[4]

 The last time we had a drink in a bar was in May and it was earlier than usual, just after four o'clock.
last time (最後に) [名] the last occasion on which something happened
have a drink (飲む) [動] consume a drink
May (5月) [名] the fifth month of the year
earlier than usual (いつもより早い) [形] happening or done before the usual or expected time
just after four o'clock (4時過ぎ) [名] a time that is a little after four o'clock
私たちが最後にバーで飲んだのは5月で、いつもより早い4時過ぎだった。
He looked tired and thinner but he looked around with a slow smile of pleasure.
thin (痩せた) [形] having little flesh or fat on the body
彼は疲れて痩せたように見えたが、ゆっくりと喜びの笑みを浮かべて周りを見回した。

 “I like bars just after they open for the evening.
「私は夕方開店したばかりのバーが好きなの。
When the air inside is still cool and clean and everything is shiny and the barkeep is giving himself that last look in the mirror to see if his tie is straight and his hair is smooth.
air (空気) [名] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth
clean (きれい) [形] free from dirt, marks, or stains
shiny (ピカピカ) [形] bright and giving out or reflecting much light
barkeep (バーテンダー) [名] a person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar
中の空気がまだ冷たくてきれいで、すべてがピカピカで、バーテンダーが鏡でネクタイがまっすぐで髪が整っているかを確認しているとき。
I like the neat bottles on the bar back and the lovely shining glasses and the anticipation.
back (背後) [名] the part of something that is furthest from the front
anticipation (期待) [名] the expectation of something
バーの背後のきちんとしたボトルと素敵に輝くグラスと期待が好き。
I like to watch the man mix the first one of the evening and put it down on a crisp mat and put the little folded napkin beside it.
mix (混ぜる) [動] combine or blend together
put down (置く) [動] place on a surface
crisp (パリッとした) [形] firm and crunchy
バーテンダーがその夜最初のカクテルを混ぜて、パリッとしたマットの上に置き、その横に小さく折りたたんだナプキンを置くのを見るのが好きなの。
I like to taste it slowly.
taste (味わう) [動] to experience the flavor of something
ゆっくり味わうのが好き。
The first quiet drink of the evening in a quiet bar--that's wonderful.”
first (最初の) [形] coming before all others in time or order
静かなバーで夜の最初の静かな一杯--それは素晴らしいよ」

 I agreed with him.
agree (同意する) [動] have the same opinion about something
with (~に) [前] expressing the relationship between a verb and its object
私は彼に同意した。

 “Alcohol is like love,” he said.
alcohol (酒) [名] an intoxicating drink
love (恋愛) [名] a strong feeling of affection
「酒は恋愛に似ている」と彼は言った。
“The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine.
third (3回目) [形] coming after the second in time or order
kiss (キス) [名] a touch or caress with the lips
magic (魔法) [名] the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces
intimate (親密) [形] having a very close personal relationship
routine (日常) [名] a sequence of actions regularly followed
「最初のキスは魔法、2回目は親密、3回目は日常。
After that you take the girl's clothes off.”
after that (その後) [副] after that time
take off (脱ぐ) [動] remove an item of clothing from your body
その後は女の子の服を脱がす」

 “Is that bad?”
bad (悪い) [形] of poor quality; unsatisfactory; inadequate
「それは悪いことか?」
I asked him.
私は彼に尋ねた。

 “It's excitement of a high order, but it's an impure emotion--impure in the aesthetic sense.
excitement (興奮) [名] a feeling of great happiness or pleasure
high order (高次) [名] a high level or degree
impure (不純) [形] not pure; mixed with something else
emotion (感情) [名] a strong feeling
aesthetic (美的な) [形] concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
「それは高次の興奮だが、不純な感情だ。美的な意味で不純だ。
I'm not sneering at sex.
sneer (嘲笑する) [動] to smile or laugh in a way that shows that you do not respect or like someone or something
sex (セックス) [名] the act of copulation
私はセックスを嘲笑しているわけではない。
It's necessary and it doesn't have to be ugly.
ugly (醜い) [形] unpleasant to look at
それは必要だし、醜い必要はない。
But it always has to be managed.
always (常に) [副] at all times; on all occasions; ever; continually
be managed (管理される) [動] be handled or supervised with a degree of skill
しかし、それは常に管理されなければならない。
Making it glamorous is a billion-dollar industry and it costs every cent of it.”
glamorous (魅力的) [形] full of glamour
billion (10億) [名] a thousand million
industry (産業) [名] a particular form or branch of economic or commercial activity
cost (かかる) [動] require the payment of (a specified sum)
それを魅力的にするということは10億ドル産業であり、それには1セントまでかかる。」

