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"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (full novel), Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 3

Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 3

“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.

“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”

“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”

“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.

“Both very busy, sir.”

“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I'm very glad to hear it.”

“Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,” returned the gentleman, “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”

“Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

“You wish to be anonymous?”

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.”

“Many can't go there; and many would rather die.”

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don't know that.”

“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman.

“It's not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!”

Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him.

Meanwhile the fog and darkness thickened so, that people ran about with flaring links, proffering their services to go before horses in carriages, and conduct them on their way. The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall, became invisible, and struck the hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there. The cold became intense. In the main street, at the corner of the court, some labourers were repairing the gas-pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a brazier, round which a party of ragged men and boys were gathered: warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. The water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowings sullenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. Poulterers' and grocers' trades became a splendid joke: a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of the mighty Mansion House, gave orders to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor's household should; and even the little tailor, whom he had fined five shillings on the previous Monday for being drunk and bloodthirsty in the streets, stirred up to-morrow's pudding in his garret, while his lean wife and the baby sallied out to buy the beef.

Foggier yet, and colder. Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirit's nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of

“God bless you, merry gentleman!

May nothing you dismay!”

Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.

At length the hour of shutting up the counting-house arrived. With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from his stool, and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant clerk in the Tank, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat.

“You'll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?” said Scrooge.

“If quite convenient, sir.”

“It's not convenient,” said Scrooge, “and it's not fair. If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you'd think yourself ill-used, I'll be bound?”

The clerk smiled faintly.

“And yet,” said Scrooge, “you don't think me ill-used, when I pay a day's wages for no work.”

The clerk observed that it was only once a year.

“A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!” said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. “But I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning.”

The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. The office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman's-buff.


Stave One. Marley's Ghost - Part 3 Pentagrama Uno. El fantasma de Marley - Parte 3 木板一号。马利的幽灵 - 第 3 部分

“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. "En esta época festiva del año, señor Scrooge", dijo el caballero, cogiendo una pluma, "es más que deseable que hagamos alguna pequeña provisión para los pobres e indigentes, que sufren mucho en la actualidad. « En cette saison festive de l'année, monsieur Scrooge, dit le gentilhomme en prenant une plume, il est plus que d'habitude souhaitable que nous fassions quelque légère provision pour les pauvres et les indigents, qui souffrent beaucoup à l'heure actuelle. . “Nesta época festiva do ano, Sr. Scrooge”, disse o cavalheiro, pegando uma caneta, “é mais do que geralmente desejável que façamos uma pequena provisão para os pobres e necessitados, que sofrem muito no momento atual . Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.” Muchos miles carecen de necesidades comunes; cientos de miles carecen de comodidades comunes, señor". Des milliers de personnes manquent de produits de première nécessité ; des centaines de milliers manquent du confort commun, monsieur. Muitos milhares desejam necessidades comuns; centenas de milhares querem conforto comum, senhor.

“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. "¿No hay cárceles?", preguntó Scrooge. "Não há prisões?" perguntou Scrooge.

“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. "Hay muchas cárceles", dijo el caballero, volviendo a dejar la pluma. — Beaucoup de prisons, dit le monsieur en posant de nouveau la plume. "Muitas prisões", disse o cavalheiro, pousando a caneta novamente.

“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. "¿Y las casas de trabajo de la Unión?", preguntó Scrooge. "E os laboratórios da União?" exigiu Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?” "¿Siguen funcionando?" « Sont-ils toujours en activité ? » "Eles ainda estão em operação?"

“They are. "Eles são. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.” Aun así", respondió el caballero, "me gustaría poder decir que no lo son". Pourtant, répondit le monsieur, j'aimerais pouvoir dire qu'ils ne l'étaient pas. Ainda assim - respondeu o cavalheiro -, gostaria de poder dizer que não.

“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge. "¿La Cinta de Correr y la Ley de Pobres están en pleno vigor, entonces?", dijo Scrooge. « Le tapis roulant et la loi sur les pauvres sont en pleine vigueur, alors ? » dit Scrooge. "A escada rolante e a lei dos pobres estão em pleno vigor, então?" disse Scrooge.

“Both very busy, sir.” "Ambos muy ocupados, señor". "Ambos muito ocupados, senhor."

