I shivered (я вздрогнул). "It's rather horrible (это совершенно ужасно; rather — очень, весьма; в значительной степени) …"
benefit ['[email protected]], association [@,[email protected]'eIS(@)n], cold-blooded [,[email protected]'blVdId]
"You are quite right, my friend. Always, up to now, it has fallen our lot to work from the inside. It has been the history of the victim that was important. The important points have been: 'Who benefited by the death? What opportunities had those round him to commit the crime?' It has always been the 'crime intime.' Here, for the first time in our association, it is cold-blooded, impersonal murder. Murder from the outside."
I shivered. "It's rather horrible …"
"Yes. I felt from the first (я чувствовал с первой /минуты/), when I had the original letter (когда я получил первоначальное письмо), that there was something wrong (что там было что-то неправильное) — misshapen (уродливое; shape — форма) —"
He made an impatient gesture (он сделал нетерпеливый жест). "One must not give way to the nerves (нельзя давать волю нервам: «нельзя давать дорогу нервам») … This is no worse (это не хуже) than any ordinary crime (чем любое обычное преступление) …"
"It is (это /хуже/) … It is … "
"Is it worse to take the life or lives of strangers (/разве/ хуже лишать жизни: «забирать жизнь» или жизней незнакомцев) than to take the life of someone near and dear to you (чем лишать жизни того, /кто/ рядом и дорог вам) — someone who trusts and believes in you, perhaps (того, кто доверяет и верит вам, возможно)?"
"It's worse because it's mad (это хуже потому, что это безумно) …"
misshapen [mIs'SeIpn], stranger ['[email protected]], dear [[email protected]]
"Yes. I felt from the first, when I had the original letter, that there was something wrong — misshapen — "
He made an impatient gesture. "One must not give way to the nerves … This is no worse than any ordinary crime …"
"It is … It is … "
"Is it worse to take the life or lives of strangers than to take the life of someone near and dear to you — someone who trusts and believes in you, perhaps?"
"It's worse because it's mad …"
"No, Hastings (нет, Гастингс). It is not worse (это не хуже). It is only more difficult (это только сложнее)."
"No, no, I do not agree with you (я не согласен с вами). It's infinitely more frightening (это бесконечно более пугающе; finite — конечный)."
Hercule Poirot said thoughtfully (Эркюль Пуаро задумчиво сказал): "It should be easier to discover (его, должно быть, легче раскрыть) because it is mad (потому что оно безумное). A crime committed by someone shrewd and sane (убийство, совершенное кем-то проницательным и разумным; shrewd — сильный; жестокий; проницательный, разумный) would be far more complicated (было бы гораздо сложнее). Here (здесь), if one could but hit on the idea (если можно было натолкнуться на идею) … This alphabetical business (это алфавитное дело), it has discrepancies (оно имеет несоответствия). If I could once see the idea (если бы я мог сразу понять идею) — then everything would be clear and simple (тогда все было бы ясно и просто)…"
He sighed and shook his head (он вздохнул и покачал головой). "These crimes must not go on (этим преступлениям нельзя продолжаться). Soon (скоро), soon, I must see the truth (я должен понять правду) … Go, Hastings (идите, Гастингс). Get some sleep (поспите немного: «получите немного сна»). There will be much to do tomorrow (завтра будет много дел: «там будет много чего сделать завтра»)."
frightening ['[email protected]], shrewd [Sru:d], discrepancy [dIs'krep(@)nsI]
"No, Hastings. It is not worse. It is only more difficult."
"No, no, I do not agree with you. It's infinitely more frightening."
Hercule Poirot said thoughtfully: "It should be easier to discover because it is mad. A crime committed by someone shrewd and sane would be far more complicated. Here, if one could but hit on the idea … This alphabetical business, it has discrepancies. If I could once see the idea — then everything would be clear and simple …"
He sighed and shook his head. "These crimes must not go on. Soon, soon, I must see the truth … Go, Hastings. Get some sleep. There will be much to do tomorrow."
XV. Sir Carmichael Clark
Churston, lying as it does between Brixham on the one side (Черстон, будучи расположенным между Бриксхемом с одной стороны) and Paignton and Torquay on the other (и Пейнтоном и Торки с другой), occupies a position about halfway round the curve of Torbay (занимает положение примерно на середине изгиба /залива/ Торбей; to occupy — занимать; захватывать; заниматься; bay — бухта, залив). Until about ten years ago (еще около десяти лет назад) it was merely a golf links (это были только поля для гольфа; links — поле для гольфа) and below the links (а ниже полей) a green sweep of countryside dropping down to the sea (зеленая полоса сельской местности, спускающаяся к морю; sweep — взмах; протяженность; to sweep — мести) with only a farmhouse or two in the way of human occupation (с одной или двумя фермами, подтверждающими человеческое пребывание; in the way of — в каком-либо порядке, в смысле чего-либо).
