Agatha Christie - Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту
He shook his head (он покачал головой). "Just as well poor mother died (как раз тогда моя бедная мать умерла). She'd have been disappointed (она была разочарована) … Even when I was at the Commercial College (даже когда я был в колледже коммерции) I was stupid (я был туп) — it took me longer to learn typing and shorthand (у меня занимало дольше, чтобы научиться печатать и стенографировать; shorthand — стенография) than anyone else (чем у кого-либо еще). And yet I didn't feel stupid (и все же я не чувствовал себя тупым) — if you know what I mean (если вы знаете, что я имею в виду)."
timid [ˈtɪmɪd], tease [ti:z], shorthand [ˈʃɔ:thænd]
He was silent for a minute.
"She was quite wrong, of course. I realized that myself quite soon. I wasn't the sort of person to get on in life. I was always doing foolish things — making myself look ridiculous. And I was timid — afraid of people. I had a bad time at school — the boys found out my Christian names — they used to tease me about them. I did very badly at school — in games and work and everything."
He shook his head. "Just as well poor mother died. She'd have been disappointed … Even when I was at the Commercial College I was stupid — it took me longer to learn typing and shorthand than anyone else. And yet I didn't feel stupid — if you know what I mean."
He cast a sudden appealing look at the other man (он бросил неожиданный умоляющий взгляд на другого человека).
"I know what you mean," said Poirot (я знаю, что вы имеете в виду). "Go on (продолжайте)."
"It was just the feeling (это просто было чувство) that everybody else thought me stupid (что все остальные думали, что я тупой). Very paralysing (это очень обескураживающе; to paralyze — парализовывать; лишать сил). It was the same thing later in the office (все то же было и позднее, на работе/в офисе)."
"And later still in the war?" prompted Poirot (а еще позднее, на войне? — подсказал Пуаро).
Mr. Cust's face lightened up suddenly (неожиданно лицо мистера Каста просветлело). "You know," he said (вы знаете), "I enjoyed the war (я наслаждался войной). What I had of it, that was (это на самом деле так было: «что я имел из этого, это было»). I felt (я чувствовал /себя/), for the first time (в первый раз), a man like anybody else (человеком, подобным всем другим). We were all in the same box (мы были все в одинаково трудном положении; to be in a /tight/ box — быть в трудном положении: «в /тесном/ ящике»). I was as good as anyone else (я был таким же, как все: «я был так же хорош, как любой другой»)."
appealing [ǝˈpi:lɪŋ], paralysing [ˈpærǝlaɪzɪŋ], prompt [prɔmpt]
He cast a sudden appealing look at the other man.
"I know what you mean," said Poirot. "Go on."
"It was just the feeling that everybody else thought me stupid. Very paralysing. It was the same thing later in the office."
"And later still in the war?" prompted Poirot.
Mr. Cust's face lightened up suddenly. "You know," he said, "I enjoyed the war. What I had of it, that was. I felt, for the first time, a man like anybody else. We were all in the same box. I was as good as anyone else."
His smile faded (его улыбка померкла; to fade — вянуть, увядать).
"And then I got that wound on the head (а затем я получил то ранение в голову). Very slight (очень легкое). But they found out I had fits (но они обнаружили/выявили, что у меня были припадки) … I'd always known, of course (я всегда знал, конечно), that there were times (что были времена) when I hadn't been quite sure (когда я не был совсем уверен) what I was doing (что я делал). Lapses (провалы /памяти/), you know (вы знаете). And of course (и, конечно), once or twice I'd fallen down (раз или два я упал). But I don't really think (но я действительно не думаю) they ought to have discharged me for that (что им следовало увольнять меня из-за этого). No, I don't think it was right (я не думаю, что это было правильно)."
"And afterwards?" asked Poirot (а затем?).
fade [feɪd], lapse [læps], afterwards [ˈɑ:ftǝwǝdz]
His smile faded.
"And then I got that wound on the head. Very slight. But they found out I had fits … I'd always known, of course, that there were times when I hadn't been quite sure what I was doing. Lapses, you know. And of course, once or twice I'd fallen down. But I don't really think they ought to have discharged me for that. No, I don't think it was right."
"And afterwards?" asked Poirot.
"I got a place as a clerk (я получил место клерка). Of course (конечно) there was good money to be got just then (тут были хорошие деньги, /которые можно/ было получить как раз тогда). And I didn't do so badly after the war (и я не так плохо справлялся после войны). Of course (конечно), a smaller salary (меньшая зарплата) … … And — I didn't seem to get on (я как-то не преуспевал: «я не казался продвигаться»). I was always being passed over for promotion (меня всегда обходили с повышением). I wasn't going ahead enough (я не достаточно рвался вперед). It grew very difficult (становилось очень трудно; to grow) — really very difficult (действительно очень трудно) … Especially when the slump came (особенно когда начался кризис; slump — резкое или внезапное падение; кризис). To tell you the truth (по правде вам говоря), I'd got hardly enough to keep body and soul together (я получал едва ли достаточно, чтобы сводить концы с концами: «держать тело и душу вместе») (and you've got to look presentable as a clerk (а, будучи клерком, надо выглядеть представительно)) when I got the offer of this stocking job (когда я получил предложение об этой чулочной работе). A salary and commission (жалование и комиссионные)!"
Poirot said gently (Пуаро мягко сказал): "But you are aware (но вы понимаете), are you not (что вы не /работаете там/), that the firm (что фирма) who (которая) you say (/как/ вы говорите) employed you (наняла вас) deny the fact (отрицает этот факт)?"
promotion [prǝˈmǝʋʃ(ǝ)n], slump [slʌmp], commission [kǝˈmɪʃ(ǝ)n]
"I got a place as a clerk. Of course there was good money to be got just then. And I didn't do so badly after the war. Of course, a smaller salary … And — I didn't seem to get on. I was always being passed over for promotion. I wasn't going ahead enough. It grew very difficult — really very difficult … Especially when the slump came. To tell you the truth, I'd got hardly enough to keep body and soul together (and you've got to look presentable as a clerk) when I got the offer of this stocking job. A salary and commission!"
Poirot said gently: "But you are aware, are you not, that the firm who you say employed you deny the fact?"
Mr. Cust got excited again (мистер Каст опять разволновался). "That's because they're in the conspiracy (это потому что они в заговоре) — they must be in the conspiracy (они, должно быть, в заговоре).''
He went on (он продолжил): "I've got written evidence (у меня есть письменные доказательства), written evidence (письменные доказательства). I've got their letters to me (у меня есть их письма ко мне), giving me instructions (дающие мне инструкции) as to what places to go (как то, в какие места ехать) and a list of people to call on (и список людей, /которых надо/ посетить)."
"Not written evidence exactly (не письменные доказательства /более/ точно) — typewritten evidence (а напечатанные доказательства)."
"It's the same thing (это одно и тоже). Naturally a big firm of wholesale manufacturers typewrite their letters (естественно, что крупная фирма оптовых производителей печатает свои письма)."
"Don't you know, Mr. Cust (вы не знаете, мистер Каст), that a typewriter can be identified (что печатная машинка может быть определена; to identify — устанавливать тождество; опознавать)? All those letters were typed by one particular machine (все те письма были напечатаны на одной определенной машине)."
