Duinnín i Lios Dúin Bhearna (tuilleadh)

Dineen in Lisdoonvarna (continued)

• ‘Admhaím go rabhas míshuaimhneach,’ arsa Bhatson.

  “Mná den chineál céanna a mheallann fear ar leith i gcónaí,” arsa de Hoilm. ‘Titeann sé i ngrá le stuaire fhionn, agus stuaire fhionn a mheallfaidh arís é. Thaitin mná easlána le Burr. Taom croí a thug an chéad bhean chun siúil. Taom croí a thug an dara bean chun siúil. Ní chuirfinn féin spéis sa chás, ach bíonn Bhatson cíocrach chun bleachtaireachta.”
  

  ‘I admit that I was uneasy,’ said Watson.

  ‘Women of the same sort always attract a particular man,’ said Holmes. ‘He falls in love with a handsome blond woman, and a handsome blond woman will attract him again. Burr liked sick women. A heart attack made the first woman go. A heart attack made the second woman go. I myself would not be interested in the case, but Watson is eager to investigate.

  admhaigh	Acknowledge, Admit
  míshuaimhneach	Uneasy, restless, perturbed
  ar leith	apart, separate; several, distinct; remarkable, special
  cineál	Kind, species; Class; sort, variety; race; sex	m
  stuaire	Handsome woman	f
  easlán	Sick, infirm, invalid
  taom	seizure, (heart) attack
  cíocrach	Greedy, eager (for food, etc.)

• ‘Bhraitheas go raibh dualgas orm fírinne an scéil a lorg,’ arsa Bhatson. ‘Labhair mé le Burr i dtosach. Chuir sé failte romham. Braithim go raibh áthas air labhairt le duine éigin. D’inis sé scéal báis Philomena dom. Bhí treoir faighte aici, óna dochtúir féin, gan staighrí a dhreapadh. Leag Burr féin ar an mbeirt sheirbhiseach — Greta, an bhean ti, agus Thomas, an cúntóir fir – a chinntiú nár sháraigh sí an riail. Ach, bhí tráthanna den lá ann nuair nach mbíodh éinne, seachas í féin sa teach. Pé spadhar a bhuail í an lá dirithe seo, chuaigh sí in airde staighre chun an áiléir cúig huaire san aon uair an chloig amháin nuair a bhí an teach fúithi féin aici. Tá a fhios againn san mar gur fhág sí lorg a bróg, gach aon turas, ar adhmad snasta an staighre. Céard a thabharfadh ar bhean, a bhí faoi gheasa troma leighis gan staighre a dhreapadh, tabhairt faoi, faoi chúig, in aon uair an chloig amhain? Ní heol d’éinne. Fuarthas sínte ag bun an staighre í. Niorbh é an titim a mharaigh i. Theip ar a croi…

  ‘I felt a duty to seek the truth of the story,’ said Watson. ‘I spoke to Burr first. He welcomed me. I feel he was glad to talk to someone. He told me the story of Philomena’s death. She had been gotten instruction, from her own doctor, not to climb stairs. Burr himself set the two servants – Greta, the housekeeper, and Thomas, the male assistant – to confirm she didn’t break the rule. But, there were times of the day when no one was in the house except herself. Whatever fit struck her this very day, she went upstairs to the attic five times in the one hour when she had the house to herself. We know this because she left the footprint of her shoe, every single time, on the polished wood of the stairs. What would cause a woman, who was under strict medical prohibition to not climb stairs, undertake it, five times, in one hour? No one knows. She was found stretched out at the bottom of the stairs. It wasn’t the fall that killed her. Her heart failed…’

  dualgas	Natural right, due; duty	m
  treoir	Guidance, direction	f
  dreapadh	Climbing, climb	m
  cinntiú	cinntiú	m
  sáraigh	violate; Transgress, infringe
  tráth	Hour; time, occasion; day, period	m
  spadhar	(Temperamental) fit	m
  áiléar	attic, loft	m gs áiléir
  snasta	Finished, polished, glossy
  geis	Taboo, prohibition	geasa

• ‘Bhi Burr féin trí chéile. Bhí eagla air gur roghnaigh sí an tslí sin. Thagadh taomanna duaircis uirthi. B’shin a thug chuig Burr i dtosach í, ina hothar, in Éirinn . Bhí gach rud go brea, ag éirí thar cionn léi, gur goideadh Taffy, gearrmhadra beag a bhí aici, an lá sular cailleadh í. Á ghrianadh féin san area os comhair íoslach an tí a bhí Taffy. Mheall duine éigin suas na céimeanna é agus chroch sé thar na ráillí é. Fuarthas rian d’fhuil[??] agus [d.l. 199]
  d’fhionnadh[??] an mhadra ar shnab den raille; bhi an geata faoi ghlas. Chuir goid an mhadra buairt agus imní ar Mrs. Philomena. Leag Burr milleán air féin gur fhág sé ina haonar í an lá sin. Eatal duaircis a tháinig uirthi, a shil sé, Bhi an pósadh sona.”
  

