解説　場面 208「身の回りの物」

"It was very essential for Stapleton to get some article of Sir Henry's attire so that, in case he was driven to use the dog, he might always have the means of setting him upon his track. With characteristic promptness and audacity he set about this at once, and we cannot doubt that the boots or chamber-maid of the hotel was well bribed to help him in his design. By chance, however, the first boot which was procured for him was a new one and, therefore, useless for his purpose. He then had it returned and obtained another—a most instructive incident, since it proved conclusively to my mind that we were dealing with a real hound, as no other supposition could explain this anxiety to obtain an old boot and this indifference to a new one. The more outré and grotesque an incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined, and the very point which appears to complicate a case is, when duly considered and scientifically handled, the one which is most likely to elucidate it.

「猟犬を使わざるを得なくなったとき、いつでもサー・ヘンリーの跡を追わせられるよう、彼の衣類を何か手に入れることがステイプルトンには不可欠だった。持ち前の素早さと大胆さで彼は直ちに取りかかり、ホテルの靴磨きか客室係が企みに加担するよう十分な賄賂を受け取ったことは疑いない。ところが偶然、最初に手に入れたブーツは新品で、その目的には役立たなかった。そこで返却させ、別の一足を手に入れた。これは非常に示唆に富む出来事だった。古いブーツを得ようとする執着と新品への無関心は、本物の猟犬を相手にしていると考えなければ説明できず、私には決定的な証拠となったからだ。出来事が突飛で奇怪であるほど、いっそう注意深く調べる価値がある。事件を複雑に見せるまさにその点こそ、十分に考え、科学的に扱えば、最も事件を明らかにしてくれる可能性が高い。