よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 49: The Signal Light
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Notes on this scene
The lights at Stoke Moran go out at nine, and Holmes and Watson continue waiting in darkness. At exactly eleven, a single lamp appears in the middle window. Holmes recognizes the signal and rises. The two leave the inn for the estate after giving the landlord a brief explanation for their departure.
Japanese in this scene
- 二時間がゆっくりと過ぎ
- ゆっくりと conveys the watchers' experience of time dragging during the silent vigil.
- ちょうど十一時の鐘が打つころ
- ちょうど fixes the timing at the moment the clock is striking eleven, when the signal light appears.
- 二言三言
- 二言三言 means only a few words. Holmes gives the innkeeper a brief explanation before he and Watson leave for their secret vigil.
- そのまま
- そのまま indicates continuing without returning: Holmes tells the innkeeper that the late visit may lead directly to an overnight stay.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us.
九時ごろ、木々の間の明かりが消え、領主館の方角はすべて暗くなった。二時間がゆっくりと過ぎ、やがて突然、ちょうど十一時の鐘が打つころ、ひとつの明るい光が真正面にぱっと現れた。
"That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it comes from the middle window."
「あれが合図だ」とホームズは言って跳ね起きた。「真ん中の窓からだ」
As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand.
外へ出るとき、彼は宿の主人と二言三言交わし、知人のもとへ遅い訪問に出かけるので、そのまま泊まるかもしれないと説明した。一瞬ののち、私たちは暗い道に出ていた。冷たい風が顔に吹きつけ、黄色い光がひとつ、暗がりの中で前方に瞬いて、陰鬱な使いへと私たちを導いていた。
There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.
敷地に入るのは造作もなかった。古い庭園の塀には、修理されていない破れ目がいくつも口を開けていたからだ。木立の間を進んで芝生に出て、それを横切り、窓から入ろうとしたそのとき、月桂樹の茂みの中から、恐ろしくゆがんだ子どもかと思われるものが飛び出し、手足をくねらせて草の上に身を投げ出したかと思うと、すばやく芝生を駆け抜けて闇の中へ消えた。