よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 53: A Light and a Sound
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Notes on this scene
A brief light flashes near the ventilator, followed by the strong smell of burning oil and heated metal from the next room. Watson hears movement, then a low, soothing sound like steam escaping from a kettle. At once Holmes leaps from the bed, strikes a match, and lashes the bell-pull furiously with his cane while calling to Watson.
Japanese in this scene
- ふたたび
- ふたたび marks a return to the previous state: after the quiet movement, the surroundings become completely silent once again.
- 臭いはいっそう強くなっていった
- いっそう shows a further increase: after the movement stops, the smell of heated oil grows still stronger.
- やがてあたりはふたたび静まり返った
- やがて marks the next development after a short interval: before long, the faint movement stops and the room becomes silent again.
- たえず
- たえず describes an unbroken, continuous sound. Watson compares it to a thin stream of steam constantly escaping from a kettle.
Background
- dark-lantern
- A dark-lantern had a shutter that could hide its light or direct it narrowly. Burning oil also produced a noticeable smell of heated metal and fuel.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then suddenly another sound became audible—a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull.
突然、通風口のあたりに一瞬、光がきらめいてすぐ消えたが、続いて油の燃える強い臭いと、熱せられた金属の臭いが漂ってきた。隣の部屋で誰かが遮光ランタンをともしたのだ。私は静かに動く物音を聞き、やがてあたりはふたたび静まり返ったが、臭いはいっそう強くなっていった。私は半時間のあいだ、耳をそばだてて座っていた。そのとき突然、別の音が聞き取れるようになった——ごく穏やかな、心をなだめるような音で、やかんから細い蒸気がたえず漏れているような音だった。その音を耳にした瞬間、ホームズはベッドから跳び起き、マッチをすり、杖で呼び鈴の紐を猛然と打ちすえた。
"You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?"
「見えるか、ワトソン」と彼は叫んだ。「見えるか」