Duinnín i Lios Dúin Bhearna

Dineen in Lisdoonvarna

Neamhan … a royston crow, a raven; fury, madness; Nemetona, Neid’s wife Dé Néid,a war-goddess, one of the Mór-ríoghna; cf. badhbh, macha … neamhain deagh, sparks of fire …

• Londain
  Thaitin sé riamh leis an Duinnineach dul go Londain ag tabhairt léachta do cheann éigin de chraobhacha Chonradh na Gaeilge sa chathair sin, D’íocadh an Conradh fiacha taistil. Bhíodh deis aige cúpla lá a chaitheamh ag taighdeadh lámhscríbhinní na Gaeilge i leabharlann Mhúsaem na Breataine agus d’fhaigheadh sé deis, ina léacht, a raibh le rá aige, pé ní é, a rá go neamhbhalbh. Bhiodh rud éigin le rá aige, go neamhbhalbh, i gcónai. An oíche seo, ach go háirithe, i gCraobh Putney de Chonradh na Gaeilge, bhí sé chun a raibh i láthair a chur ar an eolas i dtaobh chúrsai canúna.
  

  London
  Dineen always liked to go to London to give lectures to one of the branches of the Gaelic League in that city. The league paid the travel expenses. He would have the opportunity to spend a few days researching Irish language manuscripts in the library of the British Museum and he would get an opportunity, in his lecture, to say bluntly whatever he had to say. He would always have something to say, frankly. This night, but in particular, in the Putney branch of the Gaelic League, he was to inform those present about matters of dialect.

  léacht	lecture	f gs léachta
  craobh	branch	f pl craobhacha
  íoc	pay
  fiach	debt(s)	m npl fiacha
  taisteal	travel	m gs taistil
  taighd	Poke, probe, root, dig; Research, investigate
  taighde	research	m gs taighde
  lámhscríbhinn	manuscript	f
  neamhbhalbh	Outspoken, forthright, blunt
  canúint	Speech, expression; Vernacular, dialect; Accent, mode of pronunciation	f gs canúna
  cúrsa	course; matter. circumstance	m

• Lá fómhair i dtreo dheireadh Lúnasa a bhí ann agus bhí na duilleoga móra ó na crainn sráide ag tiontú datha agus corrcheann ag titim. Bhí goimh san aer agus blas deataigh air. Bhí na firéin bailithe isteach sa halla roimhe, iad fáilteach, cúirtéiseach, mar is dual do Ghaeil nuair nach mbíonn cloch sa mhuinchille acu, dar leis. Réóchúirtéiseach, b’fhéidir. D’fhéach sé thart agus ní fhaca sé céile comhraic fónta in aon áit. Ba leamh leis léacht gan fhreasúra. Is ansin a tháinig fear caol cnámhach isteach. Shuigh sé sa sraith cúil agus thóg sé amach a phíopa. Súile seabhaic a bhí aige. Tháinig lasair i súile bioranta [d.l. 191]an Duinnínigh. “Nach fánach an áit a bhfaighfeá gliomach!” ar seisean leis féin. “N’fheadar an spéis sna canúinti a thug mo chara, mo namhaid, Searbhlach de Hoilm ar an láthair, nó ‘bhfuil mo chúnamh de dhíth arís air?”
  

  It was a harvest day towards the end of August and the big leaves of the street trees were changing color and the odd one was falling. There was a sting in the air and a taste of smoke in it. The faithful had gathered in the hall before, they were welcoming, courteous, as is natural for the Irish when they do not have a stone in their sleeve/have it in for someone, it seems. He looked around and didn’t see a good opponent anywhere. He was bored by a lecture without opposition. It was then that a slender, bony man entered. He sat in the back row and took out his pipe. He had the eyes of a hawk. There was a flame in Dineen’s sharp eyes. “What a rare place to find a lobster!” he said to himself. “I wonder the interest in the dialects given by my friend, my enemy, Sherlock Holmes on the spot, or does he need my help again?”

  tiontú	Turning, turn	m
  goimh	sting, venom	f
  deatach	smoke	m gs deataigh
  fíréan	Just person; True, faithful, sincere, person	m npl fíréin
  dual	native, natural
  muinchille	sleeve
  comhrac	ncounter; Fight	m
  céile comhraic	opponent
  fónta	Serviceable, useful; good, sound, adequate
  leamh	Soft; weak, impotent
  freasúra	opposition	m
  seabhac	hawk	m seabhaic
  bioranta	sharp
  lasair	flame, blaze	f
  gliomach	lobster	m
  fánach	Wandering, straying, vagrant; Aimless, purposeless; vain, futile; Casual, haphazard; Occasional, rare

