Scene 25 · Notes

Notes　Scene 25: Before She Leaves

Next scene: 26 Plans for the Evening ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

Alice asks Holmes to assure James of her belief in his innocence before leaving to care for her ill father. Lestrade reproaches Holmes for raising hopes he expects to disappoint. Holmes replies that he can see a possible route to establishing James's innocence and asks whether Lestrade has permission for a prison visit.

Japanese in this scene

帰かえらなくてはなりません
〜なくてはならない expresses obligation: ‘must go home.’ It is close in meaning to 〜なければならない. The polite ending suits Alice's respectful conversation with Holmes.
ありますように
A clause followed by ように can express a wish or prayer. Alice hopes for divine help in Holmes's work; this is not the comparison ‘like’ or the purpose ‘so that.’
どうせ裏切うらぎることになる希望きぼう
どうせ suggests an outcome regarded as inevitable, often pessimistically. ことになる presents the eventual result. The whole clause modifies 希望: hopes Lestrade believes Holmes will end up disappointing.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do tell him that I know him to be innocent."

「明日、何か分かったらお知らせください。きっと、刑務所へジェームズに会いにいらっしゃるでしょう。ああ、もし行かれるなら、ホームズさん、私はジェームズが無実だと分かっていると、どうか伝えてください」

"I will, Miss Turner."

「お伝えします、ターナーさん」

"I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street.

「もう帰らなくてはなりません。父はとても具合が悪く、私がそばを離れると、ひどく寂しがるのです。さようなら。お仕事に神のお助けがありますように」彼女は入ってきたときと同じように衝動的に部屋を出ていき、その馬車の車輪が、通りをがたがたと遠ざかるのが聞こえた。

"I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I call it cruel."

数分の沈黙のあと、レストレードは威厳を保って言った。「きみには恥ずかしくなるよ、ホームズ。どうせ裏切ることになる希望を、なぜ持たせるんだ。私は心がことさら優しい人間ではないが、あれは残酷だと思う」

"I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?"

「私には、ジェームズ・マッカーシーの無実を明らかにする道筋が見えてきたと思う」とホームズは言った。「刑務所で彼に会うための許可書は持っているかね」

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

  • 威厳（いげん） — dignity; imposing authorityhard
  • お — Honorific or polite prefix before a word.
  • 刑務所（けいむしょ） — prison; penitentiary
  • いらっしゃる — to be present respectfully; to go or come respectfully
  • なら — Introduces a condition or topic: if; as for.
  • 私（わたし） — I; me
  • 無実（むじつ） — innocence; freedom from guilt
  • 伝える（つたえる） — to tell; to convey

Next scene: Plans for the Evening

After checking whose names appear on the permission to visit the prison, Holmes reconsiders his plans for the evening. He discusses train times with Lestrade and speaks to Watson as well. The party has only just arrived in Ross, but there is still enough time left that day to make another journey and arrange a meeting.

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