This must be the Felsenlabyrynth of which Harvey had spoken. Soon we were winding in and out of its recesses. The place was like a maze devised by some evil genie.
これが、ハーベイが言っていたフェルゼン迷路だろう。我々は曲がりくねった窪みを通っていった。魔人に作られた迷路のようだ。
Suddenly we stopped. An enormous rock barred our path. One of the men stooped and seemed to push on something when, without a sound, the huge mass of rock turned on itself and disclosed a small tunnel-like opening leading into the mountain-side.
突然我々は止まった。大きな岩が道を塞いでいる。男がかがんで何かを引いたかと思ったら、音もなく大きな岩が動き、山へ入るトンネルのような入口が現れた。
Into this we were hurried. For some time the tunnel was narrow, but presently it widened, and before very long we came out into a wide rocky chamber lighted by electricity. There the gags were removed. At a sign from Number Four, who stood facing us with mocking triumph in his face, we were searched and every article was removed from our pockets, including Poirot's little automatic pistol.
すぐに入って進んでいくと狭い通路が広くなった。そしてすぐ電気のついた岩の部屋に行き当たった。勝ち誇って我々を見ているNo.４の合図で猿轡が外された。ポケットなどを探られ、ポアロの自動小銃を含む全てを取り上げられた。
A pang smote me as it was tossed down on the table. We were defeated—hopelessly defeated and outnumbered. It was the end.
テーブルに投げ出され、鋭い痛みが走った。負けたのだ。敵は多く、絶望的だ。もうおしまいだ。
"Welcome to the headquarters of the Big Four, M. Hercule Poirot," said Number Four in a mocking tone. "To meet you again is an unexpected pleasure. But was it worth while returning from the grave only for this?"
「ビッグ４の本部へようこそ、エルキュール・ポアロ」No.４が嘲るように言った。「またお会いできるとは思いませんでしたよ。しかし、せっかく墓から蘇ってこれではね。」
Poirot did not reply. I dared not look at him.
"Come this way," continued Number Four. "Your arrival will be somewhat of a surprise to my colleagues."
ポアロは答えない。私もあえて彼を見なかった。
「こちらへ」No.４は続ける。「君の来訪は私の同僚には驚きなのでね。」
He indicated a narrow doorway in the wall. We passed through and found ourselves in another chamber. At the very end of it was a table behind which four chairs were placed. The end chair was empty, but was draped with a mandarin's cape. On the second, smoking a cigar, sat Mr. Abe Ryland. Leaning back in the third chair, with her burning eyes and her nun's face, was Madame Olivier. Number Four took his seat on the fourth chair.
彼は壁の小さな通路を指した。そこを通っていくと、また別の部屋に入った。その奥には、テーブルと４つの席があった。そのうち一つは空席だが、中国のマントが掛けてある。次の席ではエイブ・ライランドが煙草を吸っている。３つ目の席にもたれているのは、尼僧のような顔に燃える目のオリビエ夫人。No.４が４つ目の席に座った。
We were in the presence of the Big Four.
我々はビッグ４を目にしているのだ。
Never before had I felt so fully the reality and the presence of Li Chang Yen as I did now when confronting his empty seat. Far away in China, he yet controlled and directed this malign organisation.
リー・チャン・イェンの空席を前に、私はリー・チャン・イェンの存在を、この現実を強く感じた。遠く中国にいながら、それでもこの悪意に満ちた組織を支配しているのだ。
Madame Olivier gave a faint cry on seeing us. Ryland, more self-controlled, only shifted his cigar, and raised his grizzled eyebrows.
オリビエ夫人は私たちを見て小さく叫んだ。ライランドはもっと自制できたようで、煙草をずらし、その濃い眉をあげただけだった。
"M. Hercule Poirot," said Ryland slowly. "This is a pleasant surprise. You put it over on us all right. We thought you were good and buried. No matter, the game is up now."
「エルキュール・ポアロさん」ライランドはゆっくりと言った。「これは嬉しい驚きですな。私たちをよく騙しましたね。あなたはもう葬られたと思っていました。ともあれ、もう始まっていますよ。」
There was a ring as of steel in his voice. Madame Olivier said nothing, but her eyes burned, and I disliked the slow way she smiled.
"Madame and messieurs, I wish you good-evening," said Poirot quietly.
金属が鳴るような声だ。オリビエ夫人は黙していたが、目は燃えていた。ゆっくりと微笑むのがとても嫌な感じだった。
「みなさん、こんばんは。」ポアロは静かに言った。
Something unexpected, something I had not been prepared to hear in his voice made me look at him. He seemed quite composed. Yet there was something about his whole appearance that was different.
何か思いがけない声で、私は思わず彼を見た。とても落ち着いているようだ。全体に彼はいつもと違った。
Then there was a stir of draperies behind us, and the Countess Vera Rossakoff came in.
"Ah!" said Number Four. "Our valued and trusted lieutenant. An old friend of yours is here, my dear lady."
後ろでカーテンのが動き、ヴェラ・ロサコフ伯爵夫人が入ってきた。
「ああ！」とNo.４。「我々の信頼すべき大切な副官です。あなたの古い友人ですよ。」
