Английский с улыбкой. Брет Гарт, Стивен Ликок. Дефективный детектив

“Silence! Having thoroughly established your motive, I now proceed to the commission of the crime itself. Ordinary people would have begun with that – with an attempt to discover the whereabouts of the missing object. These are not MY methods.”

So overpowering was his penetration that, although I knew myself innocent, I licked my lips with avidity to hear the further details of this lucid exposition of my crime.

“You committed that theft the night I showed you the cigar case (вы совершили кражу в тот же вечер, когда я показал вам портсигар), and after I had carelessly thrown it in that drawer (после того, как я небрежно бросил его вон в тот ящик стола; to throw). You were sitting in that chair (вы сидели в том кресле), and I had arisen to take something from that shelf (а я поднялся, чтобы взять что-то с той полки; to arise). In that instant you secured your booty without rising (в тот же миг вы, /даже/ не вставая, завладели своей добычей; to secure – обеспечивать безопасность; завладевать, овладевать). Silence (молчите)! Do you remember when I helped you on with your overcoat the other night (помните, я как-то вечером помогал вам надеть пальто; the other day/night – на днях, несколько дней назад)? I was particular about fitting your arm in (и с особым старанием /помог/ продеть руку в /рукав/; particular – особый, особенный; тщательный, аккуратный; to fit – соответствовать, подходить; умещать, помещать). While doing so I measured your arm with a spring tape measure (делая это, я измерил /длину/ вашей руки пружинной рулеткой), from the shoulder to the cuff (от плеча до обшлага). A later visit to your tailor confirmed that measurement (последующий визит к вашему портному подтвердил эти измерения).

“You committed that theft the night I showed you the cigar case, and after I had carelessly thrown it in that drawer. You were sitting in that chair, and I had arisen to take something from that shelf. In that instant you secured your booty without rising. Silence! Do you remember when I helped you on with your overcoat the other night? I was particular about fitting your arm in. While doing so I measured your arm with a spring tape measure, from the shoulder to the cuff. A later visit to your tailor confirmed that measurement.

It proved to be THE EXACT DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR CHAIR AND THAT DRAWER (оказалось, что она равна расстоянию между вашим стулом и тем ящиком стола; exact – точный; строго соответствующий)!”

I sat stunned (ошеломленный, я сидел /не двигаясь/; to sit).