Agatha Christie - Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

shingle [ʃɪŋɡl], dictate [dɪkˈteɪt], stale [steɪl]

Next he went to the beach to the place where Betty Barnard's body had been discovered. Here he walked round in circles for some minutes studying the shingle attentively. I could see little point in this, since the tide covered the spot twice a day.

However I have learnt by this time that Poirot's actions are dictated by an idea — however meaningless they may seem.

He then walked from the beach to the nearest point at which a car could have been parked. From there again he went to the place where the Eastbourne buses waited before leaving Bexhill.

Finally he took us all to the Ginger Cat café where we had a somewhat stale tea served by the plump waitress, Milly Higley.

Here he complimented in a flowing Gallic style on the shape of her ankles (здесь он сделал комплемент в непринужденной галльской манере форме ее лодыжек; to flow — струиться, течь).

"The legs of the English (ноги англичанок) — always they are too thin (всегда они слишком тонкие)! But you, mademoiselle (но у вас, мадемуазель), have the perfect leg (совершенная ножка). It has shape (она имеет форму) — it has an ankle (она имеет лодыжку)!"

Milly Higley giggled a good deal (Милли Хигли много хихикала) and told him not to go on so (и сказала ему не продолжать /в этом духе/). She knew (она знала) what French gentlemen were like (какими были французские джентельмены).

Poirot did not trouble to contradict her mistake as to his nationality (Пуаро не побеспокоился возразить ее ошибке относительно его национальности).

He merely ogled her in such a way (он просто строил ей глазки так; to ogle — смотреть влюбленно; строить глазки) that I was startled and almost shocked (что я был поражен и почти шокирован).

flow [flǝʋ], Gallic [ˈɡælɪk], ankle [æŋkl]

Here he complimented in a flowing Gallic style on the shape of her ankles.

"The legs of the English — always they are too thin! But you, mademoiselle, have the perfect leg. It has shape — it has an ankle!"

Milly Higley giggled a good deal and told him not to go on so. She knew what French gentlemen were like.

Poirot did not trouble to contradict her mistake as to his nationality.

He merely ogled her in such a way that I was startled and almost shocked.

"Voilà!" said Poirot (фр. вот), "I have finished in Bexhill (я закончил в Бексхилле). Presently I go to Eastbourne (в настоящее время я еду в Истборн). One little inquiry there (одно маленькое расследование там) — that is all (и это все). Unnecessary for all to accompany me (необязательно всем сопровождать меня). In the meantime come back to the hotel (пока поедемте назад в отель) and have a cocktail (и выпьем коктейль). That Carlton tea (тот чай «Карлтон»), it was abominable (был отвратителен)!"

As we were sipping our cocktails (когда мы потягивали наши коктели) Franklin Clarke said curiously (Франклин Кларк сказал с любопыством): "I suppose (я полагаю) we can guess (мы можем догадаться) what you are after (за чем вы /охотитесь/)? You're out to break that alibi (вы выбрались опровергнуть то алиби; to break — ломать; признавать недействительным). But I can't see (но я не понимаю) what you're so pleased about (чем вы так довольны). You haven't got a new fact of any kind (вы не получили никакого нового факта)."

"No (нет) — that is true (это правда)."

accompany [ǝˈkʌmpǝnɪ], abominable [ǝˈbɔmɪnǝbl], cocktail [ˈkɔkteɪl]

"Voilà!" said Poirot, "I have finished in Bexhill. Presently I go to Eastbourne. One little inquiry there — that is all. Unnecessary for all to accompany me. In the meantime come back to the hotel and have a cocktail. That Carlton tea, it was abominable!"

As we were sipping our cocktails Franklin Clarke said curiously: "I suppose we can guess what you are after? You're out to break that alibi. But I can't see what you're so pleased about. You haven't got a new fact of any kind."

"No — that is true."

"Well, then (ну, тогда)?"

"Patience (терпение). Everything arranges itself (все образуется), given time (в свое время: «/если/ дать время»)."

"You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway (вы, в любом случае, кажетесь совершенно довольным самим собой)."

"Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea (ничто пока не противоречило моей маленькой идее) — that is why (вот почему)."

His face grew serious (его лицо стало серьезным). "My friend Hastings told me once (мой друг Гастингс рассказал мне однажды) that he had (что он), as a young man played a game called The Truth (в молодости: «как молодой человек» играл в игру под названием «Правда»). It was a game (это была игра) where everyone in turn (где каждому по очереди) was asked three questions (задавалось три вопроса) — two of which must be answered truthfully (на два из которых нужно было ответить правдиво). The third one could be barred (третий мог быть пропущен; to bar — запирать на засов; исключать). The questions (вопросы), naturally (естественно), were of the most indiscreet kind (были самого нескромного типа). But to begin with (но для начала) everyone had to swear (каждому приходилось поклясться) that they would indeed speak the truth (что они действительно будут говорить правду), the whole truth (полную правду), and nothing but the truth (и ничего кроме правды)."

contradict [ˌkɔntrǝˈdɪkt], truthfully [ˈtru:Ɵfʋlɪ], indiscreet [ɪndɪsˈkri:t]

"Well, then?"

