Scene 33 · Notes

Notes　Scene 33: The Lawyer

Next scene: 34 The Hurried Gentleman ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

Norton’s profession raises a question about whether Adler has entrusted him with the photograph. Their relationship could make his chambers as important as her home. Holmes explains how this uncertainty broadens his inquiry and apologizes for the detail. Watson assures him that he is following the account attentively.

Japanese in this scene

しだいで
Noun + しだいで means “depending on.” Holmes’s course depends on the answer about the relationship.
見込みこみは薄うすい
見込み means a prospect or likelihood. 薄い figuratively makes that likelihood small: “the chances are slim.”
もらわないと
The negative conditional と can leave an obligation unstated. Holmes needs Watson to know his difficulties to understand the situation.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the situation."

「このゴドフリー・ノートンという男が、事件の重要な要素であることは明らかだった。彼は弁護士だった。これはどうも不吉な響きだ。二人はどんな間柄で、彼が何度も訪ねてくる目的は何なのか？彼女は彼の依頼人か、友人か、それとも愛人か？依頼人なら、おそらく写真を彼に預けているだろう。愛人なら、その見込みは薄い。この問いの答えしだいで、ブライオニー荘での仕事を続けるか、テンプルにあるその紳士の事務所に目を向けるかが決まるわけだ。微妙な問題で、おかげで調べる範囲が広がってしまった。こんな細かい話で退屈させているかもしれないが、状況をわかってもらうには、私のちょっとした悩みどころを知っておいてもらわないとね」

"I am following you closely," I answered.

「ちゃんとついて行っているよ」と私は答えた。

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

  • という — Introduces a name, quotation, or description of a noun.
  • 男（おとこ） — man; male
  • 事件（じけん） — case; incident
  • 重要（じゅうよう） — important; significant
  • 要素（ようそ） — factor; element
  • 明らか（あきらか） — obvious; clear
  • 彼（かれ） — he; him
  • 不吉（ふきつ） — ominous; ill-omened

Next scene: The Hurried Gentleman

While Holmes is considering the matter, a cab arrives at Briony Lodge and a handsome, dark-complexioned man jumps out. He must be the visitor described. After an excited half-hour indoors, he emerges even more hurriedly, checking his watch and directing the driver to Regent Street and St. Monica’s Church without delay.

Next scene EnterRead this scene again