Читаем полностью

"Yes. A.B.C.'s slipped up for once (на этот раз Эй-би-си сделал ошибку; to slip up — спотыкнуться; разг. совершить ошибку) — if that's any satisfaction to us (если это сколько-нибудь /доставит/ нам удовольствие). Deceased's a man called Earlsfield (покойный — мужчина по имени: «называемый» Эрлсфилд) — George Earlsfield (Джордж Эрсфилд). Barber by profession (цирюльник по профессии)."

versatile ['v:stal], shove [v], barber ['b:b]

"Stabbed this time?"

"Yes, varies his methods a bit, doesn't he? Biff on the head, strangling, now a knife. Versatile devil — what? Here are the medical details if you care to see 'em."

He shoved a paper towards Poirot.

"A.B.C. down on the floor between the dead man's feet," he added.

"Has the dead man been identified?" asked Poirot.

"Yes. A.B.C.'s slipped up for once — if that's any satisfaction to us. Deceased's a man called Earlsfield — George Earlsfield. Barber by profession."

"Curious," commented Poirot (любопытно, — прокомментировал Пуаро).

"May have skipped a letter," suggested the Colonel (возможно, пропустил букву, — предположил полковник).

My friend shook his head doubtfully (мой друг с сомнением покачал головой).

"Shall we have in the next witness?" asked Crome (нам вызвать следующего свидетеля?; to have in — вызывать; приглашать). "He's anxious to get home (он беспокоится попасть домой; anxious — озабоченный, беспокоящийся; сильно желающий)."

"Yes, yes — let's get on (да, давайте продолжим)."

A middle-aged gentleman (джентльмен средних лет) strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice in Wonderland (сильно напоминающий лягушку-лакея в «Алисе в стране чудес») was led in (был введен /внутрь/; to lead). He was highly excited (он был сильно взволнован) and his voice was shrill with emotion (и его голос был резок/пронзителен от эмоции/взволнованности).

skip [skp], resemble [r'sembl], shrill [rl]

"Curious," commented Poirot.

"May have skipped a letter," suggested the Colonel.

My friend shook his head doubtfully.

"Shall we have in the next witness?" asked Crome. "He's anxious to get home."

"Yes, yes — let's get on."

A middle-aged gentleman strongly resembling the frog footman in Alice in Wonderland was led in. He was highly excited and his voice was shrill with emotion.

"Most shocking experience I have ever known," he squeaked (самый шокирующий опыт, /который/ я когда-либо знал, — взвизгнул он). "I have a weak heart, sir (у меня слабое сердце, сэр) — a very weak heart (очень слабое сердце); it might have been the death of me (это могла бы быть моя смерть)."

"Your name, please," said the inspector (/назовите/ ваше имя, пожалуйста).

"Downes (Даунс). Roger Emmanuel Downes (Роджер Эммануэль Даунс)."

"Profession (Профессия)?"

"I am a master at Highfield School for boys (я учитель в школе для мальчиков в Хайфильде)."

"Now, Mr. Downes (так, мистер Даунс), will you tell us in your own words what happened (вы /не/ расскажете нам своими словами, что произошло)?"

weak [wi:k], Emmanuel ['maenjl], Highfield ['hafi:ld]

"Most shocking experience I have ever known," he squeaked. "I have a weak heart, sir — a very weak heart; it might have been the death of me."

"Your name, please," said the inspector.

"Downes. Roger Emmanuel Downes."

"Profession?"

"I am a master at Highfield School for boys."

"Now, Mr. Downes, will you tell us in your own words what happened?"