Scene 39 · Notes

Notes　Scene 39: Off to the Concert

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Notes on this scene

Watson is free, so Holmes tells him to put on his hat and join him. Their route will pass through the City, where Holmes wants something to eat. The concert program contains plenty of German music, which suits his taste and will give him time for quiet reflection.

Japanese in this scene

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.
なら
なら means “if it is the case that…” or “as for….” It takes information as a condition and gives advice, judgment, or a consequence.
は
は marks the topic of a sentence and can also set up a contrast with another item.

Background

The City
The City of London is the old central district inside the Roman walls. By the nineteenth century it was Britain’s commercial and financial heart, crowded with banks, offices, and merchants by day.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very absorbing."

「今日は何も用事がないよ。私の診療所は、手が離せないほど忙しくなることなんてないからね」

"Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!"

「それなら帽子をかぶって、一緒に来たまえ。まずシティを通っていくから、途中で昼食をとろう。プログラムを見ると、ドイツの曲がたっぷり入っていて、こちらのほうがイタリアやフランスの曲よりも私の好みに合うのだ。ドイツ音楽は内省的だし、私はいま内省したい気分なのさ。さあ、行こう！」

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

  • 用事（ようじ） — business; errand; something to do
  • 私（わたし） — I; me
  • 診療（しんりょう） — diagnosis and treatment; medical care
  • 離す（はなす） — to separate; to part; to divide; to keep apart
  • なんて — Informally picks up a statement, often with surprise.
  • シティ — the City of London; city
  • プログラム — program (of events, music, etc.); programme; program (booklet); brochure
  • 見る（みる） — to see; to look

Next scene: Saxe-Coburg Square

Before going to Sarasate’s concert, Holmes takes Watson toward the City. After leaving the Underground, they walk to Saxe-Coburg Square, the setting of the strange story they heard that morning and the location of Wilson’s pawnbroker’s shop. Holmes stops outside the premises and begins carefully examining the surroundings for himself.

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