the grey room(灰房间)-第20节
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will go farther。 I will venture to declare that this death…dealing ghost； or
discarnate but concious being； may not be； as you say； a dark angel …
perhaps not wholly evil…perhaps not evil at all。 One thing none can
question … it did the will of its Creator； as we all must； and we are not；
therefore； justified in asserting that a malignant force was exerted。 To
say so is to speak in terms of our own bitter loss and our own aching
hearts。 But we are justified in believing that a fearful； unknown power
was liberated during the night that Tom died； and I desire to approach that
power upon my knees and with my life in my Maker's hands。〃
The conviction of this righteous but superstitious soul was uttered with
passionate zeal。 He puzzled to understand how fellow Christians could
argue against him； and much resented the fact that Sir Walter withstood his
claim and declined to permit the experiment he desired to make。 A
formalist and precisian； he held any sort of doubt to be backsliding before
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the message in his own heart。 They argued unavailingly with him； and
Henry Lennox suggested a compromise。
〃Why is it vital； after all； that only one should undertake this ordeal？ 〃
he asked。 〃I begged you to let me try … for revenge。〃
〃Do not use that word；〃 said Mr。 Prodgers。
〃Well； at any rate； I feel just as great a call to be there as Tom's father
can feel … just as pressing a demand and desire。 There may have been foul
play。 At any rate； the thing was done by an active agency； and Tom was
taken in some way at a disadvantage。 There was no fair fight； I'll swear。
He was evidently kneeling； calmly enough looking out of the window；
when he died； and the blow must have been a coward's blow； struck from
behind； whoever struck it。〃
〃There was no blow； Henry；〃 said Sir Walter。
〃Death is a blow； uncle…the most awful blow a strong man can be
called to suffer； surely。 And I beg this； that if you won't let me face the
infernal thing alone you'll let me share this business with Mr。 May。 He
can pray and I can … watch。〃
But the dead man's father made short work of Henry's proposition。
〃You are introducing that very element of rationalism to be； before all
things； distrusted here。 The mere introduction of human precaution and
human weapons would sully faith and make of no avail the only sure
means of winning light on this solemn problem。 Reason； so employed；
would be a hindrance…an actual danger。 Only absolute faith can unravel
the mystery before us。〃
〃Then； frankly； I tell you that I lack any such absolute faith；〃 declared
Sir Walter。
〃Do not say that … you libel yourself and are letting a base and material
fear cloud your own trust；〃 answered May。 〃As there is no human reason
for what has happened； so no human reason will be found to explain it。
By denying me； you are denying the sole means by which this dark terror
can be banished。 You are denying God's offer of peace。 We must not
only seek peace； but ensue it。 That means that we are now called to take
such steps as the Almighty puts at our service by the road of conscience
and faith。 I have a right to this revelation as my boy's father。 The cup is
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mine； and you will do very wrongly if you deny me the right to drink it。 I
desire to say； 'Peace be to this house' before I leave it； and； Christian to
Christian； you cannot deny me； or hesitate as to your answer。〃
No argument would bend his obstinate conviction； and he debated with
great force from his own standpoint。 He presented a man overmastered
and mentally incapable of appreciating any argument against his
possession。
But Sir Walter； now determined； was as obstinate as the clergyman。
Mannering bluntly declared that it would be suicide on May's part； and a
conniving at the same by any who permitted him to attempt his vigil。
〃I； too； must do my duty as I see it；〃 summed up the master of
Chadlands； 〃and after I have done so； then we may be in a position to
admit the case is altered。〃
The other suddenly rose and lifted his hands。 He was trembling with
emotion。
〃May my God give a sign； then！〃 he cried。
They were silent a moment； for courtesy or astonishment。 Nothing
happened； and presently Sir Walter spoke：
〃You must bear with me。 You are upset； and scarcely know the
gravity of the things you say。 To…morrow the physical and material
investigation that I consider proper； and the world has a right to demand；
will be made…in a spirit； I hope； as earnest and devout as your own。 And
if after that no shadow of explanation is forthcoming； and no peril to life
can be discovered； then I should feel disposed to consider your views
more seriously … with many reserves； however。 At any rate； it will be your
turn then； if you still adhere to your opinions； and I am sure all just
persons who hear of your purpose would join their prayers with you。〃
〃Your faith is weak； though you believe it strong；〃 answered the other。
And he was equally curt when the physician advised him to take a
sleeping…draught before retiring。 He bade them 〃Good…night〃 without
more words； and went to his room； while after further conversation； Dr。
Mannering and Mr。 Prodgers took their leave。
The former strongly urged Sir Walter to set some sort of guard outside
the door of the Grey Room。 〃That man's not wholly sane to…night；〃 he
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declared； 〃and he appears to glory in the fact that he isn't。 He must surely
be aware that much he said was superstitious bosh。 Look after him。
Guard his own apartment。 That will be the simplest plan。〃
When they had gone； Sir Walter addressed his nephew。 They went
upstairs together and stood for a moment outside the Grey Room。 The
door was wide open； and the place brilliantly lighted by a high…powered
bulb。 So had it been by night ever since the disaster。 None of the
household entered it； and none； save Sir Walter or Henry； was willing to do
so until more should be known。
〃I have your word of honor you will not go into that room to…night；〃
said his uncle； 〃but such is the mental condition of this poor clergyman
that I can but feel Mannering is right。 May might； from some fancied
call of the spirit； take the law into his own hands and do what he wishes to
do。 This must be prevented at any cost。 I will ask you； Henry； to follow
the doctor's suggestion on my behalf； and keep guard over him。 Oppose
him actively if he should appear； and call me。 I would suggest that
Caunter or Masters accompanied you； but that is only to make gossip and
mystery。〃
〃On no account。 I'll look after him。 You can trust me。 I expect
he's pretty worn out after such a harrowing day； poor old beggar。 He'll
probably sleep soundly enough when he gets to bed。〃
〃I trust so。 I cannot offer to aid you myself； for I am dead beat；〃 said
the other。
Then they parted； and the younger presently took up a position in the
west wing of the house； where Septimus May had his bedroom。
Not until sunrise did Henry Lennox go to his own chamber； but his
sleepless night proved a needless precaution； for Septimus May gave no
sign。
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CHAPTER V
THE UNSEEN MOVES
Before ten o'clock on the following morning Peter Hardcastle； who
had trav
