解説　場面 48「夜の外出」

"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self."

「まあまあだ。不満はない。きみと別れてからストリータムへ行ったが、屋敷には寄らなかった。実にかわいらしい問題で、大金を積まれても見逃したくはなかった。だが、ここでおしゃべりしているわけにはいかない。このいかがわしい服を脱ぎ、たいへん立派な自分に戻らなければ」

I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his congenial hunt.

彼の様子から、言葉だけで示した以上に強い満足の理由があると分かった。目は輝き、浅黒い頬にさえ、わずかに血の色が差していた。彼は二階へ急ぎ、数分後、玄関の扉が勢いよく閉まる音が聞こえた。彼が再び、性に合った追跡へ出たことを告げる音だった。

I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other, as fresh and trim as possible.

私は真夜中まで待ったが、帰る気配はなく、自室へ引き取った。手掛かりを熱心に追っている時、彼が何日も昼夜を問わず留守にするのは珍しくなかったので、遅さに驚きはしなかった。何時に戻ったのかは知らない。しかし朝食をとりに下りると、片手にコーヒー、もう片方に新聞を持ち、この上なくさっぱりと整った姿で、そこにいた。