French Intermediate Bilingual Story-Lesson
Quatrième Etage [Fourth Floor]
PART THREE
SECTION A ~ BILINGUAL SHORT STORY
French - English
Horizontally Aligned (side by side) Parallel Text
ORIGINAL FRENCH TEXT
By Jean Hougron |
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
By Simpetweb (that's me!) |
PARA 1
(Paragraph continued) On a promis de se revoir bientôt. En me serrant la main, il m’a dit : |
We promised to re-see each other soon. Whilst shaking my hand, he said to me : |
PARA 2
"Maintenant tu ne peux plus rien faire, même si tu revenais là-bas. De Soto te rirait au nez… " |
“You can no longer do anything about it, even if you were to return there. De Soto would laugh at your face…” |
PARA 3
C’était possible, mais j’étais déjà bien décidé à prendre le bateau pour qu’on ait une explication. Je connaissais De Soto : il avait toujours des combinaisons plein la tête, mais pas grand-chose dans le ventre ; ça serait étonnant s’il avait changé, et, de toute manière, je voulais essayer. Le jeu en valait la chandelle. J’avais peut-être vieilli, mais pas à ce point-la. Si la police ne me prenait pas en chasse pour le meurtre de Cumming, je me faisais fort de récupérer ce qui m’appartenait, capital et intérêts, et, d’après ce que m’avait expliqué Perdrier, les intérêts valaient le voyage à eux seuls. |
It was possible, but I was already well determined to take a boat so that I could get an explication. I knew De Soto: he always had a head full of ruses but not much in the stomach; it would be surprising if he had changed, and, in any case, I wanted to try. It was worth a go. I had maybe aged, but not as much as that. If the police don’t chase me for the murder of Cumming I will do what it takes to recover the things that belong to me, the capital and interest, and, according to what Perdrier had explained to me, the interest alone would be worth the trip. |
PARA 4
De toute manière, même si je n’avais pas rencontré Perdrier, je ne serais pas resté en France. Notre rencontre va seulement hâter mon départ et je vais aller passer sur De Soto la colère qui me prend quand je rencontre Tavernier dans l’immeuble. Je préfère que nous n’habitions plus l’un prés de l’autre. Il suffirait d’un mot, d’un geste maladroit. Pendant huit ans, j’ai vécu seul, sans jamais m’occuper des autres. Il n’y avait que mes ennuis et mon retour à Bactraing ou ailleurs qui m’intéressaient et, aujourd’hui, j’ai un peu honte de moi. C’est d’abord pour cette raison que je veux partir. |
In any case, even if i had not encountered Perdrier, I wouldn’t have stayed in France. Our encounter will only hasten my departure and I am going transfer onto De Soto the anger which I get when I encounter Tavernier in the apartment block. I would prefer that we don’t live next to each other anymore. It would only need a word, a clumsy gesture. During eight years, I have lived alone, with ever concerning myself with others. There were only my troubles and my return to Bactraing or elsewhere which interested me and, today, I have a little bit of shame of myself. It’s primarily for this reason that I want to leave. |
PARA 5
J’entends Tavernier qui tourne dans sa cuisine de l’autre coté de la cloison. Il entrechoque de la vaisselle. Le 'plouf ' sourd du réchaud a gaz qu’on allume. Il doit préparer son diner. Je me demande pourquoi il ne va pas au restaurant maintenant. L’habitude, je suppose. Depuis vingt ans qu’il rentre de son usine à sept heures pour venir prendre son repas à la maison, il n’imagine pas qu’il puisse en aller autrement. Même si la maison est vide. Je serais curieux de savoir ce qu’il pense en ce moment. Je songe plus souvent à lui qu’à De Soto, et cela suffit à me montrer l’importance que J’attache à l’histoire de Tavernier. |
I hear Tavernier who is turning in circles ((meandering about)) in his kitchen the other side of the dividing wall. He bangs together the washing up. The muffled pflump of the gas stove that one lights. He must be preparing his dinner. I ask myself why he doesn’t go to a restaurant now. Habitude I suppose. Since twenty years he has been returning from his factory at seven o’clock in order to come and take his meal at the house and he can’t imagine that it may be otherwise done. Even if the house is empty. I would be curious to know what he is thinking at this very moment. I think more often about him than I do De Soto, and that suffices to show the importance that I attach to this history with Tavernier. |
SECTION B ~ FRENCH BILINGUAL TEXT
SENTENCE BY SENTENCE TRANSLATIONS
On a promis de se revoir bientôt. En me serrant la main, il m’a dit :
We promised to re-see each other soon. Whilst shaking my hand, he said to me :
“Maintenant tu ne peux plus rien faire, même si tu revenais là-bas. De Soto te rirait au nez… ”
“You can no longer do anything about it, even if you were to return there. De Soto would laugh at your face…”
C’était possible, mais j’étais déjà bien décidé à prendre le bateau pour qu’on ait une explication.
