Donald Fraser

XII.

I felt sorry at once for the young man (я сразу почувствовал жалость к молодому человеку). His white haggard face (его белое измученное лицо) and bewildered eyes showed (и ошеломленные глаза показывали) how great a shock he had had (какое большое потрясение он пережил).

He was a well-made (он был хорошо сложенным), fine-looking young fellow (утонченным молодым человеком), standing close on six foot[21] (достигающим примерно шести футов /ростом/: «стоявшим ближе к шести футам»), not good-looking (не привлекательным), but with a pleasant (но с приятным), freckled face (веснушчатым лицом; freckle — веснушка), high cheekbones (высокими скулами) and flaming red hair (и пылающими = огненными рыжими волосами).

"What's this, Megan?" he said (что такое, Меган?). "Why in here (почему сюда)? For God's sake (ради Бога), tell me (скажи мне) — I've only just heard (я только что услышал) — Betty."

His voice trailed away (его голос затих; to trail — протаптывать (тропинку), прокладывать путь; волочить/ся/, тащить/ся/).

Poirot pushed forward a chair (Пуаро выдвинул стул) and he sank down on it (и он опустился на него).

freckle [frekl], sake [seIk], trail [treIl]

I felt sorry at once for the young man. His white haggard face and bewildered eyes showed how great a shock he had had.

He was a well-made, fine-looking young fellow, standing close on six foot, not good-looking, but with a pleasant, freckled face, high cheekbones and flaming red hair.

"What's this, Megan?" he said. "Why in here? For God's sake, tell me — I've only just heard — Betty."

His voice trailed away.

Poirot pushed forward a chair and he sank down on it.

My friend then extracted a small flask from his pocket (мой друг тогда вынул маленькую фляжку из кармана), poured some of its contents into a convenient cup (налил некоторое количество ее содержимого в подходящий стакан; convenient — удобный, подходящий, пригодный; cup — чашка; бокал, кубок) which was hanging on the dresser (стоявший на буфете; to hang — висеть; болтаться; стоять на выставке; dresser — буфет; комод с зеркалом) and said: "Drink some of this, Mr. Fraser (выпейте немного этого, мистер Фрейзер). It will do you good (это пойдет вам на пользу)."

The young man obeyed (молодой человек повиновался). The brandy brought a little colour back into his face (бренди вернул немного румянца: «цвета» на его лицо). He sat up straighter (он сел прямее) and turned once more to the girl (и еще раз повернулся к девушке). His manner was quite quiet and self-controlled (он вел себя достаточно тихо и владел собой: «его поведение было достаточно тихо и /было/ под его контролем»).

"It's true, I suppose (это правда, я полагаю)?" he said. "Betty is — dead (мертва) — killed (убита)?"

"It's true, Don."

He said as though mechanically (он сказал как будто машинально): "Have you just come down from London (ты только что приехала из Лондона)?"

"Yes. Dad phoned me (папа позвонил мне)."

"By the 9:20, I suppose?" said Donald Fraser (/поездом/ на девять двадцать, я полагаю).

convenient [kqn`vJnIqnt], obey [q`beI], colour [`kAlq]

My friend then extracted a small flask from his pocket, poured some of its contents into a convenient cup which was hanging on the dresser and said: "Drink some of this, Mr. Fraser. It will do you good."

The young man obeyed. The brandy brought a little colour back into his face. He sat up straighter and turned once more to the girl. His manner was quite quiet and self-controlled.

"It's true, I suppose?" he said. "Betty is — dead — killed?"

"It's true, Don."

He said as though mechanically: "Have you just come down from London?"

"Yes. Dad phoned me."

"By the 9:20, I suppose?" said Donald Fraser.

His mind (его ум), shrinking from reality (избегая реальности; to shrink — избегать, уклоняться), ran for safety along these unimportant details (бежал в безопасность по этим незначительным деталям: «вдоль этих…»).

"Yes."

There was silence for a minute or two (минуту или две была тишина), then Fraser said (затем Фрейзер сказал): "The police (полиция)? Are they doing anything (они делают что-нибудь)?"

"They're upstairs now (они сейчас наверху). Looking through Betty's things (осматривают вещи Бетти), I suppose (я полагаю)."

