よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 44: An Early Invitation
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Notes on this scene
Watson wakes to find Holmes still sitting cross-legged among cushions in his dressing gown, pipe clenched between his teeth. The room is thick with tobacco smoke. Holmes asks whether Watson is awake and immediately proposes an unusually early morning drive.
Japanese in this scene
- では、着替えてくれ
- 〜てくれ is Holmes's familiar direct request for Watson to dress at once for their early departure.
- すぐに馬車を出せるだろう
- 出せる is the potential form: Holmes expects the stable boy will be able to ready and bring out the carriage quickly.
- 着替え終えるか終えないかのうちに
- 〜か〜ないかのうちに means almost immediately, before it is even clear that the first action is finished.
- 朝の馬車での外出に付き合うかい
- 付き合う here means to accompany someone, and final かい gives Holmes's invitation an informal friendly tone.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"Awake, Watson?" he asked.
「起きたかい、ワトソン」と彼は尋ねた。
"Yes."
「ああ」
"Game for a morning drive?"
「朝の馬車での外出に付き合うかい」
"Certainly."
「もちろん」
"Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night.
「では、着替えてくれ。まだ誰も起きていないが、厩番の寝場所は知っている。すぐに馬車を出せるだろう」彼は話しながら一人でくすくす笑い、目を輝かせ、昨夜の沈んだ考え人とは別人のようだった。
As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was putting in the horse.
着替えながら時計を見た。誰も起きていないのも当然だった。四時二十五分だった。着替え終えるか終えないかのうちに、ホームズが戻り、少年が馬をつないでいると知らせた。
"I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the key of the affair now."
「ちょっと自分の考えを試したいんだ」と、ブーツを履きながら言った。「ワトソン、きみは今、ヨーロッパでも指折りの大ばか者を目の前にしていると思うよ。ここからチャリング・クロスまで蹴飛ばされても文句は言えない。だが今度こそ、事件の鍵をつかんだと思う」