the grey room(灰房间)-第39节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mind； remember。〃
〃It is beyond the bounds of possibility； Sir Walter。〃
〃You are a rash man to affirm anything so definite； after what you have
gone through with the rest of us。 Let me； in my turn； urge you to go to
your rest。 These things have told upon you。 You are only flesh and
blood； not iron； as you fancy。 The men are all right so far。〃
〃I'll get something to eat and drink；〃 said Mannering； 〃and leave you
in peace for a while。〃
〃Do。 You will find all you need in the dining…room。 I directed
Masters to leave ample there； in case the detectives might want food。〃
〃Shall I bring you something … a whisky； and a biscuit？〃
〃No； no。 I need nothing。〃
The doctor went his way； and passed an hour with meat and drink。
Then he felt an overpowering desire to sleep； but resisted it； lighted his
pipe again； and； resumed his march in the hall。 He listened presently at
the library door； and was gratified to hear a gentle but steady snore。 The
sound pleased Mannering well。
He padded about once more； resolved to keep awake until the vigil
was ended。 Then he would go to bed and sleep。 It was now past three
o'clock on a still； winter night … a lull and interval between yesterday's
storm and rough weather yet to come。 The doctor went out of doors for a
time and tramped the terrace。 A waning moon had risen； and the night
was mild and cloudy。
Bright light shot out like fans into the murk from the east and south
windows of the Grey Room。 Returning to the house； the watcher listened
at the foot of the staircase； and heard the mumble of men's voices and the
sound of feet。 They were changing the guard； and the detective in the
corridor gave up his place to one from inside。 All was well so far。
Then Mannering went to the billiard…room； lolled on the settee for a
time； and drowsed through another hour。 For a few minutes he lost
131
… Page 132…
THE GREY ROOM
consciousness； started up to blame his weakness； and looked at his watch。
But he had only slumbered for five minutes。
At six o'clock he told himself that it was morning； and went in again to
Sir Walter。 The old man had wakened； and was sitting in quiet reflection
until daylight should outline the great window above the dead。
〃The night has been one of peace；〃 he declared。 〃The spirit of poor
May seemed near me； and I felt； too； as though his son were not far off；
either。 Is all well with the watchers？〃
〃I leave you to inquire； but don't go too near them。 Night fades over
the woods； so the day can be said to have begun。〃
〃Doubtless the household will be stirring。 I shall go and inquire； if
they will permit me to do so。 Oblige me by staying here a few minutes
until I call my daughter。 I do not want our poor friend to be alone until
he leaves us。〃
〃I will stay here for the present。 But don't let Mary be called if she is
sleeping； and turn in yourself for a few hours now。〃
〃I have slept off and on。〃
Sir Walter left him and ascended to the corridor。 Already light moved
wanly in the windows。
He stood at the top of the staircase and raised his voice。
〃Is all well； gentlemen？〃 he asked loudly； but he received no answer。
〃Is all well？〃 he cried again。
And then from the gloom emerged Inspector Frith。 He had doffed his
gas mask。
Sir Walter switched on an electric light。
〃Nothing； I trust； has happened？〃
〃Nothing whatever； Sir Walter。 No sign or sound of anything out of
the common can be recorded。〃
〃Thank Heaven … thank Heaven for that！〃
〃Though we had exhausted the possibilities of such a thing； we none
the less expected gas；〃 explained the detective。 〃That seemed the only
conceivable means by which life might be destroyed in that room。
Therefore we wore gas masks of the latest pattern； supposed to defy any
gaseous combination ever turned out of a laboratory。 It is well known that
132
… Page 133…
THE GREY ROOM
new； destructive gases were discovered just before the end of the war …
gases said to be infinitely more speedy and deadly than any that were
employed。 As to that； and whether the Government has the secret of
them； I cannot say。 But no gas was liberated in the Grey Room last night。
Otherwise a rat in a trap and birds in a cage； which we kept by us； would
have felt it。 The room is pure enough。〃
Sir Walter followed him down the corridor； and chatted with the other
men also。 They had left the Grey Room and taken off their masks； they
looked weary and haggard in the waxing； white light of day。
〃You've done your duty； and I am beyond measure thankful that no
evil has overtaken you。 What can now be prepared for you in the way of
food？〃
They thanked him； and declared that in an hour they would be glad of
breakfast。 Then Sir Walter went to his own apartments； rang； and gave
the needful directions。 He joined Mary soon afterwards； and she shared
his thanksgivings。 She was already dressed； and descended immediately
to Dr。 Mannering。
Henry Lennox also appeared soon afterwards。 He had already
learned from Fred Caunter that the watchers were safely through the night。
Chadlands was the scene of another inquest； and again a coroner's jury
declared that Septimus May； as his son before him； had died by the Hand
of God。 Later in the day the dead man was conveyed to his own parish；
and two days later Sir Walter and Mary； with her cousin； attended the
funeral。
Meantime； the detectives began their serious work。 They proceeded
with system and upon their own plan。 They omitted to question not the
least of the persons who dwelt at Chadlands； and inquired also privately
concerning every memher of the house party there assembled when Tom
May died。 Into the sailor's private life they also searched； and so
gradually investigated every possible line of action and point of approach
to his death。 The cause of this they were content to disregard； arguing
that if an assassin could be traced； his means of murder would then be
learned； but； from the first； no sort of light illumined their activities； and
nothing to be regarded as a clue could be discovered； either in Tom May's
133
… Page 134…
THE GREY ROOM
relations with the world； or in the history and character of anyone among
the many who were subject for inquiry。
Concerning the house party； only Ernest Trayers and his wife had met
the sailor before； on the occasion of his wedding； while as to the staff at
Chadlands； nothing transpired to indicate that any had ever had occasion
to feel affronted by an act of his。 They were； moreover； loyal to a man
and woman。 They furnished no peculiarities； and gave no ground for the
least suspicion。 The case； in Frith's opinion； was unique； because； despite
the number of persons it was necessary to study and consider； in none of
their relations with the family involved could there be found a shadow of
unfriendly intercourse； a harbored grudge； or a suggestion of ill…feeling。
The people were all simple and ingenuous。 They declared and displayed
nothing but regard for their employer； and many of them had succeeded
their own parents in their present employment。 It was a large household；
very closely united by ties of tradition and affection。 Henry Lennox also
proved above suspicion； though his former attachment to Mary was not
concealed。 It needed no great student of character； however； to appreciate
his transparent honesty under examination； a remark that extended to Dr。
Mannering； whose incautious advent in the corridor on the night of their
vigil had offended the watchers。
For three weeks they worked industriously … without vision； but to the
best of their experience and intellectual powers。