• Ta cuntas le fáil ar léacht an Duinnínigh, agus ar an bplé teaspúil a lean é, sa Freeman’s Journal. Ní leomhfadh an scribhneoir seo insint a dhéanamh ar a thuairimí díbhirceacha ar an gcanúinachas, ar eagla míléamha agus go dtiocfadh cic ó na Flaithis anuas. Ní bhainid[??] le hábhar an scéil seo ar aon nós. Ach, ón uair nár scríobhadh cuntas ar an gcomhrá príobháideach a bhí idir Searbhlach de Hoilm agus an tAthair Padraig agus caoi á chur ar an halla don chéili a leanfadh an léacht, ní mór tuairisc a dhéanamh air anseo.
  

  An account can be found of Dineen’s lecture, and on the exuberant discussion that followed it, in Freeman´s Journal. This writer would not dare to recount his outspoken views on dialectal traits, for fear of misreading and a kick from Heaven coming down. They are not relevant to the subject of this story in any case. But, since no account has been written of the private conversation between Sherlock Holmes and Father Padraig and now how the hall was placed for the dance that would follow the lecture, a report must be made here.

  teaspúil	Comfortably circumstanced, well off; Full of animal spirits, exuberant; Uppish, arrogant; Wanton, lewd
  leomh	allow; dare, presume
  díbhirceach	Ardent, eager, zealous
  insint	Relation, narration, utterance; version	f
  canúnachas	Dialectal trait(s), vernacularism; colloquialism; Fondness for dialect

• ”Raibh tú riamh i Lios Dúin Bhearna?’ a d’fhiafraigh Searbhlach den Duinineach.Bhí tae agus cácai milse á ndáileadh ar an gcomhluadar agus uisce faoi fhiacla an Duinnínigh ach nach ligfeadh an chúirtéis dó luí isteach orthu agus a chompánach ag diúltú do gach rud.‘D’ólas bolgam uisce ann tráth.’

  ‘Dá bhféadfá bean a shábhail ón mbás ach tamall a chaitheamh ann, an rachfá arís ann?’

  ‘Have you ever been to Lisdoonvarna?’ Sherlock asked Dineen.

  Tea and sweet cakes were being distributed to the company and Dineen was drooling but courtesy would not allow him to indulge in them while his companion refused everything.

  ‘I drank a mouthful of water there.’ [Seems to mean ‘I passed through there once’]
  ‘If you could save a woman from death just by spending time there, would you go there again?’

  dáileadh	Apportionment, distribution; bestowal	m
  diúltú	denial, refusal	m
  bolgam	mouthful	m
  tráth	Hour; time, occasion; day, period	m

• Luigh na ceoltóiri isteach ar an Staicín Eornan. Bhí deis ag an Duinnineach a mharana a dhéanamh. Bean a shabhail ón mbás? Dhéanfadh sé sin, dá mb’fhéidir leis é, ar bhonn dualgais. Maidir le turas go Contae an Chláir, gheal a chroí agus a aghaidh.’Maith thú’ arsa Searbhlach. ‘Tar uait as an áit ghlórach seo agus inseoidh mé an scéal duit. Beidh suipéir réitithe ag Mrs. Hudson.’

  The musicians began the barley stake [a tune, I guess]. Dineen had a chance to reflect. Save a woman from death? He would do it if it was his duty. Regarding a trip to County Clare, his heart and face were bright.

  ‘Good on you!’ said Sherlock. ‘Come out from this loud place and I will tell you the story. Supper will be prepared by Mrs. Hudson.’

  Staicín	little stake, post; butt	m
  marana	(Act of) contemplation	f
  dulgas	Natural right, due; customary fee or reward; duty	m

• ‘Pota mór tae?’ arsa an Duinnineach go dóchasach. B’é ar locht ba mhó a bhí aige ar na turasanna go Londain ná nárbh [d.l. 192]
  fhéidir leis i gcónai tae a eagrú do féin, chun a shástachta.

  ‘Tá mo chara Bhatson, an Dr. Bhatson, ag tnúth le do theacht ón uair gur shábháil tú mé ó ghaiste Professor Moriarty.’
  

  ‘A big pot of tea?’ said Dineen hopefully. The biggest fault of the trips to London was that he could never have tea arranged for himself, to his satisfaction.

