よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 29: Who Sold Them?
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Notes on this scene
Breckinridge admits supplying the birds but angrily refuses to reveal where he obtained them. 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
- ところで、あれはどこ
- In ところで、あれはどこ, ところで changes the subject to the question or point that follows.
- たいした話ではないのです
- In たいした話ではないのです, たいした modifies the following noun with an evaluative sense such as ‘considerable’ or, with a negative, ‘not much’.
- でした
- Here でした is the polite past form of です, used to say what something was while maintaining courteous speech.
- こんなささいなことで
- In こんなささいなことで, こんな describes the following noun as ‘this kind of’ thing in the present situation.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"The landlord of the Alpha."
「アルファ亭の主人にです」
"Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen."
「ああ、あそこか、二ダース卸してやったよ」
"Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?"
「あれは見事な鳥でしたよ、本当に。ところで、あれはどこから仕入れたのです？」
To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman.
驚いたことに、その問いは商人の怒りを爆発させた。
"Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now."
「おい、あんた」と彼は首をかしげ、両手を腰に当てて言った。「いったい何が言いたいんだ？はっきり言ってもらおうじゃないか」
"It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the geese which you supplied to the Alpha."
「十分はっきりしていますよ。あなたがアルファ亭に卸したガチョウを、誰があなたに売ったのかを知りたいのです」
"Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!"
「そんなら、教えてやるもんか。どうだ！」
"Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you should be so warm over such a trifle."
「いや、たいした話ではないのです。ただ、こんなささいなことで、なぜそんなにむきになるのかが分からないだけでしてね」