He was nodding over a table, half asleep, on which a sickly light was flickering, and on which also was a pen and sheet of paper.
Il somnolait au-dessus d'une table, à moitié endormi, sur laquelle vacillait une lumière maladive, et sur laquelle se trouvaient également une plume et une feuille de papier.
At that time French also appeared to be asleep; he was shaken by his son, upon which he nodded to his son to leave.
À ce moment-là, French semblait lui aussi endormi ; son fils le secoua, après quoi il lui fit signe de partir.
long after Detroit was asleep he was still hard at work,
bien après que Detroit se fut endormi, il travaillait encore avec ardeur,