10577    I can only claim the merit that I instantly reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not come either from the window or the door.
10677    部屋の住人を脅かした者は、窓からも扉からも入ってこられなかったということが、明らかになった時点で、立場を考えなおしたことだけは、自分でも良かったと思っている。

10578    My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed.
10678    君にも前に説明したように、私の注意は即座にこの通気口と、ベッドに垂れている呼び鈴の綱に向かったのだ。

10579    The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed.
10679    これが本来の役に立たない偽物と分かり、ベッドが床に固定されていると気づいたとき、私はこの呼び鈴の綱は、何かが穴を通って、ベッドに来るための橋なのではないかという疑いを抱いた。

10580    The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track.
10680    これが蛇であろうという考えはすぐに浮かび、博士はインドの動物を手に入れる手段があったということと考え合わせて、おそらくこれが正しい方向にあると感じた。

10581    The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training.
10681    科学的な検査では発見しにくい毒を使うという考えは、まさに東洋での経験を持つ、賢くて情け容赦ない男のものだよ。

10582    The rapidity with which such a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage.
10682    この種の毒の即効性も、彼にすれば有利な点だったろう。

10583    It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done their work.
10683    よほど目が鋭い検視官でなければ、毒牙によって穿たれた、二つの小さく黒っぽい穴を見つけることはなかっただろうしね。

10584    Then I thought of the whistle.
10684    そして私は、口笛のことを考えた。

10585    Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim.
10685    もちろん博士は、朝日が部屋を照らす前に、蛇を呼び返さなければならない。

10586    He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.
10686    彼はおそらく我々が見たミルクを使って、呼ばれたときに戻ってくるように蛇を訓練したのだ。

10587    He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed.
10687    適当と思われる時間に、そいつが綱を伝ってベッドに降りることを確信して、彼はこの通気口から蛇を通した。

10588    It might or might not bite the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim.
10688    蛇は、部屋にいる人を噛むかもしれないし、噛まないかもしれないから、一週間ほどは無事でいられたかもしれない。
10689    だが遅かれ早かれ、彼女は蛇の犠牲になるというわけだ。

10589    "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room.
10690    私は、博士の部屋に入る前に、この結論に達した。

10590    An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary in order that he should reach the ventilator.
10691    椅子を調べたときに、博士がその上に立つ習慣があったことが分かっていた。
10692    もちろん、通気口に届くためにね。

10591    The sight of the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel any doubts which may have remained.
10693    金庫、ミルクの小皿、そして巻かれた鞭を見て、もはや疑問の余地はなくなった。