Scene 38 · Notes

Notes Scene 38: The Real Name

Notes on this scene

The man first gives a false name, then admits that he is James Ryder, head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. 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

彼かれは横目よこめでちらりとこちらを見みながら答こたえた
In 彼は横目でちらりとこちらを見ながら答えた, ながら links the action before it with the action or state that follows.
見知みしらぬ男おとこの青白あおじろい頬ほおに
In 見知らぬ男の青白い頬に, 見知らぬ modifies the following noun as unknown or unfamiliar to the speaker.
それでは」と彼かれは
In それでは」と彼は, それでは marks the speaker's transition from the preceding exchange to the next action.
いつだってやりにくいものですからね
In いつだってやりにくいものですからね, です is the polite copula closing this statement.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he answered with a sidelong glance.

男は一瞬ためらった。「ジョン・ロビンソンといいます」と、彼は横目でちらりとこちらを見ながら答えた。

"No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always awkward doing business with an alias."

「いやいや、本当の名前をどうぞ」とホームズは穏やかに言った。「偽名の相手と取り引きするのは、いつだってやりにくいものですからね」

A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," said he, "my real name is James Ryder."

見知らぬ男の青白い頬に、さっと赤みがさした。「それでは」と彼は言った。「本当の名前はジェイムズ・ライダーです」

"Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know."

「そのとおり。ホテル・コスモポリタンの客室係主任ですね。さあ、馬車にお乗りなさい。お知りになりたいことは、じきに何もかもお話しできるでしょう」

Japanese words in this scene (with English meanings; ☆ saves a word)

  • 男(おとこ) — man; male
  • ためらう — to hesitate; to waver
  • いう — to say; to call; to mean
  • 彼(かれ) — he; him
  • ちらりと — with a brief glance; fleetingly
  • 見る(みる) — to see; to look
  • いやいや — no!; no no!; no, not at all
  • 穏やか(おだやか) — gentle; calm; mild

Next scene: Back at Baker Street

Having revealed his real name, the little man enters the four-wheeler at Holmes's urging. Holmes and Watson follow, and the cab carries all three through the freezing streets toward Baker Street. No one speaks during the long journey. Their uneasy companion keeps looking anxiously from one face to the other.