The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes: Bilingual Edition (English – French)
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Instead of memorizing vocabulary words, work your way through an actual well-written novel. Even novices can follow along as each individual English paragraph is paired with the corresponding French paragraph. It won't be an easy project, but you'll learn a lot.
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1859. Before starting his writing career, Doyle attended medical school, where he met the professor who would later inspire his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet was Doyle's first novel; he would go on to write more than sixty stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. He died in England in 1930.
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The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
NOUVELLES AVENTURES DE SHERLOCK HOLMES
Bilingual Edition
English - French
Arthur Conan Doyle
translated by
Jeanne de Polignac
THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE
L’ASSOCIATION DES HOMMES ROUX
I had called upon my friend, Mr.Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year, and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman, with fiery red hair.
L’année dernière, un jour d’automne, j’entrai chez mon ami Sherlock Holmes. Je le trouvai en conférence avec un gros clergyman, d’âge moyen et dont la face rubiconde et les cheveux roux ardent me frappèrent singulièrement.
With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw, when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room, and closed the door behind me.
J’étais sur le point de me retirer en balbutiant une excuse, lorsque Sherlock Holmes m’attira brusquement dans le salon et fermant la porte derrière moi:
«You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,» he said cordially.
— Vous ne pouviez arriver plus à point, cher docteur, me dit-il, d’un ton cordial.
«I was afraid that you were engaged.»
— Vraiment. Je vous croyais pourtant très occupé?
«So I am. Very much so.»
— Je le suis, en effet.
«Then I can wait in the next room.»
— Alors permettez-moi de vous attendre dans la pièce voisine.
«Not at all. This gentleman, Mr.Wilson, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also.»
— Pas du tout. — Monsieur Wilson, dit-il, en s’adressant au gros clergyman, le docteur ici présent a été mon associé et mon collaborateur dans plusieurs circonstances où j’ai pu éclaircir des affaires fort embrouillées; il sera assurément un auxiliaire utile dans le cas que vous venez me soumettre.
The stout gentleman half rose from his chair, and gave a bob of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small, fat-encircled eyes.
Le personnage à qui s’adressait Holmes se souleva sur son siège en esquissant un salut et son petit œil, dissimulé sous les plis de l’arcade sourcilière, lança un éclair.
«Try the settee,» said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair, and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods. «I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of every-day life. You have shown your relish for it by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures.»
— Asseyez-vous sur le canapé, dit Holmes; tandis que lui-même s’installait dans son fauteuil, en serrant les doigts nerveusement, comme il avait coutume de le faire lorsqu’il s’agissait d’une cause importante. Je sais, cher Watson, que vous partagez avec moi la passion du bizarre; que vous êtes attiré aussi par tout ce qui sort du convenu et du monotone train-train de chaque jour. Vous l’avez prouvé jusqu’à l’enthousiasme par la chronique, quelque peu embellie, ne vous en déplaise, que vous avez faite de mes petites aventures.
«Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me,» I observed.
— Vous savez bien, cher ami, à quel point vos causes judiciaires m’ont intéressé, répondis-je.
«You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination.»
— Vous rappelez-vous à ce propos la remarque que me suggéra l’autre jour le problème si simple exposé par miss Mary Sutherland? J’émettais cette assertion que, dans la vie réelle, il y a de ces effets si singulièrement étranges, de ces circonstances si extraordinaires qu’ils dépassent tout ce que l’imagination la plus fantastique et la plus audacieuse pourrait inventer.
«A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting.»
— Oui, je me souviens, de cette remarque que je me permis même de contredire.
«You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be right.
— Parfaitement, docteur, ce qui n’empêche pas que vous allez être obligé de vous ranger à mon avis, écrasé que sera votre raisonnement par les preuves les plus indiscutables.
Now, Mr.Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed.
VoiciM.Jabez Wilson qui a eu la bonté de venir me voir ce matin pour me faire le récit le plus empoignant qu’il soit possible d’entendre.
Ne vous ai-je pas souvent fait remarquer cette étrange anomalie qu’entre deux crimes, ce sera toujours le plus grave qui sera le plus simple tandis que l’autre sera compliqué de circonstances si étranges, si invraisemblables même, qu’on en arrive à se demander si le crime a jamais existé.
As far as I have heard, it is impossible for me to say whether the present case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Perhaps, Mr.Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you, not merely because my friend Dr.Watson has not heard the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips.
