the grey room(灰房间)-第14节
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They will come unprejudiced and unperturbed。 If there has been foul
play； they will find it out。 In my opinion it is incredible that they will be
baffled。〃
〃The best men engaged in such work must come to help us。 I cannot
bring myself to believe the room is haunted； and that this is the operation
of an evil force outside Nature； yet permitted by the Creator to destroy
human life。 The idea is too horrible … it revolts me； Mannering。〃
〃Well； it may do so。 Banish any such irrational thought from your
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mind。 It is not worthy of you。 I must go now。 I will telegraph to
London … to Sir Howard Fellowes … also； I think to the State authorities on
forensic medicine。 A Government analyst must do his part。 Shall I
communicate with Scotland Yard to…day？〃
〃Leave that until the evening。 You will come again to see Mary；
please。〃
〃Mosr certainly I shall。 At three o'clock I should have a reply to my
messages。 I will go into Newton Abbot and telephone from there。〃
〃I thank you； Mannering。 I wish it were possible to do more myself。
My mind is cruelly shaken。 This awful experience has made an old man
of me。〃
〃Don't say that。 It is awful enough； I admit。 But ＇ife is full of awful
things。 Would that you might have escaped them！〃
〃Henry will help you； if it is in his power。 It would be well if we
could give him something to do。 He feels guilty in a way。 I have little
time to observe other people； but …〃
〃He's all right。 He can run into Newton with me now。 It looks to
me as though his own life had hung on the pitch of a coin。 They tossed
up！ After that … so he tells me … he tried to dissuade your son…in…law； but
failed。 Lennox is rather cowed and dismayed … naturally。 The young；
however； survive mental and physical disasters and recover in the most
amazing manner。 Their mental recuperation is on a par with their bodily
powers of recovery。 Nature is on their side。 Let me urge you to go down
and take food。 Tf you can even lunch with your party I should。 It will
distract your mind。〃
Sir Walter declared that he had intended to do so。
〃I am an old soldier；〃 he said。 〃It shall not be thought I evade my
obligations for personal sorrow。 As for this room； it is accursed and I am
in a mind to destroy it utterly。〃
〃Wait … wait。 We shall see what our fellowmen can find out for us。
Do not think； because I am practical and business…like； I am not feeling
this。 Seldom have I had such a shock in nearly forty years' work。 You
know； without my telling you； how deep and heartfelt is my sympathy。 I
feel for you both from my soul。〃
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〃I am sure of that。 I will try and forget myself for the present。 I must
go to my guests。 I am very sorry for them also。 It is a fearful
experience to crash upon their party of pleasure。〃
〃I hope Travers may stay。 He is a comfort to you； is he not？〃
〃Nobody can be a comfort just now。 I shall not ask him to stay。
Fortunately Henry is here。 He will stop for the present。 Mary is all that
matters。 I shall take her away as quickly as possible and devote my
every thought to her。〃
〃I'm sure you will。 It is a sad duty； but may prove a very necessary
one。 Their devotion was absolute。 It must go hard with her when she
realizes the whole meaning of this。〃
He went his way； and Sir Walter returned to his child again。 With her
he visited the dead； when told that he could do so。 She was now very
self…controlled。 She stopped a little while only beside her husband。
〃How beautiful and happy he looks；〃 she said。 〃But what I loved is
gone； and； going； it has changed all the rest。 This is not Tom … only the
least part of him。〃
Her father bowed his head。
〃I felt so when your mother died； my dearest child。〃
Then she knelt down and put her hand on the hand of the dead man
and prayed。 Her father knelt beside her； and it was he； not the young
widow； who wept。
She rose presently。
〃I can think of him better away from him now；〃 she said。 〃I will not
see him again。〃
They returned to her old nursery； and he told her that he was going to
face life and take the head of his table at luncheon。
〃How brave of you； dear father；〃 she said。 Sir Walter waited for the
gong to sound； but it did not； and he rebuked himself for thinking that it
would sound。 Masters had a more correct sense of the fitness of things
than he。 He thought curiously upon this incident； and suspected that he
must be unhinged a little。 Then he remembered a thing that he had
desired to say to Mary and returned to her。
〃I do not wish you to sleep in this room tonight； my darling；〃 he said。
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〃Jane has begged me not to。 I am going to sleep with her；〃 she
answered。
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CHAPTER IV
〃BY THE HAND OF GOD〃
Sir Walter always remembered that Sunday luncheon and declared
that it reminded him of a very painful experience in his early life。 When
big…game shooting in South Africa； he had once been tossed by a wounded
buffalo bull。 By good chance the creature threw him into a gully some
feet lower than the surrounding bush。 Thus it lost him； and he was safe
from destruction。 There； however； he remained with a broken leg for
some hours until rescued； and during that time the mosquitoes caused him
unspeakable torments。
To…day the terrible disaster of the morning became temporarily
overshadowed by the necessity of enduring his friends' comments upon it。
The worst phase of the ordeal was their pity。 Sir Walter had never been
pitied in his life； and detested the experience。 This stream of sympathy and
the chastened voices much oppressed him。 He was angry with himself also；
for a guilty conviction that； in truth； the interest of the visitors exceeded
their grief。 He felt it base to suspect them of any such thing； but the buzz
of their polite expressions； combined with their cautious questions and
evident thirst for knowledge； caused him exquisite uneasiness。
They all wanted to know everything he could tell them concerning
Tom May。 Had he enemies？ Was it conceivable that he might have
even bitter and unscrupulous enemies？
〃Dear Mary is keeping up splendidly；〃 said Mrs。 Travers。 〃She is
magnificent。 Thank Heaven I have been some little help to her。〃
〃You have； Nelly； without a doubt。〃
〃Do try to eat mote； Walter；〃 urged Ernest Travers。 〃Much lies before
you。 Indeed； the worst has yet to come。 You must keep up for all our
sakes。 How thankfully I would share your load if I could！〃
〃I hope you are going to make this an official matter； Sir Walter； and
communicate with the Society for Psychical Research；〃 urged Felix Fayre…
Michell。 〃It is just a case for them。 In fact； when this gets known
widely； as it must； of course； a great many skilled inquirers will wish to
visit Chadlands and spend a night in the room。〃
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〃The police will have to be considered first；〃 declared Colonel Vane。
〃This is； of course； a police affair。 I should think they will so regard it。
There is the Service； too。 The Admiralty will be sure to do something。〃
〃Is he to be buried at Chadlands？ I suppose
