the grey room(灰房间)-第42节
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interested and moved at the amazing events reported as happening at
Chadlands； in the County of Devon； under your roof。 The
circumstances were related in Italian journals with no great detail；
but I read them in the 'Times' newspaper； being familiar with your
language and a great lover of your country。
〃I had already conceived the idea of communicating with you
when … so small is the world in this our time … accident actually threw
me into the society of one of your personal friends。 At an
entertainment given by the British Ambassador at Rome； a young
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THE GREY ROOM
soldier； one Colonel Vane； was able to do me some service in a crush
of people； and I enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance as the
result。 I would not have inflicted myself upon another generation；
but he took an interest in conversing with one who knew his own
language。 He was also intelligent … for a military man。 Needless to
say； he made no allusion to the tragedy at Chadlands； but when he
spoke of espionage in war and kindred matters； I found him familiar
with the details concerning the death of the great English detective；
Peter Hardcastle。 I then asked him； as being myself deeply
interested in the matter； whether it would be possible to get further
and fuller details of the story of 'the Grey Room；' whereupon he told
me； to my amazement； that he had been at Chadlands when your
lamented son…in…law； Captain Thomas May； passed out of life。 I
then recollected Colonel Vane's name； among others mentioned in
the 'Times；' as at Chadlands when the disaster occurred。
〃Finding that my curiosity was not idle； Colonel Vane accepted
an invitation to dinner； and I enjoyed the pleasure of entertaining him
and learning many personal and intimate particulars of the event。
These were imparted in confidence； and he knew that I should not
abuse his trust。 Indeed； I had already told him that it was my
determination to communicate with you upon the strength of his
narrative。
〃It seems improbable that anything I can say will bear upon
the case； and I may presently find that I lack the means to serve you；
or throw light where all is so profoundly buried in darkness。 Yet I
am not sure。 Small things will often lead to greater； and though the
past is unhappily beyond recall； since our Maker Himself cannot
undo the work of yesterday； or obliterate events embalmed in
vanished time； yet there is always the future； and if we could but
read the past aright； which we never can； then the future would
prove less of a painful riddle than mankind generally finds it。
〃If； then； I can help you to read the past； I may at least
modify your anxieties in the future； and should I； by a remote chance；
be right in my suspicions； it is quite imperative that I place myself at
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THE GREY ROOM
your service for the sake of mankind。 In a word； a great crime has
been committed； and the situation is possibly such that further
capital crimes will follow it。 I affirm nothing； but I conceive the
agency responsible for these murders to be still active； since the
police have been so completely foiled。 At Chadlands there may
still remain an unsleeping danger to those who follow you … a danger；
indeed； to all human life； so long as it is permitted to persist。 I
write； of course； assuming you to be desirous of clearing this
abominable mystery； both for your own satisfaction and the credit of
your house。 〃There is but little to hope from me； and I would beg
you not to feel sanguine in any way。 Yet this I do believe： that if
there is one man in the world to…day who holds the key of your
tribulation； I am that man。 One lives in hope that one may empty the
world of so great a horror； and to do so would give one the most
active satisfaction。 But I promise nothing。
〃If I should be on the right track； however； let me explain the
direction in which my mind is moving。 Human knowledge may not
be equal to any solution； and I may fail accordingly。 It may even be
possible that the Rev。 Septimus May did not err； and that at the cost
of his life he exorcised some spirit whose operations were permitted
for reasons hid in the mind of its Creator； but； so far as I am
concerned； I believe otherwise。 And if I should prove correct； it
will be possible to show that all has fallen out in a manner
consonant with human reason and explicable by human
understanding。 I therefore came to England； glad of the excuse to
do so； and waited upon you at your manor； only to hear； much to my
chagrin； that you were not in residence； but had gone to Florence； a
bird's journey from my own home！
〃Now I write to the post…office at Milan； where your servant
directed me that letters should for the moment be sent。 If you are
returning soon； I wait for you。 If not； it may be possible to meet in
Italy。 But I should prefer to think you return ere long； for I cannot
be of practical service until I have myself； with your permission；
visited your house and seen the Grey Room with my own eyes。
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〃I beg you will accept my assurances of kindly regard and
sympathy in the great sufferings you and Madame May have been
called upon to endure。
〃Until I hear from you； I remain at Claridge's Hotel in
London。
〃I have the honor to be；
〃Faithfully yours；
〃Vergilio Mannetti。〃
To this communication； albeit he felt little hope； Sir Walter made
speedy response。 He declared his intention of returning to England
during the following week； after which he hoped that Signor Mannetti
would visit Chadlands at any time convenient to himself。 He thanked him
gratefully； but feared that； since the Italian based his theory on a crime； he
could not feel particularly sanguine； for the possibility of such a thing had
proved non…existent。
Mary； however； looked deeper into the letter。 She even suspected that
the writer himself entertained a greater belief in his powers than he
declared。
〃One has always felt the Grey Room is somehow associated with
Italy；〃 she said。 〃The ceiling we know was moulded by Italians in
Elizabeth's day。〃
〃It was； but so are all the other moulded ceilings in the house as well。〃
〃He may understand Italian workmanship； and know some similar roof
that hid a secret。〃
〃The roof cannot conceal an assassin； and he clearly believes himself
on the track of a crime。 Nevertheless； Sir Walter's interest increased
