He shook his head (он покачал головой). Then he said (затем он сказал), with a change of tone (с переменой в тоне): "Tomorrow (завтра), I am to visit the man Cust (я должен посетить этого человека, Каста)," and he added to the chauffeur (и он добавил шоферу): "Back to London (назад в Лондон)."
"Aren't you going to Eastbourne?" I cried (вы не едете в Истборн? — вскричал я).
"What need (какова нужда)? I know (я знаю) — quite enough for my purpose (вполне достаточно для моей цели)."
quick [kwIk], box [bOks], London ['[email protected]]
"The fox enjoys it? Do not say les bêtises, my friend. Tout de même it is better that — the quick, cruel death than what those children were singing … To be shut away — in a box — for ever … No, it is not good, that."
He shook his head. Then he said, with a change of tone: "Tomorrow, I am to visit the man Cust," and he added to the chauffeur: "Back to London."
"Aren't you going to Eastbourne?" I cried.
"What need? I know — quite enough for my purpose."
XXXIII. Alexander Bonaparte Cust
(Александр Бонапарт Каст)
I was not present at the interview (я не присутствовал на беседе) that took place between Poirot and that strange man (которая произошла между Пуаро и тем странным человеком) — Alexander Bonaparte Cust (Александром Бонапартом Кастом). Owing to his association with the police (благодаря его отношениям с полицией) and the peculiar circumstances of the case (и особыми обстоятельствами дела), Poirot had no difficulty in obtaining a Home Office[48] order (у Пуаро не было трудностей получить министерский ордер) — but that order did not extend to me (но тот ордер не распространялся на меня), and in any case (и в любом случае) it was essential (это было важно), from Poirot's point of view (с точки зрения Пуаро), that that interview should be absolutely private (что этой беседе следует быть совершенно частной) — the two men face to face (двое мужчин лицом к лицу).
difficulty ['[email protected]], Home Office ['[email protected]'OfIs], absolutely ['&bs(@)lu:tlI]
I was not present at the interview that took place between Poirot and that strange man — Alexander Bonaparte Cust. Owing to his association with the police and the peculiar circumstances of the case, Poirot had no difficulty in obtaining a Home Office order — but that order did not extend to me, and in any case it was essential, from Poirot's point of view, that that interview should be absolutely private — the two men face to face.
He has given me, however (он дал мне, однако), such a detailed account of what passed between them (такой тщательный отчет того, что произошло между ними) that I set it down with as much confidence on paper (что я изложил его с такой уверенностью на бумаге; to set down — класть; записывать, письменно излагать) as though I had actually been present (как если бы я действительно /там/ присутствовал).
Mr. Cust seemed to have shrunk (мистер Каст, казалось, съежился; to shrink — уменьшаться; усыхать). His stoop was more apparent (его сутулость была более явной). His fingers plucked vaguely at his coat (его пальцы рассеянно теребили пальто; to pluck — собирать; щипать, перебирать).
For some time (некоторое время), I gather (я делаю вывод = как я понял), Poirot did not speak (Пуаро не говорил).
He sat (он сидел) and looked at the man opposite him (и смотрел на человека напротив него).
shrunk [SrVNk], pluck [plVk], coat [[email protected]]
He has given me, however, such a detailed account of what passed between them that I set it down with as much confidence on paper as though I had actually been present.
Mr. Cust seemed to have shrunk. His stoop was more apparent. His fingers plucked vaguely at his coat.
For some time, I gather, Poirot did not speak.
He sat and looked at the man opposite him.
The atmosphere became restful (обстановка стала мирной) — soothing (успокаивающей) — full of infinite leisure (полной бесконечного расслабления). It must have been a dramatic moment (это, должно быть, был драматический момент) — this meeting of the two adversaries in the long drama (эта встреча двух противников в долгой драме). In Poirot's place (на месте Пуаро) I should have felt the dramatic thrill (я бы почувствовал драматический трепет).
Poirot, however (Пуаро, однако), is nothing if not matter-of-fact (это сплошная прозаичность; matter-of-fact — основанный на фактах, сухой, прозаичный; лишенный фантазии). He was absorbed in producing a certain effect upon the man opposite him (он был поглощен тем, что производил определенное впечатление на человека напротив него).
At last he said gently (наконец он мягко сказал): "Do you know who I am (вы знаете, кто я)?"
infinite ['InfInIt], leisure ['[email protected]], matter-of-fact [,m&[email protected](@)v'f&kt]
The atmosphere became restful — soothing — full of infinite leisure. It must have been a dramatic moment — this meeting of the two adversaries in the long drama. In Poirot's place I should have felt the dramatic thrill.
Poirot, however, is nothing if not matter-of-fact. He was absorbed in producing a certain effect upon the man opposite him.
At last he said gently: "Do you know who I am?"
