よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 19: The Visitor Springs Up
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Notes on this scene
The visitor tears off his mask and admits that he is the King. Holmes already knows his full name and titles. The King explains that this affair is too delicate for an agent, who might gain power over him. He has therefore traveled secretly from Prague to consult Holmes himself.
Japanese in this scene
- したところで
- Past form + ところで means “even if.” The King asks what concealing his identity could accomplish.
- 弱みを握られる
- 弱みを握る means gaining leverage over someone through a vulnerability. The passive makes the King the person exposed to that leverage.
- 慣れていない
- 慣れる means becoming accustomed to something. 慣れていない describes not being used to it.
Background
- Pray
- At the beginning of a request such as “Pray consult,” pray means “please,” shortened from “I pray you.” It was a conventional courteous request in nineteenth-century English but is now rarely used and sounds old-fashioned.
- Incognito
- Incognito means concealing one’s identity. It was used when royalty and nobles traveled without revealing their official rank. The King’s false title and mask reflect his need to keep the visit entirely secret.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to conceal it?"
男は椅子から跳び上がり、抑えきれない興奮に駆られて部屋の中を行ったり来たりした。それから、やけになったような身ぶりで、仮面を顔からむしり取って床に投げつけた。「そのとおりだ」と彼は叫んだ。「私が国王だ。隠し立てしたところで何になろう」
"Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hereditary King of Bohemia."
「まったくです」とホームズはつぶやいた。「陛下がお話しになる前から、私はお相手がヴィルヘルム・ゴッツライヒ・ジギスモント・フォン・オルムシュタイン、すなわちカッセル＝フェルシュタイン大公にしてボヘミアの世襲の国王であると分かっておりました」
"But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you."
「だが、分かってもらえるだろう」と奇妙な客は、ふたたび腰を下ろし、高く白い額を手でなでながら言った。「こういう用件を自ら行うことに、私は慣れていないのだ。だが事があまりに微妙で、代理人に任せれば、その者に弱みを握られることになってしまう。それで君に相談するために、身分を隠してプラハからやって来たのだ」
"Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more.
「では、どうぞご相談ください」とホームズは言い、また目を閉じた。