“And now let us make the fantasy more fantastic,” said Poirot cheerfully. “Last night on the train, there are two mysterious strangers. There is the Wagon Lit attendant answering to the description given us by M. Hardman, and seen by Hildegarde Schmidt, Colonel Arbuthnot and M. MacQueen. There is also a woman in a red kimono — a tall slim woman, seen by Pierre Michel, Miss Debenham, M. MacQueen and myself (and smelt, I may say, by Colonel Arbuthnot!). Who was she? No one on the train admits to having a scarlet kimono. She, too, has vanished. Was she one and the same with the spurious Wagon Lit attendant? Or was she some quite distinct personality? Where are they, these two? And incidentally, where are the Wagon Lit uniform and the scarlet kimono?”

“Ah! that is something definite (это кое-что определенное).” M. Bouc sprang up eagerly (энергично вскочил мсье Бук; eager — страстно стремящийся /к чему-либо/; энергичный, острый). “We must search all the passengers’ luggage (мы должны обыскать багаж всех пассажиров; to search — искать, отыскивать; обыскивать, обшаривать). Yes, that will be something (да, это будет уже кое-что).”

Poirot rose also (Пуаро тоже встал). “I will make a prophecy (я /позволю себе/ сделать предсказание),” he said.

“You know where they are (вы знаете, где они /униформа и кимоно/)?”

“I have a little idea (у меня есть идейка).”

“Where, then (где же, тогда)?”

“You will find the scarlet kimono in the baggage of one of the men (вы найдете алое кимоно в багаже одного из мужчин), and you will find the uniform of the Wagon Lit conductor in the baggage of Hildegarde Schmidt (и вы найдете униформу проводника /компании/ Спальных Вагонов в багаже Хильдегарды Шмидт).”

“Hildegarde Schmidt? You think (вы думаете) — ”

definite ['defnt] luggage ['ld] prophecy ['prfs]

“Ah! that is something definite.” M. Bouc sprang up eagerly. “We must search all the passengers’ luggage. Yes, that will be something.”

Poirot rose also. “I will make a prophecy,” he said.

“You know where they are?”

“I have a little idea.”

“Where, then?”

“You will find the scarlet kimono in the baggage of one of the men, and you will find the uniform of the Wagon Lit conductor in the baggage of Hildegarde Schmidt.”

“Hildegarde Schmidt? You think — ”

“Not what you are thinking (/совсем/ не то, что вы думаете). I will put it like this (скажу так; to put — класть, ставить; излагать, формулировать /мысли, замечания и т.п./). If Hildegarde Schmidt is guilty, the uniform may be found in her baggage (если Хильдегарда Шмидт виновна, то униформа может быть найдена в ее багаже). But if she is innocent, it certainly will be (но если она невиновна, она точно будет /там найдена/).”

“But how (но как же) — ” began M. Bouc and stopped (начал мсье Бук и остановился). “What is this noise that approaches (что это за шум /приближается/)?” he cried (воскликнул он). “It resembles a locomotive in motion (он напоминает локомотив в движении = напоминает шум приближающегося локомотива; motion — движение; ход /машины, часов и т.п./).”

guilty ['lt] baggage ['baed] innocent ['nsnt] approach ['prt] resemble [r'zembl] locomotive [lk'mtv]

“Not what you are thinking. I will put it like this. If Hildegarde Schmidt is guilty, the uniform may be found in her baggage. But if she is innocent, it certainly will be.”

“But how — ” began M. Bouc and stopped. “What is this noise that approaches?” he cried. “It resembles a locomotive in motion.”