“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. Temía, por lo que dijiste al principio, que hubiera ocurrido algo que los detuviera en su útil curso -dijo Scrooge-. J'avais peur, d'après ce que vous avez dit au début, que quelque chose se soit produit pour les arrêter dans leur cours utile », a déclaré Scrooge. Eu tinha medo, pelo que você disse a princípio, que algo tivesse ocorrido para impedi-los em seu curso útil ”, disse Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.” "Me alegra mucho oírlo". "Estou muito feliz em ouvir isso."

“Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,” returned the gentleman, “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. "Bajo la impresión de que apenas proporcionan alegría cristiana de mente o cuerpo a la multitud", respondió el caballero, "algunos de nosotros nos esforzamos por recaudar fondos para comprar a los pobres algo de carne y bebida, y medios para calentarse. « Sous l'impression qu'ils fournissent à peine la joie chrétienne de l'esprit ou du corps à la multitude, » répondit le monsieur, « quelques-uns d'entre nous s'efforcent de réunir des fonds pour acheter aux pauvres de la viande et des boissons, et des moyens de se réchauffer. “Com a impressão de que eles mal dão ânimo ou espírito cristão à multidão”, devolveu o cavalheiro, “alguns de nós estão tentando arrecadar um fundo para comprar aos pobres um pouco de carne, bebida e meios de calor. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. Elegimos este momento, porque es un momento, de todos los demás, en que la Carencia se siente agudamente, y la Abundancia se regocija. Nous choisissons ce temps, car c'est un temps, parmi tous les autres, où le Désir est vivement ressenti, et l'Abondance se réjouit. Nós escolhemos este momento, porque é o tempo de todos os outros, quando o Desejo é sentido profundamente e a Abundância se alegra. What shall I put you down for?” ¿Por qué te bajo?" Pour quoi dois-je vous rabaisser ? » O que devo colocar para você?

“Nothing!” Scrooge replied. "¡Nada!" Contestó Scrooge. "Nada!" Scrooge respondeu.

“You wish to be anonymous?” "¿Desea ser anónimo?" "Você deseja ser anônimo?"

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. "Deseo que me dejen en paz", dijo Scrooge. "Gostaria de ser deixado em paz", disse Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. "Ya que me preguntan qué deseo, caballeros, esa es mi respuesta. « Puisque vous me demandez ce que je souhaite, messieurs, voilà ma réponse. “Desde que você me pergunta o que desejo, senhores, essa é a minha resposta. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. Yo no me alegro en Navidad y no puedo permitirme alegrar a los ociosos. Não me alegre no Natal e não posso me dar ao luxo de deixar as pessoas ociosas felizes. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.” Ayudo a sostener los establecimientos que he mencionado; cuestan lo suficiente; y los que están mal deben ir allí." J'aide à soutenir les établissements que j'ai mentionnés : ils coûtent assez cher ; et ceux qui sont mal lotis doivent y aller. Ajudo a apoiar os estabelecimentos que mencionei - eles custam o suficiente; e aqueles que estão mal devem ir para lá. ”

“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.” "Muchos no pueden ir allí; y muchos preferirían morir". “Muitos não podem ir para lá; e muitos preferem morrer. "

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. "Si prefieren morir", dijo Scrooge, "más vale que lo hagan y disminuya el excedente de población. « S'ils préfèrent mourir », a déclaré Scrooge, « ils feraient mieux de le faire et de réduire le surplus de population. “Se eles preferem morrer”, disse Scrooge, “é melhor fazê-lo e diminuir a população excedente. Besides—excuse me—I don’t know that.” Además -disculpa- no lo sé". D'ailleurs, excusez-moi, je ne sais pas. Além disso, com licença, eu não sei disso.

“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman. – Mais vous le savez peut-être, observa le monsieur. "Mas você deve saber", observou o cavalheiro.

“It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. "Não é da minha conta", Scrooge retornou. “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. “Basta que um homem entenda o seu próprio negócio e não interfira nos outros. Mine occupies me constantly. La mía me ocupa constantemente. O meu me ocupa constantemente. Good afternoon, gentlemen!”

Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Viendo claramente que sería inútil insistir en su punto de vista, los caballeros se retiraron. Vendo claramente que seria inútil seguir seu argumento, os cavalheiros se retiraram. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him. Scrooge reanudó sus labores con una mejor opinión de sí mismo y con un humor más jocoso de lo que era habitual en él. Scrooge reprit ses travaux avec une meilleure opinion de lui-même et d'un tempérament plus facétieux qu'il ne lui était habituel. Scrooge retomou seus trabalhos com uma opinião melhorada de si mesmo e com um temperamento mais ridículo do que o habitual com ele.

