よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 5: A Plea for Help
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Notes on this scene
The woman starts when Holmes correctly describes her journey. He explains that the mud on her left sleeve shows she sat on the left side of a dogcart. Unable to endure her anxiety any longer, she begs for help and says that Mrs. Farintosh, whom Holmes once assisted in great distress, recommended him.
Japanese in this scene
- 投げかけてくださいません
- 投げかける is figurative here: Helen asks Holmes to cast even a little light into the deep darkness surrounding her problem. くださいませんか makes the plea polite.
- 助けていただけないでしょうか
- いただけないでしょうか is a very polite request: literally asking whether receiving the favour might be possible, and naturally meaning ‘Could you please help me?’
- 少なくとも恩知らずとは思われずにすむ
- 少なくとも sets the minimum result Helen hopes for: even if she cannot repay Holmes now, she can at least avoid seeming ungrateful.
- ぎくりと
- ぎくりと describes Helen's sudden startled reaction. Holmes's observation makes her whole body jerk before she looks at him in confusion.
Background
- Waterloo Station
- Waterloo was London's main departure point for the south-western railway serving Surrey and Hampshire. Helen arrives there from Leatherhead before travelling on to Baker Street.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my companion.
女性はぎくりと大きく身を震わせ、戸惑いながら私の連れを見つめた。
"There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver."
「何も不思議なことはありませんよ、お嬢さん」と彼は微笑んで言った。「上着の左の袖には、泥が七か所も跳ねています。跡はまったく新しい。そんなふうに泥をはね上げる乗り物は、ドッグカートのほかにありません。しかも、御者の左側に座ったときに限ります」
"Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I have no one to turn to—none, save only one, who cares for me, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you shall not find me ungrateful."
「理由が何であれ、おっしゃるとおりです」と彼女は言った。「六時前に家を出て、六時二十分にレザーヘッドに着き、ウォータールー駅行きの始発列車でこちらへ参りました。ホームズさん、私はもうこの緊張に耐えられません。このままでは気が狂ってしまいます。頼れる人は誰もいません——ただ一人、私を気にかけてくれる人がいるだけで、その人も、気の毒に、ほとんど力になれないのです。あなたのことは存じております、ホームズさん。ファリントッシュ夫人から聞きました。夫人がひどく困っていたとき、あなたが助けてくださったそうですね。あなたの住所を教えてくれたのも夫人です。ああ、ホームズさん、私のことも助けていただけないでしょうか。せめて、私を包む深い闇に、少しでも光を投げかけてくださいませんか。いまはお礼をする力がありませんが、一か月か六週間後には結婚して、自分の収入を自分で自由にできるようになります。そうなれば、少なくとも恩知らずとは思われずにすむはずです」