よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 28: Sold Out
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Notes on this scene
At the closing market, Holmes finds Breckinridge's stall and casually asks about the geese sold to the Alpha Inn. The scene establishes this development clearly and closes before the next step begins, preserving the original passage's order and the limits of what the characters know at this point.
Japanese in this scene
- むき出しの大理石の台を指さしながらホームズは続けた
- In むき出しの大理石の台を指さしながらホームズは続けた, ながら links the action before it with the action or state that follows.
- 雨戸を立てているところだった
- This means “was in the middle of putting up the shutters.” A verb in the 〜ている form followed by ところだった marks an action that was in progress at that moment.
- こんばんは
- In こんばんは, こんばんは is the evening greeting used when the visitor arrives.
- それでは困るのです
- In それでは困るのです, それでは means ‘if that is the case’ or ‘that arrangement.’ Holmes says that receiving geese the next morning would not meet his present need.
Background
- gas-flare
- A gas-flare was an exposed gas flame used to illuminate night markets and stalls. Breckinridge's poultry shop is marked by one.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was helping a boy to put up the shutters.
私たちはホウボーンを横切り、エンデル街を下って、貧民街をジグザグに抜け、コヴェント・ガーデン市場に出た。いちばん大きな屋台の一つにブレッキンリッジの名が掲げられており、その店主——鋭い顔つきで頬ひげをきちんと整えた、馬好きらしい風体の男——が、少年に手を貸して雨戸を立てているところだった。
"Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.
「こんばんは。冷える晩ですね」とホームズは言った。
The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my companion.
商人はうなずき、問いかけるような視線を私の連れにさっと投げた。
"Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble.
「ガチョウは売り切れのようですね」と、むき出しの大理石の台を指さしながらホームズは続けた。
"Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning."
「明日の朝なら五百羽でも回してやるよ」
"That's no good."
「それでは困るのです」
"Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare."
「なら、ガスの明かりがついてる屋台に少し残ってるぜ」
"Ah, but I was recommended to you."
「いや、私はあなたの店を勧められて来たのですよ」
"Who by?"
「誰にだ？」