Her small toad-like face looked even yellower than the day before. She was certainly ugly, and yet, like the toad, she had eyes like jewels, dark and imperious, revealing latent energy and an intellectual force that could be felt at once.

Her voice was deep (голос у нее был низкий; deep — глубокий), very distinct (очень четкий; distinct — отчетливый, ясный), with a slight grating quality in it (с легкой хрипотцой: «хриплым качеством»; grating — скрипучий, резкий; quality — качество, сорт; свойство; тембр).

She cut short (она оборвала; to cut — резать; пресекать; short — коротко; резко, круто; преждевременно, до срока) a flowery phrase of apology from M. Bouc (пышную: «цветистую/витиеватую» фразу с извинениями мсье Бука).

“You need not offer apologies, Messieurs (не нужно приносить извинения, господа; to offer — предлагать; выражать, предлагать; apology — извинение). I understand (насколько я знаю) a murder has taken place (произошло убийство; to take place — случаться, происходить). Naturally you must interview all the passengers (естественно, что вы должны опросить всех пассажиров). I shall be glad to give you all the assistance (я буду рада оказать вам любое содействие/помощь) in my power (что в моих силах).”

“You are most amiable, Madame (вы очень любезны, мадам),” said Poirot.

“Not at all (вовсе нет). It is a duty (это /мой/ долг). What do you wish to know (что вы хотите знать)?”

distinct [ds't(k)t] quality ['kwlt] phrase [frez] apology ['pld]

Her voice was deep, very distinct, with a slight grating quality in it.

She cut short a flowery phrase of apology from M. Bouc.

“You need not offer apologies, Messieurs. I understand a murder has taken place. Naturally you must interview all the passengers. I shall be glad to give you all the assistance in my power.”

“You are most amiable, Madame,” said Poirot.

“Not at all. It is a duty. What do you wish to know?”

“Your full Christian names (ваше полное имя; Christian name — имя, данное при крещении) and address, Madame (и адрес, мадам). Perhaps you would prefer (возможно, вы захотите; to prefer — предпочитать, отдавать предпочтение) to write them yourself (записать их сами)?”

Poirot proffered a sheet of paper and pencil (Пуаро предложил /ей/ лист бумаги и карандаш), but the Princess waved them aside (но княгиня отмахнулась: «отклонила их в сторону»; to wave aside — отстранить /рукой/).

“You can write it (вы можете записать их /сами/),” she said. “There is nothing difficult (ничего сложного: «трудного»). Natalia Dragomiroff, 17 Avenue Kl'eber, Paris (Наталья Драгомирова, Париж, авеню Клебер, дом 17).”

“You are travelling home from Constantinople, Madame (вы едете домой из Константинополя, мадам)?”

“Yes. I have been staying at the Austrian Embassy (я гостила в австрийском посольстве; to stay — оставаться, не уходить; останавливаться, гостить). My maid is with me (со мной /едет/ моя служанка/горничная).”

Christian ['krstn, 'krstn] prefer [pr'f:] Austrian ['strn] embassy ['embs]

“Your full Christian names and address, Madame. Perhaps you would prefer to write them yourself?”

Poirot proffered a sheet of paper and pencil, but the Princess waved them aside.

“You can write it,” she said. “There is nothing difficult. Natalia Dragomiroff, 17 Avenue Kl'eber, Paris.”

“You are travelling home from Constantinople, Madame?”

“Yes. I have been staying at the Austrian Embassy. My maid is with me.”