よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 43: Words Before Parting
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Notes on this scene
Holmes thinks the man he described should be easy to find in the sparsely populated neighborhood. Lestrade refuses to search the countryside for a left-handed man with a bad leg, fearing ridicule at Scotland Yard. Holmes accepts the refusal, says Lestrade has had his opportunity, and promises to send a note before leaving.
Japanese in this scene
- 多いわけではない
- 〜わけではない denies a conclusion or characterization: ‘it is not that there are many people.’ Holmes uses this qualified negative to explain why the search should be manageable.
- とても引き受けられない
- With a negative potential verb, とても means ‘cannot possibly.’ 引き受けられない combines inability with unwillingness here: Lestrade will not undertake the proposed search.
- 笑いものになってしまう
- 笑いもの means a laughingstock. 〜になってしまう presents becoming one as an unwelcome result. Lestrade's concern is how his colleagues would react to the search.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"Who was the criminal, then?"
「では、犯人は誰だったのだね」
"The gentleman I describe."
「私が説明したあの男だよ」
"But who is he?"
「しかし、その男は誰なのかね」
"Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a populous neighbourhood."
「見つけ出すのは、そう難しくないはずだ。この辺りは、それほど人が多いわけではないのだから」
Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard."
レストレードは肩をすくめた。「私は実際的な人間だ」と彼は言った。「脚の悪い左利きの男を探して田舎を歩き回るなど、とても引き受けられない。スコットランド・ヤードの笑いものになってしまうよ」
"All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before I leave."
「いいとも」とホームズは静かに言った。「機会は与えたからね。ここがきみの下宿だ。それでは、さようなら。私が発つ前に、一筆知らせよう」