French Intermediate Bilingual Story-Lesson
Quatrième Etage [Fourth Floor]
PART TWO
SECTION A ~ BILINGUAL SHORT STORY
French-English
Traditional Paragraph By Paragraph (side by side) Aligned Parallel Text
ORIGINAL FRENCH TEXT
By Jean Hougron |
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
By Simpetweb (that's me!) |
PARA 1
“Mais il y a longtemps que c’est classé, cette affaire-là. Il y a eu enquête, bien sur, et, comme tu avais pris la fuite, on a dit bien sûr que c’était toi. Mais, tu sais, là-bas, les enquêtes, ça ne va jamais très loin, d’autant plus que Cumming n’avait pas bonne presse. D’ailleurs, six mois après, le gouvernement a changé comme d’habitude, tout a été chamboulé, la police et le reste… ” |
But it’s been a while since that affaire has been filed away. There was an investigation, of course, and, as you had gone on the run, they said, of course, that it was you. But, you know, over there, the inquires don’t ever dig very deep, even more so as Cumming has never had a good image in the press. Moreover, six months after, the government changed as per usual, all was turned upside down, the police and the rest…” |
PARA 2
Il a ajouté; “ Il y a un moment qu’on n’y pense plus à ton histoire… Je suppose que ce n’est pas ça qui t’a empêché de retourner à Bactraing ? ” |
He added; It’s been a while now since anyone has thought about the question of you… I suppose it’s not that which has stopped you from returning to Bactraing?” |
PARA 3
Si, c’était ça, et les lettres de De Soto qui me conseillait la prudence et me rappelait chaque fois que la police me recherchait toujours. Mon Signalement avait même été transmis, prétendait-il, aux brigades européennes. |
Yes, however, it was that; and the letters of De Soto which would counsel prudence, reminding me at every occasion that the police were searching me still. Mon Signalement avait même été transmis, prétendait-il, aux brigades européennes. |
PARA 4
Je l’ai dit à Pedrier, qui s’est mis à rire. Il a commandé une nouvelle tournée de cognac et m’a dit en hochant la tête: |
I said that to Perdrier who started to laugh. He ordered a new round of cognac and said to me whilst shaking his head: |
PARA 5
“Il a bien monté son coup, le petit De Soto. Avant de prendre la fuite, tu lui as bien signé un papier pour lui donner ta moitié de concession ?” |
“He's done a good job of putting together this 'stitch up', the little De Soto. Before going on the run, did you well and truly sign a paper giving him your half of the concession?” |
PARA 6
J’ai approuvé. “Et il t’a envoyé ta part sur les bénéfices?” |
I confirmed this. “And has he sent to you your part of the profits” |
PARA 7
Il ne m’avait rien envoyé. Pedrier a vidé son verre. Il m’a écouté un moment et a haussé les épaules : |
He hadn’t sent me anything. Pedrier emptied his glass. He listened to me for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders: |
PARA 8
“Tout ça, c’est des inventions. La concession a marché bien, même maintenant. De Soto a ramassé des millions. Quand j’ai quitté Bactriang, il y a deux ans, il roulait en packard et venait d’embaucher six cents coolies supplémentaires pour la mine de Kaigoon qu’il avait fait rouvrir. Je m’en souviens, parce qu’à l’époque il avait fait passer une annonce dans les journaux pour trouver des contremaîtres européens et que j’avais été sur le point de prendre un contrat chez lui… Oui, il t’a bien pigeonné… ” |
“All that, it’s made up. The concession has functioned well, it still does now. De Soto has collected up millions. When I left Bactraing, two years ago, he was driving around in a Packard and had just hired six hundred supplementary coolies for Kaigoon mine which he had had re-opened. I remember all that because at the time he had ordered that an advert be put in the newspapers in order to find some European supervisors and that I had been at the point of taking a contract with his business... Yeh, he got yer good ‘n’ proper…” |
PARA 9
Pedrier m’a quitté. |
Pedrier left me alone. |
SECTION B ~ BILINGUAL SHORT STORY
French-English
Sentence By Sentence (line under line) aligned Parallel Text
“Mais il y a longtemps que c’est classé, cette affaire-la.
“But it’s been a while since that affaire has been filed away.
Il y a eu enquete, bien sur, et, comme tu avais pris la fuite, on a dit bien sur que c’etait moi.
There was an inquiery, of course, and, as you had gone on the run, they said, of course, that it was me.
