Scene 28 · Notes

Notes　Scene 28: Off to See the Will

Next scene: 29 The Mother's Will ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

After the huge man leaves, Holmes appears unconcerned and remarks on the visitor's mistake in treating him like an official detective. He announces that after breakfast he will visit Doctors' Commons to investigate the matter. Holmes departs, and when he returns shortly after noon, he is carrying a sheet of paper.

Japanese in this scene

それからドクターズ・コモンズまで歩あるいて行いき
それから moves Holmes's plan to the next action in sequence: after breakfast, they will walk to Doctors' Commons.
びっしり
びっしり describes the blue paper as densely covered with hurried notes and figures, showing how much information Holmes has gathered.
よくも
よくも expresses indignant reproach: Holmes mockingly treats Roylott's mistake as an outrageous act, asking how he dared confuse him with a police detective.
跡あとをつけられるという不注意ふちゅうい
という makes ‘allowing herself to be followed’ the content of the carelessness Holmes fears may bring Helen harm.

Background

Doctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons was the traditional name associated with English probate records. Holmes goes there to examine the terms of Helen's mother's will.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us in this matter."

「よくも私を、警察の公式な探偵と取り違える無礼を働いたものだ！とはいえ、この出来事は調査に興を添えてくれる。ただ、あのお嬢さんが、この乱暴者に跡をつけられるという不注意のせいで痛い目に遭わなければよいのだが。さてワトソン、朝食を注文しよう。それからドクターズ・コモンズまで歩いて行き、この件の助けになる資料を手に入れたいと思う」

It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

シャーロック・ホームズが外出から戻ったのは、一時近くだった。手には、メモと数字がびっしり走り書きされた青い紙を一枚持っていた。

Japanese words in this scene (with English meanings; ☆ saves a word)

  • よくも — how dare ...; how could ...
  • 私（わたし） — I; me
  • 探偵（たんてい） — detective
  • 取り違える（とりちがえる） — to mistake one thing for another; to mix up two things; to confuse two things; to take by mistake
  • いう — to say; to call; to mean
  • 添える（そえる） — to add; to accompany
  • お嬢さん（おじょうさん） — your daughter politely; young lady; daughter
  • 者（しゃ） — person who does something; participant (suffix)

Next scene: The Mother's Will

Back at Baker Street, Holmes displays the blue paper he has obtained. It contains the will of Helen's late mother. He explains that he recalculated the present value of the investments involved, then states the figures one by one and draws his conclusion while Watson listens without interrupting. The scene begins from this carefully established point.

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