the grey room(灰房间)-第48节
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again。 To…morrow I can tell you if I am right。〃
〃I confess that any such plan is most disagreeable to me。 I have been
specially directed by the authorities to allow no man to make further
experiments alone。〃
Vergilio Mannetti showed a trace of testiness。 〃Forgive me； but your
mind moves without its usual agility； my friend。 Have I not told you
everything？ What matters Scotland Yard； seeing that it is entirely in the
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dark； while I have the light？ Let them hear that they are bats and owls；
and that one old man has outwitted the pack of them！〃
〃You have； as you say； told us much； my dear signor； and much that
you have said is deeply interesting。 In your mind it may be that these
various facts are related； and bring you to some sort of conclusion bearing
on the Grey Room； but for us it is not so。 These statements leave us where
they find us； they hang on nothing； not even upon one another in our ears。
I speak plainly； since this is a matter for plain speaking。 It is natural that
you should not feel as we feel； but I need not remind you that what to you
is merely an extraordinary mystery； to us is much more。 You have
imagination； however； far more than I have； and can guess； without being
told； the awful suffering the past has brought to my daughter and myself。〃
〃Our slow English brains canot flash our thoughts along so quickly as
yours； signor；〃 said Mary。 〃It is stupid of us； but … 〃
〃I stand corrected；〃 answered the other instantly。 He rose from his
seat； and bowed to them with his hand on his heart。
〃I am a withered old fool； and not quick at all。 Forgive me。 But
thus it stands。 Since you did not guess； through pardonable ignorance of
a certain fact； then； for the pleasure of absolute proof； I withhold my
discovery a little longer。 There is drama here； but we must be skilled
dramatists and not spoil our climax； or anticipate it。 To…morrow it shall
be … perhaps even to…night。 You are not going to be kept long in suspense。
Nor will I go alone and disobey Scotland Yard。 Your aged pet … this
spaniel dog … shall join me。 Good Prince and I will retire early and； if
you so desire it； we shall be very willing to welcome you in the Grey
Room … say some six or seven hours later。 I do not sleep there； but
merely sustain a vigil； as all the others did。 But it will be briefer than
theirs。 You will oblige me？〃
Mary spoke； seeing the pain on her father's face。 She felt certain that
the old man knew perfectly what he was talking about。 She had spoken
aside to Henry； and he agreed with her。 Mannetti had solved the mystery；
he had even enabled them to solve it； but now； perhaps to punish them for
their stupidity； he was deliberately withholding the key； half from love of
effect； half in a spirit of mischief。 He was planning something theatrical。
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He saw himself at the centre of the stage in this tragic drama； and it was
not unnatural that he should desire to figure there effectively after taking
so much trouble。 Thus； while Sir Walter still opposed； he was surprised
to hear Mary plead on the visitor's behalf； and his nephew support her。
〃Signor Mannetti is quite right； father； I am positive of it；〃 she said。
〃He is right； and because he is right； he is safe。〃
〃Admirably put！〃 cried the Italian。 〃There you have the situation in a
nutshell； my friends。 Trust a clever woman's intuition。 I am indeed
right。 Never was consciousness of right so impressed upon my mind …
prone as I am always to doubt my own conclusions。 I am； in fact； right
because I cannot be wrong。 Trust me。 My own safety is absolutely
assured； for we are concerned with the operations of men like ourselves …
at least； I hope very different from ourselves； but men； nevertheless。 It
was your fate to revive this horror； it shall be my privilege to banish it out
of the earth。 At a breath the cunning of the ungodly shall be brought to
nought。 And not before it is time。 But the mills of God grind slowly。
Our achievement will certainly resound to the corners of the civilized
world。〃
〃I'm as positive as the signor himself that he is safe； uncle；〃 said Henry
Lennox。
〃Let us go to tea；〃 replied Sir Walter。 〃These things are far too deep
for a plain man。 I only ask you to consider all this must mean to me who
am the master of Chadlands and responsible to the authorities。 Beflect if
ill overtook you。〃
〃It is impossible that it can。〃
〃So others believed。 And where are they？ Further trouble would
unhinge my mind； signor。〃
〃You have endured enough to make you speak so strongly； and your
brave girl also。 But fear nothing whatever。 I am far too deeply
concerned and committed on your behalf to add a drop to the bitter drink
of the past； my dear Sir Walter。 I am as safe in that room as I should be
at the altar steps of St。 Peter's。 Trust old Prince； if you cannot trust me。
I rely largely on your blind pet to aid me。 He has good work to do yet；
faithful fellow。〃
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〃The detectives took animals into the room； but they were not hurt；〃
said Lennox。
〃Neither shall the dog be hurt。〃
He patted the sleeping spaniel； and they rose and went into the house
together。
Mannetti evidently assumed that his wishes were to be granted。
〃I will go and sleep awhile；〃 he said。 〃Until an early dinner； excuse
me； and let Mrs。 May and Mr。 Lennox convince you； as they are
themselves convinced。 These events have immensely excited my vitality。
I little guessed that； at the end of my days； a sensation so remarkable lay in
store for me。 I must conserve my strength for to…night。 I am well … very
well … and supported by the consciousness of coming triumph。 Such an
achievement would have rewarded my long journey and these exertions；
even had not your acquaintance been ample reward already。 I will； then；
sleep until dinner…time； and so be replenished to play my part in a
wonderful though melancholy romance。 Let us dine at seven； if you
please。〃
His excitement and natural levity strove with the gloomy facts。 He
resembled a mourner at a funeral who experiences pleasant rather than
painful emotions but continually reminds himself to behave in a manner
appropriate to the occasion。
They sent for his man； and； on Stephano's arm； the old gentleman
withdrew。
He returned for a moment； however； and spoke again。
〃You will do exactly as I wish and allow no human being to enter the
Grey Room。 Keep the key in your pocket； Sir Walter； and do not go
there yourself either。 It is still a trap of death for everybody else in the
world but myself。〃
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CHAPTER XII
THE GOLDEN BULL
When Masters came to clear the tea； he found Sir Walter still
unconvinced。
〃What do you think of Signor Mannetti； Masters？〃 asked Henry； and
the butler； who was a great reader of the newspapers； made answer。
〃I think he's a bit of a freak； Mr。 Henry。 They tell me that old people
can have a slice of monkey slipped into 'em nowadays … to keep 'em going
and make 'em young and lively again。 Well； I should say the gentleman
had a whole monkey popped in somewhere。 I never see such another。
He's got a tongue like a rat…trap； and he leaves you guessing every t
