Scene 11 · Notes

Notes　Scene 11: A Quiet Exchange

Next scene: 12 Out in the Street ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

Watson whispers Holmes's name and asks what he is doing there. Holmes warns him to speak softly because the den's keeper has sharp ears. He then asks Watson to remove the intoxicated Whitney first so they can talk privately afterward.

Japanese in this scene

面倒めんどうを起おこすには、くたびれすぎている
The verb stem plus すぎる means 'too much.' Holmes judges Whitney too exhausted to cause trouble during the ride home.
家いえへ送おくってやってくれ
〜てやる views the ride as help given to Whitney, while 〜てくれ asks Watson to arrange it.
外そとで待まっていてくれれば
〜ていて asks Watson to remain waiting, and くれれば presents that favor as the condition for Holmes to join him soon.
友人ゆうじんを片かたづけてくれれば
Here 片づける means to see a matter safely dealt with, not to tidy an object. Holmes means getting Whitney on his way home.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?"

「ホームズ」と私はささやいた。「いったい、こんな所で何をしているんだ」

"As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with you."

「できるだけ小さな声で」と彼は答えた。「耳はよく聞こえるんだ。その酔いどれの友人を片づけてくれれば、きみと少し話せて大いにありがたい」

"I have a cab outside."

「外に馬車がある」

"Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait outside, I shall be with you in five minutes."

「では、それで家へ送ってやってくれ。一人で乗せても心配ない。面倒を起こすには、くたびれすぎているようだからね。それから、きみが私と行動をともにすることを、御者に託した手紙で奥さんへ知らせておくといい。外で待っていてくれれば、五分で行くよ」

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

  • 御者（ぎょしゃ） — coachman; carriage driverhard
  • 私（わたし） — I; me
  • ささやく — to whisper
  • ん — explanatory contraction of no
  • できるだけ — as much as one can; as much as possible; if at all possible
  • 彼（かれ） — he; him
  • 耳（みみ） — ear; hearing
  • 酔いどれ（よいどれ） — drunkard; drunk

Next scene: Out in the Street

Holmes asks Watson to send Whitney home before waiting outside. Watson must see his impaired friend into the cab and arrange a message for his own wife. The reason for Holmes's disguise remains unexplained, so the two men quietly agree on these immediate steps without attracting attention in the den.

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