Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

"For God's sake, Thompson, don't speak so glibly of the next crime," said Sir Lionel irritably. "We're going to do all we can to prevent another crime."

Dr. Thompson held his peace and blew his nose with some violence. "Have it your own way," the noise seemed to say. "If you won't face facts —"

The Assistant Commissioner turned to Poirot. "I see what you're driving at, but I'm not quite clear yet."

"I ask myself," said Poirot (я спрашиваю себя), "what passes in itself exactly in the mind of the murderer (что происходит точно в самом мозгу убийцы)? He kills (он убивает), it would seem from his letters (это кажется /явным/ из его писем), pour le sport (фр. спорта ради) — to amuse himself (чтобы развлечься). Can that really be true (может ли это действительно быть правдой)? And even if it is true (и даже если это правда), on what principle does he select his victims (по какому принципу он отбирает свои жертвы) apart from the merely alphabetical one (кроме просто алфавитного)? If he kills merely to amuse himself (если он убивает, просто чтобы развлечься) he would not advertise the fact (он бы не стал афишировать этот факт), since (так как), otherwise (иначе/в противном случае), he could kill with impunity (он мог бы убивать безнаказанно). But no (но нет), he seeks (он стремится /к тому/; to seek — искать; добиваться), as we all agree (как мы все согласились), to make the splash in the public eye (произвести публичную сенсацию: «сенсацию на публике») — to assert his personality (чтобы утвердить свою личность).

In what way has his personality been suppressed (каким образом была его личность подавлена) that one can connect with the two victims (что можно объединить это с двумя жертвами) he has so far selected (которых он пока выбрал)? A final suggestion (последнее предположение): Is his motive direct personal hatred of me (является ли его мотив прямой личной ненавистью ко мне), of Hercule Poirot (Эркюлю Пуаро)? Does he challenge me in public (бросает ли он мне публичный вызов) because I have (потому, что я) (unknown to myself) (сам того не зная) vanquished him somewhere in the course of my career (одержал над ним верх где-то в течение моей карьеры; to vanquish — побеждать; покорять)? Or is his animosity impersonal (или его враждебность неличного характера) — directed against a foreigner (направленная против иностранца)? And if so (и если так), what again has led to that (что снова привело к этому; to lead)? What injury has he suffered at a foreigner's hand (от какой травмы, нанесенной рукой иностранца, он пострадал)?"

impunity [m'pju:nt], vanquish ['vaekw], animosity [aen'mst]

"I ask myself," said Poirot, "what passes in itself exactly in the mind of the murderer? He kills, it would seem from his letters, pour le sport — to amuse himself. Can that really be true? And even if it is true, on what principle does he select his victims apart from the merely alphabetical one? If he kills merely to amuse himself he would not advertise the fact, since, otherwise, he could kill with impunity. But no, he seeks, as we all agree, to make the splash in the public eye — to assert his personality.

In what way has his personality been suppressed that one can connect with the two victims he has so far selected? A final suggestion: Is his motive direct personal hatred of me, of Hercule Poirot? Does he challenge me in public because I have (unknown to myself) vanquished him somewhere in the course of my career? Or is his animosity impersonal — directed against a foreigner? And if so, what again has led to that? What injury has he suffered at a foreigner's hand?"

"All very suggestive questions," said Dr. Thompson (все это очень серьезные вопросы: «весьма наводящие на мысли»; suggestive — вызывающий мысли).

Inspector Crome cleared his throat (инспектор Кроум прочистил горло). "Oh, yes (о, да)? A little unanswerable at present, perhaps (на которые пока нельзя ответить: «несколько безответные в настоящее время, возможно»; to answer)?"

"Nevertheless, my friend," said Poirot (тем не менее, друг мой), looking straight at him (глядя прямо на него), "it is there in those questions that the solution lies (именно в этих вопросах лежит решение). If we knew the exact reason (если бы мы знали точную причину) — fantastic, perhaps, to us (фантастическую, возможно, для нас) — but logical to him (но логичную для него) — of why our madman commits these crimes (почему наш сумасшедший совершает эти преступления), we should know, perhaps (мы бы узнали, возможно), who the next victim is likely to be (кто, вероятнее всего, будет следующей жертвой)."