"Patience. Everything arranges itself, given time."

"You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway."

"Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea — that is why."

His face grew serious. "My friend Hastings told me once that he had, as a young man played a game called The Truth. It was a game where everyone in turn was asked three questions — two of which must be answered truthfully. The third one could be barred. The questions, naturally, were of the most indiscreet kind. But to begin with everyone had to swear that they would indeed speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

He paused (он прервался).

"Well?" said Megan.

"Eh bien (фр. ну, так) — me, I want to play that game (я хочу сыграть в эту игру). Only it is not necessary to have three questions (только это необязательно задавать три вопроса: «иметь три вопроса»). One will be enough (одного будет достаточно). One question to each of you (один вопрос каждому из вас)."

"Of course," said Clarke impatiently (конечно, — сказал нетерпеливо Кларк). "We'll answer anything (мы ответим на что угодно)."

"Ah, but I want it to be more serious than that (но я хочу, чтобы это было серьезнее: «более серьезно, чем то = так»). Do you all swear to speak the truth (вы все клянетесь говорить правду)?"

He was so solemn about it (он был так серьезен при этом; solemn — священный; серьезный; торжественный) that the others (что другие), puzzled (недоумевающие), became solemn themselves (стали серьезными сами). They all swore as he demanded (они все поклялись, как он требовал).

"Bon," said Poirot briskly (фр. хорошо, — отрывисто сказал Пуаро; briskly — живо, оживленно). "Let us begin (давайте начнем) — "

each [i:tʃ], solemn [ˈsɔlǝm], puzzle [pʌzl]

He paused.

"Well?" said Megan.

"Eh bien — me, I want to play that game. Only it is not necessary to have three questions. One will be enough. One question to each of you."

"Of course," said Clarke impatiently. "We'll answer anything."

"Ah, but I want it to be more serious than that. Do you all swear to speak the truth?"

He was so solemn about it that the others, puzzled, became solemn themselves. They all swore as he demanded.

"Bon," said Poirot briskly. "Let us begin — "

"I'm ready," said Thora Grey (я готова).

"Ah, but ladies first (но дамы первые) — this time it would not be the politeness (в этот раз, пожалуй, не будет вежливости). We will start elsewhere (мы начнем с кого-нибудь еще; elsewhere — где-то в другом месте)."

He turned to Franklin Clarke (он повернулся к Франклину Кларку). "What (что), mon cher M. Clarke (фр. мой дорогой мсье Кларк), did you think of the hats (вы подумали о шляпках) the ladies wore at Ascot[47] this year (которые женщины носили в Эскоте в этом году)?"

Franklin Clarke stared at him (Франклин Кларк уставился на него). "Is this a joke (это шутка)?"

"Certainly not (разумеется, нет)."

"Is that seriously your question (это действительно ваш вопрос)?"

politeness [pǝˈlaɪtnɪs], wore [wɔ:], joke [ʤǝʋk]

"I'm ready," said Thora Grey.

"Ah, but ladies first — this time it would not be the politeness. We will start elsewhere."

He turned to Franklin Clarke. "What, mon cher M. Clarke, did you think of the hats the ladies wore at Ascot this year?"

Franklin Clarke stared at him. "Is this a joke?"

"Certainly not."

"Is that seriously your question?"

"It is (/так и/ есть)."

Clarke began to grin (Кларк начал ухмыляться). "Well, M. Poirot (ну, мсье Пуаро), I didn't actually go to Ascot (я в действительности не ездил в Эскот), but from what I could see of them driving in cars (но я видел их, /когда они/ ехали на машинах), women's hats for Ascot were an even bigger joke (женские шляпки в Эскоте были даже большей шуткой = еще забавнее/нелепее) than the hats they wear ordinarily (чем те шляпки, которые они носят обычно)."

"Fantastic (причудливые; fantastic — фантастический, причудливый)?"

"Quite fantastic (совершенно причудливые)."

Poirot smiled and turned to Donald Fraser (Пуаро улыбнулся и повернулся к Дональду Фрейзеру). "When did you take your holiday this year, Monsieur (когда вы брали отпуск в этом году, мсье)?"

car [kɑ:], fantastic [fǝnˈtæstɪk], holiday [ˈhɔlɪdeɪ]

"It is."

Clarke began to grin. "Well, M. Poirot, I didn't actually go to Ascot, but from what I could see of them driving in cars, women's hats for Ascot were an even bigger joke than the hats they wear ordinarily."

"Fantastic?"

"Quite fantastic."

Poirot smiled and turned to Donald Fraser. "When did you take your holiday this year, Monsieur?"