- •1 Hercules —Геракл (у римлян — геркулес), герой древнегреческих мифов
- •2 Alas, mon ami—Увы, мой друг (фр.). Эркюль Пуаро —бельгиец и поэтому часто пересыпает свою речь французскими словами и выражениями.
- •3 That have a personal appeal — которые мне лично интересны
- •4 The Labours of Hercules — подвиги Геракла. По преданию, боги предсказали Гераклу, что он получит бессмертие, если совершит 12 подвигов.
- •5 With special reference — по аналогии с
- •6 "The Nemean Lion"—«Немейский лев». По преданию, царь Эврисфей поручил Гераклу убить немейского льва, опустошавшего все окрестности. Этот лев обладал даром оставаться невидимым.
- •7 М. Poirot — месье Пуаро (фр.)
- •8 The close-lipped mouth — поджатые губы
- •9 Surely, to do with soap — несомненно, связанное с мылом
- •10 To grudge the expense — скупиться на расходы
- •11 Kensington Gardens — Кёнсингтон-Гарденз (большой парк в Лондоне)
- •12 After all — в конце концов
- •13 Damn it all! — Черт возьми! {воскл.)
- •In a large, hot, richly-furnished drawing-room two women were sitting. As Sir Joseph and Hercule Poirot entered, a small Pekinese dog rushed forward, barking furiously.
- •14 Might have died of fright if of nothing else —мог умереть от одного страха
- •15 Oh, dear me — о, боже мой! (воскл.)
- •16 I was just about to go home — я как раз собиралась идти домой
- •17 I couldn't help speaking — я не могла не заговорить
- •18 She had nothing to do with it—она не имела к этому делу никакого отношения
- •It was the habit of Hercule Poirot to leave nothing untested.
- •Is familiar to me."
- •It was three days later when the invaluable George said, "This is the address, sir."
- •19 With nothing to look forward to but a deadly fear — у которых ничего нет впереди, кроме смертельного страха
- •20 That was just an artistic touch.— зд. Это был просто художественный вымысел.
- •21 Greta can go hang! — Грета может идти ко всем чертям!
- •23 One might have seen them — их (скорее) можно было бы увидеть
- •24 This man, for all his easy manner, was not at case — этому человеку, при всей его непринужденной манере поведения, было не по себе
- •25 I wonder if... — интересно..
- •26 It occurred to me — мне пришло в голову (показалось)
- •27 Keep your eye on him — следите за ним
- •28 You, damn pig of a detective. Bah! — Чертов сыщик. Ба! (выраж. Пренебрежения)
- •29 I'm pretty good at shooting.— я отлично стреляю.
- •30 Just the thing! — Как раз то, что надо!
- •31 The laugh is with me — смеется тот, кто смеется последним
- •32 Alias—иначе называемый
- •It was three days later that a little party of men appeared in front of the hotel.
- •It was Hercule Poirot who opened the front door to them.
- •35 A masterful manner — уверенная в себе
- •36 Ill omen — дурное предзнаменование
- •37 Shot him a sharp glance —бросила на него проницательный взгляд
- •38 He took in the situation like lightning.—Он оценил ситуацию с быстротой молнии.
- •If he were found in Elsie's room it could only cause embarrassment and misunderstanding. Both for her sake and his own there must be no scandal.
- •It was not Elsie who came in but her mother. She looked suddenly years older. She was deadly pale. Harold said quickly:
- •39 That is just it! — в этом все и дело!
- •40 Saw her point — понял, что она имела в виду
- •41 In a British and superior mood—с чувством превосходства за свою принадлежность к британской нации
- •In perfect English the other replied:
- •42 Curse them! — Будь они прокляты!
- •43 Blood-sucking harpies — кровососущие гарпии (в древнегреч. Мифологии гарпия — крылатая женщина-чудовище)
- •44 A male impersonator — исполнительница мужских ролей
- •45 "The Cretan Bull"'—«Критский бык». Миф об укрощении Гераклом прекрасного быка, на которого Посейдон наслал бешенство.
- •47 An expression of radiant vitality — выражение искрящегося жизнелюбия
- •48 Was it to do with some sheep being killed?—Было ли это связано с убийством нескольких овец?
- •49 Went out to investigate.— Пошел посмотреть, в чем дело. (Здесь и далее употребляются сокращенные предложения для придания повествованию большей динамичности.)
- •51 I don't mind so much — seeing dreams—сны—еще не самое страшное
- •90 Hell was going with a swing! —в «Аду» все шло по заведенному порядку!
- •91 Hammurabi, 1800 b.C.—Хаммурапи, ассирийский царь, 1800 г. До н.Э.
- •92 A babel of sounds — разноголосый шум
- •Vera Rossakoff stared, turned and uttered two words.
- •94 'Ardly like to say before a lady.— Неудобно говорить при леди.
- •95 It was you who were intended to take the rap — именно на вас собирались возложить всю вину
FOREWORD
The flat of Hercule Poirot was furnished in a modern style. Its arm-chairs were square and gleamed with chromium.
