Читаем полностью

As we were sipping our cocktails (когда мы потягивали наши коктели) Franklin Clarke said curiously (Франклин Кларк сказал с любопыством): "I suppose (я полагаю) we can guess (мы можем догадаться) what you are after (за чем вы /охотитесь/)? You're out to break that alibi (вы выбрались опровергнуть то алиби; to break — ломать; признавать недействительным). But I can't see (но я не понимаю) what you're so pleased about (чем вы так довольны). You haven't got a new fact of any kind (вы не получили никакого нового факта)."

"No (нет) — that is true (это правда)."

accompany ['kmpn], abominable ['bmnbl], cocktail ['kktel]

"Voil`a!" said Poirot, "I have finished in Bexhill. Presently I go to Eastbourne. One little inquiry there — that is all. Unnecessary for all to accompany me. In the meantime come back to the hotel and have a cocktail. That Carlton tea, it was abominable!"

As we were sipping our cocktails Franklin Clarke said curiously: "I suppose we can guess what you are after? You're out to break that alibi. But I can't see what you're so pleased about. You haven't got a new fact of any kind."

"No — that is true."

"Well, then (ну, тогда)?"

"Patience (терпение). Everything arranges itself (все образуется), given time (в свое время: «/если/ дать время»)."

"You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway (вы, в любом случае, кажетесь совершенно довольным самим собой)."

"Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea (ничто пока не противоречило моей маленькой идее) — that is why (вот почему)."

His face grew serious (его лицо стало серьезным). "My friend Hastings told me once (мой друг Гастингс рассказал мне однажды) that he had (что он), as a young man played a game called The Truth (в молодости: «как молодой человек» играл в игру под названием «Правда»). It was a game (это была игра) where everyone in turn (где каждому по очереди) was asked three questions (задавалось три вопроса) — two of which must be answered truthfully (на два из которых нужно было ответить правдиво). The third one could be barred (третий мог быть пропущен; to bar — запирать на засов; исключать). The questions (вопросы), naturally (естественно), were of the most indiscreet kind (были самого нескромного типа). But to begin with (но для начала) everyone had to swear (каждому приходилось поклясться) that they would indeed speak the truth (что они действительно будут говорить правду), the whole truth (полную правду), and nothing but the truth (и ничего кроме правды)."

contradict [kntr'dkt], truthfully ['tru:fl], indiscreet [nds'kri:t]

"Well, then?"

"Patience. Everything arranges itself, given time."

"You seem quite pleased with yourself anyway."

"Nothing so far has contradicted my little idea — that is why."

His face grew serious. "My friend Hastings told me once that he had, as a young man played a game called The Truth. It was a game where everyone in turn was asked three questions — two of which must be answered truthfully. The third one could be barred. The questions, naturally, were of the most indiscreet kind. But to begin with everyone had to swear that they would indeed speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

He paused (он прервался).

"Well?" said Megan.

"Eh bien (фр. ну, так) — me, I want to play that game (я хочу сыграть в эту игру). Only it is not necessary to have three questions (только это необязательно задавать три вопроса: «иметь три вопроса»). One will be enough (одного будет достаточно). One question to each of you (один вопрос каждому из вас)."

"Of course," said Clarke impatiently (конечно, — сказал нетерпеливо Кларк). "We'll answer anything (мы ответим на что угодно)."