Scene 12 · Notes

Notes　Scene 12: A Fondness for Photography

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Notes on this scene

Wilson describes Spaulding’s passion for photography. The assistant constantly takes pictures, then dives into the cellar like a rabbit entering its burrow to develop them. Apart from that habit, he works hard and behaves well. Holmes confirms that Spaulding is still employed at Wilson’s shop.

Japanese in this scene

ている
The 〜ている form can show an action in progress, a continuing condition, or the present result of a completed action. The surrounding context selects the meaning.
のだ
のだ adds explanation or emphasis, similar to “the fact is…” or “it is that….” In polite speech it becomes のです or んです.
ほど
ほど expresses degree or an approximate extent: “to the point that; as much as; about.” The comparison in the sentence determines its natural English rendering.
は
は marks the topic of a sentence and can also set up a contrast with another item.

Background

Developing photographs
Photographs were exposed on glass plates and developed with chemicals in a dark room. Amateur photography was becoming popular, and a cellar provided a plausible place for Spaulding to work unseen.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice in him."

「いや、あの男にも欠点はありますよ」とウィルソン氏は言った。「あれほど写真に夢中な男はいませんね。本でも読んで頭を磨けばいいときにカメラをぱちぱちやっては、ウサギが巣穴に飛び込むみたいに地下室へもぐり込んで、写真を現像しているんです。それが一番の欠点ですが、全体としてはよく働く男です。悪い遊びもしませんしね」

"He is still with you, I presume?"

「その男は、今もあなたのところにいるのだね？」

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

  • 男（おとこ） — man; male
  • 欠点（けってん） — fault; shortcoming; defect
  • 氏（し） — Mr.; Ms.; respectful suffix after a name
  • 夢中（むちゅう） — absorbed; engrossed
  • でも — As a conjunction, means but; With a noun or another expression, highlights an example: even, or something like that; With a question word, expresses unrestricted choice: any.
  • 頭（あたま） — head; mind
  • ば — if ... then; when; and; why don't you ...?
  • とき — time; when

Next scene: If Only I Were Red

Wilson confirms that Spaulding still works for him. The household consists only of the assistant, a fourteen-year-old girl who cooks and cleans, and Wilson himself, a widower. The three lived quietly until the advertisement disturbed their routine. Eight weeks earlier, Spaulding entered with the newspaper and wished aloud that he had red hair.

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