Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

"Mademoiselle," said Poirot (мадемуазель), "what you do not see (/то/, чего не понимаете вы) and what I do not see would probably fill a volume (и чего не понимаю я, вероятно, заполнит том; volume — объем; том, книга). But all that is of no practical importance (но все это не имеет практического значения; important — важный, значимый). What is of practical importance is something (а /вот/ что имеет практическое значение, это /как раз/ нечто) that will not be easy to find (что будет нелегко найти)."

"What's that (что это)?"

humble [hmbl], volume ['vljum], puff [pf]

The girl sat down on the edge of the kitchen table. She felt in her bag for a cigarette. She placed it between her lips, lighted it, and then said in between two puffs of smoke: "Somehow, I don't see what M. Hercule Poirot is doing in our humble little crime."

"Mademoiselle," said Poirot, "what you do not see and what I do not see would probably fill a volume. But all that is of no practical importance. What is of practical importance is something that will not be easy to find."

"What's that?"

"Death, mademoiselle (смерть, мадемуазель), unfortunately creates a prejudice (к сожалению, создает предубеждение). A prejudice in favour of the deceased (предубеждение в пользу покойного). I heard what you said just now to my friend Hastings (я слышал, что вы сказали прямо сейчас моему другу Гастингсу). 'A nice bright girl with no men friends (милая, умная девушка без друзей-мужчин).' You said that in mockery of the newspapers (вы сказали это в насмешку газетам; to mock — насмехаться; издеваться), And it is very true (и это настоящая правда) — when a young girl is dead (когда молодая девушка мертва), that is the kind of thing that is said (это то, что обычно говорят: «это тип вещи, который говорят»). She was bright (она была умной). She was happy (она была счастливой). She was sweet-tempered (у нее был славный характер). She had not a care in the world (у нее не было никаких забот: «забот в мире»). She had no undesirable acquaintances (у нее не было нежелательных знакомств; to desire — желать).

There is a great charity always to the dead (это всегда большая милость к умершим; charity — милость; благотворительность). Do you know what I should like this minute (вы знаете, чего бы мне хотелась в данную минуту)? I should like to find someone who knew Elizabeth Barnard (я хотел бы найти кого-нибудь, кто знал Элизабет Барнард) and who does not know she is dead (и кто не знает, что она мертва). Then, perhaps (тогда, возможно), I should hear what is useful to me (я услышу /то/, что полезно для меня) — the truth (правду)."

Megan Barnard looked at him for a few minutes in silence (Меган Барнард смотрела на него несколько минут в молчании) whilst she smoked (пока она курила). Then, at last, she spoke (затем, в конце концов, она заговорила). Her words made me jump (ее слова заставили меня подскочить).

"Betty," she said, "was an unmitigated little ass (была полной дурой: «была абсолютным маленьким ослом»; unmitigated — несмягченный; абсолютный, явный; to mitigate — уменьшать, ослабевать)!"

charity ['taert], prejudice ['preds], unmitigated [n'mtetd]

"Death, mademoiselle, unfortunately creates a prejudice. A prejudice in favour of the deceased. I heard what you said just now to my friend Hastings. 'A nice bright girl with no men friends.' You said that in mockery of the newspapers, And it is very true — when a young girl is dead, that is the kind of thing that is said. She was bright. She was happy. She was sweet-tempered. She had not a care in the world. She had no undesirable acquaintances.

There is a great charity always to the dead. Do you know what I should like this minute? I should like to find someone who knew Elizabeth Barnard and who does not know she is dead. Then, perhaps, I should hear what is useful to me — the truth."

Megan Barnard looked at him for a few minutes in silence whilst she smoked. Then, at last, she spoke. Her words made me jump.

"Betty," she said, "was an unmitigated little ass!"

XI. Megan Barnard

As I said (как я сказал), Megan Barnard's words (слова Меган Барнард), and still more the crisp businesslike tone (и более того, твердый деловой тон; crisp — завитой; жесткий; резкий) in which they were uttered (которым они были произнесены), made me jump (заставили меня подскочить).

Poirot, however (Пуаро, однако), merely bowed his head gravely (просто серьезно склонил голову). "A la bonne heure," he said (фр. вот и прекрасно: «в добрый час»). "You are intelligent, mademoiselle (вы умны, мадемуазель)."

Megan Barnard said, still in the same detached tone (все еще тем же отстраненным тоном): "I was extremely fond of Betty (я чрезвычайно любила Бетти). But my fondness didn't blind me (но моя любовь не ослепляла меня) from seeing exactly the kind of silly little fool she was (от того, чтобы отлично видеть, какой глупой маленькой дурочкой она была: «от отличного видения, /какого/ типа глупой маленькой дурочкой она была») — and even telling her so upon occasion (и даже говорила ей это по случаю)! Sisters are like that (сестры таковы)."

intelligent [n'telnt], detached [d'taett], fondness ['fndns]

As I said, Megan Barnard's words, and still more the crisp businesslike tone in which they were uttered, made me jump.

Poirot, however, merely bowed his head gravely. "A la bonne heure," he said. "You are intelligent, mademoiselle."

Megan Barnard said, still in the same detached tone: "I was extremely fond of Betty. But my fondness didn't blind me from seeing exactly the kind of silly little fool she was — and even telling her so upon occasion! Sisters are like that."

"And did she pay any attention to your advice (а она обращала какое-нибудь внимание на ваши советы)?"

"Probably not," said Megan cynically (вероятно, нет, — сказала Меган цинично).

"Will you, mademoiselle, be precise (вы, мадемуазель, /не/ будете ли /более/ точны)."

The girl hesitated for a minute or two (девушка колебалась минуту или две).

advice [d'vas], cynically ['snkl], hesitate ['heztet]