Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

Франк Илья Михайлович

I relapsed into silence (я вновь погрузился в молчание).

coast [kst], road [rd], conclusion [kn'klu:n]

He smiled. "Alors c'est bien, mon enfant."

He looked round for me. "Come, Hastings, we must start for Eastbourne."

The car was waiting and soon we were driving along the coast road that leads through Pevensey to Eastbourne.

"Is it any use asking you anything, Poirot?"

"Not at this moment. Draw your own conclusions as to what I am doing."

I relapsed into silence.

Poirot, who seemed pleased with himself (который

казался довольным собой), hummed a little tune (мурлыкал песенку: «маленький напев»). As we passed through Pevensey (когда мы проезжали через Певенси) he suggested that we stop (он предложил, чтобы мы остановились) and have a look over the castle (и осмотрели замок).

As we were returning towards the car (когда мы возвращались к машине), we paused a moment to watch a ring of children (мы остановись посмотреть на круг детей) — Brownies (девочек-скаутов; brownie — девочка-скаут младшего возраста), I guessed (как я догадался), by their getup (по их экипировке) — who were singing a ditty in shrill (которые пели песенку резкими), untuneful voices (нестройными голосами) …

"What is it that they say, Hastings (что это, что они говорят, Гастингс)? I cannot catch the words (я не могу уловить слова)."

I listened (я слушал) — till I caught one refrain (пока я не уловил один припев).

castle [k:sl], brownie ['bran], refrain [r'fren]

Poirot, who seemed pleased with himself, hummed a little tune. As we passed through Pevensey he suggested that we stop and have a look over the castle.

As we were returning towards the car, we paused a moment to watch a ring of children — Brownies, I guessed, by their getup — who were singing a ditty in shrill, untuneful voices …

"What is it that they say, Hastings? I cannot catch the words."

I listened — till I caught one refrain.

" — And catch a fox (и поймать лиса)

And put him in a box (и посадить его в ящик)

And never let him go (и никогда его не выпускать: «и никогда не позволять ему уйти») ."

"And catch a fox and put him in a box and never let him go!" repeated Poirot (повторил Пуаро).

His face had gone suddenly grave and stern (его лицо неожиданно стало серьезным и строгим). "It is very terrible that, Hastings (очень ужасно это, Гастингс)." He was silent a minute (он молчал: «он был молчалив» с минуту). "You hunt the fox here (вы охотитесь на лис здесь)?"

"I don't (я нет). I've never been able to afford to hunt (я никогда не был в состоянии позволить себе охотиться). And I don't think (и я не думаю) there's much hunting in this part of the world (здесь много возможностей для охоты: «там есть много /возможностей/ для охоты в этой части мира»)."

fox [fks], stern [st:n], afford ['f:d]

" — And catch a fox

And put him in a box

And never let him go."

"And catch a fox and put him in a box and never let him go!" repeated Poirot.

His face had gone suddenly grave and stern. "It is very terrible that, Hastings." He was silent a minute. "You hunt the fox here?"

"I don't. I've never been able to afford to hunt. And I don't think there's much hunting in this part of the world."

"I meant in England generally (я

имел в виду в Англии в общем). A strange sport (странный спорт). The waiting at the covert side (ожидание в засаде: «скрытой стороне») — then they sound the tally-ho (затем они кричат /собакам/ «ату!»), do they not (не так ли)? — and the run begins (и погоня начинается) — across the country (по всей местности) — over the hedges and ditches (по горам по долам: «через преграды и ямки») — and the fox he runs (а лис, он бежит) — and sometimes he doubles back (и иногда он запутыват след; to double — удваивать; double back — запутывать след /о преследуемом звере/) — but the dogs (но собаки) — "

"Hounds (гончие)!"

" — hounds are on his trail (гончие идут по его следу: «гончие на его следе»), and at last they catch him (и наконец они ловят его) and he dies (и он умирает) — quickly and horribly (быстро и ужасно)."

"I suppose (я полагаю) it does sound cruel (это действительно звучит жестоко), but really (но на самом деле) — "

covert ['kv:t], tally-ho ['tael'h], hound [hand]

"I meant in England generally. A strange sport. The waiting at the covert side — then they sound the tally-ho, do they not? — and the run begins — across the country — over the hedges and ditches — and the fox he runs — and sometimes he doubles back — but the dogs — "

"Hounds!"

" — hounds are on his trail, and at last they catch him and he dies — quickly and horribly."

"I suppose it does sound cruel, but really — "

"The fox enjoys it (лис получает от этого удовольствие: «наслаждается этим»)? Do not say les b^etises, my friend (не говорите фр. глупостей, мой друг). Tout de m^eme (фр. все равно) — it is better that (лучше эта) — the quick (быстрая), cruel death (жестокая смерть) than what those children were singing (чем то, что те дети пели) … To be shut away (быть закрытым) — in a box (в ящике) — for ever (навсегда) … No, it is not good (это нехорошо), that (это)."