the grey room(灰房间)-第35节
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us。 You understand we rule out the possibility of any supernatural event；
as Hardcastle； of course； did。 While he very properly centred on the
history of Captain May； and； from his point of view； did not expect to find
the accident of the captain's death in this particular place would prove
important； we shall now assume otherwise； and give the room； or
somebody with acccess to it； the credit for this destruction of human life。
We shall fasten on the room therefore。 Our inquiry is fairly simple at the
outset； simpler than poor Hardcastle's。 It will lie along one of two
channels； and it depends entirely upon which channel we have to proceed
whether the matter is going to take much time； and possibly fail of
explanation at the end； or but a short time； and be swiftly cleared up。 I
hope the latter。〃
〃I shall be glad if you can explain that remark；〃 answered Sir Walter；
but Mr。 Frith was not prepared immediately to do so。
〃Fully when the time comes； Sir Walter； but for the moment； no … not
even to you。 You will understand that our work must be entirely secret；
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and the lines on which we proceed known only to ourselves。〃
〃That is reasonable； for you cannot tell yet whether I； who speak to
you； may not be responsible for everything。 At least； command me。 I
only hope to Heaven you are not going to discover a great crime。〃
〃I share your hope。 That is why I speak of two channels for inquiry；〃
answered the detective。 〃Needless to say； we four men shall discuss the
new light thrown upon the situation very fully。 At present the majority of
us are inclined to believe there is no crime； and the death of Mr。 May does
not； to my mind； increase the likelihood of such a thing。 Indeed； it
supports me； I should judge； in my present opinion。 What that is will
appear without much delay。 We'll get to our quarters now； and ask to see
the Grey Room later on。〃
〃May I inquire concerning Mr。 Hardcastle？ I hope he had no wife or
family to mourn him〃
〃He was a bachelor； and lived with his mother； who keeps a shop。 The
intention is to examine his body this morning； and submit it to certain
conclusive tests。 Nobody expects much from them； but they're not going
to lose half a chance。 He was a great man。〃
〃You will hear at once from London if anything transpires to help
you？〃
〃We shall hear by noon at latest。〃
Sir Walter left them then； and Masters took the four to their
accommodation。 Their rooms were situated together in the corridor； as
near the east end of it as possible。 But the four were not yet of one mind；
and when they met presently； and walked together in the garden for an
hour； it appeared that while two of them agreed with Inspector Frith； under
whom all acted； the fourth held to a contrary view； and desired to take the
second of the two channels his chief had mentioned。
Thus three men believed some extraordinary concatenation of
circumstances； probably mechanical in operation； was responsible for all
that had happened in the Grey Room； but the fourth； a man older than
Frith； and in some sort his rival for many years； held to it that the reason of
these things must be sought in an active and conscious agency。 He
trusted in a living cause； but felt confident that it was not a sane one。 He
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had known a case when a madman； unsuspected of madness； had operated
with extraordinary skill to destroy innocent persons and escape detection；
and already he was disposed to believe that among the household of
Chadlands might hide such an insane criminal。
On a similar plane； it was in his personal experience that weak…minded
persons； possessed with a desire to do something out of the common； had
often planned and perpetrated apparent physical phenomena； and created
an appearance of supernatural visitations； only exposed after great
difficulty by professional research。 Along such lines； therefore； this man
was prepared to operate； and he believed it might be possible that a maniac；
in possession of some physical secret； would be found among the
inhabitants of the manor house。 He did not； however； elaborate this
opinion； but kept it to himself。 Indeed； the human element of jealousy； so
often responsible for the frustration of the worthiest human ambitions； was
not absent from the minds of the four now concerned with this problem。
Each desired to solve it； and while no rivalry existed among them；
save in the case of the two older men； it was certain that the eldest of the
four would not lose his hold on his own theory； or be at very vital pains to
stultify it。 All； however； were fully conscious of the danger before them；
and Frith； from the first； directed that none was to work alone； either in the
Grey Room or elsewhere。
At noon a telegram arrived for Mr。 Frith from Scotland Yard。 It
recorded the fact that Peter Hardcastle was dead； and that examination had
revealed no cause for his end。 The news reached Sir Walter at once； and
if ever he rejoiced in the death of a fellow…creature； it was upon this
occasion。 It meant unspeakable relief both for him and his daughter。
The detectives began their operations after a midday meal； and having
first carefully studied the Grey Room in every visible particular； they
emptied it of its contents； and placed the pictures； furniture； and statuette
outside in the corridor。 They asked for no assistance； and desired that
none should visit the scene of their labors。 The apartment； empty to the
walls； they examined minutely； with the help of ladders； they investigated
the outer walls on the east and south side； and they probed the chimney
from above and below。 They searched the adjoining room … Mary's old
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nursery … to satisfy themselves that no communication existed； and they
drove an iron rod through the walls in various directions； only to prove
they were of solid stone； eighteen inches thick within and two feet thick
without。 There was no apartment on the other side of the chamber。 It
completed the eastern angle of the house front； and behind it； inside； the
corridor terminated at an eastern window parallel with the Grey Room
oriel； but flat and ndecorated … a modern window inserted by Sir Walter's
grandfather to lighten a dark corner。 Not a foot of the walls they left
untested； and they examined and removed a portion of the paper upon
them also。 Then； taking up the carpet； they broke into the flooring and
skirting boards； but discovered no indication that the grime and dust of
centuries had ever been disturbed。 The desiccated mummy of a rat alone
rewarded their scrutiny。 It lay between great timbers under the planking …
beams that supported the elaborate stucco roof of a dwelling…room below。
To the ceiling of the Grey Room they next turned their attention；
fastened an electric wire to the nearest point； and； through a trap…door in
the roof of the passage； investigated the empty space between the ceiling
and the roof。 Not an inch of the massive oaken struts above did they fail
to scrutinize； and they made experiments with smoke and water； to learn if；
at any point； so much as a pin…hole existed in the face of the stucco。 But
it was solid； and spread evenly to a considerable depth。 They studied it；
then； from inside the room； to discover nothing but the beautifully
modeled surface； encrusted with successive layers of whitewash。 The
workmanship belonged to
