A Study in Scarlet — Page 11
"
«
"I always smoke 'ship's' myself," I answered.
« Je fume toujours du tabac de marine moi-même », répondis-je.
"That's good enough. I generally have chemicals about, and occasionally do experiments. Would that annoy you?"
« C'est bien. J'ai généralement des produits chimiques avec moi, et je fais parfois des expériences. Cela vous dérangerait-il ? »
"By no means."
« Pas du tout. »
"Let me see—what are my other shortcomings. I get in the dumps at times, and don't open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I'll soon be right. What have you to confess now? It's just as well for two fellows to know the worst of one another before they begin to live together."
« Voyons — quels sont mes autres défauts. Il m'arrive d'avoir le cafard, et de ne pas ouvrir la bouche pendant des jours entiers. Vous ne devez pas croire que je fais la tête quand cela m'arrive. Laissez-moi tranquille, et je reviendrai vite à la normale. Qu'avez-vous à confesser, maintenant ? Il vaut mieux que deux colocataires se connaissent mutuellement leurs pires défauts avant de commencer à vivre ensemble. »
I laughed at this cross-examination. "I keep a bull pup," I said, "and I object to rows because my nerves are shaken, and I get up at all sorts of ungodly hours, and I am extremely lazy. I have another set of vices when I'm well, but those are the principal ones at present."
Je ris de cet interrogatoire. « J'ai un bouledogue », dis-je, « et je n'aime pas le bruit car mes nerfs sont ébranlés, je me lève à des heures impossibles, et je suis extrêmement paresseux. J'ai d'autres défauts quand je suis en bonne santé, mais ce sont là les principaux pour le moment. »
"Do you include violin-playing in your category of rows?" he asked, anxiously.
« Rangez-vous le violon dans votre catégorie de bruit ? » demanda-t-il, avec inquiétude.
"It depends on the player," I answered. "A well-played violin is a treat for the gods—a badly-played one——"
« Cela dépend du joueur », répondis-je. « Un violon bien joué est un régal pour les dieux — un violon mal joué — »
"Oh, that's all right," he cried, with a merry laugh. "I think we may consider the thing as settled—that is, if the rooms are agreeable to you."
« Oh, très bien », s'écria-t-il avec un joyeux éclat de rire. « Je pense que nous pouvons considérer l'affaire comme réglée — c'est-à-dire, si les chambres vous conviennent. »
"When shall we see them?"
« Quand irons-nous les voir ? »
"Call for me here at noon to-morrow, and we'll go together and settle everything," he answered.
« Venez me chercher ici à midi demain, et nous irons ensemble tout régler », répondit-il.
"All right—noon exactly," said I, shaking his hand.
« Très bien — midi précis », dis-je en lui serrant la main.
Vocabulary
- fume
- To smoke, as in smoking tobacco or cigarettes.
- toujours
- Always or still; indicates continuity or habitual action.
- du
- Contraction of 'de le'; partitive article meaning 'some'.
- tabac
- Tobacco; dried plant leaves used for smoking.
- marine
- Navy; related to the sea or naval forces.
- moi
- Stressed first person pronoun meaning 'me' or 'I'.
- même
- Same, even, or self; used for emphasis or comparison.
- répondis
- Past tense of 'répondre'; I replied or answered.
- bien
- Well or good; expresses approval or manner.
- généralement
- Generally or usually; in most cases or typically.
- produits
- Products or substances; things produced or manufactured.
- chimiques
- Chemical; relating to chemistry or chemical substances.
- parfois
- Sometimes; occasionally, not always or never.
- expériences
- Experiments or experiences; trials to test hypotheses.
- Cela
- That; demonstrative pronoun referring to something mentioned.
- dérangerait
- Would bother or disturb; conditional of 'déranger'.
- tout
- All, everything, or quite; indicates totality.
- Voyons
- Let's see; first person plural imperative of 'voir'.
- quels
- Which or what; masculine plural interrogative adjective.
- autres
- Other or others; referring to additional things or people.
- défauts
- Faults or flaws; shortcomings or imperfections in character.
- arrive
- Happens or arrives; third person of 'arriver'.
- avoir
- To have; infinitive of the verb 'avoir'.
- cafard
- The blues or cockroach; feeling of depression or gloom.
- ouvrir
- To open; infinitive verb meaning to open something.
- bouche
- Mouth; the opening in the face used for speaking.
- pendant
- During or for; preposition indicating a period of time.
- jours
- Days; plural of 'jour', units of time.
- entiers
- Entire or whole; complete without exception or break.
- devez
- You must; second person plural of 'devoir'.
- croire
- To believe or think; to consider something true.
- tête
- Head; the part of the body above the neck.
- quand
- When; conjunction or adverb indicating time.
- cela
- That; demonstrative pronoun referring to something distant.
