wore [w:], unduly ['n'dju:l], insist [n'sst]

"Describe this man," he said. "As quick as you can. There's no time to be lost."

"Medium-sized, he were," said Mary. "And stooped and wore glasses.''

"His clothes?"

"A dark suit and a Homburg hat. Rather shabby-looking."

She could add little to this description.

Inspector Crome did not insist unduly. The telephone wires were soon busy, but neither the inspector nor the Chief Constable were overoptimistic.

Crome elicited the fact that the man, when seen sneaking across the yard, had had no bag or suitcase. "There's a chance there," he said.

Two men were dispatched to the Black Swan (двое мужчин были отправлены в «Черный лебедь»).

Mr. Ball (мистер Болл), swelling with pride and importance (раздуваясь от гордости и важности; to swell — надуваться, раздуваться), and Mary, somewhat tearful (и Мэри, слегка в слезах), accompanied them (сопровождали их).

The sergeant returned about ten minutes later (сержант пришел примерно десять минут спустя).

"I've brought the register, sir," he said (я принес регистрационную книгу, сэр). "Here's the signature (вот подпись)."

We crowded round (мы столпились вокруг). The writing was small and cramped (почерк был мелкий и тесный) — not easy to read (нелегко прочитать).

dispatch [ds'paet], register ['rest], signature ['snt]

Two men were dispatched to the Black Swan.

Mr. Ball, swelling with pride and importance, and Mary, somewhat tearful, accompanied them.

The sergeant returned about ten minutes later.

"I've brought the register, sir," he said. "Here's the signature."

We crowded round. The writing was small and cramped — not easy to read.

"A.B.Case (Эй. Би. Кейс) — or is it Cash (или это Кэш)?" said the Chief Constable (сказал начальник полиции).

"A.B.C.," said Crome significantly (Эй-Би-Си, — сказал Кроум значительно).

"What about luggage?" asked Anderson (как насчет багажа).

"One good-sized suitcase, sir (один большой: «хорошего размера» чемодан, сэр), full of small cardboard boxes (полный маленьких картонных коробок)."

"Boxes (коробок)? What was in 'em (что было в них)?"

"Stockings, sir (чулки, сэр). Silk stockings (шелковые чулки)."

Crome turned to Poirot (Кроум повернулся к Пуаро). "Congratulations," he said (поздравляю: «поздравления»; to congratulate — поздравлять). "Your hunch was right (ваша интуиция была права; hunch — толчок, нажим; напор; натиск; предчувствие; интуиция)."

luggage ['l], congratulations [kn,raetj'lesnz], hunch [hnt]

"A.B.Case — or is it Cash?" said the Chief Constable.

"A.B.C.," said Crome significantly.

"What about luggage?" asked Anderson.

"One good-sized suitcase, sir, full of small cardboard boxes."

"Boxes? What was in 'em?"

"Stockings, sir. Silk stockings."

Crome turned to Poirot. "Congratulations," he said. "Your hunch was right."

XXVIII. (Not from Captain Hastings' Personal Narrative)

(не из личного повествования капитана Гастингса)

Inspector Crome was in his office at Scotland Yard (инспектор Кроум был в своем офисе в Скотланд-Ярде).

The telephone on his desk gave a discreet buzz (телефон на его столе коротко зазвонил: «издал сдержанный звонок») and he picked it up (и он поднял /трубку/).

"Jacobs speaking, sir (Джейкобс говорит, сэр). There's a young fellow come in with a story (молодой человек пришел с историей) that I think you ought to hear (которую, я думаю, вы должны услышать)."