  Burr himself was upset. He was afraid she had chosen that way. She had had fits of gloominess. That was what brought her to Burr in the first place, as a patient, in Ireland. Everything was fine, she was doing very well, until Taffy, her little shorthair dog, was stolen the day before she was lost. Taffy was sunning himself in the area in front of the basement of the house. Someone lured him up the steps and lifted him over the railing. A trace of blood and dog fur was found on a sntub of the railing; the gate was locked. The theft of the dog brought sorrow and anxiety on Mrs. Philomena. A fit of gloominess came over her, he thought. The Marriage was happy.

  duairceas	Moroseness, cheerlessness, joylessness, gloominess	m gs duaircis
  othar	Invalid, patient	m
  grianadh	Sunning, basking	m
  ráille	Rail; railing
  rian	Course, path; Mark, trace, track
  fionnadh	fur	m
  snab	stub	m
  buairt	sorrow, vexation	f
  imní	Anxiety, concern	f
  milleán	Blame, censure; responsibility for failure or misdeed	m
  eatal	Fit, impulse	f

• ‘Ar dhein na póilini fiosrúchán?’ a d’fhiafraigh an Duinníneach,

  ‘Dhein. Natural causes dúradh.’

  ‘Is ait liom,’ arsa an Duinníneach, tar éis tamaill, ‘nach mbeadh ach beirt sheirbhíseach ag an Dochtúir. Teach mór de réir dealraimh. ’Bhfuil tú á rá liom nach raibh cócaire acu?”

  ‘An seirbhiseach mná a luaigh mé, Greta, a dheineadh pé cócaireacht a bhí le déanamh. Bhí Philomela Burr ar aiste bídh. Bhí uirthi an saol a ghlacadh go réidh. Ní bhíodh béili á réiteach do chuairteoiri, Nuair a thagadh fonn feola ar an Dochtúir, d’itheadh sé sa Chlub.”

  ‘Did the police investigate?’ asked Dineen,

  ‘They did. It was said to be natural causes.’

  ‘It is strange to me,’ said Dineen after a while, ‘that the Doctor would have only two servants. Apparently a big house. You’re telling me they didn’t have a cook?’

  ‘The female servant I mentioned, Greta, did whatever cooking had to be done. Philomela Burr was on a diet. She had to take life easily. Meals were not prepared for visitors. When the Doctor had a desire for meat, he would eat at the Club’

  fiosrúchán	Act of inquiring, inquisition	m
  ait	Pleasant, likeable; Fine, excellent; Comical; queer.
  luaigh	mention, cite
  aiste	Peculiar quality, peculiarity; Way, manner; State, condition; Pattern, scheme	f
  biadh = bia	food	m gs bídh
  réidh	Smooth, level, easy to traverse; Easy, unhurried, unrestrained;…

• ‘Cé dheineadh an glanadh?”

  ‘Dheineadh Greta agus Thomas an obair laethúil. Chuireadh an tiarna talún mná oibre chuig an teach chun an obair chothabhála a dhéanamh, an t-íoslach amuigh a scuabadh, halla agus céimeanna a sciúradh, nithe den chineál san. Brown is sloinne don duine a thagann de ghnáth. Corruair, tagann bean eile, Green.’

  ‘Who did the cleaning?’

  ‘Greta and Thomas used to do the daily work. The landlord sent working women to the house to do the maintenance work, sweep the basement out, scrub the hall and steps, things of that nature. Brown is the surname of the person who usually comes. Sometimes another woman comes, Green’

  cothabháil	Sustenance, maintenance	f gs cothabhála
  sloinne	Family name, surname	m
  Corruair	Sometimes, occasionally

• ‘An raibh ceachtar acu ann an lá ar cailleadh Philomena?’

  ‘Bhi Green ann maidin na tubaiste ach íoctar í, mar a íoctar Brown, as dhá uair go leith oibre, agus imíonn sí ag a haon déag.’

  ‘Nior fhill tionónta bharr an tí ón Afraic riamh?”

  ‘Nior fhill. Rinne na póilini iniúchadh ar an árasán sin arís ach ni bhfuair siad tada.”

  ‘An t-áiléar san, cad a bhí ann?’

  “Tada.’
  [d.l. 200]

  ‘Were either of them there the day Philomena died?’

  ‘Green was there the morning of the disaster but she is paid, as Brown is, for two and a half hours’ work, and she leaves at eleven.’

  ‘The top tenant never returned from Africa?’

  ‘He did not return. The police did a search of that apartment again but found nothing’

  ‘That attic, what was there?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ceachtar	either
  tubaiste	Calamity, disaster, tragedy	f
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m

• Thost an Dr. Bhatson. D’ardaigh Searbhlach de Hoilm a bhogha agus sheinn sé fonn mall ar an veidhlín ach chuir sé oiread ornáidíochta ann gur bhraith an Duinníneach go raibh an ceoltóir ag magadh faoin bport.

