“Yes, but only for about a minute. There was a blizzard on. The cold was something frightful. Made one quite thankful to get back to the fug, though as a rule I think the way these trains are overheated is something scandalous.”

M. Bouc sighed. “It is very difficult to please everybody,” he said. “The English they open everything — then others, they come along and shut everything. It is very difficult.”

Neither Poirot nor Colonel Arbuthnot paid any attention to him (ни Пуаро, ни полковник Арбэтнот не обратили на него никакого внимания).

“Now, Monsieur, cast your mind back (теперь, мсье, постарайтесь вспомнить; to cast one's mind back — вспомнить прошлое; to cast — бросать, кидать; mind — ум, разум; память),” said Poirot encouragingly (ободряюще сказал Пуаро; to encourage — ободрять, воодушевлять). “It was cold outside (снаружи было холодно). You have returned to the train (вы вернулись в поезд). You sit down again (вы снова сидите), you smoke (вы курите) — perhaps a cigarette (может быть, сигарету) — perhaps a pipe (может быть, трубку) — ”

He paused for the fraction of a second (он помолчал какую-то долю секунды; fraction — мат. дробь; часть, частица, доля).

“A pipe for me (я курил трубку: «трубка для меня»). MacQueen smoked cigarettes (Маккуин курил сигареты).”

“The train starts again (поезд снова трогается). You smoke your pipe (вы курите вашу трубку). You discuss the state of Europe (вы обсуждаете положение /дел/ в Европе) — of the world (в мире). It is late now (теперь уже поздно). Most people have retired for the night (большинство /людей/ уже удалились на покой; to retire to bed /to rest, for the night/ — пойти спать, удалиться на покой). Does anyone pass the door (проходит кто-нибудь мимо двери)? Think (подумайте).”

encouragingly [n'krdl] perhaps [p'haeps] discuss [ds'ks]

Neither Poirot nor Colonel Arbuthnot paid any attention to him.

“Now, Monsieur, cast your mind back,” said Poirot encouragingly. “It was cold outside. You have returned to the train. You sit down again, you smoke — perhaps a cigarette — perhaps a pipe — ”

He paused for the fraction of a second.

“A pipe for me. MacQueen smoked cigarettes.”

“The train starts again. You smoke your pipe. You discuss the state of Europe — of the world. It is late now. Most people have retired for the night. Does anyone pass the door? Think.”

Arbuthnot frowned in the effort of remembrance (Арбэтнот нахмурился, силясь вспомнить; effort — усилие, напряжение; remembrance — память; воспоминание).

“Difficult to say (трудно сказать),” he said. “You see I wasn’t paying any attention (видите ли, я не обращал внимания).”

“But you have the soldier’s observation for detail (но вы же обладаете военной наблюдательностью /к деталям/; soldier — солдат; военнослужащий, военный; to observe — наблюдать, следить; замечать). You notice without noticing (вы все замечаете, даже не обращая внимания), so to speak (так сказать).”

The Colonel thought again (полковник снова задумался), but shook his head (но покачал головой; to shake (shook, shaken) — трясти; качать /головой/).

“I couldn’t say (не могу сказать). I don’t remember anyone passing (я не помню, чтобы кто-нибудь проходил мимо) except the conductor (за исключением проводника). Wait a minute (подождите минутку) — and there was a woman, I think (и была какая-то женщина, мне кажется).”

remembrance [r'membrns] soldier ['sld] observation [bz'ven]

Arbuthnot frowned in the effort of remembrance.

“Difficult to say,” he said. “You see I wasn’t paying any attention.”

“But you have the soldier’s observation for detail. You notice without noticing, so to speak.”

The Colonel thought again, but shook his head.