the grey room(灰房间)-第36节
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modeled surface； encrusted with successive layers of whitewash。 The
workmanship belonged to a time when men knew not to scamp their
labors and art and craft went hand in hand。 Such enthusiasms perished
with the improvement of education。 They died with the Guilds； and the
Unions are not concerned to revive them。
The detectives had finished this examination when； at an hour in the
late afternoon； Henry Lennox and Dr。 Mannering returned。 The
authorities had been informed of the death of Septimus May； and desired
that no more than the ordinary formalities should be taken； unless their
representatives at Chadlands thought otherwise。 But they did not。 They
were now convinced that no communication existed between the Grey
Room and the outer world； and they declared their determination to watch
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in it during the coming night。 As a preliminary to this course； however；
they examined each piece of furniture and every picture and other object
that they had removed from the room。 These told them nothing； and
presently they restored the chamber in every particular； re…laid and nailed
the carpet； and placed each article as it had stood when they arrived。 They
continued to decline assistance； and made it clear that nobody was to
approach the end of the corridor in which they worked。 Alive to the danger；
but believing that； whatever its quality； four men could hardly be
simultaneously destroyed； they prepared for their vigil。 Nor did they
manifest any fear of what awaited them。 Facts； indeed； may be stubborn
things； but even facts will not upset the convictions of a lifetime。 Not
one of the four for an instant imagined that a supernatural explanation of
the mystery existed。 Their minds were open； and their wits； long trained
in problems obscure and difficult； assured them that the problem was
capable of solution and within the power of their wits to solve。 They
apprehended no discovery from the watch to be undertaken； but； at Frith 's
orders； they set stolidly about it； as a preliminary to the proceedings of the
following day。 Once proved that the murderous force was powerless
against men prepared and armed against it； and the practical inquiry as to
these strange deaths would be entered upon。
They came with full powers； and designed to search the house without
warning on the following morning； and examine all who dwelt in it。
Sir Walter invited them to dine with him； and they did so。 There
were present the master of Chadlands； Dr。 Mannering … who asked to
spend the night there … and Henry Lennox； while Masters and Fred
Caunter waited upon them。 The detectives heard with interest the result
of the post…mortem conducted during the morning； and related incidents in
the life of Peter Hardcastle。 They were all unfeignedly amazed that a
man with such a record … one who had carried his life in his hand on many
occasions … should have lost it thus； at noonday and without a sound of
warning to his fellow…creatures。 Dr。 Mannering told how he had watched
the medical examination； but not assisted at it。 All attempts to galvanize
back life failed； as the experts engaged immediately perceived they must
upon viewing the corpse； and during the subsequent autopsy； when the
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dead man's body had been examined by chemist and microscopist； the
result was barren of any pathological detail。 No indication to explain his
death rewarded the search。 Not a clue or suspicion existed。 He was
healthy in every particular； and his destruction remained； so far；
inexplicable to science。 Hardcastle had died in a syncope； as the other
victims； that was all the most learned could declare。
Impressed by these facts； the four made ready； and Lennox observed
that they neither drank during their meal nor smoked after it。
At nine o'clock they began their work of the night； but invited nobody
to assist them； and begged that they might not be approached until
daylight on the following morning。
Dr。 Mannering took it upon himself earnestly to beg they would
abandon the vigil。 Indeed； he argued strongly against it。
〃Consider； gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃you are now possibly convinced in
your own minds that the source of these horrible things is to be found
outside the Grey Room； and not in it。 I agree with you； so far。 We have
reached a pitch where； in my judgment； we are justified in believing that
some motiveless malignity is at work。 But by going into that room； are
you not giving somebody another opportunity to do what has already been
done？ Evil performed without motive； as you know better than I can tell
you； must be the work of a maniac； and there may exist in this house；
unsuspected and unguessed； a servant afflicted in this awful way。 One
has heard of such things。〃
The eldest of his listeners felt unspeakable interest in these remarks；
since his own opinion inclined in the same direction。 He was； however；
none the less chagrined that another should thus voice his secret theory。
He did not answer； but his chief replied。
〃It is proved；〃 said Frith； 〃that no violence overtakes those subjected to
this ordeal。 And I have decided that we shall not be in danger； for this
reason。 We shall be armed as none of the dead were。 Our precautions
will preclude any possibility of foul play from a material assault。 And；
needless to say； we contemplate no other。 We are free agents； and I
should not quarrel with any among us who shirked； but duty is duty； and
we have all faced dangers as great as this … probably far greater。 What
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you say is most interesting； doctor； and I agree with you； that outside the
room we must look for the explanation of these murders … if murders they
are。 Upon that business we shall start to…morrow。 Forgive me for not
going into details； because we have our personal methods。 They embrace
the element of surprise； and； of course； prevent any conversation
concerning what we are going to do until we have done it。〃
〃Supposing you are all found dead to…morrow？〃 asked Dr。 Mannering
bluntly。
〃Then we are all found dead to…morrow； and others will have the
satisfaction of finding out why。〃
〃You suspect somebody； yet can absolve nobody？〃
〃Exactly； Sir Walter。 I said pretty much that to the pressmen； who
forced themselves in this afternoon。 The accursed daily Press of this
country has saved the skin of more blackguards than I like to count。
Keep them and the photographers away。 It ought to be criminal … their
interference。〃
〃I ordered that none was to be admitted for a moment。〃
〃It is always very hard to keep them out。 They are cunning devils；
and take a perverse pleasure in adding to our difficulties。 Little they care
how they defeat justice if they can only get 'copy' for their infernal
newspapers。〃
Inspector Frith spoke with some warmth； he had little for which to
thank the popular Press。
Within an hour the four departed； and it was understood that they
should not be disturbed until they themselves cared to reappear。
Mannering remained with Sir Walter and Lennox。 He was dejected
and exceedingly anxious。 But the others did not share his fears。 The
younger； indeed；
