the grey room(灰房间)-第24节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
permitted to exercise powers of a physical character antagonistic to human
life。 He is guarded； you see； and will not go so far as to say whether this
being is working for good or evil。〃
〃But it has done evil； surely？〃
〃Evil from our standpoint。 But since the Supreme Creator made this
creature as well as He made us； therefore Mr。 May holds lhat we are not
justified in declaring its operations are evil … save from a human
standpoint。〃
〃How was he related to Captain Thomas May7〃
〃His father。〃
Peter Hardcastle remained silent for a moment； then he spoke again。
〃Have you observed how many of the sons of the clergy go into the
Navy or Merchant Marine？〃
〃I have not。〃
〃They do； however。〃
Sir Walter began to dislike the detective more than before。
〃We will leave you now；〃 he said。 〃You will find me in my study if
you want me。 That bell communicates with the servants。 The lock of
the door was broken when we forced our way in； and has not been mended；
but you can close the door if you wish to do so。 It has been kept open
since and the electric light always turned on at night。〃
〃Many thanks。 I will consider a point or two here and rejoin you。
Was the clumney examined？〃
〃No。 It would not admit a human being。〃
Then Sir Walter and his nephew left the room； and Hardeastle； waiting
until they were out of earshot； shut the door and thrust a heavy chair
against it。
They heard no more of him for an hour； and joined Mary and Septimus
May； who were walking on the terrace together。 The former was eager to
learn the detective's opinions； but her husband's father had already warned
her that Peter Hardcastle was doomed to fail。
The four walked up and down together； and Prince； Sir Walter's
ancient spaniel； went beside them。
80
… Page 81…
THE GREY ROOM
Henry told his cousin the nature of their conversation and the direction
in which the professional inquiry seemed to turn。
〃He wants to see you and hear everything you can tell him about dear
Tom's past；〃 he said。
〃Of course I will tell him everything； and what I do not know； Mr。
May will remember。〃
〃He is very quiet and very open … minded about some things； but jolly
positive about others。 Your father…in…law won't get far with him。 He
scoffs at any supernatural explanation of our terrible loss。〃
Mr。 May overheard this remark。
〃As I have already told Mary； his failure is assured。 He is wasting his
time； and I knew he probably would do so before he came。 Not to such a
man； however clever he may be； will an explanation be vouchsafed。 I
would rather trust an innocent child to discover these things than such a
person。 He is lost in his own conceit and harbors vain ideas。〃
〃There is something about him I cordially dislike already；〃 confessed
Sir Walter。 〃And yet it is a most unreasonable dislike on my part； for he
is exceedingly well mannered； speaks and conducts himself like a
gentleman； and does nothing that can offend the most sensitive。〃
〃A prejudice； Uncle Walter。〃
〃Perhaps it is； Henry； yet I rarely feel prejudice。〃
〃Call it rather an intuition；〃 said the clergyman。 〃What your
antipathetic attitude means is that you already unconsciously know this
man is not going to avail； and that his assumption of superiority in the
matter of knowledge … his opinions and lack of faith … will defeat him if
nothing else does。 He approaches his problem in an infidel spirit； and
consequently the problem will evade his skill； because such skill is not
merely futile in this matter； but actually destructive。〃
Mary left them； and they discussed the probable chances of the
detective without convincing each other。 Henry； who had been much
impressed by Hardcastle； argued in his favor； but Septimus May was
obdurate； and Sir Walter evidently inclined to agree with him。
〃The young men think the old men fools； and the old men know the
young ones are；〃 said Sir Walter。
81
… Page 82…
THE GREY ROOM
〃But he is not young； uncle； he's forty。 He told me so。〃
〃I thought him ten years less； and he spoke with the dogmatism of
youth。〃
〃Only on that subject。〃
〃Which happens to be the one subject of all others on which we have a
right to demand an open and reverent mind；〃 said the clergyman。
Henry noticed that Sir Walter spoke almost spitefully。
〃Well； at any rate； he thought rather small beer of the Grey Room。 He
felt quite sure that the secret lay outside it。 He was going to exhaust the
possibilities of the place in no time。〃
As he spoke the gong sounded； and Prince； pricking his ears； led the
way to the open French window of the dining…room。
〃Call our friend； Henry；〃 said his uncle。 And young Lennox； glad of
the opportunity； entered the house。 He desired a word with Hardcastle in
private； and ascended to join him。
The door of the Grey Room was still closed； and Henry found some
obstacle within that prevented it from yielding to his hand。 At once
disturbed by this incident； he did not stand upon ceremony。 He pushed the
door； which gave before him； and he perceived that a heavy chair had been
thrust against it。 His noisy entrance challenged no response； and； looking
round； it appeared for an instant that the room was empty； but； lowering
his eyes； he saw first the detective's open notebook and stylograph lying
upon the ground； then he discovered Peter Hardcastle himself upon his
face with his arms stretched out before him。 He lay beside the hearth；
motionless。
Lennox stooped； supported； and turned him over。 He was still warm
and relaxed in every limb； but quite unconscious and apparently dead。
An expression of surprise marked his face； and the corner of each open
eye had not yet lost its lustre； but the pupil was much dilated。
82
… Page 83…
THE GREY ROOM
CHAPTER VI
THE ORDER FROM LONDON
Henry Lennox suffered as he had not suffered even during the horrors
of war。 For the first time in his life he felt fear。 He lowered the
unconscious man to the ground； and knew that he was dead； for he had
looked on sudden death too often to feel in any doubt。 Others； however；
were not so ready to credit this； and after he hastened downstairs with his
evil message； both Sir Walter and Masters found it hard to believe him。
When he descended； his uncle and May were standing at the dining
room door； waiting for him and Peter Hardcastle。 Mary had just joined
them。
〃He's dead！〃 was all the youth could say； then； thoroughly unnerved；
he fell into a chair and buried his face in his hands。
Again through his agency had a dead man been discovered in the Grey
Room。 In each case his had been the eyes first to confront a tragedy； and
his the voice to report it。 The fact persisted in his mind with a dark
obstinacy； as though some great personal tribulation had befallen him。
Mary stopped with her cousin and asked terrified questions； while Sir
Walter； calling to Masters； hastened upstairs； followed by Septimus May。
The clergyman was also agitated； yet in his concern there persisted a note
almost of triumph。
〃It is there！〃 he cried。 〃It is close to us； watching us； powerless to
touch either you or me。 But this unhappy sceptic proved an easy victim。〃
〃Would to God I had listened to you yesterday；〃 said Sir Walter。 〃Then
this innocent man had not perhaps been snatched from life。〃
〃You were directed not to listen。 Your heart was hardened。 His
hour had come。〃
〃I cannot believe it。 We may restore him。 It is impossible that he
can be dead in a moment。〃
T
