Chapter 2. Father and Son (4) Capítulo 2. Padre e hijo (4) Padre e Hijo (4)

Caderousse lingered for a moment, then taking leave of old Dantes, he went downstairs to rejoin Danglars, who awaited him at the corner of the Rue Senac.

"Well," said Danglars, "did you see him?

"I have just left him," answered Caderousse.

"Did he allude to his hope of being captain? « A-t-il fait allusion à son espoir d'être capitaine ?

"He spoke of it as a thing already decided.

"Indeed!

said Danglars, "he is in too much hurry, it appears to me. "Why, it seems M. Morrel has promised him the thing.

"So that he is quite elated about it? "Alors qu'il en est ravi ?

"Why, yes, he is actually insolent over the matter--has already offered me his patronage, as if he were a grand personage, and proffered me a loan of money, as though he were a banker. « Pourquoi, oui, il est en fait insolent à ce sujet – m'a déjà offert son patronage, comme s'il était un grand personnage, et m'a offert un prêt d'argent, comme s'il était un banquier.

"Which you refused?

"Most assuredly; although I might easily have accepted it, for it was I who put into his hands the first silver he ever earned; but now M. Dantes has no longer any occasion for assistance--he is about to become a captain. — Assurément, quoique j'eusse pu facilement l'accepter, car c'est moi qui ai mis entre ses mains le premier argent qu'il ait jamais gagné ; mais maintenant M. Dantès n'a plus besoin d'aide, il va devenir capitaine.

"Pooh!

said Danglars, "he is not one yet. "Ma foi, it will be as well if he is not," answered Caderousse; "for if he should be, there will be really no speaking to him. — Ma foi, ce sera aussi bien s'il ne l'est pas, répondit Caderousse ; "car s'il doit l'être, il n'y aura vraiment pas de lui parler.

"If we choose," replied Danglars, "he will remain what he is; and perhaps become even less than he is.

"What do you mean?

"Nothing--I was speaking to myself.

And is he still in love with the Catalane? "Over head and ears; but, unless I am much mistaken, there will be a storm in that quarter. « Au-dessus de la tête et des oreilles ; mais, à moins que je ne me trompe, il y aura de l'orage de ce côté-là.

"Explain yourself.

"Why should I?

"It is more important than you think, perhaps.

You do not like Dantes? "I never like upstarts.

"Then tell me all you know about the Catalane.

"I know nothing for certain; only I have seen things which induce me to believe, as I told you, that the future captain will find some annoyance in the vicinity of the Vieilles Infirmeries. « Je n'en sais rien de sûr ; seulement j'ai vu des choses qui me portent à croire, comme je vous l'ai dit, que le futur capitaine trouvera quelque ennui aux environs des Vieilles Infirmeries.

"What have you seen?--come, tell me!

"Well, every time I have seen Mercedes come into the city she has been accompanied by a tall, strapping, black-eyed Catalan, with a red complexion, brown skin, and fierce air, whom she calls cousin.

"Really; and you think this cousin pays her attentions? « Vraiment ; et vous pensez que cette cousine fait ses attentions ?

"I only suppose so.

What else can a strapping chap of twenty-one mean with a fine wench of seventeen? Que peut signifier un type costaud de vingt et un ans avec une belle fille de dix-sept ans ? "And you say that Dantes has gone to the Catalans?

"He went before I came down.

"Let us go the same way; we will stop at La Reserve, and we can drink a glass of La Malgue, whilst we wait for news. "Allons par le même chemin, nous nous arrêterons à La Réserve, et nous pourrons boire un verre de La Malgue, en attendant des nouvelles. "Come along," said Caderousse; "but you pay the score. — Venez, dit Caderousse ; "mais vous payez le score.

"Of course," replied Danglars; and going quickly to the designated place, they called for a bottle of wine, and two glasses.

Pere Pamphile had seen Dantes pass not ten minutes before; and assured that he was at the Catalans, they sat down under the budding foliage of the planes and sycamores, in the branches of which the birds were singing their welcome to one of the first days of spring. Le père Pamphile avait vu passer Dantès il n'y a pas dix minutes ; et assuré qu'il était chez les Catalans, ils s'assirent sous le feuillage naissant des platanes et des sycomores, dans les branches desquels les oiseaux chantaient leur bienvenue à un des premiers jours du printemps.