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Mr. Cust raised his head a little (мистер Каст немного поднял голову). "Oh, yes (о, да)?"

He said it as naturally (он сказал это так естественно) as Inspector Crome might have said it (как инспектор Кроум мог бы сказать это) — but without the superciliousness (но без надменности; supercilious — высокомерный, надменный, презрительный).

solicitor [s'lst], abstraction [aeb'straekn], superciliousness [sju:p'slsns]

The other shook his head. "No — no — I can't say I do. Unless you are Mr. Lucas's — what do they call it? — junior. Or perhaps you come from Mr. Maynard?"

(Maynard Cole were the defending solicitors.)

His tone was polite but not very interested. He seemed absorbed in some inner abstraction.

"I am Hercule Poirot …"

Poirot said the words very gently … and watched for the effect.

Mr. Cust raised his head a little. "Oh, yes?"

He said it as naturally as Inspector Crome might have said it — but without the superciliousness.

Then (затем), a minute later (минутой спустя), he repeated his remark (он повторил свое замечание). "Oh, yes?" he said (о, да?), and this time his tone was different (и на этот раз его тон был другим) — it held an awakened interest (он содержал пробудившийся интерес). He raised his head and looked at Poirot (он поднял голову и посмотрел на Пуаро).

Hercule Poirot met his gaze (Эркюль Пуаро встретил его взгляд) and nodded his own head gently once or twice (и кивнул головой один или два раза).

"Yes," he said. "I am the man (я тот человек) to whom you wrote the letters (которому вы писали ваши письма)."

At once the contact was broken (неожиданно контакт нарушился). Mr. Cust dropped his eyes (мистер Каст опустил глаза) and spoke irritably and fretfully (и заговорил раздраженно и нетерпеливо; fretful — капризный, раздражительный, нетерпеливый).

"I never wrote to you (я никогда не писал вам). Those letters weren't written by me (те письма не были написаны мною). I've said so again and again (я уже говорил так снова и снова)."

"I know," said Poirot (я знаю). "But if you did not write them (но если не вы написали их), who did (кто же написал)?"

interest ['ntrst], gaze [ez], fretfully ['fretfl]

Then, a minute later, he repeated his remark. "Oh, yes?" he said, and this time his tone was different — it held an awakened interest. He raised his head and looked at Poirot.

Hercule Poirot met his gaze and nodded his own head gently once or twice.

"Yes," he said. "I am the man to whom you wrote the letters."

At once the contact was broken. Mr. Cust dropped his eyes and spoke irritably and fretfully.

"I never wrote to you. Those letters weren't written by me. I've said so again and again."

"I know," said Poirot. "But if you did not write them, who did?"

"An enemy (враг). I must have an enemy (у меня, должно быть, есть враг). They are all against me (они все против меня). The police (полиция) — everyone (каждый) — all against me (все против меня). It's a gigantic conspiracy (это гигантский заговор; conspiracy — секретность; тайный сговор)."

Poirot did not reply (Пуаро не ответил).

Mr. Cust said (мистер Каст сказал): "Everyone's hand has been against me (все были против меня: «рука каждого против меня») — always (всегда)."

"Even when you were a child (даже когда вы были ребенком)?"