Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the grey room(»Ò·¿¼ä) >

µÚ47½Ú

the grey room(»Ò·¿¼ä)-µÚ47½Ú

С˵£º the grey room(»Ò·¿¼ä) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡forefathers¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡echoed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lips¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡children¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡

discoveries¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Henry¡¡Lennox¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡knowledge¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡particular¡¡¡¡¡¡branch¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡information¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

man¡¡possess£»¡¡signor£»¡¡to¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡found£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Merely¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡adornment£»¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡friend£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡branch¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡withered¡¡

learning£»¡¡not¡¡cultivated£»¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡by¡¡your¡¡Scotland¡¡Yard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡I¡¡have¡¡known¡¡

country¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gentlemen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡skilled¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡practice¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡heraldry¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

marked¡¡your¡¡arms¡¡on¡¡your¡¡Italian¡¡gates¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡look¡¡at¡¡those¡¡gates¡¡again¡¡

¡­¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡very¡¡good£»¡¡I¡¡fear¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡chevron¡¡between¡¡three¡¡

lions¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡coat£»¡¡yet¡¡probably¡¡not¡¡so¡¡ancient¡¡as¡¡the¡¡gates¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡as¡¡bothered¡¡me¡¡in¡¡Florence£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡£¡¡¡¨I'd¡¡

seen¡¡it¡¡before¡¡somewhere£»¡¡but¡¡where¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡bull's¡¡head¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡on¡¡

a¡¡red¡¡field¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Signor¡¡Mannetti¡¡started¡¡and¡¡laughed¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡158¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡159¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ha¡¡¡­ha£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡will¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡bull¡¡presently£»¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡£¡¡You¡¡

shall¡¡meet¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡promise¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡off¡¡and¡¡patted¡¡his¡¡forehead¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡quickly¡¡¡¡¡¡indeed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡rest¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡

brain¡¡now£»¡¡or¡¡it¡¡will¡¡rattle¡¡in¡¡my¡¡head¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dry¡¡walnut¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡it¡¡begins¡¡

to¡¡rattle£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡£¡¡May¡¡I¡¡walk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

garden¡¡again¡¡¡­¡¡not¡¡alone£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡your¡¡companionship£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Of¡¡course£»¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡retire¡¡and¡¡rest¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Presently¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡please¡¡permit¡¡nobody¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡Grey¡¡

Room¡¡but¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡soul¡¡must¡¡go¡¡or¡¡come¡¡without¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡spoke¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡still¡¡believe¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡is¡¡material¡¡then¡¡¡­¡¡an¡¡active£»¡¡physical¡¡thing£»¡¡

controlled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡conscious¡¡human¡¡intelligence£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡I¡¡am¡¡right£»¡¡it¡¡certainly¡¡is¡¡active¡¡enough¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡and¡¡Signor¡¡Mannetti£»¡¡finding¡¡a¡¡snug¡¡seat¡¡in¡¡

the¡¡sun£»¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Henry¡¡and¡¡his¡¡uncle¡¡exchanged¡¡glances£»¡¡

and¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡found¡¡his¡¡faith¡¡weakening£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Italian's¡¡mind¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡

wander¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡became¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡irrelevant£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡seemed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡

again¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡dog¡¡who¡¡was¡¡at¡¡his¡¡master's¡¡feet¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Euthanasia¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡aged¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡matter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡

considered¡¡it¡¡for¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡dark¡¡moments¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡wondered¡¡why¡¡

we¡¡destroy¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡pets£»¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡suffer¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡fellow¡¡¡¡creatures¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

exist¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡endure¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡dregs¡¡¡¡¡¡Nature's¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡fiendish¡¡¡¡¡¡methods¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

dissolution£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Again¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡terrible¡¡¡¡problems¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mercy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

religion¡¡cannot¡¡see¡¡eye¡¡to¡¡eye¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡uttered¡¡¡¡¡¡appropriate¡¡¡¡¡¡sentiments£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡changed¡¡

the¡¡subject¡¡and¡¡broke¡¡new¡¡ground¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡prince¡¡¡­¡¡not¡¡your¡¡old¡¡dog¡¡¡­¡¡but¡¡a¡¡royal¡¡lad¡¡of¡¡the¡¡East¡¡¡­¡¡

