The Hound of the Baskervilles — Page 2

English → Fr Chapter 2. Level 7/10

I looked over his shoulder at the yellow paper and the faded script.

Je regardai par-dessus son épaule le papier jauni et l'écriture délavée.

At the head was written: "Baskerville Hall," and below in large, scrawling figures: "1742."

En tête était écrit : « Baskerville Hall », et plus bas en grands chiffres griffonnés : « 1742 ».

"It appears to be a statement of some sort."

« Cela semble être une sorte de déclaration. »

"Yes, it is a statement of a certain legend which runs in the Baskerville family."

« Oui, c'est le récit d'une certaine légende qui court dans la famille Baskerville. »

"But I understand that it is something more modern and practical upon which you wish to consult me?"

« Mais je crois comprendre que c'est sur quelque chose de plus moderne et de plus concret que vous souhaitez me consulter ? »

"Most modern. A most practical, pressing matter, which must be decided within twenty-four hours.

« Très moderne, en effet. Une affaire des plus pratiques et des plus urgentes, qui doit être réglée dans les vingt-quatre heures.

But the manuscript is short and is intimately connected with the affair.

Mais le manuscrit est court et est intimement lié à l'affaire.

With your permission I will read it to you."

Avec votre permission, je vais vous le lire. »

Holmes leaned back in his chair, placed his finger-tips together, and closed his eyes, with an air of resignation.

Holmes se renversa dans son fauteuil, joignit le bout de ses doigts et ferma les yeux, avec un air de résignation.

Dr. Mortimer turned the manuscript to the light and read in a high, cracking voice the following curious, old-world narrative:

Le Dr Mortimer tourna le manuscrit vers la lumière et lut d'une voix aiguë et chevrotante le curieux récit d'un autre âge qui suit :

"Of the origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles there have been many statements, yet as I come in a direct line from Hugo Baskerville, and as I had the story from my father, who also had it from his, I have set it down with all belief that it occurred even as is here set forth.

« Sur l'origine du Chien des Baskerville, il existe de nombreux récits ; cependant, comme je descends en ligne directe de Hugo Baskerville, et que je tiens cette histoire de mon père, qui lui-même la tenait du sien, je l'ai consignée avec la ferme conviction qu'elle s'est produite exactement telle qu'elle est ici rapportée.

And I would have you believe, my sons, that the same Justice which punishes sin may also most graciously forgive it, and that no ban is so heavy but that by prayer and repentance it may be removed.

Et je voudrais vous faire croire, mes fils, que la même Justice qui punit le péché peut aussi le pardonner avec la plus grande bienveillance, et qu'aucune malédiction n'est si lourde qu'elle ne puisse être levée par la prière et le repentir.