 He looked around and yawned.
yawn (あくびをする) [動] open your mouth and take a deep breath because you are tired or bored
彼は周りを見回してあくびをした。
“I haven't been sleeping well.
「私はよく眠れていない。
It's nice in here.
in here (ここ) [副] in this place
ここはいい。
But after a while the lushes will fill the place up and talk loud and laugh and the goddam women will start waving their hands and screwing up their faces and tinkling their goddam bracelets and making with the packaged charm which will later on in the evening have a slight but unmistakable odor of sweat.”
after a while (しばらくすると) [名] a short period of time
fill up (埋め尽くす) [動] to make or become full
talk loud (大声で話す) [動] to speak at a high volume
laugh (笑う) [動] to make the sounds and movements of the face that are the natural expression of amusement
goddam (忌々しい) [形] used to express anger or annoyance
wave (手を振る) [動] to move one's hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal
screw up (顔をしかめる) [動] to make a face that shows that one is unhappy, angry, or confused
tinkle (鳴らす) [動] to make or cause to make a light, clear ringing sound
packaged (パッケージされた) [形] put into a package
later on (夕方になると) [名] at a later time
slight (わずかな) [形] small in degree; inconsiderable
unmistakable (紛れもない) [形] that cannot be mistaken or misunderstood
odor (臭い) [名] a quality of something that you can smell
しかし、しばらくすると、酔っ払いが店を埋め尽くし、大声で話し、笑い、そして、忌々しい女たちが手を振り、顔をしかめ、忌々しいブレスレットを鳴らし、パッケージされた魅力を作り始め、それは夕方になると、わずかではあるが紛れもない汗の臭いを放つようになる。」

 “Take it easy,” I said.
take it easy (落ち着く) [動] relax
「落ち着いて」と私は言った。
“So they're human, they sweat, they get dirty, they have to go to the bathroom.
sweat (汗をかく) [動] to excrete heat slowly and steadily during workouts, when body temperature is lower
dirty (汚れる) [動] to make or become soiled or tarnished
「だから彼らは人間で、汗をかき、汚れ、トイレに行かなければならない。
What did you expect--golden butterflies hovering in a rosy mist?”
expect (期待する) [動] regard something as likely to happen
golden (金色の) [形] made of or colored like gold
butterfly (蝶) [名] an insect with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales
hover (舞う) [動] remain in one place in the air
rosy (バラ色の) [形] pink or reddish
何を期待していたんだ? バラ色の霧の中を舞う金色の蝶か?」

 He emptied his glass and held it upside down and watched a slow drop form on the rim and then tremble and fall.
empty (空にする) [動] make or become empty
upside down (逆さまに) [副] with the upper part where the lower part should be
彼はグラスを空にして逆さまに持ち、縁にゆっくりと滴が形成され、震えて落ちるのを眺めた。

 “I'm sorry for her,” he said slowly.
be sorry for (気の毒に思う) [動] feel regret or guilt for something
「彼女には気の毒に思う」と彼はゆっくりと言った。
“She's such an absolute bitch.
absolute (ひどい) [形] complete and total
bitch (女) [名] a female dog
「彼女は本当にひどい女だ。
Could be I'm fond of her too in a remote sort of way.
be fond of (~が好きである) [動] to like someone or something a lot
私も彼女のことが好きかもしれない。
Some day she'll need me and I'll be the only guy around not holding a chisel.
some day (いつか) [名] at some unspecified time in the future
chisel (ノミ) [名] a hand tool with a shaped cutting edge (such as a wedge) at the end of a metal blade used especially for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal
いつか彼女は私を必要とするだろうし、私はノミを持っていない唯一の男になるだろう。
Likely enough then I'll flunk out.”
flunk out (失敗する) [動] fail a course or examination
おそらく私は失敗するだろう。」

 I just looked at him.
私はただ彼を見た。
“You do a great job of selling yourself,” I said after a moment.
do a great job of (上手だ) [動] be good at
selling (売り込み) [名] the action of persuading someone to buy something
yourself (自分) [代] the person that you are
「君は自分の売り込みが上手だね」と私はしばらくしてから言った。