"They've no idea who (у них нет идеи, кто) —? They don't know (они не знают) —?" He stopped (он остановился).

He had all a sensitive, shy person's (у него была, как у всех чувствительных, застенчивых людей) dislike of putting violent facts into words (нелюбовь облекать жестокие факты в слова).

Poirot moved forward a little (Пуаро немного продвинулся вперед) and asked a question (и задал вопрос). He spoke in a businesslike (он говорил деловым), matter-of-fact voice (сухим голосом; matter-of-fact — основанный на фактах, сухой, прозаичный; лишенный фантазии) as though what he asked was an unimportant detail (как-будто /то/, что он спрашивал, было незначительной деталью; important — важный).

safety [`seIftI], sensitive [`sensItIv], shy [SaI]

His mind, shrinking from reality, ran for safety along these unimportant details.

"Yes."

There was silence for a minute or two, then Fraser said: "The police? Are they doing anything?"

"They're upstairs now. Looking through Betty's things, I suppose."

"They've no idea who —? They don't know —?" He stopped.

He had all a sensitive, shy person's dislike of putting violent facts into words.

Poirot moved forward a little and asked a question. He spoke in a businesslike, matter-of-fact voice as though what he asked was an unimportant detail.

"Did Miss Barnard tell you (мисс Барнард сказала вам) where she was going last night (куда она собиралась прошлой ночью)?"

Fraser replied to the question (Фрейзер ответил на вопрос). He seemed to be speaking mechanically (казалось, он говорил машинально). "She told me (она сказала мне) she was going with a girl friend to St. Leonards (что она собирается с подружкой в Сент-Леонардс)."

"Did you believe her (вы ей поверили)?"

"I —" Suddenly the automaton came to life (неожиданно автомат вернулся к жизни). "What the devil do you mean (какого дьявола = что, черт побери, вы имеете в виду)?"

His face then (его лицо тогда), menacing (зловещее), convulsed by sudden passion (искаженное от внезапной ярости), made me understand (заставило меня понять) that a girl might well be afraid of rousing his anger (что девушка, вероятно, могла бояться пробудить его гнев; to rouse — будить; возбуждать; выводить из себя).

Poirot said crisply (Пуаро твердо сказал; crisply — решительно, твердо): "Betty Barnard was killed by a homicidal murderer (Бетти Барнард была убита маньяком-убийцей). Only by speaking the exact truth can you help us to get on his track (только говоря полную правду, вы нам можете помочь напасть на его след)."

automaton [L`tOmqtqn], rouse [raVz], anger [`xNgq]

"Did Miss Barnard tell you where she was going last night?"

Fraser replied to the question. He seemed to be speaking mechanically. "She told me she was going with a girl friend to St. Leonards."

"Did you believe her?"

"I —" Suddenly the automaton came to life. "What the devil do you mean?"

His face then, menacing, convulsed by sudden passion, made me understand that a girl might well be afraid of rousing his anger.

Poirot said crisply: "Betty Barnard was killed by a homicidal murderer. Only by speaking the exact truth can you help us to get on his track."

His glance for a minute turned to Megan (его взгляд на минуту вернулся к Меган).

''That's right, Don," she said (это верно, Дон). "It isn't a time for considering one's own feelings or anyone else's (не время считаться со своими чувствами или чьими-то еще). You've got to come clean (ты должен выйти чистым)."

Donald Fraser looked suspiciously at Poirot (Дон Фрейзер подозрительно посмотрел на Пуаро).

"Who are you (кто вы)? You don't belong to the police (вы не из полиции: «вы не принадлежите полиции»)?"

"I am better than the police," said Poirot (я лучше, чем полиция). He said it without conscious arrogance (он сказал это без сознательного высокомерия). It was (это было), to him (/для/ него), a simple statement of fact (простая констатация факта).

''Tell him," said Megan (расскажи ему).

else's [`elsIz], arrogance [`xrqgqns], conscious [`kOnSqs]

His glance for a minute turned to Megan.

''That's right, Don," she said. "It isn't a time for considering one's own feelings or anyone else's. You've got to come clean."

Donald Fraser looked suspiciously at Poirot.

