よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 27: The Poker
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Notes on this scene
Dr. Roylott refuses to leave when ordered to close the door behind him. He insists on delivering his warning first, then turns toward the fireplace and steps forward to demonstrate his strength with the iron poker. Holmes makes no move and calmly observes what the threatening visitor is about to do.
Japanese in this scene
- ずいぶん
- ずいぶん intensifies Holmes's ironic praise. Calling the openly threatening Roylott ‘very amiable’ is deliberate understatement, shown by Holmes's laugh.
- 大きな
- 大きな directly emphasizes the size of Roylott's brown hand, reinforcing the physical power he displays by bending the steel poker.
- さして
- さして combines with the negative 変わらない to mean ‘not particularly different.’ Holmes claims his grip would compare closely with Roylott's.
- ぐいと
- ぐいと conveys one forceful, decisive motion. Holmes puts his strength into straightening the bent steel poker and restores it at once.
Background
- poker
- A poker is an iron rod used to stir a coal or wood fire. Bending one by hand is Roylott's violent demonstration of physical strength.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"I will go when I have had my say. Don't you dare to meddle with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with his huge brown hands.
「言いたいことを言ったら出ていく。おれのことに首を突っ込むな。あのストーナーがここへ来たことは分かっている。あとをつけたのだ！おれは敵に回すと危険な男だぞ！見ろ」彼は素早く前へ出て火かき棒をつかみ、褐色の大きな手で弓なりに曲げた。
"See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the room.
「おれの手に捕まらんよう気をつけろ」と彼は唸り、曲がった火かき棒を暖炉に投げ込むと、大股で部屋から出ていった。
"He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, straightened it out again.
「ずいぶん愛想のいい人物のようだ」とホームズは笑いながら言った。「私はあれほど図体は大きくないが、あのままいたなら、私の握力も彼とさして変わらないところを見せてやれたかもしれない」そう言いながら彼は鋼鉄の火かき棒を拾い上げ、ぐいと力を込めて、もとどおりまっすぐに伸ばした。