小分割／和英順方式でスラスラ英語を学ぼう
コナン・ドイル作『シャーロック・ホームズの冒険』より
ボスコム谷のミステリー
The Boscombe Valley Mystery
ボスコム谷で殺人事件が発生。容疑者は、被害者の息子マッカーシー青年とされたが、シャーロック・ホームズは疑念をいだき、調査を開始する。結末におけるホームズのいきな計らいが、にくい。
No.１
ホームズからの電報
私たちはすわって We were seated
ある朝朝食をとっていた at breakfast one morning,
妻と私（ワトソン）であるが my wife and I,
そのとき女中が電報をもって入ってきた when the
maid brought in a telegram.
電報はシャーロック・ホームズからのもので It
was from Sherlock Holmes こう書いてあった and ran in this
way:
「２日ほど暇はあるか Have you a couple of days to
spare?
（じつは私は）電報で呼ばれた Have just been wired
for 西部イングランドから from the west of England
ボスコム谷の惨劇に関してだin connection with
Boscombe Valley tragedy.
私はうれしいのだが Shall be glad
もし君が一緒に来てくれたなら if you will come with
me.
風光明媚な所だよ Air and scenery perfect.
私はパディングトン駅11時15分の便で発つ Leave
Paddington by the 11:15.」
「どうするの、あなた “What do you say, dear?”」
と妻が言った said my wife,
私の顔をのぞきこむようにして looking across at me.
「行くの? “Will you go?" 」
「どうしようかなあ “I really don't know what to say.
（患者の予約）リストもずいぶんたまっていることだし
I have a fairly long list at present."」
「あら “Oh, アンストルザーさんが Anstruther
代わりにやって下さるわよ would do your work for you.
あなたは近ごろ顔色がさえませんわよ You have been
looking a little pale lately. 気分転換するといいわ I
think that the change would do you good,
それにあなたはいつも興味を持っていらっしゃるじゃないの
and you are always so interested
シャーロック・ホームズさんのことには in Mr.
Sherlock Holmes's cases." 」
「そりゃあ恩知らずになるだろうね “I should be
ungrateful もし僕に興味がなかったら if I were not,
彼の仕事から僕が得たものを思えばね seeing what I
gained through one of them," 」
と私は答えた I answered. 「でも行くとすれば “But
if I am to go, すぐ支度にかからなきゃ I must pack at
once, あと30分しかない for I have only half an hour."
」
アフガニスタンでの私のキャンプ生活の経験は
My experience of camp life in Afghanistan
少なくとも役にたった had at least had the effect
私を迅速で用意の出来た旅行者にすることに of
making me a prompt and ready traveller.
私の必要品は My wants 少ないし were few 単純だ and
simple, それで、私が言ったその30分もしないうちに
so that in less than the time stated
私はタクシー馬車の中にいた I was in a cab
手さげカバンを持って with my valise, パディングトン駅へとガタガタゆられていたのである
rattling away to Paddington Station.
シャーロック・ホームズは Sherlock Holmes
プラットホームでブラブラ行ったり来たりしていた
was pacing up and down the platform,
彼の長身で his tall, ひょろ長い姿は gaunt figure
一層ひょろ長く見えた made even gaunter and taller
彼の長い灰色の旅行用外套（マント）によって
by his long gray travelling-cloak
またピッタリした布製の帽子とによって and close-fitting
cloth cap.
●原文
We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the
maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran
in this way:
Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from
the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy.
Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect.
Leave Paddington by the 11:15.
"What do you say, dear?" said my wife,looking across at
me. "Will you go?"
"I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list
at present."
"Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been
looking a little pale lately. I think that the change would do
you good, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock
Holmes's cases."
"I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained
through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I
must pack at once, for I have only half an hour."
My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the
effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were
few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a
cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station.
Sherlock Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall,
gaunt figure made even gaunter and taller by his long gray
travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap.
No.２
ホームズと列車に乗る
「よく来てくれたねえ “It is really very good of you
to come, ワトソン君 Watson," 」
とホームズは言った said he.
「僕にとっては大いに違うんだよ “It makes a
considerable difference to me, 心から信頼できる人が一緒にいることはね
having someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely.
現地 (警察) の助けは Local aid
いつも役に立たないか is always either worthless
見当違いばかりだ or else biassed.
君が隅の席を２つとっておいてくれれば If you
will keep the two corner seats 切符は僕が買ってこよう
I shall get the tickets."」
客室は私たちだけだった We had the carriage to
ourselves 大変な量の新聞を除いては save for an
immense litter of papers
ホームズが持ち込んだのである which Holmes had
brought with him.
