Читаем полностью

"I made a thorough search of the room (я произвел тщательный осмотр комнаты) he had occupied (/которую/ он занимал). That search puts the matter beyond doubt (этот поиск ставит дело вне сомнения). I found a block of notepaper similar to that (я нашел блок почтовой бумаги, похожей на ту) on which the letters were written (на которой были написаны письма), a large quantity of hosiery (большое количество чулочных изделий) and — at the back of the cupboard (внизу шкафа) where the hosiery was stored (где хранились чулочные изделия) — a parcel much the same shape and size (сверток почти такой же формы и размера) but which turned out to contain (но которая, оказалось, содержит) — not hosiery (не чулочные изделия) — but eight new A.B.C. railway guides (а восемь новых железнодорожных справочников «Эй-би-си»)!"

"Proof positive," said the Assistant Commissioner (неопровержимое доказательство: «позитивное/прямое доказательство», — сказал заместитель комиссара).

search [s:t], similar ['sml], contain [kn'ten]

He shook his head, however, and the inspector proceeded.

"I made a thorough search of the room he had occupied. That search puts the matter beyond doubt. I found a block of notepaper similar to that on which the letters were written, a large quantity of hosiery and — at the back of the cupboard where the hosiery was stored — a parcel much the same shape and size but which turned out to contain — not hosiery — but eight new A.B.C. railway guides!"

"Proof positive," said the Assistant Commissioner.

"I've found something else, too," said the inspector (я также обнаружил еще кое-что) — his voice becoming suddenly almost human with triumph (его голос неожиданно стал почти человеческим от триумфа). "Only found it this morning, sir (только обнаружил это этим утром, сэр). Not had time to report yet (пока не было времени доложить). There was no sign of the knife in his room (там /не/ было никакого признака ножа в его комнате) —"

"It would be the act of an imbecile to bring that back with him," remarked Poirot (это был бы поступок идиота — приносить его назад с собой, — заметил Пуаро).

"After all, he's not a reasonable human being," remarked the inspector (в конце концов, он не разумное человеческое существо, — заметил инспектор). "Anyway (в любом случае), it occurred to me (это пришло мне на ум) that he might just possibly have brought it back to the house (что он, возможно, просто принес его назад в дом) and then realized the danger of hiding it (но затем понял опасность прятать его) (as M. Poirot points out (как указывает мсье Пуаро) in his room (в своей комнате), and have looked about elsewhere (и осмотрел во всех других /местах/). What place in the house would he be likely to select (какое место в доме он, вероятно, бы выбрал)? I got it straightaway (я нашел его прямо сразу). The hall stand (вешалка в холле) — no one ever moves a hall stand (никто никогда не передвигает вешалку в холле). With a lot of trouble (с большим трудом) I got it moved out from the wall (я отодвинул ее от стены: «я получил ее отодвинутой от стены») — and there it was (и там он был)!"

triumph ['tramf], elsewhere ['elsw], straightaway ['stretwe]

"I've found something else, too," said the inspector — his voice becoming suddenly almost human with triumph. "Only found it this morning, sir. Not had time to report yet. There was no sign of the knife in his room — "

"It would be the act of an imbecile to bring that back with him," remarked Poirot.