the grey room(灰房间)-第30节
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have no knowledge； dazzle us a little； awaken our speculations and then
depart； so may certain immortal spirits also be supposed to act。 We
entangle them possibly in our gross air and detain them for centuries； or
moments； until their Creator's purpose in sending them is accomplished。
Then He takes the means to liberate them and set them on their eternal
roads and to their eternal tasks once more。〃
The listening woman； almost against her reason； felt herself beginning
to share these assumptions。 But that they were fantastic； unsupported by
any human knowledge； and would presently involve an experiment full of
awful peril to the life of the man who uttered them； she also perceived。
Yet her reasonable caution and conventional distrust began to give way a
little under the priest's magnetic voice； his flaming eyes； his positive and
triumphant certainty of truth。 He burned with his inspiration； and she felt
herself powerless to oppose any argument founded on facts against the
mystic enthusiasm of such religious faith。 His honesty and fervor could
not； however； abate Mary's acute fear。 Her father had entirely gone over
to the side of the devotee and she knew it。
〃It is well we have your opportunity to…night；〃 he said； 〃for had the
police arrived； out of their ignorance they might deny it to you。〃
Yet Mary fought on against them。 In despair she appealed to Masters。
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He had been an officer's orderly in his day； and when he left the Army and
came to Chadlands； he never departed again。 He was an intelligent man；
who occupied a good part of his leisure in reading。 He set Sir Walter and
Mary first in his affections； and that Mary should have won him so
completely she always held to be a triumph； since Abraham Masters had
no regard or admiration for women。
〃Can't you help me； Masters？〃 she begged。 〃I'm sure you know as
well as I do that this ought not to happen。〃
The butler eyed his master。 He was handing coffee； but none took it。
〃By all means speak；〃 said Sir Walter。 〃You know how I rate your
judgment； Masters。 You have heard Mr。 May upon this terrible subject；
and should be convinced； as I am。〃
Masters was very guarded。
〃It's not for me to pass an opinion； Sir Walter。 But the reverend
gentleman； no doubt； understands such things。 Only there's the Witch of
Endor； if I may mention the creature； she fetched up more than she
bargained for。 And I remember a proverb as I heard in India； from a
Hindoo。 I've forgot the lingo now； but I remember the sense。 They
Hindoos say that if you knock long enough at a closed door； the devil will
open it … excuse my mentioning such a thing； but Hindoos are awful wise。〃
〃And what then； Masters？ I know not who may open the door of this
mystery； but this I know； that； in the Name of the Most High God； I can
face whatever opens it。〃
〃I ain't particular frightened neither； your reverence；〃 said Masters。
〃But I wouldn't chance it alone； being about average sinful and not near
good enough to tackle that unknown horror hid up there single…handed。
I'd chance it； though； in high company like yours。 And that's something。〃
〃It is； Masters； and much to your credit；〃 declared Sir Walter。 〃For that
matter； I would do the like。 Indeed； I am willing to accompany Mr。
May。〃
While Septimus May shook his head and Mary trembled； the butler
spoke again。
〃But there's nobody else in this house would。 Not even Fred Caunter；
who doesn't know the meaning of fear； as you can testify； Sir Walter。 But
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he's fed up with the Grey Room； if I may say so； and so's the housekeeper；
Mrs。 Forbes； and so's Jane Bond。 Not that they would desert the ship； but
there's others that be going to do so。 I may mention that four maids and
Jackson intend to give notice to…morrow。 Ann Maine； the second
housemaid； has gone to…night。 Her father fetched her。 Excuse me
mentioning it； but Mrs。 Forbes will give you the particulars to…morrow； if
you please。〃
〃Hysteria；〃 declared Sir Walter。 〃I don't blame them。 It is natural。
Everybody is free to go； if they desire to do so。 But tell them what you
have heard to…night； Masters。 Tell them that no good Christian need fear
to rest in peace。 Explain that Mr。 May will presently enter the Grey
Room in the name of God； and bid them pray on their knees for him
before they go to sleep。〃
Masters hesitated。
〃All the same； I very much wish the reverend gentleman would give
Scotland Yard a chance。 If they fall； then he can wipe their eye after …
excuse my language； Sir Walter。 I've read a lot about the spirits； being
terrible interested in 'em； as all human men must be； and I hear that
running after 'em often brings trouble。 I don't mean to your life； Sir
Walter； but to your wits。 People get cracked on 'em and have to be
locked up。 I stopped everybody frightening themselves into 'sterics at
dinner to…day； but you could see how it took 'em； and； whether or no； I do
beg Mr。 May to be so kind as to let me sit up along with him to…night。
〃You never hear of two people getting into trouble with these here
customers； and while he was going for this blackguard ghost in the name
of the Lord； I could keep my weather eye lifting for trouble。 'Tis a matter
for common sense and keeping your nerve； in my opinion； and we don't
want another death on our hands； I suppose。 There'll be half the
mountebanks and photograph men and newspaper men in the land here to…
morrow； and 'twill take me all my time to keep 'em from over…running the
house。 Because if they could come in their scores for the late captain…
poor gentleman！ … what won't they try now this here famous detective has
been done in？〃
〃Henry deplored the same thing；〃 said Mary。 〃And I answer again； as
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I answered then；〃 replied Septimus May。 〃You mean well； Sir Walter；
and your butler means well； but you propose an act in direct opposition to
the principle that inspires me。〃
〃What do you expect to happen？〃 asked Mary。 〃Do you suppose you
will see something； and that something will tell you what it is； and why it
killed dear Tom？〃
〃That； at any rate； would be a very great blessing to the living；〃 said
her father。
〃The least the creature could do； in my humble opinion；〃 ventured
Masters。
But Septimus May deprecated such curiosity。
〃Hope for no such thing； and do not dwell upon what is to happen until
I am able to tell you what does happen；〃 he answered。 〃Allow no human
weakness； no desire to learn the secrets of another world； to distract your
thoughts。 I am only concerned with what I know beyond possibility of
doubt is my duty … to be entered upon as swiftly as possible。 I hear my
call in the very voice of the wind shouting round the house to…night。 But
beyond my duty I do not seek。 Whether information awaits me； whether
some manifestation indicating my success and valuable to humanity will
be granted； I cannot say。 I do not stop now to think about that。
〃Alone I do this thing … yet not alone； for my hand is in my Maker's
hand。 Your part will not be to accompany me。 Let each man and
woman be informed of what I do； and let them lift a petition for me； that
my work be crowned with success。 But let them not assume that to…
morrow I shall have anything to impart。 The night may be one of peace
within； though so stormy without。 I may pray till dawn with no
knowledge how my