"Who are you? You don't belong to the police?"

"I am better than the police," said Poirot. He said it without conscious arrogance. It was, to him, a simple statement of fact.

''Tell him," said Megan.

Donald Fraser capitulated (Дональд Фрейзер сдался). "I — wasn't sure (я — не был уверен)," he said. "I believed her when she said it (я поверил ей, когда она сказала это). Never thought of doing anything else (никогда не думал ни о чем другом). Afterwards (позже) — perhaps it was something in her manner (возможно, было что-то в поведении). I — I, well, I began to wonder (я начал сомневаться; to wonder — удивляться; интересоваться; сомневаться)."

"Yes?" said Poirot.

He had sat down opposite Donald Fraser (он сел напротив Дональда Фрейзера). His eyes, fixed on the other man's (его глаза, уставившиеся в глаза другого человека: «застывшие на /глазах/ другого человека»), seemed to be exercising a mesmeric spell (казалось, испускали гипнотические чары; to exercise — практиковать; применять; упражнять).

"I was ashamed of myself for being so suspicious (мне было стыдно за себя, /что я/ подозревал). But — but I was suspicious (но я подозревал: «но я был подозревающим») … I thought of going down to the front (я думал пойти вниз к набережной) and watching her (и проследить за ней) when she left the café (когда она выйдет из кафе). I actually went there (я действительно пошел туда). Then I felt (затем я почувствовал) I couldn't do that (что я не могу сделать этого). Betty would see me (Бетти бы увидела меня) and she'd be angry (и она бы разозлилась). She'd realize at once that I was watching her (она бы сразу поняла, что я следил за ней)."

capitulate [kq`pItjuleIt], mesmeric [mez`merIk], ashamed [q`SeImd]

Donald Fraser capitulated. "I — wasn't sure," he said. "I believed her when she said it. Never thought of doing anything else. Afterwards — perhaps it was something in her manner. I — I, well, I began to wonder."

"Yes?" said Poirot.

He had sat down opposite Donald Fraser. His eyes, fixed on the other man's, seemed to be exercising a mesmeric spell.

"I was ashamed of myself for being so suspicious. But — but I was suspicious … I thought of going down to the front and watching her when she left the café. I actually went there. Then I felt I couldn't do that. Betty would see me and she'd be angry. She'd realize at once that I was watching her."

"What did you do (что вы сделали)?"

"I went over to St. Leonards (я поехал в Сент-Леонардc). Got over there by eight o'clock (добрался туда к восьми часам). Then I watched the buses (затем я следил за автобусами) — to see if she were in them (чтобы увидеть, была ли она в них). But there was no sign of her (но ее не было: «но там /не/ было никакого ее признака»).

"And then (а затем)?"

"I — I lost my head rather (я почти потерял голову; to lose — терять). I was convinced (я был убежден) she was with some man (что она с каким-то мужчиной). I thought it probable he had taken her in his car to Hastings (я посчитал вероятным, что он отвез ее на машине в Гастингс). I went on there (я поехал туда) — looked in hotels and restaurants (искал: «смотрел» в отелях и ресторанах), hung round cinemas (слонялся возле кинотеатров) — went on the pier (пошел на пирс). All damn foolishness (все дурацкая глупость). Even if she was there (даже если бы она была там) I was unlikely to find her (я бы наверняка не нашел ее), and anyway (и в любом случае), there were heaps of other places (было множество других мест) he might have taken her to instead of Hastings (/куда/ он мог ее повезти вместо Гастингса)."

convince [kOn`vIns], restaurant [`rest(q)rLN], pier [pIq]

"What did you do?"

"I went over to St. Leonards. Got over there by eight o'clock. Then I watched the buses — to see if she were in them But there was no sign of her..."

"And then?"

"I — I lost my head rather. I was convinced she was with some man. I thought it probable he had taken her in his car to Hastings. I went on there — looked in hotels and restaurants, hung round cinemas — went on the pier. All damn foolishness. Even if she was there I was unlikely to find her, and anyway, there were heaps of other places he might have taken her to instead of Hastings."