  ‘Shil tú féin gur dhúnmharaigh Burr í, a Dhochtuir Bhatson? arsa an Duinníneach.

  Dr. Watson was silent. Sherlock Holmes raised his bow and played a slow tune on the violin but he put so much ornamentation into it that Dineen felt that the musician was making fun of the tune

  ‘You yourself thought Burr murdered her, Dr. Watson,’ said Dineen.

  tost	(become) silent	v, m
  bogha	bow	m
  ornáidíocht	ornamentation	f
  port	tune	m

• ‘Bhí de Hoilm ar bóiléigear sna hAilp ar thóir Professor Moriarty ag an am,’ arsa Bhatson go grod. ‘Rinne mé mo dhícheall. Labhair mé leis an dochtuir a shínigh an teastas báis don dara bean. Ní raibh aon amhras air siúd ach go bhfuair sí bás de thaom croi.”

  “Tháinig fianaise éigin breise chun solais ó shin?’ arsa an tAthair Pádraig.

  ‘Holmes was lost in the Alps in search of Professor Moriarty at the time,’ said Watson gruffly. ‘I did my best. I spoke with the doctor who signed the death certificate of the second woman. He had no doubt that she died of a heart attack.’

  ‘Has additional evidence come to light since.’ said Father Patrick.

  ar bóiléagar	neglected, mislaid, unguard
  grod	short, sudden; prompt, abrupt, early; Sharp, bitter, sour, tart.
  dícheall	Best endeavour	m
  sínigh	sign	v
  teastas	Testimonial, certificate	m
  siúid
  breise	Increase, addition	f gs breise

• ‘Nior tháinig,’ arsa Bhatson, ‘ach tá Burr imithe ar ais go hÉirinn, le seachtain, chun mí eile dochtúireachta a dhéanamh mar locum da chara i Lios Dúin Bhearna. Bhi sé istigh sa Chlub roimh imeacht dó, bláth i bpoll cnaipe a chóta agus agus siúl choileach an bhaile faoi.’ [???]

  ‘None has,’ said Watson, ‘but Burr has gone back to Ireland, for a week, to do another month’s doctor work as a locum for his friend in Lisdoonvarna. He was inside the Club before leaving, a flower in the buttonhole of his coat and the town’s rooster walks about.’ [???]

  coileach	cock; rooster
  cnaipe	button	m

• “Bun agus barr an scéil,’ arsa de Hoilm, ‘ná go bhfuil Bhatson anseo imníoch go dtiocfaidh an triú Mrs. Burr abhaile leis agus go bhfaighidh sí bás i gceann cupla mí, de thaom croi. Táimid ag siúl go ndéanfaidh tú an bhean gan ainm seo a shábháil nó, ar a laghad, go dtabharfaidh tú faoiseamh ón bhféinsciúradh dom chara, Bhatson. Gach seans nach bhfuil ann ach go bhfuil Burr go maith chun bean shaibhir, a bhfuil cuisle ag an mbás uirthi, a aithint. Tapaíonn sé deis. Ni gearánta do na mná.”

  ‘The heart of the matter,’ said Holmes, ‘is that Watson is here anxious that the third Mrs. Burr home with him and she will die in a couple of months, of a heart attack. We are hoping until you save this nameless woman or, at the very least, give me relief from the self-torture of my friend, Watson. Chances are that Burr is good at identifying a rich woman in the grip of death. He seizes the chance. No complaint from the woman.’

  faoiseamh	Relief; alleviation, ease	m
  cuisle	vein; pulse; …	f
  tapaigh	Quicken; grasp quickly

• Níor fhreagair an Duinníneach láithreach. Bhí sé ag iarraidh a dhéanamh amach conas mar a d’éireodh leis dul go Lios Dúin Bhearna agus bean, gan ainm, a tharrtháil ón mbás.

  ‘On uair gur tháinig tú isteach, tá Bhatson dod choimhéad, a Athair Ui Dhuinnin. Tá easpa Saccharomyces carlbergiensis ort.
  [d.l. 201]
  Is dainséarach an galar é. Nil leigheas air ach uisce ruibheach Lios Dúin Bhearna a ól. Rachaidh ti ann id othar. Scríobhfaidh an Dr. Bhatson chuig pé ceannasaí atá agat. Cuirfidh tú fút sa Thomond Hotel. Dhein mé gar don úinéir tráth agus beidh sé sásta an chomaoin a íoc liom.’

  Dineen did not immediately answer. He was trying to figure out how he would manage to get to Lisdoonvarna and rescue an unnamed woman from death.

