exterior [eks'tIqrIq], intrepid [In'trepId], ceaseless ['si:slIs], minor ['maInq]

He remembered too that beneath the brash and comic exterior he had recognized the intrepid bravery of women who lived out lives of hardship and ceaseless toil to render their simple duties to their own, leavened with no more than the sprinkling of the salt of minor grumbling and acid commentary upon the scoundrels and scallywags who ran things. He could see her again now, the reddish-gray hair down about her eyes, a cigarette tucked behind one ear, her head bobbing with concentrated energy as she charred the premises. He could almost hear her speak again. And then he realized that he had.

For seated next him (потому что сидящее рядом с ним; next — следующий; затем; рядом) in the most exclusive and sophisticated dress salon in Paris (в самом эксклюзивном и утонченном салоне одежды в Париже) was the reincarnation of his Madame Mops (было перевоплощение его Мадам Швабры) of half a century ago (полувековой давности).

True (правда), there was no physical resemblance (не было физического сходства), for his neighbor was slight (потому что его соседка была худощавой) and worn thin by work (и потерявшей обаяние от работы; to wear thin — слабеть; терять привлекательность, обаяние: «износить до тонкого /состояния/») — the old gentleman's eyes dropping to her hands confirmed the guess (глаза пожилого джентльмена, взглянув: «упав» на ее руки, подтвердили это предположение) — but that was not how he recognized her (но он узнал ее не по этому: «но это не было как он узнал ее»); it was by the bearing (это было = он узнал ее по манере вести себя), the speech, of course (по речи, конечно), and the naughty little eyes (и озорным маленьким глазкам), but above all by the aura of indomitable courage (но более всего — по ауре неукротимого мужества) and independence (и независимости) and impudence (и дерзости) that surrounded her (которая окружала ее).

sophisticated [sq'fIstIkeItId], guess [ges], impudence ['Impjudqns]

For seated next him in the most exclusive and sophisticated dress salon in Paris was the reincarnation of his Madame Mops of half a century ago.

True, there was no physical resemblance, for his neighbor was slight and worn thin by work — the old gentleman's eyes dropping to her hands confirmed the guess — but that was not how he recognized her; it was by the bearing, the speech, of course, and the naughty little eyes, but above all by the aura of indomitable courage and independence and impudence that surrounded her.

"A Dior dress," he echoed her (повторил он /ее слова/)," a splendid idea (великолепная мысль). Let us hope (будем надеяться) that you will find here this afternoon what you desire (что вы найдете здесь сегодня вечером то, что вы желаете)."

There was no need in him to question her (не было нужды = ему не требовалось спрашивать ее) as to how it was possible for her to fulfill such a wish (относительно того, как было возможным для нее исполнить такое желание).