  ‘My friend Watson, Dr. Watson, is looking forward to your arrival since you saved me from Professor Moriarty’s trap.’

  dóchasach	Hopeful; confident, optimistic
  locht	fault
  eagrú	Arrangement, organization; Ornamentation.	m
  sástacht	Satisfaction	m
  tnúth	envy; Vying, jealous rivalry; Expectation, longing	m
  gaiste	Noose, snare, trap	m

• Beainín beag néata a d’oscail doras tí Shearbhlaigh de Hoilm, i Sráid an Bháicéara, rompu. Bhí áthas ar an Athair Padraig gur chaith sé hata ard nua agus é ag teacht go Londain mar bhraith sé go raibh súile chomh géar sin ag an mbean seo go bhfaca sí an poll beag sa gheansaí a bhí á chaitheamh aige faoina sheaicéad.‘Bhatson istigh?’ a d’fhiafraigh Searbhlach di.’Tá an Dochtdir in airde staighre id sheomra suí,’ ar sise. ‘Tá an monagraf is deireanaí ded chuid á léamh aige.’
  

  A neat little woman opened the door of the house of Sherlock Holmes, in Baker Street, for them. Father Patrick was glad that he wore a new tall hat when he came to London because he felt that this woman had such sharp eyes that she saw the small hole in the sweater he was wearing under his jacket.

  ‘Is Watson in?’ Sherlock asked her.

  ‘The Doctor is upstairs in your living room,’ she said. ‘He is reading your latest monograph.’

  deireanaí

  lateness

  f

• ‘Fonóta beag spéisiúil ar thréithe Haematopinus suis,’ arsa de Hoilm leis an Duinnineach. ‘Meabhraigh dom cóip a thabhairt duit, am éigin.’“Haematopinus eurysternus!” arsa Mrs. Hudson faoina hanáil.’Tabhair tae chugainn, led thoil,’ arsa Searbhlach.

  Níor casadh an Dr Bhatson ar an Duinnineach cheana. Thuig sé go raibh cúlra míleata ag an dochtuir, go raibh sé pósta le gairid agus gur nós leis eachtraí a chara a thuairisciú sa Strand Magazine.

  ‘An interesting little footnote on the traits of Haematopinus suis [hog louse],’ said Holmes to Dineen. ‘Remind me to give you a copy, sometime.’

  “Haematopinus eurysternus! [shortnosed cattle louse]” said Mrs. Hudson under her breath.

  ‘Bring us tea, please,’ said Sherlock.

  Dineen had not met Dr. Watson before. He understood the doctor had a military background, he was recently married, that he used to report his friend’s adventures in the Strand Magazine.

• ‘Cumasach gan a bheith intleachtúil,’ an bhreith a rinne an Duinnineach agus é ag féachaint air.‘Tá fadhbh “Eireannach” ag Bhatson,’ arsa Searbhlach agus an bheirt curtha in aithne aige da chéile. ‘Abair leat, Bhatson. Scéal Hildebrandt Burr.Bhí tine bhreá guail ar lasadh. Shuigh siad a dtriúr ag féachaint ar bhladhmanna, lasracha, coinnle gorma agus deatach a bhí ag éiri ina fhéasó
  g liathghorm le cúl an tsimléara.

  ‘Bhi Hildebrandt Burr in aon rang liom sa scoil leighis,’ arsa an Dr. Bhatson. [d.l. 193]

  ‘Capable without being intellectual,’ judged Dineen while looking at him.

  ‘Watson has an “Irish” problem,’ said Sherlock as he introduced the two to each other

  ‘Tell us, Watson, the the story of Hildebrandt Burr. ‘

  A fine coal fire was burning. The three of them sat looking at flames, blazes, blue candles and smoke that was rising in his gray-blue beard at the back of the chimney.

  ‘Hildebrandt Burr was in the same class as me in medical school,’ said Dr. Watson

  cumasach	Capable, powerfu
  breith	birth; judgement, decision	f
  gual	coal	m
  bladhm	flame; flare-up	f pl bladhmanna
  lasair	flame, blaze	f pl lasracha

• ‘Eadrainn féin — agus faoi dhiscréid — táim den tuairim nach duine ionraic é Burr. Tharla eachtra ag cluiche cártaí oíche amhain…’‘Mmmm,’ arsa an tAthair Padraig, ar chuimhin leis imreoirí áirithe beiriste arbh fhéidir a leithéid chéanna a rá ina dtaobh.’Níor fhanas i dteagmháil leis. Chaitheas tréimhse thar lear ag saighdiúireacht. Chasas[?] leis arís nuair a d’fhilleas abhaile.’
  