Meanwhile the fog and darkness thickened so, that people ran about with flaring links, proffering their services to go before horses in carriages, and conduct them on their way. Mientras tanto, la niebla y la oscuridad se espesaban de tal modo, que la gente corría de un lado a otro con los lazos encendidos, ofreciendo sus servicios para ir delante de los caballos en los carruajes, y conducirlos en su camino. Cependant le brouillard et les ténèbres s'épaississaient tellement, que les gens couraient avec des chaînons flamboyants, offrant leurs services pour aller devant les chevaux en voitures, et les conduire sur leur chemin. Enquanto isso, o nevoeiro e a escuridão se espessavam tanto, que as pessoas corriam com elos flamejantes, oferecendo seus serviços para irem à frente de cavalos em carruagens e os conduziam a caminho. The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall, became invisible, and struck the hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there. La antigua torre de una iglesia, cuya vieja y gruñona campana siempre miraba a Scrooge desde una ventana gótica de la pared, se hizo invisible y marcó las horas y los cuartos en las nubes, con vibraciones temblorosas, como si sus dientes castañetearan en su helada cabeza. L'ancienne tour d'une église, dont la vieille cloche bourrue jetait toujours un coup d'œil sournois à Scrooge par une fenêtre gothique dans le mur, est devenue invisible et a frappé les heures et les quarts dans les nuages, avec des vibrations tremblantes ensuite comme si ses dents claquaient dans sa tête gelée là-haut. A torre antiga de uma igreja, cujo sino velho e áspero sempre espiava devagar para Scrooge de uma janela gótica na parede, tornou-se invisível e atingiu as horas e os quartos nas nuvens, com vibrações trêmulas depois, como se seus dentes estivessem batendo. em sua cabeça congelada lá em cima. The cold became intense. El frío se hizo intenso. O frio ficou intenso. In the main street, at the corner of the court, some labourers were repairing the gas-pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a brazier, round which a party of ragged men and boys were gathered: warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. En la calle principal, en la esquina del patio, unos obreros estaban reparando las tuberías de gas y habían encendido un gran fuego en un brasero, alrededor del cual se reunía un grupo de hombres y niños harapientos que se calentaban las manos y guiñaban los ojos extasiados ante las llamas. Dans la grande rue, au coin de la cour, des ouvriers réparaient les conduites de gaz et avaient allumé un grand feu dans un brasero, autour duquel s'étaient rassemblés des hommes et des garçons en haillons, se réchauffant les mains et clignant des yeux. avant l'incendie dans le ravissement. Na rua principal, na esquina da corte, alguns trabalhadores estavam consertando os canos de gasolina e acenderam um grande incêndio em um braseiro, em volta da qual se reunia um grupo de homens e meninos esfarrapados: aquecendo as mãos e piscando os olhos diante do incêndio em êxtase. The water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowings sullenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. El tapón de agua se dejó en la soledad, sus desbordamientos se congelaron hoscamente y se convirtieron en hielo misántropo. Le bouchon d'eau étant laissé à la solitude, ses débordements se figèrent d'un air maussade et se transformèrent en glace misanthropique. O bujão de água sendo deixado na solidão, seus transbordamentos sombriamente congelados e transformados em gelo misantrópico. The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. El brillo de las tiendas, donde las ramitas de acebo y las bayas crepitaban al calor de las lámparas de los escaparates, enrojecía los rostros pálidos al pasar. L'éclat des boutiques où les branches de houx et les baies crépitaient dans la chaleur lumineuse des vitrines, rendait les visages pâles rouges au passage. O brilho das lojas onde os galhos e bagas de azevinho estalavam no calor da lâmpada das janelas, fazia rostos pálidos corar quando passavam. Poulterers' and grocers' trades became a splendid joke: a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. Los oficios de pañolero y tendero se convirtieron en una broma espléndida: un espectáculo glorioso, con el que era casi imposible creer que principios tan aburridos como la negociación y la venta tuvieran algo que ver. Les métiers d'aviculteur et d'épicier devinrent une plaisanterie splendide : un spectacle glorieux, avec lequel il était presque impossible de croire que des principes aussi ennuyeux que le marchandage et la vente avaient quelque chose à voir. Os negócios de avicultores e mercearias tornaram-se uma piada esplêndida: um concurso glorioso, com o qual era quase impossível acreditar que princípios aborrecidos como pechincha e venda tinham algo a ver. The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of the mighty Mansion House, gave orders to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor’s household should; and even the little tailor, whom he had fined five shillings on the previous Monday for being drunk and bloodthirsty in the streets, stirred up to-morrow’s pudding in his garret, while his lean wife and the baby sallied out to buy the beef. El Lord Mayor, en la fortaleza de la poderosa Mansion House, dio órdenes a sus cincuenta cocineros y mayordomos de celebrar la Navidad como debe ser en la casa de un Lord Mayor; e incluso el pequeño sastre, a quien había multado con cinco chelines el lunes anterior por estar borracho y sediento de sangre en las calles, preparó el pudín de mañana en su buhardilla, mientras su delgada esposa y el bebé salían a comprar la carne. Le Lord Mayor, dans la forteresse de la puissante Mansion House, a donné l'ordre à ses cinquante cuisiniers et majordomes de célébrer Noël comme devrait le faire la maison d'un Lord Mayor ; et même le petit tailleur, qu'il avait condamné à cinq shillings d'amende le lundi précédent pour avoir été ivre et sanguinaire dans les rues, remuait le pudding de demain dans sa mansarde, tandis que sa femme maigre et le bébé sortaient pour acheter le bœuf. O Lord Mayor, no reduto da poderosa Mansion House, deu ordens a seus cinquenta cozinheiros e mordomos para manter o Natal como a casa de Lord Mayor deveria; e até o pequeno alfaiate, a quem ele havia multado cinco xelins na segunda-feira anterior por estar bêbado e com sede de sangue nas ruas, mexeu com o pudim de amanhã em seu sótão, enquanto sua esposa magra e o bebê se retiraram para comprar a carne.

