"I understand what M. Poirot means," said Crome, coming graciously to the rescue. "He's quite right. There's got to be some definite obsession. I think we'll find the root of the matter in an intensified inferiority complex. There may be persecution mania, too, and if so he may possibly associate M. Poirot with it. He may have the delusion that M. Poirot is a detective employed on purpose to hunt him down."

"Hm," said the A.C. (хм, — сказал заместитель комиссара). "That's the jargon that's talked nowadays (это жаргон, на котором говорят в наши дни). In my day (в мое время: «в мои дни») if a man was mad (если человек был сумасшедшим) he was mad (он был сумасшедшим) and we didn't look about for scientific terms to soften it down (и мы не искали научных теминов, чтобы смягчить это). I suppose (я полагаю) a thoroughly up-to-date doctor would suggest (тщательный современный доктор предложил бы) putting a man like A.B.C. in a nursing home (поместить такого человека, как Эй-би-си, в частную лечебницу), telling him what a fine fellow he was for forty-five days on end (говоря ему, какой он хороший парень, в течение сорока пяти дней подряд) and then letting him out as a responsible member of society (а затем выпустить его достойным доверия членом общества: «как ответственного члена общества»)."

jargon [':n], scientific [san'tfk], society [s'sat]

"Hm," said the A.C.. "That's the jargon that's talked nowadays. In my day if a man was mad he was mad and we didn't look about for scientific terms to soften it down. I suppose a thoroughly up-to-date doctor would suggest putting a man like A.B.C. in a nursing home, telling him what a fine fellow he was for forty-five days on end and then letting him out as a responsible member of society."

Poirot smiled (Пуаро улыбнулся) but did not answer (но не ответил).

The conference broke up (совещание прервалось).

"Well," said the Assistant Commissioner (так, — сказал заместитель комиссара). "As you say, Crome (как вы говорите, Кроум), pulling him in is only a matter of time (арестовать его — это только дело времени; to pull in — разг. арестовывать)."

"We'd have had him before now," said the inspector (мы бы схватили его до настоящего момента), "if he wasn't so ordinary-looking (если бы он не был таким внешне обычным). We've worried enough perfectly inoffensive citizens as it is (мы достаточно побеспокоили совершенно безобидных граждан из-за этого: «как это есть»)."

"I wonder (мне интересно) where he is at this minute," said the Assistant Commissioner (где он в данную минуту).

inoffensive [n'fensv], citizen ['stzn], perfectly ['p:fktl]

Poirot smiled but did not answer.

The conference broke up.

"Well," said the Assistant Commissioner. "As you say, Crome, pulling him in is only a matter of time."

"We'd have had him before now," said the inspector, "if he wasn't so ordinary-looking. We've worried enough perfectly inoffensive citizens as it is."

"I wonder where he is at this minute," said the Assistant Commissioner.

XXX. (Not from Captain Hastings' Personal Narrative)

(не из личного повествования капитана Гастингса)

Mr. Cust stood by a greengrocer's shop (мистер Каст стоял у магазина зеленщика).

He stared across the road (он пристально смотрел через дорогу).

Yes, that was it (да, вот оно).

Mrs. Ascher (миссис Эшер). Newsagent (владелица газетного киоска) and Tobacconist (и продавщица табачных изделий) … In the empty window was a sign (в пустом окне был знак).

To Let (сдается).

Empty (пусто) …

Lifeless (безжизненно) …

across [k'rs], tobacconist [t'baeknst], lifeless ['lafls]

Mr. Cust stood by a greengrocer's shop.

He stared across the road.

Yes, that was it.

Mrs. Ascher. Newsagent and Tobacconist … In the empty window was a sign.

To Let.

Empty …

Lifeless …

"Excuse me, sir (извините меня, сэр)."