よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 48: The Fallen Gentleman
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Notes on this scene
The crowd gives alarming and contradictory reports of Holmes’s condition. A woman praises his bravery and says he saved Adler’s valuables from a gang. The bystanders ask to carry him inside rather than leave him in the street. Adler readily agrees and directs them toward a comfortable sofa in the sitting room.
Japanese in this scene
- 死んじまう
- じまう is a rough contraction of てしまう. 死んじまう means “will die,” with a strong sense of finality.
- 取られていた
- The passive presents losing possessions as something suffered. In the hypothetical sentence, the woman says Adler would have had them taken.
- わけにはいかねえ
- わけにはいかない means circumstances or duty make an action unacceptable. いかねえ is a rough conversational pronunciation of いかない.
Background
- Sitting room
- This was the room where a family relaxed during the day and received guests. Its window is the one Holmes told Watson to watch. Adler’s own instruction about where to carry him connects the stages of the plan.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked.
「お気の毒に、その方はひどいおけがですか？」と彼女は尋ねた。
"He is dead," cried several voices.
「死んでいる」と何人もの声が叫んだ。
"No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be gone before you can get him to hospital."
「いや、いや、まだ息があるぞ！」と別の者が叫んだ。「だが、病院に運ぶ前に死んじまうだろう」
"He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now."
「勇敢な人だよ」と一人の女が言った。「この人がいなかったら、奥様は財布も時計も取られていたよ。あいつらは一味で、しかも荒っぽい連中だった。ああ、ほら、息をしてる」
"He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?"
「通りに寝かせておくわけにはいかねえ。中へ運び込んでもいいですかい、奥さん？」
"Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!"
「もちろんです。居間へ運んでください。座り心地のいいソファがありますから。こちらです、どうぞ！」