It was possible, but I was already well determined to take a boat so that I could get an explication
Je connaissais De Soto : il avait toujours des combinaisons plein la tête, mais pas grand-chose dans le ventre ; ça serait étonnant s’il avait changé, et, de toute manière, je voulais essayer.
I knew De Soto: he always had a head full of ruses but not much in the stomach; it would be surprising if he had changed, and, in any case, I wanted to try.
Le jeu en valait la chandelle. J’avais peut-être vieilli, mais pas à ce point-la.
It was worth a go. I had maybe aged, but not as much as that.
Si la police ne me prenait pas en chasse pour le meurtre de Cumming, je me faisais fort de récupérer ce qui m’appartenait, capital et intérêts, et, d’après ce que m’avait expliqué Perdrier, les intérêts valaient le voyage à eux seuls.
If the police don’t chase me for the murder of Cumming I will do what it takes to recover the things that belong to me, the capital and interest, and, according to what Perdrier had explained to me, the interest alone would be worth the trip.
De toute manière, même si je n’avais pas rencontré Perdrier, je ne serais pas resté en France.
In any case, even if i had not encountered Perdrier, I wouldn’t have stayed in France.
Notre rencontre va seulement hâter mon départ et je vais aller passer sur De Soto la colère qui me prend quand je rencontre Tavernier dans l’immeuble.
Our encounter will only hasten my departure and I am going transfer onto De Soto the anger which I get when I encounter Tavernier in the apartment block.
Je préfère que nous n’habitions plus l’un prés de l’autre.
I would prefer that we don’t live next to each other anymore.
Il suffirait d’un mot, d’un geste maladroit.
It would only need a word, a clumsy gesture
Pendant huit ans, j’ai vécu seul, sans jamais m’occuper des autres.
During eight years, I have lived alone, with ever concerning myself with others.
Il n’y avait que mes ennuis et mon retour à Bactraing ou ailleurs qui m’intéressaient et, aujourd’hui, j’ai un peu honte de moi.
There were only my troubles and my return to Bactraing or elsewhere which interested me and, today, I have a little
bit of shame of myself
C’est d’abord pour cette raison que je veux partir
It’s primarily for this reason that I want to leave.
J’entends Tavernier qui tourne dans sa cuisine de l’autre coté de la cloison.
I hear Tavernier who is turning in circle(meandering about) in his kitchen the other side of the dividing wall
Il entrechoque de la vaisselle.
He bangs together the washing up.
Le «plouf » sourd du réchaud a gaz qu’on allume.
The muffled pflump of the gas stove that one lights.
Il doit préparer son diner.
He must be preparing his dinner.
Je me demande pourquoi il ne va pas au restaurant maintenant. L’habitude, je suppose.
I ask myself why he doesn’t go to a restaurant now. Habitude I suppose.
Depuis vingt ans qu’il rentre de son usine à sept heures pour venir prendre son repas à la maison, il n’imagine pas qu’il puisse en aller autrement.
Since twenty years he has been returning from his factory at seven o’clock in order to come and take his meal at the house and he can’t imagine that it may be otherwise done.
Même si la maison est vide. Je serais curieux de savoir ce qu’il pense en ce moment.
Even if the house is empty. I would be curious to know what he is thinking at this very moment.
