4. Simon cross at last (наконец-то)!

JC: Please don't worry (не волнуйтесь). We just (просто) want to ask about your patient, Simon Cross.

D: Simon? Why? He just (просто) came (to come - приходить; come-came-come) for (за) prescriptions (рецепт).

JC: Prescriptions? Is he ill (болен)?

D: No, but his friend is. She needs a lot of medicine. I know that Simon worked hard (усердно трудился) to buy (чтобы купить) it. He came to me every month (месяц). And then, sud­denly (вдруг), he disappeared (to disappear - исчезать).

DH: Yes, because he robbed (to rob - ограбить) a bank and went to prison (отправился в тюрьму; go-went-gone).

D: Oh, no! It must be a mistake. He's a very good guy! And I got a letter (получил письмо; get-got-got) from him 3 days ago (3 дня назад).

JC: What?!

D: Yes a letter from Simon Cross. He asks to send (послать) him the prescriptions.

JC: But the address! What is the address?

D: It's a hotel. He lives in a hotel now.

DH: What hotel?!

D: Just a moment. .. I don't remember ... Ah, of course! It's "The Hotel California".

Chapter eight

1. WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?

Detective Hunt and Constable Connor are shocked (потрясенный).Simon Cross lives at the Hotel California! They take a taxi and go there.

JC: This Simon Cross, what does he look like (как он выглядит)?

DH: I gave (давал; give-gave-given) you the photo, constable.

JC: Yes, I know. He has fair hair (светлые волосы) and blue eyes (голубые глаза). But I mean, is he tall (высокий) or short (низкий)? Thin (худой) or fat (толстый)? Does he have any special (особый) features (черты)?

DH: Nothing special (ничего особенного), I'm afraid. He's me­dium (средний) height (рост), well-built (хорошо сложенный), no glasses (очки), no moustache (усы), no beard (борода).

JC: How will we find (находить) him?

DH: First (сначала), we'll go to Robert and ask him about the guests (постояльцы; гости).

2. WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

R: Good afternoon, sir, ma'am.

DH: Hello again, Robert. First, we want to tell you something. We're from Scotland Yard. I'm detective Hunt, and this is constable Connor.

R: Oh ... it's ... nice to meet you.

DH: We want to ask you about a man. He's staying at this hotel.

R: There are three men at the California now. Mr. O'Hara, Mr. McLeod, and Mr. Jones.

DH: Mr. O'Hara, what does he look like?

R: He's from Ireland (Ирландия). He has red hair (рыжие волосы), blue eyes and a pug nose (курносый нос). He's very short, too.

DH: No, it's not him. And what about (как насчет) Mr. McLeod?

R: He's from Scotland. He's very tall and big, with moustache and a thick (густой) beard. He has thick brown hair.

DH: N-no, it's not Mr. McLeod. He must be Mr. Jones. What does he look like?

R: Mr. Jones is an old man. He's from England. He is bald (лысый), wrinkled (морщинистый) and wears (носит) glasses (очки). He's short, too.

DH: So, it's not him ... Hmm ... it's getting interesting (становится интересно).

3. HE LOOKS LIKE YOU!

DH: Please show (показать) him the photo, constable Connor.

JC: Yes, sir. Look here, Robert. This man is a criminal. His name is Simon Cross. He has a haircut (стрижка) just like you, but your hair is dark (темный), not fair (светлый). And he has eyes (глаза) like... you, but he doesn't wear glasses. And he has a face (лицо) like you but. .. He ... he looks just (точно) like you, but without (без) moustache! Oh, my Goodness (Боже мой)!

DH: So, you changed (поменял) the colour of your hair and put on (надел) glasses and false (фальшивый) mustache. Take them off (to take off - снимать), please.

R: Yes, sir.

DH: Hello, Simon Cross. Here you are, at last (наконец-то). Nice to meet you!

4. THE STORY OF SIMON CROSS

SC = Simon Cross

SC: Her name is Alice. We went to school together, and she is my best friend (лучший друг). When she was 18, her par­ents died (to die - умирать) in a car crash (автокатастрофа), so I took care (to take care - заботиться; take-took-taken) of her. She has diabetes (диабет), and she needs medicine. I lost (to lose - терять; lose-lost-lost) my job in the pub, found (to find - находить; find-found-found) another job - in the food shop - then lost it, too. I was so desperate (в отчаянии) that I decided (to decide - решать) to rob a bank. Of course they caught me (to catch - ловить; catch-caught-caught) and sent (to send - послать; send-sent-sent) me to prison. But I escaped. I couldn't go home because of the police. I got this job (to get a job­ – получить работу; get-got-got), so I could live in the hotel. Then I came home and took (to take - брать; take-took-taken) all my things and brought (to bring - приносить; bring-brought-brought) them to the hotel. Then I sent a letter to the doc, and he sent me the prescriptions. I sent them to Alice yesterday. I couldn't go to her, of course. She doesn't know I'm a criminal. It will break her heart (разобьет ей сердце). And now I must go to prison again, and it means (это значит) that she will go to hospital. And she hates (ненавидит) hospitals most of all (больше всего) in the world. Dammit, how could I be such an idiot?