The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes — Page 5

English → Fr Full Text Level 6/10

"It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts.

« C'est la simplicité même », dit-il ; « mes yeux me disent que sur l'intérieur de votre chaussure gauche, juste là où la lumière du feu la frappe, le cuir est entaillé par six coupures presque parallèles.

Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it.

Il est évident qu'elles ont été causées par quelqu'un qui a très négligemment gratté tout autour des bords de la semelle afin d'en retirer la boue incrustée.

Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey.

D'où, vous voyez, ma double déduction que vous étiez sorti par un temps abominable, et que vous aviez affaire à un spécimen particulièrement malveillant de la bonne à tout faire londonienne, tailleuse de chaussures.

As to your practice, if a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession."

Quant à votre pratique, si un gentleman entre dans mes appartements avec une odeur d'iodoforme, une marque noire de nitrate d'argent sur son index droit, et un renflement sur le côté droit de son chapeau haut-de-forme révélant l'endroit où il a dissimulé son stéthoscope, je serais vraiment obtus si je ne le déclarais pas membre actif de la profession médicale. »

I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction.

Je ne pus m'empêcher de rire de la facilité avec laquelle il expliquait son processus de déduction.

"When I hear you give your reasons," I remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process.

« Quand je vous entends exposer vos raisons », fis-je remarquer, « la chose me paraît toujours d'une simplicité si ridicule que je pourrais facilement la faire moi-même, bien qu'à chaque exemple successif de votre raisonnement je sois déconcerté jusqu'à ce que vous expliquiez votre démarche.

And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours."

Et pourtant je crois que mes yeux valent bien les vôtres. »

"Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair.

« Tout à fait », répondit-il, en allumant une cigarette et en se laissant tomber dans un fauteuil.

"You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.

« Vous voyez, mais vous n'observez pas. La distinction est claire.