  ‘Between ourselves — and with discretion — I am of the opinion that Burr is not an honest man. An incident occurred at a game of cards one night…’

  ‘Mmmm,’ said Father Patrick, remembering certain bridge players about whom the same could be said about them.

  ‘I didn’t stay in touch with him. Spent a term overseas in the military. I met him again when I returned home.’

  ionraic	Upright, honest
  beiriste	bridge [card game]	m
  fánas	gap	m
  teagmháil	Meeting, encounter; communication; touch, contact	f
  tréimhse	period, term	f
  lear	sea, ocean	m

• ‘Goineadh an Dr. Bhatson agus é ag troid ar son na hImpireachta,’ arsa Searbhlach.Shíl an Duinnineach gur chuala sé nóta íoróine, nóta fonóide fiú, sa ghlor. ‘Dr. Watson was wounded when fighting for the sake of the Empire,’ said Sherlock.

  Dineen thought he heard a note of irony, a note of mockery even, in the voice.

  fonóid	(Act of) jeering, scoffing; mockery, derision	f gs fonóide

• 
  ‘Chasas[Munster 1st pers past] athuair le Burr. Ba bhall dem Chlub, The Crossbones, é – club na ndochtúiri . Bhí seomraí ar cíos aige dá chleachtas dochtúreachta, árasán os a gcionn, in Uimhir a 13, Sráid Bennett. Agus tá Sráid Bennett sa cheantar is faiseanta sa chathair ó thaobh dochtúireachta de. An cleachtas aige bunaithe ar chúram a dhéanamh de mhná neirbhiseacha saibhre, don chuid is mó de. Nior thaitin sé leis a bheith ag plé le galair nó tinneas clainne nó bochtanas. Dheineadh sé magadh faoi féin. Ba chomhluadar maith é, sa Chlub, lá fliúch, roimh lón. Bhiodh sé ag gearán faoina fhiacha, ach go magúil. Ní fhéadfadh cúrsai a bheith ró-olc ón uair go raibh sé in ann an cíos a íoc ar na seomraí sin.’

  I met Burr again. He was a member of my Club, The Crossbones – the doctors’ club. He rented rooms for his medical practice, an apartment above them, at Number 13, Bennett Street. And Bennett Street is in the most fashionable area of the city from a medical point of view. His practice is based on the care of nervous rich women, for the most part. He did not like to deal with disease or family sickness or poverty. He made fun of himself. He was good company, in the Club, on a wet day, before lunch. He would complain about his debts, but in a funny way. Matters couldn’t be too bad since he was able to pay the rent on those rooms.

  athuair	Again, a second time
  galar	Sickness, disease.	m gs npl galair

• ”Raibh maoin aige nó deontas ón mbaile?’‘Ba chearrbhach bancbhriste a athair.’Ní raibh an Dr. Bhatson róchinnte conas mar a leanfadh sé ar aghaidh. Ba náir leis luí isteach ar an áiféis agus bhraith sé go raibh sé ar tí líomhaintí a dhéanamh gan aon bhonn cinnte a bheith aige leo. Bhí a veidhlín á mhuirniú ag de Hoilm agus bhain sé streancán beag ceoil as na téada lena mhéara.
  

  ‘Did he have property or a grant from the town?’

  ‘His father was a bankrupt gambler.’

  Dr. Watson wasn’t too sure how he would continue forward. He was ashamed to admit to the nonsense and felt that he was about to make allegations without having any certain basis for them. Holmes was fondling his violin and he plucked a small strain of music from the strings with his fingers.

  maoin	Gift, benefit; prosperity, wealth
  deontas	grant	m
  cearrbhach	Card-player, gambler	m
  bancbhriste	bankrupt
  áiféis	Exaggeration, boasting; Nonsense	f
  líomhain	Allegation, imputation; Revilement	f pl líomhaintí
  streancán	Strain of music (on stringed instrument); air, tune; Strum, twang	m
  téad	rope; string, chord	f npl téada

• ‘Ar aghaidh leat, a Bhatson. Tá an tAthair Ó Duinnín chomh
  [d.l. 194]
  discréideach leat féin.’

  D’imigh an nóta magaidh i nglór Shearbhlaigh amú ar an mbeirt eile an uair seo.

  ‘Go ahead, Watson. Father O’Dunnín is as discreet as you are.’

