clear-sighted [,[email protected]'saItId], permutation [,[email protected]:mju(:)'teISn], fascinate ['f&sIneIt]
"Mon ami, you are full of charitable feeling towards beautiful young girls. Me, I feel charitable to sick old ladies. It may be that Lady Clarke was the clear-sighted one — and that her husband, Mr. Franklin Clarke and Nurse Capstick were all as blind as bats — and Captain Hastings."
"Realize, Hastings, that in the ordinary course of events those three separate dramas would never have touched each other. They would have pursued their course uninfluenced by each other. The permutations and combinations of life, Hastings — I never cease to be fascinated by them."
"This is Paddington," was the only answer I made (это Пэддингтон, — был единственный ответ, который я дал).
It was time (это было время), I felt (я почувствовал), that someone pricked the bubble (что кто-то проколол пузырь; to prick the bubble — показать пустоту, ничтожество).
On our arrival at Whitehaven Mansions (по прибытии в Уайт-хэвен Мэншенс) we were told a gentleman was waiting to see Poirot (нам сказали, что джентльмен ждал встречи с Пуаро).
I expected it to be Franklin (я ожидал, что это будет Франклин), or perhaps Japp (или, возможно, Джэпп), but to my astonishment (но, к моему изумлению; to astonish — изумлять, поражать, удивлять) it turned out to be none other than Donald Fraser (это оказался не кто иной, как Дональд Фрейзер).
He seemed very embarrassed (он казался очень смущенным) and his inarticulateness was more noticeable than ever (и его невнятность была более заметна, чем когда-либо; to articulate — отчетливо произносить; ясно выражать).
prick [prIk], bubble [bVbl], inarticulateness [InA:,tIkju'leItnIs]
"This is Paddington," was the only answer I made.
It was time, I felt, that someone pricked the bubble.
On our arrival at Whitehaven Mansions we were told a gentleman was waiting to see Poirot.
I expected it to be Franklin, or perhaps Japp, but to my astonishment it turned out to be none other than Donald Fraser.
He seemed very embarrassed and his inarticulateness was more noticeable than ever.
Poirot did not press him to come to the point of his visit (Пуаро не нажимал на него, /чтобы/ он перешел к цели своего визита), but instead suggested sandwiches and a glass of wine (а вместо /этого/ предложил сандвичи и бокал вина).
Until these made their appearance (пока это не появилось /на столе/; appearance — появление) he monopolized the conversation (он полностью завладел беседой), explaining where we had been (объясняя, где мы были), and speaking with kindliness and feeling of the invalid woman (и говоря с добротой и чувством о женщине-инвалиде).
Not until we finished the sandwiches (пока мы не закончили сандвичи) and sipped the wine (и /не/ выпили вино; to sip — пить маленькими глотками) did he give the conversation a personal turn (он /не/ переводил беседу на личные проблемы: «он /не/ придавал беседе личного поворота»).
"You have come from Bexhill, Mr. Fraser (вы приехали из Бексхилла, мистер Фрейзер)?"
"Yes."
sandwich ['s&ndwIdZ], monopolize [[email protected]'[email protected]], invalid, n. ['[email protected]] adj. [In'v&lId]
Poirot did not press him to come to the point of his visit, but instead suggested sandwiches and a glass of wine.
Until these made their appearance he monopolized the conversation, explaining where we had been, and speaking with kindliness and feeling of the invalid woman.
Not until we finished the sandwiches and sipped the wine did he give the conversation a personal turn.
"You have come from Bexhill, Mr. Fraser?"
"Yes."
"Any success with Milly Higley (какие-нибудь успехи с Милли Хигли)?"
"Milly Higley? Milly Higley?" Fraser repeated the name wonderingly (Фрейзер удивленно повторил это имя; to wonder). "Oh, that girl (та девушка)! No, I haven't done anything there yet (нет, я ничего не cделал там пока). It's (это) —"
He stopped (он прервался). His hands twisted themselves together nervously (он нервно вертел руками: «его кисти /рук/ нервно переплелись»). "I don't know (я не знаю) why I've come to you," he burst out (зачем я пришел к вам, — взорвался он; to burst).
"I know," said Poirot (я знаю).
"You can't (вы не можете /знать/). How can you (как вы можете /знать/)?"
twist [twIst], together [[email protected]'[email protected]], nervously ['[email protected]:[email protected]]
"Any success with Milly Higley?"
"Milly Higley? Milly Higley?" Fraser repeated the name wonderingly. "Oh, that girl! No, I haven't done anything there yet. It's —"
He stopped. His hands twisted themselves together nervously. "I don't know why I've come to you," he burst out.
"I know," said Poirot.
"You can't. How can you?"
"You have come to me (вы пришли ко мне) because there is something (потому, что есть что-то) that you must tell to someone (что вы должны кому-нибудь рассказать). You were quite right (вы были совершенно правы). I am the proper person (я подходящий человек; proper — присущий, свойственный; специфический, характерный; правильный, должный; надлежащий; подходящий). Speak (говорите)!"
