〜ヒント〜
２月８日出題分
あまりなじみの無い単語・熟語をちょっと解説。
Seven Years in Tibet :
Internment-32As we were arguing, an Indian stood before us, who after a glance at the various objects of obviously European origin spread out on the ground began to ask us questions. Only then did Marchese realize what danger we were in. He quickly put his things together, but we had hardly gone a couple of steps when we were stopped by another Indian a distinguished-looking fellow, leading a section of ten strapping soldiers. In perfect English he asked for our passes. We pretended not to understand and said we were pilgrims from Kashmir. He thought this over for a moment and then found solution which spelled finis to our hopes of escape. There were, he said, two Kashmiris in the neighboring house. If we could make them understand us, we could go on our way. What devilish ill luck had brought two Kashmiris into the neighborhood at just that moment? I had used this alibi only because it was the most unlikely thing to find Kashmiris in this region.
arguing(argue)：議論する、言い争う
glance：ちらりと見ること
put 〜 together：〜を寄せ集める
distinguished：品の良い
fellow：男、やつ
section：小隊
strapping：身体のがっちりとした
pretend：〜のふりをする、装う
pilgrim：巡礼者
thought over：熟考する
this：前文の内容を指すと思われます
finis：終わり、最期
Kashmiris：カシミール人、カシミール出身者
devilish：ひどく
alibi：口実