解説　場面 32「壁の光」

"I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me how narrow had been my escape.

「床と天井は鉄でも、壁は木だと言いました。最後に急いで見回すと、二枚の板の間に細い黄色い光が見え、小さな板が後ろへ押されるにつれて広がりました。一瞬、死から逃れる扉が本当にあるとは信じられませんでした。次の瞬間、私はそこへ身を投げ出し、反対側に半ば気を失って倒れました。板は背後で閉じましたが、ランプの割れる音と、少し後の二枚の金属板がぶつかる音が、間一髪だったことを教えました。

"I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend whose warning I had so foolishly rejected.

「手首を必死に引かれて我に返ると、狭い廊下の石床に横たわり、女性が右手にろうそくを持ち、左手で私を引っ張りながらかがみ込んでいました。私が愚かにも警告を退けた、あの親切な女性でした。

"'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the so-precious time, but come!'

「『来て、来て！』と彼女は息を切らして叫びました。『すぐ彼ら来ます。あなた、いないと分かります。ああ、大切な時間を無駄にしないで。来て！』