 “Yeah, I know. I'm a weak character, without guts or ambition.
weak (弱い) [形] lacking the power to perform
character (人間) [名] a person
guts (根性) [名] courage and determination
ambition (野心) [名] a strong desire to achieve something
「ああ、分かってる。私は根性も野心もない弱い人間だ。
I caught the brass ring and it shocked me to find out it wasn't gold.
catch (つかむ) [動] to grab or seize
brass ring (真鍮の輪) [名] a ring made of brass
shock (ショック) [名] a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience
私は真鍮の輪をつかみ、それが金ではないと知ってショックを受けた。
A guy like me has one big moment in his life, one perfect swing on the high trapeze.
moment (瞬間) [名] a very brief period of time
swing (一振り) [名] a seat suspended by ropes or chains on which someone can sit and swing back and forth
trapeze (空中ブランコ) [名] a short horizontal bar hung by two ropes high above the ground, used by acrobats in a circus
私のような男は人生に一度だけ大きな瞬間がある、高い空中ブランコでの完璧な一振りだ。
Then he spends the rest of his time trying not to fall off the sidewalk into the gutter.”
spend (過ごす) [動] pass or occupy (time) in a specified way
fall (落ちる) [動] move or be moved from a higher to a lower level, typically rapidly and without control
それから残りの時間を歩道から側溝に落ちないように過ごすんだ」

 “What's this in favor of?”
in favor of (賛成) [前] supporting or approving of
「これは何に賛成なんだ?」
I got out a pipe and started to fill it.
get out (取り出す) [動] to take something out of a place
pipe (パイプ) [名] a tube of metal, plastic, or other material used to convey liquids, gases, or other substances
fill (詰める) [動] to put something into a container until it is full
私はパイプを取り出し、それを詰め始めた。

 “She's scared. She's scared stiff.”
scared (怖がっている) [形] feeling fear
「彼女は怖がっている。彼女は恐怖で硬直している」

 “What of?”
what (何) [名] the thing that is referred to
of (の) [前] used to indicate a particular thing that is being referred to
「何を?」

 “I don't know. We don't talk much any more.
don't talk (話さない) [動] not speak
「わからない。私たちはもうあまり話さない。
Maybe of the old man.
old man (老人) [名] a man who is old
たぶんあの老人を」
Harlan Potter is a coldhearted son of a bitch.
coldhearted (冷酷な) [形] lacking affection or warmth
son of a bitch (ろくでなし) [名] a despicable or contemptible person
ハーラン・ポッターは冷酷なろくでなしだ。
All Victorian dignity on the outside.
Victorian (ヴィクトリア朝) [形] of or relating to the reign of Queen Victoria
dignity (威厳) [名] the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect
外見はすべてヴィクトリア朝の威厳だ。
Inside he's as ruthless as a Gestapo thug.
inside (内面) [名] the inner part of something
ruthless (冷酷な) [形] having or showing no pity or compassion for others
Gestapo (ゲシュタポ) [名] the secret police of Nazi Germany
thug (チンピラ) [名] a violent criminal
内面はゲシュタポのチンピラのように冷酷だ。
Sylvia is a tramp.
tramp (ふしだらな女) [名] a woman who has many sexual partners
シルヴィアはふしだらな女だ。
He knows it and he hates it and there's nothing he can do about it.
hate (嫌う) [動] dislike intensely
there be (~がある) [動] exist
can do (できる) [動] be able to do
彼はそれを知っていて、それを嫌っているが、それについて彼にできることは何もない。
But he waits and he watches and if Sylvia ever gets into a big mess of scandal he'll break her in half and bury the two halves a thousand miles apart.”
get into (巻き込まれる) [動] become involved in
mess (大混乱) [名] a state of confusion or untidiness
scandal (スキャンダル) [名] an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage
break (引き裂く) [動] separate into pieces as a result of impact or force
bury (埋める) [動] put or hide under the ground
thousand (千) [名] the number 1000
mile (マイル) [名] a unit of length equal to 1.609344 kilometers
しかし、彼は待ち、見守り、もしシルヴィアがスキャンダルの大混乱に巻き込まれたら、彼は彼女を真っ二つに引き裂き、その二つを千マイル離れた場所に埋めるだろう。」

 “You're her husband.”
husband (夫) [名] a married man
「あなたは彼女の夫だ。」

 He lifted the empty glass and brought it down hard on the edge of the table.
lift (持ち上げる) [動] move something to a higher position
bring down (打ち付ける) [動] cause to fall
彼は空のグラスを持ち上げ、テーブルの端に強く打ち付けた。
It smashed with a sharp ping.
smash (砕ける) [動] break or cause to break violently and noisily
sharp (鋭い) [形] having a very thin edge or point
ping (音) [名] a short high-pitched ringing sound
それは鋭い音を立てて砕けた。
The barman stared, but didn't say anything.
barman (バーテンダー) [名] a man who serves drinks at a bar
バーテンダーは見つめたが、何も言わなかった。