  The note of mockery in Sherlock’s voice was lost on the other two this time.

  amú	Wasted, in vain

• ‘Thuigeas[Munster 1st pers past] go raibh Burr pósta le deireanas agus go raibh sé ceanúil ar a bhean. Ba chúis imní dó a sláinte, laige éigin ar a croí, dar leis. Lá amháin, tuairim is bliain ó shin, bhí mé féin agus Burr araon sa Chlub, cé nach rabhamar i gcomhluadar a chéile. Bhíos ag léamh na nuachtán roimh lón. Bhí piasún ar an gclár bídh, is cuimhin liom san. Tháinig an póirtéir ag lorg Burr, ag rá go raibh Thomas, seirbhíseach dá chuid, ag doras an Chlub, á lorg go práinneach ~ bhí Mrs. Burr go dona tinn, nó marbh. Níor léir cé acu … “Tar liom, a Bhatson,” arsa Burr liom. Dheifríomar. Níor thóg an turas ach cúpla nóiméad orainn. Bhí an teach in aice láimhe … Bhí Louisa, Mrs. Burr, chomh marbh le hart, cailin aimsire á caoineadh. Ba léir dom, ar an bpointe, gur bhain taom croí di. An rud ab aite liom ná an áit ina raibh an corpan, thíos san íoslach i siléar an fhíona . Bhí buidéil bhriste agus fíon doirte ar fud na háite … “Cad a thug ar do mháistreás teacht anuas anseo?” a d’fhiafraíos[Munster 1st pers past] den chailin aimsire. “Bhi sí ag bróidnéireacht sa seomra suí, thuas leathuair an chloig ó shin,” arsa an cailin. Greta ab ainm di, bhí sí mísciamhach, grod.’I understood that Burr was recently married and that he was fond of his wife. There was reason to worry about her health, some weakness in her heart, he thought. One day, about a year ago, Burr and I were both in the Club, although we were not in each other’s company. I was reading the newspaper before lunch. There was a pheasant on the dinner table, I remember that. The porter came looking for Burr, saying that Thomas, his servant, was at the door of the Club, urgently looking for him ~ Mrs. Burr was badly sick, or dead. It was not clear which … “Come with me, Watson,” Burr said to me. We hurried. The journey only took us a few minutes. The house was nearby… Louisa, Mrs. Burr, was stone-dead, the servant girl was crying. It was clear to me, immediately, that she had had a heart attack. What I found strange was where the body was, down in the basement in the wine cellar. There were broken bottles and spilled wine all over the place… “What brought your mistress down here?” I asked the servant girl. “She was embroidering in the living room, above half an hour ago,” said the girl. Her name was Greta, she was uncomely, bitter.
  

  ceanúil	Loving, affectionate
  cúis	Cause; Reason, matter; Case, charge
  laige	weekness	f
  araon	both
  tuairim	Opinion	f
  piasún	pheasant	m
  biadh = bia		m gs bídh
  seirbhíseach	servant	m
  práinneach	Urgent, exigent; pressing, pressed.
  art	stone	m
  taom	Fit, paroxysm	m
  aite	Pleasant, likeable; Fine, excellent; Comical; queer.
  bróidnéireacht	(Act of) embroidering; embroidery	f
  mísciamhach	Ill-favoured, uncomely
  grod	Short, sudden; prompt, abrupt; early; Sharp, bitter, sour, tart.
  grod = rod	rot; become stale

• ‘Iomarca ama caite ag Bhatson im chomhluadar,’ arsa de Hoilm. ‘Bionn sé drochamhrasach faoi gach éinne anois, a chairde san áireamh, D’fhéach sé ar an gcailín bocht sin agus é ag iarraidh a dhéanamh amach an raibh lámh nó focal éigin idir í agus Burr, a thabharfadh uirthi drochbheart a dhéanamh. Nar mhéanar di a bheith gránna.’Tháinig luisne bheag ar aghaidh Bhatson ach ní raibh cuma na míshástachta air.

  ‘Watson spent too much time in my company,’ said Holmes. ‘He is suspicious of everyone now, including his friends. He looked at that poor girl trying to find out if there was some hand or word between her and Burr that would make her do an evil deed. It is unforunate she is ugly.’

  A slight blush appeared on Watson’s face but he did not look dissatisfied.

  .

  drochamhras	Misgiving, distrust	m
  drochbheart	Bad, mean, act; evil deed	m
  méanar	Happy, fortunate
  luisne	Blush, glow	f

• ‘Níor chara riamh liom Hildebrandt Burr,’ arsa Bhatson, [d.l. 195]
  ‘agus nuair a chailltear céile is minic cúis bháis in aice láimhe.’

  Leanfadh sé den phort seo ach bhain de Hoilm nóta as an bhfidil.
  