Vocabulary

C': Contracted form of 'ce' meaning 'it' or 'this'.
est: Third person singular of 'être'; means 'is'.
la: Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'.
simplicité: The quality of being simple or uncomplicated.
même: Means 'same', 'even', or 'itself' depending on context.
dit-il: Inverted form meaning 'he said', used in narration.
mes: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural).
yeux: Plural of 'œil'; means 'eyes'.
me: First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
disent: Third person plural of 'dire'; means 'tell' or 'say'.
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'than'.
sur: Preposition meaning 'on' or 'upon'.
l': Contracted definite article meaning 'the' before a vowel.
intérieur: The inside or inner part of something.
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
votre: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal/plural).
chaussure: A shoe or footwear worn on the foot.
gauche: Adjective or noun meaning 'left' (direction or side).
juste: Means 'just', 'right', 'fair', or 'exactly'.
là: Adverb meaning 'there' indicating a specific place.
lumière: Noun meaning 'light', as from the sun or fire.
du: Contracted article meaning 'of the' or 'some'.
feu: Noun meaning 'fire' or 'flame'.
frappe: Third person singular of 'frapper'; means 'strikes' or 'hits'.
le: Masculine definite article meaning 'the'.
cuir: Noun meaning 'leather', a material made from animal hide.
entaillé: Past participle of 'entailler'; means 'notched' or 'cut'.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'.
six: The number six.
coupures: Plural noun meaning 'cuts' or 'incisions'.
presque: Adverb meaning 'almost' or 'nearly'.
parallèles: Adjective meaning 'parallel', running side by side.
Il: Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
évident: Adjective meaning 'evident', 'obvious', or 'clear'.
qu': Contracted conjunction meaning 'that' before a vowel.
elles: Third person plural feminine pronoun meaning 'they'.
ont: Third person plural of 'avoir'; means 'have'.
été: Past participle of 'être'; means 'been'.
causées: Past participle of 'causer'; means 'caused' (feminine plural).
quelqu': Contracted form of 'quelque'; means 'some' or 'someone'.
un: Indefinite article or numeral meaning 'a' or 'one'.
a: Third person singular of 'avoir'; means 'has'.
très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying an adjective or adverb.
négligemment: Adverb meaning 'negligently' or 'carelessly'.
gratté: Past participle of 'gratter'; means 'scratched' or 'scraped'.
tout: Means 'all', 'every', or 'completely' depending on context.
autour: Adverb or preposition meaning 'around' or 'surrounding'.
des: Contracted article meaning 'of the' or 'some' (plural).
bords: Plural noun meaning 'edges' or 'borders'.
semelle: Noun meaning 'sole', the bottom part of a shoe.
afin: Conjunction used in 'afin de/que' meaning 'in order to'.
d': Contracted preposition meaning 'of' or 'from' before vowel.
en: Pronoun or preposition meaning 'in', 'of it', or 'some'.
retirer: Verb meaning 'to remove' or 'to take out'.
boue: Noun meaning 'mud' or 'dirty wet earth.
incrustée: Past participle meaning 'encrusted' or 'embedded' (feminine).
D': Contracted preposition 'de' before a vowel; means 'of' or 'from'.
vous: Second person pronoun meaning 'you' (formal or plural).
voyez: Second person plural of 'voir'; means 'you see'.
ma: Feminine possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
double: Adjective meaning 'double' or 'twofold'.
déduction: Noun meaning 'deduction' or 'inference' from evidence.
étiez: Second person plural imperfect of 'être'; means 'you were'.
sorti: Past participle of 'sortir'; means 'gone out' or 'left'.
temps: Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'.
abominable: Adjective meaning 'abominable', extremely bad or unpleasant.
et: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
aviez: Second person plural imperfect of 'avoir'; means 'you had'.
affaire: Noun meaning 'matter', 'business', or 'deal'.
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
spécimen: Noun meaning 'specimen' or 'example' of a type.
particulièrement: Adverb meaning 'particularly' or 'especially'.
malveillant: Adjective meaning 'malevolent' or 'ill-intentioned'.
bonne: Feminine adjective meaning 'good'; also a maid.
faire: Infinitive verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
londonienne: Feminine adjective meaning 'of London' or 'Londoner'.
tailleuse: Noun meaning 'female tailor' or 'seamstress'.
chaussures: Plural noun meaning 'shoes' or 'footwear'.
Quant: Used in 'quant à' meaning 'as for' or 'regarding'.
pratique: Adjective or noun meaning 'practical' or 'practice'.
si: Conjunction meaning 'if' or adverb meaning 'so'.
gentleman: A well-mannered man of good social standing.
entre: Preposition meaning 'between' or verb form 'enters'.
dans: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'inside'.
appartements: Plural noun meaning 'apartments' or 'rooms'.
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'.
une: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'.
odeur: Noun meaning 'smell' or 'odor'.
marque: Noun meaning 'mark', 'brand', or 'stain'.
noire: Feminine adjective meaning 'black'.
argent: Noun meaning 'silver' (metal) or 'money'.
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
index: Noun meaning 'index finger', the first finger.
droit: Adjective meaning 'right' (direction) or 'straight'.
renflement: Noun meaning 'bulge' or 'swelling' on a surface.
côté: Noun meaning 'side' or 'flank'.
chapeau: Noun meaning 'hat'.
haut-de-forme: Noun meaning 'top hat', a tall formal hat.
révélant: Present participle of 'révéler'; meaning 'revealing'.
endroit: Noun meaning 'place', 'spot', or 'location'.
il: Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
dissimulé: Past participle of 'dissimuler'; means 'hidden' or 'concealed'.
je: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
serais: First person singular conditional of 'être'; means 'would be'.
vraiment: Adverb meaning 'truly', 'really', or 'genuinely'.
obtus: Adjective meaning 'obtuse', slow to understand or dull.
ne: Negative particle used with 'pas' to negate a verb.
déclarais: First person singular imperfect of 'déclarer'; means 'declared'.
pas: Negative adverb meaning 'not'; also means 'step'.
membre: Noun meaning 'member' of a group or organization.
actif: Adjective meaning 'active' or currently practicing.
profession: Noun meaning 'profession' or 'occupation'.
médicale: Feminine adjective meaning 'medical' relating to medicine.
Je: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
pus: First person singular passé simple of 'pouvoir'; means 'could'.
m': Contracted first person reflexive pronoun meaning 'myself'.
empêcher: Verb meaning 'to prevent' or 'to stop' someone from doing.
rire: Verb meaning 'to laugh'; also noun meaning 'laughter'.
facilité: Noun meaning 'ease' or 'facility' in doing something.
laquelle: Relative pronoun meaning 'which' (feminine singular).
expliquait: Third person singular imperfect of 'expliquer'; means 'explained'.
processus: Noun meaning 'process' or 'procedure'.
Quand: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
entends: First person singular of 'entendre'; means 'I hear'.
exposer: Verb meaning 'to expose', 'explain', or 'present'.
vos: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural, formal).
raisons: Plural noun meaning 'reasons' or 'arguments'.
fis-je: Inverted passé simple of 'faire'; means 'I said/remarked'.
remarquer: Verb meaning 'to notice' or 'to remark'.
chose: Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'.
paraît: Third person singular of 'paraître'; means 'seems' or 'appears'.
toujours: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'still'.
ridicule: Adjective meaning 'ridiculous' or 'absurd'.
pourrais: First person singular conditional of 'pouvoir'; means 'could'.
facilement: Adverb meaning 'easily' or 'without difficulty'.
moi-même: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'myself' (emphatic).
bien: Adverb meaning 'well'; also adjective meaning 'good'.
chaque: Adjective meaning 'each' or 'every'.
exemple: Noun meaning 'example' or 'instance'.
successif: Adjective meaning 'successive' or 'following one after another'.
raisonnement: Noun meaning 'reasoning' or 'line of thought'.
sois: First/second person subjunctive of 'être'; means 'be'.
déconcerté: Past participle meaning 'disconcerted' or 'baffled'.
jusqu': Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to' before a vowel.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
expliquiez: Second person plural subjunctive of 'expliquer'; means 'explain'.
démarche: Noun meaning 'gait', 'walk', or 'approach' to something.
Et: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
pourtant: Adverb meaning 'yet', 'however', or 'nevertheless'.
crois: First person singular of 'croire'; means 'I believe'.
valent: Third person plural of 'valoir'; means 'are worth'.
les: Plural definite article meaning 'the'.
vôtres: Possessive pronoun meaning 'yours' (plural, formal).
Tout: Means 'all', 'everything', or 'completely'.
fait: Noun meaning 'fact'; also past participle of 'faire'.
répondit-il: Inverted passé simple meaning 'he replied' or 'he answered'.
allumant: Present participle of 'allumer'; means 'lighting' or 'turning on'.
cigarette: A small roll of tobacco for smoking.
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', or 'itself'.
laissant: Present participle of 'laisser'; means 'letting' or 'leaving'.
tomber: Verb meaning 'to fall' or 'to drop'.
fauteuil: Noun meaning 'armchair', a comfortable padded seat.
Vous: Second person pronoun meaning 'you' (formal or plural).
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but'.
n': Contracted negative particle 'ne' before a vowel.
observez: Second person plural of 'observer'; means 'you observe'.
La: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
distinction: Noun meaning 'distinction' or 'difference' between things.
claire: Feminine adjective meaning 'clear', 'bright', or 'plain'.

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