The King in Yellow — Page 2

English → Fr HAWBERK, ARMOURER. Level 7/10

But I knew in my heart that all would come right, and that I should arrange their future as I expected to arrange that of my kind doctor, John Archer.

Mais je savais au fond de mon cœur que tout s'arrangerait, et que je disposerais de leur avenir comme je comptais disposer de celui de mon bon docteur, John Archer.

However, I should never have troubled myself about visiting them just then, had it not been, as I say, that the music of the tinkling hammer had for me this strong fascination.

Cependant, je ne me serais jamais soucié de leur rendre visite à ce moment-là, si ce n'avait été, comme je le dis, que la musique du marteau tintinnabulant exerçait sur moi cette puissante fascination.

I would sit for hours, listening and listening, and when a stray sunbeam struck the inlaid steel, the sensation it gave me was almost too keen to endure.

Je restais assis pendant des heures, écoutant sans fin, et lorsqu'un rayon de soleil égaré frappait l'acier incrusté, la sensation qu'il me procurait était presque trop vive pour être supportée.

My eyes would become fixed, dilating with a pleasure that stretched every nerve almost to breaking, until some movement of the old armourer cut off the ray of sunlight, then, still thrilling secretly, I leaned back and listened again to the sound of the polishing rag, swish! swish! rubbing rust from the rivets.

Mes yeux se fixaient, se dilatant d'un plaisir qui tendait chaque nerf presque jusqu'à la rupture, jusqu'à ce qu'un mouvement du vieil armurier interrompît le rayon de soleil ; alors, encore secrètement frémissant, je me renversais en arrière et j'écoutais de nouveau le bruit du chiffon à polir, chhhuit ! chhhuit ! frottant la rouille des rivets.

Constance worked with the embroidery over her knees, now and then pausing to examine more closely the pattern in the coloured plate from the Metropolitan Museum.

Constance travaillait à sa broderie posée sur ses genoux, s'arrêtant de temps en temps pour examiner de plus près le motif reproduit sur la planche en couleurs du Metropolitan Museum.

"Who is this for?" I asked.

« Pour qui est-ce ? » demandai-je.

Hawberk explained, that in addition to the treasures of armour in the Metropolitan Museum of which he had been appointed armourer, he also had charge of several collections belonging to rich amateurs.

Hawberk expliqua que, outre les trésors d'armures du Metropolitan Museum dont il avait été nommé armurier, il avait également la charge de plusieurs collections appartenant à de riches amateurs.

This was the missing greave of a famous suit which a client of his had traced to a little shop in Paris on the Quai d'Orsay.

Il s'agissait de la grève manquante d'un célèbre ensemble qu'un de ses clients avait retrouvé dans une petite boutique de Paris sur le Quai d'Orsay.

He, Hawberk, had negotiated for and secured the greave, and now the suit was complete.

Lui, Hawberk, avait négocié et obtenu la grève, et désormais l'ensemble était complet.

