よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 54: Where We Are
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Notes on this scene
Holmes explains that the cellar belongs to a branch of one of London’s major banks. Merryweather, chairman of the directors, quietly reveals that the likely target is the bank’s French gold. They still have at least an hour because the criminals cannot act until the pawnbroker has gone to bed.
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.
- という
- という connects quoted words, a name, or an idea to the noun that follows. Depending on context, it can mean “called,” “that,” or “the idea that.”
- わけ
- わけ can mean a reason, circumstances, or the logical conclusion of a situation. Expressions such as わけだ and わけがない depend on this sense of an explainable outcome.
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
"We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at present, Doctor—as no doubt you have divined—in the cellar of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present."
「少なくとも一時間は余裕がある」と彼は言った。「あの人のいい質屋がちゃんと寝床に入るまでは、連中もまず手を出せないからね。そうなれば一分もむだにはしないさ、仕事を早く片づけるほど、逃げるための時間が長く取れるのだから。いま私たちがいるのはね、先生――きみもとうに察しているだろうが――ロンドンの大手銀行のひとつの、シティ支店の地下室なのだ。メリーウェザー氏は重役会の会長でね、ロンドンの大胆な悪党たちがいまこの地下室に並々ならぬ関心を寄せるのも無理はない、そのわけを説明してくださるだろう」
"It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it."
「当行のフランスの金貨なのです」と重役はささやいた。「あれが狙われるかもしれないという警告を、すでに何度か受けておるのです」
"Your French gold?"
「フランスの金貨？」