- •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
Is familiar to me."
Hercule Poirot nodded thoughtfully. He said:
"It is like this, you see. I wrote a letter to my friend
here."
Mrs. Harte's face cleared.
"That explains it. I must have noticed the name on an envelope. Let me see now."
She looked up at the letter rack. Hercule Poirot said: "It is not there now."
"It must have been returned to the post office, I suppose. I'm so sorry. Nothing important, I hope?"
"No, no, it was of no importance."
As he walked towards the door, Mrs. Harte followed him.
"The price," said she, "is very moderate. Coffee after dinner is included. I would like you to see one or two of our bed-sitting rooms."
With difficulty Hercule Poirot escaped.
IV
Mrs. Samuelson was taller than Lady Hoggin and her hair was dyed with peroxide. Her Pekinese was called Nanki Poo. Miss Keble, Mrs. Samuelson's companion, too, had been blamed for Nanki Poo's disappearance.
"But really, Mr. Poirot, it was the most amazing thing. It all happened in a second. In Kensington Gardens it was. A nurse there asked me the time—"
Poirot interrupted her.
"A nurse? A hospital nurse?"
"No, no — a children's nurse. Such a pretty baby it was. Such lovely rosy cheeks..." Mrs. Samuelson said acidly:
"And while Miss Keble was bending over a pram this villain cut Nanki Poo's lead and made off with him." Miss Keble murmured tearfully:
"It all happened in a second. I looked round and the darling boy was gone —there was just the dangling lead in my hand."
The story followed the same course exactly — the letter— the threats of violence to Nanki Poo... Only two things were different — the sum of money demanded— 300 pounds — and the address to which it was to be sent: this time it was to Commander Blackleigh, Harrington Hotel, 76 Clonmel Gardens, Kensington.
Mrs. Samuelson went on:
"When Nanki Poo was safely back again I went to the place myself, Mr. Poirot. After all, three hundred pounds is three hundred pounds."
"Certainly it is."
"No such person as Commander Blackleigh has ever stayed there."
11
Poirot smiled.
"And of course, my husband was extremely annoyed about the whole thing. I have never seen him so angry. Men," said Mrs. Samuelson, turning her beautiful diamond bracelet, "think of nothing but money."
V
Hercule Poirot, sitting in front of his electric radiator, was giving instructions to his assistant. "You understand, George?" "Perfectly, sir."
"More probably a flat or maisonette. And it will definitely be near Kensington Gardens." "I understand perfectly, sir." Poirot murmured:
"A curious little case. There is evidence here of a very definite talent for organisation. And there is, of course, the surprising invisibility of the star performer — the Nemean Lion himself, if I may so call him. Yes, an interesting little case. I wish I felt more attracted to my chent— but he has an unfortunate resemblance to a soap manufacturer who poisoned his wife in order to marry a blonde secretary. One of my early cases."
George shook his head. He said gravely: "These blondes, sir, they are responsible for a lot of troubles."