解説　場面 31「鏡に映る道」

"You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once.

「ホームズさん、この異様な行為にいったいどんな意味があるのか、私がどれほど知りたくなったかは、容易にご想像いただけるでしょう。二人はいつも、私の顔を窓と反対へ向けるよう細心の注意を払っていることに気づき、私は背後で何が起きているのか見たいという思いでいっぱいになりました。初めは不可能に思えましたが、すぐに方法を思いつきました。手鏡が割れていたため、よい考えが浮かび、鏡の破片を一つハンカチの中に隠しました。次の機会に、笑いながらハンカチを目元へ持ち上げ、少し工夫して背後のすべてを見ることができました。正直に申しますと、がっかりしました。何もなかったのです。少なくとも、最初はそう思いました。ところが、もう一度見ると、サウサンプトン街道に男が一人立っていることに気づきました。灰色の服を着た、ひげのある小柄な男で、私のほうを見ているようでした。あの街道は主要な道で、普段から人が行き来しています。しかしその男は、屋敷の野原に沿った柵にもたれ、真剣にこちらを見上げていました。私はハンカチを下ろしてルーカッスル夫人を見ると、夫人は探るような目を私にじっと据えていました。何も言いませんでしたが、私が手の中に鏡を持ち、背後を見たことに気づいていたに違いありません。夫人はすぐに立ち上がりました。