the grey room(灰房间)-第28节
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death overtook him。 Past events； not present problems； were apparently
responsible for the reflections that occupied his mind。 He was not
concentrating on the material phenomena actually under his observation
when he died； but following some private meditations provoked by his
experiences。
〃Elimination embraces the secret of success；〃 he had written。
〃Exercise the full force of your intelligence and spare no pains to
eliminate from every case all matter not bearing directly upon the actual
problem。 Nine times out of ten the issue is direct； and once permit side
issues to draw their tracks across it； once admit metaphysical lines of
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reasoning； the result will be confusion and a problem increasing in
complexity at every stage。 Only in romances； where a plot is invented and
then complicated by deliberate art； shall we find the truth ultimately
permitted to appear in some subordinate incident； or individual； studiously
kept in the background … that is the craft of telling detective stories。 But；
in truth； one needs to lay ho1d of the problem by the throat at the outset。
Deception is too much the province of the criminal and too little the
business of the investigator； and where it may be possible to creep； like a
snake； into a case； unknown for what you truly are； then your
opportunities and chances of success are enormously increased。 It is；
however； the exception when one can start without the knowledge of
anybody involved； and the Scotland Yard of the future will pursue its
business under very different circumstances from the present。 The
detective's work should be made easier and not more difficult。 None
should know who is working on a case。 The law's representatives should
be disguised and move among the characters surrounding the crime as
something other than they really are。 They will … 〃
Here Hardcastle's reflections came to an end。 Some previous notes
there were of superficial accidents in the Grey Room and a rough ground
plan of it； but nothing more。 He had evidently； for the time being； broken
away from his environment and was merely thinking； with a pen on paper；
when he died。
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CHAPTER VII
THE FANATIC
A Succession of incidents； that must have perturbed the doctor and
his companion in earnest； had followed upon their departure from
Chadlands； and Mary soon discovered that she was faced with a terrible
problem。
For one young woman had little chance of winning her way against an
old man and the religious convictions that another had impressed upon
him。 Sir Walter and the priest were now at one； nor did the common
sense of a fourth party to the argument convince them。 At dinner
Septimus May declared his purpose。
〃We are happily free of any antagonistic and material influence；〃 he
said。 〃Providence has willed that those opposed to us should be taken
elsewhere； and I am now able to do my duty without more opposition。〃
〃Surely； father； you do not wish this？〃 asked Mary。 〃I thought you …〃
But the elder was fretful。
〃Let me eat my meal in peace；〃 he answered。 〃I am not made of iron；
and reason cuts both ways。 It was reasonable to deny Mr。 May before
these events。 It would be unreasonable to pretend that the death of Peter
Hardeastle has not changed my opinions。 To cleave to the possibility of a
physical explanation any longer is mere folly and obstinacy。 I believe
him to be right。〃
〃This is fearful for me … and fearful for everybody here。 Don't you
see what it would mean if anything happened to you； Mr。 May？ Even
supposing there is a spirit hidden in the Grey Room with power and
permission to destroy us … why； that being so； are you any safer than dear
Tom was or this poor man？〃
〃Because I am armed； Mary； and they were defenseless。 Unhappily
youth is seldom clothed in the whole armor of righteousness。 My dear
son was a good and honorable man； but he was not a religious man。 He
had yet to learn the incomparable and vital value of the practice of
Christian faith。 Hardcastle invited his own doom。 He admitted…he even
appeared to pride himself upon a crude and pagan rationalism。 It is not
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surprising that such a man should be called away to learn the lessons of
which he stood so gravely in need。〃
〃I know that our dear Tom was bidden to higher work … to labor in a
higher cause than here； to purer knowledge of those things that matter
most to the human soul；〃 said Mary。 〃But that is not to say God chose to
take him by a miracle。 For what you believe amounts to a miracle。 You
know that I am bearing my loss in the same spirit as yourself； but； granted
it had to be at God's will； that is no reason why we should suppose the
means employed were outside nature。〃
〃How can you pretend they are inside nature； as we know it？〃 asked
her father。
〃We know nothing at all yet； and I implore Mr。 May to wait until we
are at least assured that science cannot find a reason。〃
〃Fear not for me； my child；〃 answered Septimus May。 〃You forget
certain details that have assisted to decide me。 Remember that
Hardcastle had openly denied and derided the possibility of supernatural
peril。 He had challenged this potent thing not an hour before he was
brought face to face with it。 Tom went to his death innocently； this man
cannot be absolved so easily。 In my case； with my knowledge and faith；
the conditions are very different； and I oppose an impregnable barrier
between myself and the secret being。 I am an old priest； and I go
knowing the nature of my task。 My weapons are such that a good spirit
would applaud them and an evil spirit be powerless against them。 Do
you not see that the Almighty could never permit one of His creatures … for
even the devils also are His … to defeat His own minister or trample on the
name of Christ？ It would amount to that。 So armed one might walk in
safety through the lowermost hell； for hell can only believe and tremble
before the truth。〃
Mary looked hopelessly at her father； but he offered her small comfort。
Sir Walter still found himself conforming to the fierce piety and dogmatic
assurance of the man of God。 In this welter and upheaval his modest
intellect found only a foothold here； and his judgment now firmly inclined
to the confident assertions of religion。 He was himself a devout and
conventional believer； and he turned to the support of faith； and shared；
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with increasing conviction； the opinion of Septimus May； as uttered in a
volume of confident words。 He became blind to the physical danger。
He even showed a measure of annoyance at Mary's obstinate entreaties。
She strove to calm him； and told him he was not himself … an assertion that；
by his inner consciousness of its truth； seemed to incense Sir Walter。
He begged her to be silent； and declared that her remarks savored of
irreverence。 Startled and bewildered by such a criticism； the woman was
indeed silent for some time； while her father…in…law flowed on and uttered
his conviction。 Yet not all his intensity and asseverations could j