Je songe plus souvent à lui qu’à De Soto, et cela suffit à me montrer l’importance que J’attache à l’histoire de Tavernier.
I think more often about him than I do De Soto, and that suffices to show the importance that I attach to this history with Tavernier.
SECTION C ~ FRENCH BILINGUAL TEXT
WORD FOR WORD TRANSLATIONS
On a promis de se revoir bientôt. En me serrant la main, il m’a dit:
On[one] a[has] promis[promised] de[to] se[one.another] revoir[re-see] bientôt[soon]. En[in] me[me] serrant[clamping] la[the] main[hand], il[he] m’[to.me] a[has] dit[said]:
One has promised to one.another re-see soon. In me clamping the hand, he to.me has said:
We promised each other to meet up again. Whilst shaking my hand he said to me:
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“Maintenant, tu ne peux plus rien faire. Même si tu revenais là-bas, De Soto te rirait au nez…”
“Maintenant[now], tu[you] ne[no] peux[can] plus[no-more] rien[nothing] faire[do]. Même[even] si[if] tu[you] revenais[was.returning] là-bas[over.there], De Soto[De Soto] te[you] rirait[would.laugh] au[at.the] nez[nose]…”
Now, you no can no-more nothing do. Even if you was.returning over.there, De Soto you would.laugh at.the nose.
Now you can’t do anything about it anymore. Even if you went back over there, De Soto would laugh at your face.
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C’était possible, mais j’étais déjà bien décidé à prendre le bateau pour qu’on ait une explication.
C’[it] était[was] possible[possible], mais[but] j’[I] étais[was] déjà[already] bien[well] décidé[decided] à[to] prendre[take] le[the] bateau[boat] pour[in.order] qu’[that] on[one] ait[has] une[an] explication[explication].
It was possible, but I was already well decided to take the boat in.order that one has an explication.
It was possible, but I was already well determined to take a boat so that I could get an explication
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Je connaissais De Soto : il avait toujours des combinaisons plein la tête, mais pas grand-chose dans le ventre ; ça serait étonnant s’il avait changé, et, de toute manière, je voulais essayer.
Je[I] connaissais[was.knowing/knew] De Soto[De Soto] : il[he] avait[had] toujours[always] des[of .the] combinaisons[cunning.plans/ruses] plein[full] la[the] tête[head], mais[but] pas[not] grand[big] –chose[thing] dans[in] le[the ventre[belly] ; ça[that] serait[would.be] étonnant[surprising] s’[if] il[he] avait[had] changé[changed], et[and], de[of] toute[all] manière[ways/manners], je[I] voulais[was.wanting/wanted] essayer[to try].
I was knowing/knew De Soto : he had always of.the cunning plans/ruses full the head, but not big thing in the belly. That would.be surprising if he had changed, and of all ways/manners I was wanting/wanted to try.
I knew De Soto: he always had a head full of ruses but not much in the stomach; it would be surprising if he had changed, and, in any case, I wanted to try.
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Le jeu en valait la chandelle. J’avais peut-être vieilli, mais pas à ce point-la.
Le[the] jeu[game] en[of.it] valait[was worth] la[the] chandelle[candle]. J’[I] avais[had] peut-être[maybe] vieilli[aged], mais[but] pas[not] à[at] ce[that] point[point] –la[there].
The game of.it was.worth the candle. I had maybe aged, but not at that point there.
It was worth a go. I had maybe aged, but not as much as that.
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Si la police ne me prenait pas en chasse pour le meurtre de Cumming, je me faisais fort de récupérer ce qui m’appartenait, capital et intérêts, et, d’après ce que m’avait expliqué Perdrier, les intérêts valaient le voyage à eux seuls.
Si[if] la[the] police[police] ne[no] me[me] prenait[was.taking/took] pas[not] en[in] chasse[chase] pour[for] le[the] meurtre[murder] de[of] Cumming[Cumming], je[I] me[myself] faisais[was.doing] fort[strong] de[to] récupérer[recuperate] ce[it] qui[which] m’[to.me] appartenait[was.belonging/used.to.belong], capital[capital] et[and] intérêts[interests], et[and], d’[of] après[after] ce[it] que[that] m’[ to.me] avait [had] expliqué[explainded] Perdrier[[Perdrier], les[the] intérêts[interests] valaient[were.worth] le[the] voyage[journey] à[at] eux[themselves] seuls[alone].
