よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 34: Testing the Shutters
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Notes on this scene
Holmes remarks that the end wall under repair seems to require no urgent work. After hearing Helen's answer, he turns to the corridor running behind the three adjoining bedrooms. He asks about the size of its windows and how they are secured at night, testing whether anyone could enter that way.
Japanese in this scene
- 廊下にはもちろん窓があるでしょうね
- もちろん presents the window as an expected fact and でしょうね seeks confirmation: Holmes assumes the corridor has one.
- ありませんでした
- ありませんでした is the polite past negative of ある. Continuing the question from the preceding scene, Helen states that no repairs had been necessary.
- 口実だったと思います
- だった is the past form of だ. Helen believes the work was merely a pretext for moving her out of her own room.
- ごく小さなものです
- 小さな modifies the corridor window, and ごく narrows its size further: Helen says it is a very small one.
Background
- shutters and bar
- Wooden shutters covered a window and could be secured by a crossbar. Their strength matters because Holmes must determine whether anyone could enter from outside.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room."
「ありませんでした。私を自分の部屋から移すための口実だったと思います」
"Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There are windows in it, of course?"
「ほう！それは意味ありげですね。さて、この細い翼棟の反対側には廊下が走っていて、三つの部屋はそこに面して開いていますね。廊下にはもちろん窓があるでしょうね？」
"Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through."
「ええ、でもごく小さなものです。人が通り抜けるには狭すぎます」
"As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to go into your room and bar your shutters?"
「お二人とも夜は戸に鍵をかけていたのなら、そちら側からは部屋に近づけなかったわけですね。さて、恐れ入りますが、ご自分の部屋に入って鎧戸にかんぬきをかけていただけませんか？」