  ‘Hildebrandt Burr was never my friend, said Watson’
  and when a spouse is lost a cause of death is often nearby.

  He would have continued this tune but Holmes played a note on the violin

• ‘Bhí Louisa Burr beo agus ag bróidnéireacht leathuair an chloig sular tugadh scéala chuig a céile sa Chlub go raibh sí caillte . Bhí Burr sa Chlub, faoi raon do shúl féin, le breis is uair an chloig sular tháinig an scéala,’ arsa de Hoilm ar athchoimre. ‘Thug Greta gloine beag seirise chuig Mrs. Burr ag meán lae. Ansin chuaigh sí féin amach chun na teachtaireachtaí a fháil mar ba nós léi, ag an tráth san den lá. Ar mholadh dochtúra ~ níorb é Burr a dochtúir, ar ndóigh; bhí sé pointeáilte sna cúrsaí seo — bhíodh gloine ag Louisa gach lá, roimh lón. Chuaigh Thomas, an freastalaí fir, amach ag dáileadh oideasaí an dochtúra.’ ‘Louisa Burr was alive and embroidering half an hour before news was brought to her husband in the Club that she was dead. Burr was in the Club, in range of your own eye, for more than an hour before the news came,’ said Holmes in summary. ‘Greta brought a small glass of sherry to Mrs. Burr at noon. Then she herself went out to get the messages as was her custom, at that time of day. On the recommendation of a doctor ~ Burr was not her doctor, of course; he was particular in these matters — Louisa had a glass every day, before lunch. Thomas, the manservant, went out to distribute the doctor’s prescriptions.’
  

  breis	Increase, addition	f
  teachtaireacht	Message, errand	f
  pointeáilte	Well-kept, tidy, spruce, smart; Particular, punctilious; Exact, punctual
  dáileadh	Apportionment, distribution; bestowal.	m
  oideas	Instruction, teaching; (Med) Prescription

• ‘Ni raibh éinne sa teach, mar sin, seachas Louisa Burr nuair a cailleadh í? a d’fhiafraigh an tAthair Padraig.‘Ni raibh,’ arsa Bhatson.’‘An teach ar fad ar cíos ag Burr?”

  ‘Seachas barr an tí. Is le John Squiers, fear atá ag fionnachtan san Afraic, barr an ti. Fuair na póilini an eochair ón tiarna talún agus chuardaigh siad a árasán siúd. Seachas bean ghlantacháin an tiarna talún, a théann isteach ó am go cheile chun an dit a aeráil, ní théann éinne in aice leis. Ní bhfuair na póilini aon ní ar leith ann.’

  ‘No one was in the house, then, except Louisa Burr when she was lost?’ asked Father Patrick.

  ‘No one was,’ said Watson,

  ‘The entire house is rented by Burr?’

  ‘Except the top of the house. The top of the house belongs to John Squiers, a man who is exploring in Africa. The police got the key from the landlord and they searched his apartment there. Apart from the landlord’s cleaning woman, who goes in from time to time to air the place, no one goes near it. The police did not find anything in particular there.’

  fionnachtain	(Act of) finding; find, discovery; Invention.

• ‘An raibh nimh sa seiris a d’ó1 Mrs. Louisa”‘Ni raibh. Deineadh tástálacha ar an bhfuíoll a bhí sa ghloine.’‘Ar chuir Burr i gcoinne scrúdú iarbháis?”

  ‘Níor chuir.’

  ‘Cad a thug Louisa Burr síos go siléar an fiona?”
  

  ‘Was there poison in the sherry that Mrs. Louisa drank?’

  ‘No. Tests were done on the residue in the glass.’

  ‘Did Burr object to a post-mortem examination’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What brought Louisa Burr down to the wine cellar?’

  tástáil	Taste, sample; Test, trial, experiment	f pl tástálacha
  fuíoll	Remainder, remains, Residue; surplus; Consequences, after-effects; Defect, omission; …	m

• ‘Ceann de na tragóidí beaga ceilte úd nach mian le héinne go [d.l. 196]
  dtiocfaidis chun solais . Bhí andúil ag Louisa Burr san alcól. Choinnítí sa siléar é, faoi ghlas. Bhíodh eochair ag Thomas sa pantry. Fuarthas an eochair sin ar urlár an tsiléir. Deineadh amach gur thóg Mrs. Burr an eochair. Chuaigh sí ar thóir biotáille. Dhún an doras uirthi agus í istigh; bhí sprionga ceangailte air. Fágadh sa dorchadas í. Ghlac sceimhle í agus thug taom croi chun siúil i… “Bas de thaisme”, breith an choiste cróinéara.”
  

