the grey room(灰房间)-第22节
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〃Most emphatically not。〃
〃How extraordinary！ And how； if I may ask； do you fill the terrible
vacuum in your life that such a denial must create？〃
〃I have never been conscious of such a vacuum。 I was a sceptic from
my youth up。 No doubt those who were nurtured in superstition； when
reason at last conquers and they break away； may experience a temporary
blank； but the wonders of nature and the achievements of man and the
demands of the suffering world … these should be enough to fill any blank
for a reasonable creature。〃
〃If such are your opinions； you will fail here；〃 declared the clergyman
positively。
〃Why do you feel so sure of that？〃
〃Because you are faced with facts that have no material explanation。
They are supernatural； or supernormal； if you prefer the word。〃
〃'One world at a time；' is a very good motto in my judgment；〃 replied
Hardcastle。 〃We will exhaust the possibilities of this world first； sir。〃
〃They have already been exhausted。 Only a simple； straightforward
question awaits your reply。 Do you believe in another world or do you
not？〃
〃In the endless punishment or the endless happiness of men and
women after they are dead？〃
〃If you like to confuse the issue in that way you are at liberty； of
course； to do so。 As a Christian； I cannot demur。 The problem for the
rationalist is this： How does he ignore the deeply rooted and universal
conviction that there is a life to come？ Is such a sanguine assurance
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planted in the mind of even the lowest savage for nothing？ Where did
the aborigines win that expectation？〃
〃My answer embraces the whole question from my own point of
view；〃 replied Hardcastle。 〃The savages got their idea of dual personality
from phenomena of nature which they were unable to explain … from their
dreams； from their own shadows on the earth and reflections in water；
from the stroke of the lightning and the crash of the thunder； from the echo
of their own voices； thrown back to them from crags and cliffs。 These
things created their superstitions。 Ignorance bred terror； and terror bred
gods and demons … first out of the forces of nature。 That is the appalling
mental legacy handed down in varying shapes to all the chiuldren of men。
We labor under them to this day。〃 〃You would dare to say our most
sacred verities have sprung from the dreams of savages？〃
Hardcastle smiled。
〃It is true。 And dreams； we further know； are often the result of
indigestion。 Early man didn't understand the art of cookery； and
therefore no doubt his stomach had a great deal to put up with。 We have to
thank his bear steaks and wolf chops for a great deal of our cherished
nonsense； no doubt。〃
Sir Walter； marking the clergyman's flashing eyes； changed the subject；
and Septimus May； who observed his concern； restrained a bitter answer。
But he despaired of the detective from that moment； and proposed to
himself a future assault on such detested modern opinions when
opportunity occurred。
After breakfast Mr。 Hardcastle begged for a private interview with the
master of Chadlands； and for two hours sat in his study and took him
through the case from the beginning。
He put various questions concerning the members of the recent house
party； and presently begged that Henry Lennox might join them。
〃I should like to hear the account of what passed on the night between
him and Captain May；〃 he said。
Henry joined them； and detailed his experience。 While he talked；
Hardcastle appraised him； and perceived that certain nebulous opinions；
which had begun to crystallize in his own mind； could have no real
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foundation。 The detective believed that he was confronted with a
common murder； and on hearing Henry's history； as part of Sir Walter's
story with the rest； perceived that the old lover of Mary Lennox had last
seen her husband alive； had drunk with him； and been the first to find him
dead。 Might not Henry have found an eastern poison in Mesopotamia？
But his conversation with the young man； and the unconscious revelation
of Henry himself； shattered the idea。 Lennox was innocent enough。
For a moment； the information of uncle and nephew exhausted；
Hardcastle returned to the matter of the breakfast discussion。
〃You will； of course； understand that I am quite satisfied a material and
physical explanation exists for this unfortunate event；〃 he said。 〃I need
hardly tell you that I am unprepared to entertain any supernatural theory of
the business。 I don't believe myself in ghosts； because in my experience；
and it is pretty wide； ghost stories break down badly under anything like
skilled and independent examination。 There is a natural reason for what
has happened； as there is a natural reason for everything that happens。
We talk of unnatural things happening； but that is a contradiction in terms。
Nothing can happen that is not natural。 What we call Nature embraces
every conceivable action or event or possibility。 We may fail to fathom a
mystery； and we know that a thousand things happen every day and night
that seem beyond the power of our wits to explain； but that is only to say
our wits are limited。 I hold； however； that very few things happen which
do not yield an explanation； sooner or later； if approached by those best
trained to examine them without predisposition or prejudice。 And I
earnestly hope that this tragic business will give up its secret。〃
〃May you prove the correctness of your opinions； Mr。 Hardcastle；〃
answered Sir Walter。 〃Would you like to see the Grey Room now？〃
〃I should； though I tell you frankly it is not in the Grey Room that I
shall find what I seek。 It does not particularly interest me； and for this
reason。 I do not associate Captain May's death in any way with the
earlier tragedy … that of the hospital nurse； Mrs。 Forrester。 It is a
coincidence； in my opinion； and probably； if physiology were a more
perfect science than； in my experience of post…mortem examinations； it has
proved to be； the reason for the lady's death would have appeared。 And；
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for that matter； the reason for Captain May's death also。 To say there was
no reason is； of course； absurd。 Nothing ever yet happened； or could
happen； without a reason。 The springs of action were arrested and the
machine instantly ran down。 But a man is not a clock； which can be
stopped and reveal no sign of the thing that stopped it。 Life is a far more
complex matter than a watch…spring； and if we knew more we might not
be faced with so many worthless post…mortem reports。 But Sir Howard
Fellowes is not often beaten。 I repeat； however； I do not associate the
two deaths in the Grey Room or connect them as the result of one and the
same cause。 I do not state this as a fact beyond dispute； but that； for the
present； is my assumption。 The gap in time seems too considerable。 I
suspect other causes； and shall have to make researches into the dead
man's past life。 I should wish also to examine all his property。 He has
been in foreign countries； and may have brought back something
concerning the nature of which he was ignorant。 He may possess
enemies； of whom neither you nor Mrs。 May have heard anything。 Your
knowledge of him； recollect； extends over only a short time … eight or ten
months；
