the grey room(灰房间)-第40节
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For three weeks they worked industriously … without vision； but to the
best of their experience and intellectual powers。 In the familiar phrase；
they left no stone unturned； and following their report； which frankly
admitted absolute failure； a small commission instituted a further inquiry
on the evidence； and invited those chiefly concerned to attend it。
Sir Walter； his daughter； Henry Lennox； and Dr。 Mannering were
examined with sympathy and consideration。 But they could offer no
opinions； throw no light； and suggest no other lines of inquiry than those
already pursued。
For the world the mystery died like a new star； which was blazed into
fame only to retreat or diminish and disappear once more。 Fresh problems
and new sensations filled the newspapers； and a time at last came when； to
his relief； Sir Walter could open his morning journal and find no mention
of Chadlands therein。 Architects examined the room a second time； and
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the authorities also gave permission to certain notable spiritualists to make
further nocturnal and diurnal vigils therein； though no solitary watcher
was permitted。 Three came and passed a day and a night in the Grey
Room。 They were rewarded with no phenomena whatever。
The master of Chadlands was at length informed that he might leave
England； but directed to set a seal on the Grey Room； and to treat it in
such a manner that it should no longer be capable of entrance。
The red tape that had wound itself about the tragedy was thus unloosed
at last； and the suffering pair made all haste to get away。 Its owner
undertook to treat the Grey Room as directed on his return from abroad；
and meanwhile had both door and window boarded up with heavy timbers。
The household was long since restored to self…possession and even
cheerfulness。 Some felt pride in their passing publicity； and none
expressed any fear of remaining。 But Sir Walter guessed that few feet
would tread the great corridor until a day was near for his return。
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THE GREY ROOM
CHAPTER X
SIGNOR VERGILIO MANNETTI
Sir Walter persisted in his purpose and went to Florence。 He
believed that here Mary might find distractions and novelties to awaken
interest which would come freshly into her life without the pain and
poignancy of any recollection to lessen the work of peace。 For himself he
only desired to see her returning to content。 Happiness he knew must be a
condition far removed from her spirit for many days。
They stood one evening on the Piazza of Michelangelo and saw
Florence； like a city of dim； red gold extended beneath them。 The setting
sunlight wove an enchantment over towers and roofs。 It spread a veil of
ineffable brightness upon the city and tinged green Arno also； where the
river wound through the midst。
Sir Walter was quietly happy； because he knew that in a fortnight his
friends； Ernest and Nelly Travers； would be at Florence。 Mary； too；
prepared to welcome them gladly； for her father's sake。 He left his
daughter largely undisturbed； and while they took their walks together； the
old man； to whom neither music nor pictures conveyed much significance；
let her wander at will； and the more readily because he found that art was
beginning to exercise a precious influence over Mary's mind。 There was
none to guide her studies； but she pursued them with a plan of her own；
and though at first the effort sometimes left her weary； yet she persisted
until she began to perceive at least the immensity of the knowledge she
desired to acquire。
Music soothed her mind； painting offered an interest； part sensuous；
part intellectual。 Perhaps she loved music best at first； since it brought a
direct anodyne。 In the sound of music she could bear to think of her brief
love story。 She even made her father come and listen presently to things
that she began to value。
Their minds inevitably proceeded by different channels of thought； and
while she strove resolutely to occupy herself with the new interests； and
put away the agony of the past； till thinking was bearable again and a road
to peace under her feet once more； Sir Walter seldom found himself
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passing many hours without recurrence of painful memories and a
sustained longing to strip the darkness which buried them。 To his
forthright and simple intelligence； mystery was hateful； and the reflection
that his home must for ever hold a profound and appalling mystery often
thrust itself upon his thoughts； and even inclined him； in some moods； to
see Chadlands no more。 Yet a natural longing to return to the old
environment； in which he could move with ease and comfort； gradually
mastered him； and as the spring advanced he often sighed for Devonshire；
yet wondered how he could do so。 Then would return the gloomy history
of the winter rolling over his spirit like a cloud； and the thought of going
home again grew distasteful。
Mary； however； knew her father well enough； and at this lustrous hour；
while Florence stretched beneath them in its quiet； evening beauty； she
declared that they must not much longer delay their return。
〃Plenty of time；〃 he said。 〃I am not too old to learn； I find； and a man
would indeed be a great fool if he could not learn in such a place as this。
But though art can never mean much to me now； your case is different；
and I am thankful to know that these things will be a great addition and
interest to your future life。 I'm a Philistine； and shall always so remain；
but I'm a repentant one。 I see my mistake too late。〃
〃It's a new world； father；〃 she said； 〃and it has done a great deal for an
unhappy woman … not only in taking my thoughts off myself； but in
lessening my suffering； too。 I do not know why； or how； but music； and
these great； solemn pictures painted by dead men； all touch my thoughts of
dear Tom。 I seem to see that there are so many more mighty ones dead
than living。 And yet not dead。 They live in what they have made。
And Tom lives in what he made … that was my love for him and his for me。
He grows nearer and dearer than ever when I hear beautiful music。 I can
better bear to think of him at such times； and it will always help me to
remember him。〃
〃God bless art if it does so much；〃 he said。 〃We come to it as little
children； and I shall always be a child and never understand； but for you
the valuable message will be received。 May life never turn you away
from these things in years to come。〃
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〃Never！ Never！〃 she assured him。 〃Art has done too much for me。
I shall not try to live my life without it。 Already I feel I could not。〃
〃What have you seen to…day？〃 he asked。
〃I was at the Pitti all the morning。 I liked best Fra Bartolommeo's
great altar piece and Titian's portrait of Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici。
You must see him … a strange； unhappy spirit only twenty…three years old。
Two years afterwards he was poisoned； and his haunted； discontented eyes
closed for ever。 And the 'Concert' … so wonderful； with such a hunger…
starved expression in the soul of the player。 And Andrea del Sarto … how
gracious and noble； but Henry James says he's second…rate； because his
mind was second…rate； so I suppose he is； but not to me。 He never will be
to me。 To…morrow you must come and see some of the things I specially
love。 I won't bore you。 I don't know enough to bore you yet。 Oh； and
Allori's 'Judith' … so l
