the grey room(灰房间)-第49节
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He's got a tongue like a rat…trap； and he leaves you guessing every time。
He's amazing clever； so's his man。 That Stephano knows a thing or two！
He's got round Jane Bond something disgraceful。 I never knew what was
in Jane … and her five and fifty if she's an hour。〃
〃Would he be safe in the Grey Room？〃 said Sir Walter。
〃He'd be safe anyhere。 The question in my mind is whether our
silver's safe； and a few other things。 I catched him poking about in the
silver table only this morning。 He knows what's what。 He knows
everything。 I wouldn't say he ain't one of the swell mob myself … made
up to look like an old man。 I'll swear he's never seen eighty years for all
he pretends。〃
Henry laughed。
〃Don't you be frightened of him； Masters； he's all right。〃
〃Let him go in the Grey Room by all means； Mr。 Henry。 He knows
he's safe anywhere。 Yes； Sir Walter； he knows he's safe enough。 He's got
the measure of it。〃
〃Prince is to go with him； Masters。〃
〃Prihce！ Why； ma'am？〃
〃We don't know。 He wishes it。 He can't hurt poor old Prince
anyway。〃
〃Well； I sha'n't sleep no worse； and I hope none of you won't； if you'll
excuse me。 Come what will； there's nothing in the Grey Room will catch
that man napping。 Not that I'm against the gentleman in general； you
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understand。 Only I wouldn't trust him a foot。 He's play…acting； and he's
no more a foreigner than I am … else he couldn't talk so fine English as I do；
if not finer。〃
〃Masters is on our side； father；〃 said Mary。 〃And he's right。 The
signor is play…acting。 He loves to be in the centre of the stage。 All old
people do； and one of the pathetic things in life is that they're seldom
allowed to be。 So he's making the most of his opportunity。〃
〃And if you refuse； Uncle Walter； he'll only go away and say he cannot
help you； and accuse us of giving him all this trouble for nothing；〃 added
Henry Lennox。
They had their wish at last； and when Signor Mannetti came down to
an early dinner in splendid spirits； Sir Walter conceded his desire。
〃Good； my friend！ And do not fear that a night of anxiety awaits you。
Indeed； if I am not mistaken； it will be possible for us all to sleep very
soundly； though we may go to bed rather late。 But I think we must be
prepared not to retire till after two o'clock。 I will enter upon my watch at
eight … in half an hour。 The door shall be left open； as you wish。 But I
beg that none will approach the east end of the corridor。 That is only fair。
I will； however； permit Mr。 Lennox to station himself on the top of the
great staircase； and from time to time he may challenge me。 He shall say
'Is all well？' and be sure I shall answer 'All is well。' Could anything be
more satisfactory？〃
Signor Mannetti ate sparingly； then he donned a big； fur； motor…coat
and declared himself ready。 They thought he had forgotten Prince； but he
insisted upon the company of the ancient spaniel。 The dog had fed； and
he could sleep as well in one place as another。
〃Fear not；〃 said the Italian。 〃I shall be considerate to your ancient pet。
I do not beg his aid without reason。 He is on my side and will help me if
he can … infirm though he be。 I have made friends with him。 Set him at
my feet。 I will sit here under the electric light and read my Italian
papers。〃
Thus once again a solitary occupied the Grey Room and measured his
intelligence against the terrible forces therein concealed。 Signor
Mannetti took leave of them cheerfully at eight o'clock； and while Sir
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Walter and Mary descended to the library； Henry took up his station at the
head of the staircase。 The corridor was lighted and the door of the Grey
Room left open。
But in ten minutes the watcher looked out and cried to Lennox； who
sat smoking about thirty…five yards from him。
〃There is a great draught here；〃 he said。 〃I will close the door； but
leave it ajar that we may salute each other from time to time。〃
The hours crept on and since everybody at Chadlands knew what was
happening； few retired to rest。 It was understood that some time after
midnight Signor Mannetti hoped to declare the result of his experiment。
Henry Lennox challenged half…hourly； always receiving a brisk reply。
But a little after half…past one his 〃All well； signor？〃 received no response。
He raised his voice； but still no answer came。 He went to the door；
therefore； and looked into the Grey Room。 The watcher had slipped
down in the armchair they had set for him under the electric light； and was
lying motionless； but in an easy position。 He still wore his fur…coat。
Prince Henry did not see。 The room was silent and cold。 The electric
light burned brightly； and both windows were open。 Young Lennox
hastened downstairs。 His thoughts concentrated on his uncle； and his
desire was to spare him any needless shock。 For a moment he believed
that Signor Mannetti had succumbed in the Grey Room； as others before
him； but he could not be certain。 A bare half…hour had elapsed since the
watcher had uttered a cheerful answer to the last summons； and told them
his vigil was nearly ended。 Lennox sought Masters； therefore； told him
that the worst was to be feared； yet explained that the old man who had
watched in the Grey Room might not be dead but sunk in sleep。
Masters was sanguine that it might be so。
〃Be sure he is so。 I'll fetch the liqueur brandy； and； armed with his
panacea； he followed Henry upstairs。 Signor Mannetti had not moved；
but as they approached him； to their infinite relief he did so； opened his
eyes； stared wildly about him； and then realized the situation。
〃Alas！ Now I have frightened you out of your senses；〃 he said； looking
at their anxious faces。 〃All is well。 In less than another hour I should
have summoned Sir Walter。 But just that last half…hour overcame me；
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and I sank into sleep。 What is the time？〃
〃A quarter to two； signor。〃
〃Good！ Then let your uncle be summoned。 I have found out the
secret。〃
〃A thimbleful of old cognac； signor？〃 asked Masters。
〃Willingly； my friend； willingly。 I see how wise you both were。 I
approve and thank you。 You thought that I had followed the others into
the shades； yet meant to restore me if you could without frightening Sir
Walter。 To go to sleep was unpardonable。〃
Abraham Masters and Henry descended with the good news； while the
old man drank。
〃I shall detain you half an hour or so；〃 he said； when they all returned
to him。 〃But I have no fear that anybody will want to fall asleep。〃
Sir Walter spoke。
〃Thank Heaven； signor； thank Heaven！ All is well with you？〃
〃All is absolutely well with me； but then I have slept refreshingly for
some time。 You； I fear； have not closed your eyes。
〃Would you have any objection to Masters hearing what you may have
to tell us？ By so doing a true and ungarbled report will got out to
Chadlands。〃
〃My report will go out to the whole world； Sir Walter。 All is
accomplished and established on certain proofs。 Your good spaniel has
played his part also。 I salute him … the old Prince。〃
Henry now observed that the dog was stretched on the floor at Signor
Mannetti's feet。
〃Still asleep？〃
Mary knelt to pat the spaniel and started back。
〃How horribly cold he is！〃
〃For ever asleep … a martyr to science。 He was to die on Friday；
remember。 He has received euthanasia a little sooner； and nothing in
