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The Letter · 1940 — 第 6 / 15 章 · 2'11" · B2

Ong Brings Joyce the Letter, Explained：put a different complexion on

Ong comes to the lawyer's office with information that costs him nothing and could sink the defence: a letter written by the accused on the day Hammond died, whose original is held by Hammond's widow. Joyce calls the idea "inconceivable," yet he does not send Ong away.

あらすじ

In his Singapore law office, Howard Joyce is visited by Ong Chi Seng, who says a letter exists from the defendant, Mrs. Crosbie, to Hammond, written on the day Hammond died. Ong has a copy; the original is held by Hammond's widow. Joyce is sceptical but agrees to consider the matter and to stay in touch with Ong's informant.

InvestigationSuggestingPersuadingB2fastamericanClean
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注目の表現

put a different complexion oncome to the pointduring the course ofin possession of

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このシーンの表現

put a different complexion on

change how a thing looks

At the law office Ong tells Joyce that a new fact changes the look of the case.

The new witness put a different complexion on the whole trial.

このシーンの他の表現

  • come to the point

    get to the main point

  • during the course of

    over the period of

  • in possession of

    held by someone

  • have every confidence in

    trust someone completely

  • keep in touch with

    stay in contact with

このシーンのメモ一覧

29 行のセリフに 20 件のメモ

表現 · B2come to someone's attention

be noticed by someone

A circumstance has come to my attention, sir, which seems to me to put a different complexion on the case.
表現 · C1put a different complexion on something

change how a thing looks

At the law office Ong tells Joyce that a new fact changes the look of the case.

A circumstance has come to my attention, sir, which seems to me to put a different complexion on the case.
文法 · B2which seems to me to put

relative clause: The which-clause adds detail about the circumstance without changing the main claim.

A circumstance has come to my attention, sir, which seems to me to put a different complexion on the case.
発音put a different

Link put a into one sound and stress the first syllable of different.

A circumstance has come to my attention, sir, which seems to me to put a different complexion on the case.
表現 · B1come to the point

get to the main point

Tired of the preamble, Joyce cuts the clerk off and tells him to get to the point.

Please come to the point, Ong.
表現 · B1refer to something

mean or mention

What circumstance do you refer to?
表現 · B1during the course of something

during the period of

During the course of 7 years, I have no doubt Mrs. Crosbie often had occasion to write to Mr. Hammond.
表現 · B2have occasion to do something

have reason to do something

During the course of 7 years, I have no doubt Mrs. Crosbie often had occasion to write to Mr. Hammond.
表現 · A2on the day of something

on the date of

But the letter, sir, was written on the day of the late Mr. Hammond's death.
表現 · B2have no communication with someone

no contact with someone

that Mrs. Crosbie has stated that until the fatal night, she had had no communication with the deceased for several weeks.
表現 · B2be in possession of something

held by someone

Ong says he has a copy, but the original is in a woman's hands, the dead man's widow.

The original is in possession of a woman.
表現 · B1happen to be something

turn out to be

She happens to be the widow of Mr. Hammond, deceased.
表現 · C1have every confidence in someone

trust someone completely

I have every confidence in the veracity of my informant, sir.
発音confidence in

Run confidence in together; the in almost merges with confidence.

I have every confidence in the veracity of my informant, sir.
文法 · C1should have written

subjunctive should: Should have written marks disbelief that she could ever have done such a thing.

That's more than I have. Ong, it's inconceivable that Mrs. Crosbie should have written such a letter.
発音should have

In speech should have usually contracts to should've.

That's more than I have. Ong, it's inconceivable that Mrs. Crosbie should have written such a letter.
文法 · C1Might I suggest

inversion: Fronting might makes the suggestion extra polite, a formal inversion.

Might I suggest, sir, that it would be well to make sure?
表現 · B2be of some interest to someone

somewhat useful to someone

Since my friend is of the opinion that the letter might be of some interest to the prosecutor.
表現 · C1give something one's consideration

consider something carefully

I'll give the matter my consideration.
表現 · B1keep in touch with someone

stay in contact with

Without committing, Joyce tells Ong to keep in touch with the friend, leaving a door open.

It might be well to keep in touch with him.

