needlework ['ni:[email protected]:k], fortnight ['fO:tnaIt], Saturday ['s&[email protected]]
Thora Grey replied in her clear, positive voice: "I did correspondence with Sir Carmichael in the morning — saw the housekeeper. I wrote letters and did needlework in the afternoon, I fancy. It is difficult to remember. It was quite an ordinary day. I went to bed early."
Rather to my surprise, Poirot asked no further. He said: "Miss Barnard — can you bring back your remembrances of the last time you saw your sister?"
It would be about a fortnight before her death. I was down for Saturday and Sunday. It was fine weather. We went to Hastings to the swimming pool."
"What did you talk about most of the time (о чем вы говорили большую часть времени)?"
"I gave her a piece of my mind," said Megan (я говорила, что я о ней думаю: «я давала ей кусочек моего ума»; to give smb. a piece of mind — откровенно высказывать кому-либо свое мнение).
"And what else (а что еще)? She conversed of what (она говорила о чем)?"
The girl frowned in an effort of memory (девушка нахмурилась, напрягая память: «в усилии памяти»). "She talked about being hard up (она говорила о /том, что/ нужны деньги; to be hard up — нуждаться в деньгах) — of a hat and a couple of summer frocks (о шляпке и паре летних платьев) she'd just bought (/которые/ она только что купила). And a little of Don (и немного о Доне) … She also said (она так же сказала) she disliked Milly Higley (что ей не нравилась Милли Хигли) — that's the girl at the café (эта та девушка в кафе) — and we laughed about the Merrion (и мы смеялись над Меррион) woman who keeps the café (женщиной, которая держит кафе) … I don't remember anything else (я больше ничего не помню) …"
effort ['[email protected]], frock [frOk], woman ['[email protected]]
"What did you talk about most of the time?"
"I gave her a piece of my mind," said Megan.
"And what else? She conversed of what?"
The girl frowned in an effort of memory. "She talked about being hard up — of a hat and a couple of summer frocks she'd just bought. And a little of Don … She also said she disliked Milly Higley — that's the girl at the café — and we laughed about the Merrion woman who keeps the café … I don't remember anything else …"
"She didn't mention any man (она не упоминала какого-нибудь мужчину) — forgive me, Mr. Fraser (простите меня, мистер Фрейзер) — she might be meeting (с которым она могла встречаться)?"
"She wouldn't to me," said Megan dryly (мне она не стала бы, — сказала Меган сухо).
Poirot turned to the red-haired young man with the square jaw (Пуаро повернулся к рыжеволосому молодому человеку с квадратной челюстью).
"Mr. Fraser (мистер Фрейзер) — I want you to cast your mind back (я хочу, чтобы вы вспомнили: «чтобы вы отбросили ваш ум назад»; to cast — бросать, кидать, швырять). You went (вы пошли), you said (/как/ вы сказали), to the café on the fatal evening (в кафе в тот роковой вечер). Your first intention was to wait there (ваше первое намерение было подождать там) and watch for Betty Barnard to come out (и посмотреть, как Бетти Барнард выйдет). Can you remember anyone at all (можете вы вспомнить кого-нибудь вообще) whom you noticed (кого бы вы заметили) whilst you were waiting there (пока вы ждали там)?"
"There were a large number of people (там было большое количество людей) walking along the front (гуляющих вдоль набережной). I can't remember any of them (я не могу вспомнить никого из них)."
fatal ['feIt(@)l], intention [In'tenS(@)n], front [frOnt]
"She didn't mention any man — forgive me, Mr. Fraser — she might be meeting?"
"She wouldn't to me," said Megan dryly.
Poirot turned to the red-haired young man with the square jaw.
"Mr. Fraser — I want you to cast your mind back. You went, you said, to the café on the fatal evening. Your first intention was to wait there and watch for Betty Barnard to come out. Can you remember anyone at all whom you noticed whilst you were waiting there?"
"There were a large number of people walking along the front. I can't remember any of them."
"Excuse me (простите меня), but are you trying (но вы стараетесь/пытаетесь)? However preoccupied the mind may be (как бы ни был занят ваш мозг; however — однако; как бы ни; to preoccupy — занимать, захватывать, поглощать), the eye notices mechanically (глаза замечают машинально) — unintelligently but accurately (тупо, но точно; intelligent — умный) …"
The young man repeated doggedly (молодой человек упрямо повторил; dogged — упрямый, упорный): "I don't remember anybody (я никого не помню)."
Poirot sighed (Пуаро вздохнул) and turned to Mary Drower (и повернулся к Мэри Дроуер). "I suppose (я полагаю) you got letters from your aunt (вы получали письма от вашей тети; to get)?"
"Oh, yes, sir (о, да, сэр)."
"When was the last (когда было последнее)?"
Mary thought a minute (Мэри подумала с минуту). "Two days before the murder, sir (за два дня до убийства, сэр)."
"What did it say (что там написано: «что оно говорило»)?"
unintelligently [,VnIn'[email protected]], accurately ['&kju:[email protected]], doggedly ['dOgIdlI]
"Excuse me, but are you trying? However preoccupied the mind may be, the eye notices mechanically — unintelligently but accurately ."