Crome shook his head (Кроум покачал головой). "He selects them haphazard (он выбирает их наугад) — that's my opinion (вот мое мнение»)."

"The magnanimous murderer," said Poirot (великодушный убийца).

"What's that you say (что вы говорите)?"

throat [rt], solution [s'lu:], unanswerable [n':nsrbl]

"All very suggestive questions," said Dr. Thompson.

Inspector Crome cleared his throat. "Oh, yes? A little unanswerable at present, perhaps."

"Nevertheless, my friend," said Poirot, looking straight at him, "it is there in those questions that the solution lies. If we knew the exact reason — fantastic, perhaps, to us — but logical to him — of why our madman commits these crimes, we should know, perhaps, who the next victim is likely to be."

Crome shook his head. "He selects them haphazard — that's my opinion."

"The magnanimous murderer," said Poirot.

"What's that you say?"

"I said (я сказал) — the magnanimous murderer (великодушный убийца)! Franz Ascher would have been arrested for the murder of his wife (Франц Эшер был бы арестован за убийство своей жены) — Donald Fraser might have been arrested for the murder of Betty Barnard (Дональд Фрейзер мог бы быть арестован за убийство Бетти Барнард) — if it had not been for the warning letters of A.B.C. (если бы не предупреждающие письма Эй-би-си). Is he (является ли он), then (тогда), so soft-hearted (таким мягкосердечным) that he cannot bear others to suffer for something (что он не может вынести, как другие страдают за что-то) they did not do (/чего/ они не делали)?"

"I've known stranger things happen," said Dr. Thompson (я знаю, что происходили и более странные вещи). "I've known men (я знаю людей) who've killed half a dozen victims (которые убили полдюжины жертв) all broken up (совершенно сломленными = и которые совершенно ломались) because one of their victims didn't die instantaneously (потому что одна из их жертв не умерла мгновенно) and suffered pain (а страдала от боли). All the same (все-таки/тем не менее), I don't think that that is our fellow's reason (я не думаю, что такова логика нашего товарища = что так рассуждает наш подопечный; reason — соображение, мотив). He wants the credit of these crimes for his own honour and glory (он хочет, чтобы заслуга /в совершении/ этих преступлений были его собственной честью и славой; credit — доверие; хорошая репутация, доброе имя; похвала, честь). That's the explanation, that fits best (вот объяснение, которое лучше всего подходит)."

soft-hearted ['sfth:td], instantaneously [nstn'tensl], honour ['n]

"I said — the magnanimous murderer! Franz Ascher would have been arrested for the murder of his wife — Donald Fraser might have been arrested for the murder of Betty Barnard — if it had not been for the warning letters of A.B.C.. Is he, then, so soft-hearted that he cannot bear others to suffer for something they did not do?"

"I've known stranger things happen," said Dr. Thompson. "I've known men who've killed half a dozen victims all broken up because one of their victims didn't die instantaneously and suffered pain. All the same, I don't think that that is our fellow's reason. He wants the credit of these crimes for his own honour and glory. That's the explanation that fits best."

"We've come to no decision about the publicity business," said the Assistant Commissioner (мы не пришли к решению по поводу публичного оглашения, — сказал заместитель комиссара).

"If I may make a suggestion, sir," said Crome (можно ли мне сделать предложение, сэр). "Why not wait (почему бы не подождать) till the receipt of the next letter (до получения следующего письма)? Make it public then (сделать его публичным тогда) — special editions (экстренные выпуски), etc (/и/ т.д.). It will make a bit of a panic in the particular town named (это причинит панику в конкретном названном городе), but it will put everyone whose name begins with C on his guard (но это заставит быть настороже всех, чье имя начинается на букву «си»: «но это поставит всех, чье имя начинается с /буквы/ «си» на стражу»), and it'll put A.B.C. on his mettle (и это придаст отваги Эй-би-си; mettle — темперамент, характер; пыл, ретивость: to be on one's mettle — рваться в бой, проявлять пыл, ретивость). He'll be determined to succeed (он будет /совершенно/ решившимся достичь цели). And that's when we'll get him (и тут-то мы его возьмем)."