|
| "Do do you want me to look at her right away?" | - Значит, вы хотите... Я должна увидеть ее сейчас? |
| "It would be best, I think, Miss Turner. | -Так будет разумнее, мисс Тернер. |
| You see, it's not much good asking you questions until we're sure. | Мы не можем двинуться вперед, пока не удостоверим личность убитой. |
| Best get it over, don't you think?" | Чем скорее, тем лучше. |
| "All right." | - Хорошо. |
| They drove down to the mortuary. | Машина отвезла их в морг. |
| When Josie came in after a brief visit she looked rather sick. | И когда Джози вышла оттуда, ее била дрожь. Лицо побледнело и осунулось. |
| "It's Ruby, right," she said shakily. | - Это она, Руби. |
| "Poor girl! | Бедная крошка!.. |
| Goodness, I do wish it wasn't -" she looked round wistfully. Whisky was not available, but brandy was and after a little while Miss Turner regained her composure. She said frankly, "It gives you a turn, doesn't it, seeing anything like that? | Ах, как щемит сердце! - Она беспомощно оглянулась. - Мне бы капельку джина. Джина не оказалось, но ей принесли маленькую рюмку водки. После нескольких глотков Джози приободрилась: |
| Poor little Ruby! | - Несчастная Руби! |
| What swine men are, aren't they?" | Какой ужас! Почему мужчины так жестоки? |
| "You believe it was a man?" | - Вы считаете, ее убил мужчина? |
| Josie looked slightly taken aback. | Джози растерялась: |
| "Wasn't it? | - Кто же еще? |
| Well, I mean I naturally thought -" | Разве нет? |
| "Any special man you were thinking of?" | - И кого-нибудь подозреваете? |
| She shook her head vigorously. | Она затрясла головой: |
| "No, not me. | - Нет! |
| I haven't the least idea. | Вовсе нет. |
| Naturally, Ruby wouldn't have let on to me if -" | Руби ничего и не рассказала бы мне, если бы... если... |
| "If what?" Josie hesitated. "Well, if she'd been going about with anyone." Melchett shot her a keen glance. He said no more until they were back at his office. Then he began, | - Что же вы замолчали? |
| "Now, Miss Turner, I want all the information you can give me." | Выкладывайте уж все начистоту. |
| "Yes, of course. Where shall I begin?" "I'd like the girl's full name and address, her relationship to you and all that you know about her." Josephine Turner nodded. Melchett was confirmed in his opinion that she felt no particular grief. She was shocked and distressed, but no more. She spoke readily enough. "Her name was Ruby Keene -her professional name, that is. Her real name was Rosy Legge. Her mother was my mother's cousin. I've known her all my life, but not particularly well, if you know what I mean. I 've got a lot of cousins; some in business, some on the stage. Ruby was more or less training for a dancer. She had some good engagements last year in pantomime and that sort of thing. Not really classy, but good provincial companies. Since then she's been engaged as one of the dancing partners at the Palais de Danse in Brixwell, South London. It's a nice, respectable place and they look after the girls well, but there isn't a great deal of money in it." She paused. Colonel Melchett nodded. "Now this is where I come in. |