Poirot's air of assurance had its effect (уверенность Пуаро: «вид уверенности Пуаро» возымела свой эффект). Fraser looked at him with a queer air of grateful obedience (Фрейзер посмотрел на него со странным видом признательного повиновения; to obey — повиноваться).
"You think so (вы так думаете)?"
"Parbleu (фр. черт возьми), I am sure of it (я в этом уверен)."
"M. Poirot (мсье Пуаро), do you know anything about dreams (вы знаете что-нибудь о снах)?"
It was the last thing (это была последняя вещь) I had expected him to say (которую, я ожидал, что он скажет). Poirot, however (Пуаро, однако), seemed in no wise surprised (казался никоим образом не удивленным; in no wise — никоим образом).
"I do," he replied (да: «я /знаю/», — он ответил). "You have been dreaming (вам снилось) —?"
assurance [@'[email protected]@ns], grateful ['greItfUl], obedience [@'bi:[email protected]]
"You have come to me because there is something that you must tell to someone. You were quite right. I am the proper person. Speak!"
Poirot's air of assurance had its effect. Fraser looked at him with a queer air of grateful obedience.
"You think so?"
"Parbleu, I am sure of it."
"M. Poirot, do you know anything about dreams?"
It was the last thing I had expected him to say. Poirot, however, seemed in no wise surprised.
"I do," he replied. "You have been dreaming —?"
"Yes. I suppose (я полагаю) you'll say (вы скажете) it's only natural (это только естественно) that I should — should dream about it (следует видеть об этом сны). But it isn't an ordinary dream (но это не обычный сон)."
"No?"
"I've dreamed it now three nights running, sir (мне это снилось три ночи подряд, сэр)… I think (я думаю) I'm going mad (я схожу с ума) …"
"Tell me (расскажите мне) —"
The man's face was livid (лицо мужчины было мертвенно-бледным; livid — синевато-багровый; мертвенно-бледный). His eyes were starting out of his head (его глаза выходили из орбит: «его глаза выходили из его головы»). As a matter of fact (фактически), he looked mad (он выглядел сумасшедшим).
"It's always the same (это всегда одно и тоже). I'm on the beach (я на пляже). Looking for Betty (ищу Бетти). She's lost (она потерялась; to lose — теряться) — only lost (просто потерялась), you understand (вы понимаете). I've got to find her (я должен найти ее). I've got to give her her belt (я должен отдать ей ее пояс). I'm carrying it in my hand (я несу его в моей руке). And then (а затем) —"
running ['rVnIN], livid ['lIvId], carry ['k&rI]
"Yes. I suppose you'll say it's only natural that I should—should dream about it. But it isn't an ordinary dream."
"No?"
"I've dreamed it now three nights running, sir … I think I'm going mad …"
"Tell me —"
The man's face was livid. His eyes were starting out of his head. As a matter of fact, he looked mad.
"It's always the same. I'm on the beach. Looking for Betty. She's lost — only lost, you understand. I've got to find her. I've got to give her her belt. I'm carrying it in my hand. And then —"
"Yes?"
"The dream changes (сон изменяется) … I'm not looking anymore (я больше не ищу). She's there in front of me (она там передо мной) — sitting on the beach (сидит на пляже). She doesn't see me coming (она не видит, что я подхожу) — Oh — oh, I can't (о, я не могу) —"
"Go on (продолжайте)." Poirot's voice was authoritative (голос Пуаро был властным) — firm (твердым).
"I come up behind her (я подхожу к ней сзади) … she doesn't hear me (она не слышит меня) … I slip the belt around her neck and pull (я набрасываю пояс на ее шею и тяну; to slip — скользить; быстро и незаметно сунуть, набросить) —oh — pull (тяну) —"
The agony in his voice was frightful (мука в его голосе была ужасной) … I gripped the arms of my chair (я сжал подлокотники моего кресла) … The thing was too real (все было слишком реально).
authoritative [O:'[email protected]], pull [pUl], agony ['&[email protected]]
"Yes?"
"The dream changes … I'm not looking anymore. She's there in front of me — sitting on the beach. She doesn't see me coming — Oh — oh, I can't —"
"Go on." Poirot's voice was authoritative — firm.
"I come up behind her … she doesn't hear me … I slip the belt around her neck and pull — oh — pull —"
The agony in his voice was frightful … I gripped the arms of my chair … The thing was too real.
"She's choking (она задыхается; to choke) … she's dead (она мертва) … I've strangled her (я задушил ее) — and then her head falls back (и затем ее голова откидывается назад) and I see her face (и я вижу ее лицо), and it's Megan (а это Меган) — not Betty (не Бетти)!"
He leant back white and shaking (он отклонился назад белый и трясущийся; to lean). Poirot poured out another glass of wine (Пуаро налил еще бокал вина) and passed it over to him (и передал его ему).
"What's the meaning of it, M. Poirot (что это значит: «каков смысл этого», мсье Пуаро)? Why does it come to me (почему это приходит ко мне)? Every night (каждую ночь)?"
