"Exceedingly true," murmured Poirot (совершенно верно: «чрезвычайно правдиво» —пробормотал Пуаро; to exceed — превышать; превосходить). "You, I understand (вы, /как/ я понимаю), went to the police of your own accord (пошли в полицию добровольно: «по собственной воле»; accord — одобрение; согласие)?"

owlishly ['all], exceedingly [k'si:dl], accord ['k:d]

"That is a very debatable point, Mr. Poirot," he said. "Many people may have made purchases from Mrs. Ascher after I did so."

"If so, they have not come forward to say so."

Mr. Partridge coughed. "Some people, Mr. Poirot, have no sense of public duty."

He looked at us owlishly through his spectacles.

"Exceedingly true," murmured Poirot. "You, I understand, went to the police of your own accord?"

"Certainly I did (конечно, я сделал /так/). As soon as I heard of the shocking occurrence (как только я услышал о шокирующем происшествии) I perceived (я понял) that my statement might be helpful (что мое заявление может быть полезным) and came forward accordingly (и соответственно заявил).''

"A very proper spirit," said Poirot solemnly (очень надлежащий настрой, — сказал Пуаро торжественно; proper — надлежащий; правильный; подходящий; spirit — дух, душа; образ мышления; настроение). "Perhaps you will be so kind as to repeat your story to me (возможно, вы будете так любезны, чтобы повторить мне вашу историю)."

"By all means (пожалуйста/конечно: «всеми способами»). I was returning to this house (я возвращался к этому дому) and at 5:30 precisely (и, точно в половине шестого) —"

"Pardon (прошу прощения), how was it that you knew the time so accurately (как это так /получилось/, что вы так точно знаете время; to know; accurate — верный, правильный, точный)?"

might [mat], pardon ['p:dn], accurately ['aekjurtl]

"Certainly I did. As soon as I heard of the shocking occurrence I perceived that my statement might be helpful and came forward accordingly.''

"A very proper spirit," said Poirot solemnly. "Perhaps you will be so kind as to repeat your story to me."

"By all means. I was returning to this house and at 5:30 precisely —"

"Pardon, how was it that you knew the time so accurately?"

Mr, Partridge looked a little annoyed at being interrupted (мистер Партридж выглядел несколько раздосадованным тем, что его прервали; to annoy — досаждать; докучать). "The church clock chimed (церковные часы пробили). I looked at my watch (я посмотрел на свои часы) and found I was a minute slow (и обнаружил, что мои на минуту отстают; slow — медленный). That was just before I entered Mrs. Ascher's shop (это было перед тем, как я зашел в магазин миссис Эшер)."

"Were you in the habit of making purchases there (у вас была привычка делать там покупки)?"

"Fairly frequently (достаточно часто; frequent — частый; повторяющийся). It was on my way home (это было мне по дороге домой). About once or twice a week (раз или два в неделю: «около одного или двух раз в неделю») I was in the habit of purchasing two ounces[10] of John Cotton mild (я привык покупать две унции /табаку/ «Джон Коттона», некрепкого; mild — мягкий; некрепкий)."

annoy ['n], frequently ['frkwntl], ounce [ans]

Mr, Partridge looked a little annoyed at being interrupted. "The church clock chimed. I looked at my watch and found I was a minute slow. That was just before I entered Mrs. Ascher's shop."

"Were you in the habit of making purchases there?"

"Fairly frequently. It was on my way home. About once or twice a week I was in the habit of purchasing two ounces of John Cotton mild."