"He didn't live with his wife (он не жил со своей женой)?"
neighbourhood ['[email protected]], desirable [dI'[email protected](@)bl], suspicion [[email protected]'pIS(@)n]
That puts the time at between 5:30 and 6:05. So far I haven't been able to find anyone who saw this man Ascher in the neighbourhood, but, of course, it's early yet. He was in the Three Crowns at nine o'clock pretty far gone in drink. When we get hold of him he'll be detained on suspicion."
"Not a very desirable character, inspector?" asked Poirot.
"Unpleasant bit of goods."
"He didn't live with his wife?"
"No, they separated some years ago (нет, они расстались несколько лет назад). Ascher's a German (Эшер — немец). He was waiter at one time (он был официантом одно время), but he took to drink (но он пристрастился к выпивке; to take — брать; to take to — пристраститься, увлечься /чем-л./) and gradually became unemployable (и постепенно стал нетрудоспособным; to employ — употреблять, применять, использовать). His wife went into service for a bit (его жена работала прислугой недолго; to go into service — пойти в услужение). Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old lady (в последний раз она работала поваром-экономкой у пожилой леди: «ее последнее место было поваром-экономкой у старой леди»), Miss Rose (мисс Роуз). She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself (она давала своему мужу столько из своего заработка, чтобы он мог содержать себя; to allow — позволять; предоставлять; давать), but he was always getting drunk (но он всегда напивался) and coming round (являлся; to come round —объезжать; заезжать, приходить) and making scenes at the places (и устраивал сцены в тех местах) where she was employed (где она работала: «где ее нанимали /на работу/»).
gradually ['gr&[email protected]], unemployable ['VnIm'plOIbl], allow [@'laU]
"No, they separated some years ago. Ascher's a German. He was waiter at one time, but he took to drink and gradually became unemployable. His wife went into service for a bit. Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old lady, Miss Rose. She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself, but he was always getting drunk and coming round and making scenes at the places where she was employed.
That's why she took the post with Miss Rose at the grange (поэтому она заняла вакансию у мисс Роуз на ферме; post — столб; почта; положение, должность; grange — ферма с постройками). It's three miles out of Andover (это в трех милях от Эндовера), dead in the country (совсем за городом: «в сельской местности»; dead — мертвый; умерший; пустой; разг. совсем, вполне). He couldn't get at her there so well (он не мог так просто да нее там добраться). When Miss Rose died (когда мисс Роуз умерла), she left Mrs. Ascher a small legacy (она оставила миссис Эшер небольшое наследство; to leave — покидать; оставлять), and the woman started this tobacco and newsagent business (и эта женщина начала свое табачно-газетное дело) — quite a tiny place (очень маленькое местечко = лавчонка) — just cheap cigarettes and a few newspapers (всего лишь дешевые сигареты и несколько газет) — that sort of thing (и все такое: «тот сорт вещей»). She just about managed to keep going (ей только-только удавалось оставаться на плаву)."
grange [greIndZ], dead [ded], legacy ['[email protected]]
That's why she took the post with Miss Rose at The Grange. It's three miles out of Andover, dead in the country. He couldn't get at her there so well. When Miss Rose died, she left Mrs. Ascher a small legacy, and the woman started this tobacco and newsagent business — quite a tiny place — just cheap cigarettes and a few newspapers — that sort of thing. She just about managed to keep going."
"Ascher used to come round (Эшер, бывало, появлялся; to come round — обходить; заходить) and abuse her now and again (и оскорблял ее снова и снова; to abuse — оскорблять; ругать; мучить) and she used to give him a bit (а она, бывало, давала ему немного /денег/) to get rid of him (чтобы избавиться от него). She allowed him fifteen shillings[5] a week regular (она регулярно выдавала ему пятнадцать шиллингов в неделю)."
"Had they any children?" asked Poirot (у них были дети? — спросил Пуаро).
"No. There's a niece (есть племянница). She's in service near Overton (она работает служанкой рядом с Овертоном). Very superior (очень надменная; super), steady young woman (уравновешенная молодая женщина; steady — устойчивый; твердый; уравновешенный)."
"And you say this man Ascher used to threaten his wife (и вы говорите, этот человек, Эшер, бывало, угрожал своей жене)?"
"That's right (так точно). He was a terror (на него не было управы: «он был ужасом») when he was in drink (когда выпьет) — cursing (сквернословил) and swearing (и ругался) that he'd bash her head in (что он пробил бы ей голову). She had a hard time (у нее были трудные времена), did Mrs. Ascher (у миссис Эшер)."
"What age of woman was she (какого возраста женщиной она была)?"
"Close on sixty (ближе к шестидесяти) — respectable and hardworking (почтенная и трудолюбивая; to respect — уважать)."
shilling ['SIlIN], niece [ni:s], superior [sju:'[email protected]@]
"Ascher used to come round and abuse her now and again and she used to give him a bit to get rid of him. She allowed him fifteen shillings a week regular."