  From the time you came in, Watson has been watching you, Father Dineen. You are lacking in Saccharomyces carlbergiensis. The disease is dangerous. There is no cure for it except to drink Lisdoonvarna’s sulphuric water. You will go there as a patient. Dr. Watson will write to whatever superior you have. You will be settled down in the Thomond Hotel. I was once close to the owner and he will be happy to repay me the favor.

  tarrtháil	Rescue; save, deliver; Rescue; help, deliverance; salvage; Intervention, mediation	v, f
  coimhéad	watch, guard; watching, observation	m
  easpa	Lack, want; loss, absence; deficiency, defect	f
  galar	sickness, disease	m
  ruibheach	Sulphuric
  ceannasaí	Commander; Controller	m
  úinéir	Owner, proprietor	m
  tráth	Hour; time, occasion; day, period	m
  comaoin	Favor, obligation	f
  gar	Nearness, proximity	m

.

• ‘B’fhearr liom roinnt éigin taighde a dhéanamh anseo i dtosach,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Scríobhfaidh mé litir anocht chuig mo chara, Gobnait, The Honourable Albinia. Téann sise go Lios Duin Bhearna i gcónaí an tráth seo bliana. Coinneoidh sise súil ar an Dr. Burr dom go ceann cúpla lá”

  Rinne sé an taephota a thaoscadh go sásta agus tháinig meangadh ar a bhéal agus é ag samhhlú Burr agus Gobnait ag plé le chéile.

  ‘I’d prefer to do some research here first,’ said Dineen. ‘I will write a letter tonight to my friend, Deborah, The Honorable Albinia. She always goes to Lisdoonvarna at this time of year. She will keep an eye on Dr. Burr for me for the next few days.

  He drained the teapot happily and a smile came to his mouth as he imagined Burr and Deborah in a discussion together.

  taighde	research	m
  meangadh	smile	m
  samhlú	Imagination, fancy	m
  taosc	Bail, pump, out; drain	v

• ‘A Dhochtúr Bhatson, tar liom go teach Burr, ar Shraid Bennett, ar maidin. Ní mór dom an áit a shiúl, an t-atmaisféar a bhrath. Aithneoidh an cailín aimsire tú agus scaoilfidh sí isteach sinn.”

  ‘An teach a iniúchadh, gan cead Burr, agus é as baile?”

  “Tá beatha i mbaol, a Bhatson,’ arsa Searbhlach agus dhein an fhidil snagaireacht bheag bhriosc a bhí róchosúil le gáire.

  ‘Doctor Watson, come with me to Burr’s house, in Bennett Street, in the morning. I need to walk the place, feel the atmosphere. The servant girl will recognize you and let us in.’

  ‘To examine the house, without Burr’s permission, while he was away?’

  ‘A life is in danger, Watson,’ said Sherlock and the fiddle made a brisk little stutter that was too much like laughter

  scaoil	Loose(n), release, discharge; Undo, untie, unfasten
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m
  snagaireacht	(Act of) gasping, sobbing; (Act of) stuttering, stammering
  briosc	brittle; crisp; brisk, lively

• ‘Scrúdaigh na póilíní teach Burr,’ arsa Bhatson. Dá mbeadh aon ní le haimsiú, bheadh sé aimsithe acu. Fiú mura mbeadh, cén fhianaise a bheadh ar fáil ann anois?”

  ‘Pólíní!’ arsa an Duinníneach. “Téimis ann thart ar a naoi ar maidin. Ba mhaith liom casadh leis an nglantóir, ach go háirithe.”

  Níor thug an Duinníneach míniú ar bith ar fháth a chuairte don bhean tí a d’oscail an doras an mhaidin dar gcionn. Bheannaigh sé di go croíúil as a hainm agus ar seisean:

  ‘The police searched Burr’s house,’ said Watson. ‘If there was anything to be found, they would have found it. Even if not, what evidence would be available now?’

  ‘Police!’ said Dineen. ‘We will go there around nine in the morning. I especially want to meet the cleaner.’

  Dineen gave no explanation as to why he had come to the housekeeper who answered the door the following morning. He greeted her heartily by name and said:

  glantóir	cleaner	m
  míniú	Explanation, interpretation	m
  fáth	Cause, reason	m
  croíúil	Hearty; cordial, cheerful
  beannaigh	bless, greet

• 
  “Ar ndóigh, tá aithne agat ar an Dr. Bhatson, a Ghreta, agus is oth liom gur gá dé cur isteach ar obair na maidine. Tabhair síos
  [d.l. 202]
  go híoslach an tí i dtosach é. Tosnóidh sé ar an iniúchadh ansin. Tá ár mbróga salach ón mbóthar: dá mbeadh ceirt, nó nuachtán le spáráil, ní bheimis ag fágáil rian spág ar na hurláir shnaste seo.”

