the grey room(灰房间)-第19节
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well as I do。 If there is danger； then I am secure； because I have the only
arms that can avail in a battle of the spirit。 My trust is shield enough
against any evil being that may roam this earth or be held by invisible
bonds within the walls of the Grey Room。 I will justify the ways of God
to man and； through the channel of potent prayer； exorcise this presence
and bring peace to your afflicted house。 For any living fellow…creature
would I gladly pit my faith against evil； how much more； then； in a matter
where my very own life's blood has been shed？ You cannot deny me this。
It is my right。〃
〃I will ask you to listen to the arguments against you； nevertheless；〃
replied Mannering。 〃You have propounded an extraordinary theory； and
must not mind if we disagree with you。〃
〃Speak for yourself alone； then；〃 answered May。 〃I do not ask or
expect a man of your profession to agree with me。 But the question
ceases to be your province。〃
〃Do not say that； sir；〃 urged Henry Lennox。 〃I don't think my uncle
agrees with you either。 You are assuming too much。〃
〃Honestly； I can't quite admit your assumption； my dear May；〃
declared Sir Walter。 〃You go too far … farther than is justified at this stage
of events； at any rate。 Were we in no doubt that a spirit is granted power
within my house to destroy human life； then I confess； with due
precautions； I could not deny you access to it in the omnipotent Name you
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invoke。 I am a Christian and believe my Bible as soundly as you do。
But why assume such an extraordinary situation？ Why seek a
supernatural cause for dear Tom 's death before we are satisfied that no
other exists？〃
〃Are you not satisfied？ What mortal man can explain the facts on
any foundation of human knowledge？〃
〃Consider how limited human knowledge is； said Mannering；〃 and
grant that we have not exhausted its possibilities yet。 There may be some
physical peculiarity about the room； some deadly but perfectly natural
chemical accident； some volatile stuff； in roof or walls； that reacts to the
lowered temperatures of night。 A thousand rare chance combinations of
matter may occur which are capable of examination； and which； under
skilled experiment； will resolve their secret。 Nothing it more bewildering
than a good conjuring trick till we know how it is done； and Nature is the
supreme conjurer。 We have not found out all her tricks； and never shall
do so； but we very well know that a solution to all of them exists。〃
〃A material outlook and arrogant；〃 said the priest。
Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm。
〃It is neither material nor arrogant。 I am humbler than you； and your
positive assertion seems much the more arrogant。 This is the twentieth
century； and your mediaeval attitude would win no possible sympathy or
support from any educated man。
〃Truth can afford to be patient；〃 answered May。 〃But I； too； am quite
sane； though your face doubts it。 I do not claim that human prayer can
alter physical laws； and I do not ask my Maker to work a miracle on my
behalf or suspend the operations of cause and effect。 But I am satisfied
that we are in a region outside our experience and on another plane and
dimension than those controlled by natural law。 God has permitted us to
enter such a region。 He has opened the door into this mystery。 He has
spoken to my soul and so directed me that I cannot sit with folded hands。
This is； I repeat； a challenge to me personally。
There is； as I potently believe； a being in bondage here which only the
voice of God； speaking through one of His creatures； can liberate。 If I
am wrong； then I shall pray in vain； if right； as I know by deepest
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conviction and intuition； then my prayer must avail。 In any case； I do my
duty； and if I myself was called to die while so doing； what nobler death
can I desire？〃
Mannering regarded the speaker with growing concern。 But he still
assumed sanity on the part of the reverend gentleman； and still felt
considerable irritation mix with his solicitude。
〃You must consider others a little；〃 he said。
〃No； Dr。 Mannering； they must consider me。 Providence sends me a
message denied to the rest of you； because I am a fit recipient； you are not。
It is Newman's 'Illative Sense' … a conviction arising from well…springs far
deeper and purer than those that account for human reason。 I know
because I know。 Reasoning； at best； is mere inference deduced from
observation； but I am concerned with an inspiration … a something akin to
the gift of prophecy。〃
〃Then I can only hope that Sir Walter will exercise his rights and
responsibilities and deny you what you wish。〃
〃He has faith； and I am sorry that you lack it。〃
〃No； Mr。 May； you must not say that。 It is entirely reasonable that
Mannering should ask you to consider others；〃 said Sir Walter。 〃To you a
sudden and peaceful death might be no ill； but it would be a very serious
ill to the living … a loss to your work on earth； which is not done； a shock
and grief to those who respect you； and a reflection on all here。〃
〃Let the living minister to the living and put their trust in God。〃
Mannering spoke to the vicar of Chadlands。
〃What do you think； Prodgers？ You are a parson； too； yet may be
able to see with our eyes。 Surely common sense shouldn't be left out of
our calculations； even if they concern the next world？〃
〃I respect Mr。 May's faith；〃 answered the younger priest； 〃and
assuredly I believe that if we eliminate all physical and natural causes
from poor Captain May's death； then no member of our sacred calling
should fear to spend the night alone in that room。 Jacob wrestled with
the angel of light。 Shall the servants of God fear to oppose a dark
angel？〃
〃Well spoken；〃 said Mr。 May。
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〃But that is not all； sir；〃 continued Noel Prodgers。 〃It is impossible
that we can share such certainty as you claim。 Probability lies entirely
against it。 This has happened twice； remember； and each time a valuable
and precious life disappears； for causes beyond our knowledge。 That；
however； is no reason for assuming the causes are beyond all human
knowledge。 We do not all possess learning in physics。 I would venture
most earnestly to beg you to desist； at least until much more has been done
and this famous professional man has made such researches as his genius
suggests。 That is only reasonable； and reason； after all； is a mighty gift of
God…a gift； no doubt； often abused by finite beings； who actually use it to
defy the Giver … yet none the less； in its proper place； the handmaid of
faith and the light of true progress。〃
But Septimus May argued against him。 〃To shelter behind reason at
such a moment is to blunt the sword of the spirit；〃 he replied； 〃and human
reason is never the handmaid of faith； as you wrongly suggest； but her
obdurate； unsleeping foe。 That which metaphysicians call intuition； and
which I call the voice of God； tells me in clear tones that my boy died by
no human agency whatever and by no natural accident。 He was wrapt
from this life to the next in the twinkling of an eye by forces； or a force；
concerning which we know nothing save through the Word of God。 I
will go farther。 I will venture to declare that this death…dealing ghost； or
disc
