Scene 42 · Notes

Notes　Scene 42: The Last Questions

Next scene: 43 The Unsettled Night ›Read this scene again (from the start)

Notes on this scene

Holmes asks whether St. Clair had ever mentioned Swandam Lane or shown any sign of using opium. Mrs. St. Clair answers no to both questions. Satisfied that he has established the principal points he needed, Holmes ends the questioning and proposes that they eat and rest before what may be a very busy day.

Japanese in this scene

一いち度どもありません
The counter 一度 plus も and a negative means 'not even once' or 'never,' her answer to both questions about his past.
はっきり確たしかめておきたかった主おもな点てん
〜ておく means doing something in preparation. Holmes wanted these main facts settled before moving on.
少すこし夕食ゆうしょくを取とって休やすみましょう
The polite volitional 〜ましょう proposes a shared course of action: eating and resting before a potentially busy day.
ありがとうございます
This is the polite form of thanks, matching Holmes's respectful address to Mrs. St. Clair after his questioning.

Full text: original English and Japanese translation

"Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?"

「スワンダム横丁のことを、以前に話されたことは」

"Never."

「一度もありません」

"Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?"

「アヘンを使った様子を見せたことはありましたか」

"Never."

「一度もありません」

"Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to-morrow."

「ありがとうございます、セントクレア夫人。はっきり確かめておきたかった主な点は、これで分かりました。これから少し夕食を取って休みましょう。明日はとても忙しくなるかもしれませんから」

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

  • 以前（いぜん） — before; prior to; ago; the past
  • アヘン — opium
  • 様子（ようす） — manner; state
  • ありがとう — thank you; thanks
  • ござる — to be; to exist (polite or old-fashioned)
  • かも — may; might; marks a possibility
  • しれる — to become known; to come to light; to be discovered; to be known
  • 話す（はなす） — to speak; to talk

Next scene: The Unsettled Night

The questioning in the dining room has ended. Holmes proposes a little supper and rest, and a shared guest room is ready for the two men. Watson is exhausted by his night journey, yet the central mystery remains unsolved. Their different ways of spending the remaining hours will soon become clear.

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