← The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 — Page 8

English → De THE PURLOINED LETTER Level 8/10

, "but then he's a poet, which I take to be only one remove from a fool."

, „aber er ist ein Dichter, was ich für nicht mehr als eine Stufe über einem Narren halte."

"True," said Dupin, after a long and thoughtful whiff from his meerschaum, "although I have been guilty of certain doggrel myself."

„Wahr," sagte Dupin, nach einem langen und nachdenklichen Zug aus seiner Meerschaumpfeife, „obwohl ich mich selbst gewisser Knittelverse schuldig gemacht habe."

"Suppose you detail," said I, "the particulars of your search."

„Würden Sie," sagte ich, „die Einzelheiten Ihrer Suche darlegen."

"Why the fact is, we took our time, and we searched _everywhere_.

„Nun, die Wahrheit ist, wir ließen uns Zeit, und wir durchsuchten _alles_.

I have had long experience in these affairs.

Ich habe langjährige Erfahrung in diesen Dingen.

I took the entire building, room by room; devoting the nights of a whole week to each.

Ich nahm das gesamte Gebäude vor, Zimmer für Zimmer; und widmete den Nächten einer ganzen Woche jedem einzelnen.

We examined, first, the furniture of each apartment.

Wir untersuchten zunächst das Mobiliar jedes Raumes.

We opened every possible drawer; and I presume you know that, to a properly trained police agent, such a thing as a secret drawer is impossible.

Wir öffneten jede mögliche Schublade; und ich nehme an, Sie wissen, dass es für einen ordentlich ausgebildeten Polizeiagenten so etwas wie eine geheime Schublade nicht gibt.

Any man is a dolt who permits a 'secret' drawer to escape him in a search of this kind.

Jeder Mann ist ein Dummkopf, der eine 'geheime' Schublade bei einer Durchsuchung dieser Art übersieht.

The thing is so plain.

Die Sache ist so offensichtlich.

There is a certain amount of bulk—of space—to be accounted for in every cabinet.

Es gibt eine bestimmte Menge an Volumen – an Raum –, die in jedem Schrank berücksichtigt werden muss.

Then we have accurate rules.

Dann haben wir genaue Regeln.

The fiftieth part of a line could not escape us.

Der fünfzigste Teil einer Linie konnte uns nicht entgehen.

After the cabinets we took the chairs.

Nach den Schränken nahmen wir uns die Stühle vor.

The cushions we probed with the fine long needles you have seen me employ.

Die Kissen sondierte ich mit den feinen langen Nadeln, die Sie mich haben benutzen sehen.

From the tables we removed the tops."

Von den Tischen entfernten wir die Platten."

"Why so?"

„Warum das?"

"Sometimes the top of a table, or other similarly arranged piece of furniture, is removed by the person wishing to conceal an article; then the leg is excavated, the article deposited within the cavity, and the top replaced.

„Manchmal wird die Platte eines Tisches oder eines anderen ähnlich beschaffenen Möbelstücks von der Person entfernt, die einen Gegenstand verbergen möchte; dann wird das Bein ausgehöhlt, der Gegenstand in dem Hohlraum deponiert und die Platte wieder aufgesetzt.