Vocabulary

Je: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'
regardai: Past tense of 'regarder'; looked at something
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'per'
dessus: Adverb or preposition meaning 'above' or 'over'
son: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'
épaule: Noun meaning 'shoulder', part of the body
le: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular)
papier: Noun meaning 'paper', a writing or document material
jauni: Adjective meaning 'yellowed', turned yellow with age
et: Conjunction meaning 'and', linking words or clauses
l': Contracted definite article 'le' or 'la' before vowel
écriture: Noun meaning 'handwriting' or 'writing style'
délavée: Adjective meaning 'faded', washed out in color
En: Preposition meaning 'in', 'at', or 'as'
tête: Noun meaning 'head'; 'en tête' means 'at the top'
était: Imperfect tense of 'être'; was or used to be
écrit: Past participle of 'écrire'; written down
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'further'; also 'no more'
bas: Adjective or adverb meaning 'low' or 'below'
en: Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'by'
grands: Adjective meaning 'large' or 'big' (masculine plural)
chiffres: Noun meaning 'numbers' or 'figures', numerical digits
griffonnés: Adjective meaning 'scrawled' or 'hastily written'
Cela: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this'
semble: Verb 'sembler' meaning 'seems' or 'appears to be'
être: Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'
une: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine)
sorte: Noun meaning 'sort', 'kind', or 'type'
de: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'
déclaration: Noun meaning 'declaration' or 'statement'
Oui: Adverb meaning 'yes', affirmative response
c': Contracted form of 'ce' used before 'est'
est: Third person singular of 'être'; meaning 'is'
récit: Noun meaning 'account', 'narrative', or 'story'
d': Contracted preposition 'de' before a vowel sound
certaine: Adjective meaning 'a certain' or 'particular'
légende: Noun meaning 'legend' or 'myth' passed down orally
qui: Relative pronoun meaning 'who', 'which', or 'that'
court: Verb 'courir' meaning 'circulates' or 'runs'
dans: Preposition meaning 'in', 'inside', or 'within'
la: Definite article meaning 'the' (feminine singular)
famille: Noun meaning 'family', a group of related people
Mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast
je: First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'
crois: Verb 'croire' meaning 'believe' or 'think'
comprendre: Infinitive meaning 'to understand' or 'to grasp'
que: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'what'
sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'about', or 'over'
quelque: Adjective meaning 'some' or 'a certain'
chose: Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'
moderne: Adjective meaning 'modern' or 'contemporary'
concret: Adjective meaning 'concrete', 'specific', or 'tangible'
vous: Second person pronoun meaning 'you' (formal or plural)
souhaitez: Verb 'souhaiter' meaning 'wish' or 'desire'
me: First person object pronoun meaning 'me'
consulter: Infinitive meaning 'to consult' or 'to seek advice'
Très: Adverb meaning 'very', intensifying an adjective
effet: Noun meaning 'effect'; 'en effet' means 'indeed'
Une: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine)
affaire: Noun meaning 'matter', 'case', or 'affair'
des: Partitive or plural article meaning 'some' or 'of the'
pratiques: Noun meaning 'practices' or adjective 'practical'
urgentes: Adjective meaning 'urgent' or 'pressing' (feminine plural)
doit: Verb 'devoir' meaning 'must' or 'has to'
réglée: Past participle meaning 'resolved' or 'settled'
les: Definite plural article meaning 'the'
vingt: Number meaning 'twenty'
quatre: Number meaning 'four'
heures: Noun meaning 'hours'; used in time expressions
manuscrit: Noun meaning 'manuscript', a handwritten or old document
intimement: Adverb meaning 'intimately' or 'closely connected'
lié: Past participle meaning 'linked' or 'connected'
à: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'
Avec: Preposition meaning 'with'
votre: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (formal)
permission: Noun meaning 'permission' or 'authorization'
vais: Verb 'aller' present tense; 'je vais' means 'I am going'
lire: Infinitive meaning 'to read'
se: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', or 'itself'
renversa: Verb 'se renverser'; leaned back in his chair
fauteuil: Noun meaning 'armchair', a comfortable upholstered seat
joignit: Verb 'joindre'; joined or pressed together
bout: Noun meaning 'tip' or 'end'; 'bout des doigts' means fingertips
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural)
doigts: Noun meaning 'fingers'
ferma: Verb 'fermer'; closed (past tense)
yeux: Noun meaning 'eyes', plural of 'œil'
avec: Preposition meaning 'with'
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine)
air: Noun meaning 'air', 'look', or 'expression'
résignation: Noun meaning 'resignation', acceptance of something unpleasant
Le: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular)
Dr: Abbreviation for 'Docteur', meaning 'Doctor'
tourna: Verb 'tourner'; turned (past tense)
vers: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'towards'
lumière: Noun meaning 'light', natural or artificial brightness
lut: Verb 'lire' in past tense; he/she read aloud
voix: Noun meaning 'voice', the sound produced when speaking
aiguë: Adjective meaning 'high-pitched' or 'sharp' (feminine)
chevrotante: Adjective meaning 'quavering' or 'trembling' voice
curieux: Adjective meaning 'curious', 'strange', or 'odd'
autre: Adjective meaning 'other' or 'another'
âge: Noun meaning 'age' or 'era'; a period in time
suit: Verb 'suivre'; follows; 'ce qui suit' means 'the following'
Sur: Preposition meaning 'on', 'about', or 'concerning'
origine: Noun meaning 'origin' or 'source'
du: Contracted article 'de le' meaning 'of the'
Chien: Noun meaning 'dog'; here refers to the Hound
il: Third person singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'
existe: Verb 'exister' meaning 'exists' or 'there are'
nombreux: Adjective meaning 'numerous' or 'many'
récits: Noun meaning 'accounts', 'stories', or 'narratives'
cependant: Adverb meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'
comme: Conjunction meaning 'as', 'since', or 'like'
descends: Verb 'descendre'; descend or come down in lineage
ligne: Noun meaning 'line' or 'lineage'
directe: Adjective meaning 'direct' or 'straight' (feminine)
tiens: Verb 'tenir' meaning 'hold' or 'receive from'
cette: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (feminine)
histoire: Noun meaning 'story', 'history', or 'account'
mon: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine)
père: Noun meaning 'father'
lui: Pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him/her'
même: Adjective or adverb meaning 'same', 'even', or 'itself'
tenait: Imperfect of 'tenir'; held or received it from
sien: Possessive pronoun meaning 'his own' or 'his father's'
ai: Auxiliary verb 'avoir'; 'j'ai' means 'I have'
consignée: Verb 'consigner'; recorded or written down formally
ferme: Adjective meaning 'firm' or 'strong'; also 'farmhouse'
conviction: Noun meaning 'conviction' or 'firm belief'
qu': Contracted conjunction 'que' before a vowel
elle: Third person singular pronoun meaning 'she' or 'it'
s': Contracted reflexive pronoun 'se' before a vowel
produite: Past participle meaning 'occurred' or 'took place'
exactement: Adverb meaning 'exactly' or 'precisely'
telle: Adjective meaning 'such' or 'as'; 'telle que' means 'as'
ici: Adverb meaning 'here', indicating this place
rapportée: Past participle meaning 'reported' or 'recounted'
Et: Conjunction meaning 'and'
voudrais: Conditional of 'vouloir'; 'I would like'
faire: Infinitive meaning 'to do' or 'to make'
croire: Infinitive meaning 'to believe' or 'to think'
mes: Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (plural)
fils: Noun meaning 'son' or 'sons'
Justice: Noun meaning 'justice' or 'fairness'
punit: Verb 'punir' meaning 'punishes' or 'penalizes'
péché: Noun meaning 'sin' or 'wrongdoing'
peut: Verb 'pouvoir' meaning 'can' or 'may'
aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'as well'
pardonner: Infinitive meaning 'to forgive' or 'to pardon'
grande: Adjective meaning 'great', 'large', or 'big' (feminine)
bienveillance: Noun meaning 'benevolence' or 'kindness'
aucune: Adjective meaning 'no', 'none', or 'not any' (feminine)
malédiction: Noun meaning 'curse' or 'malediction'
n': Contracted negation 'ne' before a vowel
si: Conjunction meaning 'so', 'if', or 'such'
lourde: Adjective meaning 'heavy' or 'burdensome' (feminine)
ne: Negation particle used with 'pas', 'jamais', etc.
puisse: Subjunctive of 'pouvoir'; meaning 'can be' or 'may be'
levée: Past participle meaning 'lifted' or 'raised' (feminine)
prière: Noun meaning 'prayer' or 'plea'
repentir: Noun or verb meaning 'repentance' or 'to repent'

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