よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 36: At the Church
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Notes on this scene
Holmes reaches the church just after Norton and Adler. Inside, only the couple and a clergyman are present, standing together at the altar. Holmes tries to appear like an idle visitor, but Norton rushes toward him and urgently asks him to come forward. Only three minutes remain before a legal deadline.
Japanese in this scene
- ことはない
- Past verb + ことはない can deny a past experience. Holmes thinks he has never traveled so fast by carriage.
- 人っ子ひとりおらず
- 人っ子ひとり with a negative emphasizes complete absence: “not a soul.” おらず is a connective negative of おる.
- でないと
- でないと means “otherwise” or “if not.” Norton says they must act quickly or the ceremony will have no legal effect.
Background
- Time limits on church ceremonies
- In Britain at the time, some church ceremonies had to take place within legally prescribed hours to be valid. The story presents noon as the deadline, explaining Norton’s alarm about having only three minutes left.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me.
「私の乗った辻馬車は飛ばした。あれほど速く馬車で走ったことはないと思うが、それでも二人のほうが先に着いていた。私が着いたとき、湯気を立てる馬をつけた辻馬車と四輪馬車が、入口の前に止まっていた。私は御者に金を払い、急いで教会に入った。中には、私が追ってきた二人と白い法衣の牧師のほかには人っ子ひとりおらず、牧師は二人に何か言い聞かせているようだった。三人は祭壇の前でひとかたまりになって立っていた。私は、ふらりと教会に立ち寄った暇人のような顔をして、側廊をぶらぶらと進んだ。すると驚いたことに、祭壇の三人がいきなりこちらへ振り向き、ゴドフリー・ノートンが全速力で私のほうへ駆けてきたのだ。
"'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!'
「『ありがたい』と彼は叫んだ。『君でいい。来てくれ！来てくれ！』
"'What then?' I asked.
「『どういうことです？』と私は尋ねた。
"'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.'
「『さあ、君、来てくれ、あと三分しかない、でないと法的に無効になってしまう』