Vocabulary

Mais: mɛ — Conjunction meaning 'but', introduces contrast.
je: ʒə — First person singular subject pronoun 'I'.
savais: savɛ — Imperfect tense of 'savoir'; knew something.
au: o — Contraction of 'à le'; at the, to the.
fond: fɔ̃ — Bottom or depth; 'au fond' means deep down.
de: də — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
mon: mɔ̃ — Masculine singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
cœur: kœʁ — Heart, both literally and figuratively.
que: kə — Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'which'.
tout: tu — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'everything' or 'all'.
s'arrangerait: saʁɑ̃ʒʁɛ — Conditional of 's'arranger'; things would work out.
et: e — Coordinating conjunction meaning 'and'.
disposerais: dispozəʁɛ — Conditional of 'disposer'; I would arrange or control.
leur: lœʁ — Possessive adjective or pronoun meaning 'their' or 'them'.
avenir: avniʁ — Future, destiny; what lies ahead for someone.
comme: kɔm — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', 'how'.
comptais: kɔ̃tɛ — Imperfect of 'compter'; I intended or planned to.
disposer: dispoze — To arrange, dispose of, or have control over something.
celui: səlɥi — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'the one' (masculine).
bon: bɔ̃ — Adjective meaning 'good', 'kind', or 'worthy'.
docteur: dɔktœʁ — Title and noun meaning 'doctor'.
Cependant: səpɑ̃dɑ̃ — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'.
ne: nə — Negative particle, used with 'pas' or alone in negation.
me: mə — First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
serais: səʁɛ — Conditional of 'être'; I would be.
jamais: ʒamɛ — Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'.
soucié: susje — Past participle of 'se soucier'; worried or bothered.
rendre: ʁɑ̃dʁ — To give back, render, or pay (a visit).
visite: vizit — A visit or call to see someone.
à: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
moment-là: mɔmɑ̃ la — That moment; referring to a specific point in time.
si: si — Conjunction meaning 'if'; introduces a condition.
n'avait: navɛ — Negative imperfect of 'avoir'; had not.
été: ete — Past participle of 'être'; been.
le: lə — Masculine definite article or object pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it'.
dis: di — Past tense of 'dire'; said or told.
la: la — Feminine definite article meaning 'the'.
musique: myzik — Music; organized sound or melody.
du: dy — Contraction of 'de le'; of the, some.
marteau: maʁto — Hammer; a tool used for striking.
exerçait: ɛɡzɛʁsɛ — Imperfect of 'exercer'; was exerting or exercising influence.
sur: syʁ — Preposition meaning 'on', 'over', or 'upon'.
moi: mwa — Stressed first person pronoun meaning 'me' or 'I'.
cette: sɛt — Feminine demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'.
puissante: pɥisɑ̃t — Feminine adjective meaning powerful, mighty, or strong.
fascination: fasinasjɔ̃ — Fascination; a compelling irresistible attraction toward something.
Je: ʒə — First person singular subject pronoun meaning 'I'.
restais: ʁɛstɛ — Imperfect of 'rester'; I remained or stayed.
assis: asi — Past participle of 'asseoir'; seated, sitting down.
pendant: pɑ̃dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'during' or 'for' a period of time.
des: de — Plural indefinite article or partitive meaning 'some'.
heures: œʁ — Plural of 'heure'; hours or times of day.
écoutant: ekutɑ̃ — Present participle of 'écouter'; listening.
sans: sɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'without'.
fin: fɛ̃ — End or conclusion; also an adjective meaning 'fine'.
lorsqu'un: lɔʁskœ̃ — Conjunction 'lorsque' + article; 'when a'.
rayon: ʁɛjɔ̃ — Ray, beam of light, or shelf in a store.
soleil: sɔlɛj — Sun; the star at the center of our solar system.
égaré: eɡaʁe — Past participle of 'égarer'; lost, stray, wandering.
frappait: fʁapɛ — Imperfect of 'frapper'; was striking or hitting.
l'acier: lasje — Steel; a strong alloy of iron and carbon.
incrusté: ɛ̃kʁyste — Past participle of 'incruster'; encrusted or inlaid with decoration.
sensation: sɑ̃sasjɔ̃ — A sensation; a feeling perceived through the senses.
qu'il: kil — Contraction of 'que il'; that he or that it.
procurait: pʁɔkyʁɛ — Imperfect of 'procurer'; was providing or producing a feeling.
était: etɛ — Imperfect of 'être'; was.
presque: pʁɛsk — Adverb meaning 'almost' or 'nearly'.
trop: tʁo — Adverb meaning 'too' or 'too much'.
vive: viv — Feminine adjective meaning intense, vivid, or acute.
pour: puʁ — Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to'.
être: ɛtʁ — Infinitive 'to be'; fundamental linking verb.
supportée: sypɔʁte — Past participle of 'supporter'; tolerated or endured.
Mes: me — Plural possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
yeux: jø — Plural of 'œil'; eyes.
se: sə — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', 'itself', 'themselves'.
fixaient: fiksɛ — Imperfect of 'fixer'; were fixing or staring intently.
