解説　場面 29「話の続きを聞く」

With that I offered in as many words to marry her, but before she could answer, down came this brother of hers, running at us with a face on him like a madman. He was just white with rage, and those light eyes of his were blazing with fury. What was I doing with the lady? How dared I offer her attentions which were distasteful to her? Did I think that because I was a baronet I could do what I liked? If he had not been her brother I should have known better how to answer him. As it was I told him that my feelings towards his sister were such as I was not ashamed of, and that I hoped that she might honour me by becoming my wife. That seemed to make the matter no better, so then I lost my temper too, and I answered him rather more hotly than I should perhaps, considering that she was standing by. So it ended by his going off with her, as you saw, and here am I as badly puzzled a man as any in this county. Just tell me what it all means, Watson, and I'll owe you more than ever I can hope to pay."

そうして、はっきりと結婚を申し込んだが、返事をする間もなく、あの兄さんが狂人のような顔で、僕たちの所へ駆けてきた。怒りで真っ白になり、色の薄い目は激しく燃えていた。妹と何をしているのか。妹が嫌がるのに、どうして言い寄るのか。準男爵なら、好き勝手にできると思っているのか。彼女の兄でなければ、もっと違う答えようもあっただろう。だが、そういう間柄だから、妹さんへの気持ちは恥じるようなものではなく、妻になる栄誉を与えてもらえたらと望んでいると答えた。それでも事態は少しもよくならず、僕も腹を立てて、彼女がそばに立っていることを思えば、もう少し控えるべきだったほど、きつい言葉で答えてしまった。結局、きみが見たとおり、彼は妹を連れて行ってしまい、こうして僕は、この州の誰にも負けないくらい途方に暮れている。どういうことなのか教えてくれ、ワトソン。そうすれば、返し切れないほどの恩を、今まで以上にきみに負うことになる」