 “Like that, chum. Like that.
like that (そんな感じだ) [副] in that manner
「そんな感じだ、相棒。そんな感じだ。
Oh sure. I'm her husband.
Oh sure (ああ、もちろん) [間] an expression of agreement
ああ、もちろん。私は彼女の夫だ。
That's what the record says.
record (記録) [名] a permanent account of something
say (書いてある) [動] to express (something) in words
記録にはそう書いてある。
I'm the three white steps and the big green front door and the brass knocker you rap one long and two short and the maid lets you into the hundred-dollar whorehouse.”
step (段) [名] a flat surface one can put one's foot on
big (大きな) [形] of great size or extent
front (玄関) [名] the part of a building that faces the street
brass (真鍮) [名] a yellow alloy of copper and zinc
knocker (ノッカー) [名] a device on a door for knocking
rap (叩く) [動] to strike sharply and quickly
one (一) [数] the number 1
short (短く) [形] having a small distance or duration
maid (メイド) [名] a female domestic servant
let (招き入れる) [動] to allow to enter
hundred (百) [数] the number 100
whorehouse (売春宿) [名] a place where prostitutes are available for hire
私は三段の白い階段と大きな緑の玄関と真鍮のノッカーで、長く一回、短く二回叩くとメイドがあなたを百ドルの売春宿に招き入れる。」

 I stood up and dropped some money on the table.
私は立ち上がってテーブルにいくらかお金を置いた。
“You talk too damn much,” I said, “and it's too damn much about you. See you later.”
talk too damn much (話が長すぎる) [動] talk too much
too damn much (話ばかりだ) [副] too much
See you later (またな) [句] goodbye
「君は話が長すぎる」と私は言った。「しかも君の話ばかりだ。またな。」

 I walked out leaving him sitting there shocked and white-faced as well as I could tell by the kind of light they have in bars.
walk out (立ち去る) [動] leave a place, especially angrily
white-faced (顔面蒼白) [形] having a very pale face
light (照明) [名] the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
私は彼をそこに座らせたまま立ち去った。バーの照明の具合から判断する限り、彼はショックを受けて顔面蒼白だった。
He called something after me, but I kept going.
call (叫ぶ) [動] to say something loudly
彼は私に何か叫んだが、私は歩き続けた。

 Ten minutes later I was sorry.
be sorry (後悔する) [動] feel regret or guilt
10分後、私は後悔した。
But ten minutes later I was somewere else.
somewere else (別の場所) [名] a different place
しかし10分後、私は別の場所にいた。
He didn't come to the office any more.
彼は二度と事務所に来なかった。
Not at all, not once.
not at all (全く) [副] to no extent or degree; not in the least
not once (一度も~ない) [副] on no occasion; at no time
全く、一度も来なかった。
I had got to him where it hurt.
get to (突く) [動] reach a destination
where (ところ) [名] the place that
hurt (痛い) [動] feel pain in a part of your body
私は彼の痛いところを突いたのだ。

 I didn't see him again for a month.
again (再び) [副] another time; once more
month (月) [名] one of the twelve divisions of the year
私は一ヶ月間彼に会わなかった。
When I did it was five o'clock in the morning and just beginning to get light.
morning (朝) [名] the period of a day from sunrise to noon
get light (明るくなる) [動] become light
私が起きたのは朝の五時で、ちょうど明るくなり始めていた。
The persistent ringing of the doorbell yanked me out of bed.
persistent (しつこい) [形] continuing firmly or obstinately
doorbell (ドアベル) [名] a bell or buzzer outside a door that can be rung by visitors
yank (飛び起きる) [動] to pull or move suddenly and forcefully
ドアベルがしつこく鳴り、私はベッドから飛び起きた。
I plowed down the hall and across the living room and opened up.
plow (突き進む) [動] move or travel with great speed or force
hall (廊下) [名] a long, wide passage in a building
across (横切って) [前] from one side to the other of
open up (開ける) [動] make or become accessible
私は廊下を突き進み、居間を横切ってドアを開けた。
He stood there looking as if he hadn't slept for a week.
彼はそこに立って、一週間も寝ていないかのようだった。
He had a light topcoat on with the collar turned up and he seemed to be shivering.
have on (着ている) [動] be wearing
turn up (立てる) [動] to increase the volume or intensity of
彼は軽いオーバーコートを着て、襟を立て、震えているようだった。
A dark felt hat was pulled down over his eyes.
pull down (引っ張る) [動] to move something to a lower position
黒いフェルト帽が彼の目の上に引っ張られていた。

 He had a gun in his hand.
gun (銃) [名] a weapon that fires bullets
hand (手) [名] the end of an arm
彼は手に銃を持っていた。