The young man repeated doggedly: "I don't remember anybody."
Poirot sighed and turned to Mary Drower. "I suppose you got letters from your aunt?"
"Oh, yes, sir."
"When was the last?"
Mary thought a minute. "Two days before the murder, sir."
"What did it say?"
"She said the old devil had been round (она сказала, что приходил старый дьявол; to be round — приходить в чей-либо дом) and that she'd sent him off with a flea in the ear (и что она его отругала и выставила: «и что она отослала его с блохой в ухе»; flea in one's ear — резкое замечание; разнос) — excuse the expression, sir (простите /за/ выражение, сэр) — said she expected me over on the Wednesday (сказала, что она ждала меня в среду) — that's my day out, sir (это мой выходной день, сэр) — and she said we'd go to the pictures (и она сказала, что мы пойдем в кино). It was going to be my birthday, sir (это должен был быть = был мой день рождения, сэр)."
Something (что-то) — the thought of the little festivity perhaps (возможно, мысль о маленьком празднике), suddenly brought tears to Mary's eyes (неожиданно довело Мэри до слез: «неожиданно принесло слезы в глаза Мэри»). She gulped down a sob (она вздохнула со всхлипом: «она проглотила рыдание»; to gulp — глотать; sob — рыдание, всхлипование). Then apologized for it (затем извинилась за это).
"You must forgive me, sir (вы должны простить меня, сэр). I don't want to be silly (я не хочу быть глупой). Crying's no good (плакать бесполезно). It was just the thought of her (это была просто мысль о ней) — and me (и обо мне) — looking forward to our treat (ждущих с нетерпением нашего развлечения; treat — угощение; развлечение, удовольствие). It upset me somehow, sir (это как-то меня расстроило, сэр)."
flea [fli:], apologize [@'[email protected]], treat [tri:t]
"She said the old devil had been round and that she'd sent him off with a flea in the ear — excuse the expression, sir — said she expected me over on the Wednesday — that's my day out, sir — and she said we'd go to the pictures. It was going to be my birthday, sir."
Something — the thought of the little festivity perhaps, suddenly brought tears to Mary's eyes. She gulped down a sob. Then apologized for it.
"You must forgive me, sir. I don't want to be silly. Crying's no good. It was just the thought of her — and me — looking forward to our treat. It upset me somehow, sir."
"I know just what you feel like (я знаю, как вы /себя/ чувствуете)," said Franklin Clarke. "It's always the little things (это всегда незначительные вещи) that get one (которые задевают) — and especially anything like a treat or a present (и особенно что-нибудь, как развлечение или подарок) — something jolly and natural (что-нибудь веселое и естественное). I remember seeing a woman run over once (я помню, как однажды видел женщину, попавшую под машину; to run over — переехать, задавить). She'd just bought some new shoes (она только что купила новые туфли). I saw her lying there (я видел, как она лежала там) — and the burst parcel (и разорванный сверток; to burst — лопаться, разрываться) with the ridiculous little high-heeled slippers peeping out (с нелепыми выглядывающими маленькими туфлями на высоком каблуке) — it gave me a turn (это меня потрясло) — they looked so pathetic (они выглядели так трогательно)."
parcel ['pA:s(@)l], burst [[email protected]:st], ridiculous [rI'[email protected]]
"I know just what you feel like," said Franklin Clarke. "It's always the little things that get one — and especially anything like a treat or a present — something jolly and natural. I remember seeing a woman run over once. She'd just bought some new shoes. I saw her lying there — and the burst parcel with the ridiculous little high-heeled slippers peeping out — it gave me a turn — they looked so pathetic."
Megan said with a sudden eager warmth (Меган сказала с неожиданной пылкой теплотой): "That's true (это правда) — that's awfully true (это ужасная правда). The same thing happened after Betty died (похожая /вещь/ случилась, после того, /как/ Бетти умерла). Mum had bought some stockings for her as a present (мама купила какие-то чулки ей в подарок) — bought them the very day it happened (купила их в тот день, /когда/ это случилось). Poor mum (бедная мама), she was all broken up (она была вся разбита). I found her crying over them (я нашла ее плачущей над ними). She kept saying (она все повторяла: «она продолжала говорить»): 'I bought them for Betty (я купила их для Бетти) — I bought them for Betty — and she never even saw them (а она их так и /не/ увидела: «а она их никогда /не/ увидела»).'"
warmth [wO:mT], stocking ['stOkIN], crying ['kraIN]
Megan said with a sudden eager warmth: "That's true — that's awfully true. The same thing happened after Betty died. Mum had bought some stockings for her as a present — bought them the very day it happened. Poor mum, she was all broken up. I found her crying over them. She kept saying: 'I bought them for Betty — I bought them for Betty — and she never even saw them.'"
Her own voice quivered a little (ее собственный голос слегка задрожал). She leaned forward (она наклонилась вперед), looking straight at Franklin Clarke (глядя прямо на Франклина Кларка). There was between them a sudden sympathy (между ними неожиданно возникло взаимное понимание; sympathy — сочувствие; симпатия; взаимное понимание) — a fraternity in trouble (чувство общности в беде: «братство в беде»).