  ‘One of those little hidden tragedies that nobody has a desire to have to come to light. Louisa Burr was addicted to alcohol. It was kept in the cellar, locked. Thomas used to have the key in the pantry. That key was found on the cellar floor. It was concluded that Mrs. Burr took the key. She went in search of spirits. The door closed on her as she entered; it had a spring attached to it. She was left in the dark. Terror seized her and led to a heart attack… “Accidental death”, the coroner’s jury ruled.’

  ceilte	concealed
  úd	Yon, yonder
  mian	desire	f
  andúil	Craving; addiction	f
  tóir	Pursuit, chase; hunt, search; pursuing party	f
  biotáille	spirits, strong drink	f

• 
  ‘Ach ní raibh tu sásta leis an mbreith, a Dhochtuir?”

  ‘Ni raibh drochamhras orm, ach ní rabhas ar mo shuaimhneas ach oiread. Bhí Louisa cuid mhaith níos sine ná Burr. Bhí maoin aici. Ní raibh mé iontaoibheach as Hildebrandt Burr.’

  ‘Nil croí rómansúil ag Bhatson,’ arsa Searbhlach. ‘Ni chreidean sé i míorúilt an ghrá.”
  

  ‘But you weren’t happy with the judgement, Doctor?’

  ‘I wasn’t suspicious, but I wasn’t at ease either. Louisa was considerably older than Burr. I did not trust Hildebrandt Burr.’

  ‘Watson does not have a romantic heart,’ said Sherlock. ‘He does not believe in the miracle of love.’

  drochamhras	Misgiving, distrust	m
  suaimhneas	Peace, tranquillity; quietness, rest	m
  maoin	Gift, benefit; prosperity, wealth	f
  míorúilt	miracle	f

• ‘Nuair a phósann fear ~ a bhfuil de chlú air é a bheith i bhfiacha — bean mhísciamhach, mheánaosta, shaibhir; nuair a gheibheann an bhean sin bás leathbhliain, nó mar sin, i ndiaidh di pósadh, is gá breathnú go grinn ar na toscai báis,’ a d’fhreagair Bhatson.‘Rud a deineadh,’ arsa Searbhlach. ‘Bí cothrom, a Bhatson. Caithfidh tú a chur san áireamh go raibh croí lag aici, dúil san alcól agus — luadh silim, ag an gcoiste cróinéara é — claonadh chun clástrafóibe.’ When a man ~ who has a reputation for being in debt — marries an uncomely, middle-aged, rich woman; when that woman dies half a year, or so, after her marriage, it is necessary to look closely at the circumstances of death,’ answered Watson.

  ‘A thing done,’ said Sherlock. ‘Be fair, Watson. You have to take into account that she had a weak heart, a craving for alcohol and — mentioned I think by the Coroner’s jury, a tendency towards claustrophobia.’

  clú	Reputation; honour, renown	m
  mísciamhach	Ill-favoured, uncomely.
  grinn	Perceptive, discerning; clear, accurate
  claonadh	Inclination; tendency, trend

• Tháinig Mrs. Hudson chuig an doras. Choinnigh Searbhlach ar oscailt é agus thóg Bhatson an trádaire trom uaithi . Bhí sos cainte ann agus iad ag cogaint.‘Welsh rabbit, ’arsa Bhatson.Shíl an Duinnineach go raibh cáis ar tósta á ithe aige ach nior cheistigh sé breith Bhatson. Fuair sé a riar tae.

  ‘Níor chas mé le Burr go ceann sé mhi i ndiaidh bhás Louisa,’ arsa Bhatson. ‘Bhi an créacht im chois cneasaithe faoin am sin. [d.l. 197]
  Ní raibh oiread céanna ama á chaitheamh sa Chlub agam. Chuala mé ~ bhí sé ag gabháil thart sa seomra caite tobac ~ nach raibh an bhean a cailleadh chomh saibhir agus a bhí ráite. Chuala mé tamall ina dhiaidh sin, go raibh Burr imithe go hÉirinn, go Co. an Chláir, go Spá Lios Dúin Bhearna, mar locum do dhochtúir éigin ar nós leis an séasúr a chaitheamh ag scaoileadh éan, in Albain.’
  

  Mrs. Hudson came to the door. Searbhlach held it open and Watson took the heavy tray from her. There was a pause in the talk as they chewed.

  ‘Welsh rabbit,”said Watson.

