Причуда мертвеца / Dead Man's Folly. Книга для чтения на английском языке

He was as nice a young gentleman as yu could wish, took after his grandfather, fond of sailing and went into the Navy as a matter of course, but Mr James, he caused her a lot of trouble. Debts and women it were, and then, tu, he were real wild in his temper. Born one of they as can’t go straight[70 - Born one of they as can’t go straight. – Если родился таким, то уже не выправишься.]. But the war suited him, as yu might say—give him his chance. Ah! There’s many who can’t go straight in peace who dies bravely in war.

’

�So now,’ said Poirot, �there are no more Folliats at Nasse.’

The old man’s flow of talk died abruptly.

�Just as yu say, sir.’

Poirot looked curiously at the old man.

�Instead you have Sir George Stubbs. What is thought locally of him?’

�Us understands,’ said the old man, �that he be powerful rich.’

His tone sounded dry and almost amused.

�And his wife?’

�Ah, she’s a fine lady from London, she is.

No use for gardens, not her. They du say, tu, as her du be wanting up here.’

He tapped his temple significantly[71 - �They du say, tu, as her du be wanting up here.’ He tapped his temple significantly. – «Говорят, у нее здесь не хватает», – и постучал себя многозначительно по виску.].

�Not as her isn’t always very nice spoken and friendly. Just over a year they’ve been here. Bought the place and had it all done up like new.

I remember as though ’twere[72 - ’twere = (зд.) they were] yesterday them arriving. Arrived in the evening, they did, day after the worst gale as I ever remember. Trees down right and left—one down across the drive and us had to get it sawn away in a hurry to get the drive clear for the car. And the big oak up along, that come down and brought a lot of others down with it, made a rare mess, it did.’

�Ah, yes, where the Folly stands now?’

The old man turned aside and spat disgustedly.

�Folly ’tis called and Folly ’tis—new-fangled nonsense. Never was no Folly in the old Folliats’ time. Her ladyship’s idea that Folly was[73 - Her ladyship’s idea that Folly was. – «Причуду» эту ее светлость выдумала.]. Put up not three weeks after they first come, and I’ve no doubt she talked Sir George into it. Rare silly it looks stuck up there among the trees, like a heathen temple.