Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

"What do you call the unforgivable error?"

"Overlooking the obvious."

I turned this over in my mind (я прокрутил все это в голове) without quite seeing the point (не видя особого смысла; point — точка; пункт, момент; дело; суть). "Well," I said presently (так, — сказал я вскоре; presently — вскоре; теперь; некоторое время спустя), smiling (улыбаясь), "has this super crime turned up yet (это сверхпреступление уже подвернулось; to turn up — поднимать вверх; находить; подвернуться)?"

"Pas encore (фр. еще нет). At least that (разве что…) —»

He paused (он замолк: «он сделал паузу»). A frown of perplexity creased his forehead (он нахмурился: «морщинка недоумения сморщила его лоб»). His hands automatically straightened an object or two (его руки автоматически поставили на место один или два предмета; to straighten — выпрямлять; приводить в порядок) that I had inadvertently pushed away (которые я по неосторожности сдвинул /прочь/; advertent — внимательный).

"I am not sure," he said slowly (я не уверен, — сказал он медленно).

There was something so odd about his tone (было что-то такое странное в его тоне) that I looked at him in surprise (что я посмотрел на него с удивлением).

The frown still lingered (складочка все еще оставалась /на лбу/).

frown [fraʋn], perplexity [pǝ:ˈplekɪstɪ], linger [ˈlɪŋɡǝ]

I turned this over in my mind without quite seeing the point. "Well," I said presently, smiling "has this super crime turned up yet?"

"Pas encore. At least that —"

He paused. A frown of perplexity creased his forehead. His hands automatically straightened an object or two that I had inadvertently pushed awry.

"I am not sure," he said slowly.

There was something so odd about his tone that I looked at him in surprise.

The frown still lingered.

Suddenly (неожиданно) with a brief decisive nod of the head (с коротким решительным кивком головы) he crossed the room to a desk near the window (он прошел через комнату к столу возле окна). Its contents (его содержимое), I need hardly say (едва ли мне нужно говорить), were all neatly docketed (все было аккуратно подписано) and pigeonholed (и разложено по ящичкам; pigeonhole — картотечный ящик) so that he was able at once to lay his hand upon the paper (таким образом он был в состоянии сразу же положить руку на ту бумагу) he wanted (/которую/ он хотел).

He came slowly across to me (он медленно подошел ко мне), an open letter in his hand (/с/ распечатанным письмом в руке). He read it through himself (он прочитал его про себя; to read), then passed it to me (затем передал его мне).

"Tell me, mon ami," he said (скажите мне, друг мой). "What do you make of this (как вы это понимаете; to make of — понимать, разбирать)?"

I took it from him with some interest (я взял его у него с некоторым интересом).

It was written on thickish white notepaper in printed characters (оно было написано на машинке на плотной белой писчей бумаге: «оно было написано на толстой белой писчей бумаге напечатными буквами»):

docket [ˈdɔkɪt], pigeonhole [ˈpɪdʒɪhǝʋl], through [ˈƟru:]

Suddenly with a brief decisive nod of the head he crossed the room to a desk near the window. Its contents, I need hardly say, were all neatly docketed and pigeonholed so that he was able at once to lay his hand upon the paper he wanted.

He came slowly across to me, an open letter in his hand. He read it through himself, then passed it to me.

"Tell me, mon ami," he said. "What do you make of this?"

I took it from him with some interest.

It was written on thickish white notepaper in printed characters: