Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

"The 21^st ," said Japp (двадцать первое). "That's what I dropped in about (вот почему я заскочил; to drop — капать; ронять; to drop in — зайти, заглянуть, заскочить). Yesterday was the 21^st (вчера было двадцать первое) and just out of curiosity I rang up Andover last night (и просто из любопытства я вчера вечером позвонил в Эндовер; to ring). It was a hoax all right (это все точно выдумка). Nothing doing (ничего /не/ происходит: «ничего /не/ делается»). One broken shop window (одна разбитая витрина магазина; to break — ломать; разбивать) — kid throwing stones (ребенок кидал камни) — and a couple of drunk (парочка пьяниц; to drink — пить) and disorderlies (и нарушений общественного порядка). So just for once (так на этот раз) our Belgian friend was barking up the wrong tree (наш бельгийский друг ошибся: «лаял не на то дерево»)."

disorderly [dɪsˈɔ:rd(ǝ)lɪ], Belgian [ˈbelʤɪǝn], wrong [rɔŋ]

Perhaps my manner showed my feelings, for Japp changed the subject.

"Have you heard about Monsieur Poirot's anonymous letter?" he asked.

"I showed it to Hastings the other day," said my friend.

"Of course," I exclaimed. "It had quite slipped my memory. Let me see, what was the date mentioned?"

"The 21^st," said Japp. "That's what I dropped in about. Yesterday was the 21^st and just out of curiosity I rang up Andover last night. It was a hoax all right. Nothing doing. One broken shop window — kid throwing stones — and a couple of drunk and disorderlies. So just for once our Belgian friend was barking up the wrong tree."

"I am relieved (я /чувствую/ облегчение), I must confess (я должен признаться)," acknowledged Poirot (признал Пуаро).

"You'd quite got the wind up about it (вы достаточно струхнули по этому /поводу/: «вы достаточно подняли ветер об этом»; to get the wind up — утратить спокойствие, испугаться), hadn't you (не так ли)?" said Japp affectionately (мягко сказал Джепп; affectionately — нежно, с выражением привязанности; affection — любовь, чувство близости, привязанность). "Bless you (благослови вас /Господь/), we get dozens of letters like that coming in every day (мы получаем дюжины таких писем каждый день)! People with nothing better to do (людям, /которым/ нечем больше заняться) and a bit weak in the top storey (и больные на голову: «и немного слабые на верхний этаж») sit down and write 'em (садятся и пишут их; 'em — them). They don't mean any harm (они не имеют в виду никакого вреда)! Just a kind of excitement (это просто развлечение: «это просто вид эмоционального волнения»).''

"I have indeed been foolish to take the matter so seriously," said Poirot (я действительно был глуп, принимая это дело столь серьезно). "It is the nest of the horse (это лошадиное гнездо) that I put my nose into there (в которое я сунул нос)."

"You're mixing up mares and wasps," said Japp (вы путаете кобыл и ос, — сказал Джепп; hornets' nest — осиное гнездо).

"Pardon (прошу прощения)?"

acknowledge [ǝkˈnɔlɪʤ], dozen [ˈdʌz(ǝ)n], wasp [wɔsp]

"I am relieved, I must confess," acknowledged Poirot.

"You'd quite got the wind up about it, hadn't you?" said Japp affectionately. "Bless you, we get dozens of letters like that coming in every day! People with nothing better to do and a bit weak in the top storey sit down and write 'em. They don't mean any harm! Just a kind of excitement.''

"I have indeed been foolish to take the matter so seriously," said Poirot. "It is the nest of the horse that I put my nose into there."

"You're mixing up mares and wasps," said Japp.

"Pardon?"