解説　場面 1「ホームズの記録から」

On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.

この八年のあいだに友人シャーロック・ホームズの手法を研究してきた七十件あまりの事件の記録を見返すと、悲劇的なものが多く、喜劇的なものもあり、ただ奇妙なだけのものも数多いが、ありふれたものは一つもない。というのも、彼は富を得るためというより自分の技への愛のために働いており、普通ではないもの、さらには幻想的なものにさえ向かわない捜査には、かかわろうとしなかったからだ。しかし、これら多彩な事件のなかでも、サリー州で名高いストーク・モランのロイロット家にまつわる事件ほど、特異な点の多いものは思い出せない。事件が起きたのは、私がホームズと知り合って間もない頃で、二人でベイカー街の部屋を独身者として共同で借りていた時期だった。これまでにも記録に残せたかもしれないが、当時は秘密を守る約束が交わされており、その約束から解かれたのは、約束の相手だった婦人が早すぎる死を迎えた先月のことにすぎない。いま事実が明るみに出るのは、おそらく好都合だろう。グリムズビー・ロイロット博士の死をめぐって、真相よりさらに恐ろしい話にしかねない噂が広く出回っていると、私は知っているからだ。