よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 51: Nicely Done
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Notes on this scene
Holmes congratulates Watson on carrying out his role perfectly. He has not taken the photograph but knows where it is because Adler showed him, just as he predicted. Watson remains puzzled. Holmes promises a simple explanation and reveals that everyone gathered in the street was hired for the evening’s performance.
Japanese in this scene
- これ以上はない
- これ以上はない literally says there is nothing beyond this. It praises a performance as impossible to improve upon.
- 何がなんだか分からない
- 何がなんだか分からない is an idiom for complete bewilderment: “I cannot make sense of any of it.”
- 雇っておいた
- ておく indicates preparation. The past shows that Holmes had hired the people in advance for that evening.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have been better. It is all right."
「先生、実に見事だったよ」と彼は言った。「これ以上はない出来だ。万事うまくいったよ」
"You have the photograph?"
「写真は手に入れたのかい」
"I know where it is."
「ありかは分かっている」
"And how did you find out?"
「どうやって突き止めたんだい」
"She showed me, as I told you she would."
「彼女が見せてくれたのさ。前に言ったとおりにね」
"I am still in the dark."
「まだ何がなんだか分からないよ」
"I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening."
「もったいぶるつもりはないよ」と彼は笑いながら言った。「話はいたって簡単なんだ。もちろんきみも気づいただろうが、通りにいた者はみな仲間だったのさ。全員、今夜のために雇っておいたんだ」
"I guessed as much."
「そんなことだろうと思ったよ」