Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody (он звучал /так/, как будто спорил с кем-то) — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster (школьник, умоляющий своего учителя; to plead — просить, умолять).

He passed his tongue over his lips again (он снова провел языком по губам) …

knife [naf], fault [f:lt], plead [pli:d]

His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something — a long, slender knife. The blade of that, too, was sticky and red …

Mr. Cust sat there a long time.

Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips …

"It isn't my fault," said Mr. Cust.

He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster.

He passed his tongue over his lips again …

Again (снова), tentatively (осторожно; tentatively — неуверенно, осторожно, с сомнением), he felt his coat sleeve (он пощупал рукав пальто).

His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin (его взгляд пересек комнату, /остановившись/ на рукомойнике: «его глаза пересекли комнату до рукомойника»; washbasin — /умывальный/ таз, раковина).

A minute later (минуту спустя) he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin (он наливал воду в таз из старомодного кувшина). Removing his coat (сняв пальто), he rinsed the sleeve (он прополоскал рукав), carefully squeezing it out (тщательно выжимая его; to squeeze — сжимать).

Ugh (ух)! The water was red now (вода теперь была красная).

A tap on the door (/раздался/ стук в дверь).

He stood there frozen into immobility (он замер: «он стоял там, замерший до неподвижности»; mobile — подвижной, мобильный) — staring (уставившись /на дверь/).

washbasin ['wbesn], jug [], squeeze [skwi:z]

Again, tentatively, he felt his coat sleeve.

His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin.

A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin. Removing his coat, he rinsed the sleeve, carefully squeezing it out …

Ugh! The water was red now …

A tap on the door.

He stood there frozen into immobility — staring.

The door opened (дверь открылась). A plump young woman (пухленькая молодая женщина /вошла/) — jug in hand (/с/ кувшином в руке).

"Oh, excuse me, sir (о, извините меня, сэр). Your hot water, sir (ваша горячая вода, сэр)."

He managed to speak then (тогда ему удалось заговорить).

"Thank you (благодарю вас). I've washed in cold (я /уже/ умылся в холодной)."

Why had he said that (зачем он сказал это)? Immediately her eyes went to the basin (немедленно ее взгляд перешел к тазу).

He said frenziedly (он взбешенно сказал; frenzy — безумие, бешенство; неистовство): "I (я) — I've cut my hand (я порезал руку) …"

There was a pause (была пауза) — yes, surely a very long pause (да, несомненно очень долгая пауза) — before she said (прежде чем она сказала): "Yes, sir (да, сэр)."

plump [plmp], immediately ['mi:djtl], frenziedly ['frenzdl]

The door opened. A plump young woman — jug in hand.

"Oh, excuse me, sir. Your hot water, sir."

He managed to speak then.

Thank you. I've washed in cold."

Why had he said that? Immediately her eyes went to the basin.

He said frenziedly: "I — I've cut my hand …"

There was a pause — yes, surely a very long pause — before she said: "Yes, sir."

She went out (она вышла), shutting the door (закрывая /за собой/ дверь).

Mr. Cust stood (мистер Каст стоял) as though turned to stone (как будто превратившись в камень).

It had come (оно настало) — at last (наконец) …

He listened (он прислушался).

Were there voices (были /ли/ там голоса) — exclamations (восклицания) — feet mounting the stairs (шаги, поднимающиеся по ступенькам)?

He could hear nothing (он /не/ смог услышать ничего) but the beating of his own heart (кроме биения своего собственного сердца) …

Then (затем), suddenly (неожиданно), from frozen immobility he leaped into activity (от застывшей неподвижности он резко перешел к активности; to leap — прыгать; бросаться делать).

stood [std], beating ['bi:t], immobility [m'blt]

She went out, shutting the door.

Mr. Cust stood as though turned to stone.

It had come — at last …

He listened.

Were there voices — exclamations — feet mounting the stairs?

He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart …

Then, suddenly, from frozen immobility he leaped into activity.

He slipped on his coat (он скользнул в пальто), tiptoed to the door (прошел на цыпочках к двери) and opened it (и открыл ее). No noise as yet (никакого шума пока) except the familiar murmur (кроме знакомого бормотания) arising from the bar (поднимающегося из бара). He crept down the stairs (он сполз вниз по ступеням; to creep — ползти; пробираться) …