If the police no me was taking/ took not in chase for the murder of Cumming, I myself was.doing strong to recuperate it which to.me was belonging/used.to.belong, capital and interests, and, of after it that to.me had explained Perdrier, the interests were.worth the journey at themselves alone.
If the police don’t chase me for the murder of Cumming I will do what it takes to recover the things that belong to me, the capital and interest, and, according to what Perdrier had explained to me, the interest alone would be worth the trip.
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De toute manière, même si je n’avais pas rencontré Perdrier, je ne serais pas resté en France.
De[of] toute[all] manière[ways/manners], même[even] si[if] je[I] n’[no] avais[had] pas[not] rencontré[encountered] Perdrier[Perdrier], je[I] ne[no] serais[would.be] pas[not] resté[stayed] en[in] France[France].
Of all ways/manners, even if I no had not encountered Perdrier, I no would.be not stayed in France
In any case, even if i had not encountered Perdrier, I wouldn’t have stayed in France.
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Notre rencontre va seulement hâter mon départ et je vais aller passer sur De Soto la colère qui me prend quand je rencontre Tavernier dans l’immeuble.
Notre[our] rencontre[encounter] va[goes/is.going.to] seulement[only] hâter[hasten] mon[my] départ[departure] et[and] je[I] vais[go/am.going] aller[to.go] passer[to.pass] sur[onto] De Soto[De Soto] la[the] colère[anger] qui[which] me[me] prend[takes] quand[when] je[I] rencontre[encounter] Tavernier[Tavernier] dans[in] l’[the] immeuble[appartement.block].
Our encounter is.going.to only hasten my departure and I am.going to.go to.pass onto De Soto the anger which me takes when I encounter Tavernier in the appartement.block.
Our encounter will only hasten my departure and I am going transfer onto De Soto the anger which I get when I encounter Tavernier in the apartment block.
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Je préfère que nous n’habitions plus l’un prés de l’autre.
Je[I] préfère[prefer] que[that] nous[we] n’[no] habitions[live] plus[more] l’[the] un[one] prés[close] de[of] l’[the] autre[other].
I prefer that we no live more the one close of the other.
I would prefer that we don’t live next to each other anymore.
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Il suffirait d’un mot, d’un geste maladroit.
Il[it] suffirait[would.suffice] d’[of] un[a] mot[word], d’[of] un[a] geste[gesture] maladroit[clumsy].
It would.suffice of a word, of a gesture clumsy.
It would only need a word, a clumsy gesture
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Pendant huit ans, j’ai vécu seul, sans jamais m’occuper des autres.
Pendant[during] huit[eight] ans[years], j’[I] ai[have] vécu[lived] seul[alone], sans[without] jamais[ever] m’[myself] occuper[to.ocuppy] des[of.the] autres[others.
During eight years, I have lived alone, without ever myself to.occupy of.the others.
For eight years, I have lived alone, without ever concerning myself with others.
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Il n’y avait que mes ennuis et mon retour à Bactraing ou ailleurs qui m’intéressaient et, aujourd’hui, j’ai un peu honte de moi.
Il[it] n’[no] y[there] avait[had] que[than] mes[my] ennuis[troubles] et[and] mon[my] retour[return] à[to] Bactraing[Bactraing] ou[or] ailleurs[elsewhere] qui[which] m’[me] intéressaient[interested/was interessing] et[and], aujourd’hui[today], j’[I] ai[have] un[a] peu[little] honte[shame] de[of] moi[myself].
It no there had than my troubles and my return to Bactraing or elsewhere which me interested and , today, I have a little shame of myself
There were only my troubles and my return to Bactraing or elsewhere which interested me and, today, I am a little bit ashamed of myself.
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C’est d’abord pour cette raison que je veux partir
C’[it] est[is] d’[of] abord[approach] pour[for] cette[this/that] raison[reason] que[that] je[I] veux[want] partir[to.leave]
It is of approach for this/that reason that I want to.leave
It’s primarily for this reason that I want to leave.
