よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 38: What the Letter Can Tell
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Notes on this scene
Holmes warns that the note could be a clever forgery and that the enclosed ring proves nothing because it might have been taken from St. Clair. Mrs. St. Clair firmly recognizes the handwriting. Holmes accepts that point but observes that the note may have been written on Monday and posted only today, leaving time for many later events.
Japanese in this scene
- 生きているはずです
- はずだ expresses a strong expectation based on what the speaker believes. Mrs. St. Clair insists her husband must be alive.
- 指輪だけでは、結局何も証明できません
- だけでは means 'with that alone.' Holmes says the ring by itself ultimately proves nothing.
- ご主人から奪ったものかもしれません
- かもしれません marks a possibility rather than a claim: someone may have taken the ring from her husband.
- 今日になってようやく投函された
- 今日になって and ようやく emphasize the delay before the letter was finally posted; the passive leaves the poster unspecified.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes."
「でも、生きているはずです、ホームズさん」
"Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from him."
「これが私たちを惑わす巧妙な偽造でない限りは。指輪だけでは、結局何も証明できません。ご主人から奪ったものかもしれませんから」
"No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!"
「いいえ、いいえ、間違いなくあの人の字です」
"Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only posted to-day."
「分かりました。ただ、月曜日に書かれて、今日になってようやく投函されたのかもしれません」
"That is possible."
「それは、あり得ます」
"If so, much may have happened between."
「だとすると、その間に多くのことが起きた可能性があります」