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

Sir Carmichael Clarke, although his name was not very well known to the general public, was a man of some eminence. He had been in his time a very well-known throat specialist. Retiring from his profession, very comfortably off, he had been able to indulge what had been one of I the chief passions of his life — a collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain.

A few years later, inheriting a considerable fortune from an elderly uncle, he had been able to indulge his passion to the full, and he was now the possessor of one of the best-known collections of Chinese art. He was married but had no children, and lived in a house he had built for himself near the Devon coast, only coming to London on rare occasions such as when some important sale was on.

It did not require much reflection to realize (это не требовало больших раздумий, чтобы понять) that his death (что его смерть) , following that of the young and pretty Betty Barnard (последовавшая за /смертью/ молодой и красивой Бетти Барнард) , would provide the best newspaper sensation in years (обеспечит самую большую газетную сенсацию за /многие/ годы) . The fact that it was August (факт, что был август) and that the papers were hard up for subject matter (и что газеты нуждались в предмете /обсуждения/; to be hard up for — не хватать, нуждаться) would make matters worse (сделает дело /только/ хуже) .

"Eh bien," said Poirot (фр. ну ладно) . "It is possible (возможно) that publicity may do (что публичность может сделать /то/) what private efforts have failed to do (с чем частные усилия не справились) . The whole country now will be looking for A.B.C. (вся страна теперь будет искать Эй-би-си) ."

provide [pr@'vaId], private ['praIvIt], effort ['ef@t]

It did not require much reflection to realize that his death, following that of the young and pretty Betty Barnard, would provide the best newspaper sensation in years. The fact that it was August and that the papers were hard up for subject matter would make matters worse.

"Eh bien," said Poirot. "It is possible that publicity may do what private efforts have failed to do. The whole country now will be looking for A.B.C.."

"Unfortunately," I said (к сожалению: «несчастливо = к несчастью») , "that's what he wants (это то, что он хочет) ."

"True (верно) . But it may (но это может) , all the same (все-таки) , be his undoing (быть его уничтожением) . Gratified by success (довольный успехом; to gratify — уст. вознаграждать; удовлетворять; доставлять удовольствие; радовать) , he may become careless (он, возможно, станет беспечным: «он может стать беспечным») … That is what I hope (это /то, на/ что я надеюсь) — that he may be drunk with his own cleverness (что он, возможно, будет в упоении от собственной хитрости/ловкости; to drink — пить; drunk — пьяный, опьяненный; cleverness — ум, даровитость, талантливость; мастерство, умение, сноровка) ."

"How odd all this is, Poirot," I exclaimed (как странно все это, Пуаро, — я воскликнул) , struck suddenly by an idea (пораженный неожиданной идеей) . "Do you know (вы знаете) , this is the first crime of this kind (это есть первое преступление этого вида) that you and I have worked on together (над которым вы и я работаем вместе) ? All our murders have been (все наши убийства были) — well, private murders (ну, частными преступлениями) , so to speak (так сказать) ."

undoing [Vn'du:IN], gratify ['gr&tIfaI], suddenly ['sVd(@)nlI]

"Unfortunately," I said, "that's what he wants."

"True. But it may, all the same, be his undoing. Gratified by success, he may become careless … That is what I hope — that he may be drunk with his own cleverness."

"How odd all this is, Poirot," I exclaimed, struck suddenly by an idea. "Do you know, this is the first crime of this kind that you and I have worked on together? All our murders have been — well, private murders, so to speak."

"You are quite right, my friend (вы совершенно правы, мой друг) . Always (всегда) , up to now (до сих пор) , it has fallen out lot to work from the inside (выпадало много работать изнутри) . It has been the history of the victim that was important (была важна именно история жертвы) . The important points have been (важными вопросами были) : 'Who benefited by the death (кому была выгодна смерть: «кто извлек выгоду от этой смерти») ? What opportunities had those round him (какие возможности имели те, /кто/ вокруг жертвы) , to commit the crime (чтобы совершить преступление) ?' It has always been the 'crime intime' (это всегда было фр. «интимное преступление») . Here (здесь) , for the first time in our association (в первые за время нашего сотрудничества) , it is cold-blooded (это хладнокровное) , impersonal murder (безличное убийство) . Murder from the outside (убийство извне) ."

