"I — I lost my head rather (я почти потерял голову; to lose — терять). I was convinced (я был убежден) she was with some man (что она с каким-то мужчиной). I thought it probable he had taken her in his car to Hastings (я посчитал вероятным, что он отвез ее на машине в Гастингс). I went on there (я поехал туда) — looked in hotels and restaurants (искал: «смотрел» в отелях и ресторанах), hung round cinemas (слонялся возле кинотеатров) — went on the pier (пошел на пирс). All damn foolishness (все дурацкая глупость). Even if she was there (даже если бы она была там) I was unlikely to find her (я бы наверняка не нашел ее), and anyway (и в любом случае), there were heaps of other places (было множество других мест) he might have taken her to instead of Hastings (/куда/ он мог ее повезти вместо Гастингса)."

convince [kn'vns], restaurant ['restr:], pier [p]

"What did you do?"

"I went over to St. Leonards. Got over there by eight o'clock. Then I watched the buses — to see if she were in them But there was no sign of her …"

"And then?"

"I — I lost my head rather. I was convinced she was with some man. I thought it probable he had taken her in his car to Hastings. I went on there — looked in hotels and restaurants, hung round cinemas — went on the pier. All damn foolishness. Even if she was there I was unlikely to find her, and anyway, there were heaps of other places he might have taken her to instead of Hastings."

He stopped (он замолчал: «он остановился»). Precise as his tone had remained (какой бы точной ни оставалась его манера говорить: «точным, каким оставался его тон»), I caught an undertone of that blind (я уловил оттенок того слепого; to catch — ловить), bewildering misery (смущающего страдания) and anger (и гнева) that had possessed him at the time he described (которые владели им в то время, /которое/ он описывал).

"In the end I gave it up (в конце концов, я это бросил; to give up — бросать, прекращать) — came back (вернулся)."

"At what time (в какое время)?"

"I don't know (я не знаю). I walked (я гулял). It must have been midnight or after (должно быть, была полночь или позднее) when I got home (когда я добрался домой)."

"Then (тогда) —"

The kitchen door opened (кухонная дверь открылась).

"Oh, there you are," said Inspector Kelsey (а, вот вы где).

misery ['msr], possess [p'zes], undertone ['ndtn]

He stopped. Precise as his tone had remained, I caught an undertone of that blind, bewildering misery and anger that had possessed him at the time he described.

"In the end I gave it up — came back."

"At what time?"

"I don't know. I walked. It must have been midnight or after when I got home."

"Then — "

The kitchen door opened.

"Oh, there you are," said Inspector Kelsey.

Inspector Crome pushed past him (инспектор Кроум протиснулся мимо него), shot a glance at Poirot (кинул взгляд на Пуаро) and a glance at the two strangers (и взгляд на двух незнакомцев).

"Miss Megan Barnard and Mr. Donald Fraser," said Poirot (мисс Меган Барнард и мистер Дональда Фрейзер), introducing them (представляя их). "This is Inspector Crome from London," he explained (это инспектор Кроум из Лондона, — объяснил он).

Turning to the inspector (повернувшись к инспектору), he said: "While you pursued your investigations upstairs (пока вы проводили ваше расследование наверху; to pursue — преследовать; рассматривать; выполнять) I have been conversing with Miss Barnard and Mr. Fraser (я беседовал с мисс Барнард и мистером Фрейзером), endeavouring (стараясь /выяснить/; to endeavour — пытаться, прилагать усилия) if I could to find something (смогу ли я найти что-либо) that will throw light upon the matter (что прольет свет на это дело)."