The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 — Page 4
"
"
"Be a little more explicit," I said.
—Sea un poco más explícito —dije.
"Well, I may venture so far as to say that the paper gives its holder a certain power in a certain quarter where such power is immensely valuable."
—Bien, me atrevo a decir que el papel otorga a quien lo posee cierto poder en cierto ámbito donde dicho poder es enormemente valioso.
The Prefect was fond of the cant of diplomacy.
Al Prefecto le gustaba el lenguaje afectado de la diplomacia.
"Still I do not quite understand," said Dupin.
—Aún no entiendo del todo —dijo Dupin.
"No? Well; the disclosure of the document to a third person, who shall be nameless, would bring in question the honor of a personage of most exalted station; and this fact gives the holder of the document an ascendancy over the illustrious personage whose honor and peace are so jeopardized."
—¿No? Bien; la revelación del documento a una tercera persona, que permanecerá en el anonimato, pondría en entredicho el honor de un personaje de la más elevada condición; y este hecho otorga al poseedor del documento una ascendencia sobre el ilustre personaje cuyo honor y tranquilidad están tan comprometidos.
"But this ascendancy," I interposed, "would depend upon the robber's knowledge of the loser's knowledge of the robber. Who would dare—"
—Pero esta ascendencia —interrumpí— dependería de que el ladrón supiera que la víctima conoce la identidad del ladrón. ¿Quién se atrevería a...?
"The thief," said G., "is the Minister D——, who dares all things, those unbecoming as well as those becoming a man.
—El ladrón —dijo G.— es el ministro D——, quien se atreve a todo, tanto a lo que es indigno de un hombre como a lo que le es propio.
The method of the theft was not less ingenious than bold.
El método del robo no fue menos ingenioso que audaz.
The document in question—a letter, to be frank—had been received by the personage robbed while alone in the royal boudoir.
El documento en cuestión —una carta, para ser francos— había sido recibido por el personaje robado mientras se encontraba a solas en el tocador real.
During its perusal she was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of the other exalted personage from whom especially it was her wish to conceal it.
Durante su lectura fue repentinamente interrumpida por la entrada del otro ilustre personaje a quien precisamente deseaba ocultársela.
After a hurried and vain endeavor to thrust it in a drawer, she was forced to place it, open as it was, upon a table.
Tras un apresurado e inútil intento de meterla en un cajón, se vio obligada a colocarla, tal como estaba abierta, sobre una mesa.
The address, however, was uppermost, and, the contents thus unexposed, the letter escaped notice.
La dirección, sin embargo, quedaba hacia arriba y, al no quedar expuesto el contenido, la carta pasó inadvertida.
At this juncture enters the Minister D——.
En este momento entra el ministro D——.
Vocabulary
- a
- Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at'
- o
- Conjunction meaning 'or'
- Al
- Contraction of 'a' and 'el', meaning 'to the'
- Prefecto
- Title for a prefect or administrative official
- le
- Indirect object pronoun meaning 'to him/her/you'
- gustaba
- Past imperfect: 'used to like' or 'liked'
- el
- Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns
- lenguaje
- Language or manner of speaking used by someone
- afectado
- Affected, pretentious, or overly formal in style
- de
- Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'
- la
- Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns
- diplomacia
- The practice or skill of diplomacy and negotiation
- A
- Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at'
- y
- Conjunction meaning 'and'
- El
- Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns
- método
- A method, procedure, or systematic way of doing something
- del
- Contraction of 'de' and 'el', meaning 'of the'
- robo
- A theft, robbery, or act of stealing something
- no
- Negation word meaning 'no' or 'not'
- fue
- Past tense of 'ser/ir': 'was' or 'went'
- menos
- Adverb meaning 'less' or 'fewer' in comparison
- ingenioso
- Clever, ingenious, or showing creative intelligence
- que
- Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'than', or 'which'
- audaz
- Bold, daring, or audacious in action or character
- documento
- A document or official written record of information
- en
- Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'
- cuestión
- The matter or question under discussion or consideration
- carta
- A letter or written message sent to someone
- para
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'to'
- ser
- Infinitive verb 'to be' indicating permanent characteristics
- francos
- Frank, candid, or open and honest in expression
- sido
- Past participle of 'ser': 'been'
- recibido
- Past participle of 'recibir': 'received'
- por
- Preposition meaning 'by', 'for', or 'through'
- personaje
- A notable person, character, or public figure
- robado
- Past participle of 'robar': 'stolen' or 'robbed'
- mientras
- Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'as long as'
- se
- Reflexive or impersonal pronoun 'himself/herself/itself'
- encontraba
- Past imperfect: 'was found' or 'used to find herself'
- solas
- Alone, by oneself, without company (feminine plural)
- tocador
- A dressing room or vanity table for personal grooming
- real
- Adjective meaning 'royal' or 'real'
- Durante
- Preposition meaning 'during' a period of time
- su
- Possessive pronoun meaning 'his', 'her', 'its', or 'their'
- lectura
- The act of reading or a reading of a text
- repentinamente
- Suddenly, abruptly, or without warning or prior notice
- interrumpida
- Past participle of 'interrumpir': 'interrupted'
- entrada
- The entry or arrival of someone into a place
- otro
- Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'
- ilustre
- Illustrious, distinguished, or notably eminent person
- quien
- Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whom'
- precisamente
- Precisely, exactly, or specifically in a given context
- deseaba
- Past imperfect: 'desired', 'wanted', or 'wished'
- ocultársela
- To hide it from him/her (reflexive + indirect + direct object)
- Tras
- Preposition meaning 'after' or 'behind'
- un
- Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for masculine nouns
- apresurado
- Hurried, rushed, or done in great haste
- inútil
- Useless, futile, or serving no practical purpose
- intento
- An attempt or try to accomplish something
- meterla
- To put it or insert it into something (feminine object)
- cajón
- A drawer or large box used for storage
- vio
- Past tense of 'ver': 'saw' or 'found oneself'
- obligada
- Forced or compelled to do something (feminine form)
- colocarla
- To place or position it somewhere (feminine object)
- tal
- Adjective or pronoun meaning 'such' or 'so'
- como
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'
- estaba
- Past imperfect of 'estar': 'was' (temporary state)
- abierta
- Adjective meaning 'open' (feminine singular form)
- sobre
- Preposition meaning 'on', 'over', or 'about'
- una
- Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns
- mesa
- A table used for eating, working, or placing objects
- La
- Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns
- dirección
- The address or direction written on a letter or envelope
- sin
- Preposition meaning 'without'
- embargo
- Used in 'sin embargo' meaning 'however' or 'nevertheless'
- quedaba
- Past imperfect of 'quedar': 'remained' or 'was located'
- hacia
- Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'facing'
- arriba
- Adverb meaning 'up', 'above', or 'upward'
- al
- Contraction of 'a' and 'el', meaning 'to the'
- quedar
- To remain, stay, or be left in a place
- expuesto
- Exposed, displayed, or left visible to others
- contenido
- The content or contents of a document or container
- pasó
- Past tense of 'pasar': 'passed' or 'went unnoticed'
- inadvertida
- Unnoticed, overlooked, or not attracting attention (feminine)
- En
- Preposition meaning 'in', 'on', or 'at'
- este
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (masculine singular)
- momento
- A moment or brief period of time
- entra
- Present tense of 'entrar': 'enters' a place
- ministro
- A minister, government official, or cabinet member
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