Poirot continued in the same slow (Пуаро продолжил тем же медленным), grave voice (серьезным голосом): "The Andover police believe (полиция Эндовера считает) they can put their hand on the man (они могут схватить человека: «они смогут наложить руку на человека») who did it (который сделал это) —»

slightly ['slatl], sordid ['s:rdd], continue [kn'tnju:]

I think I felt ever so slightly damped. My interest, quickened by the sound of Andover, suffered a faint check. I had expected something fantastic — out of the way! The murder of an old woman who kept a little tobacco shop seemed, somehow, sordid and uninteresting.

Poirot continued in the same slow, grave voice: "The Andover police believe they can put their hand on the man who did it —"

I felt a second throb of disappointment (я почувствовал второй удар разочарования; throb — биение, пульсация).

"It seems (кажется, что) the woman was on bad terms with her husband (женщина была в плохих отношениях со своим мужем). He drinks (он пьет) and is by way of being rather a nasty customer (и является, кстати, весьма отвратительным типом; customer — покупатель; клиент; разг. тип). He's threatened to take her life more than once (он угрожал лишить ее жизни много раз: «больше одного раза»)."

"Nevertheless," continued Poirot (тем не менее, — продолжил Пуаро), "in view of what has happened (ввиду того, что произошло), the police there would like to have another look at the anonymous letter (полиция там хотела бы еще раз взглянуть на то анонимное письмо) I received (/которое/ я получил). I have said (я сказал) that you and I will go down to Andover at once (что вы и я приедем в Эндовер немедленно)."

throb [rb], nasty ['n:st], nevertheless [nevd'les]

I felt a second throb of disappointment.

"It seems the woman was on bad terms with her husband. He drinks and is by way of being rather a nasty customer. He's threatened to take her life more than once."

"Nevertheless," continued Poirot, "in view of what has happened, the police there would like to have another look at the anonymous letter I received. I have said that you and I will go down to Andover at once."

My spirits revived a little (мое настроение слегка оживилось). After all (в конце концов), sordid as this crime seemed be (каким бы убогим это преступление не казалось), it was a crime (это было преступление), and it was a long time (и много времени прошло: «это было долгое время») since I had had any association with crime and criminals (с тех пор, как я имел какое-то отношение к преступлениям и преступникам).

I hardly listened to the next words (я едва ли прислушался к следующим словам) Poirot said (/которые/ сказал Пуаро). But they were to come back to me with significance later (но их смысл должен был прийти ко мне позже: «но они должны были прийти ко мне со значением позже»).

''This is the beginning," said Hercule Poirot (это начало, — сказал Эркюль Пуаро).

revive [r'vav], association [ss'en], significance [s'nfkns]

My spirits revived a little. After all, sordid as this crime seemed be, it was a crime, and it was a long time since I had had any association with crime and criminals.

I hardly listened to the next words Poirot said. But they were to come back to me with significance later.

''This is the beginning," said Hercule Poirot.

IV. Mrs. Ascher

(миссис Эшер)

We were received at Andover by Inspector Glen (в Эндовере мы были приняты инспектором Гленом), a tall (высоким), fair-haired man with a pleasant smile (светловолосым человеком с приятной улыбкой).