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"There may be something in that. Nothing to it at the time — but it's possible that the idea of the modus operandi for his next crime occurred to our man then. We've got Hill's name and address, I see. His description of the man is vague but it links up well enough with the descriptions of Mary Stroud and this Tom Hartigan …"

He nodded thoughtfully.

"We're getting warm," said Inspector Crome (мы нападаем на след: «мы согреваемся») — rather inaccurately (несколько неточно), for he himself was always slightly chilly (так как ему самому всегда было холодно).

"Any instructions, sir (какие-нибудь инструкции, сэр)?"

"Put on a couple of men to watch this Camden Town address (поставьте пару людей наблюдать за этим адресом в Кэмден Тауне), but I don't want our bird frightened (я не хочу напугать нашу птичку). I must have a word with the A.C. (я должен поговорить с этим Эй. Си.). Then I think it would be as well (тогда, я думаю, это было бы лучше) if Cust was brought along here (если бы Каста привели сюда) and asked (и спросили) if he'd like to make a statement (не хотел бы он сделать заявление). It sounds (это звучит) as though he's quite ready to get rattled (как будто он вполне готов потерять самообладание; to rattle — грохотать; вывести из себя)."

chilly ['tl], bird [b:d], rattle [raetl]

"We're getting warm," said Inspector Crome — rather inaccurately, for he himself was always slightly chilly.

"Any instructions, sir?"

"Put on a couple of men to watch this Camden Town address, but I don't want our bird frightened. I must have a word with the A.C.. Then I think it would be as well if Cust was brought along here and asked if he'd like to make a statement. It sounds as though he's quite ready to get rattled."

Outside Tom Hartigan had rejoined Lily Marbury (снаружи Том Хартиган снова присоединился к Лили Марбери) who was waiting for him on the Embankment[43] (которая ждала его на Эмбанкмент).

"All right, Tom (все в порядке, Том)?" Tom nodded (Том кивнул).

"I saw Inspector Crome himself (я видел самого инспектора Кроума). The one who's in charge of the case (того, кто ведет это дело; charge — нагрузка; заведование; руководство; ответственность)."

"What's he like (какой он: «на кого он похож»)?"

"A bit quiet (немного тихий) and la-di-da (и жеманный; la-di-da — вызывающий; la-di-da — франт, щеголь) — not my idea of a detective (не мое представление о детективе = не такой, каким, по-моему, должен быть детектив)."

rejoin [r'n], Embankmen [m'baekmnt], la-di-da ['l:d'd:] [l:d'd]

Outside Tom Hartigan had rejoined Lily Marbury who was waiting for him on the Embankment.

"All right, Tom?" Tom nodded.

"I saw Inspector Crome himself. The one who's in charge of the case."

"What's he like?"

"A bit quiet and la-di-da — not my idea of a detective."

"That's Lord Trenchard's new kind," said Lily with respect (это новый человек лорда Тренчарда, — сказала уважительно Лили: «с уважением»; kind — сорт;, человек). "Some of them are ever so grand (некоторые из них всегда такие исполненные самомнения). Well (так), what did he say (что он сказал)?" Tom gave her a brief resume of the interview (Том кратко изложил ей беседу: «Том дал ей краткое резюме беседы»).

"So they think as it really was him (так они думают, что это действительно был он)?"

"They think it might be (они думают, так могло бы быть). Anyway (в любом случае), they'll come along (они придут) and ask him a question or two (и зададут ему пару вопросов: «один вопрос или два»)."

"Poor Mr. Cust (бедный мистер Каст)."