よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 11: The Layout of the House
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Notes on this scene
As Helen prepares to describe her sister's death, Holmes opens his eyes halfway and asks her to give every detail accurately. Helen carefully explains the arrangement of the bedrooms in the old house. She then recalls how, on the fateful night, Julia came into her room to speak about her approaching marriage.
Japanese in this scene
- やすいでしょう
- 〜やすい describes the explanation as easy to understand, and でしょうか politely asks Holmes to confirm that Helen's account is clear.
- たいへん
- たいへん intensifies 古く: the manor is not merely old but very old, which helps explain why only one wing remains inhabited.
- しばらく腰かけ
- しばらく gives a limited duration: Julia sits in Helen's room for a while to discuss the approaching wedding.
- どうか
- どうか strengthens Holmes's polite request. He urges Helen to give the details accurately because small facts may matter to the investigation.
Background
- manor-house
- A manor house was the residence attached to a landed estate. Stoke Moran is old and extensive, with ground-floor bedrooms opening toward the lawn.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.
シャーロック・ホームズは目を閉じ、頭をクッションに沈めて椅子にもたれていたが、ここでまぶたを半ば開け、客のほうへ視線を向けた。
"Pray be precise as to details," said he.
「どうか細部は正確に話してください」と彼は言った。
"It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?"
「そうするのはたやすいことです。あの恐ろしい時期の出来事は、どれも記憶に焼きついていますから。領主館は、すでに申しましたとおり、たいへん古く、今は片方の棟にしか人が住んでいません。この棟の寝室はどれも一階にあり、居間は建物の中央の棟にあります。この寝室のうち、一つめがロイロット博士の部屋、二つめが姉の部屋、三つめが私の部屋です。部屋どうしは通じておらず、どれも同じ廊下に面して開いています。私の説明は、わかりやすいでしょうか？」
"Perfectly so."
「実にわかりやすい」
"The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back.
「三つの部屋の窓は、どれも芝生に面して開いています。あの運命の夜、ロイロット博士は早くに自室へ引き取りましたが、まだ寝ていないのはわかっていました。姉が、博士の習慣である強いインド葉巻の匂いに悩まされていたからです。そこで姉は自分の部屋を出て私の部屋へ来て、しばらく腰かけ、近づいた結婚式の話をしていました。十一時になって姉は私のもとを去ろうと立ち上がりましたが、戸口で足を止め、振り返りました。