新聞の中で Among these
ホームズはひっくり返しては読んでいた he
rummaged and read, ときどきノートを取り with intervals
of note-taking 瞑想にふけりながら and of meditation,
レディングを過ぎるまでそうしていた until we were
past Reading.
彼はそののち突然新聞をまるめ Then he suddenly
rolled them all 大きな玉にして into a gigantic ball
網だなの上に放り上げてしまった and tossed them up
onto the rack.
「君は何か聞いているかい “Have you heard anything
この事件について of the case?"」
とホームズは尋ねた he asked.
「全然 “Not a word.
近ごろ新聞を見ていないもんでね I have not seen a
paper for some days."」
「ロンドン新聞には “The London press
あまり詳しい記事がない has not had very full accounts.
僕は目を通したところだ I have just been looking
through 最近の新聞全部に all the recent papers
詳しい事を知るためにね in order to master the
particulars.
こいつはどうも It seems, 総合してみたところ from
what I gather, 例の単純なケースの一つだろう to be
one of those simple cases
それでいて恐ろしく難しいケースだ which are so
extremely difficult." 」
「なんだか逆説めいた言い方だね “That sounds a
little paradoxical."」
「しかしまさしくそうなんだ “But it is profoundly
true. (事件の) 特異性というものは Singularity
ほとんどいつも手がかりになる is almost invariably a
clue.
犯罪は特色のない平凡なものほど The more
featureless and commonplace a crime is, 解決は難しい the
more difficult it is to bring it home.
ところが今度の事件では In this case, however,
人々は非常に重大な事件に仕立てあげてしまっている
they have established a very serious case
殺された男の息子を犯人にしてね against the son of
the murdered man."」
「すると殺人なんだね “It is a murder, then?"」
「まあ “Well, そう推定される it is conjectured to be
so.
僕としては何とも断定しないがね I shall take
nothing for granted 自分で調べる機会を持つまでは
until I have the opportunity of looking personally into it.
君に事の状況を説明しておこう I will explain the
state of things to you, 僕にわかっているだけを as far
as I have been able to understand it, かいつまんで in a
very few words.
●原文
"It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said
he. "It makes a considerable difference to me, having
someone with me on whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is
always either worthless or else biassed. If you will keep the two
corner seats I shall get the tickets."
We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of
papers which Holmes had brought with him.
Among these he rummaged and read, with intervals of note-taking
and of meditation, until we were past Reading.
Then he suddenly rolled them all into a gigantic ball and tossed
them up onto the rack.
"Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked.
"Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days."
"The London press has not had very full accounts. I have
just been looking through all the recent papers in order to
master the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one
of those simple cases which are so extremely difficult."
"That sounds a little paradoxical."
"But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably
a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more
difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they
have established a very serious case against the son of the
murdered man."
"It is a murder, then?"
"Well, it is conjectured to be so.I shall take nothing for
granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into
it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have
been able to understand it, in a very few words.
No.３
（ボスコム谷の農場に関するホームズの説明）
「ボスコム谷は“Boscombe Valley 郊外の一地区で is
a country district
ヘリフォードシャーのロス町からそう遠くない
not very far from Ross, in Herefordshire.
その地方の一番の地主は The largest landed proprietor
in that part ジョン・ターナーという is a Mr. John
Turner, 彼はオーストラリアで金をつくり who made
his money in Australia 何年か前に故郷に帰ってきた
and returned some years ago to the old country.
ターナーの所有する農場の一つ One of the farms which
he held, ハザリー農場は that of Hatherley,
チャールズ・マッカーシーという人に貸していた
was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy,
この人もオーストラリア帰りだ who was also an ex-Australian.
ふたりは (オーストラリアの)
植民地で知り合った The men had known each other in the
colonies,
だから不自然ではなかった so that it was not unnatural
彼らが帰国して落ち着くときに that when they came to
settle down そうしたというのも they should do so
できるだけ互いに近いところで as near each other as
possible.
（地主）ターナーのほうが明らかに金持ちだった
Turner was apparently the richer man,
それでマッカーシーは (土地の) 借用人となった
so McCarthy became his tenant
でも言葉使いの点では全く対等のままだったようだ
but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect equality,
たびたび一緒になるときも as they were frequently
together.
（借用人）マッカーシーには息子が一人いる
McCarthy had one son, 18歳の少年だ a lad of eighteen,
（地主）ターナーにも同いどしのひとり娘がいる
and Turner had an only daughter of the same age,
しかしマッカーシーにもターナーにも今は妻はいない
but neither of them had wives living.
