“Good,” (「結構だ」) Holmes answered. (ホームズが答えた) “That means that we shall not have to wait. (「ということは待つ必要がないという意味だな) Kindly give this note to your mistress.” (このメモを主人に渡してくれるかな」)

He scribbled three or four words upon a sheet of his notebook, (彼は二つ、三つの単語を手帳の一ページに書き) folded it, (折りたたみ) and handed it to the man. (それを男に手渡した)

“What did you say, (「何と書いたんだ？) Holmes?” (ホームズ」) I asked. (私は尋ねた)

“I simply wrote: (「ただこう書いた) ‘Shall it be the police, then?’ (『では、警察に言いましょうか？』) I think that should pass us in.” (これで中に通されると思うよ」)

It did (そうなった) - with amazing celerity. (驚くほどすぐに) A minute later (一分後) we were in an Arabian Nights drawing-room, (我々はアラビアンナイトのような応接間に通された) vast and wonderful, (広大で見事な) in a half gloom, (薄暗がりで) picked out with an occasional pink electric light. (所々にピンクの電球が照らされていた) The lady had come, (女性は先に来ていた) I felt, (私は感じた) to that time of life when even the proudest beauty finds the half light more welcome. (いかに誇り高い美人であっても薄暗い照明がありがたい年齢になっていると) She rose from a settee as we entered: (彼女は我々が入ると長いすから立ち上がった) tall, (背が高く) queenly, (女王の気品) a perfect figure, (完璧な肢体) a lovely mask-like face, (仮面のような美しい顔の) with two wonderful Spanish eyes (二つの見事なスペインの目が) which looked murder at us both. (殺意を帯びて我々二人を見つめた)

“What is this intrusion (「厚かましく押しかけてきて何なの) - and this insulting message?” (それにこの馬鹿にした手紙は？」) she asked, (彼女は尋ねた) holding up the slip of paper. (紙切れを掲げて)

“I need not explain, madame. (「説明は必要ないでしょう) I have too much respect for your intelligence to do so (あなたの知性を評価していますのでそれには及ばないはずです) - though I confess that intelligence has been surprisingly at fault of late.” (しかし、実のところその知性が最近驚くような失敗をしましたね」)

“How so, sir?” (「どういう風に？」)

“By supposing that your hired bullies could frighten me from my work. (あなたが雇ったごろつきが脅せば僕が仕事から手を引くと思った事です) Surely no man would take up my profession (間違いなくそんな男は探偵など始めません) if it were not that danger attracts him. (危険があるほど興味が増すのでなければね) It was you, then, (要するにあなたです) who forced me to examine the case of young Maberley.” (私がマーベリー青年の事件を調べるようにさせたのは」)

“I have no idea what you are talking about. (「何をおっしゃっているのか皆目見当もつきませんわ) What have I to do with hired bullies?” (私がごろつきを雇ってどうするんです？」)

Holmes turned away wearily. (ホームズはうんざりしたように踵を返した)