Mais, tu sais, la-bas, les enquetes, ca ne va jamais tres loin, d’autant plus que Cumming n’avait pas bonne presse.
But, you know, over there, the inquires don’t ever dig very deep, even more so as Cumming has never had a good image in the press.
D’ailleurs, six mois après, le gouvernement a changé comme d’habitude, tout a été chamboulé, la police et le reste… ”
Moreover, six months after, the government changed as usual, all was turned upside down, the police and the rest…”
« Il y a un moment qu’on n’y pense plus á ton histoire… Je suppose que ce n’est pas ca qui t’a empêché de retourner á Bactraing ? »
“It’s been a while now since anyone has thought about your shenanigans… I suppose it’s not that which has stopped you from returning to Bactraing?”
Si, c’était ca, et les lettres de De Soto qui me conseillait la prudence et me rappelait chaque fois que la police me recherchait toujours
However it was that. It was also the letters of De Soto who himself was counselling prudence and reminding me at every occasion that the police were searching me still.
Mon Signalement avait même été transmis, prétendait-il, aux brigades européennes.
Je l’ai dit á Pedrier, qui s’est mis a rire.
I said it to Perdrier who started to laugh
Il a commandé une nouvelle tournée de cognac et m’a dit en hochant la tête:
He ordered a new round of cognac and said to me whilst shaking his head:
“Il a bien monté son coup, le petit De Soto.
“He has perfectly hatched his plan to trick you, the little De Soto.
Avant de prendre la fuite, tu lui as bien signé un papier pour lui donner ta moitié de concession ?”
Before going on the run did you well and truly sign a paper giving him your half of the concession?”
J’ai approuvé.
I confirmed this.
“Et il t’a envoyé ta part sur les bénéfices?”
“And has he sent to you your part of the profits”
Il ne m’avait rien envoyé.
He hadn’t sent me anything.
Pedrier a vidé son verre. Il m’a écouté un moment et a haussé les épaules :
Pedrier emptied his glass. He listened to me for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders:
“Tout ça, c’est des inventions. La concession a marché bien, même maintenant.
“All that, it’s made up. The concession has functioned well, even now.
De Soto a ramassé des millions.
De Soto has collected up millions.
Quand j’ai quitté Bactriang, il y a deux ans, il roulait en packard et venait d’embaucher six cents coolies supplémentaire pour la mine de Kaigoon qu’il avait fait rouvrir.
When I left Bactraing, two years ago, he was driving around in a Packard and had just hired six hundred supplementary coolies for Kaigoon mine which he had had re-opened.
Je m’en souviens, parce qu’à l’époque il avait fait passer une annonce dans les journaux pour trouver des contremaitres européens et que j’avais été sur le point de prendre un contrat chez lui…
I remember all that because at the time he had ordered that an advert be put in the newspapers in order to find some European supervisors and that I had been at the point of taking a contract with his business.
Oui, il t’a bien pigeonné… ”
Yeh, he got yer good ‘n’ proper…”
Pedrier m’a quitté.
Pedrier left me alone.
SECTION C ~ BILINGUAL SHORT STORY
French-English
Word For Word Translations: Stages of Translation Shown
“Mais il y a longtemps que c’est classé, cette affaire-la.
“Mais[But] il[it] y[there] a[has] longtemps[long.time] que[that] c’[it] est[is] classé[filed.away], cette[that] affaire[affaire]-la[there].
“But it there has long.time that it is filed.away, that affaire there.
“But it’s been a while since that affaire has been filed away.
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Il y a eu enquête, bien sur, et, comme tu avais pris la fuite, on a dit bien sur que c’était moi.
Il[It] y[there] a[has] eu[had] enquête[inquiery], bien[well] sur[sure], et[and], comme[as] tu[you] avais[had] pris[taken] la[the] fuite[flight], on[one] a[has] dit[said] bien[well] sur[sure] que[that] c’[it] était[was] moi[me].
It there has had inquiry, well sure, and, as you had taken the flight (as in on the run) one said well sure that it was me.
There was an inquiery, of course, and, as you had gone on the run, they said, of course, that it was me.
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Mais, tu sais, là-bas, les enquêtes, ca ne va jamais très loin, d’autant plus que Cumming n’avait pas bonne presse.
Mais[but], tu[you] sais[know], là-bas[over.there(there.down)], les[the] enquêtes[inquiries], ca[that] ne[no] va[goes] jamais[never] très[very] loin[far], d’[of] autant[as.much] plus[more] que[that] Cumming[Cumming(name)] n’[no] avait[had] pas[not] bonne[good] presse[press].