Jusqu’ici et dans le cas présent, il m’est impossible d’exprimer une opinion quelconque tant les faits qui se présentent à moi me semblent extraordinaires. Seriez-vous assez bon, monsieur Wilson, pour recommencer votre récit. Vous rendrez service non seulement à mon ami le docteur Watson qui n’est pas au courant de la situation, mais aussi à moi, en me permettant de recueillir encore de votre bouche, pour m’en pénétrer plus complètement, tous les détails de cette étrange aventure.
As a rule, when I have heard some slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique.»
Bien souvent une notion sommaire des événements suffit à me guider, surtout en me remémorant toutes les causes célèbres que j’ai eues à étudier. Mais, dans le cas présent, j’avoue que je me trouve en présence de circonstances absolument en dehors du convenu.
The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some little pride, and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward, and the paper flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man, and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance.
Le gros client bomba sa large poitrine avec affectation, et tira de la poche de sa redingote un vieux journal tout froissé. En le voyant ainsi, devant moi, penché en avant (il parcourait la colonne des annonces dans le journal qu’il avait étalé sur ses genoux), j’essayai d’employer les procédés d’analyse de mon camarade, de me faire une opinion sur cet individu d’après ses vêtements et d’après sa personne elle-même.
I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow.
Mon inspection n’aboutit à rien de saillant: notre visiteur avait toute l’apparence du vulgaire commerçant anglais: obèse, pompeux et lent.
He wore rather baggy gray shepherd's check trousers, a not overclean black frockcoat, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament. A frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features.
Il portait un pantalon à carreaux gris et assez large, une redingote noire légèrement déboutonnée et un gilet gris; une lourde chaîne Albert en cuivre et un morceau de métal en guise de breloque complétaient sa toilette. À côté de lui, sur une chaise, un chapeau haut de forme éraillé et un pardessus d’un brun passé avec un col de velours tout froissé n’apportèrent aucune lueur à mon investigation. Je ne distinguais aucun signe caractéristique, si ce n’est ses cheveux d’un roux ardent et une expression d’extrême mécontentement et même de chagrin répandue sur ses traits.
Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. «Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else.»
Sherlock Holmes, avec sa vivacité habituelle, saisit ma pensée et mon regard inquisiteur le fit même sourire. Il secoua la tête.
— Il est bien évident, dit-il, qu’à une époque quelconque de sa vie, monsieur s’est livré à des travaux manuels; il prise, il est franc-maçon, il a été en Chine et il a beaucoup écrit ces temps derniers; je n’en sais pas plus long.
Mr.Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion.
M.Jabez Wilson bondit de sa chaise, son journal à la main, et fixant mon camarade, d’un air effaré:
«How, in the name of good fortune, did you know all that, Mr.Holmes?» he asked. «How did you know, for example, that I did manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carpenter.»
— Comment, au nom du ciel! savez-vous cela, monsieur Holmes? s’écria-t-il. Qui vous a dit que j’avais travaillé de mes mains? C’est vrai, ma parole, j’ai été charpentier dans la marine.
«Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more developed.»
— Cela saute aux yeux, cher monsieur. La main droite est sensiblement plus grande que la gauche, preuve que les muscles en ont été développés par le travail.
«Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?»
— Mais encore où voyez-vous que j’ai l’habitude de priser? que je suis franc-maçon?
«I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you use an arc and compass breastpin.»
Je ne vous ferai pas l’injure de vous dire comment je l’ai su; car, en dépit de toutes les règles de votre association, vous en portez les insignes, le triangle et le compas, en épingle de cravate.
«Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?»
— Ah! c’est vrai, je n’y pensais pas. Et comment savez-vous que j’ai beaucoup écrit ces temps-ci?
«What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where you rest it upon the desk.»
— Que signifieraient alors, sur votre manche droite, cette marque luisante longue de cinq pouces et, sur la gauche, une reprise si bien faite, à l’endroit où votre coude reposait sur le pupitre?
«Well, but China?»
— Et où prenez-vous que je suis allé en Chine?
«The fish which you have tattooed immediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small study of tattoo marks, and have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China.
— Il me semble que le poisson tatoué, juste au-dessus de votre poignet droit n’a pu l’être que dans le Céleste-Empire. J’ai fait sur le tatouage une étude spéciale que j’ai même publiée. Ce coloris rose tendre des écailles de poisson est tout à fait particulier à la Chine.
