解説　場面 10「老人の関心」

He is learned in old manorial and communal rights, and he applies his knowledge sometimes in favour of the villagers of Fernworthy and sometimes against them, so that he is periodically either carried in triumph down the village street or else burned in effigy, according to his latest exploit. He is said to have about seven lawsuits upon his hands at present, which will probably swallow up the remainder of his fortune and so draw his sting and leave him harmless for the future. Apart from the law he seems a kindly, good-natured person, and I only mention him because you were particular that I should send some description of the people who surround us. He is curiously employed at present, for, being an amateur astronomer, he has an excellent telescope, with which he lies upon the roof of his own house and sweeps the moor all day in the hope of catching a glimpse of the escaped convict. If he would confine his energies to this all would be well, but there are rumours that he intends to prosecute Dr. Mortimer for opening a grave without the consent of the next of kin because he dug up the Neolithic skull in the barrow on Long Down. He helps to keep our lives from being monotonous and gives a little comic relief where it is badly needed.

古い荘園の権利や共同体の権利に詳しく、その知識を、ときにはファーンワージーの村人のために、ときには村人に不利な方へと使う。そのため、最近何をやらかしたかによって、村の道を歓呼のうちに担がれて行くこともあれば、身代わりの人形を焼かれることもある。いま七件ほどの訴訟を抱えているそうで、これがおそらく残りの財産をのみ尽くし、そのとげを抜いて、先々は害のない人間にしてしまうだろう。法律のことを離れれば、親切で気立てのよい人らしく、ここで話すのも、われわれの周りにいる人たちの様子を書き送るよう、きみが念を押していたからにすぎない。いまは変わった仕事に取り組んでいる。アマチュアの天文学者なので、立派な望遠鏡を持っていて、自分の家の屋根に寝そべり、脱獄囚の姿を一目でも見ようと、一日じゅう荒れ地をくまなく見ているのだ。力を注ぐのがこれだけなら申し分ないのだが、モーティマー医師がロング・ダウンの墳丘から新石器時代の頭骨を掘り出したので、近親者の同意なしに墓を開いたとして、医師を訴えるつもりだという噂がある。彼のおかげで暮らしは単調にならず、笑いの息抜きがひどく必要な場所に、少しばかりそれを与えてくれる。