the grey room(灰房间)-第31章
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〃If nothing's fallen but timber； I sha'n't mind；〃 answered Mannering；
〃but you've made me devilish uneasy now。 If anything further went
wrong … well； to put it mildly； they would say your uncle ought to have
known a great deal better。〃
〃He does know a great deal better。 It's only that temporarily he's
knocked off his balance。 But I hardly feel as anxious as you do。 There's
Mary against May； and even if my uncle were for him； on a general； vague
theory of something esoteric and outside nature； which you can't fairly call
unreasonable any more； Mannering； seeing what's happened … even if Sir
Walter felt tempted to let him have his way； I don't believe he'd really
consent when it came to the point。〃
〃I hope not…I hope not；〃 answered the other。 〃Such a concession would
take a lot of explanation if the result were another of these disasters。
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There ought to be an official guard over the room。〃
〃After to…morrow there certainly will be；〃 replied Henry。 〃You may
be sure the police won't leave it again till they've satisfied themselves。
All the same； I don't see how a dozen of them will be any safer than one …
even if it's some material and physical thing that happens； as we must
suppose。 And for that matter； if it's really supernatural； why should a
dozen be safer than one？ Obviously they wouldn't。 Whatever it is； it can
strike as it likes and without being struck back。〃
But Dr。 Mannering did not answer these questions。 He was
considering a little book in his pocket； which he would hand over to the
police in London next morning。
〃Poor chap … if he could have begun by taking the problem by the
throat； as he has written here。 But； instead； it took him by the throat！〃
He took Hardcastle's notebook from his pocket and read again the last
few pages。
〃He was dreaming of his theories to the last； when he should surely
have been girt up in every limb to face facts；〃 said Lennox。 〃He never
realized the horrible danger。〃
Perusal of the detective's data had revealed an interesting fact。 It was
known by his colleagues that he designed a book on the theory and
practice of criminal investigations； and in many of his pocket…books；
subsequently examined； were found memoranda and jottings； doubtless
destined to be worked out at another time。 It was clear that he had； for a
few moments； drifted away from the Grey Room in thought when his
death overtook him。 Past events； not present problems； were apparently
responsible for the reflections that occupied his mind。 He was not
concentrating on the material phenomena actually under his observation
when he died； but following some private meditations provoked by his
experiences。
〃Elimination embraces the secret of success；〃 he had written。
〃Exercise the full force of your intelligence and spare no pains to
eliminate from every case all matter not bearing directly upon the actual
problem。 Nine times out of ten the issue is direct； and once permit side
issues to draw their tracks across it； once admit metaphysical lines of
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THE GREY ROOM
reasoning； the result will be confusion and a problem increasing in
complexity at every stage。 Only in romances； where a plot is invented and
then complicated by deliberate art； shall we find the truth ultimately
permitted to appear in some subordinate incident； or individual； studiously
kept in the background … that is the craft of telling detective stories。 But；
in truth； one needs to lay ho1d of the problem by the throat at the outset。
Deception is too much the province of the criminal and too little the
business of the investigator； and where it may be possible to creep； like a
snake； into a case； unknown for what you truly are； then your
opportunities and chances of success are enormously increased。 It is；
however； the exception when one can start without the knowledge of
anybody involved； and the Scotland Yard of the future will pursue its
business under very different circumstances from the present。 The
detective's work should be made easier and not more difficult。 None
should know who is working on a case。 The law's representatives should
be disguised and move among the characters surrounding the crime as
something other than they really are。 They will … 〃
Here Hardcastle's reflections came to an end。 Some previous notes
there were of superficial accidents in the Grey Room and a rough ground
plan of it； but nothing more。 He had evidently； for the time being； broken
away from his environment and was merely thinking； with a pen on paper；
when he died。
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CHAPTER VII
THE FANATIC
A Succession of incidents； that must have perturbed the doctor and
his companion in earnest； had followed upon their departure from
Chadlands； and Mary soon discovered that she was faced with a terrible
problem。
For one young woman had little chance of winning her way against an
old man and the religious convictions that another had impressed upon
him。 Sir Walter and the priest were now at one； nor did the common
sense of a fourth party to the argument convince them。 At dinner
Septimus May declared his purpose。
〃We are happily free of any antagonistic and material influence；〃 he
said。 〃Providence has willed that those opposed to us should be taken
elsewhere； and I am now able to do my duty without more opposition。〃
〃Surely； father； you do not wish this？〃 asked Mary。 〃I thought you …〃
But the elder was fretful。
〃Let me eat my meal in peace；〃 he answered。 〃I am not made of iron；
and reason cuts both ways。 It was reasonable to deny Mr。 May before
these events。 It would be unreasonable to pretend that the death of Peter
Hardeastle has not changed my opinions。 To cleave to the possibility of a
physical explanation any longer is mere folly and obstinacy。 I believe
him to be right。〃
〃This is fearful for me … and fearful for everybody here。 Don't you
see what it would mean if anything happened to you； Mr。 May？ Even
supposing there is a spirit hidden in the Grey Room with power and
permission to destroy us … why； that being so； are you any safer than dear
Tom was or this poor man？〃
〃Because I am armed； Mary； and they were defenseless。 Unhappily
youth is seldom clothed in th
