Agatha Christie - Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

conciseness [kǝnˈsaɪsnǝs], torch [tɔ:tʃ], counter [ˈkaʋntǝ]

We were received at Andover by Inspector Glen, a tall, fair-haired man with a pleasant smile.

For the sake of conciseness I think I had better give a brief résumé the bare facts of the case.

The crime was discovered by Police Constable Dover at 1 A.M. the morning of the 22 nd. When on his round he tried the door of the shop and found it unfastened. He entered and at first thought the place was empty. Directing his torch over the counter, however, he caught sight of the huddled-up body of the old woman.

When the police surgeon arrived on the spot (когда полицейский хирург прибыл на место) it was elicited (было выявлено) that the woman had been struck down by a heavy blow on the back of the head (что женщина была убита сильным ударом по затылку: «по задней /части/ головы»; to strike down — свалить с ног; убить) , probably (вероятно) while she was reaching down a packet of cigarettes from the shelf behind the counter (когда она доставала пачку сигарет с полки позади прилавка) .

Death must have occurred about nine to seven hours previously (смерть, должно быть, наступила около семи-девяти часов назад: «смерть, должно быть, произошла около девяти-семи часов ранее»; to occur — происходить, случаться; previous — предыдущий, предшествующий) .

"But we've been able to get it down a bit nearer than that," explained the inspector (но мы смогли определить это немного точнее: «но мы были в состоянии записать это немного ближе, чем это», — объяснил инспектор) . "We've found a man (мы обнаружили человека) who went in (который вошел; to go in) and bought some tobacco at 5:30 (и купил табаку в пять тридцать; to buy — покупать) . And a second man went in (а второй человек вошел) and found the shop empty (и обнаружил, что магазин пуст) , as he thought (как он подумал) , at five minutes past six (в пять минут седьмого: «пять минут после шести») .

surgeon [ˈsǝ:ʤ(ǝ)n], elicit [ɪˈlɪsɪt], occur [ǝˈkǝ:]

When the police surgeon arrived on the spot it was elicited that the woman had been struck down by a heavy blow on the back of the head, probably while she was reaching down a packet of cigarettes from the shelf behind the counter.

Death must have occurred about nine to seven hours previously.

"But we've been able to get it down a bit nearer than that," explained the inspector. "We've found a man who went in and bought some tobacco at 5:30. And a second man went in and found the shop empty, as he thought, at five minutes past six.

That puts the time at between 5:30 and 6:05 (это определяет время между половиной шестого и пятью минутами седьмого) . So far (пока) I haven't been able to find anyone (я еще не смог найти никого) who saw this man Ascher in the neighbourhood (кто видел этого человека Эшера поблизости; neigbour — сосед) , but, of course, it's early yet (но, конечно, еще рано) . He was in the Three Crowns at nine o'clock (он был в «Трех коронах» в девять часов) pretty far gone in drink (сильно пьяный: «очень далеко ушедшим в выпивку»; to be in drink — в пьяном виде) . When we get hold of him (когда мы доберемся до него; to get hold of — суметь схватить) he'll be detained on suspicion (он будет задержан по подозрению; to suspect) ."

"Not a very desirable character, inspector?" asked Poirot (не очень желанная личность, инспектор? — спросил Пуаро; to desire — желать; character — буква; знак; характер; личность) .

"Unpleasant bit of goods (неприятный тип; bit of goods — разг. штучка, тип) ."

"He didn't live with his wife (он не жил со своей женой) ?"

neighbourhood [ˈneɪbǝhʋd], desirable [dɪˈzaɪǝr(ǝ)bl], suspicion [sǝsˈpɪʃ(ǝ)n]

That puts the time at between 5:30 and 6:05. So far I haven't been able to find anyone who saw this man Ascher in the neighbourhood, but, of course, it's early yet. He was in the Three Crowns at nine o'clock pretty far gone in drink. When we get hold of him he'll be detained on suspicion."

"Not a very desirable character, inspector?" asked Poirot.

"Unpleasant bit of goods."

"He didn't live with his wife?"

"No, they separated some years ago (нет, они расстались несколько лет назад) . Ascher's a German (Эшер — немец) . He was waiter at one time (он был официантом одно время) , but he took to drink (но он пристрастился к выпивке; to take — брать; to take to — пристраститься, увлечься /чем-л./) and gradually became unemployable (и постепенно стал нетрудоспособным; to employ — употреблять, применять, использовать) . His wife went into service for a bit (его жена работала прислугой недолго; to go into service — пойти в услужение) . Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old lady (в последний раз она работала поваром-экономкой у пожилой леди: «ее последнее место было поваром-экономкой у старой леди») , Miss Rose (мисс Роуз) . She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself (она давала своему мужу столько из своего заработка, чтобы он мог содержать себя; to allow — позволять; предоставлять; давать) , but he was always getting drunk (но он всегда напивался) and coming round (являлся; to come round —объезжать; заезжать, приходить) and making scenes at the places (и устраивал сцены в тех местах) where she was employed (где она работала: «где ее нанимали /на работу/») .

gradually [ˈɡrædjʋǝlɪ], unemployable [ˈʌnɪmˈplɔɪbl], allow [ǝˈlaʋ]

"No, they separated some years ago. Ascher's a German. He was waiter at one time, but he took to drink and gradually became unemployable. His wife went into service for a bit. Her last place was as cook-housekeeper to an old lady, Miss Rose. She allowed her husband so much out of her wages to keep himself, but he was always getting drunk and coming round and making scenes at the places where she was employed.

That's why she took the post with Miss Rose at the grange (поэтому она заняла вакансию у мисс Роуз на ферме; post — столб; почта; положение, должность; grange — ферма с постройками) . It's three miles out of Andover (это в трех милях от Эндовера) , dead in the country (совсем за городом: «в сельской местности»; dead — мертвый; умерший; пустой; разг. совсем, вполне) . He couldn't get at her there so well (он не мог так просто да нее там добраться) . When Miss Rose died (когда мисс Роуз умерла) , she left Mrs. Ascher a small legacy (она оставила миссис Эшер небольшое наследство; to leave — покидать; оставлять) , and the woman started this tobacco and newsagent business (и эта женщина начала свое табачно-газетное дело) — quite a tiny place (очень маленькое местечко = лавчонка) — just cheap cigarettes and a few newspapers (всего лишь дешевые сигареты и несколько газет) — that sort of thing (и все такое: «тот сорт вещей») . She just about managed to keep going (ей только-только удавалось оставаться на плаву) ."