the grey room(灰房间)-第41章
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daylight on the following morning。
Dr。 Mannering took it upon himself earnestly to beg they would
abandon the vigil。 Indeed； he argued strongly against it。
〃Consider； gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃you are now possibly convinced in
your own minds that the source of these horrible things is to be found
outside the Grey Room； and not in it。 I agree with you； so far。 We have
reached a pitch where； in my judgment； we are justified in believing that
some motiveless malignity is at work。 But by going into that room； are
you not giving somebody another opportunity to do what has already been
done？ Evil performed without motive； as you know better than I can tell
you； must be the work of a maniac； and there may exist in this house；
unsuspected and unguessed； a servant afflicted in this awful way。 One
has heard of such things。〃
The eldest of his listeners felt unspeakable interest in these remarks；
since his own opinion inclined in the same direction。 He was； however；
none the less chagrined that another should thus voice his secret theory。
He did not answer； but his chief replied。
〃It is proved；〃 said Frith； 〃that no violence overtakes those subjected to
this ordeal。 And I have decided that we shall not be in danger； for this
reason。 We shall be armed as none of the dead were。 Our precautions
will preclude any possibility of foul play from a material assault。 And；
needless to say； we contemplate no other。 We are free agents； and I
should not quarrel with any among us who shirked； but duty is duty； and
we have all faced dangers as great as this … probably far greater。 What
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you say is most interesting； doctor； and I agree with you； that outside the
room we must look for the explanation of these murders … if murders they
are。 Upon that business we shall start to…morrow。 Forgive me for not
going into details； because we have our personal methods。 They embrace
the element of surprise； and； of course； prevent any conversation
concerning what we are going to do until we have done it。〃
〃Supposing you are all found dead to…morrow？〃 asked Dr。 Mannering
bluntly。
〃Then we are all found dead to…morrow； and others will have the
satisfaction of finding out why。〃
〃You suspect somebody； yet can absolve nobody？〃
〃Exactly； Sir Walter。 I said pretty much that to the pressmen； who
forced themselves in this afternoon。 The accursed daily Press of this
country has saved the skin of more blackguards than I like to count。
Keep them and the photographers away。 It ought to be criminal … their
interference。〃
〃I ordered that none was to be admitted for a moment。〃
〃It is always very hard to keep them out。 They are cunning devils；
and take a perverse pleasure in adding to our difficulties。 Little they care
how they defeat justice if they can only get 'copy' for their infernal
newspapers。〃
Inspector Frith spoke with some warmth； he had little for which to
thank the popular Press。
Within an hour the four departed； and it was understood that they
should not be disturbed until they themselves cared to reappear。
Mannering remained with Sir Walter and Lennox。 He was dejected
and exceedingly anxious。 But the others did not share his fears。 The
younger； indeed； felt hopeful that definite results might presently be
recorded； and he went to his bed very thankful to get there。 But Sir
Walter； now calm and refreshed by some hours of sleep during the
afternoon； designed to keep his own vigil。
〃Poor May lies in my library to…night；〃 he said； 〃and I shall watch
beside him。 Mary also wishes to do so。 It seems a proper respect to pay
the dead。 The inquest takes place to…morrow； and he will be buried in his
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parish。 We must attend the funeral； Mary and I。〃
〃If ever a man took his own life； that man did！〃 declared the doctor。
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CHAPTER IX
THE NIGHT WATCH
Though a room had been prepared for Dr。 Mannering； he did not
occupy it long。 The early hours of night found him in a bad temper； and
suffering from considerable exacerbation of nerves。 He troubled little for
himself； and still less concerning the police； for he was human； and their
indifference to his advice annoyed him； but for Sir Walter he was
perturbed； and did not like the arrangements that he had planned。 The
doctor； however； designed to go and come and keep an eye upon the old
man； and he hoped that the master of Chadlands would presently sleep； if
only in his study chair。 For himself he suffered a somewhat unpleasant
experience toward midnight； but had himself to thank for it。 He rested
for an hour in his bedroom； then went downstairs； to find Mary and her
father sitting quietly together in the great library。 They were both reading；
while at the farther end； where a risen moon already frosted the lofty
windows above him； lay Septimus May in his coffin。 Mary had plucked
a wealth of white hothouse flowers； which stood in an old Venetian bowl
at his feet。
Sir Walter was solicitous for the doctor。
〃Not in bed！〃 he exclaimed。 〃This is too bad； Mannering。 We shall
have you ill next。 You have been on your feet for countless hours and
much lies before you to…morrow。 Do be sensible； my dear fellow； and
take some rest … even if you cannot sleep。〃
〃There is no sleep to…night for me。 Lord knows how soon I may be
wanted by those fools playing with fire upstairs。〃
〃We cannot interfere。 For myself a great peace has descended upon
me； now that initiative and the need for controlling and directing is taken
out of my hands。 I began to feel this when poor Hardcastle arrived； but
that composure was sadly shattered。 I am even prepared for the needful
publicity now。 I can face it。 If I erred in the matter of this devoted
priest； I shall not question the judgment of my fellow…men upon me。〃
〃Fear nothing of that sort；〃 answered Mannering。 〃Your fellow…man
has no right to judge you； and the law； with all its faults； appreciates logic。
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Who can question your right to believe that this is a matter outside human
knowledge？ Your wisdom may be questioned； but not your right。
Plenty would have felt the same。 When the mind of man finds itself
groping in the dark； you will see that； in the huge majority of cases； it falls
back upon supernatural explanations for mystery。