Prince¡¡Djem£»¡¡the¡¡brother¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sultan¡¡Bajazet¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡that¡¡story£¿¡¡

Possibly¡¡not¡¡¡­¡¡it¡¡is¡¡unimportant¡¡enough£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡this¡¡day¡¡the¡¡sequel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

incident¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡buried¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mystery¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡profound¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Grey¡¡¡¡¡¡Room¡£¡¡

Our¡¡¡¡¡¡later¡¡¡¡¡¡historians¡¡¡¡¡¡whitewash¡¡¡¡¡¡Alexander¡¡¡¡¡¡VI¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡concerning¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

Prince¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Djem£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡habit¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡later¡¡¡¡historians¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

whitewash¡¡everybody¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡noble¡¡quality¡¡in¡¡human¡¡nature¡¡perhaps¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡try¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡159¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡160¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡



and¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡best£»¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡ignoring¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡worst¡£¡¡

Certainly£»¡¡as¡¡your¡¡poet¡¡says£»¡¡'Distance¡¡makes¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡grow¡¡fonder'£»¡¡or£»¡¡at¡¡

any¡¡rate£»¡¡softer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡tendency¡¡to¡¡side¡¡with¡¡the¡¡angels¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are¡¡

dealing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡historic¡¡¡¡¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nero£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Caligula£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Calvin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Alva£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Napoleon£»¡¡

Torquemada¡¡¡­¡¡all¡¡these¡¡monsters¡¡and¡¡portents£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡such¡¡blood¡­¡¡

bespattered¡¡¡¡¡¡figures¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡growing¡¡¡¡¡¡whiter¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡they¡¡¡¡grow¡¡¡¡fainter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡will¡¡

have¡¡wings¡¡and¡¡haloes¡¡presently¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡not¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡good¡¡hater£»¡¡my¡¡

friends¡£¡¡But¡¡Prince¡¡Djem¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡wander¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡should¡¡be¡¡more¡¡severe¡¡with¡¡

me¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡me¡¡to¡¡my¡¡point¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sultan¡¡Bajazet¡¡wanted¡¡his¡¡younger¡¡brother¡¡

out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡paid¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Papacy¡¡¡¡¡¡forty¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡¡¡¡¡ducats¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

keep¡¡the¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡fellow¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡prisoner¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Italy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡gilded¡¡¡¡¡¡captivty¡¡¡¡and¡¡

doubtless¡¡the¡¡dissolute¡¡Oriental¡¡enjoyed¡¡himself¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡well¡¡at¡¡Rome¡¡as¡¡

he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done¡¡in¡¡Constantinople¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡after¡¡Alexander¡¡had¡¡achieved¡¡

the¡¡triple¡¡tiara£»¡¡Bajazet¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡his¡¡forty¡¡thousand¡¡ducats¡¡any¡¡longer¡£¡¡

The¡¡Pope£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡wrote¡¡strongly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sultan£»¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡King¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡France¡¡¡¡¡¡designed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡seize¡¡¡¡¡¡Prince¡¡¡¡¡¡Djem¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡war¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡account¡¡

against¡¡the¡¡Turks¡£¡¡This¡¡does¡¡not¡¡weary¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡indeed£»¡¨¡¡declared¡¡Mary¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Alexander¡¡¡¡¡¡added£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡enable¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡resist¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡French¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡spare¡¡

Bajazet's¡¡realms¡¡the¡¡threatened¡¡invasion£»¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡forty¡¡thousand¡¡ducats¡¡

must¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡immediately¡¡¡¡¡¡forthcoming¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡Sultan£»¡¡¡¡¡¡doubtless¡¡¡¡¡¡appalled¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡

such¡¡a¡¡threat£»¡¡despatched¡¡the¡¡money¡¡with¡¡a¡¡private¡¡letter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡as¡¡great¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡diplomat¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Pope¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡evade¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡gigantic¡¡

annual¡¡impost¡¡by¡¡compounding¡¡on¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Djem¡£¡¡Unfortunately¡¡for¡¡

him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡papal¡¡¡¡¡¡envoy¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Bajazet's¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡messenger¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡

captured¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡return¡¡journey¡¡by¡¡the¡¡brother¡¡of¡¡Cardinal¡¡della¡¡Rovere¡¡

¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡Alexander's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bitterest¡¡¡¡¡¡enemy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡contents¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡secret¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡

became¡¡¡¡¡¡known£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Christian¡¡¡¡¡¡world¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡horror¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡Bajazet¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡offered¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡occupant¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡St¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Peter's¡¡¡¡¡¡throne¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡hundred¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡

ducats¡¡to¡¡assassinate¡¡Prince¡¡Djem£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Time¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡passed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Pope¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡triumphed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡enemies¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡

prepared¡¡to¡¡abandon¡¡the¡¡person¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡Turk¡¡to¡¡Charles¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡

and¡¡effectively¡¡checkmated¡¡the¡¡formidable¡¡Rovere¡¡for¡¡a¡¡season¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡then£»¡¡

as¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡know£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Prince¡¡¡¡¡¡Djem¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡perished£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡latest¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡writers¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡160¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡161¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡



declare¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡actually¡¡¡¡reached¡¡¡¡¡¡France£»¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡die¡¡¡¡¡¡there£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ruined¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

own¡¡¡¡¡¡debaucheries£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡one£»¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡accepted¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡

reached¡¡France£»¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡for¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡Alexander¡¡VI¡£¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡man¡¡to¡¡

let¡¡any¡¡human¡¡life¡¡stand¡¡between¡¡his¡¡treasury¡¡and¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡

ducats¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Signor¡¡Mannetti¡¡preserved¡¡silence¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡in¡¡very¡¡

surprising¡¡fashion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Chadlands¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡

had¡¡been¡¡reflecting¡¡and¡¡now¡¡proceeded¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡aloud¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡¡¡¡¡must£»¡¡¡¡¡¡however£»¡¡¡¡¡¡restrain¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡natural¡¡¡¡¡¡impatience¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡longer£»¡¡

until¡¡another¡¡night¡¡has¡¡passed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡will£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡please£»¡¡myself¡¡spend¡¡some¡¡

hours¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Grey¡¡¡¡¡¡Room¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡dark£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡learn¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡medieval¡¡¡¡¡¡spirits¡¡

have¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shall¡¡I¡¡see¡¡the¡¡wraith¡¡of¡¡Prince¡¡Djem£»¡¡think¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Or¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡ghost¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡Pinturicchio¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hovering¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡picture£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Or¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡

bygone£»¡¡cunning¡¡workers¡¡in¡¡plaster¡¡who¡¡built¡¡the¡¡ceiling£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡will¡¡at¡¡

least¡¡talk¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡Tuscany£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡at¡¡home¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡protested¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡could¡¡permit£»¡¡signor£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡must¡¡happen£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡old¡¡

gentleman¡¡calmly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡need¡¡not¡¡fear¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡£¡¡I¡¡jest¡¡about¡¡the¡¡

spirits¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡spirits¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Grey¡¡Room£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡there¡¡are£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡

not¡¡such¡¡as¡¡can¡¡quarrel¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¡or¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡is£»¡¡however£»¡¡something¡¡

much¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡any¡¡spirit¡¡lurking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡your¡¡house¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡potent£»¡¡

sleepless£»¡¡fiendish¡¡thing£»¡¡and¡¡far¡¡from¡¡wondering¡¡at¡¡all¡¡that¡¡has¡¡happened£»¡¡

I¡¡only¡¡marvel¡¡that¡¡worse¡¡did¡¡not¡¡befall¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡talisman£»¡¡

the¡¡'open¡¡sesame¡£'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡safe¡¡enough¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡mistaken¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡my¡¡

fires¡¡are¡¡burning¡¡low£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡take¡¡more¡¡than¡¡your¡¡Grey¡¡Room¡¡to¡¡extinguish¡¡

them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡hold¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡clue¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡labyrinth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡pass¡¡¡¡¡¡safely¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡

again¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡­morrow¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡right¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