I shivered (я вздрогнул) . "It's rather horrible (это совершенно ужасно; rather — очень, весьма; в значительной степени) …"

benefit ['ben@fIt], association [@,s@UsI'eIS(@)n], cold-blooded [,k@Uld'blVdId]

"You are quite right, my friend. Always, up to now, it has fallen our lot to work from the inside. It has been the history of the victim that was important. The important points have been: 'Who benefited by the death? What opportunities had those round him to commit the crime?' It has always been the 'crime intime.' Here, for the first time in our association, it is cold-blooded, impersonal murder. Murder from the outside."

I shivered. "It's rather horrible …"

"Yes. I felt from the first (я чувствовал с первой /минуты/) , when I had the original letter (когда я получил первоначальное письмо) , that there was something wrong (что там было что-то неправильное) — misshapen (уродливое; shape — форма) —"

He made an impatient gesture (он сделал нетерпеливый жест) . "One must not give way to the nerves (нельзя давать волю нервам: «нельзя давать дорогу нервам») … This is no worse (это не хуже) than any ordinary crime (чем любое обычное преступление) …"

"It is (это /хуже/) … It is … "

"Is it worse to take the life or lives of strangers (/разве/ хуже лишать жизни: «забирать жизнь» или жизней незнакомцев) than to take the life of someone near and dear to you (чем лишать жизни того, /кто/ рядом и дорог вам) — someone who trusts and believes in you, perhaps (того, кто доверяет и верит вам, возможно) ?"

"It's worse because it's mad (это хуже потому, что это безумно) …"

misshapen [mIs'SeIpn], stranger ['streIndZ@], dear [dI@]

"Yes. I felt from the first, when I had the original letter, that there was something wrong — misshapen — "

He made an impatient gesture. "One must not give way to the nerves … This is no worse than any ordinary crime …"

"It is … It is … "

"Is it worse to take the life or lives of strangers than to take the life of someone near and dear to you — someone who trusts and believes in you, perhaps?"

"It's worse because it's mad …"

"No, Hastings (нет, Гастингс) . It is not worse (это не хуже) . It is only more difficult (это только сложнее) ."

"No, no, I do not agree with you (я не согласен с вами) . It's infinitely more frightening (это бесконечно более пугающе; finite — конечный) ."

Hercule Poirot said thoughtfully (Эркюль Пуаро задумчиво сказал) : "It should be easier to discover (его, должно быть, легче раскрыть) because it is mad (потому что оно безумное) . A crime committed by someone shrewd and sane (убийство, совершенное кем-то проницательным и разумным; shrewd — сильный; жестокий; проницательный, разумный) would be far more complicated (было бы гораздо сложнее) . Here (здесь) , if one could but hit on the idea (если можно было натолкнуться на идею) … This alphabetical business (это алфавитное дело) , it has discrepancies (оно имеет несоответствия) . If I could once see the idea (если бы я мог сразу понять идею) — then everything would be clear and simple (тогда все было бы ясно и просто) …"

He sighed and shook his head (он вздохнул и покачал головой) . "These crimes must not go on (этим преступлениям нельзя продолжаться) . Soon (скоро) , soon, I must see the truth (я должен понять правду) … Go, Hastings (идите, Гастингс) . Get some sleep (поспите немного: «получите немного сна») . There will be much to do tomorrow (завтра будет много дел: «там будет много чего сделать завтра») ."

frightening ['fraIt@nIN], shrewd [Sru:d], discrepancy [dIs'krep(@)nsI]

"No, Hastings. It is not worse. It is only more difficult."

"No, no, I do not agree with you. It's infinitely more frightening."

Hercule Poirot said thoughtfully: "It should be easier to discover because it is mad. A crime committed by someone shrewd and sane would be far more complicated. Here, if one could but hit on the idea … This alphabetical business, it has discrepancies. If I could once see the idea — then everything would be clear and simple …"