よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 67: Why Tonight
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Notes on this scene
Closing the League’s office showed that the tunnel was finished. The criminals would hurry before discovery or removal of the gold, and Saturday offered two days for escape before normal business resumed. Holmes therefore chose that night. Watson responds with sincere admiration for the complete reasoning.
Japanese in this scene
- 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.
- 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.”
- のに
- のに means “although; even though.” It places an actual result against what the preceding fact would normally make the listener expect.
- は
- は marks the topic of a sentence and can also set up a contrast with another item.
Background
- Saturday and the weekend
- Banks were closed on Sunday. A robbery on Saturday night might remain undiscovered until Monday morning, giving the criminals additional time to escape.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"And how could you tell that they would make their attempt to-night?" I asked.
「それにしても、やつらが今夜決行すると、どうして分かったんだい？」と私は尋ねた。
"Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence—in other words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night."
「そうだね、組合の事務所を閉めたのは、もうジェイベズ・ウィルソン氏がいようがいまいが構わなくなったというしるしだ――言いかえれば、トンネルが完成したということさ。だが、見つかるおそれもあれば、金貨がよそへ移されるおそれもあるから、すぐに使うことがどうしても必要だった。土曜日なら逃げるのに二日の余裕ができるから、ほかのどの曜日よりも都合がいい。こうした理由がそろっていたから、今夜来ると見込んだのだ」
"You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true."
「見事な推理だ」と私は心から感嘆して叫んだ。「これほど長い鎖なのに、輪のひとつひとつがどれも確かなんだからね」