解説　場面 26「記事の中の証言」

"The circumstances connected with the death of Sir Charles cannot be said to have been entirely cleared up by the inquest, but at least enough has been done to dispose of those rumours to which local superstition has given rise. There is no reason whatever to suspect foul play, or to imagine that death could be from any but natural causes. Sir Charles was a widower, and a man who may be said to have been in some ways of an eccentric habit of mind. In spite of his considerable wealth he was simple in his personal tastes, and his indoor servants at Baskerville Hall consisted of a married couple named Barrymore, the husband acting as butler and the wife as housekeeper. Their evidence, corroborated by that of several friends, tends to show that Sir Charles's health has for some time been impaired, and points especially to some affection of the heart, manifesting itself in changes of colour, breathlessness, and acute attacks of nervous depression. Dr. James Mortimer, the friend and medical attendant of the deceased, has given evidence to the same effect.

「チャールズ卿の死に関わる事情は、検死審問によって完全に解明されたとは言えない。だが少なくとも、地元の迷信から生まれた噂を退けるには十分であった。犯罪を疑う理由も、自然死以外の死因を考える理由も、まったくない。チャールズ卿は妻に先立たれており、ものの考え方には、いささか風変わりなところがあったと言えよう。相当な資産があるにもかかわらず、暮らしの好みは質素で、バスカヴィル館の屋内の使用人はバリモアという名の夫婦だけだった。夫が執事、妻が家政を取り仕切っていた。何人かの友人の証言でも裏付けられた夫婦の証言によれば、卿の健康は以前から損なわれていたようで、とりわけ心臓に何らかの病があり、顔色の変化、息切れ、激しい神経の落ち込みとして現れていた。故人の友人で主治医でもあるジェームズ・モーティマー医師も、同趣旨の証言をしている。