彼らは避けていたようだ They appear to have avoided
近所の英国人とのつきあいは the society of the
neighbouring English families
そして隠退的な生活を送っていたらしい and to
have led retired lives,
ただマッカーシー父子は though both the McCarthys
スポーツが好きで were fond of sport
よく姿が見られた and were frequently seen
近くの競技会などでね at the race-meetings of the
neighbourhood.
マッカーシーには召使が２人いた McCarthy kept two
servants ――男と女の召使だ a man and a girl.
（地主）ターナーにはかなり大勢いた Turner had a
considerable household, 少なくとも５〜６人は some half-dozen
at the least.
これが私の知り得たことの全部だ That is as much as
I have been able to gather 両家について about the families.
さて今度は事件のほうだ Now for the facts.
●原文
"Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from
Ross, in Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that
part is a Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and
returned some years ago to the old country.
One of the farms which he held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr.
Charles McCarthy, who was also an ex-Australian. The men had
known each other in the colonies, so that it was not unnatural
that when they came to settle down they should do so as near each
other as possible.
Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his
tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect
equality, as they were frequently together.
McCarthy had one son, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only
daughter of the same age, but neither of them had wives living.
They appear to have avoided the society of the neighbouring
English families and to have led retired lives, though both the
McCarthys were fond of sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings
of the neighbourhood.
McCarthy kept two servants − a man and a girl. Turner had a
considerable household, some half-dozen at the least. That is as
much as I have been able to gather about the families. Now for
the facts.
No.４
事件の概要
「６月３日に “On June 3rd,
つまりこの前の月曜日だが that is, on Monday last,
マッカーシーはハザリー農場の自宅を出た
McCarthy left his house at Hatherley 午後３時頃だった
about three in the afternoon
そしてボスコム沼のほうへ歩いていった and walked
down to the Boscombe Pool, これは小さな池で which is a
small lake 川が広がって出来たものだ formed by the
spreading out of the stream
ボスコム谷を流れている川だ which runs down the
Boscombe Valley.
彼は男の召使と出かけた He had been out with his
serving-man その朝ロスの町にだ in the morning at Ross,
彼は召使に言っていた and he had told the man
急がねばならないと that he must hurry,
３時には人に会う大切な約束があるからと as he
had an appointment of importance to keep at three.
その人物に会いに行ったきり From that appointment
マッカーシーは生きて帰らなかった he never came
back alive.
「ハザリー農場からボスコム沼までは “From
Hatherley Farmhouse to the Boscombe Pool
４分の１マイルある is a quarter of a mile,
２人の人がマッカーシーを見た and two people saw
him その地を通りすぎるのを as he passed over this
ground.
一人は老女で One was an old woman,
（新聞に）名前は書いていない whose name is not
mentioned, もう一人はウイリアム・クローダーといって
and the other was William Crowder,
（地主）ターナー氏のもとで働く猟場の番人だ a
game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner.
これらの証人はふたりとも証言をしている Both
these witnesses depose
マッカーシー氏はひとりで歩いていたと that Mr.
McCarthy was walking alone.
番人（クローダー）のほうは付け加えて言っている
The game-keeper adds
マッカーシー氏の通りすぎるのを見た数分後 that
within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. McCarthy pass
マッカーシーの息子を見たと he had seen his son,
ジェームズ・マッカーシーだ Mr. James McCarthy,
同じ方向へ行ったという going the same way
小わきに鉄砲をかかえて with a gun under his arm.
番人の信じる限りでは To the best of his belief,
父親の姿はその時よく見えていた the father was
actually in sight at the time,
また息子ジェームズは父のあとを追っていたとなっている
and the son was following him.
番人はこの事に関してそれ以上は考えなかった
He thought no more of the matter
晩になって惨事の報を耳にするまでは until he
heard in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred.
「 (じつは)
マッカーシー父子の姿は見られている“The two
McCarthys were seen
猟場番ウイリアム・クローダーが父子の姿を見失った後にもね
after the time when William Crowder, the game-keeper, lost sight
of them.
ボスコム沼は深い森に囲まれていて The Boscombe
Pool is thickly wooded round, 水ぎわにはただ雑草や with
just a fringe of grass 葦が生い茂っているだけだ and
of reeds round the edge.
14歳になる少女 A girl of fourteen,
ペーシェンス・モーランは Patience Moran,
ボスコム谷不動産の番小屋の娘だが who is the
daughter of the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, (そのとき)
森の中で花を摘んでいた was in one of the woods picking
flowers.
