the grey room(灰房间)-第34节
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concerning the life； or death； of Peter Hardcastle； she doubted not that
definite information relating to him must come to Chadlands quickly。
Upon that another life might hang。 Yet； when the medical man arrived
from Newton； he could only say that Septimus May was dead。 He was a
friend of Mannering； and knew the London opinion； that this form of
apparent death might in reality conceal latent possibilities of resuscitation；
but he spoke with absolute certainty。 He was old； and had nearly fifty
years of professional experience behind him。
〃The man is dead； or I never saw death；〃 he declared。 〃By a hundred
independent evidences we can be positive。 Post…mortem stains have
already appeared； and were they ever known on a living body？ Of the
others who died in this room I know nothing personally； but here is death；
and in twenty…four hours the fact will be plain to the perception of an idiot。
What has happened is this： the London police have heard of a famous；
recent German case mentioned in 'Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschraft'
… an astonishing thing。 A woman； who had taken morphine and barbital；
was found apparently dead after a night's exposure in some lonely spot。
There were no reflexes； no pulse； no respiration or heart…beat。 Yet she was
alive … existing without oxygen … an impossibility as we had always
supposed。 Seeing no actual evidence of death； the physicians injected
camphor and caffein and took other restorative steps； with the result that in
an hour the woman breathed again！ Twenty…four hours later she was
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conscious and able to speak。 It is assumed that the poison and the cold
night air together had paralyzed her vasomotor nerves and reduced her
body to a state akin to hibernation； wherein physical needs are at their
minimum。 That case has doubtless awakened these suspicions； and
having regard to them； we will keep the poor gentleman in a warm room
and proceed with the classical means for restoring respiration。〃
The doctor was thus engaged when four men reached Chadlands after
their nightly journey。 They were detective officers of wide reputation；
and their chief … a grey…haired man with a round； amiable face and
impersonal manner … listened to the events that had followed upon Peter
Hardcastle's arrival and departure。
Sir Walter himself narrated the incidents； and perceiving his excitation；
Inspector Frith assumed the gentlest and most forbearing attitude that he
knew。
The police had come in a fighting humor。 They arrived without any
preconceived ideas or plan of action； but they were in bitter earnest； and
knew that a great body of public opinion lay behind them。 That
Hardcastle； who had won such credit for his department and earned the
applause of two continents； should have thus been lost； in a manner so
mean and futile； exasperated not only his personal colleagues； but the
larger public interested in his picturesque successes and achievements。
The new arrivals felt little doubt that their colleague was indeed dead；
nor； when they heard of the last catastrophe； and presently stood by
Septimus May； could they feel the most shadowy suspicion that life might
be restored to him。 Sir Walter found his nerve steadied on the arrival of
these men。 Indeed； by comparison with other trials； the ordeal before
him now seemed of no complexity。 He gave a clear account of events；
admitted his great error； and answered all questions without any further
confusion of mind。
〃I am not concerned to justify my permission in the matter of Mr。
May；〃 he concluded。 〃I deeply deplore it； and bitterly lament the result；
but my reasons for granting him leave to do what he desired I am prepared
to justify when the time comes。 Others also heard him speak； and though
he did not convince my daughter； whose intellect is keener than my own； I
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honestly believed him with all my heart。 It seemed to me that only so
could any reasonable explanation be reached。 Moreover； you have to
consider his own triumphant conviction and power of argument。 Rightly
or wrongly； he made me feel that he was not mistaken … indeed； made me
share his resolute convictions。 These things I am prepared to explain if
need be。 But that will not matter to you。 Personally I am now only too
sure that both Septimus May and I were mistaken。 I realize that there
must exist some physical causes for these terrible things； that they are of
human origin； and I hope devoutly that you will be permitted by
Providence to discover them； and those responsible for them。 But the
peril is evidently still acute。 The danger remains； and I need not ask you
to recognize it。〃
Inspector Frith answered him； and proved more human than Sir Walter
expected。 He was an educated man of high standing in his business。
〃We'll waste no time；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps it is as well you are
convinced； Sir Walter； that these things have happened inside natural laws；
and don't depend on beings in some unknown fourth dimension。 That is
your affair； and I am very sure； as you say； that you can give good reasons
for what you did at a future inquiry； though the results are so shocking。
Poor Peter was taken back to London last night； you tell us； according to
directions。 If he's in the same case as this unfortunate gentleman； then
there's not much doubt about his being dead。 We must begin at the
beginning； though for us； naturally； Hardcastle's operations and their
failure are the most interesting facts to be dealt with。 You have told us
everything that happened to him。 But we have not heard who found
him。〃
〃My nephew； Henry Lennox。〃
〃He found Captain May； too？〃
〃He did。 He was the last to see him alive； and the first to see him
afterwards。〃
〃Is he here？〃
〃He will be here in the course of the day。 He travelled to London last
night with the body of Mr。 Hardcastle。〃
〃Why？〃
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〃The doctor； Mr。 Mannering； wished him to do so。 He desired to
have a companion。〃
〃Have you anything further that you would care to tell us？〃
〃Only this； that I think Mr。 Hardcastle； with whom I had a long
conversation on his arrival； gave it as his opinion that it was not in the
Grey Room we must look for an explanation。 I believe he regarded his
visit to the room itself as a comparatively unimportant part of the case。
He was really more interested in the life of my son…in…law and his relations
with other people。 I think he regarded May's death as a matter which had
been determined outside the Grey Room。 But； if I may presume to
advise you； this view of his is surely proved mistaken in the light of his
own destruction and what has happened since。 It is certain now that the
cause of danger lies actually in the room itself； and equally certain that
what killed my son…in…law also killed Mr。 Hardcastle and； last night； killed
the Reverend Septimus May。〃
〃On the fact of it； yes；〃 admitted Frith。 〃I think； after we have
considered the situation now developed and visited the Grey Room； we
shall agree that there； at any rate； we may begin the work that has brought
us。 You understand we rule out the possibility of any supernatural event；
as Hardcastle； of cours
