商売は繁盛した。資産もできた。福岡では信用を博し※1、商人としての地位も安定した。ここまで伸しあがり、ことごとく※2最良の環境に①わが身が落ちついていることを発見した時、内堀彦介は新しい激しい危惧に襲われてきた。 どこにいるかわからないが、確かにこの世に町田武治が生きている、ということの②不安である。 あらゆる犯罪は、単独をもって完全とする。共犯者があればあるほど破綻※4の確率は多くなる。世の犯罪の発覚が、いかに共犯者の自供からなされるかは新聞記事を読んでもわかるのである。 が、内堀彦介が恐れたのは、③そのことよりも、今はもっと別な場合であった。つまり、財産ができてみれば、かつての共犯者から、恐喝される※5かもしれないという危惧であった。 現在の成功にまだ達しない時には、そのような心配は生れて来なかった。しかし、財産と安定した地位を獲得してみると、いつ彼から脅迫されるかわからぬ、という新しい恐怖が襲ってきたのであった。 なるほど金と信用と地位は得た。が、④それをゆるがすものは、商売の不況ではない。内堀彦介の既往※6の秘密を握っている共犯者の脅迫だった。財産はできたが、⑤その死命はその男が握っているのだ。ひとたび、脅迫を受ければ、せっかくの財産が枯れるまで、その恐喝はつづくに違いない。あの陰性な顔つきをした町田武治という男は、そんなことを充分にしそうな人物に思えた。 彦介は、どこかにいるはずの町田武治が、いつかは自分の成功を知って、眼を光らせて歩いて来るような気がしてならなかった。どこかで。――それは、どこにいるかわからない。とにかくいつかは彼は、彦介の財産を嗅ぎつけて※7、あの陰気な顔を見せに来るに違いない。 いったい、町田武治はどこで、何をしているであろう。彦介は、しだいにそのことが気になって来はじめた。 （松本清張「共犯者」『松本清張全集 36 地方紙を買う女』文藝春秋 刊）
The business prospered. Assets were also accumulated. In Fukuoka, he gained credit※1, and his status as a merchant became stable. When he discovered that his own body① had settled into the best possible environment※2 after rising to this height, Uchihoro Hensuke was struck by a new, intense fear. It was the anxiety② that Matsuda Takeji, though his whereabouts were unknown, was indeed still alive in this world. All crimes are perfected when committed alone. The more accomplices there are, the higher the probability of collapse※4.
It is evident from reading newspaper articles that the discovery of crimes in society often stems from the confessions of accomplices. However, what Uchihoro Hensuke feared was not just that, but rather a different and more pressing situation at the present moment. Specifically, he was concerned that now that he had acquired wealth, his former accomplices might extort him. Such worries had never occurred to him when he had not yet achieved his current success.
However, once he had acquired wealth and a stable status, a new fear struck him: he never knew when he would be threatened by him. Indeed, he had gained money, credit, and status. But what could shake them was not a business downturn; it was the threats from an accomplice who held the secret of Uhoriko Hensuke's past. He had built up his wealth, but his life was in that man's hands. Once threatened, the extortion would undoubtedly continue until his hard-earned assets were depleted.
The man named Takeji Machida, with his gloomy expression, seemed like the kind of person who would easily do something like that. Hikosuke couldn't help but feel that Takeji Machida, wherever he might be, would one day learn of his success and come walking with a gleam in his eyes. Somewhere. — It was just that he didn't know where he was. Anyway, sooner or later, he would surely sniff out Hikosuke's wealth※7 and come to show that gloomy face of his. After all, where on earth was Takeji Machida, and what was he doing?
Hansuke gradually began to become concerned about the matter. (Seicho Matsumoto, 'Accomplice', from 'The Complete Works of Seicho Matsumoto Vol. 36: The Woman Who Buys Local Newspapers', published by Bungeishunjuu).
