よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 24: Earlier Attempts
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Notes on this scene
The King describes five unsuccessful attempts: two searches by burglars, diversion of Adler’s luggage, and two assaults. None produced even a clue. Holmes finds the puzzle amusing, while the King reminds him that his predicament is serious. Holmes acknowledges this and asks what Adler plans to do with the photograph.
Japanese in this scene
- 家探しさせた
- The causative させた means having or making someone act. The King had hired burglars search Adler’s home.
- 回させた
- 回す means directing or sending something elsewhere here. 回させた is its causative past: he had the luggage diverted.
- にとって
- にとって marks a viewpoint: “for” or “from the perspective of.” The King stresses the seriousness of the matter for him personally.
Background
- Holmes’s laughter
- Faced with the King’s serious distress, Holmes takes more pleasure in a problem the harder it is. His attraction to the mystery itself rather than the client’s predicament is characteristic of his personality.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has been waylaid. There has been no result."
「これまでに五回試みた。二度は、私が雇った押し込みに彼女の家を家探しさせた。一度は、旅の途中で彼女の荷物を別の所へ回させた。二度は、待ち伏せして襲わせた。だが、何の成果もなかった」
"No sign of it?"
「手がかりもなしですか」
"Absolutely none."
「まったくない」
Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he.
ホームズは笑った。「なかなか面白い、ちょっとした問題ですね」と彼は言った。
"But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully.
「だが、私にとってはきわめて深刻な問題なのだ」と国王はとがめるように言い返した。
"Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the photograph?"
「まったくそのとおりです。それで、彼女はその写真をどうするつもりなのでしょう」