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 [feId], lapse [l&ps], afterwards ['A:ft@w@dz]
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 [pr@'m@US(@)n], slump [slVmp], commission [k@'mIS(@)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)."
instruction [In'strVkS(@)n], wholesale ['h@UlseIl], typewriter ['taIpraIt@]
Mr. Cust got excited again. "That's because they're in the conspiracy — they must be in the conspiracy.''
He went on: "I've got written evidence, written evidence. I've got their letters to me, giving me instructions as to what places to go and a list of people to call on."
"Not written evidence exactly — typewritten evidence."
"It's the same thing. Naturally a big firm of wholesale manufacturers typewrite their letters."
"Don't you know, Mr. Cust, that a typewriter can be identified? All those letters were typed by one particular machine."
"What of it (что из этого)?"
"And that machine was your own (и что эта машина была вашей собственной) — the one found in your room (той, найденной у вас в комнате)."
"It was sent me by the firm at the beginning of my job (она была послана мне компанией в начале моей работы)."
"Yes, but these letters were received afterwards (но эти письма были получены после). So it looks (так это выглядит), does it not (не так ли), as though you typed them yourself (как будто вы напечатали их сами) and posted them to yourself (и отправили их по почте самому себе)?"
"No, no! It's all part of the plot against me (это все часть заговора против меня)!"
He added suddenly (он неожиданно добавил): "Besides (кроме того), their letters would be written on the same kind of machine (их письма были бы написаны на машинке того же самого типа)."
beginning [bI'gInIN], besides [bI'saIdz], machine [m@'Si:n]
"What of it?"
"And that machine was your own — the one found in your room."
"It was sent me by the firm at the beginning of my job."
"Yes, but these letters were received afterwards. So it looks, does it not, as though you typed them yourself and posted them to yourself?"
"No, no! It's all part of the plot against me!"
He added suddenly: "Besides, their letters would be written on the same kind of machine."
"The same kind (того же типа), but not the same actual machine (но не на той же реально существующей машинке; actual — актуальный; действительный)."
Mr. Cust repeated obstinately (мистер Каст упрямо повторил): "It's a plot (это заговор; plot — заговор)!"
"And the A.B.C.'s that were found in the cupboard (и /железнодорожные справочники/ «Эй-би-си», которые были найдены в шкафу)?"
"I know nothing about them (я /не/ знаю ничего о них). I thought (я думал) they were all stockings (это все были чулки)."
"Why did you tick off the name of Mrs. Ascher in that first list of people in Andover (почему вы отметили галочкой имя миссис Эшер в первом списке людей в Эндовере)?"
"Because I decided to start with her (потому что я решил начать с нее). One must begin somewhere (нужно с чего-то начинать; somewhere — где-либо)."
"Yes that is true (да, это правда). One must begin somewhere (нужно с чего-то начинать)."
actual ['&ktSU@l], obstinately ['ObstIn@tlI], tick [tIk]
"The same kind, but not the same actual machine."
Mr. Cust repeated obstinately: "It's a plot!"
"And the A.B.C.'s that were found in the cupboard?"
"I know nothing about them. I thought they were all stockings."
"Why did you tick off the name of Mrs. Ascher in that first list of people in Andover?"
"Because I decided to start with her. One must begin somewhere."
"Yes, that is true. One must begin somewhere."
"I don't mean that!" said Mr. Cust (я не это имею в виду). "I don't mean what you mean (я не имею в виду то, что имеете в виду вы)!"
"But you know what I meant (а вы знаете, что я имел в виду)?"
Mr. Cust said nothing (мистер Каст ничего не сказал). He was trembling (он дрожал). "I didn't do it!" he said (я не делал этого). "I'm perfectly innocent (я совершенно невиновен)! It's all a mistake (это все ошибка). Why, look at that second crime (да посмотрите же на второе преступление; why — почему; /междометие/ выражает самые разнообразные эмоции в зависимости от контекста: удивление, согласие или несогласие, нетерпение и т. п.) — that Bexhill one (то, бексхиллское). I was playing dominoes at Eastbourne (я играл в домино в Истборне). You've got to admit that (вам придется признать это)!"
His voice was triumphant (его голос был торжествующим).
trembling ['tremblIN], innocent ['In(@)s@nt], triumphant [traI'Vmf@nt]
"I don't mean that!" said Mr. Cust. "I don't mean what you mean!"