Foggier yet, and colder. Más niebla aún, y más frío. Plus brumeux encore, et plus froid. Mais nebuloso ainda, e mais frio. Piercing, searching, biting cold. Un frío penetrante, penetrante y cortante. Froid perçant, fouillant, mordant. Perfurando, procurando, mordendo frio. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirit’s nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. Si el buen San Dunstan hubiera mordido la nariz del Espíritu Maligno con un toque de un tiempo como ese, en lugar de usar sus armas familiares, entonces sí que habría rugido con un propósito lujurioso. Si le bon saint Dunstan avait mordu le nez de l'esprit maléfique avec une touche d'un tel temps, au lieu d'utiliser ses armes familières, alors en effet il aurait rugi à un but vigoureux. Se o bom Saint Dunstan tivesse mordido o nariz do Espírito Maligno com um toque de clima como aquele, em vez de usar suas armas conhecidas, na verdade ele teria rugido com um objetivo sensual. The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge’s keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of El dueño de una escasa nariz joven, roída y murmurada por el frío hambriento como los huesos son roídos por los perros, se agachó ante el ojo de la cerradura de Scrooge para obsequiarle con un villancico: pero al primer sonido de Le propriétaire d'un jeune nez maigre, rongé et marmonné par le froid affamé comme les os sont rongés par les chiens, se pencha au trou de la serrure de Scrooge pour le régaler d'un chant de Noël : mais au premier bruit de O dono de um nariz escasso e jovem, roido e resmungado pelo frio faminto enquanto os ossos são roídos por cães, curvou-se no buraco da fechadura de Scrooge para se deliciar com uma canção de Natal: mas ao primeiro som de

“God bless you, merry gentleman! "¡Dios os bendiga, alegre caballero! “Deus te abençoe, alegre cavalheiro!

May nothing you dismay!” Que nada te consterne". Que rien ne vous consterne ! » Que nada que você consterne!

Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost. Scrooge se apoderó de la regla con tal energía de acción, que el cantante huyó despavorido, dejando el ojo de la cerradura a la niebla y a la escarcha aún más congenial. Scrooge s'empara du souverain avec une telle énergie d'action, que le chanteur s'enfuit terrorisé, laissant le trou de la serrure au brouillard et au gel encore plus sympathique. Scrooge agarrou o governante com tanta energia de ação, que o cantor fugiu aterrorizado, deixando o buraco da fechadura na neblina e em uma geada ainda mais agradável.

