よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 53: At the Table
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Notes on this scene
Holmes proposes taking a signed confession witnessed by Watson, to be used only as a last resort to save James. Turner agrees, hoping to spare Alice the shock. He is unsure he will live until the trial, but offers to explain the long chain of circumstances that brought about the present events.
Japanese in this scene
- ありのままを
- ありのまま means the facts or circumstances just as they are. を makes that unaltered account the object of speaking. Holmes asks for completeness and truth without decoration or concealment.
- 場合以外には使わない
- 以外 excludes the specified case, and には emphasizes the restriction. Holmes promises that the document will be used only when absolutely necessary, rather than as a routine first step.
- 語るのに長くはかかりません
- Here のに marks what an amount of time is needed for: telling the story. It is not the contrasting conjunction ‘although.’ は emphasizes the denial of a long telling, despite the many years involved.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall not use it unless it is absolutely needed."
ホームズは立ち上がり、ペンを手に、紙の束を前に置いて卓に着いた。「どうか、ありのままをお話しください」と彼は言った。「事実を書き留めます。あなたが署名し、ここにいるワトソンが立会人になれます。そうすれば、最後の手段として、若いマッカーシーを救うために、その告白を提出できます。絶対に必要な場合以外には使わないと、お約束します」
"It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but will not take me long to tell.
「それがよいでしょう」と老人は言った。「巡回裁判まで生きられるかも分からず、私にとっては大したことではありませんが、アリスにはその衝撃を与えたくないのです。では、事情をはっきりお話ししましょう。起きるまでには長い年月がかかりましたが、語るのに長くはかかりません。