解説　場面 28「一つの仮説」

"No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the window when the police appeared."

「いや、だが、その事実にも一応もっともらしい説明はつく。ブーンがネヴィル・セントクレアを窓から突き落としたと仮定しよう。その行為を見られる者はいない。それから、どうするか。もちろん、証拠になる衣服を処分しなければと、すぐに思いつくだろう。外套をつかんで投げ出そうとしたとき、これでは沈まず浮いてしまうと気づくだろう。時間はほとんどない。妻が上へ行こうとして階下でもめた音を聞いているし、共犯の店主から、警官が通りを急いで来ると聞いているかもしれない。一瞬も無駄にはできない。物乞いで得た金をためた隠し場所へ駆けつけ、手につかめるだけの硬貨をポケットに詰め込み、外套を確実に沈めようとする。それを投げ捨て、ほかの衣服も同じようにしただろうが、下から駆け上がる足音が聞こえ、警察が現れたときには、やっと窓を閉めるのが精いっぱいだったんだ」

"It certainly sounds feasible."

「確かに、ありそうな話だね」