“If you will forgive my saying so, it seems somewhat of a waste of time. Whether or not I liked Mr. Ratchett’s face does not seem likely to be helpful in finding out who killed him.”

“Do you know who the man Ratchett really was, Mademoiselle?”

She nodded. “Mrs. Hubbard has been telling everyone.”

“And what do you think of the Armstrong affair?”

“It was quite abominable,” said the girl crisply.

Poirot looked at her thoughtfully.

“You are travelling from Baghdad, I believe, Miss Debenham (вы, полагаю, едете из Багдада, мисс Дебенхэм)?”

“Yes.”

“To London (в Лондон)?”

“Yes.”

“What have you been doing in Baghdad (чем вы занимались в Багдаде)?”

“I have been acting as governess to two children (я была гувернанткой у двух детей; to act — действовать, поступать, /to/ работать, служить, действовать в качестве).”

“Are you returning to your post after your holiday (вы вернетесь на свою должность после вашего отпуска; holiday — праздник, день отдыха; отпуск, каникулы)?”

“I am not sure (я не уверена).”

“Why is that (почему это)?”

“Baghdad is rather out of things (/мне/ Багдад, пожалуй, неинтересен; out of things — отживший, несовременный, неинтересный). I think I should prefer a post in London (я думаю, я бы предпочла место /гувернантки/ в Лондоне) if I can hear of a suitable one (если я смогу узнать о подходящей должности).”

governess ['vns] sure [] suitable ['s(j)u:tbl]

“You are travelling from Baghdad, I believe, Miss Debenham?”

“Yes.”

“To London?”

“Yes.”

“What have you been doing in Baghdad?”

“I have been acting as governess to two children.”

“Are you returning to your post after your holiday?”

“I am not sure.”

“Why is that?”

“Baghdad is rather out of things. I think I should prefer a post in London if I can hear of a suitable one.”

“I see (понимаю). I thought, perhaps (я подумал, что возможно), you might be going to be married (вы, может быть, соберетесь выйти замуж).”

Miss Debenham did not reply (мисс Дебенхэм не ответила). She raised her eyes and looked Poirot full in the face (она подняла глаза и взглянула прямо Пуаро в лицо/в глаза). The glance said plainly (взгляд отчетливо говорил): “You are impertinent (не вашего ума дело: «вы дерзки»; impertinent — дерзкий, наглый, нахальный, грубый).”

“What is your opinion of the lady who shares your compartment (что вы думаете: «каково ваше мнение» о той даме, что едет с вами в одном купе) — Miss Ohlsson (мисс Ольсон)?”

“She seems a pleasant (она /мне/ кажется приятной), simple creature (бесхитростной женщиной; simple — простой, нетрудный; простодушный, бесхитростный; простоватый, недалекий; creature — создание, творение; человек, создание /обыкн. с эпитетом/).”

married ['maerd] glance [l:ns] impertinent [m'p:tnnt]

creature ['kri:t]

“I see. I thought, perhaps, you might be going to be married.”

Miss Debenham did not reply. She raised her eyes and looked Poirot full in the face. The glance said plainly: “You are impertinent.”

“What is your opinion of the lady who shares your compartment — Miss Ohlsson?”

“She seems a pleasant, simple creature.”

“What colour is her dressing-gown (какого цвета ее халат)?”

Mary Debenham stared (Мэри Дебенхэм уставилась /на него/ в изумлении). “A kind of brownish colour (что-то коричневатое: «какого-то коричневатого цвета») — natural wool (из натуральной шерсти; natural — естественный, природный; настоящий, натуральный).”