Scene 35 · Notes

Notes　Scene 35: The Envelope on the Table

Next scene: 36 Looking at the Writing ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

The news of a letter transforms Holmes's manner. Mrs. St. Clair brings a plain envelope and hands it to him. Holmes studies it closely, recognizing that its postmark and writing may reveal when, where, and by whom it was prepared.

Japanese in this scene

彼かれの肩越かたごしにのぞき込こんでいた: 肩越しに means over another person's shoulder, while のぞき込んでいた describes Watson peering closely at the letter.
前日ぜんじつの日付ひづけが押おしてあった: 〜てあった describes the resulting state of a deliberate action: the postmark bore the previous day's date.
住所じゅうしょを聞ききに行いかなければならなかった: 〜なければならなかった expresses past necessity: the writer had to stop and ask for the address.
彼かれは待まちきれずに紙かみを受うけ取とり: 待ちきれずに means unable to wait any longer; it conveys Holmes's eagerness as he takes the letter.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day before, for it was considerably after midnight.

彼は待ちきれずに紙を受け取り、卓上で広げて灯りを引き寄せ、熱心に調べた。私も椅子を離れ、彼の肩越しにのぞき込んでいた。封筒はひどく粗末で、グレーヴズエンドの消印と、その日の、いや、とうに真夜中を過ぎていたので、前日の日付が押してあった。

"Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your husband's writing, madam."

「粗雑な字だ」とホームズはつぶやいた。「これはご主人の字ではありませんね、奥様」

"No, but the enclosure is."

「ええ。でも、中の手紙は主人の字です」

"I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and inquire as to the address."

「宛名を書いた人は、途中で住所を聞きに行かなければならなかったことも分かります」

"How can you tell that?"

「どうして分かるのですか」

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

彼（かれ） — he; him
受け取る（うけとる） — to interpret or take as meaning; to receive; to accept
引き寄せる（ひきよせる） — to draw closer; to pull toward
熱心（ねっしん） — earnest; absorbed
私（わたし） — I; me
肩越し（かたごし） — over the shoulder
のぞき込む（のぞきこむ） — to peer into; to look closely inside
封筒（ふうとう） — envelope; paper cover for a letter

Next scene: Looking at the Writing

The plain envelope carries a Gravesend postmark dated that day. Holmes examines its paper, ink, address, and seal, noting differences between the writing outside and the note within. He explains these several physical clues carefully to Mrs. St. Clair before judging what the message can establish about her husband's safety.

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