pursue [p'sju:], investigation [nvest'en], endeavour [n'dev]

Inspector Crome pushed past him, shot a glance at Poirot and a glance at the two strangers.

"Miss Megan Barnard and Mr. Donald Fraser," said Poirot, introducing them. "This is Inspector Crome from London," he explained.

Turning to the inspector, he said: "While you pursued your investigations upstairs I have been conversing with Miss Barnard and Mr. Fraser, endeavouring if I could to find something that will throw light upon the matter."

"Oh, yes?" said Inspector Crome, his thoughts not upon Poirot (его мысли были не о Пуаро) but upon the two newcomers (а о двух новоприбывших).

Poirot retreated to the hall (Пуаро вышел в холл). Inspector Kelsey said kindly (инспектор Келси добродушно сказал) as he passed (когда он проходил мимо): "Get anything (нашли что-нибудь)?"

But his attention was distracted by his colleague (но его внимание было отвлечено его коллегой) and he did not wait for a reply (и он не дождался ответа).

I joined Poirot in the hall (я присоединился к Пуаро в холле).

"Did anything strike you, Poirot?" I inquired (вас что-нибудь поразило, Пуаро? — осведомился я).

"Only the amazing magnanimity of the murderer, Hastings (только поразительное великодушие убийцы, Гастингс)."

I had not the courage to say (у меня не было смелости сказать) that I had not the least idea (что у меня /не/ было ни малейшего представления /о том/), what he meant (что он имел в виду).

distract [ds'traekt], reply [r'pla], magnanimity [maen'nmt]

"Oh, yes?" said Inspector Crome, his thoughts not upon Poirot but upon the two newcomers.

Poirot retreated to the hall. Inspector Kelsey said kindly as he passed: "Get anything?"

But his attention was distracted by his colleague and he did not wait for a reply.

I joined Poirot in the hall.

"Did anything strike you, Poirot?" I inquired.

"Only the amazing magnanimity of the murderer, Hastings."

I had not the courage to say that I had not the least idea what he meant.

XIII. A Conference

(совещание)

Conferences (совещания)!

Much of my memories of the A.B.C. case seem to be of conferences (большинство моих воспоминаний о деле Эй-би-си, казалось, были о совещаниях).

Conferences at Scotland Yard (совещания в Скотланд-Ярде). At Poirot's rooms (дома у Пуаро: «в комнатах у Пуаро»). Official conferences (официальные совещания).

Unofficial conferences (неофициальные совещания).

This particular conference was to decide (это конкретное совещание должно было решить) whether or not the facts relative to the anonymous letters should or should not be made public in the press (следует ли опубликовывать факты по анонимным письмам в прессе: «следует факты, относящиеся к анонимным письмам, сделать гласными в прессе, или нет»).

The Bexhill murder had attracted much more attention than the Andover one (бексхиллское убийство привлекло гораздо больше внимания, чем эндоверское).

It had (оно имело), of course (конечно), far more elements of popularity (гораздо больше признаков: «элементов» популярности). The victim was a young and good-looking girl (жертва была молодая и привлекательная девушка) to begin with (прежде всего: «начнем с /того, что/»). Also (также), it had taken place at a popular seaside resort (оно произошло: «оно имело место» на популярном морском курорте).

relative ['reltv], seaside ['si:sad], resort [r'z:t]

Conferences!

Much of my memories of the A.B.C. case seem to be of conferences.

Conferences at Scotland Yard. At Poirot's rooms. Official conferences.

Unofficial conferences.

This particular conference was to decide whether or not the facts relative to the anonymous letters should or should not be made public in the press.

The Bexhill murder had attracted much more attention than the Andover one.