解説　場面 55「手紙を閉じる前に」

I wished to go in that direction and to search the tor, but it was some distance away. The baronet's nerves were still quivering from that cry, which recalled the dark story of his family, and he was not in the mood for fresh adventures. He had not seen this lonely man upon the tor and could not feel the thrill which his strange presence and his commanding attitude had given to me. "A warder, no doubt," said he. "The moor has been thick with them since this fellow escaped." Well, perhaps his explanation may be the right one, but I should like to have some further proof of it. Today we mean to communicate to the Princetown people where they should look for their missing man, but it is hard lines that we have not actually had the triumph of bringing him back as our own prisoner. Such are the adventures of last night, and you must acknowledge, my dear Holmes, that I have done you very well in the matter of a report. Much of what I tell you is no doubt quite irrelevant, but still I feel that it is best that I should let you have all the facts and leave you to select for yourself those which will be of most service to you in helping you to your conclusions. We are certainly making some progress. So far as the Barrymores go we have found the motive of their actions, and that has cleared up the situation very much. But the moor with its mysteries and its strange inhabitants remains as inscrutable as ever. Perhaps in my next I may be able to throw some light upon this also. Best of all would it be if you could come down to us. In any case you will hear from me again in the course of the next few days.

私はそちらへ行き、岩山を探したかったが、少し距離があった。準男爵の神経は、一族の暗い物語を思い起こさせたあの声で、まだ震えており、新しい冒険をする気分ではなかった。彼は岩山の上の孤独な男を見ていなかったので、その奇妙な存在と、堂々と辺りを見下ろす姿が、私に与えた興奮を感じられなかった。「看守だよ、きっと」と彼は言った。「あの男が逃げてから、荒れ地は看守だらけだ」なるほど、彼の説明が正しいのかもしれないが、私はもう少し証拠がほしい。今日は、行方不明の男をどこで探すべきか、プリンスタウンの人たちへ知らせるつもりだが、実際に自分たちの囚人として連れ戻す手柄を得られなかったのは、残念なことだ。以上が昨夜の冒険であり、報告という点では、十分にきみの役に立ったと認めてもらわねばならない、親愛なるホームズ。話したことの多くは、きっとまったく関係がないのだろう。それでも、すべての事実をきみに伝え、結論を導くうえで最も役立つものを、きみ自身に選んでもらうのが、一番だと思う。確かに、少しずつ前へ進んではいる。バリモア夫妻については、行動の動機を見つけたので、状況はずっとはっきりした。だが、謎と奇妙な住人たちを抱える荒れ地は、相変わらず不可解なままだ。次の手紙では、この点にも何か光を当てられるかもしれない。何よりよいのは、きみがこちらへ来てくれることだ。いずれにせよ、この数日のうちには、また私からの便りが届くだろう。