But of late years (но в последние годы) there have been big building developments between Churston and Paignton (/произошло/ большое развитие строительства между Черстоном и Пейнтоном) and the coastline is now dotted with small houses (и линия побережья теперь усеяна маленькими домами; to dot — обозначать точкой; отмечать; усеивать; dot — точка; пятнышко) and bungalows (и бунгало), new roads (новыми дорогами), etc. (/и/ т.д.)
curve [[email protected]:v], halfway ['hA:fweI], dot [dOt]
Churston, lying as it does between Brixham on the one side and Paignton and Torquay on the other, occupies a position about halfway round the curve of Torbay. Until about ten years ago it was merely a golf links and below the links a green sweep of countryside dropping down to the sea with only a farmhouse or two in the way of human occupation.
But of late years there have been big building developments between Churston and Paignton and the coastline is now dotted with small houses and bungalows, new roads, etc.
Sir Carmichael Clarke had purchased a site of some two acres[24] (сэр Кармайкл Кларк приобрел участок примерно в два акра) commanding an uninterrupted view of the sea (с широким видом на море: «располагающим сплошным видом на море»; to command — господствовать; располагать, иметь в своем распоряжении; to interrupt — прерывать). The house he had built (дом, который он построил) was of modern design (был современного дизайна/проекта) — a white rectangle (белый прямоугольник) that was not unpleasing to the eye (который не был неприятен глазу). Apart from two big galleries (не считая двух больших галерей) that housed his collection (/в/ которых размещалась его коллекция; to house — размещать) it was not a large house (это не был большой дом).
Our arrival there took place about 8 A.M. (мы прибыли туда около восьми /часов/ утра: «наше прибытие туда произошло около восьми утра). A local police officer had met us at the station (офицер местной полиции встретил нас на станции) and had put us au courant of the situation (и ввел нас в курс дела: «ситуации» /фр./).
acre ['[email protected]], gallery ['g&l(@)rI], design [dI'zaIn]
Sir Carmichael Clarke had purchased a site of some two acres commanding an uninterrupted view of the sea. The house he had built was of modern design — a white rectangle that was not unpleasing to the eye. Apart from two big galleries that housed his collection it was not a large house.
Our arrival there took place about 8 A.M.. A local police officer had met us at the station and had put us au courant of the situation.
Sir Carmichael Clarke, it seemed (/как/ казалось), had been in the habit of taking a stroll after dinner every evening (имел привычку ходить на прогулку после обеда каждый вечер; stroll — прогулка; to stroll — прогуливаться, бродить, гулять /обычно медленно, праздно/). When the police rang up (когда позвонила полиция) — at some time after eleven (в какое-то время после одиннадцати) — it was ascertained (это было установлено) that he had not returned (что он не вернулся). Since his stroll usually followed the same course (так как его прогулка обычно следовала тому же курсу), it was not long before a search party discovered his body (поисковая группа быстро обнаружила его тело: «это было недолго, прежде чем поисковая группа обнаружила его тело»). Death was due to a crashing blow with some heavy instrument on the back of the head (смерть /наступила/ из-за сильного удара каким-то тяжелым предметом по затылку; crash — разбивать; грохотать). An open A.B.C. had been placed face downwards on the dead body (открытый /справочник/ «Эй-би-си» был положен = лежал вверх обложкой: «вниз лицом» на мертвом теле).
We arrived at Combeside (мы прибыли в Кумсайд; combe — ложбина; овраг) (as the house was called) (как назывался дом) at about eight o'clock (около восьми часов). The door was opened by an elderly butler (дверь была открыта пожилым дворецким) whose shaking hands and disturbed face showed how much the tragedy had affected him (чьи трясущиеся руки и обеспокоенное лицо показывали, насколько сильно трагедия затронула его; to affect —приносить вред; волновать, трогать).
stroll [[email protected]], combe [ku:m], butler ['[email protected]]
Sir Carmichael Clarke, it seemed, had been in the habit of taking a stroll after dinner every evening. When the police rang up — at some time after eleven — it was ascertained that he had not returned. Since his stroll usually followed the same course, it was not long before a search party discovered his body. Death was due to a crashing blow with some heavy instrument on the back of the head. An open A.B.C. had been placed face downwards on the dead body.
We arrived at Combeside (as the house was called) at about eight o'clock. The door was opened by an elderly butler whose shaking hands and disturbed face showed how much the tragedy had affected him.
"Good morning, Deveril," said the local police officer (доброе утро, Деверил, — сказал офицер местной полиции).
"Good morning, Mr. Wells (доброе утро, мистер Уэллс)."
"These are the gentlemen from London, Deveril (эти джентльмены из Лондона, Деверил)."
"This way, sir (сюда: «этой дорогой», сэр)." He ushered us into a long dining room (он провел нас в длинную столовую) where breakfast was laid (где был накрыт завтрак; to lay — накрывать на стол). I'll get Mr. Franklin, sir (я позову мистера Франклина, сэр)."
