“Poor Susanne? Yes, I had forgotten about her. The police questioned her. They were convinced that she had something to do with it. Perhaps she had — but if so only innocently. She had, I believe, chatted idly with someone, giving information as to the time of Daisy’s outings. The poor thing got terribly wrought up — she thought she was being held responsible.” She shuddered. “She threw herself out of the window. Oh! it was horrible.”

She buried her face in her hands.

“What nationality was she, Madame (кто она была по национальности, мадам)?”

“She was French (она была француженка).”

“What was her last name (какая у нее была фамилия)?”

“It’s absurd, but I can’t remember (это нелепо, но я не могу вспомнить) — we all called her Susanne (мы все звали ее Сюзанной). A pretty, laughing girl (хорошенькая, веселая девушка; to laugh — смеяться; laughing — смеющийся, улыбающийся, веселый). She was devoted to Daisy (она так любила Дейзи; to devote — посвящать, отдавать себя целиком; devoted — преданный, нежный, любящий).”

“She was the nursery-maid (она была горничной; nursery-maid — нянька /для черной работы/, девушка, помогающая ухаживать за детьми; горничная), was she not (не так ли)?”

“Yes.”

nationality [nae'naelt] laughing ['l:f] nurserymaid ['n:srmed]

“What nationality was she, Madame?”

“She was French.”

“What was her last name?”

“It’s absurd, but I can’t remember — we all called her Susanne. A pretty, laughing girl. She was devoted to Daisy.”

“She was the nursery-maid, was she not?”

“Yes.”

“Who was the nurse (а кто был няней; nurse — няня; кормилица)?”

“She was a trained hospital nurse (она была дипломированной медсестрой; trained — выученный, обученный; hospital — больница, лечебница). Stengelberg her name was (ее фамилия была Штенгельберг). She too was devoted to Daisy — and to my sister (она тоже была предана = любила Дейзи и мою сестру).”

“Now, Madame, I want you to think carefully before you answer this question (а теперь, мадам, я хочу, чтобы вы тщательно подумали, прежде чем ответите на этот вопрос). Have you, since you were on this train, seen anyone that you recognised (с того самого момента, как вы сели: «оказались» в этот поезд, видели ли вы кого-нибудь знакомого: «кого вы узнали»)?”

nurse [n:s] hospital ['hsptl] recognized ['reknazd]

“Who was the nurse?”

“She was a trained hospital nurse. Stengelberg her name was. She too was devoted to Daisy — and to my sister.”

“Now, Madame, I want you to think carefully before you answer this question. Have you, since you were on this train, seen anyone that you recognised?”

She stared at him (она уставилась на него /в изумлении/). “I? No, no one at all (нет, никого).”

“What about Princess Dragomiroff (а как же княгиня Драгомирова)?”

“Oh! her (о, она). I know her, of course (я знаю ее, конечно). I thought you meant anyone (я подумала, что вы имеете в виду кого-то) — anyone from (кого-то из) — from that time (из того времени).”

“So I did, Madame (а я это и имел в виду, мадам). Now think carefully (ну же, подумайте внимательно). Some years have passed, remember (помните, что прошло столько лет). The person might have altered his or her appearance (этот человек мог измениться: «изменить свою внешность»).”

carefully ['kefl] altered [':ltd] appearance ['prns]

She stared at him. “I? No, no one at all.”

“What about Princess Dragomiroff?”

“Oh! her. I know her, of course. I thought you meant anyone — anyone from — from that time.”

“So I did, Madame. Now think carefully. Some years have passed, remember. The person might have altered his or her appearance.”

Helena pondered deeply (Хелена глубоко задумалась; to ponder — обдумывать; размышлять). Then she said: “No — I am sure — there is no one (нет, — я уверена, — никого).”