Agatha Christie - Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту
swan [swɔn], stuffy [ˈstʌfɪ], garage [ˈɡærɑ:ʒ]
He trotted along the street smiling to himself until he came to the Black Swan where he was staying. He climbed the stairs to his bedroom, a stuffy little room on the second floor, giving over a paved inner court and garage.
As he entered the room, his smile faded suddenly. There was a stain on his sleeve near the cuff. He touched it tentatively — wet and red — blood …
His hand dipped into his pocket (его рука опустилась в карман; to dip — макать; опускаться) and brought out something (и вынула что-то) — a long (длинный), slender knife (узкий нож; slender — стройный; тонкий, узкий (о предметах)). The blade of that, too, was sticky and red (лезвие его тоже было липким и красным) …
Mr. Cust sat there a long time (мистер Каст сидел там долгое время).
Once his eyes shot round the room (один раз его глаза оглядели комнату; to shoot) like those of a hunted animal (как /глаза/ затравленного зверя; to hunt — охотиться; травить /зверя/). His tongue passed feverishly over his lips (его язык лихорадочно провел по губам; fever — лихорадка) …
"It isn't my fault," said Mr. Cust (это не моя вина).
He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody (он звучал /так/, как будто спорил с кем-то) — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster (школьник, умоляющий своего учителя; to plead — просить, умолять).
He passed his tongue over his lips again (он снова провел языком по губам) …
knife [naɪf], fault [fɔ:lt], plead [pli:d]
His hand dipped into his pocket and brought out something — a long, slender knife. The blade of that, too, was sticky and red …
Mr. Cust sat there a long time.
Once his eyes shot round the room like those of a hunted animal. His tongue passed feverishly over his lips …
"It isn't my fault," said Mr. Cust.
He sounded as though he were arguing with somebody — a schoolboy pleading to his schoolmaster.
He passed his tongue over his lips again …
Again (снова), tentatively (осторожно; tentatively — неуверенно, осторожно, с сомнением), he felt his coat sleeve (он пощупал рукав пальто).
His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin (его взгляд пересек комнату, /остановившись/ на рукомойнике: «его глаза пересекли комнату до рукомойника»; washbasin — /умывальный/ таз, раковина).
A minute later (минуту спустя) he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin (он наливал воду в таз из старомодного кувшина). Removing his coat (сняв пальто), he rinsed the sleeve (он прополоскал рукав), carefully squeezing it out (тщательно выжимая его; to squeeze — сжимать).
Ugh (ух)! The water was red now (вода теперь была красная).
A tap on the door (/раздался/ стук в дверь).
He stood there frozen into immobility (он замер: «он стоял там, замерший до неподвижности»; mobile — подвижной, мобильный) — staring (уставившись /на дверь/).
washbasin [ˈwɔʃbeɪsɪn], jug [ʤʌɡ], squeeze [skwi:z]
Again, tentatively, he felt his coat sleeve.
His eyes crossed the room to the washbasin.
A minute later he was pouring out water from the old-fashioned jug into the basin. Removing his coat, he rinsed the sleeve, carefully squeezing it out …
Ugh! The water was red now …
A tap on the door.
He stood there frozen into immobility — staring.
The door opened (дверь открылась). A plump young woman (пухленькая молодая женщина /вошла/) — jug in hand (/с/ кувшином в руке).
"Oh, excuse me, sir (о, извините меня, сэр). Your hot water, sir (ваша горячая вода, сэр)."
He managed to speak then (тогда ему удалось заговорить).
"Thank you (благодарю вас). I've washed in cold (я /уже/ умылся в холодной)."
Why had he said that (зачем он сказал это)? Immediately her eyes went to the basin (немедленно ее взгляд перешел к тазу).
He said frenziedly (он взбешенно сказал; frenzy — безумие, бешенство; неистовство): "I (я) — I've cut my hand (я порезал руку) …"
There was a pause (была пауза) — yes, surely a very long pause (да, несомненно очень долгая пауза) — before she said (прежде чем она сказала): "Yes, sir (да, сэр)."
plump [plʌmp], immediately [ɪˈmi:djǝtlɪ], frenziedly [ˈfrenzɪdlɪ]
The door opened. A plump young woman — jug in hand.
"Oh, excuse me, sir. Your hot water, sir."
He managed to speak then.
Thank you. I've washed in cold."
Why had he said that? Immediately her eyes went to the basin.
He said frenziedly: "I — I've cut my hand …"
There was a pause — yes, surely a very long pause — before she said: "Yes, sir."
She went out (она вышла), shutting the door (закрывая /за собой/ дверь).
Mr. Cust stood (мистер Каст стоял) as though turned to stone (как будто превратившись в камень).
It had come (оно настало) — at last (наконец) …
He listened (он прислушался).
Were there voices (были /ли/ там голоса) — exclamations (восклицания) — feet mounting the stairs (шаги, поднимающиеся по ступенькам)?
He could hear nothing (он /не/ смог услышать ничего) but the beating of his own heart (кроме биения своего собственного сердца) …
Then (затем), suddenly (неожиданно), from frozen immobility he leaped into activity (от застывшей неподвижности он резко перешел к активности; to leap — прыгать; бросаться делать).
stood [stʋd], beating [ˈbi:tɪŋ], immobility [ˌɪmǝʋˈbɪlɪtɪ]
She went out, shutting the door.
Mr. Cust stood as though turned to stone.
It had come — at last …
He listened.
Were there voices — exclamations — feet mounting the stairs?
He could hear nothing but the beating of his own heart …
Then, suddenly, from frozen immobility he leaped into activity.
He slipped on his coat (он скользнул в пальто), tiptoed to the door (прошел на цыпочках к двери) and opened it (и открыл ее). No noise as yet (никакого шума пока) except the familiar murmur (кроме знакомого бормотания) arising from the bar (поднимающегося из бара). He crept down the stairs (он сполз вниз по ступеням; to creep — ползти; пробираться) …
Still no one (все еще никого). That was luck (это была удача). He paused at the foot of the stairs (он остановился у подножья ступенек). Which way now (каким путем сейчас)?
He made up his mind (он решился), darted quickly along a passage (припустив быстро вдоль коридора; to dart — кинуться, рвануть; dart — стрела /арбалетная/; дротик) and out by the door (и наружу через дверь) that gave into the yard (которая открывалась во двор). A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering with cars (там была пара шоферов, чинивших машины; to tinker — лудить; чинить кое-как, на скорую руку) and discussing winners and losers (и обсуждающих победителей и проигравших).
dart [dɑ:t], chauffeur [ˈʃǝʋfǝ], tinker [ˈtɪŋkǝ]
He slipped on his coat, tiptoed to the door and opened it. No noise as yet except the familiar murmur arising from the bar. He crept down the stairs …
Still no one. That was luck. He paused at the foot of the stairs. Which way now?
He made up his mind, darted quickly along a passage and out by the door that gave into the yard. A couple of chauffeurs were there tinkering with cars and discussing winners and losers.
Mr. Cust hurried across the yard and out into the street (мистер Каст заторопился через двор и наружу на улицу).
Round the first corner to the right (за первый поворот направо; round — вокруг, кругом, за) — then to the left (затем налево) — right again (снова направо) …
