the grey room(灰房间)-第21节
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THE UNSEEN MOVES
Before ten o'clock on the following morning Peter Hardcastle； who
had travelled by the night train from Paddington； was at Chadlands。 A car
had gone into Newton Abbot to meet him； as no train ran on the branch
line until a later hour。
The history of the detective was one of hard work； crowned at last by a
very remarkable success。 His opportunity had come； and he had grasped
it。 The accident of the war and the immense publicity given to his
capture of a German secret agent had brought him into fame； and raised
him to the heights of his profession。 Moreover； the extraordinary
histrionic means taken to achieve his purpose； and the picturesqueness of
the details； captured that latent love of romance common to all minds。
Hardcastle had become a lion； women were foolish about him； he might
have made a great match and retired into private life had he desired to do
so。 At the present time an American heiress ardently wished to wed the
man。 But he was not fond of women； and only in love with his business。
A hard life in the seamy places of the world had made him something of a
cynic。 He had always appreciated his own singular powers； and
consciousness of ability； combined with a steadfast patience and
unconquerable devotion to his 〃art；〃 as he called it； had brought him
through twenty years in the police force。 He began at the bottom and
reached the top。 He was the son of a small shopkeeper； and now that his
father was dead his mother still ran a little eating…house for her own
satisfaction and occupation。
Peter Hardcastle was forty。 He had already made arrangements to
leave Scotland Yard and set up； single…handed； as a private inquiry agent。
The mystery of Chadlands would be the last case to occupy him as a
Government servant。 In a measure he regretted the fact； for the death of
Captain Thomas May； concerning which every known particular was now
in his possession； attracted him； and he knew the incident had been widely
published。 It was a popular mystery； and； as a man of business； he well
understood the professional value of such sensations to the man who
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resolves the puzzle。 His attitude toward the case appeared at the outset；
and Sir Walter； who had been deeply impressed by the opinions of the
dead man's father； and even unconsciously influenced by them； now found
himself in the presence of a very different intellect。 There was nothing in
the least superstitious about Peter Hardcastle。 He uttered the views of a
remorseless realist； and at the outset committed himself to certain definite
assumptions。 The inhabitants of the manor house were informed that a
friend of Sir Walter's had come to visit Chadlands； and they saw nothing to
make them doubt it。 For Peter was a great actor。 He had mixed with all
classes； and the detective had the imitative cleverness to adapt himself in
speech and attire to every society。 He even claimed that he could think
with the brains of anybody and adapt his inner mind； as well as his outer
shape； to the changing environment of his activities。 He appreciated the
histrionics that operate out of sight； and would adopt the blank purview of
the ignorant； the deeper attitude of the cultured； or the solid posture of that
class whose education and inherent opinions is based upon tradition。 He
had made a study of the superficial etiquette and manners and customs of
what is called 〃the best〃 society； and knew its ways as a naturalist
patiently masters the habits of a species。
Chadlands saw a small； fair man with scanty hair； a clean…shaven face；
a rather feminine cast of features； a broad forehead； slate…grey eyes； and a
narrow； lipless mouth which revealed very fine white teeth when he spoke。
It was a colorless face and challenged no attention； but it was a face that
served as an excellent canvas； and few professional actors had ever
surpassed Peter in the art of making up their features。
Similarly he could disguise his voice； the natural tones of which were
low； monotonous； and of no arrestive quality。 Mr。 Hardcastle surprised
Sir Walter by his commonplace appearance and seeming youth； for he
looked ten years younger than the forty he had lived。 A being so
undistinguished rather disappointed his elder； for the master of Chadlands
had imagined that any man of such wide celebrity must offer superficial
marks of greatness。
But here was one so insignificant and so undersized that it seemed
impossible to imagine him a famous Englishman。 His very voice； in its
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level； matter…of…fact tones； added to the suggestion of mediocrity。
Sir Walter found； however； that the detective did not undervalue
himself。 He was not arrogant； but revealed decision and immense will
power。 From the first he imposed his personality； and made people forget
the accidents of his physical constitution。 He said very little during
breakfast； but listened with attention to the conversation。
He observed that Henry Lennox spoke seldom； but studied him
unobtrusively； as a man concerning whom he specially desired to know
more。 Hardcastle proved himself well educated； indeed； his reading；
studiously pursued； and his intellectual attainments； developed by hard
work and ambition； far exceeded those of any present。
The clergyman returned to his own ground； and expressed his former
opinions； to which Hardcastle listened without a shadow of the secret
surprise they awoke in him。
〃The Witchcraft Act assnmes that there can be no possible
communication between living men and spirits；〃 he said in answer to an
assertion； whereon Septimus May instantly took up the challenge。
〃A fatuous； archaic assumption； and long since destroyed by actual；
human experience；〃 he replied。 〃It is time such blasphemous folly
should be banished from the Statute Book。 I say 'blasphemous' because
such an Act takes no cognizance of the Word of God。 Outworn Acts of
Parliament are responsible for a great deal of needless misery in this world；
and it is high time these ordinances of another generation were sent to the
dust heap。〃
〃In that last opinion I heartily agree with you；〃 declared the detective。
Henry ventured a quotation。 He was much interested to learn
whether Hardcastle had any views on the ghost theory。
〃Goethe says that matter cannot exist without spirit； or spirit without
matter。 Would you sub…scribe to that； Mr。 Hardcastle？〃
〃Partially。 Matter can exist without spirit； which you may prove by
getting under an avalanche； but I do most emphatically agree that spirit
cannot exist without matter。 'Divorced from matter； where is life？' asks
Tyndall； and nobody can answer him。〃
〃You misunderstand Goethe；〃 declared Mr。 May。 〃In metaphysics …〃
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〃I have no use for metaphysics。 Believe me； the solemn humbug of
metaphysics doesn't take in a policeman for a moment。 Juggling with
words never advanced the world's welfare or helped the cause of truth。
What； for any practical purpose； does it matter how subjectively true a
statement may be if it is objectively false？ Life is just as real as I am
myself … no more and no less … and all the metaphysical jargon in the world
won't prevent my shins from bleeding wet； red blood when I bark them
against a stone。〃
〃You don't believe in the supernatural then？' asked Mr。 May。
〃Most emphatically not。〃
〃How extraordinary！