  ‘Of course, you know Dr. Watson, Greta, and I regret the need to interrupt this morning’s work. Take him down to the basement of the house first. He will begin the inspection there. Our shoes are dirty from the road: if there was a rag, or a newspaper to spare, we would not be leaving a foot trail on these polished floors.’

  is oth liom (go)	I regret (that)
  gá	Need, requirement	m
  tosnaigh = tosaigh	begin, start
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m
  ceirt	Piece of clothing; rag, clout	f
  spáráil	spare	v
  rian	Course, path; Mark, trace, track	m
  spág	Broad flat foot; big clumsy foot.
  snasta	Cut, trimmed; finished, polished, glossy

• Bhi sé thar tairseach isteach agus Greta fós ag féachaint ar a bhróga a raibh gach rian de shráideanna Londan orthu. Bhí bean ar chúl an halla, buicéad agus mapa aici agus í ag glantóireacht. Thug sí a droim do na cuairteoiri.

  ‘An maith leat an Dr. Burr, a Ghreta?” arsa an Duinníneach go cneasta agus í á dtionlacan síos staighre.

  ‘Is maith,’ ar sise go trodach agus loinnir ina súile. ‘Is iontach an duine é.”

  He was over the threshold and Greta was still looking at his shoes which had all the traces of the London streets on them. There was a woman at the back of the hall, she had a bucket and a mop while cleaning. She turned her back to the visitors.

  ‘Do you like Dr. Burr, Greta?” said Dineen calmly as he accompanied her down stairs.’

  ‘I like him,’ she said fiercely with light in her eyes. ‘He is a wonderful person.’

  tairseach	tairseach	f
  mapa	map, mop	m pl mapaí
  cneasta	Honest, sincere; Decent, seemly; Mild-mannered
  tionlacan	Accompaniment, escort	m
  trodach	Combative, pugnacious, quarrelsome
  loinnir	Light, brightness; brilliance, radiance	f

• B’fhéidir, arsa an Duinníneach leis féin — agus bhi sé riamh muiníneach as na rudai a duirt sé leis féin ~ go bhfuil sí beagáinin beag faoi dhraíocht aige, ach ní móran. Agus b’fhéidir go raibh an ceart ag Bhatson nuair a dúirt sé nach meallfadh sise an tUasal Burr, ach ní haon locht uirthi san. Tá aghaidh shoineanta mhacánta agus cromáin mhaithe leathana aici agus dhéanfadh sí mathair mhaith chlainne, lá éigin.

  Perhaps, said Dineen to himself – and he always trusted what he said to himself ~ she is a little bit under his spell, but not much. And maybe Watson was right when he said she wouldn’t beguile Mr. Burr, but there is no fault in her. She has a pleasant and gentle face and good broad hips and would make a good mother of children, someday.

  muiníneach	Trusting, confiding, in; reliant on
  beagáinin	little
  draíocht	Druidic art, druidism; magic
  meall	Beguile, charm; entice; Delude, deceive; disappoint.
  locht	fault (blame)	m
  soineanta	(Of weather) Calm, clement, fair; (Of expression) Pleasant, serene; Innocent, guileless; simple, naive
  macánta	Childlike; gentle, meek, mild
  cromán	hip	m

• ‘Nuair a gheibheann duine pósta bás de mhíthapa, bíonn na póiliní amhrasach faoi chéile an duine sin, a Ghreta,’ ar seisean.

  ‘Dhein siad éagóir ar an Dr. Burr.’

  ‘Tuigeann tú, a Ghreta, nach bhfuil aon leigheas ar bhiadán ach an fhirinne a nochtadh. Tá an-lámh ag an Dr. Bhatson ar ar obair sin.”

  ‘When a married person dies of a mishap, the police are suspicious of that person’s spouse, Greta,’ he said.

  ‘They did an injustice to Dr. Burr.’

  ‘You understand, Greta, that there is no cure for gossip except revealing the truth. Dr. Watson has a great hand with that work.’

  geibheann = faigheann	get(s)	var pres faigh
  míthapa	Mishap, mischance	m
  amhrasach	Doubtful; suspicious.
  éagóir	Injustice, wrong; unfairness, inequity	f
  biadán = biadán	gossip, slander
  nochtadh	Baring, exposure; disclosure, revelation; appearance	m

• ‘Is cóir an fhirinne a thabhairt chun solais,’ arsa Greta gó sollúnta. ‘Mar a duiras le Thomas, is uafasach an rud é póilíní a bheith sa teach, teach dochtúira, ach go háirithe. Bíonn othair neirbhiseach . . .”

  “Thuigfeá dóibh,’ arsa an Duinníneach. ‘Nár othair de chuid Burr iad Louisa agus Philomena, sular ar phós sé iad!”
  [d.l. 203]

  ‘The truth should be brought to light,’ said Greta solemnly. ‘As Thomas says, having police in the house is horrible, especially a doctor’s house. There are nevous patients . . .’

