the grey room(灰房间)-第29章
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left England； save when yachting with friends； and an occasional glimpse
of a Mediterranean port was all that Sir Walter knew of the earth outside
his own country。 But he remembered with gratitude the opportunities
won from her。 He had taken her round the world； and found himself
much the richer in great memories for that experience。
He was still thinking when Mary found him； with his old dog asleep at
his feet。 She brought him a coat and umbrella； for the threatened storm
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advanced swiftly under clouds laden with rain。 Reluctantly enough he
returned to the present。 A telegram had been received from London；
directing Dr。 Mannering to reach the nearest telephone and communicate
direct。 The doctor was gone to Newton Abbot； and nothing could be
done until he came back。 Not knowing what had occupied Sir Walter's
mind； Mary urged him to leave Chadlands without delay。
〃Put the place into the hands of the police and take me with you；〃 she
said。 〃Nothing can be gained by our stopping； and； after this； it is certain
the authorities will not rest until they have made a far more searching
examination than has ever yet been carried out。 They will feel this disaster
a challenge。〃
〃Thankfully I would go；〃 he answered。 〃Most thankfully I would
avoid what is hanging over my head。 It was terrible enough when your
dear husband died； but now we shall be the centre of interest to half
England。 Every instinct cries to me to get out of it； but obviously that is
impossible； even were I permitted to do so。 It is the duty of the police to
suspect every man and woman under my roof … myself with the rest。
These appalling things have occurred in my home； and I must bear the
brunt of them and stand up to all that they mean。 No Lennox ever ran
from his duty； however painful it might be。 The death of this man … so
eminent in his calling … will attract tremendous attention and be； as you say；
a sort of direct challenge to the authorities for whom he worked。 They
will resent this second tragedy； and with good reason。 The poor man；
though I cannot pretend that I admired him； was a force for good in the
world； and his peculiar genius was devoted to the detection of crime and
punishment of criminals … a very worthy occupation； however painful to
our ideas。〃
They sat in the library now； and Henry Lennox spoke to his uncle； with
his eye on the window； waiting for the sight of the doctor's car。
〃They'll want to tear the place down； very likely。 They'll certainly
have no mercy on the stones and mortar； any more than they will on us。〃
〃They can spare themselves that trouble； and you your fears；〃 declared
Septimus May； who had joined them。 〃It is impossible that they will be
here until to…morrow。 Meantime …〃
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〃It is easy to see what they will do；〃 proceeded young Lennox； 〃and
what they will think also。 Nor can we prevent them； even if we wanted
to。 I image their theory will be this。 They will suppose that Mr。
Hardcastle； left in that room alone； was actually on the track of those
responsible for Tom's death。 They will guess that； in some way； or by
some accident； he surprised the author of the tragedy； and the assassin；
seeing his danger； resorted to the same unknown means of murder as
before。 They may imagine some hidden lunatic concealed here； whose
presence is only known to some of us。 They may suspect a homicidal
maniac in me； or my uncle； or Masters； or anybody。 Certainly they will
seek a natural explanation and flout the idea of any other。〃
The clergyman protested； but Henry was not prepared to traverse the
old ground again。
〃I have as much right to my opinions as you to yours；〃 he said。 〃And I
am positive this is man's work。〃
Then Mary announced that Mannering's car was in sight。 The library
windows opened on the western side of the house and afforded a view of
the main drive； along which the doctor's little hooded car came flying； like
a dead leaf in a storm。 But it was not alone。 A hospital motor ambulance
followed behind it。
They soon learned of curious things； and the house was first thrown
into a great bustle and then restored to peace。
Mannering had spoken for half an hour with London； and received
directions that puzzled him not a little by their implication。 For a moment
he seemed unwilling to speak before Mary。 Then he begged her bluntly
to leave them for a while。
〃It's this way；〃 he said when she was gone。 〃They're harboring a mad
idea in London； though； of course； the facts will presently convince them
to the contrary。 Surely I must know death when I see it？ But a
divisional surgeon； or some other medical official； directs me to bring this
poor fellow's body to London to…night。 Every care must be taken； warmth
and air applied； and so on。 They've evidently got a notion that； since life
appears to go so easily in the Grey Room； and leave no scratch or wound；
either life has not gone at all； or that it may be within the power of science
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to bring it back again。 In a sense this is a reflection upon me … as though
it were possible that I could make any mistake between death and
suspended animation； but I must do as I'm ordered。 I travel to town with
the dead man to…night； and if they find he is anything but dead as a
doornail； I'll …〃
The doctor was writing his reminiscences； 〃The Recollections of a
Country Physician；〃 and he could not fail to welcome these events； for
they were destined to lend extraordinary attraction to a volume otherwise
not destined to be much out of the common。
He spoke again。
〃I should be very glad if you would accompany me； Lennox。 I shall
have a police inspector from Plymouth； but it would be a satisfaction if
you could come。 Moreover； you would help me in London。〃
〃I'll come up； certainly。 You don't mind； Uncle Walter？〃
〃Not if Mannering wishes it。 We owe him more than we can ever
repay。 Anything that we can do to lessen his labors ought to be done。〃
〃I should certainly welcome your company。 A small saloon carriage
is to be put on to the Plymouth train that leaves Newton for London before
midnight。 We shall be met at Paddington by some of their doctors。 And
as to Chadlands； four men arrive to…morrow morning by the same train
that Peter Hardeastle came down in last night。 We shall pass them on the
way。 They will take charge both of the Grey Room and the house as
soon as they arrive。
〃And they will be welcome。 I would myself willingly pull down
Chadlands to the foundations if by so doing I coul
