Agatha Christie - Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту (ASCII-IPA)

"Very well, Jacobs," said Crome (очень хорошо, Джейкобс) . "Send him along (пришлите его) ."

A few minutes later (несколькими минутами спустя) there was a tap on the inspector's door (раздался стук в дверь) and Sergeant Jacobs appeared (и появился сержант Джейкобс) , ushering in a tall (вводя высокого) , moderately good-looking young man (сравнительно симпатичного молодого человека) .

discreet [dIs'kri:t], average ['&v@rIdZ], residue ['rezIdju:]

Inspector Crome was in his office at Scotland Yard.

The telephone on his desk gave a discreet buzz and he picked it up.

"Jacobs speaking, sir. There's a young fellow come in with a story that I think you ought to hear."

Inspector Crome sighed. On an average twenty people a day turned up with so-called important information about the A.B.C. case. Some of them were harmless lunatics, some of them were well-meaning persons who genuinely believed that their information was of value. It was the duty of Sergeant Jacobs to act as a human sieve — retaining the grosser matter and passing on the residue to his superior.

"Very well, Jacobs," said Crome. "Send him along."

A few minutes later there was a tap on the inspector's door and Sergeant Jacobs appeared, ushering in a tall, moderately good-looking young man.

"This is Mr. Tom Hartigan, sir (это мистер Том Хартиган, сэр) . He's got something to tell us (у него есть что-то сказать нам) which may have a possible bearing on the A.B.C. case (что может иметь возможное отношение к делу Эй-би-си) ."

The inspector rose pleasantly and shook hands (инспектор вежливо поднялся и поздоровался: «пожал руку») .

"Good morning, Mr. Hartigan (доброе утро, мистер Хартиган) . Sit down, won't you (садитесь, пожалуйста: «садитесь, не хотите ли») ? Smoke (курите) ? Have a cigarette (возьмете сигарету) ?"

Tom Hanigan sat down awkwardly (Том Хартиган неловко сел) and looked with some awe at what he called in his own mind (и посмотрел с благоговением на то, что он называл в своем уме) "one of the bigwigs (одним из тузов; bigwig — важная персона: «большой колпак») ." The appearance of the inspector vaguely disappointed him (внешность инспектора слегка/как-то разочаровала его; vague — расплывчатый, неясный) . He looked quite an ordinary person (он выглядел вполне обычным человеком) .

awe [O:], cigarette [,sIg@'ret], bigwig ['bIgwIg]

"This is Mr. Tom Hartigan, sir. He's got something to tell us which may have a possible bearing on the A.B.C. case."

The inspector rose pleasantly and shook hands.

"Good morning, Mr. Hartigan. Sit down, won't you? Smoke? Have a cigarette?"

Tom Hanigan sat down awkwardly and looked with some awe at what he called in his own mind "one of the bigwigs." The appearance of the inspector vaguely disappointed him. He looked quite an ordinary person.

"Now then," said Crome (ну, тогда = ну так давайте) . "You've got something to tell us (у вас есть что-то сказать нам) that you think may have a bearing on the case (что, вы думаете, имеет отношение к делу) . Fire ahead (начинайте: «стреляйте вперед») ."

Tom began nervously (Том нервно начал) . "Of course it may be nothing at all (конечно, это может быть вовсе ничем = в этом, возможно, нет ничего важного) . It's just an idea of mine (это просто моя идея) . I may be wasting your time (я, вероятно, просто трачу ваше время = отнимаю у вас время) ."

Again (снова) , Inspector Crome sighed imperceptibly (инспектор Кроум незаметно вздохнул) . The amount of time he had to waste in reassuring people (количество времени, /которое/ он вынужден тратить, подбадривая людей/вдыхая в людей уверенность) !

"We're the best judge of that (нам лучше судить: «мы лучший судья этому») . Let's have the facts, Mr. Hartigan (давайте /посмотрим на/ факты, мистер Хартиган) ."

"Well, it's like this, sir (это вот как: «подобно этому», сэр) . I've got a young lady (у меня есть невеста) , you see (вы понимаете) , and her mother lets rooms (а ее мать сдает комнаты) . Up Camden Town way (в сторону Кэмден Таун) . Their second floor back has been let for over a year to a man called Cust (их третий этаж сдается больше года человеку по имени Каст) ."

waste [weIst], amount [@'maUnt], over ['@Uv@]

"Now then," said Crome. "You've got something to tell us that you think may have a bearing on the case. Fire ahead."

Tom began nervously. "Of course it may be nothing at all. It's just an idea of mine. I may be wasting your time."

Again, Inspector Crome sighed imperceptibly. The amount of time he had to waste in reassuring people!

"We're the best judge of that. Let's have the facts, Mr. Hartigan."

"Well, it's like this, sir. I've got a young lady, you see, and her mother lets rooms. Up Camden Town way. Their second floor back has been let for over a year to a man called Cust."

"Cust — eh (Каст — э) ?"

"That's right, sir (именно так, сэр) . A sort of middle-aged bloke (как бы малый средних лет) what's rather vague and soft (который в некоторой степени неопределенный и мягкий) — and come down in the world a bit (и опустившийся немного по жизни) , I should say (я должен сказать) . Sort of creature who wouldn't hurt a fly (как бы существо, которое мухи не обидит) , you'd say (вы бы сказали) — and I'd never of dreamed of anything being wrong (и я бы никогда не подумал, что что-то не так) if it hadn't been for something rather odd (если бы не что-то достаточно странное) ."

In a somewhat confused manner (слегка сбивчиво: «в слегка сбивчивой манере; confused — смущенный; сбивчивый) and repeating himself once or twice (и повторясь раз или два) , Tom described his encounter with Mr. Cust at Euston Station (Том описал его случайную встречу с мистером Кастом на станции Юстон) and the incident of the dropped ticket (и инцидент с оброненным билетом) .

bloke [bl@Uk], creature ['kri:tS@], encounter [In'kaUnt@]

"Cust — eh?"