On one of these chairs sat Hercule Poirot, neatly — in the middle of the chair. Opposite him, in another chair, sat Dr. Burton. Dr. Burton was asking a question.
"Tell me," he said. "Why Hercule?"
"You mean, my Christian name? You mean to say that in physical appearance I do not resemble a Hercules?"1
Dr. Burton glanced at Hercule Poirot, at his small neat figure in striped trousers, a black jacket and a bow tie.
"Frankly, Poirot," said Dr. Burton, "you don't! I think," he added, "that you've never had much time to study the Classics?"
"That is so."
"It's a pity. You've missed a lot. If I could I'd make everyone study the Classics. Where else can we find such richness of the spirit?"
"Alas, mon ami,2 it's too late for me now. I'm thinking of retiring."
"You won't."
"But I assure you..."
"You won't be able to do it. You're too interested in your work."
"No, indeed — I make all the arrangements. A few more cases — specially selected ones — not, you understand, everything that presents itself—just problems that have a personal appeal."3
Dr. Burton grinned.
"It always will be like this. Just a case or two, just one case more — and so on. Your Labours aren't the Labours
1 Hercules —Геракл (у римлян — геркулес), герой древнегреческих мифов
2 Alas, mon ami—Увы, мой друг (фр.). Эркюль Пуаро —бельгиец и поэтому часто пересыпает свою речь французскими словами и выражениями.
3 That have a personal appeal — которые мне лично интересны
4
of Hercules.4 Yours are labours of love. You'll see that I am right. I bet that in twelve months' time you'll still be here. The Prima Donna's farewell performance is not for you, .Poirot."
When Dr. Burton left, Hercule Poirot sat down again slowly like a man in a dream and murmured:
"The Labours of Hercules... But yes, that's an idea... What had Dr. Burton said as he left: "Yours are not the Labours of Hercules..." Ah, but there he was wrong. There should be, once again, the Labours of Hercules — a modern Hercules. In the period before his final retirement he would accept twelve cases, no more, no less. And those 12 cases should be selected with special reference5 to the 12 labours of ancient Hercules. Yes, that would not only be amusing, it would be artistic, it would be unique."
He would not be in a hurry. He would wait for the case that should be the first of his self-imposed Labours.
LABOUR I THE NEMEAN LION4
I
"Anything of interest this morning, Miss Lemon?" he asked as he entered the room the following morning.
He trusted Miss Lemon. She was a woman without imagination, but she had an instinct. She was a born secretary.
"Nothing much, M. Poirot.7 There is just one letter that I thought might interest you. It's from a man who wants you to investigate the disappearance of his wife's Pekinese dog."
Poirot was shocked. A Pekinese dog! And after the great idea he had last night. Reluctantly he picked up the letter from the pile on his desk.
Yes, it was exactly as Miss Lemon had said. The
4 The Labours of Hercules — подвиги Геракла. По преданию, боги предсказали Гераклу, что он получит бессмертие, если совершит 12 подвигов.
5 With special reference — по аналогии с
6 "The Nemean Lion"—«Немейский лев». По преданию, царь Эврисфей поручил Гераклу убить немейского льва, опустошавшего все окрестности. Этот лев обладал даром оставаться невидимым.
7 М. Poirot — месье Пуаро (фр.)
subject—the kidnapping of a Pekinese doe. One of those pets of rich women.
Nothing unusual about this. But yes, yes, in one small detail Miss Lemon was right. In one small detail there was something unusual.
"Ring up this Sir Joseph Hoggin," he ordered, "and make an appointment for me to see him at his office as he suggests."
As usual, Miss Lemon had been right.
"I'm a rich man, M. Poirot," said Sir Joseph Hoggin.
Hercule Poirot's eyes rested critically on the fat body, the small pig eyes, the bulbous nose and the close-lipped mouth.8 The whole general effect reminded him of someone or something—but he could not recollect exactly who or what it was... A long time ago... in Belgium... something, surely, to do with soap9...
Sir Joseph was continuing.
"Yes, I'm a rich man, M. Poirot, but that does not mean that I'm in the habit of throwing my money about. What I want I pay for, but I pay the market price. No more."
Hercule Poirot said: "You realize that my fees are high?"
"Yes, yes. But this is a very small matter. I made inquiries and I was told that you were the best man at this sort of thing. That's why I decided to apply to you. I want you to get to the bottom of this business and I won't grudge the expense."10
"You were fortunate," said Hercule Poirot. "Your case, Sir Joseph, is the first of the twelve cases I have decided to accept before retiring. A self-imposed 'Labours of Hercules', if I may so describe it. I was attracted to your case," he sighed, "by its striking unimportance."
"Importance?" said Sir Joseph.
"Unimportance was what I said. I have been called in for various causes — to investigate murders, unexplained deaths, robberies, thefts of jewellery. This is the first time that I have been asked to turn my talents to the kidnapping of a Pekinese dog."