the grey room(灰房间)-第24章
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had made a study of the superficial etiquette and manners and customs of
what is called 〃the best〃 society； and knew its ways as a naturalist
patiently masters the habits of a species。
Chadlands saw a small； fair man with scanty hair； a clean…shaven face；
a rather feminine cast of features； a broad forehead； slate…grey eyes； and a
narrow； lipless mouth which revealed very fine white teeth when he spoke。
It was a colorless face and challenged no attention； but it was a face that
served as an excellent canvas； and few professional actors had ever
surpassed Peter in the art of making up their features。
Similarly he could disguise his voice； the natural tones of which were
low； monotonous； and of no arrestive quality。 Mr。 Hardcastle surprised
Sir Walter by his commonplace appearance and seeming youth； for he
looked ten years younger than the forty he had lived。 A being so
undistinguished rather disappointed his elder； for the master of Chadlands
had imagined that any man of such wide celebrity must offer superficial
marks of greatness。
But here was one so insignificant and so undersized that it seemed
impossible to imagine him a famous Englishman。 His very voice； in its
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level； matter…of…fact tones； added to the suggestion of mediocrity。
Sir Walter found； however； that the detective did not undervalue
himself。 He was not arrogant； but revealed decision and immense will
power。 From the first he imposed his personality； and made people forget
the accidents of his physical constitution。 He said very little during
breakfast； but listened with attention to the conversation。
He observed that Henry Lennox spoke seldom； but studied him
unobtrusively； as a man concerning whom he specially desired to know
more。 Hardcastle proved himself well educated； indeed； his reading；
studiously pursued； and his intellectual attainments； developed by hard
work and ambition； far exceeded those of any present。
The clergyman returned to his own ground； and expressed his former
opinions； to which Hardcastle listened without a shadow of the secret
surprise they awoke in him。
〃The Witchcraft Act assnmes that there can be no possible
communication between living men and spirits；〃 he said in answer to an
assertion； whereon Septimus May instantly took up the challenge。
〃A fatuous； archaic assumption； and long since destroyed by actual；
human experience；〃 he replied。 〃It is time such blasphemous folly
should be banished from the Statute Book。 I say 'blasphemous' because
such an Act takes no cognizance of the Word of God。 Outworn Acts of
Parliament are responsible for a great deal of needless misery in this world；
and it is high time these ordinances of another generation were sent to the
dust heap。〃
〃In that last opinion I heartily agree with you；〃 declared the detective。
Henry ventured a quotation。 He was much interested to learn
whether Hardcastle had any views on the ghost theory。
〃Goethe says that matter cannot exist without spirit； or spirit without
matter。 Would you sub…scribe to that； Mr。 Hardcastle？〃
〃Partially。 Matter can exist without spirit； which you may prove by
getting under an avalanche； but I do most emphatically agree that spirit
cannot exist without matter。 'Divorced from matter； where is life？' asks
Tyndall； and nobody can answer him。〃
〃You misunderstand Goethe；〃 declared Mr。 May。 〃In metaphysics …〃
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〃I have no use for metaphysics。 Believe me； the solemn humbug of
metaphysics doesn't take in a policeman for a moment。 Juggling with
words never advanced the world's welfare or helped the cause of truth。
What； for any practical purpose； does it matter how subjectively true a
statement may be if it is objectively false？ Life is just as real as I am
myself … no more and no less … and all the metaphysical jargon in the world
won't prevent my shins from bleeding wet； red blood when I bark them
against a stone。〃
〃You don't believe in the supernatural then？' asked Mr。 May。
〃Most emphatically not。〃
〃How extraordinary！ And how； if I may ask； do you fill the terrible
vacuum in your life that such a denial must create？〃
〃I have never been conscious of such a vacuum。 I was a sceptic from
my youth up。 No doubt those who were nurtured in superstition； when
reason at last conquers and they break away； may experience a temporary
blank； but the wonders of nature and the achievements of man and the
demands of the suffering world … these should be enough to fill any blank
for a reasonable creature。〃
〃If such are your opinions； you will fail here；〃 declared the clergyman
positively。
〃Why do you feel so sure of that？〃
〃Because you are faced with facts that have no material explanation。
They are supernatural； or supernormal； if you prefer the word。〃
〃'One world at a time；' is a very good motto in my judgment；〃 replied
Hardcastle。 〃We will exhaust the possibilities of this world first； sir。〃
〃They have already been exhausted。 Only a simple； straightforward
question awaits your reply。 Do you believe in another world or do you
not？〃
〃In the endless punishment or the endless happiness of men and
women after they are dead？〃
〃If you like to confuse the issue in that way you are at liberty； of
course； to do so。 As a Christian； I cannot demur。 The problem for the
rationalist is this： How does he ignore the deeply rooted and universal
conviction that there is a life to come？ Is such a sanguine assurance
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planted in the mind of even the lowest savage for nothing？ Where did
the aborigines win that expectation？〃
〃My answer embraces the whole question from my own point of
view；〃 replied Hardcastle。 〃The savages got their idea of dual personality
from phenomena of nature which they were unable to explain … from their
dreams； from their own shadows on the earth and reflections in water；
from the stroke of the lightning and the crash of the thunder； from the echo
of their own voices； thrown back to them from crags and cliffs。 These
things created their superstitions。 Ignorance bred terror； and terror bred
gods and demons … first out of the forces of nature。 That is the appalling
mental legacy handed down in varying shapes to all the chiuldren of men。
We labor under them to this day。〃 〃You would dare to say our most
sacred verities have sprung from the dreams of savages？〃
Hardcastle smiled。
〃It is true。 And dreams； we further know； are often the result of
indige