Vocabulary

aber
Conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however'.
er
Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he'.
ist
Third person singular form of 'sein', meaning 'is'.
ein
Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
Dichter
A poet or creative writer of verse.
was
Pronoun or conjunction meaning 'what' or 'which'.
ich
First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
für
Preposition meaning 'for'.
nicht
Negation word meaning 'not'.
mehr
Adverb meaning 'more' or 'anymore'.
als
Conjunction or preposition meaning 'than' or 'as'.
eine
Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
Stufe
A step, level, or stage in a sequence.
über
Preposition meaning 'over', 'above', or 'about'.
einem
Dative form of indefinite article meaning 'a/an'.
Narren
A fool or jester; someone acting foolishly.
halte
First person singular of 'halten', meaning 'consider' or 'hold'.
Wahr
Adjective meaning 'true' or 'real'.
sagte
Past tense of 'sagen', meaning 'said'.
nach
Preposition meaning 'after', 'to', or 'according to'.
langen
Adjective meaning 'long', here in dative plural form.
und
Conjunction meaning 'and'.
nachdenklichen
Adjective meaning 'thoughtful' or 'contemplative'.
Zug
A draw or puff, as from a pipe; also 'train'.
aus
Preposition meaning 'out of' or 'from'.
seiner
Possessive pronoun meaning 'his', in genitive/dative form.
obwohl
Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
mich
Accusative form of first person pronoun meaning 'me'.
selbst
Reflexive or emphatic word meaning 'myself' or 'even'.
gewisser
Adjective meaning 'certain' or 'particular'.
schuldig
Adjective meaning 'guilty' or 'indebted'.
gemacht
Past participle of 'machen', meaning 'made' or 'done'.
habe
First person singular of 'haben', meaning 'have'.
Würden
Conditional auxiliary meaning 'would'; also 'dignities'.
Sie
Formal second person pronoun meaning 'you'.
die
Definite article or relative pronoun meaning 'the' or 'which'.
Einzelheiten
Details or particulars of a matter or event.
Ihrer
Possessive pronoun meaning 'your' in formal address.
Suche
A search or quest for something.
darlegen
To explain, set out, or present in detail.
Nun
Adverb meaning 'now' or 'well' as interjection.
Wahrheit
Noun meaning 'truth' or 'reality'.
wir
First person plural pronoun meaning 'we'.
ließen
Past tense of 'lassen', meaning 'let' or 'allowed'.
uns
Reflexive or accusative pronoun meaning 'us' or 'ourselves'.
Zeit
Noun meaning 'time'.
durchsuchten
Past tense of 'durchsuchen', meaning 'searched through'.
_alles_
Emphasized 'everything', indicating thoroughness of search.
Ich
First person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
langjährige
Adjective meaning 'many years of' or 'long-standing'.
Erfahrung
Noun meaning 'experience' in a field or activity.
in
Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'.
diesen
Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these' or 'those'.
Dingen
Dative plural of 'Ding', meaning 'things' or 'matters'.
nahm
Past tense of 'nehmen', meaning 'took'.
das
Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'that'.
gesamte
Adjective meaning 'entire' or 'whole'.
Gebäude
Noun meaning 'building' or 'structure'.
vor
Preposition meaning 'before', 'in front of', or 'ago'.
Zimmer
Noun meaning 'room' in a house or building.
widmete
Past tense of 'widmen', meaning 'dedicated' or 'devoted'.
den
Definite article in dative/accusative form meaning 'the'.
Nächten
Dative plural of 'Nacht', meaning 'nights'.
einer
Genitive/dative form of indefinite article meaning 'a/an'.
ganzen
Adjective meaning 'whole' or 'entire' in inflected form.
Woche
Noun meaning 'week'.
jedem
Dative form of 'jeder', meaning 'each' or 'every'.
einzelnen
Adjective meaning 'individual' or 'single' in inflected form.
Wir
First person plural pronoun meaning 'we'.
untersuchten
Past tense of 'untersuchen', meaning 'examined' or 'investigated'.
zunächst
Adverb meaning 'first of all' or 'initially'.
Mobiliar
Collective noun for furniture and household furnishings.
jedes
Genitive form of 'jeder', meaning 'each' or 'every'.
Raumes
Genitive of 'Raum', meaning 'of the room' or 'of space'.
öffneten
Past tense of 'öffnen', meaning 'opened'.
jede
Determiner meaning 'every' or 'each'.
mögliche
Adjective meaning 'possible' or 'conceivable'.
Schublade
Noun meaning 'drawer' in furniture.
nehme
First person singular of 'nehmen', meaning 'take' or 'assume'.
an
Preposition meaning 'at', 'on', or 'to'; also separable prefix.
wissen
Verb meaning 'to know' a fact or information.
dass
Conjunction meaning 'that' introducing a subordinate clause.
es
Third person neuter pronoun meaning 'it'.
