よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 18: A Delicate Matter
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Notes on this scene
The visitor says that a delicate affair threatens the hereditary royal house of Bohemia, the Ormsteins. Holmes says he knows this too, reclining with his eyes closed. The client seems surprised by the detective’s languid manner. Holmes then opens his eyes and addresses the supposed envoy as His Majesty.
Japanese in this scene
- しなければならない
- Negative conditional なければ + ならない expresses obligation: “must.” Every precaution must be taken.
- 代々
- 代々, read だいだい, means “generation after generation.” Here it describes the succession to a hereditary throne.
- ご自身
- 自身 emphasizes the person themselves. ご adds respect; 陛下ご自身 means “Your Majesty yourself.”
Background
- Bohemia
- Bohemia is the western part of present-day Czechia and was part of Austria-Hungary at the time of the story. The Bohemian royal house of Ormstein in the story is fictional.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia."
「事情はきわめて微妙なのだ。大きな醜聞に育ちかねない火種を消し止め、ヨーロッパの君主家のひとつがひどく傷つくのを防ぐため、あらゆる用心をしなければならない。はっきり言えば、この件には、代々ボヘミアの王位を継ぐ名門、オルムシュタイン家が関わっているのだ」
"I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes.
「それも存じておりました」とホームズはつぶやき、肘掛け椅子に深く身を沈めて目を閉じた。
Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client.
客はいくらか驚いた様子で、けだるそうに椅子にもたれる男の姿を見やった。ヨーロッパでいちばん鋭い推理家で、いちばん精力的な探偵だと、きっと聞かされてきた男である。ホームズはゆっくりと目を開け、巨体の依頼人をもどかしげに見た。
"If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, "I should be better able to advise you."
「陛下ご自身が事情をお話しくださるなら」と彼は言った。「もっとよいご助言ができるのですが」