But, you know, over.there, the inquiries, that no goes never very far, of asmuch more as Cumming no had not good press.
But, you know, over there, the inquires don’t ever dig very deep, even more so as Cumming has never had a good image in the press.
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D’ailleurs, six mois après, le gouvernement a changé comme d’habitude, tout a été chamboulé, la police et le reste… ”
D’ailleurs[moreover(of elswhere)], six[six] mois[months] après[after], le[the] gouvernement[government] a[has] changé[changed] comme[like] d’habitude[usual(of habitude)], tout[all] a[has] été[been] chamboulé[turned.upside.down], la[the] police[police] et[and] le[the] reste[rest]… ”
Moreover, six months after, the government changed (has changed) as usual, all was (has been) turned.up.side.down, the police and the rest…”
Moreover, six months after, the government changed as usual, all was turned upside down, the police and the rest…”
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“Il y a un moment qu’on n’y pense plus á ton histoire… Je suppose que ce n’est pas ça qui t’a empêché de retourner á Bactraing ?”
“Il[it] y[there] a[has] un[a] moment[moment] qu’[that] on[one] n’[no] y[there] pense[thinks] plus[no.more] á[at] ton[your] histoire[history/story]… Je[i] suppose[suppose] que[that] ce[it] n’[no] est[is] pas[not] ça[that] qui[which] t’[you] a[has] empêché[prevented] de retourner [to return] á[at] Bactraing[Bactraing] ?”
“It there has a moment that one no there thinks no.more at your history/story. I suppose that it no is not that which you has prenented to return at Bactraing.”
“It’s been a while now since anyone has thought about your shenanigans… I suppose it’s not that which has stopped you from returning to Bactraing?”
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Si, c’était ça, et les lettres de De Soto qui me conseillait la prudence et me rappelait chaque fois que la police me recherchait toujours
Si[but.yes], c’[it] était[was] ça[that], et[and] les[the] lettres[letters] de[of] De Soto[De Soto] qui[who] me[to.me] conseillait[was.counselling] la[the] prudence[prudence] et[and] me[to.me] rappelait[was.reminding] chaque[each] fois[time] que[that] la[the] police[police] me[me] recherchait[was.searching] toujours[still]
But.yes it was that, and the letters of De Soto who to.me was.counselling the prudence and to.me was.reminding each time thet the police me was.searching still.
However it was that. It was also the letters of De Soto who himself was counselling prudence and reminding me at every occasion that the police were searching me still.
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Mon Signalement avait même été transmis, prétendait-il, aux brigades européennes.
Mon[my] Signalement[warning notice/CHANGE] avait[had] même[even] été[been] transmis[transmitted], prétendait[was.claiming]-il[he], aux[at.the] brigades[bureaus/squads/brigades] européennes[european].
My warning noticeCHANGE has even been transmitted, was claiming he, at.the bureaus/squads/brigades European.
He even claimed that my profileCHANGE was sent to all the European police bureaus
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Je l’ai dit à Pedrier, qui s’est mis à rire.
Je[I] l’[it] ai[have] dit[said] à[at] Perdrier[Perdrier], qui[who] s’[himself] est[is] mis[put] à[to] rire[laugh].
I it said(have said) at Perdrier, who himself is put to laugh.
I said it to Perdrier who started to laugh.
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Il a commandé une nouvelle tournée de cognac et m’a dit en hochant la tête:
Il[he] a[has] commandé[ordered] une[a] nouvelle[new] tournée[round] de[of] cognac[cognac] et[and] m’[to.me] a[has] dit[said] en[in] hochant[nodding/shaking] la[the] tête[head]:
He ordered(has ordered) a new round of cognac and to.me said in nodding/shaking the head:
He ordered a new round of cognac and said to me whilst shaking his head:
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“Il a bien monté son coup, le petit De Soto.
“Il[he] a[has] bien[well] monté[mounted] son[his] coup[hit], le[the] petit[little] De Soto[De Soto].
“He has well mounted his hit, the little De Soto
“He has perfectly hatched his plan to trick you, the little De Soto.
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Avant de prendre la fuite, tu lui as bien signé un papier pour lui donner ta moitié de concession ?”
Avant[before] de prendre[having taken] la[the] fuite[flight(as in run away)], tu[you] lui[for.him] as[have] bien[well] signé[signed] un[a] papier[paper] pour[in.order] lui[to.him] donner[to.give] ta[your] moitié[half] de[of] concession[concession]?”