  Dineen thought he was eating cheese on toast but did not question Watson’s judgement. He got his portion of tea.

  ‘I did not meet Burr for six months after Louisa’s death,’ said Watson. ‘The wound in my foot was healed by then. I wasn’t spending much time at the Club. I heard ~ while passing around in the smoking room ~ that the deceased woman was not as rich as had been said. I heard some time after that, that Burr had gone to Ireland, to County Clare, to Lisdoonvarna Spa, as a substitute/locum for some doctor who customarily spent the season shooting birds, in Scotland. ‘

  tráidire	tray	m
  trom	heavy
  sos	Rest, cessation; pause, interval; respite	m
  riar	Administration, management; Provision, service; Distribution, allocation; Share, supply; sufficiency	m
  créacht	Gash, wound	f

• ‘Thréig Burr a chleachtas féin?”Téann mná neirbhíseacha ar saoire freisin,’ arsa Searbhlach go soiniciúil. ‘Mí a bhí i gceist.”
  

  ‘Burr abandoned his own practice?’

  ‘Nervous women go on vacation too,’ said Sherlock cynically. ‘It was for a month.’

  cleachtas	practice	m
  tréig	Abandon, forsake
  soiniciúil	cynical

• ‘Ni rabhas féin sa Chlub ach go hannamh, ag an am,’ arsa Bhatson, ‘agus níor chuala mé aon ní eile i dtaobh Hildebrandt Burr gur chasas le cairde leis ag tionól leighis, sé mhí níos deireanaí. Bhí mo chomhghleacaithe ag caint i dtaobh shochraid chéile Hildebrandt Burr ar fhreastail siad air an lá roimhe sin. Baineadh stangadh asam. Chuireas caint ar an Dochtuir Brady, ó Harrowgate, cara le Burr, a raibh aithne agam air…
  

  ‘I was only rarely in the Club, at the time,’ said Watson, ‘and I heard nothing more about Hildebrandt Burr until I met with friends at a medical gatherng, six months later. My colleagues were talking about Hildebrandt Burr’s wife’s funeral which they attended the day before. I was taken aback. I talked with Dr. Brady, of Harrowgate, a friend of Burr’s, whom I knew…’

  annamh	Rare, infrequent
  tionól	Gathering, assembly	m
  comhghleacaí	Equal, peer; Fellow, companion	m pl comhghleacaithe
  freastail	attend

• ‘ “Burr bocht,” ar seisean. “Ni bhíonn rath air i gcúrsai pósta, an mbíonn? Bean gnóthaithe, pósta, curtha aige laistigh de thri mhi!”’“An é gur phós sé bean eile ó cailleadh Louisa?” arsa mise.’“Ar ndóigh, phós sé Philomena tri mhí ó shin. Banoidhre ar mhianach diamainti, bean thanaí easlán a chumadh filíocht. Comhaoiseach leis féin … De bhunadh Sasanach. Casadh ar a chéile iad agus Burr i mbun dochtúireachta i Lios Duin Bhearna in Éirinn. Thit siad i ngra le chéile ar an gcéad fhéachaint. Phós siad in Éirinn agus thángadar ar ais go Londain, ach ní raibh sí saolach, an bhean bhocht. Chuireamar inné í. . . Taom croi.”

  ‘”Poor Burr,” he said. “He is not successful in marriage, is he? A woman won, married, buried within three months!”

  ‘”Has he married another woman since of Louisa was lost?” I said.

  ‘”Of course, he married Philomena three months ago. Heiress to a diamond mine, a thin, infirm woman who composed poetry. Same age as himself … Of English ancestry. They met while Burr was engaged as a doctor in Lisdoonvarna in Ireland. They fell in love with each other at first sight. They married in Ireland and came back to London, but she was not long-lived, poor woman. She was buried yesterday … heart attack.”

  rath	Bestowal, grant; grace, favour; gift, bounty; prosperity; abundance; usefulness,good	m
  gnóthaigh	Work, labour; Win, gain; earn, achieve
  easlán	Sick, infirm, invalid; Morbid, unhealthy, unsound
  cumadh	Formation; Composition; Contrivance, invention.	m

• ‘Samhlaigh, a Dhuinnínigh, an imní a tháinig ar Bhatson bocht nuair a chuala sé go raibh an dara Mrs. Burr curtha san [d.l. 198] uaigh ag Hildebrandt.’ Imagine, Dineen, the anxiety that came on poor Watson when he heard that the second Mrs. Burr was buried by Hildebrandt.
  

  uaigh	grave	f

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