The other shook his head (другой покачал головой). "No — no — I can't say (я не могу сказать) I do (что я /знаю/). Unless you are Mr. Lucas's (только если вы не мистера Лукаса) — what do they call it (как они называют это)? — junior (помощник; junior — младший; подчиненный). Or perhaps you come from Mr. Maynard (или, может быть, вы пришли от мистера Мейнарда)?"
(Maynard & Cole were the defending solicitors («Мейнард-энд-Коул» были юристами защиты).)
His tone was polite (его тон был вежливый) but not very interested (но не очень заинтересованный). He seemed absorbed in some inner abstraction (он казался поглощенным внутренними мыслями; abstraction — абстракция; погруженность мысли, задумчивость).
"I am Hercule Poirot (я — Эркюль Пуаро)…"
Poirot said the words very gently (Пуаро сказал эти слова очень мягко) … and watched for the effect (и наблюдал за эффектом).
Mr. Cust raised his head a little (мистер Каст немного поднял голову). "Oh, yes (о, да)?"
He said it as naturally (он сказал это так естественно) as Inspector Crome might have said it (как инспектор Кроум мог бы сказать это) — but without the superciliousness (но без надменности; supercilious — высокомерный, надменный, презрительный).
solicitor [[email protected]'[email protected]], abstraction [&b'str&kS(@)n], superciliousness [,sju:[email protected]'[email protected]]
The other shook his head. "No — no — I can't say I do. Unless you are Mr. Lucas's — what do they call it? — junior. Or perhaps you come from Mr. Maynard?"
(Maynard & Cole were the defending solicitors.)
His tone was polite but not very interested. He seemed absorbed in some inner abstraction.
"I am Hercule Poirot …"
Poirot said the words very gently … and watched for the effect.
Mr. Cust raised his head a little. "Oh, yes?"
He said it as naturally as Inspector Crome might have said it — but without the superciliousness.
Then (затем), a minute later (минутой спустя), he repeated his remark (он повторил свое замечание). "Oh, yes?" he said (о, да?), and this time his tone was different (и на этот раз его тон был другим) — it held an awakened interest (он содержал пробудившийся интерес). He raised his head and looked at Poirot (он поднял голову и посмотрел на Пуаро).
Hercule Poirot met his gaze (Эркюль Пуаро встретил его взгляд) and nodded his own head gently once or twice (и кивнул головой один или два раза).
"Yes," he said. "I am the man (я тот человек) to whom you wrote the letters (которому вы писали ваши письма)."
At once the contact was broken (неожиданно контакт нарушился). Mr. Cust dropped his eyes (мистер Каст опустил глаза) and spoke irritably and fretfully (и заговорил раздраженно и нетерпеливо; fretful — капризный, раздражительный, нетерпеливый).
"I never wrote to you (я никогда не писал вам). Those letters weren't written by me (те письма не были написаны мною). I've said so again and again (я уже говорил так снова и снова)."
"I know," said Poirot (я знаю). "But if you did not write them (но если не вы написали их), who did (кто же написал)?"
interest ['[email protected]@st], gaze [geIz], fretfully ['fretfUlI]
Then, a minute later, he repeated his remark. "Oh, yes?" he said, and this time his tone was different — it held an awakened interest. He raised his head and looked at Poirot.
Hercule Poirot met his gaze and nodded his own head gently once or twice.
"Yes," he said. "I am the man to whom you wrote the letters."
At once the contact was broken. Mr. Cust dropped his eyes and spoke irritably and fretfully.
"I never wrote to you. Those letters weren't written by me. I've said so again and again."
"I know," said Poirot. "But if you did not write them, who did?"
"An enemy (враг). I must have an enemy (у меня, должно быть, есть враг). They are all against me (они все против меня). The police (полиция) — everyone (каждый) — all against me (все против меня). It's a gigantic conspiracy (это гигантский заговор; conspiracy — секретность; тайный сговор)."
Poirot did not reply (Пуаро не ответил).
Mr. Cust said (мистер Каст сказал): "Everyone's hand has been against me (все были против меня: «рука каждого против меня») — always (всегда)."
"Even when you were a child (даже когда вы были ребенком)?"
Mr. Cust seemed to consider (мистер Каст, казалось, раздумывал). "No — no — not exactly then (не совсем тогда; exactly — точно). My mother was very fond of me (моя мать очень любила меня). But she was ambitious (но она была честолюбива) — terribly ambitious (ужасно честолюбива). That's why she gave me those ridiculous names (поэтому он дала мне эти нелепые имена). She had some absurd idea (у нее была некая абсурдная идея) that I'd cut a figure in the world (что я стану значительной мировой фигурой; to cut a /fine/ figure — производить /хорошее/ впечатление; to cut — вырезать; кроить). She was always urging me to assert myself (она всегда торопила меня утвердиться) — talking about will power (говорила о силе воли) … saying anyone could be master of his fate (говорила, что каждый может быть хозяином своей судьбы) … she said I could do anything (она говорила, что я смогу сделать что угодно)!"
