the grey room(»Ò·¿¼ä)-µÚ52½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
room¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡exhausts¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡obvious¡¡¡¡¡¡peculiarities¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Would¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
known¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡meaning¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡golden¡¡¡¡¡¡bull£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡strikes¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡train¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
thought¡¡and¡¡sits¡¡down¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Or¡¡he¡¡may¡¡not¡¡have¡¡finished¡¡with¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡seat¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡survey¡¡¡¡¡¡everything¡¡
around¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡sits¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
makes¡¡his¡¡notes£»¡¡then¡¡his¡¡last¡¡thoughts¡¡enter¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡¡¡¡abstract¡¡reflection¡¡
on¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡subject¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡trade¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡forgets¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡¡
immediately¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡writes¡¡his¡¡ideas¡¡in¡¡his¡¡book¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡been¡¡sitting¡¡
on¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡now¡¡for¡¡some¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡long¡¡we¡¡know¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡
to¡¡create¡¡the¡¡heightened¡¡temperature¡¡which¡¡is¡¡all¡¡the¡¡watchful¡¡fiend¡¡within¡¡
the¡¡mattress¡¡requires¡¡to¡¡summon¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡ascends¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡
and¡¡Hardcastle£»¡¡surprised¡¡as¡¡Captain¡¡May¡¡was¡¡surprised£»¡¡leaps¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡
He¡¡takes¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡steps¡¡forward£»¡¡his¡¡book¡¡and¡¡pen¡¡fall¡¡from¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡drops¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dead¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡£¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡is£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡course£»¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡warm¡¡
when¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Lennox¡¡finds¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡he¡¡leaped¡¡from¡¡is¡¡cold¡¡again¡¡and¡¡
harmless¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡work¡¡done¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡remains¡¡the¡¡priest£»¡¡the¡¡Rev¡£¡¡Septimus¡¡May¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡neither¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡bed£»¡¡nor¡¡sat¡¡upon¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡did¡¡he¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡clearly¡¡knelt¡¡beside¡¡it¡¡
a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡prayer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nothing¡¡more¡¡natural¡¡than¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡
stretch¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡arms¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡mattress£»¡¡¡¡¡¡bury¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡hands£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡
remain¡¡in¡¡commune¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Almighty£»¡¡uttering¡¡petition¡¡after¡¡petition¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡conceived¡¡as¡¡existing¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Grey¡¡Room£»¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡power¡¡to¡¡
escape¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡leaning¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡stretched¡¡upon¡¡
it¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡sunk¡¡¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡presently¡¡¡¡¡¡creates¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡
heightened¡¡¡¡¡¡temperature¡¡¡¡¡¡sufficient¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡arouse¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡destroyer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡enters¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡
him¡¡¡¡¡how£»¡¡we¡¡know¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡he¡¡sinks¡¡unconscious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡while¡¡
the¡¡bed¡¡is¡¡quickly¡¡cold¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡175¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡176¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡to¡¡the¡¡four¡¡detectives¡¡¡¡¡Inspector¡¡Frith¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡pure¡¡chance¡¡
saved¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡doing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡also¡¡
prevented¡¡them¡¡from¡¡discovering¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡in¡¡their¡¡midst¡¡was¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡
all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trouble¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡watch¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
would¡¡certainly¡¡have¡¡died¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡collaborators£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡men¡¡
sat¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡chairs¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡corners¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡room£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chairs¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡harmless¡£¡¡
Whether¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡gas¡¡¡¡¡¡masks¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡indeed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡saved¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remains£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
course£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡proved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Such£»¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡were¡¡the¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Borgia£»¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡
profoundest¡¡chemists¡¡worked¡¡willingly¡¡enough¡¡and¡¡by¡¡doing¡¡so¡¡doubtless¡¡
made¡¡their¡¡fortunes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Their¡¡poisons¡¡were¡¡so¡¡designed¡¡to¡¡act¡¡that£»¡¡by¡¡their¡¡
very¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡operation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡secrets¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡concealed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡clues¡¡
obliterated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chemistry¡¡knows¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡supernatural£»¡¡yet¡¡can£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡
this¡¡case£»¡¡achieve¡¡results¡¡that¡¡may¡¡well¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡black¡¡magic¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡we£»¡¡of¡¡this¡¡day£»¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡find¡¡them¡¡out£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡guess¡¡that¡¡in¡¡
their¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡times£»¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡they¡¡¡¡caused¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡done¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
operations¡¡of¡¡Heaven¡¡alone¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Science¡¡will¡¡be¡¡deeply¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡your¡¡Borgia¡¡mattress£»¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡£¡¡
Science£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡doubt¡¡¡¡¡¡not£»¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡carefully¡¡¡¡¡¡unpick¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡series¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
remarkable¡¡experiments£»¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡make¡¡bold¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡science¡¡may¡¡be¡¡
baffled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cunning¡¡and¡¡forgotten¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡men¡¡long¡¡dust¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡
shall¡¡see¡¡as¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bade¡¡¡¡¡¡Masters¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡Stephano¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡few¡¡¡¡¡¡words£»¡¡
they¡¡parted£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡shook¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡expressed¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡
genuine¡¡gratitude¡¡before¡¡they¡¡did¡¡so¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡little¡¡remains¡¡to¡¡add£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Signor¡¡Mannetti¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡shall¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡
it¡¡is¡¡to¡morrow¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡'Good¡night£¡'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡a¡¡crowning¡¡
joy¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡long¡¡life¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡do¡¡this¡¡service¡¡to¡¡new¡¡and¡¡valued¡¡
friends¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡servants'¡¡hall¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡Masters¡¡related¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡concluded£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡draw¡¡back¡¡what¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡
him¡¡being¡¡younger¡¡than¡¡he¡¡pretends¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He's¡¡older¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡¡¡¡older¡¡
than¡¡that¡¡horror¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Grey¡¡Boom¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He's¡¡a¡¡demon£»¡¡and¡¡he's¡¡killed¡¡the¡¡old¡¡
dog£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡he's¡¡a¡¡Borge¡¡himself¡¡if¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡was¡¡known¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡176¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡177¡
THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡177¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡178¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XIII¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TWO¡¡NOTES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡next¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡delayed¡¡to¡¡
write¡¡to¡¡Scotland¡¡Yard¡¡until¡¡after¡¡seeing¡¡Signor¡¡Mannetti¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡
gentleman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡descended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡presently£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡declared¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡
fatigued¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡sit¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sun¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡sleep¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡lunch£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¨Stephano¡¡is¡¡annoyed¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡hints¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doctor¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Mannering¡¡will¡¡be¡¡here¡¡to¡¡lunch¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡nobody¡¡is¡¡
more¡¡deeply¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡these¡¡things¡¡than¡¡he¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡yourself£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mary¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Come¡¡and¡¡sit¡¡down¡¡and¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡
looking¡¡very¡¡tired¡¡today¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡reaction¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡£¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡worth¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡proceeded¡¡
where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡broken¡¡off¡¡on¡¡the¡¡preceding¡¡night¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡remains¡¡only¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡how¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡in¡¡your¡¡
sad¡¡story¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡not¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡you¡¡to¡¡wonder£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡confess¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡that£»¡¡¡¡signor¡£¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡forget¡¡
such¡¡a¡¡trifling¡¡detail¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But£»¡¡none¡¡the¡¡less£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Our¡¡common¡¡
friend£»¡¡Colonel¡¡Vane£»¡¡put¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thought¡¡in¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡train¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡match¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡£¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡described¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Grey¡¡
Room¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡exactly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡carved¡¡
furniture£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡curios¡¡concerning¡¡which¡¡I¡¡already¡¡had¡¡
heard¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡name¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Lennox¡¡¡¡¡¡completed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡clue£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡
stirred¡¡memories¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ancient¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡my¡¡father£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡young£»¡¡¡¡¡¡telling¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡bed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡chairs¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡gentleman¡¡
named¡¡Lennox¡¡were¡¡connected¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡an¡¡ancient¡¡Italian¡¡suite¡¡of¡¡
three¡¡pieces£»¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡craftsmen¡¡at¡¡Rome¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fifteenth¡¡century¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡
was¡¡papal¡¡furniture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡early¡¡Renaissance£»¡¡well¡¡known¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡being¡¡
in¡¡a¡¡Spanish¡¡collection¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡that¡¡is¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
when¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡market£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡rejoiced¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡hurried¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
Valencia£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sold¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡he¡¡was¡¡even¡¡such¡¡a¡¡man¡¡as¡¡your¡¡
grandfather¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡connoisseur¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡enthusiastic¡¡¡¡¡¡collector¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡¡¡¡¡alas£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡178¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡179¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
hopes¡¡were¡¡short¡lived£»¡¡he¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡opposition¡¡to¡¡a¡¡deeper¡¡purse¡¡
than¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Sir¡¡John¡¡Lennox£»¡¡not¡¡my¡¡father£»¡¡who¡¡secured¡¡the¡¡
bed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡chairs¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡things£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡
returned¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡recollection£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡remembering¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡guessed¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡
upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡right¡¡¡¡¡¡track¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡arms¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Borgia£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡successful¡¡
experiment¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dog£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Prince£»¡¡¡¡¡¡proved¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡correct¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡guessing¡¡
where¡¡the¡¡poison¡¡lay¡¡hidden¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡express¡¡my¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡your¡¡amazing¡¡goodness£»¡¡or¡¡my¡¡
gratitude£»¡¡or¡¡my¡¡admiration¡¡for¡¡your¡¡genius£»¡¨¡¡declared¡¡Sir¡¡Walter£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡
other¡¡contradicted¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Genius¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡word¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡claim¡£¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡
nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡yourself¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡done£»¡¡¡¡¡¡given¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡
knowledge¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡gratitude£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡indeed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
expression¡¡¡¡¡¡also£»¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡show¡¡¡¡¡¡gratitude¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡simple¡¡¡¡¡¡manner£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dear¡¡
friend¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡practical£»¡¡old¡¡man¡¡and£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡honest£»¡¡I¡¡very¡¡greatly¡¡covet¡¡
the¡¡Borgia¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡chairs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡if¡¡indeed¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡asking¡¡
too¡¡grand¡¡a¡¡fav