Before having taken the flight you for.him have well signed a paper in.order to.him to.give your half of concession?”
Before going on the run did you well and truly sign a paper giving him your half of the concession?”
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J’ai approuvé.
“Et il t’a envoyé ta part sur les bénéfices?”
J’[I] ai[have] approuvé[approved].
“Et[and] il[he] t’[to.you] a[has] envoyé[sent] ta[your] part[part] sur[on] les[the] bénéfices[benefits(profits)]?”
I approved
“And he to.you has sent his part on the benefits(profits)
I confirmed his take on events
“And has he sent to you your part of the profits”
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Il ne m’avait rien envoyé.
Il[he] ne[no] m’[to.me] avait[had] rien[nothing] envoyé[sent].
He no to.me had nothing sent.
He hadn’t sent me anything.
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Pedrier a vidé son verre. Il m’a écouté un moment et a haussé les épaules :
Pedrier[Pedrier] a[has] vidé[emptied] son[his] verre[glass]. Il[He] m’[me] a[has] écouté[listened] un[a] moment[moment] et[and] a[has] haussé[raised/hoisted] les[his] épaules[shoulders]:
Pedrier emptied(has emptied) his glass. He me has listened a moment and has raised his shoulders:
Pedrier emptied his glass. He listened to me for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders:
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“Tout ça, c’est des inventions. La concession a marché bien, même maintenant.
“Tout[all] ça[that], c’[it] est[is] des[of.the] inventions[inventions]. La[the] concession[concession] a[has] marché[worked] bien[well], même[even] maintenant[now].
“All that, it is of the inventions. The concession has worked well, even now.
“All that, it’s made up. The concession has functioned well, even now.
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De Soto a ramassé des millions.
De Soto[De Soto] a[has] ramassé[massed.up] des[of.the] millions[millions]
De Soto has massed.up of.the millions
De Soto has collected up millions.
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Quand j’ai quitté Bactriang, il y a deux ans, il roulait en packard et venait d’embaucher six cents coolies supplémentaires pour la mine de Kaigoon qu’il avait fait rouvrir.
Quand[when] j’[I] ai[have] quitté[quitted] Bactriang, il[it] y[there] a[has] deux[two] ans[years], il[he] roulait[was.rolling] en[in] Packard[packard] et[and] venait d’[had.just.come] embaucher[to.hire] six[six] cents[hundred] coolies[coolies] supplémentaires[supplementary] pour[for] la[the] mine[mine] de[of] Kaigoon[Kaigoon] qu’[that] il[he] avait[had] fait[made] rouvrir[re-open].
When I quitted(have quitted) Bactraing, it there has two years, he was.rolling, in Packard and had just come to.hire six hundred coolies supplementary for the mine of Kaigoon that he had made re-open.
When I left Bactraing, two years ago, he was driving around in a Packard and had just hired six hundred supplementary coolies for Kaigoon mine which he had had re-opened.
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Je m’en souviens, parce qu’à l’époque il avait fait passer une annonce dans les journaux pour trouver des contremaitres européens et que j’avais été sur le point de prendre un contrat chez lui…
Je[I] m’[myself] en[of.it] souviens[rememeber], parce qu’[because] à[at] l’[the] époque[time/that time] il[he] avait[had] fait[made] passer[passed.out] une[a] annonce[announcement/advert] dans[in] les[the] journaux[newspapers] pour[in.order] trouver[to.find] des[some] contremaitres[supervisors] européens[european] et[and] que[that] j’[I] avais[had] été[been] sur[on] le[the] point[point] de[of] prendre[to.take] un[a] contrat[contract] chez[at.the.location.of) lui[him]…
I myself of.it remember, because at the time/that time he had made passed.out an announcement/advert in the newspapers in.order to.find some supervisors European and that I had been on the point of to take a contract at.the.location.of him…
I remember all that because at the time he had ordered that an advert be put in the newspapers in order to find some European supervisors and that I had been at the point of taking a contract with his business.
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Oui, il t’a bien pigeonné… ”
Oui[yes], il[he] t’[you] a[has] bien[well] pigeonné[pigeoned… ”
Yes, he you has well pigeoned…”
Yes, he cornered you good ‘n’ proper…”
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Pedrier m’a quitté.
Pedrier[Pedrier] m’[me] a[has] quitté[quitted].
Pedrier me has quitted.
Pedrier left me alone.
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