He stopped (он замолчал: «он остановился»). Precise as his tone had remained (какой бы точной ни оставалась его манера говорить: «точным, каким оставался его тон»), I caught an undertone of that blind (я уловил оттенок того слепого; to catch — ловить), bewildering misery (смущающего страдания) and anger (и гнева) that had possessed him at the time he described (которые владели им в то время, /которое/ он описывал).

"In the end I gave it up (в конце концов, я это бросил; to give up — бросать, прекращать) — came back (вернулся)."

"At what time (в какое время)?"

"I don't know (я не знаю). I walked (я гулял). It must have been midnight or after (должно быть, была полночь или позднее) when I got home (когда я добрался домой)."

"Then (тогда) —"

The kitchen door opened (кухонная дверь открылась).

"Oh, there you are," said Inspector Kelsey (а, вот вы где).

misery [`mIsqrI], possess [pq`zes], undertone [`AndqtqVn]

He stopped. Precise as his tone had remained, I caught an undertone of that blind, bewildering misery and anger that had possessed him at the time he described.

"In the end I gave it up — came back."

"At what time?"

"I don't know. I walked. It must have been midnight or after when I got home."

"Then — "

The kitchen door opened.

"Oh, there you are," said Inspector Kelsey.

Inspector Crome pushed past him (инспектор Кроум протиснулся мимо него), shot a glance at Poirot (кинул взгляд на Пуаро) and a glance at the two strangers (и взгляд на двух незнакомцев).

"Miss Megan Barnard and Mr. Donald Fraser," said Poirot (мисс Меган Барнард и мистер Дональда Фрейзер), introducing them (представляя их). "This is Inspector Crome from London," he explained (это инспектор Кроум из Лондона, — объяснил он).

Turning to the inspector (повернувшись к инспектору), he said: "While you pursued your investigations upstairs (пока вы проводили ваше расследование наверху; to pursue — преследовать; рассматривать; выполнять) I have been conversing with Miss Barnard and Mr. Fraser (я беседовал с мисс Барнард и мистером Фрейзером), endeavouring (стараясь /выяснить/; to endeavour — пытаться, прилагать усилия) if I could to find something (смогу ли я найти что-либо) that will throw light upon the matter (что прольет свет на это дело)."

pursue [pq`sjH], investigation [In"vestI`geIS(q)n], endeavour [In`devq]

Inspector Crome pushed past him, shot a glance at Poirot and a glance at the two strangers.

"Miss Megan Barnard and Mr. Donald Fraser," said Poirot, introducing them. "This is Inspector Crome from London," he explained.

Turning to the inspector, he said: "While you pursued your investigations upstairs I have been conversing with Miss Barnard and Mr. Fraser, endeavouring if I could to find something that will throw light upon the matter."

"Oh, yes?" said Inspector Crome, his thoughts not upon Poirot (его мысли были не о Пуаро) but upon the two newcomers (а о двух новоприбывших).

Poirot retreated to the hall (Пуаро вышел в холл). Inspector Kelsey said kindly (инспектор Келси добродушно сказал) as he passed (когда он проходил мимо): "Get anything (нашли что-нибудь)?"

But his attention was distracted by his colleague (но его внимание было отвлечено его коллегой) and he did not wait for a reply (и он не дождался ответа).

I joined Poirot in the hall (я присоединился к Пуаро в холле).

"Did anything strike you, Poirot?" I inquired (вас что-нибудь поразило, Пуаро? — осведомился я).

"Only the amazing magnanimity of the murderer, Hastings (только поразительное великодушие убийцы, Гастингс)."

I had not the courage to say (у меня не было смелости сказать) that I had not the least idea (что у меня /не/ было ни малейшего представления /о том/), what he meant (что он имел в виду).

distract [dIs`trxkt], reply [rI`plaI], magnanimity ["mxgnq`nImItI]

"Oh, yes?" said Inspector Crome, his thoughts not upon Poirot but upon the two newcomers.

Poirot retreated to the hall. Inspector Kelsey said kindly as he passed: "Get anything?"

But his attention was distracted by his colleague and he did not wait for a reply.

I joined Poirot in the hall.

"Did anything strike you, Poirot?" I inquired.

"Only the amazing magnanimity of the murderer, Hastings."

I had not the courage to say that I had not the least idea what he meant.

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