"Had they any children?" asked Poirot.
"No. There's a niece. She's in service near Overton. Very superior, steady young woman."
"And you say this man Ascher used to threaten his wife?"
"That's right. He was a terror when he was in drink — cursing and swearing that he'd bash her head in. She had a hard time, did Mrs. Ascher."
"What age of woman was she?"
"Close on sixty — respectable and hardworking."
Poirot said gravely (Пуаро сказал серьезно): "It is your opinion, inspector (по вашему мнению: «это ваше мнение», инспектор), that this man Ascher committed the crime (что, этот человек, Эшер, совершил преступление)?"
The inspector coughed cautiously (инспектор осторожно кашлянул; caution — внимательность, осторожность). "It's a bit early to say that, Mr. Poirot (это немного рано говорить так, мистер Пуаро), but I'd like to hear Franz Ascher's own account (но мне бы хотелось услышать собственное объяснение Франца Эшера; account — счет; оценка; мнение) of how he spent yesterday evening (как он провел вчерашний вечер; to spend — проводить; тратить). If he can give a satisfactory account of himself (если он сможет дать удовлетворительный ответ о себе; to satisfy — удовлетворять), well and good (тем лучше) — if not (если нет) —"
His pause was a pregnant one (его пауза была полна смысла; pregnant — беременная; чреватая; содержательная).
"Nothing was missing from the shop (ничего не пропало из магазина)?"
"Nothing (ничего). Money in the till quite undisturbed (деньги в кассе совсем не тронуты; to disturb — беспокоить; волновать; приводить в беспорядок). No signs of robbery (нет признаков ограбления; to rob — грабить)."
cough [kOf], cautiously ['kO:S(@)slI], satisfactory [,s&tIs'f&[email protected]]
Poirot said gravely: "It is your opinion, inspector, that this man Ascher committed the crime?"
The inspector coughed cautiously. "It's a bit early to say that, Mr. Poirot, but I'd like to hear Franz Ascher's own account of how he spent yesterday evening. If he can give a satisfactory account of himself, well and good — if not —"
His pause was a pregnant one.
"Nothing was missing from the shop?"
"Nothing. Money in the till quite undisturbed. No signs of robbery."
"You think (вы думаете) that this man Ascher came into the shop drunk (что этот человек, Эшер, пришел в магазин пьяным), started abusing his wife (начал оскорблять свою жену) and finally struck her down (и в конце убил ее)?"
"It seems the most likely solution (это кажется наиболее вероятным решением). But I must confess, sir (но я должен признаться, сэр), I'd like to have another look at that very odd letter (мне бы хотелось еще раз взглянуть на то очень странное письмо) you received (/которое/ вы получили). I was wondering (мне было интересно) if it was just possible (возможно ли это) that it came from this man Ascher (чтобы оно пришло от этого человека, Эшера)."
Poirot handed over the letter (Пуаро передал письмо) and the inspector read it with a frown (и инспектор прочитал его, нахмурившись: «с хмурым /видом/»).
"It doesn't read like Ascher," he said at last (это не похоже на Эшера: «это не читается как Ашер», — он сказал наконец). "I doubt (я сомневаюсь) if Ascher would use the term 'our' British police (пользовался ли Эшер термином «наша» британская полиция) — not unless he was trying to be extra cunning (только если он не пытался быть особенно хитрым) — and I doubt (и я сомневаюсь) if he's got the wits for that (есть ли у него достаточно мозгов для этого; wits — ум, разум; остроумие; сообразительность). Then the man's a wreck (ведь этот человек — развалина; wreck — остов разбитого судна; остатки кораблекрушения) — all to pieces (весь /развалившийся/ на кусочки). His hand's too shaky to print letters clearly like this (его руки слишком трясутся, чтобы напечатать буквы такими четкими, как эти; to shake — трястись). It's good quality notepaper and ink, too (это к тому же хорошая качественная писчая бумага и чернила). It's odd (это странно) that the letter should mention the 21st of the month (что письмо упоминает двадцать первое /число/ этого месяца). Of course it might be a coincidence (конечно, это может быть совпадением).''
solution [[email protected]'lu:S(@)n], wreck [rek], coincidence [[email protected]'InsId(@)ns]
"You think that this man Ascher came into the shop drunk, started abusing his wife and finally struck her down?"
"It seems the most likely solution. But I must confess, sir, I'd like to have another look at that very odd letter you received. I was wondering if it was just possible that it came from this man Ascher."
Poirot handed over the letter and the inspector read it with a frown.
"It doesn't read like Ascher," he said at last. "I doubt if Ascher would use the term 'our' British police — not unless he was trying to be extra cunning — and I doubt if he's got the wits for that. Then the man's a wreck — all to pieces. His hand's too shaky to print letters clearly like this. It's good quality notepaper and ink, too. It's odd that the letter should mention the 21st of the month. Of course it might be a coincidence.''
