よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 41: Discussing the Search
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Notes on this scene
Holmes explains why the stone fits the killing: grass grew beneath it, it had only recently lain there, and the injuries match it. He then describes the man to seek, including his height, handedness, gait, clothing, and smoking equipment. There are further clues, but Holmes considers these details sufficient to help the search.
Japanese in this scene
- ほんの数日だけ
- ほんの minimizes the amount, and だけ restricts it: ‘only a very few days.’ Holmes uses the short duration to distinguish a recently moved stone from one that had long rested there.
- 持ってきたと分かるような
- The clause 持ってきた is quoted with と as the conclusion that a sign might establish. ような modifies the following noun, describing the kind of trace that would reveal transportation from elsewhere.
- 役立てるには
- 役立てる means to put something to use, unlike 役立つ, ‘be useful.’ Verb + には sets a purpose or criterion: for using these details in a search, they may be sufficient.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"There are none."
「跡は何もないよ」
"How do you know, then?"
「では、どうして分かるのかね」
"The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other weapon."
「下に草が生えていた。あそこにあったのは、ほんの数日だけだ。どこかから持ってきたと分かるような、元あった場所の跡もない。傷の具合とも合っている。ほかの凶器の形跡もない」
"And the murderer?"
「それで、殺人犯は」
"Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be enough to aid us in our search."
「背が高く、左利きで、右脚を引きずっている男だ。厚い靴底の狩猟用ブーツを履き、灰色のマントを着ている。インド葉巻を吸い、葉巻の吸い口を使い、ポケットには切れ味の鈍い小型の折り畳みナイフを持っている。ほかにもいくつかの手掛かりはあるが、捜索に役立てるには、これで十分かもしれない」