Английский язык с Агатой Кристи. Убийства по алфавиту

"Why not? He may believe himself fully justified. We may, perhaps end by having sympathy with his point of view."

"Really, Poirot!"

"Alas! I have shocked you. First my inertia — and then my views."

I shook my head without replying.

"All the same," said Poirot after a minute or two (как бы то ни было, — сказал Пуаро через минуту или две), "I have one project (у меня есть один проект) that will please you (который доставит вам удовольствие) — since it is active and not passive (поскольку он активный, а не пассивный). Also (также), it will entail a lot of conversation (он повлечет за собой = предполагает для своего выполнения много разговоров; tail — хвост) and practically no thought

(и практически никакой мысли = думать не придется)."

I did not quite like his tone (мне не совсем понравился его тон). "What is it?" I asked cautiously (что это? — я спросил осторожно).

"The extraction from the friends (это извлечение из всех друзей), relations (родственников), and servants of the victims (и слуг жертв) of all they know (всего, что они знают)."

"Do you suspect them of keeping things back, then (вы подозреваете, что они скрывают информацию: «они придерживают вещи», тогда)?"

entail [ɪnˈteɪl], extraction [ɪksˈtrækʃ(ǝ)n], servant [ˈsǝ:v(ǝ)nt]

"All the same," said Poirot after a minute or two, "I have one project that will please you — since it is active and not passive. Also, it will entail a lot of conversation and practically no thought."

I did not quite like his tone. "What is it?" I asked cautiously.

"The extraction from the friends, relations, and servants of the victims of all they know."

"Do you suspect them of keeping things back, then?"

"Not intentionally (не намеренно). But telling everything you know (но рассказ /обо всем/, что вы знаете) always implies selection (всегда подразумевает некий отбор). If I were to say to you (если бы я сказал вам), recount me your day yesterday (изложите мне подробно ваш вчерашний день), you would perhaps reply (вы бы, вероятно, ответили): 'I rose at nine (я встал в девять), I breakfasted at half-past

(позавтракал в половине /десятого/), I had eggs (я ел яйца) and bacon (и бекон) and coffee (и /пил/ кофе), I went to my club (я поехал в свой клуб), etc. (и так далее)' You would not include (вы не включите /в ваш рассказ/): 'I tore my nail (я сломал ноготь: «я оторвал мой ноготь») and had to cut it (и пришлось его обрезать). I rang for shaving water (я позвонил, /чтобы принесли/ воду для бритья). I spilt a little coffee on the tablecloth (я пролил немного кофе на скатерть; to spill — проливать). I brushed my hat (я почистил шляпу)

and put it on' (и надел ее). One cannot tell everything (невозможно рассказать все). Therefore one selects (поэтому отбирают /информацию/). At the time of a murder (во время убийства) people select what they think is important (люди выбирают /то/, что они считают важным). But quite frequently they think wrong (но достаточно часто они думают неверно)!"

intentionally [ɪnˈtenʃǝnǝlɪ], imply [ɪmˈplaɪ], recount [rɪˈkaʋnt]

"Not intentionally. But telling everything you know always implies selection. If I were to say to you, recount me your day yesterday, you would perhaps reply: 'I rose at nine, I breakfasted at half-past, I had eggs and bacon and coffee, I went to my club, etc.' You would not include: 'I tore my nail and had to cut it. I rang for shaving water. I spilt a little coffee on the tablecloth. I brushed my hat and put it on.' One cannot tell everything. Therefore one selects. At the time of a murder people select what they think is important. But quite frequently they think wrong!"

"And how is one to get at the right things (но как можно отобрать правильные вещи)?"