よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 17: Only Fiery Red
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Notes on this scene
According to Spaulding, the League accepts only grown men from London whose hair is a true blazing red. Wilson believes that no competitor can surpass his own rich coloring. Encouraged by this advantage, he orders the shop closed and immediately travels with Spaulding to apply for the advertised position.
Japanese in this scene
- かもしれない
- かもしれない means “might; may.” It marks a possibility rather than a firm conclusion and is less certain than でしょう or だろう.
- ていた
- The 〜ていた form is the past of 〜ている. It describes an action that was in progress or a state that continued at the time being discussed.
- ような
- ような links a comparison or example to a following noun: “like; such as.” It is the noun-modifying form corresponding to ように.
- ため
- ため can mean “for the purpose of” or “because of.” A following action usually signals purpose, while a completed fact before it often gives a cause.
Background
- Red hair
- Red hair is relatively common in Scotland and Ireland but remained unusual and conspicuous in England. In Victorian society it could attract teasing, so turning it into an advantage makes the League’s offer sound especially strange.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a few hundred pounds.'
「『それが、思うほど多くはないんですよ』と彼は答えました。『実はロンドンっ子の、それも大人の男に限られていますからね。そのアメリカ人は若いころにロンドンから旅立った人で、この懐かしい町に恩返しがしたかったんです。それに、聞いたところでは、髪が薄い赤だの、濃い赤だの、とにかく本物の、明るい、燃え立つような、炎みたいな赤でなけりゃ、応募しても無駄なんだそうです。ですから、その気になって応募なされば、ウィルソンさん、すんなり決まりますよ、もっとも、たかが数百ポンドのために、わざわざ出かけるほどのこともないかもしれませんがね』
"Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the address that was given us in the advertisement.
「さて、お二人とも、ご覧のとおりですがね、私の髪はじつに濃くて豊かな色合いですから、もし競争になったとしても、これまで会ったどんな男にも負けない見込みがあると思えたんです。ヴィンセント・スポールディングはこの件にずいぶん詳しいようでしたから、役に立つかもしれないと思って、その日は店の雨戸を閉めさせ、すぐ一緒に来るよう言いつけました。あいつも休みになるのは大歓迎でしたので、私たちは店を閉めて、広告に出ていた宛先へと出かけたんです。