- Laissez
- Leave or let; imperative of 'laisser', to allow.
- tranquille
- Quiet or calm; peaceful, undisturbed, or left alone.
- reviendrai
- I will come back; future tense of 'revenir'.
- vite
- Quickly or fast; at a rapid pace.
- normale
- Normal; usual, standard, or expected state.
- confesser
- To confess; to admit or reveal personal faults.
- maintenant
- Now; at the present moment in time.
- vaut
- Is worth; third person singular of 'valoir'.
- mieux
- Better; comparative adverb indicating improvement.
- colocataires
- Roommates or flatmates; people sharing a living space.
- connaissent
- Know each other; third person plural of 'connaître'.
- mutuellement
- Mutually; in a way that is shared between both parties.
- leurs
- Their; third person plural possessive adjective.
- pires
- Worst; plural superlative of 'mauvais', meaning bad.
- avant
- Before; preposition or adverb indicating prior time.
- commencer
- To begin or start; initiating an action or process.
- vivre
- To live; to exist or reside somewhere.
- ensemble
- Together; in the same place or jointly.
- ris
- Laughed or laugh; past tense or imperative of 'rire'.
- cet
- This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective before vowel.
- interrogatoire
- Interrogation; formal questioning session or interview.
- bouledogue
- Bulldog; a stocky breed of dog.
- dis
- Said; first or second person past tense of 'dire'.
- aime
- Likes or loves; first or third person of 'aimer'.
- bruit
- Noise or sound; unwanted or loud auditory disturbance.
- car
- Because or for; conjunction explaining a reason.
- nerfs
- Nerves; bodily nerves or frayed emotional state.
- ébranlés
- Shaken or rattled; disturbed or destabilized nerves.
- lève
- Get up or rise; first person of 'se lever'.
- heures
- Hours or o'clock; units of time measurement.
- impossibles
- Impossible; unreasonable or extremely inconvenient times.
- extrêmement
- Extremely; to a very great degree or extent.
- paresseux
- Lazy; unwilling to work or exert effort.
- bonne
- Good; feminine form of 'bon', positive quality.
- santé
- Health; physical or mental well-being.
- mais
- But; conjunction indicating contrast or opposition.
- là
- There; adverb indicating a place or situation.
- principaux
- Main or principal; most important, plural masculine form.
- moment
- Moment; a short period of time right now.
- Rangez
- Put away or tidy; imperative of 'ranger'.
- violon
- Violin; a bowed string musical instrument.
- votre
- Your; second person plural or formal possessive adjective.
- catégorie
- Category; a classification or grouping of items.
- demanda
- Asked; third person past tense of 'demander'.
- inquiétude
- Worry or anxiety; a feeling of concern or unease.
- dépend
- Depends; third person singular of 'dépendre'.
- joueur
- Player or gambler; one who plays or performs.
- joué
- Played; past participle of 'jouer'.
- régal
- Treat or delight; something greatly enjoyable or pleasing.
- dieux
- Gods; plural of 'dieu', divine beings.
- mal
- Bad or poorly; negatively or with difficulty.
- écria
- Exclaimed; third person past tense of 's'écrier'.
- joyeux
- Joyful or cheerful; full of happiness and good humor.
- éclat
- Burst or brilliance; a sudden loud sound or sparkle.
- rire
- Laughter or to laugh; expression of amusement.
- pense
- Think; first person singular of 'penser'.
- pouvons
- We can; first person plural of 'pouvoir'.
- considérer
- To consider; to think about carefully or regard as.
- affaire
- Matter or affair; a business or situation to be handled.
- comme
- As or like; comparison or manner conjunction.
- réglée
- Settled or resolved; past participle of 'régler'.
- dire
- To say or tell; infinitive of the verb 'dire'.
- si
- If or so; conditional conjunction or intensifier.
- chambres
- Rooms or bedrooms; spaces in a house or apartment.
- conviennent
- Suit or are suitable; third person plural of 'convenir'.
- Quand
- When; question word or conjunction for time.
- irons
- We will go; first person plural future of 'aller'.
- voir
- To see; infinitive of the verb meaning to view.
- Venez
- Come; second person plural imperative of 'venir'.
- chercher
- To look for or fetch; to search for something.
- ici
- Here; adverb indicating this place or location.
- midi
- Noon; twelve o'clock in the middle of the day.
- demain
- Tomorrow; the day following today.
- régler
- To settle or sort out; to resolve or arrange something.
- répondit
- Replied; third person past tense of 'répondre'.
- précis
- Precise or exact; accurate and clear without ambiguity.
- lui
- Him or her; third person indirect object pronoun.
- serrant
- Gripping or shaking; present participle of 'serrer'.
- main
- Hand; the body part at the end of the arm.
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