“Quite correct, Monsieur (совершенно верно, мсье).”

instance ['nstns] commotion [k'mn] hysterics [h'sterks] particular [p'tkjl]

“You did not hear, for instance, a commotion going on in the compartment next to yours? The American lady who occupies it had quite an attack of hysterics and rang for the conductor.”

“I heard nothing, Monsieur. You see, I had taken a sleeping draught.”

“Ah! I comprehend. Well, I need not detain you further.” Then, as she rose swiftly — “Just one little minute. These particulars — your maiden name, age and so on — they are correct?”

“Quite correct, Monsieur.”

“Perhaps you will sign (/тогда/, будьте добры, поставьте подпись; to sign — подписывать) this memorandum to that effect, then (на этом /памятном/ листке, что вы согласны; effect — результат, следствие).”

She signed quickly (она быстро подписала), in a graceful slanting hand-writing (изящным наклонным почерком) — Elena Andrenyi.

“Did you accompany your husband to America, Madame (вы сопровождали вашего мужа в Америку, мадам)?”

“No, Monsieur.” She smiled, flushed a little (она улыбнулась, слегка вспыхнув/покраснев). “We were not married then (тогда мы не были женаты); we have been married only a year (мы женаты всего год).”

“Ah, yes, thank you, Madame. By the way, does your husband smoke (между прочим, ваш муж курит)?”

She stared at him (она посмотрела на него с изумлением; to stare — пристально смотреть; смотреть в изумлении) as she stood (так как она встала) poised for departure (собираясь: «готовая» уйти; departure — отъезд, уход).

“Yes.”

“A pipe (трубку)?”

“No. Cigarettes and cigars (сигареты и сигары).”

“Ah! Thank you.”

memorandum [mem'raen|dm] graceful ['resfl] flushed [flt] poised [pzd] departure [d'p:t]

“Perhaps you will sign this memorandum to that effect, then.”

She signed quickly, in a graceful slanting hand-writing — Elena Andrenyi.

“Did you accompany your husband to America, Madame?”

“No, Monsieur.” She smiled, flushed a little. “We were not married then; we have been married only a year.”

“Ah, yes, thank you, Madame. By the way, does your husband smoke?”

She stared at him as she stood poised for departure.

“Yes.”

“A pipe?”

“No. Cigarettes and cigars.”

“Ah! Thank you.”

She lingered (она помедлила; to linger — задерживаться; медлить, мешкать; колебаться), her eyes watching him curiously (ее глаза наблюдали за ним с любопытством). Lovely eyes they were (красивые то были глаза), dark (темные) and almond-shaped (миндалевидные; almond — миндаль, shape — форма, очертание) with very long black lashes (с очень длинными черными ресницами; lash — плеть, хлыст; lash = eyelash — ресница) that swept the exquisite pallor of her cheeks (которые касались утонченной белизны ее щек; to sweep (swept) — мести, подметать; касаться). Her lips, very scarlet (ее губы, /очень/ ярко-красные) in the foreign fashion (/накрашенные/ по иностранной моде; fashion — образ, манера; мода), were parted just a little (были слега приоткрыты; to part — разделять, делить на части; разъединяться). She looked exotic and beautiful (у нее был экзотичный/чужеземный и прекрасный вид).

linger ['ln] curiously ['kjrsl] almond-shaped [:mnd'ept] exquisite [k'skwzt, 'ekskwzt] pallor ['pael] exotic ['ztk]

She lingered, her eyes watching him curiously. Lovely eyes they were, dark and almond-shaped with very long black lashes that swept the exquisite pallor of her cheeks. Her lips, very scarlet in the foreign fashion, were parted just a little. She looked exotic and beautiful.

“Why did you ask me that (почему вы спросили меня об этом)?”