解説　場面 46「変装の支度」

It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class.

相棒の中では、すでに事件について結論が固まったことが私には明らかだった。しかし、その結論が何なのかは、ぼんやり想像することさえできなかった。帰途、私は何度もその点を探ろうとしたが、そのたびに彼は別の話題へすべるように移り、ついに私は諦めた。再び部屋へ戻った時、まだ三時前だった。彼は自室へ急ぎ、数分後には、ありふれた浮浪者の姿で下りて来た。襟を立て、てかてかしてみすぼらしい上着、赤いネクタイ、履き古した靴を身につけた彼は、その階層の人間の完璧な見本だった。

"I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition.

「これでよさそうだ」と、彼は暖炉の上の鏡を見ながら言った。「一緒に来てもらえればよいのだが、ワトソン、残念ながら難しい。私は事件の跡を追っているのかもしれないし、鬼火を追っているだけかもしれない。だが、どちらかはすぐ分かる。数時間で戻れることを願っているよ」彼は食器棚のローストビーフから一切れを切り、二枚のパンに挟むと、その粗末な食事をポケットへ押し込み、調査へ出発した。