the grey room(灰房间)-第36章
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light's burning … you can see it under the door … and he's praying away；
steady as a steam…threshing machine。 I doubt he's keeping the evil creature
at arm's length； and I'm a tidy lot more hopeful than what I was an hour
ago。 The thing ain't strong enough to touch a man praying to God like
what he can。 But if prayers keep it harmless； then it's got ears and it's
alive！〃
〃Can you believe that； Masters？〃 she whispered。
〃Got to； ma'am。 If it was just a natural horror beyond the reach of
prayer； it would have knocked his reverence out long before now； like
other people。 It settled the police officer in under an hour； and Mr。 May's
been up against it for three … nearly four hours； so far。 He'll bolt it yet； I
shou1dn't wonder； like a ferret bolts a rat。〃
〃You really feel more hopeful？〃
〃Yes； I do； ma'am； and if he can fire the creature and signal 'All's clear'
for Chadlands； it will calm everybody and be a proper feather in his cap；
and he did ought to be made a bishop； at the least。 Not that Scotland
Yard men will believe a word of it to…morrow； all the same。 Ghosts are
bang out of their line； and I never met even a common constable that
believed in 'em； except Bob Parrett； and he had bats in the belfry； poor
chap。 No； they'll reckon it's somebody in the house； I expect； who
wanted to kill t' others； but ain't got no quarrel with Mr。 May。 And you'd
be wise to get back to bed； ma'am； and try to sleep； else you'll catch a cold。
I'll look round again in an hour or to； if I don't go to sleep my self。〃
They parted； while the storm still ran high； and through the empty
corridor； when it was lulled； a voice rolled steadily on from the Grey
Boom。
When it suddenly ceased； an hour before dawn； the storm had already
begun to sink； and through a rack of flying and breaking cloud the
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〃Hunter〃 wheeled westerly to his setting。
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CHAPTER VIII
THE LABORS OF THE FOUR
Despite the storm； Sir Walter slept through the night； and did not
waken until his man drew the blinds upon a dawn sky so clear that it
seemed washed of its blue。 He had directed to be wakened at six o'clock。
〃What of Mr。 May？〃 he asked。
〃Masters wants to know if we shall call him； Sir Walter。〃
〃Not if he has returned to his room； but immediately if still in the Grey
Room。〃
〃He's not in his own room。； sir。〃
〃Then seek him at once。〃
The valet hesitated。
〃Please； Sir Walter； there's none much cares to open the door。〃
He heard his daughter's voice outside at the same moment。
〃Mr。 May has not left the Grey Room； father。〃
〃I'll be with you in a moment；〃 he answered。
Then he rose； dressed partially； and joined her。 She was full of active
fear。
〃All went well at two o'clock；〃 she said； 〃for I crept out to listen。 So
did Masters。 Mr。 May's voice sounded clear and steady。〃
They found the butler at the door of the Grey Room。 He was pale
and mopping his forehead。
〃I've called to him； but it's as silent as the grave in there；〃 he said。
〃It's all up with the gentleman； I know it！〃
〃He may not be there； he may have gone out；〃 answered Sir Walter。
Then he opened the door widely and entered。 The electric light still
shone and killed the pallid white stare of the morning。 Upon a little table
under it they observed Septimus May's Bible； open at an epistle of St。 Paul；
but the priest himself was on the floor some little distance away。 He lay
in a huddled heap of his vestments。 He had fallen upon his right side
apparently； and； though the surplice and cassock which he had worn were
disarranged； he appeared peaceful enough； with his cheek on a foot stool；
as though disposed deliberately upon the ground to sleep。 His biretta was
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still upon his head； his eyes were open； and the fret and passion
manifested by his face in life had entirely left it。 He looked many years
younger； and no emotion of any kind marked his placid countenance。
But he was dead； his heart had ceased to beat and his extremities were
already cold。 The room appeared unchanged in every particular。 As in
the previous cases； death had come by stealth； yet robbed； as far as the
living could judge； of all terror for its victim。
Masters called Caunter and Sir Walter's valet； who stood at the door。
The latter declined to enter or touch the dead； but Caunter obeyed； and
together the two men lifted Mr。 May and carried him to his own room。 In
a moment it seemed that the house knew what had happened。
A scene of panic and hysteria followed below stairs； and； without Jane
Bond's description of it； Mary knew the people were running out of the
house as from a plague。 She left her father with Masters； and strove to
calm the frightened domestics。 She spoke well； and explained that the
event； horrible though it was； yet proved that no cause for their alarm any
longer existed。
〃If it had been a wicked spirit we do not understand； it would have had
no power over Mr。 May； who was a saint of God；〃 she said。 〃Be at peace；
restrain yourselves； and fear nothing now。 There is no ghost here。 Had
it been a demon or any such thing； it must have been conscious； and
therefore powerless against Mr。 May。 This proves that there is some
fearful natural danger which we have not yet discovered hidden in the
room； but no harm can happen to anybody if they do not go into the room。
The police are coming from Scotland Yard in an hour or two； and you may
feel as sure； as I do； and Sir Walter does； that they will find out the truth；
whatever it is。 You must none of yon think of leaving before they come。
If you do； they will only send for you again。 Please prepare your
breakfast and be reasonable。 Sir Walter is terribly upset； and it would be
a base thing if any of you were to desert him at a moment like this。〃
They grew steadier before her； and Mrs。 Forbes； the housekeeper； who
believed what Mary had said； added her voice。
Then Sir Walter's daughter returned to her father； who was with
Masters in the study。 A man had already started for a doctor； but with
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Mannering away there was none nearer than Neon Abbot。
Mary called on Masters to assert his authority； and reassure the
household as she had done。 She told h
