解説　場面 211「調査する側の話」

"The Stapletons then went down to Devonshire, whither they were soon followed by Sir Henry and you. One word now as to how I stood myself at that time. It may possibly recur to your memory that when I examined the paper upon which the printed words were fastened I made a close inspection for the water-mark. In doing so I held it within a few inches of my eyes, and was conscious of a faint smell of the scent known as white jessamine. There are seventy-five perfumes, which it is very necessary that a criminal expert should be able to distinguish from each other, and cases have more than once within my own experience depended upon their prompt recognition. The scent suggested the presence of a lady, and already my thoughts began to turn towards the Stapletons. Thus I had made certain of the hound, and had guessed at the criminal before ever we went to the west country.

「その後ステイプルトン夫妻はデヴォンシャーへ下り、ほどなくサー・ヘンリーと君もそこへ向かった。ここで、当時の私自身の立場について一言話そう。印刷された単語を貼りつけた紙を調べたとき、透かしを念入りに見たことを覚えているかもしれない。その際、紙を目から数インチのところまで近づけ、白いジャスミンとして知られる香水のかすかな香りに気づいた。犯罪の専門家なら、七十五種類の香水を互いに嗅ぎ分けられることが非常に重要で、私自身の経験でも、その場ですぐ見分けられるかどうかに事件の成否がかかったことは一度ならずある。その香りは女性の存在を示し、その時点ですでに私の考えはステイプルトン夫妻へ向かい始めた。こうして西部地方へ行く前から、私は猟犬の実在を確信し、犯人にも見当をつけていた。