When, in addition, I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter becomes even more simple.»
Mr.Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. «Well, I never!» said he. «I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that there was nothing in it after all.»
«I begin to think, Watson,» said Holmes, «that I make a mistake in explaining.
Lorsqu’en plus, je vois un sou chinois suspendu, comme breloque, à votre chaîne de montre, il me semble qu’il ne faut pas être sorcier pour avancer que vous êtes allé dans ce pays-là.
M.Jabez Wilson rit d’un gros rire vulgaire.
— Ma parole, dit-il, je vous croyais très habile, avant de connaître votre procédé; il est bien simple après tout.
— Je commence à croire, Watson, repartit Holmes, que j’ai tort de donner des explications. Vous connaissez le proverbe:
‘Omne ignotum pro magnifico, ’ you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr.Wilson?»
«Yes, I have got it now,» he answered, with his thick, red finger planted half-way down the column. «Here it is. This is what began it all. You just read it for yourself, sir.»
Omne ignotum pro magnifico, et ma pauvre réputation sombrera si je continue à être aussi franc. Ne pouvez-vous pas retrouver l’annonce dont vous me parliez, monsieur Wilson?
— La voici enfin, répondit-il, en montrant de son gros doigt la colonne du journal, la voici, et c’est le début de toute l’histoire. Lisez-la vous-même, monsieur.
I took the paper from him, and read as follows: —
«To the Red-Headed League. On account of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Penn., U. S. A., there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a salary of four pounds a week for purely nominal services.
Je pris le journal de ses mains et lus ce qui suit: «À l’Association des roux. En raison du legs de feu Ezekiah Hopkins, de Lebanon, Penn, États-Unis d’Amérique, il se trouve y avoir dans la Ligue une nouvelle place vacante qui donne droit à un salaire de quatre livres par semaine pour des services purement nominaux.
All red-headed men who are sound in body and mind, and above the age of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7, Pope's-court, Fleet-street.»
«What on earth does this mean?» I ejaculated, after I had twice read over the extraordinary announcement.
Holmes chuckled, and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when in high spirits. «It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?» said he.
Tous les hommes roux, sains de corps et d’esprit, et ayant plus de vingt et un an sont éligibles. S’adresser en personne, lundi à onze heures, à Duncan Ross, au bureau de la Ligue, 7, Pope’s court Fleet Street.»
— Que diable cela peut-il signifier? m’écriai-je, après avoir relu deux fois cette singulière annonce.
Holmes esquissa un sourire et se trémoussa sur sa chaise; c’était chez lui un signe d’extrême contentement.
— Cela sort de l’ordinaire, n’est-ce pas? dit-il.
«And now, Mr.Wilson, off you go at scratch, and tell us all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Doctor, of the paper and the date.»
Et maintenant, monsieur Wilson, tranchons dans le vif et racontez-nous tout ce qui vous concerne, vous et les vôtres. Quelle a été l’influence de cette annonce sur votre sort? Veuillez, docteur, inscrire sur votre calepin le nom du journal et sa date.
«It is The Morning Chronicle, of April 27, 1890.
— C’est le Morning Chronicle du 27 avril 1890.
Just two months ago.» «Very good. Now, Mr.Wilson?»
Il y a deux mois de cela. — Parfaitement. Vous avez la parole, monsieur Wilson.
«Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr.Sherlock Holmes,» said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead, «I have a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg-square, near the City. It's not a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him, but that he is willing to come for half wages, so as to learn the business.»
— Eh bien! je vous disais donc, monsieur Sherlock Holmes, reprit Jabez Wilson en fronçant le sourcil, que j’ai un petit bureau de prêts sur gages à Coburg-Square, près de la Cité. Ce n’est pas un bureau important, et, dans ces dernières années, j’ai eu bien de la peine à ajuster les deux bouts. J’avais deux employés; j’ai dû en supprimer un, et encore aurais-je été obligé de renoncer au second si ce brave garçon n’avait consenti, pour apprendre le métier, à entrer chez moi pour la moitié des gages ordinaires.
«What is the name of this obliging youth?» asked Sherlock Holmes.
— Quel est le nom de ce jeune homme obligeant? demanda Sherlock Holmes.
«His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assistant, Mr.Holmes; and I know very well that he could better himself, and earn twice what I am able to give him. But after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?»
«Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement.»
— Il s’appelle Vincent Spaulding et il n’est pas aussi jeune qu’on pourrait le croire à première vue; je ne saurais cependant lui assigner un âge, mais par exemple c’est un employé de premier ordre, monsieur Holmes; il pourrait facilement gagner le double de ce que je lui donne. Après tout, s’il est satisfait, ce n’est pas mon rôle de lui donner des idées d’ambition.
— En effet? Vous devez vous estimer très heureux d’avoir un excellent employé à des conditions aussi modestes. C’est rare chez des employés de cet âge, et je me demande ce qu’il faut le plus admirer de votre annonce ou de votre employé.
— Mon Dieu!
«Oh, he has his faults, too,» said Mr.Wilson. «Never was such a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault; but, on the whole, he's a good worker. There's no vice in him.»
«He is still with you, I presume?»
«Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking, and keeps the place clean — that's all I have in the house, for I am a widower, and never had any family.
il a ses défauts aussi, ditM.Wilson. Je n’ai jamais vu la passion de la photographie poussée plus loin que chez lui. S’esquivant avec un appareil aux heures où il devrait travailler, il descend au fond de la cave, comme un lapin qui se terre, pour développer ses plaques. Voilà son principal défaut. En dehors de cela c’est un bon travailleur, et il n’a pas la moindre malice.
— Je pense qu’il est encore chez vous?
— Oui, monsieur, je n’ai que lui et une gamine de quatorze ans qui fait un peu de cuisine et balaye la maison; car je suis veuf, et je n’ai plus de parents.
We live very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more.
Nous vivons très tranquillement, monsieur, tous les trois; gagnant juste de quoi nous abriter sous un toit et payer nos dettes, rien de plus.
«The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight weeks with this very paper in his hand, and he says: —
La première chose qui vint rompre la monotonie de notre existence fut cette annonce. Spaulding arriva au bureau, je me rappelle que ce fut précisément il y a aujourd’hui huit jours, avec ce même journal à la main et s’écria:
«‘I wish to the Lord, Mr.Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.’
— Quel malheur, monsieur Wilson! que je ne sois pas roux.
«‘Why that? ’ I asks.
— Et pourquoi cela? demandai-je.
«‘Why, ’ says he, ‘here's another vacancy on the League of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.’
— Pourquoi? voici une place à prendre dans l’Association des hommes roux. Cela équivaut à de bonnes rentes pour celui qui y est admis. Je crois savoir qu’il y a plus de places que d’associés, de sorte que les administrateurs ne savent que faire du capital. Si seulement mes cheveux pouvaient changer de couleur, voilà un bon petit fromage dans lequel je pourrai me loger!
«‘Why, what is it, then? ’ I asked. You see, Mr.Holmes, I am a very stay-at-home man, and, as my business came to me instead of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news.
— Mais que signifie cette histoire? m’écriai-je. Remarquez bien, monsieur Holmes, que je suis un homme très casanier. Les affaires viennent à moi; je n’ai donc pas à me déranger; et je passe souvent des semaines entières sans franchir le seuil de ma porte. De cette façon, j’ignore tout ce qui se passe au dehors; et la moindre nouvelle a de l’intérêt pour moi.
«‘Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men? ’ he asked, with his eyes open.
«‘Never.’
«‘Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one of the vacancies.’
«‘And what are they worth? ’ I asked.
«‘Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, and it need not interfere very much with one's other occupations.’
«Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, for the business has not been over good for some years, and an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy.
«‘Tell me all about it, ’ said I.
— N’avez-vous jamais entendu parler de l’Association des hommes roux? demanda mon employé, en écarquillant les yeux.
— Jamais.
— C’est fort étonnant; car vous êtes apte vous-même à en faire partie.
— Combien paye-t-on les associés?
— Oh! environ huit mille francs par an; le travail est peu considérable, du reste, et cela ne nuit pas beaucoup aux autres occupations qu’on peut avoir.
Vous pensez bien qu’à cette réponse je dressai l’oreille; car les affaires n’ont pas été brillantes dans ces dernières années et une somme de huit mille francs n’est pas à dédaigner.
— Racontez-moi donc tout cela par le menu, dis-je à Spaulding.
— Eh bien!
«‘Well, ’ said he, showing me the advertisement, ‘you can see for yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; so, when he died, it was found that he had left his enormous fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the