彼女が言うには She states 彼女はそこにいた時 that
while she was there 見たという she saw,
森の境のあたりの at the border of the wood
沼に近い場所で and close by the lake,
マッカーシー父子の姿を Mr. McCarthy and his son, 父子は激しく言い争っているように見えたという
and that they appeared to be having a violent quarrel.
彼女は聞いた She heard 父親が Mr. McCarthy the elder
息子に向かってひどく乱暴な言葉を言っているのを
using very strong language to his son, また見た and she saw
後者 (息子) が手を上げ the latter raise up his hand
父に打ってかかろうとしたのを as if to strike his
father.
彼女はその暴力を見て恐ろしくなり She was so
frightened by their violence
家へ逃げ帰って母親に告げた that she ran away and
told her mother when she reached home
自分は、ボスコム沼の近くで口論していたマッカーシー父子の所から去って来たと
that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Boscombe
Pool, また怖かったと and that she was afraid
父子が今にもつかみ合いになりそうだったので
that they were going to fight.
●原文
"On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his
house at Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down
to the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the
spreading out of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley.
He had been out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and
he had told the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment
of importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never
came back alive.
"From Hatherley Farmhouse to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter
of a mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground.
One was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other
was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner.
Both these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone.
The game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr.
McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the
same way with a gun under his arm.
To the best of his belief, the father was actually in sight at
the time, and the son was following him.
He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the evening of
the tragedy that had occurred.
"The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William
Crowder, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool
is thickly wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds
round the edge.
A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the
lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the
woods picking flowers.
She states that while she was there she saw, at the border of the
wood and close by the lake, Mr. McCarthy and his son, and that
they appeared to be having a violent quarrel.
She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very strong language to
his son, and she saw the latter raise up his hand as if to strike
his father.
She was so frightened by their violence that she ran away and
told her mother when she reached home that she had left the two
McCarthys quarrelling near Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid
that they were going to fight.
No.５
ボスコム谷で殺人事件があったと聞いて、シャーロック・ホームズとワトソンは現地に向かう。列車の中でホームズは、すでにわかっていることをワトソンに説明する。
（番小屋の娘の目撃談をホームズが説明する）
「彼女はやっとそれを話し終えたのだが She had
hardly said the words
そのとき息子のマッカーシーが番小屋に駆け込んできた
when young Mr. McCarthy came running up to the lodge
そして言った to say
自分は父が森の中で死んでいるのを見つけたと
that he had found his father dead in the wood,
それで番小屋のモーランさんに助けを求めたと
and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper.
息子はひどく興奮していたが He was much excited,
鉄砲も持っていなかったし without either his gun
帽子もかぶっていなかった or his hat,
しかしその右手と袖に and his right hand and sleeve
鮮血がしみこんでいるのが観察された were observed
to be stained with fresh blood.
息子について行ってみると On following him
彼らは死体を発見した they found the dead body
草の上に横たわっていたのだ stretched out upon the
grass 沼のそばで beside the pool.
頭はたたきつぶされていた The head had been beaten in
何度もなぐられたのだ by repeated blows
何かの重い鈍器で of some heavy and blunt weapon.
その傷の様子は The injuries were such as
さも負わせられたかのようだった might very well
have been inflicted 息子の銃の台尻でね by the butt-end
of his son's gun, 銃は草の上にころがっていた which
was found lying on the grass 遺体から数歩のところだ
within a few paces of the body.
こういう状況だから Under these circumstances
息子はすぐさま逮捕されてしまった the young man
was instantly arrested,
また「故意の殺人」との評決が and a verdict of
'wilful murder' 火曜日に陪審から下された having been
returned at the inquest on Tuesday,
水曜日には he was on Wednesday
ロスの町の治安判事の前に出された brought before
the magistrates at Ross, 判事はこの件を次の巡回裁判に任せるとした
who have referred the case to the next Assizes.
以上がこの件のおもな事実だ Those are the main facts
of the case これらは出てきたものだ as they came out
検死官（の取り調べ）や警察裁判所で before the
coroner and the police-court.”」
●原文
She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came
running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead
in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper.
He was much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his
right hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh
blood.
On following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the
grass beside the pool.
The head had been beaten in by repeated blows of some heavy and
blunt weapon.
The injuries were such as might very well have been inflicted by
the butt-end of his son's gun, which was found lying on the grass
within a few paces of the body.
Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arrested,
and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned at the
inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the
magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next
Assizes.
Those are the main facts of the case as they came out before the
coroner and the police-court."
つづき（No.６〜最終回No.２１）はこちらをクリック