Notes　Scene 37: Beside the Pool

The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking up a scent, and then turned upon my companion.

ボスコム池は、対岸まで五十ヤードほどの、葦に囲まれた小さな水面で、ハザリー農場と裕福なターナーさんの私有の庭園との境にある。向こう岸に沿う林の上には、赤い尖塔が突き出して見え、その裕福な地主の屋敷の場所を示していた。池のハザリー側では林がたいへん密生し、木々の端と湖岸の葦との間には、二十歩ほどの幅の、湿り切った草地の細長い帯があった。レストレードは遺体が発見された正確な場所を教えてくれた。地面は実に湿っており、打たれた男が倒れたときに残した跡を、私にもはっきり見ることができた。ホームズには、その熱心な顔つきと凝らした目から分かるように、踏み荒らされた草の上に、ほかにも実に多くのことが読み取れるのだった。彼は、においを探る犬のように周りを駆け回ってから、私の同行者に向き直った。

"What did you go into the pool for?" he asked.

「何のために池に入ったのかね」と彼は尋ねた。

"I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon or other trace. But how on earth—"

「熊手で探ってみたのだ。何か凶器か、ほかの痕跡があるかもしれないと思ってね。だが、どうしてそれが……」