einen
Accusative masculine form of indefinite article meaning 'a'.
ordentlich
Adjective meaning 'properly', 'neatly', or 'thoroughly'.
ausgebildeten
Past participle adjective meaning 'trained' or 'educated'.
Polizeiagenten
A police agent or detective officer.
so
Adverb or conjunction meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'such'.
etwas
Pronoun or adverb meaning 'something' or 'somewhat'.
wie
Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how', 'like', or 'as'.
geheime
Adjective meaning 'secret' or 'hidden'.
gibt
Third person singular of 'geben', meaning 'gives' or 'there is'.
Jeder
Determiner meaning 'every' or 'each one'.
Mann
Noun meaning 'man' or 'husband'.
Dummkopf
Noun meaning 'blockhead', 'fool', or 'idiot'.
der
Definite article or relative pronoun meaning 'the' or 'who'.
bei
Preposition meaning 'at', 'near', or 'during'.
Durchsuchung
Noun meaning 'search' or 'inspection' of a place.
dieser
Demonstrative meaning 'this' or 'of this'.
Art
Noun meaning 'type', 'kind', or 'manner'.
übersieht
Third person singular of 'übersehen', meaning 'overlooks'.
Die
Definite article meaning 'the' in feminine or plural form.
Sache
Noun meaning 'thing', 'matter', or 'case'.
offensichtlich
Adjective or adverb meaning 'obvious' or 'evidently'.
Es
Third person neuter pronoun meaning 'it'.
bestimmte
Adjective meaning 'certain', 'specific', or 'definite'.
Menge
Noun meaning 'amount', 'quantity', or 'crowd'.
Volumen
Noun meaning 'volume' as in size or capacity.
Raum
Noun meaning 'room', 'space', or 'area'.
Schrank
Noun meaning 'wardrobe', 'cabinet', or 'cupboard'.
berücksichtigt
Past participle of 'berücksichtigen', meaning 'considered' or 'taken into account'.
werden
Auxiliary verb meaning 'to become' or forming passive/future.
muss
Modal verb meaning 'must' or 'has to'.
Dann
Adverb meaning 'then' or 'after that'.
haben
Verb meaning 'to have'; also auxiliary forming perfect tense.
genaue
Adjective meaning 'exact', 'precise', or 'accurate'.
Regeln
Noun meaning 'rules' or 'regulations'.
Der
Masculine definite article meaning 'the'.
fünfzigste
Ordinal adjective meaning 'fiftieth'.
Teil
Noun meaning 'part', 'portion', or 'section'.
Linie
Noun meaning 'line' in geometry, design, or layout.
konnte
Past tense of 'können', meaning 'could' or 'was able to'.
entgehen
Verb meaning 'to escape notice' or 'to elude'.
Nach
Preposition meaning 'after' or 'following'.
Schränken
Dative plural of 'Schrank', meaning 'cabinets' or 'wardrobes'.
nahmen
Past tense plural of 'nehmen', meaning 'took'.
Stühle
Plural noun meaning 'chairs'.
Kissen
Noun meaning 'cushion' or 'pillow'.
sondierte
Past tense of 'sondieren', meaning 'probed' or 'sounded out'.
mit
Preposition meaning 'with'.
feinen
Adjective meaning 'fine', 'thin', or 'delicate'.
Nadeln
Plural noun meaning 'needles'.
benutzen
Verb meaning 'to use' or 'to make use of'.
sehen
Verb meaning 'to see' or 'to look'.
Von
Preposition meaning 'from', 'of', or 'by'.
Tischen
Dative plural of 'Tisch', meaning 'tables'.
entfernten
Past tense of 'entfernen', meaning 'removed' or 'took off'.
Platten
Plural noun meaning 'boards', 'plates', or 'tabletops'.
Warum
Interrogative adverb meaning 'why'.
Manchmal
Adverb meaning 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'.
wird
Third person singular of 'werden', meaning 'becomes' or 'will'.
Platte
Noun meaning 'board', 'plate', or 'flat surface'.
eines
Genitive form of indefinite article meaning 'of a'.
Tisches
Genitive of 'Tisch', meaning 'of the table'.
oder
Conjunction meaning 'or'.
anderen
Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
ähnlich
Adjective meaning 'similar' or 'alike'.
beschaffenen
Adjective meaning 'constituted' or 'constructed' in a particular way.
Möbelstücks
Genitive of 'Möbelstück', meaning 'of a piece of furniture'.
von
Preposition meaning 'from', 'of', or 'by'.
Person
Noun meaning 'person' or 'individual'.
entfernt
Past participle of 'entfernen', meaning 'removed' or 'distant'.
Gegenstand
Noun meaning 'object', 'item', or 'subject'.
verbergen
Verb meaning 'to hide' or 'to conceal'.
möchte
Subjunctive form of 'mögen', meaning 'would like to'.
dann
Adverb meaning 'then' or 'after that'.
Bein
Noun meaning 'leg' of a person, animal, or furniture.
ausgehöhlt
Past participle meaning 'hollowed out' or 'excavated'.
dem
Dative definite article meaning 'the'.
Hohlraum
Noun meaning 'hollow space', 'cavity', or 'void'.
deponiert
Past participle of 'deponieren', meaning 'deposited' or 'stored'.
wieder
Adverb meaning 'again' or 'back'.
aufgesetzt
Past participle of 'aufsetzen', meaning 'put back on' or 'placed on top'.
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