when seen sneaking across the yard (когда его видели крадущимся по двору), had had no bag or suitcase (не имел /с собой/ ни сумки, ни чемодана). "There's a chance there (в этом есть шанс)," he said.

wore [w:], unduly ['n'dju:l], insist [n'sst]

"Describe this man," he said. "As quick as you can. There's no time to be lost."

"Medium-sized, he were," said Mary. "And stooped and wore glasses.''

"His clothes?"

"A dark suit and a Homburg hat. Rather shabby-looking."

She could add little to this description.

Inspector Crome did not insist unduly. The telephone wires were soon busy, but neither the inspector nor the Chief Constable were overoptimistic.

Crome elicited the fact that the man, when seen sneaking across the yard, had had no bag or suitcase. "There's a chance there," he said.

Two men were dispatched to the Black Swan (двое мужчин были отправлены в «Черный лебедь»).

Mr. Ball (мистер Болл), swelling with pride and importance (раздуваясь от гордости и важности; to swell — надуваться, раздуваться), and Mary, somewhat tearful (и Мэри, слегка в слезах), accompanied them (сопровождали их).

The sergeant returned about ten minutes later (сержант пришел примерно десять минут спустя).

"I've brought the register, sir," he said (я принес регистрационную книгу, сэр). "Here's the signature (вот подпись)."

We crowded round (мы столпились вокруг). The writing was small and cramped (почерк был мелкий и тесный) — not easy to read (нелегко прочитать).

dispatch [ds'paet], register ['rest], signature ['snt]

Two men were dispatched to the Black Swan.

Mr. Ball, swelling with pride and importance, and Mary, somewhat tearful, accompanied them.

The sergeant returned about ten minutes later.

"I've brought the register, sir," he said. "Here's the signature."

We crowded round. The writing was small and cramped — not easy to read.

"A.B.Case (Эй. Би. Кейс) — or is it Cash (или это Кэш)?" said the Chief Constable (сказал начальник полиции).