Scene 34 · Notes

Notes　Scene 34: An Honest Answer

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Notes on this scene

Holmes says he fears St. Clair may be dead, perhaps since Monday, though he cannot be certain. Mrs. St. Clair challenges the conclusion and asks how it can be reconciled with a letter received from her husband that very day.

Japanese in this scene

そうとは言いっていません
The quotation particle と and contrastive は narrow the denial: Holmes has not said specifically that St. Clair was murdered.
ご説明せつめいいただけますか
ご〜いただく is a humble request construction. Mrs. St. Clair politely challenges Holmes to explain the letter.
椅子いすから跳はね上あがった
跳ね上がった conveys Holmes's sudden upward movement, showing how sharply the news surprises him.
いつ亡なくなったのでしょう
のでしょう forms a polite explanatory question: she presses Holmes to state when he believes the death occurred.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Murdered?"

「殺されたのですか」

"I don't say that. Perhaps."

「そうとは言っていません。その可能性はあります」

"And on what day did he meet his death?"

「では、いつ亡くなったのでしょう」

"On Monday."

「月曜日です」

"Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how it is that I have received a letter from him to-day."

「それなら、ホームズさん、今日あの人から手紙が届いたのはどういうわけか、ご説明いただけますか」

Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been galvanised.

シャーロック・ホームズは、電気を流されたように椅子から跳ね上がった。

"What!" he roared.

「なんですって」と大声を上げた。

"Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of paper in the air.

「ええ、今日です」夫人は笑みを浮かべ、小さな紙切れを空中に掲げて立っていた。

"May I see it?"

「拝見しても」

"Certainly."

「もちろんです」

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

  • 殺す（ころす） — to kill; to put to death
  • 亡くなる（なくなる） — to die; to pass away
  • 人（ひと） — person; people
  • わけ — reason; implication
  • ご — Honorific prefix, often before words of Chinese origin.
  • いただける — to be able to receive; to be able to take; to be able to accept; to be able to eat
  • よう — way; means of doing something
  • 跳ね上がる（はねあがる） — to jump up; to spring up; to jump (market, price, etc.); to rise sharply

Next scene: The Envelope on the Table

Mrs. St. Clair produces a letter that arrived from Neville that very day, directly challenging Holmes's fear that he is dead. Holmes reacts immediately and asks to inspect the new evidence. Before changing any conclusion, he must closely examine the envelope, handwriting, and contents rather than rely on hope alone.

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