the grey room(灰房间)-第42章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
back upon supernatural explanations for mystery。 This fact has made
fortunes for not a few who profit by the credulity of human nature。
Faiths are founded on it。 May carried too many guns for you。 He
honestly convinced you that his theory of his son's death was the correct
theory； and I； for one； though I deplore the fact that you came to see with
his eyes； and permitted him to do what he believed was his duty； yet
should be the last to think your action open to judicial blame。 No
Christian judge； at any rate； would have the least right to question you。
In a word； there is no case yet against anybody。 The force responsible for
these things is utterly unknown； and if ill betides the men upstairs； that is
only another argument for you。〃
Sir Walter put down his book … a volume of pious meditations。 Events
had drawn him into a receptive attitude toward religion。 He was surprised
at Dr。 Mannering。
〃I never thought to hear you admit as much as that。 How strangely
the currents of the mind ebb and flow； Mannering。 Here are you with
your scepticism apparently weakening； while I feel thankfully assured； at
any rate for the moment； that only a material reason accounts for these
disasters。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the physician。
〃Because against the powers of any dark spirit Septimus May was safe。
Even had he been right and his prayer had freed such a being and cast it
out of my house； would the Almighty have permitted it to rend and destroy
the agent of its liberation？ May could not have suffered death by any
conscious； supernatural means if our faith is true； but； as he himself said；
when he came here after the death of his boy； he did not pretend that faith
in God rendered a human being superior to the laws of matter。 If； as was
suggested at dinner to…day； there is somebody in this house with a mind
unhinged who has discovered a secret of nature by which human life can
be destroyed and leave no sign； then this dead clergyman was； of course；
126
… Page 127…
THE GREY ROOM
as powerless against such a hideous danger as any other human being。〃
〃But surely such a theory is quite as wild as any based on supernatural
assumptions？ You know the occupants of this house … every one of them；
Sir Walter。 Mary knows them； Henry knows them。 I have attended
most of them at one time or another。 Is there one against whom such a
suspicion can be entertained？〃
〃Not one indeed。〃
〃Could the war have made a difference？〃 asked Mary。 〃We know
how shell shock and wounds to a poor man's head had often left him
apparently sound； yet in reality weakened as to his mind。〃
〃Yes； that is true enough。 And when the unfortunate men get back
into everyday life from the hospitals； or endeavor to resume their old work；
the weakness appears。 I have seen cases。 But of all the men in
Chadlands there are only three examples of any such catastrophe。 I know
a few in the village … none where one can speak of actual insanity；
however。 Here there is only Fred Caunter； who was hurt about the head
on board ship； but the injury left no defect。〃
〃Fred is certainly as sane as I am … perhaps saner；〃 admitted Sir Walter。
〃Don't think I really imagine there is anything of the kind here；〃 added
Mannering。 〃But if these four men are in a condition to proceed with
their work to…morrow； you must expect them to make a searching
examination of everybody in the house。 And they may find a good
number of nervous and hysterical women； if not men。 It is not their
province； however； to determine whether people are weak in the head； and
I know； as well as you do； that none in this house had any hand in these
disasters。〃
〃Never was a family with fewer secrets than mine；〃 declared Sir
Walter。
〃The morning may bring light；〃 said Mary。
〃I feel very little hope that it will；〃 answered Mannering。 〃The
inquiry will proceed； whatever happens to…night； and we may all have to
go to London to attend it。 After they have turned Chadlands and
everybody in it upside down； as they surely will； then we may be called； if
they arrive at no conclusion。〃
127
… Page 128…
THE GREY ROOM
〃I am prepared to be。 I shall not leave the country； of course； until I
receive permission to do so。 It must be apparent to everybody that I am；
of all men； if not the most involved； at least the most anxious to clear this
mystery … that nobody can doubt。〃
〃Then you must conserve your strength and be guided；〃 said
Mannering。 〃I do beg of you to retire now； and insist upon Mary doing
the same。 Nothing can be gained by the dead； and necessary energy is
lost to the living by this irrational vigil。 It is far past midnight； I beg you
to retire； Sir Walter； and Mary； too。 There is nothing that should keep you
out of bed； and I urge you to go to it。〃
But the elder refused。
〃Few will sleep under this roof to…night；〃 he said。 〃There is a spirit
of human anxiety and distress apparent； and naturally so。 I will stay here
with this good man。 He is better company than many of the living。 I
feel a great peace here。 The dead sustains me。〃
He joined Mannering； however； in an appeal to his daughter； and；
satisfied that their friend would not be far off at any time； Mary presently
left them。 She declared herself as not anxious or nervous。 She had
never believed that anything but natural causes were responsible for her
husband's death； and felt an assurance that morning would bring some
measure； at least； of explanation。 She went out of the room with
Mannering； and； promising her to keep a close watch on her father； the
doctor left Mary； lighted his pipe； and strolled to the billiard…room。
Presently he patrolled the hall and pursued his own reflections。 Where
his thoughts bent； there his body unconsciously turned； and； forgetting the
injunction of the silent men aloft … indeed； forgetting them also for a
moment … Mannering ascended the stairs and proceeded along the corridor
toward the Grey Room。 But he did not get far。 Out of the darkness a figure
rose and stopped him。 The man turned an electric torch on Dr。
Mannering； and recognized him。 It appeared that while one detective
kept guard outside； the others watched within。 At the sound of voices the
door of the Grey Room opened； and in the bright light that streamed from
it a weird figure stood … a tall； black object with huge and flashing eyes
and what looked like an elephant's trunk descending from between them。
128
… Page 129…
THE GREY ROOM
The watchers； wearing hoods and gas masks；
