The inspector and the two detectives (捜査官と二人の警部は) had a hurried discussion (急いで話し合った) as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story. (彼に話をさせることの妥当性について)

“Do you consider, (「こうお考えですか) Doctor, (先生) that there is immediate danger?” (緊急の危険があると？」) the former asked. (捜査官が尋ねた)

“Most certainly there is,” (「間違いありません」) I answered. (私は答えた)

“In that case it is clearly our duty, (「そうであれば明らかに我々の責務ですね) in the interests of justice, (司法の利益のために) to take his statement,” (彼の供述を取るのは」) said the inspector. (捜査官は言った) “You are at liberty, sir, to give your account, (「自由に話してよい) which I again warn you will be taken down.” (もう一度言うが言った事は記録される」)

“I’ll sit down, (「座らせてもらいます) with your leave,” (失礼だが」) the prisoner said, (容疑者は言った) suiting the action to the word. (すぐに言ったようにしながら) “This aneurism of mine makes me easily tired, (「この動脈瘤のおかげで疲れやすい) and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters. (それに半時間前の格闘の疲れが残っていて) I’m on the brink of the grave, (俺は墓穴に片足を入れている) and I am not likely to lie to you. (だからあんた方に嘘を言うことはない) Every word I say is the absolute truth, (俺が言うことは全て間違いない真実だ) and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me.” (そしてそれをあんた方がどう使おうが俺の知ったことじゃない」)

With these words, (こう言って) Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair and (ジェファーソン・ホープは椅子にもたれかかり) began the following remarkable statement. (次のような驚くべき話を始めた) He spoke in a calm and methodical manner, (彼は静かに体系だった方法で話した) as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough. (あたかも彼が話す出来事がごく当たり前のことだったように) I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined account, (私は続く供述の正確性を保証できる) for I have had access to Lestrade’s notebook, (私はレストレードの手帳を参照したから) in which the prisoner’s words were taken down exactly as they were uttered. (その中に逮捕者の言葉は正確に話された通りに書き下ろされていた)