dilatant: dilatɑ̃ — Present participle of 'dilater'; dilating or expanding.
d'un: dœ̃ — Contraction of 'de un'; of a, from a.
plaisir: plɛziʁ — Pleasure, enjoyment, or delight.
qui: ki — Relative or interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'which'.
tendait: tɑ̃dɛ — Imperfect of 'tendre'; was stretching or straining.
chaque: ʃak — Adjective meaning 'each' or 'every'.
nerf: nɛʁf — Nerve; a fiber transmitting sensory or motor impulses.
jusqu'à: ʒyska — Preposition meaning 'until', 'up to', or 'as far as'.
rupture: ʁyptuʁ — Rupture, break, or snapping point under tension.
mouvement: muvmɑ̃ — Movement, motion, or gesture.
vieil: vjɛj — Masculine adjective form of 'vieux'; old (before a vowel).
interrompît: ɛ̃tɛʁɔ̃pi — Imperfect subjunctive of 'interrompre'; interrupted.
alors: alɔʁ — Adverb meaning 'then', 'so', or 'at that time'.
encore: ɑ̃kɔʁ — Adverb meaning 'still', 'again', or 'yet'.
secrètement: səkʁɛtmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning secretly, in a hidden or covert manner.
frémissant: fʁemisɑ̃ — Present participle of 'frémir'; trembling or shuddering slightly.
renversais: ʁɑ̃vɛʁsɛ — Imperfect of 'renverser'; I was leaning back or overturning.
en: ɑ̃ — Preposition or pronoun meaning 'in', 'on', or 'of it'.
arrière: aʁjɛʁ — Back, rear; direction or position behind.
j'écoutais: ʒekutɛ — Imperfect of 'écouter'; I was listening.
nouveau: nuvo — Adjective or adverb meaning 'new' or 'again' (de nouveau).
bruit: bʁɥi — Noise, sound; any audible disturbance.
chiffon: ʃifɔ̃ — A rag or soft cloth used for cleaning or polishing.
polir: poliʁ — To polish or make smooth and shiny.
frottant: fʁɔtɑ̃ — Present participle of 'frotter'; rubbing or scrubbing.
rouille: ʁuj — Rust; reddish corrosion forming on iron or steel.
travaillait: tʁavajɛ — Imperfect of 'travailler'; was working or laboring.
broderie: bʁɔdʁi — Embroidery; decorative needlework on fabric.
posée: poze — Past participle of 'poser'; placed or resting on something.
genoux: ʒənu — Plural of 'genou'; knees.
s'arrêtant: saʁɛtɑ̃ — Present participle of 's'arrêter'; stopping or pausing.
temps: tɑ̃ — Time or weather; fundamental noun with multiple meanings.
examiner: ɛɡzamine — To examine, inspect, or look at carefully.
plus: ply — Adverb meaning 'more', 'plus', or 'no longer'.
près: pʁɛ — Adverb or preposition meaning 'near' or 'close to'.
motif: mɔtif — Motif or pattern; a recurring design element.
reproduit: ʁəpʁɔdɥi — Past participle of 'reproduire'; reproduced or copied.
planche: plɑ̃ʃ — A plate or board; here likely an illustrated plate.
couleurs: kulœʁ — Plural of 'couleur'; colors.
Pour: puʁ — Preposition meaning 'for'; here begins a question.
demandai-je: dəmɑ̃dɛ ʒə — Inverted past tense of 'demander'; I asked.
expliqua: ɛkspliqa — Simple past of 'expliquer'; he/she explained.
outre: utʁ — Preposition meaning 'beyond' or 'in addition to'.
trésors: tʁezɔʁ — Plural of 'trésor'; treasures or precious collections.
armures: aʁmyʁ — Plural of 'armure'; suits of armor.
dont: dɔ̃ — Relative pronoun meaning 'of which', 'whose', 'from which'.
il: il — Third person masculine singular pronoun meaning 'he' or 'it'.
nommé: nɔme — Past participle of 'nommer'; named or appointed.
également: eɡalmɑ̃ — Adverb meaning 'also', 'equally', or 'likewise'.
charge: ʃaʁʒ — Charge, responsibility, or care of something.
plusieurs: plyzjœʁ — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'several' or 'multiple'.
collections: kɔlɛksjɔ̃ — Plural of 'collection'; assembled sets of objects.
appartenant: apaʁtənɑ̃ — Present participle of 'appartenir'; belonging to.
riches: ʁiʃ — Adjective meaning wealthy, rich, or affluent.
amateurs: amatœʁ — Enthusiasts or collectors; those who pursue a passion.
s'agissait: saʒisɛ — Imperfect of 's'agir'; it was about or concerned.
grève: ɡʁɛv — Strike (labor) or a piece of armor protecting the shin.
manquante: mɑ̃kɑ̃t — Feminine adjective meaning missing or lacking.
célèbre: selɛbʁ — Adjective meaning famous, celebrated, or renowned.
ensemble: ɑ̃sɑ̃bl — Noun or adverb meaning 'set', 'whole', or 'together'.
clients: klijɑ̃ — Plural of 'client'; customers or clients.
retrouvé: ʁətʁuve — Past participle of 'retrouver'; found again or rediscovered.
dans: dɑ̃ — Preposition meaning 'in', 'inside', or 'within'.
une: yn — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
petite: pətit — Feminine adjective meaning small or little.
boutique: butik — A small shop or store, often specialized.
Paris: paʁi — The capital city of France.
Quai: kɛ — A quay or embankment along a river or harbor.
Lui: lɥi — Stressed pronoun meaning 'him' or 'he'.
négocié: neɡɔsje — Past participle of 'négocier'; negotiated or bargained for.
obtenu: ɔptəny — Past participle of 'obtenir'; obtained or secured.
désormais: dezɔʁmɛ — Adverb meaning 'henceforth', 'from now on', or 'hereafter'.
l'ensemble: lɑ̃sɑ̃bl — The whole set or complete collection.
complet: kɔ̃plɛ — Adjective meaning complete, full, or entire.

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