At length the hour of shutting up the counting-house arrived. Por fin llegó la hora de cerrar la casa de cuentas. Enfin l'heure de fermer le comptoir arriva. Finalmente chegou a hora de fechar a casa de contagem. With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from his stool, and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant clerk in the Tank, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat. Con mala voluntad, Scrooge se apeó de su taburete y admitió tácitamente el hecho ante el expectante empleado del Tanque, que al instante apagó su vela y se puso el sombrero. Avec une mauvaise volonté Scrooge descendit de son tabouret, et avoua tacitement le fait à l'employé en attente dans le Tank, qui éteignit instantanément sa bougie et mit son chapeau. Com uma má vontade, Scrooge desmontou do banco e, tacitamente, admitiu o fato ao funcionário do Tank, que instantaneamente apagou a vela e colocou o chapéu.

“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?” said Scrooge. "Supongo que mañana querrá todo el día", dijo Scrooge. « Vous aurez besoin de toute la journée demain, je suppose ? » dit Scrooge. "Você vai querer o dia todo amanhã, suponho?" disse Scrooge.

“If quite convenient, sir.” « Si cela vous convient, monsieur. » "Se for conveniente, senhor."

“It’s not convenient,” said Scrooge, “and it’s not fair. "No es conveniente", dijo Scrooge, "y no es justo. "Ce n'est pas pratique", a déclaré Scrooge, "et ce n'est pas juste. “Não é conveniente”, disse Scrooge, “e não é justo. If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you’d think yourself ill-used, I’ll be bound?” Si tuviera que dejar de media corona por ello, usted se consideraría mal utilizado, voy a estar seguro? " Si je devais arrêter une demi-couronne pour ça, tu te croirais mal utilisé, je serai lié ? Se eu parasse meia coroa por isso, você se acha mal utilizado, eu vou ficar preso?

The clerk smiled faintly. El empleado sonrió débilmente. O funcionário sorriu fracamente.

“And yet,” said Scrooge, “you don’t think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work.” "Y sin embargo", dijo Scrooge, "no me crees mal empleado, cuando pago un día de salario por ningún trabajo". — Et pourtant, dit Scrooge, vous ne me croyez pas maltraité, alors que je paie une journée de salaire pour ne pas travailler. "E, no entanto", disse Scrooge, "você não me acha mal usada, quando pago um dia de salário por não trabalhar".

The clerk observed that it was only once a year. El secretario observó que sólo era una vez al año. O funcionário observou que era apenas uma vez por ano.

“A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!” said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. "Una pobre excusa para robarle el bolsillo a un hombre cada veinticinco de diciembre", dijo Scrooge, abotonándose el abrigo hasta la barbilla. « Une mauvaise excuse pour ramasser la poche d'un homme tous les vingt-cinq décembre ! dit Scrooge en boutonnant sa redingote jusqu'au menton. "Uma desculpa ruim para escolher o bolso de um homem a cada vinte e cinco de dezembro!" disse Scrooge, abotoando o casaco no queixo. “But I suppose you must have the whole day. "Pero supongo que debes tener todo el día. “Mas suponho que você deva ter o dia inteiro. Be here all the earlier next morning.” Estate aquí toda la mañana siguiente". Esteja aqui mais cedo na manhã seguinte.

The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. El empleado prometió que lo haría; y Scrooge se marchó gruñendo. O funcionário prometeu que sim; e Scrooge saiu com um grunhido. The office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman’s-buff. La oficina se cerró en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, y el empleado, con los largos extremos de su edredón blanco colgando por debajo de la cintura (pues no presumía de gran abrigo), se tiró veinte veces por un tobogán de Cornhill, al final de un callejón de chicos, en honor de que era Nochebuena, y luego corrió a casa, a Camden Town, tan fuerte como podía, para jugar a la gallinita ciega. Le bureau fut fermé en un clin d'œil, et le commis, avec les longs bouts de sa couette blanche pendant au-dessous de sa taille (car il n'avait pas de redingote), descendit un toboggan sur Cornhill, au bout d'une ruelle de garçons, vingt fois, en l'honneur de la veille de Noël, puis il a couru chez lui à Camden Town aussi fort qu'il le pouvait, pour jouer à l'aveugle. O escritório estava fechado, e o balconista, com as pontas compridas do edredom branco pendendo abaixo da cintura (pois ele não usava casaco), desceu um escorregador em Cornhill, no final de uma rua de garotos. vinte vezes, em homenagem a ser véspera de Natal, e depois correu para casa em Camden Town o mais forte que pôde, para brincar de lustre.