  ‘You would understand them,’ said Dineen. ‘Were not Louisa and Philomena Burr’s patients, before he married them!’

  sollúnta

  solemn

• Bhí cistín an tí san íoslach. Cuma dhíomhaoin thréighte air, sornóg mhór dhubh den seandéanamh, faoina chandam de photaí móra iarainn, fagtha i dtraipisí agus sorn beag nua gáis chun tosaigh.

  ‘Ní tíriúil an áit í seo, a Ghreta,’ arsa an Duinníneach.

  ‘Is fior san ach, os a choinne sin, ni bhionn éinne ag saoistíocht orm.’

  The kitchen of the house was in the basement. It looked unoccupied and abandoned, a big black old-fashioned stove, under its share of large iron pots, covered in rags and a small new gas furnace in the front.

  ‘This is not a pleasant place, Greta,’ said Dineen.

  ‘That’s true but, on the other hand, no one is bossing me.’

  díomhaoin	Worthless, vain; Unoccupied, unemployed; , unemployed
  tréigthe	abandoned, forsaken	v a of tréig
  sornóg	stove	f
  seandéanamh	Old make, old style
  candam	amount, share	m
  traipisí	personal belongings; Discarded articles, scrap
  sorn	furnace	m
  gás	gas	m
  tíriúil	Homely; pleasant, sociable
  saoistíocht	(Act of) bossing, overseeing	f

• Ba chúis iontais do Bhatson cailín aimsire a bheith chomh dána agus réitigh sé a scornach go postúil.

  ‘Sorry, Sir,’ arsa Greta agus thost sí

  Thug an Duinníneach drochfhéachaint ar Bhatson.

  Cé go raibh an chistin faoi leibhéal na sráide bhi solas lae éigin ón taobh amuigh ann mar go raibh area lasmuigh de.

  “Amuigh ansin a bhíodh Taffy á ghrianadh féin,’ arsa Greta.

  Watson was surprised that a servant girl would be so bold and he cleared his throat self-imortantly.

  ‘Sorry, Sir,’ said Greta and she was silent.

  Dineen gave Watson a wicked look.

  Although the kitchen was below street level there was some daylight from the outside because there was an area outside of it.

  ‘Taffy used to sun himself out there,’ said Greta.

  scornach	throat	f
  réitigh sé a scornach	cleared his throat
  postúil	Self-important, conceited

• “Taffy, b’shin madra Philomena?’ arsa an Duinníneach .. . ‘Is eagal liom go bhfuil an dé Mrs. Burr á gcur tri chéile agam.’

  ‘Bhí Louisa Burr, an chéad bhean, beag, dorcha, ramhar, agus tóir aici ar an ngloine: Cailleadh istigh i siléar an fhíona í. Bhí Philomena, ard, caol, fionn. Ba léi Taffy. Goideadh Taffy agus fágadh croíbhriste í. Cailleadh ar staighre an áiléir í,’ arsa Greta ós íseal leis an Duinníneach.

  ‘Nior airigh tú gleo ar bith nuair a fuadaíodh Taffy?”
  

  ‘Taffy, was that Philomena’s dog?’ said Dineen … ‘I am afraid I am getting the two Mrs. Burrs confused.

  ‘Louisa Burr, the first woman, was small, dark, fat, and loved the glass: She died in the wine cellar. Philomena was tall, slim, blonde. Taffy was hers. Taffy was stolen and left her heartbroken. She died on the attic stairs,’ Greta said to Dineen in a low voice.

  ‘You didn’t hear any noise when Taffy was kidnapped?’

  eagal	Fearful, timorous
  tóir	pursuit, chase; hunt, search; pursuing party	f
  áiléar	Loft, attic; Gallery	m gs npl áiléir
  airigh	Perceive, sense
  gleo	Fight, combat, battle; Noise, clamor, uproar, tumult	m
  fuadaigh	Take away by force; abduct, kidnap

• “Bhíos imithe amach ag déanamh na dteachtaireachtaí.”

  ‘San uair an chloig mí-ámharach céanna sin idir a dó dhéag agus a haon nuair a thiteann an mi-ádh ar an teach seo.’

  ‘Ó, ó, ó! Ni dóigh leat go bhfuil mallacht ar an teach?’

  “Tá Dia láidir, a thaisce, agus máthair mhaith aige. Cá bhfuil an siléar sin mar ar cailleadh Louisa?’

  ‘I had gone out doing errands.’

  ‘In that same unlucky hour between twelve and one when bad luck falls on this house.’

  ‘Oh, oh, oh! You don’t think there is a curse on the house?’

  ‘God is strong, my dear, and he has a good mother.’

  teachtaireacht	Message, errand	f
  ámharach	Lucky, fortunate

• I leataoibh ón gcistin a bhi siléar an fhíona, seomra beag, fuar, caoch gan solas ar bith ann. Ní raibh aon rian ar an áit gur tharla tubaist ann. Chonaic an Duinníneach buidéil fiona ina luí
  [d.l. 204]
  go néata ar sheilfeanna.

  ‘Bhí an-tuiscint ar fhíon ag Burr, riamh,’ arsa Bhatson.

