解説　場面 18「リーの住人」

"Some years ago—to be definite, in May, 1884—there came to Lee a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far as we have been able to ascertain, amount to £ 88 10s., while he has £ 220 standing to his credit in the Capital and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money troubles have been weighing upon his mind.

「数年前、正確には一八八四年五月、ネヴィル・セントクレアという、金に不自由していない様子の紳士がリーへ移ってきた。大きな屋敷を構え、庭を実にきれいに整え、全般に裕福な暮らしをしていた。次第に近所に友人ができ、一八八七年には地元の醸造業者の娘と結婚し、その妻との間に今は二人の子供がいる。職業はないがいくつかの会社に利害関係があり、普段は朝に都心へ出て、毎晩キャノン街発の五時十四分の列車で戻っていた。セントクレア氏は現在三十七歳、節度ある習慣を持つ人物で、よい夫、とても愛情深い父親であり、知る人すべてから好かれている。付け加えれば、調べられた限りでは現在の借金は全部で八十八ポンド十シリング、対してキャピタル・アンド・カウンティーズ銀行には二百二十ポンドの預金がある。だから金の問題が心に重くのしかかっていたと考える理由はない。