Hallowe'en Party / Вечеринка на Хэллоуин. Книга для чтения на английском языке

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The receiver was thrown down heavily at the other end and Poirot summoned George, reflected a few minutes, then ordered lemon barley water[28 - barley water – ячменный отвар (сладкий напиток, приготовленный из ячменного отвара и фруктового сока)], bitter lemon and a glass of brandy for himself.

�Mrs Oliver will be here in about ten minutes,’ he said.

George withdrew. He returned with the brandy for Poirot, who accepted it with a nod of satisfaction, and George then proceeded to provide the teetotal refreshment that was the only thing likely to appeal to Mrs Oliver.

Poirot took a sip of brandy delicately, fortifying himself for the ordeal which was about to descend upon him.

�It’s a pity,’ he murmured to himself, �that she is so scatty. And yet, she has originality of mind. It could be that I am going to enjoy what she is coming to tell me. It could be—’ he reflected a minute �—that it may take a great deal of the evening and that it will all be excessively foolish.

Eh bien[29 - Eh bien – (фр.) Ну что же], one must take one’s risks in life.’

A bell sounded. A bell on the outside door of the flat this time. It was not a single pressure of the button. It lasted for a long time with a kind of steady action that was very effective, the sheer making of noise.

�Assuredly, she has excited herself,’ said Poirot.

He heard George go to the door, open it, and before any decorous announcement could be made the door of his sitting-room opened and Ariadne Oliver charged through it, with George in tow[30 - in tow – на буксире] behind her, hanging on to something that looked like a fisherman’s sou’wester and oilskins[31 - sou’wester – непромокаемая шляпа, зюйдвестка; oilskins – штормовка, дождевик].

�What on earth are you wearing?’ said Hercule Poirot.

�Let George take it from you. It’s very wet.’

�Of course it’s wet,’ said Mrs Oliver. �It’s very wet out. I never thought about water before. It’s a terrible thing to think of.’

Poirot looked at her with interest.

�Will you have some lemon barley water,’ he said, �or could I persuade you to a small glass of eau de vie[32 - eau de vie – (фр., букв.