「Ong Brings Joyce the Letter」を読み解く

What's really going on

The scene is a transaction in which nothing is said outright and everything is understood. Ong has no authority and no name to give: he speaks of "a friend" and of information, never of proof, and he lets Joyce draw the conclusion himself. His report is precise where it matters — the letter was "written on the day of the late Mr. Hammond's death," which contradicts Leslie's claim that she had no contact with Hammond for weeks. Joyce resists the implication, insisting "it's inconceivable that Mrs. Crosbie should have written such a letter," but he neither rejects the news nor dismisses Ong. Instead he says he will "give the matter my consideration" and asks Ong to keep in touch. The polite formula is also a manoeuvre: by not acting and not refusing, Joyce keeps the letter in play while giving no one a hold over him.

Theme

DeceptionA letter written on the day of the killing contradicts Leslie's story, and Ong delivers it as a rumour he can deny having pressed.
PowerOng works through a 'friend' and a copy, letting Joyce take the risk, while Joyce stays noncommittal and keeps the line open.

このチャプターで学べること

  • One dated letter can undo a whole defense.
  • The clerk wraps bad news in perfect manners.
  • Trust in a source is not the same as proof.
  • A polite deferral can hide a refusal.

発音のポイント

  • put a different — Link put a into one sound and stress the first syllable of different.
  • confidence in — Run confidence in together; the in almost merges with confidence.
  • should have — In speech should have usually contracts to should've.
A circumstance has come to my attention, sir, which seems to me to put a different complexion on the case.

Ong's opening move: he claims new information changes how the whole case looks, without yet saying what it is.

But the letter, sir, was written on the day of the late Mr. Hammond's death.

The key fact: the letter is dated the day Hammond died, which clashes with Leslie's account of no recent contact.

I have every confidence in the veracity of my informant, sir.

Ong vouches for his source without naming anyone, so Joyce cannot test the claim and Ong risks nothing.

That's more than I have. Ong, it's inconceivable that Mrs. Crosbie should have written such a letter.

Joyce doubts the letter is real and says so, but he does not refuse the information — the half-denial keeps his options open.

I'll give the matter my consideration.

A polite way of declining to decide: Joyce will think about it rather than act, which protects him either way.

It might be well to keep in touch with him.

Joyce keeps Ong and his source available for later, so the letter can still be used if it suits him.

このシーンについての質問

Why does Ong bring Joyce the letter?

Ong says a friend thinks the letter would interest the prosecutor. He is passing on information, hoping to gain something, while keeping himself out of the affair.

What makes the letter so important?

It was written on the day Hammond died, which contradicts Leslie's claim that she had not been in contact with him for weeks.

Why is Joyce sceptical?

He knows Leslie and cannot believe she would write such a letter. He also has not seen the original, only a copy held by Ong.

What does 'put a different complexion on' mean?

It means to change the way something looks. Ong says the letter puts a different complexion on the case, meaning it would make the whole case appear different.

Who holds the original letter?

Hammond's widow has it. Ong only has a copy, which is why he wants Joyce to make sure the letter is genuine before anything is done with it.

The Letter · 全 15 章

すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 7 章a hairsbreadthHoward Confronts Leslie Over a Letter
第 1 章riddled with bulletsLeslie Confesses After the Shooting第 2 章put my back upLeslie Recounts the Night Hammond Died第 3 章the last strawLeslie Describes Shooting Hammond第 4 章like grim deathJoyce Questions Leslie About the Body第 5 章go to blazesOng Brings Joyce a Delicate Matter再生中 · 第 6 章put a different complexion onOng Brings Joyce the Letter第 7 章a hairsbreadthHoward Confronts Leslie Over a Letter第 8 章talk very plainlyHoward Confronts Leslie About the Letter第 9 章save your neckHoward Refuses to Buy the Letter第 10 章go to the devilOng Chi Seng Names His Price第 11 章get hold ofHoward Tells Bob to Buy the Letter第 12 章put all your eggs in one basketRobert Announces the Move to Sumatra第 13 章throw cold water onRobert Learns What the Letter Cost第 14 章in love withLeslie Confesses Loving Hammond第 15 章good sportLeslie's Party After the Trial
第 6 / 15 章 · 残り約 31 分