よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 59: Into the Sitting-Room
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Notes on this scene
Holmes reels at the news of Adler’s departure. Inside, the room shows signs of hurried packing. He opens the concealed recess and finds a portrait of Adler in evening dress and a letter addressed to him, to be kept until his arrival. The three men read the letter together.
Japanese in this scene
- 真っ青になり
- 真っ青 means very blue or deathly pale. With shock or distress, it describes a face draining of color.
- かのようだった
- かのようだ means “as if.” Watson interprets the disordered room as if its mistress had searched it hastily before leaving.
- のこと
- At the end of a written direction, のこと can prescribe what must be done. The letter is to be held until Holmes arrives.
Background
- Esq.
- Short for Esquire, this respectful suffix followed a gentleman’s name. “Sherlock Holmes, Esq.” was a formal alternative to addressing him as Mr. Holmes. Mr. and Esq. were not used together.
- Bell-pull
- Pulling the cord hanging from a room’s wall rang a bell in the servants’ quarters. During the previous evening’s false fire alarm, Holmes identified a hiding place just above that cord.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?"
「なんですって！」シャーロック・ホームズは、悔しさと驚きで真っ青になり、よろめくように後ずさった。「つまり、あの方はイギリスを離れたということですか」
"Never to return."
「もうお戻りにはなりません」
"And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost."
「では、あの書類は？」と国王がかすれた声で尋ねた。「何もかもおしまいだ」
"We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend tore it open, and we all three read it together. It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:
「まだ分かりません」ホームズは召使いの女を押しのけて居間へ駆け込み、国王と私もそのあとに続いた。家具はあちこちに散らばり、棚は空にされ、引き出しは開いたままで、まるで女主人が逃げ出す前に大急ぎで中をかき回していったかのようだった。ホームズは呼び鈴の引き紐に飛びつき、小さな引き戸を引き開けると、中に手を突っ込んで、写真と手紙を一通取り出した。写真は夜会服を着たアイリーン・アドラー本人のもので、手紙の表書きは「シャーロック・ホームズ様お越しまで留め置きのこと」となっていた。わが友がそれを破って開き、私たち三人はそろって読んだ。日付は前夜の午前零時で、文面は次のとおりだった。