"But you think there is (но вы думаете, что есть)?" I asked (я спросил), struck by the dissatisfaction of his tone (пораженный недовольством его тона; to strike — бить, ударять; поражать, производить впечатление; to satisfy — удовлетворять; соответствовать).

Poirot shook his head doubtfully (Пуаро с сомнением покачал головой; doubt — сомнение; to shake — трясти/сь/; встряхивать; качать/ся/), but he did not speak (но он /ничего/ не сказал).

tight [tat], acquaint ['kwent], doubtfully ['dautfl]

"Comment? Nine? Nine what?"

"Nothing — just an expression. I meant a fellow who was tight. No, damn it, a fellow who had had a spot too much to drink."

"Merci, Hastings — the expression 'tight' I am acquainted with it. As you say, there may be nothing more to it than that."

"But you think there is?" I asked, struck by the dissatisfaction of his tone.

Poirot shook his head doubtfully, but he did not speak.

"What have you done about it?" I inquired (что вы предприняли по этому /поводу/? — поинтересовался я; to inquire — осведомляться, справляться, спрашивать, узнавать).

"What can one do (что можно сделать)? I showed it to Japp (я показал его Джеппу). He was of the same opinion as you (он был того же мнения, что и вы) — a stupid hoax (глупая шутка) — that was the expression he used (это то выражение, /которое/ он использовал). They get these things every day at Scotland Yard[2] (они получают такие вещи каждый день в Скотланд-Ярде). I, too, have had my share (я тоже имел /такие на/ свою долю) —"

"But you take this one seriously (но это вы принимаете всерьез)?

Poirot replied slowly (Пуаро медленно ответил). "There is something about that letter, Hastings (там есть что-то в этом письме, Гастингс), that I do not like (что мне не нравится)."

In spite of myself (не смотря на мое /мнение/), his tone impressed me (его тон впечатлил меня). "You think (вы думаете) — what (что)?"

inquire [nk'wa], Scotland Yard ['sktlnd 'j:d], share []

"What have you done about it?" I inquired.

"What can one do? I showed it to Japp. He was of the same opinion as you — a stupid hoax — that was the expression he used. They get these things every day at Scotland Yard. I, too, have had my share —"

"But you take this one seriously?

Poirot replied slowly. "There is something about that letter, Hastings, that I do not like ."

In spite of myself, his tone impressed me. "You think — what?"

He shook his head (он покачал головой; to shake), and picking up the letter (и подобрав письмо), put it away again in the desk (снова убрал его в стол; to put — класть).

"If you really take it seriously (если вы действительно принимаете его всерьез), can't you do something (/разве/ вы не можете ничего сделать)?" I asked (спросил я). "As always (как обычно), the man of action (человек действия)! But what is there to do (но что здесь поделать)? The county police have seen the letter (полиция графства уже видела письмо; to see) but they, too, do not take it seriously (но они тоже не принимают его всерьез). There are no fingerprints on it (на нем нет отпечатков пальцев). There are no local clues (там нет прямых указаний; local — местный, локальный; clue — клубок, моток; ключ /к разгадке чего-л./; улика; ход мыслей) as to the possible writer (на возможного автора /письма/: «писателя»)."

county ['kant], fingerprint ['fprnt], clue [klu:]

He shook his head, and picking up the letter, put it away again in the desk.

"If you really take it seriously, can't you do something?" I asked. "As always, the man of action! But what is there to do? The county police have seen the letter but they, too, do not take it seriously. There are no fingerprints on it. There are no local clues as to the possible writer."