解説　場面 19「夜の出発」

"Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue.

「さて、冷静になってすべてを考え直すと、お二人も想像されるとおり、突然舞い込んだこの依頼に私はひどく驚きました。もちろん一方ではうれしくもありました。報酬は自分で値をつけたなら求めた額の少なくとも十倍で、この注文が次の仕事につながる可能性もあったからです。その一方で、依頼人の顔と態度は不快な印象を残しましたし、漂白土についての説明だけでは、真夜中に来させる必要も、用向きを誰かに話すまいと極端に心配する理由も、十分説明できないと思いました。それでも恐れをすべて振り払い、たっぷり夕食をとり、パディントンへ馬車で行って出発しました。沈黙せよという命令は文字どおり守りました。

"At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the horse could go."

「レディングでは、列車だけでなく駅も乗り換えなければなりませんでした。それでもアイフォード行きの最終列車には間に合い、十一時過ぎに薄暗い小駅へ着きました。そこで降りた乗客は私だけで、ホームにはランプを持った眠そうな駅員が一人いるだけでした。ところが改札口を出ると、朝の知人が反対側の影の中で待っていました。彼は一言も発さず私の腕をつかみ、扉を開けて待たせてあった馬車へ急いで押し込みました。彼が両側の窓を上げ、車体を叩くと、馬は全速力で走り出しました」