  “Tá an biotáille thall ansin,’ arsa Greta.

  ‘Cathain ar ceannaíodh an stuif seo ar fad?”

  To the side of the kitchen was the wine cellar, a small, cold, dark room without any light. There was no trace in the place that a calamity had occurred. Dineen saw bottles of wine lying neatly on shelves.

  ‘Burr always had a great understanding of wine,’ said Watson.

  ‘The spirits are over there,’ said Greta.

  ‘When was all this stuff bought?’

  leataobh	One side (of two).	m
  caoch	blind
  tuiscint	Understanding; wisdom, discernment; thoughtfulness, consideration	f
  biotáille	Spirits; strong drink	f
  Cathain	when	[interr]

• “Mrs. Louisa a chuir isteach an t-ordú bunaidh,’ arsa Greta, ‘ach tá ordú seasta againn leis na ceannaithe.’

  Doras an tsiléir a scrúdaigh an Duinníneach. Doras trom adhmaid a bhí ann. D’fhag sé ar leathadh tamall é. Ansin dhruid sé de réir a chéile é. Aon uair ar thóg sé a lámh de, stop an doras socair san áit a raibh sé.

  “A Ghreta, a thaisce, oscail fuinneog na cistine agus an doras isteach san area freisin.

  ‘Mrs. Louisa placed the original order,’ said Greta, ‘but we have a standing order with the dealers.’

  Dineen examined the cellar door. It was a heavy wooden door. He left it open for a while. Then he closed it gradually. Any time he took his hand off, the door stopped at rest where it was.

  ‘Greta, my dear, open the kitchen window and the door into the area as well.’

  bunadh	origin; stock; kind; native inhabitants; original	m, a
  seasta	Standing, supporting; Steady, permanent, regular.
  ceannaí	Buyer, purchaser; Dealer, merchant	m pl ceannaithe
  leathadh	Spreading, spread; diffusion, scattering, broadcasting; opening
  druid	close, shut
  de réir a chéile	gradually
  socair	Quiet, still; calm, unruffled; easy, steady; settled; at rest

• Thóg san tamall uirthi mar go raibh boltaí laidre orthu agus iad fáiscthe go maith. Ainneoin go raibh an lá gaofar agus gur chruthaigh Greta séideán sách láidir, níor chorraigh doras an tsiléir.

  ‘Ní raibh éinne sa teach, níor shéid an ghaoth, agus fós féin phlab an doras,’ arsa an Duinníneach agus ceist air.

  ‘Bhí teoiric ann go bhfaca sí rud éigin lasmuigh sa chistin a scanraigh i agus gur dhún sí í féin isteach sa siléar á sheachaint, francach b’fhéidir,’ arsa Bhatson.

  It took her a while because there were strong bolts on them and they were tightened well. In spite of it being a windy day and Greta letting in a sufficiently strong gust, the cellar door did not move.

  ‘No one was in the house, the wind didn’t blow, and still the door slammed,’ said Dineen with a question.

  ‘There was a theory that she saw something outside the kitchen that frightened her and that she shut herself in the cellar to avoid it, maybe a rat,’ said Watson.

  fáiscthe	Squeezed, compressed; Tightened, tight; Trim, tidy; neatly dressed
  cruthaigh	create; form; prove
  séideán	gust (of wind); blown matter; puff, pant
  sách	Full, sated, satisfied; Sufficiently, enough
  Ainneoin	notwithstanding, in spite of.
  corraigh	mpve, stir
  séid	blow	v
  plab	plop; slam, bang
  scanraigh	Become scattered; break asunder; Frighten; take fright
  seachaint	Avoidance; evasion, guardedness	f

• ‘Ní lá leithéid sa teach,’ arsa Greta.

  ‘Dúras leat nach mbeadh aon ní le foghlaim ar an lathair,’ arsa Bhatson le Duinnin, i gcogar.

  ‘Is mian liom labhairt leis an mbean sin a bhí i mbun glantóireachta sa halla.’

  ‘Mrs, Brown? Labhair na póilíní léi cheana.’

  ‘Ní fhágann san nach bhfuil rud éigin le rá aici linne.”

  ‘An tú Mrs, Brown,’ arsa an Duinníneach agus é ag teacht idir í agus a buicéad.

  ‘Marjorie Brown,’ ar sise go grod.
  [d.l. 205]
  

  ‘Not a day like that in the house,’ said Greta.

  ‘I told you there would be nothing to learn on the premises,’ said Watson to Dineen in a whisper.

  ‘I want to talk to that woman who was cleaning in the hall.’

  ‘Mrs Brown? The police have already spoken to her’

  ‘That doesn’t mean doesn’t she has nothing to say to us

  ‘Are you Mrs Brown?’ said Dineen as he came between her and her bucket.

