← The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2 — Page 13

English → Spanish THE PURLOINED LETTER Level 8/10

"'We will suppose,' said the miser, 'that his symptoms are such and such; now, doctor, what would you have directed him to take?'

"'Supongamos,' dijo el avaro, 'que sus síntomas son tales y cuales; bien, doctor, ¿qué le habría usted recetado tomar?'

"'Take!' said Abernethy, 'why, take advice, to be sure.'"

"'¡Tomar!' dijo Abernethy, 'pues, tome consejo, por supuesto.'"

"But," said the Prefect, a little discomposed, "I am perfectly willing to take advice, and to pay for it.

"Pero," dijo el Prefecto, algo desconcertado, "estoy perfectamente dispuesto a tomar consejo, y a pagarlo.

I would really give fifty thousand francs to any one who would aid me in the matter."

Realmente daría cincuenta mil francos a cualquiera que me ayudara en el asunto."

"In that case," replied Dupin, opening a drawer, and producing a check-book, "you may as well fill me up a check for the amount mentioned.

"En ese caso," respondió Dupin, abriendo un cajón y sacando un talonario de cheques, "puede usted bien extenderme un cheque por la cantidad mencionada.

When you have signed it, I will hand you the letter."

Cuando lo haya firmado, le entregaré la carta."

I was astounded.

Quedé atónito.

The Prefect appeared absolutely thunder-stricken.

El Prefecto pareció absolutamente anonadado.

For some minutes he remained speechless and motionless, looking incredulously at my friend with open mouth, and eyes that seemed starting from their sockets;

Durante algunos minutos permaneció mudo e inmóvil, mirando incrédulamente a mi amigo con la boca abierta y los ojos que parecían salírsele de las órbitas;

then, apparently recovering himself in some measure, he seized a pen, and after several pauses and vacant stares, finally filled up and signed a check for fifty thousand francs, and handed it across the table to Dupin.

luego, recobrándose aparentemente en cierta medida, tomó una pluma y, tras varias pausas y miradas ausentes, finalmente rellenó y firmó un cheque por cincuenta mil francos, y lo pasó por encima de la mesa a Dupin.

The latter examined it carefully and deposited it in his pocket-book; then, unlocking an escritoire, took thence a letter and gave it to the Prefect.

Este último lo examinó cuidadosamente y lo depositó en su cartera; luego, abriendo un escritorio con llave, sacó de él una carta y se la entregó al Prefecto.

