The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) - 「シャーロック・ホームズの事件簿」- 62冊目

ジャンル: 小説(推理)
英語難易度: ★★☆
オススメ度: ★★★☆☆

1927発刊。最後の短編集。ホームズ自身の年代記としては、前作の「最後の挨拶」の方が後日の話という事になっている。それにしても初登場の「緋色の研究」の1887年から40年間もよく続いたと思うが、「こち亀」はインターバル無しで40年の連載だって。これもすごい! お疲れ様でした。(僕はあんまり読んでなかったけど)

● 「三人ガリデブ」より。ホームズが滅多に見せないワトソンへの思いが思わず溢れてしまったシーン。

“You’re not hurt, Watson? For God‘s sake, say that you are not hurt!”
It was worth a wound —it was worth many wounds —to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.
“It’s nothing, Holmes. It‘s a mere scratch.” He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket-knife. “You are right,” he cried with an immense sigh of relief. “It is quite superficial.” His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. “By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for yourself?”

これでホームズ物はコンプリート!!