forestall - 09/11/03 05:12 PM
"I was about to offer myself, sir," said the priest; "it is
our mission to forestall our duties."
We had this word perhaps six months ago, meaning a crime consisting of buying up all of some necessary commodity in order to raise the price.
I don't know what the French word was, but it seems clear to me that the translator made a poor choice.
Incidentally, Dumas is getting nuttier and nuttier. In chapter 101 he has Monte Christo giving a girl a medication which will convince two experienced physicians that she is dead, but capable or staying pulseless and breathless for three days, and then making a complete recovery.
I'm beginning to think Dumas wrote this while high on the hashish which he praises so extravagantly.
our mission to forestall our duties."
We had this word perhaps six months ago, meaning a crime consisting of buying up all of some necessary commodity in order to raise the price.
I don't know what the French word was, but it seems clear to me that the translator made a poor choice.
Incidentally, Dumas is getting nuttier and nuttier. In chapter 101 he has Monte Christo giving a girl a medication which will convince two experienced physicians that she is dead, but capable or staying pulseless and breathless for three days, and then making a complete recovery.
I'm beginning to think Dumas wrote this while high on the hashish which he praises so extravagantly.