  ‘Marjorie Brown,’ she said gruffly.

  leithéid	Like, counterpart, equal; such
  i bun	attending to, engaged in, abiding by.
  linn	Pool, pond; body of water, lake, sea; Space of time, period	f gs linne
  grod	short, sudden; prompt, abrupt, early; Sharp, bitter, sour, tart.

• Níor theastaigh uaithi a hanam a chur i mbaol trí chumarsáid a dhéanamh le sclábhaí de chuid striapach na Bablóine,

  “An mbeifea gaolta d’aon tseans, le Valentine Brown, is é sin le rá leis an gcraobh sin den chlann a lonnaigh i gCiarrai?”

  She did not want to risk her soul by communicating with a slave of the whore of Babylon.

  ‘Would you be related by any chance, to Valentine Brown, that is to say to that branch of the family that settled in Kerry?’

  cumarsáid	Communication	f
  striapach	Harlot
  lonnaigh	Stop, stay; sojourn, settle; haunt, frequent

• Ní raibh, go bhfios di, gaol aici le Valentine, ach chonaic sí nach raibh san eiriceach ach firín beag neamhdhíobhálach. Bhí sé an-eolasach faoi ghinealach mhuintir Brown. Nior dhein sé íarracht ar bith an Creideamh Rómhónach a bhrú uirthi. Nuair a mhol sé, ar ball, go dtiocfadh sí suas staighre agus go n-osclódh sí doras an árasáin a bhain leis an té a bhí ag seilg san Afraic, d’fhág sí a buicéad ina diaidh le fonn.

  She was not, as far as she knew, related to Valentine, but she saw that the heretic was just an innocent little man. He was very knowledgeable about the Brown family geneaology. He made no attempt at all to push the Roman Faith on her. When, at last, he proposed that she should come upstairs and open the door of the apartment belonging to the one who was hunting in Africa, she left her bucket behind with enthusiasm.

  eiriceach	Heretic	m
  neamhdhíobhálach	Harmless, non-injurious
  seilg	hunt, chase	f
  fonn	Desire, wish, inclination, urge; …

• ‘D’fhéach na póilíní ann cheana féin,’ arsa Greta.

  ‘Coinním glan é,’ arsa Mrs. Brown.

  Bhí cleite dustála ina crios agus thóg sí amach é le nach dteipfeadh aon deis dustála uirthi. Lean siad suas staighre í. Chas sí an eochair agus chaith sí siar an doras.

  ‘The police have already looked there,’ said Greta.

  ‘I keep it clean,’ said Mrs. Brown.

  There was a feather duster in her belt and she took it out so she wouldn’t miss any opportunity to dust. They followed her upstairs. She turned the key and threw back the door.

  cleite	feather; quill	m
  dustáil	dust	v, vn f gs dustála
  teip	fail, failure	v, f

• Ba gheall le hiarsmalann é. Bhi an t-árasán lán d’ainmhithe a raibh leasú, caomhnú, nó mumú déanta orthu. Laistigh den doras, bhí seastán do scathanna fearthainne a deineadh as cos eilifinte. Cois tinteáin, bhí mar a bheadh seanleaid ag míogarnaigh. Chaith Mrs. Brown siar na cuirtini agus deanadh órangútan de.
  

  It felt like a museum. The apartment was full of animals that had been cured, preserved, or mummified. Inside the door, there was an umbrella stand made from an elephant’s leg. By the fireplace, it was like an old man was dozing. Mrs. Brown threw back the curtains and it became an orangutan.

  leasú	Amendment, improvement; reform, redress; Cure, preservation	m
  caomhnú	Preservation, conservation, protection	m
  seastán	stand	m
  scáth fearthainne	umbrella
  míogarnach	(Act of) dozing; drowsiness
  deannach	dust	m

• “Má thugann an sealgaire last eile abhaile leis, ní bheidh spás ann dóibh,’ arsa Bhatson.

  B’fhaoiseamh don tstúil go raibh an chistin lom agus an seomra leapan gan ornáid, an troscán ar fad faoi scaoilteoga mar chosaint ar dheannach.

  Rinne an Duinníneach iniúchadh ar an órang-útan agus ansin scrúdaigh sé éan ait a bhi faoi chumhdach gloine.

  “’Bhatson, féach air seo.”

  “Céard é?”
  [d.l. 206]
  

  ‘If the hunter brings home another load, there will be no space for them,’ said Watson.

  It was a relief to the eye that the kitchen was bare and the bedroom unadorned, all the furniture under covers as protection against dust.

  Dineen inspected the orangutan and then examined a strange bird under a glass case.

  ‘Watson, look at this’

  ‘What is it?’

  sealgaire	hunter	m
  lasta	Freight (load), cargo	m
  troscán	furniture	m
  scaoilteog	wrapper	f
  deannach	dust	m
  iniúchadh	scrutiny	m
  ait	Pleasant, likeable; Fine, excellent; Comical; queer
  cumhdach	Cover, protection	m

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