Vocabulary

Supongamos
Let us suppose or assume something is true.
dijo
He, she, or it said something to someone.
el
Definite article meaning the for masculine nouns.
avaro
A greedy or miserly person who hoards money.
que
Conjunction or pronoun meaning that or which.
sus
Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or their.
síntomas
Signs or symptoms of an illness or condition.
son
Third person plural form of the verb to be.
tales
Such or of that kind, referring to things mentioned.
y
Conjunction meaning and, connecting words or phrases.
cuales
Relative pronoun meaning which, referring to things.
bien
Well or good, expressing agreement or approval.
doctor
A medical professional who treats patients.
qué
Interrogative pronoun meaning what in questions.
le
Indirect object pronoun meaning to him or her.
habría
Conditional form of haber meaning would have.
usted
Formal second person singular pronoun meaning you.
recetado
Past participle of recetar meaning prescribed by doctor.
tomar
To take or to drink something.
Tomar
Infinitive verb meaning to take or drink.
pues
Conjunction or adverb meaning well, then, or since.
tome
Formal command meaning take or drink something.
consejo
Advice or counsel given to someone.
por
Preposition meaning for, by, or through.
supuesto
Of course or supposed, assumed to be true.
Pero
Conjunction meaning but, introducing a contrasting idea.
Prefecto
A prefect or chief of police or administration.
algo
Something or somewhat, referring to an unspecified thing.
desconcertado
Bewildered or confused, thrown off balance mentally.
estoy
First person singular present form of estar, I am.
perfectamente
Perfectly or completely, to a full degree.
dispuesto
Willing or ready to do something.
a
Preposition meaning to or at in Spanish.
pagarlo
To pay for it, verb with direct object pronoun.
Realmente
Really or truly, used to emphasize a statement.
daría
Conditional form of dar meaning I would give.
cincuenta
The number fifty in Spanish.
mil
The number one thousand in Spanish.
francos
Francs, a former French or Swiss monetary currency unit.
cualquiera
Anyone or whoever, referring to any unspecified person.
me
First person singular object pronoun meaning me.
ayudara
Past subjunctive of ayudar meaning helped or would help.
en
Preposition meaning in, on, or at a place.
asunto
A matter, issue, or affair to be resolved.
En
Preposition meaning in or at, used before nouns.
ese
Demonstrative adjective meaning that, referring to nearby noun.
caso
A case or situation requiring attention or action.
respondió
He or she responded or replied to something said.
abriendo
Present participle of abrir meaning opening something.
un
Indefinite article meaning a or an in Spanish.
cajón
A drawer in a desk or piece of furniture.
sacando
Present participle of sacar meaning taking out or removing.
talonario
A checkbook or stub book for issuing checks.
de
Preposition meaning of or from in Spanish.
cheques
Plural of cheque, bank checks used for payment.
puede
Third person singular present of poder meaning can.
extenderme
To extend or make out to me a document.
cheque
A bank check used to make a payment.
la
Definite article meaning the for feminine singular nouns.
cantidad
A quantity or amount of something, often money.
mencionada
Mentioned or referred to previously in conversation.
Cuando
Conjunction meaning when, introducing a time clause.
lo
Direct object pronoun meaning it or him.
haya
Present subjunctive of haber meaning has or have.
firmado
Past participle of firmar meaning signed a document.
entregaré
Future tense of entregar meaning I will deliver.
carta
A letter or written document sent to someone.
Quedé
First person past tense of quedar meaning I remained.
atónito
Astonished or stunned, struck with great surprise.
El
Definite article meaning the for masculine singular nouns.
pareció
He or she seemed or appeared to be something.
absolutamente
Absolutely or completely, to an absolute degree.
anonadado
Overwhelmed or dumbfounded, completely stunned with disbelief.
Durante
Preposition meaning during, indicating a period of time.
algunos
Some or a few, referring to an unspecified number.
minutos
Minutes, units of time equal to sixty seconds.
permaneció
He or she remained or stayed in a state.
mudo
Silent or mute, unable or unwilling to speak.
e
Conjunction meaning and, used before words starting with i.
inmóvil
Motionless or still, not moving at all.
mirando
Present participle of mirar meaning looking or watching.
incrédulamente
Incredulously or disbelievingly, with great doubt or disbelief.
mi
Possessive adjective meaning my, indicating first person ownership.
amigo
A friend, a person one knows and trusts.
con
Preposition meaning with, indicating accompaniment or manner.
boca
The mouth, the opening used for eating and speaking.
abierta
Open or opened, feminine form of the adjective abierto.
los
Definite article meaning the for masculine plural nouns.
ojos
Eyes, the organs used for seeing.
parecían
They seemed or appeared to be a certain way.
salírsele
To pop out of his head, eyes bulging expression.
las
Definite article meaning the for feminine plural nouns.
órbitas
Eye sockets or orbits, cavities holding the eyeballs.
luego
Then or afterward, indicating a subsequent action or time.
recobrándose
Recovering oneself, regaining composure or consciousness gradually.
aparentemente
Apparently or seemingly, based on outward appearances.
cierta
A certain or particular, feminine form of cierto.
medida
A measure or extent, degree to which something applies.
tomó
He or she took something, past tense of tomar.
una
Indefinite article meaning a or an, feminine form.
pluma
A pen or feather used for writing.
tras
Preposition meaning after or behind in Spanish.
varias
Several or various, referring to more than two things.
pausas
Pauses or brief stops in action or speech.
miradas
Glances or looks directed at someone or something.
ausentes
Absent or vacant, describing a distracted or blank look.
finalmente
Finally or at last, after a period of waiting.
rellenó
He or she filled in or completed a form.
firmó
He or she signed a document or agreement.
pasó
He or she passed or handed something to someone.
encima
On top of or above a surface or object.
mesa
A table, a flat surface used for working or eating.
Este
Demonstrative pronoun meaning this one, masculine singular form.
último
The last or the latter of things mentioned.
examinó
He or she examined or inspected something carefully.
cuidadosamente
Carefully or cautiously, with great attention and care.
depositó
He or she deposited or placed something somewhere.
su
Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or your formal.
cartera
A wallet or briefcase used for carrying documents.
escritorio
A desk or writing table used in an office.
llave
A key used to lock or unlock something.
sacó
He or she took out or removed something from somewhere.
él
Third person singular pronoun meaning he.
se
Reflexive pronoun used with reflexive or reciprocal verbs.
entregó
He or she handed over or delivered something to someone.
al
Contraction of a and el meaning to the.
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