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J’entends Tavernier qui tourne dans sa cuisine de l’autre coté de la cloison.
J’[I] entends[hear] Tavernier[Tavernier] qui[who] tourne[turns(in.circles)] dans[in] sa[his[ cuisine[kitchen] de[of] l’[the] autre[other] coté[side] de[of] la[the] cloison[partition.wall].
I hear Tavernier who turns(in circles) in his kitchen of the other side of the partition.wall.
I hear Tavernier who is turning in circle(meandering about) in his kitchen the other side of the partition wall
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Il entrechoque de la vaisselle.
Il[he] entrechoque[bangs.together] de[of] la[the] vaisselle[washing.up].
He bangs.together of the washing.up.
He bangs together the washing up.
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Le «plouf » sourd du réchaud a gaz qu’on allume.
Le[the] «plouf »[whoosh] sourd[deaf/muffled] du[of.the] réchaud[re-heater] a[at] gaz[gas] qu’[that] on[one] allume[lights].
The ‘whoosh’ deaf/muffled of.the re-heater at gas that one lights.
The muffled ‘whoosh’ of the gas stove that one lights.
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Il doit préparer son diner.
Il[he] doit[must(be)] préparer[to.prepare(preparing)] son[his] diner[dinner].
He must(be) to.prepare(preparing) his dinner.
He must be preparing his dinner.
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Je me demande pourquoi il ne va pas au restaurant maintenant. L’habitude, je suppose.
Je[I] me[myself] demande[ask] pourquoi[why] il[he] ne[no] va[goes] pas[not] au[to.the] restaurant[restaurant] maintenant[now]. L’[the] habitude[habitude], je[I] suppose[suppose].
I myself ask why he no goes not to.the restaurant now. The habitude I suppose.
I ask myself why he doesn’t go to a restaurant now. Habitude I suppose.
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Depuis vingt ans qu’il rentre de son usine à sept heures pour venir prendre son repas à la maison, il n’imagine pas qu’il puisse en aller autrement.
Depuis[since] vingt[twenty] ans[years] qu’[that] il[he] rentre[re-enters] de[of] son[his] usine[factory] à[at] sept[seven] heures[hours] pour[in.order.to] venir[come] prendre[to.take] son[his] repas[meal] à[at] la[the] maison[house], il[he] n’[no] imagine[imagines] pas[not] qu’[that] il[it] puisse[can/may] en[of.it] aller[to.go] autrement[otherwise].
Since twenty years that he re-enters of his factory to.take his meal at the house, he no imagines not that it can/may of.it to.go otherwise.
Since twenty years he has been returning from his factory at seven o’clock in order to come and take his meal at the house and he can’t imagine that it may be otherwise done.
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Même si la maison est vide. Je serais curieux de savoir ce qu’il pense en ce moment.
Même[even] si[if] la[the] maison[house] est[is] vide[empty]. Je[I] serais[would.be] curieux[curious] de[to] savoir[know] ce[it] qu’[that] il[he] pense[thinks] en[in/at] ce[this] moment[moment].
Even if the house is empty. I would.be curious to know it that he thinks in/at this moment.
Even if the house is empty. I would be curious to know what he is thinking at this very moment.
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Je songe plus souvent à lui qu’à De Soto, et cela suffit à me montrer l’importance que J’attache à l’histoire de Tavernier.
Je[I] songe[reflect/think.about] plus[more] souvent[often] à[at/of] lui[him] qu’[than] à[at/of] De Soto[De Soto], et[and] cela[that.there] suffit[suffices] à[to] me[to.me] montrer[to.show] l’[the] importance[importance] que[that] J’[I] attache[attatch] à[at/to] l’[the] histoire[history] de[of] Tavernier[Tavernier].
I reflect/think.about more often at/of him than at/of De Soto, and that.there suffices to to.me to.show the importance that I attatch at/to the history of Tavernier.
I think more often about him than I do De Soto, and that suffices to show the importance that I attach to this history with Tavernier.
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