解説　場面 27「夜の並木道」

"The facts of the case are simple. Sir Charles Baskerville was in the habit every night before going to bed of walking down the famous yew alley of Baskerville Hall. The evidence of the Barrymores shows that this had been his custom. On the fourth of May Sir Charles had declared his intention of starting next day for London, and had ordered Barrymore to prepare his luggage. That night he went out as usual for his nocturnal walk, in the course of which he was in the habit of smoking a cigar. He never returned. At twelve o'clock Barrymore, finding the hall door still open, became alarmed, and, lighting a lantern, went in search of his master. The day had been wet, and Sir Charles's footmarks were easily traced down the alley. Halfway down this walk there is a gate which leads out on to the moor. There were indications that Sir Charles had stood for some little time here. He then proceeded down the alley, and it was at the far end of it that his body was discovered. One fact which has not been explained is the statement of Barrymore that his master's footprints altered their character from the time that he passed the moor-gate, and that he appeared from thence onward to have been walking upon his toes.

「事件の事実関係は単純である。チャールズ・バスカヴィル卿は毎夜、寝る前にバスカヴィル館の有名なイチイの並木道を歩く習慣があった。それが常だったことは、バリモア夫妻の証言に示されている。五月四日、チャールズ卿は翌日ロンドンへ出発すると告げ、バリモアに荷物の支度を命じた。その晩もいつものように夜の散歩に出た。散歩の途中で葉巻を吸うのも習慣だった。卿は戻らなかった。十二時になっても館の玄関が開いているのを見て、バリモアは不安になり、ランタンに火をともして主人を捜しに出た。その日は雨が降っており、並木道のチャールズ卿の足跡は容易にたどれた。この道の半ばに、荒れ地へ出る小門がある。チャールズ卿がここにしばらく立っていた形跡があった。その後、卿は並木道を先へ進み、そのいちばん奥で遺体が発見された。未解明の事実が一つある。バリモアの話によれば、主人の足跡は荒れ地への小門を過ぎた所から様子が変わり、それ以降は爪先で歩いていたように見えたという。