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I see him (я вижу его) as a child possibly ignored and passed over (как ребенка, /которого/, вероятно, игнорировали и оставляли без внимания: «проходили мимо») — I see him growing up with an inward sense of inferiority (я вижу его растущим с внутренним чувством неполноценности; inferior — подчиненный; младший; худший) — warring with a sense of injustice (борющегося с чувством несправедливости; just — справедливый) … I see that inner urge (я вижу, что внутренняя спешка) — to assert himself (утвердить себя) — to focus attention on himself ever becoming stronger (сфокусировать внимание на себе, даже становится сильнее), and events (и события), circumstances (обстоятельства) — crushing it down (подавляющие это; to crush — давить; сокрушать) — heaping, perhaps, more humiliations on him (наваливающие на него, вероятно, все большие унижения; to humiliate — унижать). And inwardly the match is set to the powder train (и внутренне спичка поднесена к дорожке из пороха; train — шлейф; поезд; тянущийся след) …"

inferiority [In, [email protected]'OrItI], humiliation [hju:,mIlI'eIS(@)n], urge [@:dZ]

Poirot did not answer at once. Then he said slowly: "The answer to that is yes. We are confronted here by an unknown personage. He is in the dark and seeks to remain in the dark. But in the very nature of things he cannot help throwing light upon himself. In one sense we know nothing about him — in another sense we know already a good deal. I see his figure dimly taking shape — a man who prints clearly and well — who buys good quality paper — who is at great needs to express his personality.

I see him as a child possibly ignored and passed over — I see him growing up with an inward sense of inferiority — warring with a sense of injustice … I see that inner urge — to assert himself — to focus attention on himself ever becoming stronger, and events, circumstances — crushing it down — heaping, perhaps, more humiliations on him. And inwardly the match is set to the powder train …"

"That's all pure conjecture," I objected (это все чистая догадка, — запротестовал я). "It doesn't give you any practical help (это не дает вам никакой практической помощи)."

"You prefer the match end (вы предпочитаете обгорелую спичку: «конец спички»), the cigarette ash (сигаретный пепел), the nailed boots (и подбитые гвоздями ботинки)! You always have (вы всегда /предпочитали/). But at least we can ask ourselves some practical questions (но, по крайней мере, мы можем задать себе несколько практических вопросов). Why the A.B.C. (почему /железнодорожный справочник/ «Эй-би-си»)? Why Mrs. Ascher (почему миссис Эшер)? Why Andover (почему Эндовер)?"

"The woman's past life seems simple enough," I mused (прошлая жизнь женщины кажется достаточно простой, — размышлял я; to muse — размышлять; задумываться). "The interviews with those two men were disappointing (беседы с теми двумя мужчинами не оправдали ожиданий: «были разочаровывающими»; to disappoint — разочаровывать). They couldn't tell us anything more than we knew already (они не смогли сказать нам ничего больше, чем мы уже знали)."

''To tell the truth (по правде говоря), I did not expect much in that line (я не ожидал многого в этом направлении: «по той линии»). But we could not neglect two possible candidates for the murder (но мы не могли пренебречь двумя возможными кандидатами в убийцы; to neglect — пренебрегать; игнорировать)."

"Surely you don't think (действительно, вы не думаете) —"

ash [&S], muse [mju:z], neglect [nIg'lekt]

"That's all pure conjecture," I objected. "It doesn't give you any practical help."

"You prefer the match end, the cigarette ash, the nailed boots! You always have. But at least we can ask ourselves some practical questions. Why the A.B.C.? Why Mrs. Ascher? Why Andover?"

"The woman's past life seems simple enough," I mused. "The interviews with those two men were disappointing. They couldn't tell us anything more than we knew already."

''To tell the truth, I did not expect much in that line. But we could not neglect two possible candidates for the murder."

"Surely you don't think —"

"There is at least a possibility (есть, по крайней мере, возможность /того/) that the murderer lives in or near Andover (что убийца живет в /Эндовере/ или рядом с Эндовером). That is a possible answer to our question (это возможный ответ на наш вопрос): 'Why Andover (почему Эндовер)?' Well, here were two men known to have been in the shop at the requisite time of day (ну, здесь известно, что два человека были в магазине в нужное время дня; requisite — требуемый, нужный). Either of them might be the murderer (любой из них мог бы быть убийцей; either — любой /из двух/). And there is nothing as yet to show (и пока ничто не показывает) that one or other of them is not the murderer (что один или другой из них не убийца)."

"That great hulking brute, Riddell, perhaps," I admitted (тот большой неповоротливый грубиян, Риддел, возможно, — я допустил; hulk — большой, огромный; неуклюжий).

"Oh, I am inclined to acquit Riddell off-hand (о, я склонен исключить Риддела немедленно: «с руки»; to acquit — оправдать; освобождать (от обязательств)). He was nervous (он был нервный), blustering (шумный), obviously uneasy (несомненно встревоженный; easy — легкий; беспечный) —"

"But surely that just shows (но, наверняка, это как раз показывает) —"

"A nature diametrically opposed to that (личность диаметрально противоположную той) which penned the A.B.C. letter (которая написала письмо Эй-би-си; to pen — писать пером; сочинять). Conceit and self-confidence are the characteristics (самодовольство и самоуверенность являются характеристиками) that we must look for (которые мы должны искать)."

requisite ['rekwIzIt], hulking ['hVlkIN], diametrically [, [email protected]' [email protected]]

"There is at least a possibility that the murderer lives in or near Andover. That is a possible answer to our question: 'Why Andover?' Well , here were two men known to have been in the shop at the requisite time of day. Either of them might be the murderer. And there is nothing as yet to show that one or other of them is not the murderer."

"That great hulking brute, Riddell, perhaps," I admitted.

"Oh, I am inclined to acquit Riddell off-hand. He was nervous, blustering, obviously uneasy —"

"But surely that just shows —"

"A nature diametrically opposed to that which penned the A.B.C. letter. Conceit and self-confidence are the characteristics that we must look for."

"Someone who throws his weight about (кто-то, кто любит показать себя: «кто размахивает своим весом»)?"

"Possibly (возможно). But some people (но некоторые люди), under a nervous and self-effacing manner (под нервной и скромной манерой /держаться/; self-effacing — скромный, держащийся в тени; to efface — стирать, вычеркивать), conceal a great deal of vanity and self-satisfaction (скрывают изрядную долю тщеславия и самодовольства)."

"You don't think (вы не думаете) that little Mr. Partridge (что тот маленький мистер Партридж) —?"

"He is more the type (он больше /соответствует/ этому типу). One cannot say more than that (нельзя сказать больше этого). He acts as the writer of the letter would act (он ведет себя так, как автор письма повел бы /себя/) — goes at once to the police (идет сразу же в полицию) — pushes himself to the fore (продвигает себя вперед) — enjoys his position (и наслаждается своим положением)."

weight [weIt], conceal [ [email protected]'si:l], vanity ['v&nItI]

"Someone who throws his weight about?"

"Possibly. But some people, under a nervous and self-effacing manner, conceal a great deal of vanity and self-satisfaction."

"You don't think that little Mr. Partridge — ?"

"He is more le type. One cannot say more than that. He acts as the writer of the letter would act — goes at once to the police — pushes himself to the fore — enjoys his position."