Scene 36 · Notes

Notes　Scene 36: By Monday

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Notes on this scene

Holmes confirms that Spaulding remains at the shop and managed it properly while Wilson copied the encyclopedia. He then tells Wilson that he hopes to reach a conclusion by Monday, since it is Saturday. The client leaves Baker Street with the mystery formally placed in Holmes’s hands.

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.
ながら
Verb stem + ながら means doing two actions at the same time: “while doing….” The action after ながら is normally the main one.
ばかり
ばかり can mean “only,” “nothing but,” or “just did,” depending on the form before it. It focuses attention on a narrow range or recent action.
は
は marks the topic of a sentence and can also set up a contrast with another item.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still with you?"

「ふむ！」と言うと、ホームズは深く考え込みながら、椅子に身を沈めた。「彼は今もあなたのところに？」

"Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him."

「ええ、おりますとも、ついさっき店で別れてきたばかりでして」

"And has your business been attended to in your absence?"

「それで、あなたの留守中、店のほうはちゃんと回っているのかね？」

"Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a morning."

「文句のつけようもありませんよ。朝のうちは、もともとたいした仕事もありませんしね」

"That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion."

「もう結構だ、ウィルソンさん。この件については、一両日のうちに私の考えをお伝えしよう。今日は土曜日だから、月曜までには結論が出せると思う」

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

  • ふむ — hmm; I see
  • 考え込む（かんがえこむ） — to be lost in thought; to ponder
  • 身（み） — body; oneself; one’s situation or standing
  • 沈める（しずめる） — to sink; to lower into
  • 彼（かれ） — he; him
  • 今（いま） — now; the present
  • おる — Humble equivalent of いる; after て, marks an ongoing action politely.
  • とも — sentence-ending particle strongly affirming a statement

Next scene: What Do You Make of It?

Holmes has promised Wilson an answer by Monday and sent the red-haired client home. Left alone, Holmes and Watson discuss the remarkable affair. Watson admits that he cannot make sense of it at all. Holmes responds with a surprising theory about why bizarre cases may be easier to solve than crimes that appear entirely ordinary.

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