the grey room(灰房间)-第20章
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Mannering was aware of it。
On the morrow Peter Hardcastle would arrive； and he had urgently
directed that his coming should be in a private capacity； unknown to the
local police or neighborhood。 Neither did he wish the staff of Chadlands
to associate him with the tragedy。
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An official examination of the room had been made by the local
constabulary； as upon the occasion of Nurse Forrester's death； but it was a
perfunctory matter； and those responsible for it understood that special
attention would presently be paid to the problem by the supreme authority。
〃After this man has been and gone； I do earnestly beg you to leave
England and get abroad； Sir Walter；〃 said Mannering。 〃I think it your
duty； not only for your girl's sake； but your own。 Do not even wait for
the report。 There is nothing to keep you； and I shall personally be very
thankful and relieved if you will manage this and take Mary to some fresh
scenes； a place or country that she has not visited before。 There is
nothing like an entirely novel environment for distracting the mind；
bracing the nerves； and restoring tone。〃
〃I must do my duty；〃 answered the other； 〃and that remains to be seen。
If Hardcastle should find out anything； there may be a call upon me。 At
least； I cannot turn my back upon Chadlands till the mystery is threshed
out to the bottom； as far as man can do it。〃
It was then that Septimus May spoke and astounded his hearers。
〃You give me the opportunity to introduce my subject；〃 he said； 〃for it
bears directly on Sir Walter's intentions； and it is in my power； as I
devoutly believe； to free him swiftly of any further need to remain here。
I am； of course； prepared to argue for my purpose； but would rather not do
so。 Briefly； I hold it a vital obligation to spend this night in the Grey
Room； and I ask that no obstacle of any kind be raised to prevent my
doing so。 The wisdom of man is foolishness before the wit of God； and
what I desire to do is God's will and wish； impressed upon me while I
knelt for long hours and prayed to know it。 I am convinced； and that
should be enough。 In this matter I am far from satisfied that all has yet
been done； within the Almighty's purpose and direction； to discover the
mystery of our terrible loss。 But He helps those who help themselves；
remember； and I owe it to my son； Sir Walter； and you owe it to your
daughter Mary first； and the community also； to take such steps as Heaven；
through me； has now directed。〃
They were for a moment struck dumb by this extraordinary assertion
and demand。 A thousand objections leaped to the lips of the elder men；
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and Mr。 Prodgers； a devout young Christian of poor physique but great
spiritual courage； found himself as interested by this fearless demand of
faith as the others were alarmed by it。
Sir Walter spoke。
〃We know it is so； May。 None recognizes our obligations； both to the
living and the dead； more acutely than I do。 A very famous man of
European reputation will be here to…morrow； and if you； too； desire a
representative； you have only got to say so。〃
〃I desire no representative armed with material craft or knowledge of
criminal procedure。 I am my own representative； and I come armed with
greater power than any you can command on earth； Sir Walter。 I mean
my Maker's response to my prayer。 I must spend the night in that room；
and cannot leave Chadlands until I have done so。 I trust to no human
expedient or precaution； for such things would actually disarm me； but my
faith is in the God I have served to the best of my power from my youth
up。 I entertain not the least shadow of fear or doubt。 To fear or doubt
would be to fail。 I rely absolutely on the Supreme Being who has
permitted this unspeakable sorrow to fall upon us； and there is no living
man less likely than myself to fall a victim to the unknown spirit hidden
here and permitted to exercise such awful control over us。 The time has
come to challenge that spirit in the name of its Maker； and to cleanse your
house once and for all of something which； potent for evil though it is
allowed to be； must yield to the forces of the Most High； even in the feeble
hand of His minister。〃
The doctor spoke。
〃Is it possible； sir； that you attribute your son's death to anything but
natural physical forces？〃 he asked。
〃Is it possible to do otherwise？ How can you； of all men； ask？
Science has spoken … or； rather； science has been struck dumb。 No
natural； physical force is responsible for his end。 He died without any
cause that you could discover。 This is no new thing； however。 History
records that men have passed similarly under visitations beyond human
power to explain。 If the Lord could slay multitudes in a night at a breath；
as we know from the pages of the Old Testament； then it is certain He can
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still end the life of any man at any moment； and send His messengers to do
so。 I believe in good and evil spirits as I believe in my Bible； and I know
that； strong and terrible though they may be and gifted with capital powers
against our flesh； yet the will of God is stronger than the strongest of them。
These things； I say； have happened before。 They are sent to try our faith。
I do not mourn my son； save with the blind； natural pang of paternity；
because I know that he has been withdrawn from this world for higher
purposes in another； but the means of his going I demand to investigate；
because they may signify much more than his death itself。 One reason
for his death may be this： that we are now called to understand what is
hidden in the Grey Room。 My son's death may have been necessary to
that explanation。 Human intervention may be demanded there。 One of
God's immortal souls； for reasons we cannot tell； may be chained in that
room； waiting its liberation at human hands。 We are challenged； and I
accept the challenge； being impelled thereto by the sacred message that
has been put into my heart。〃
Even his fellow…priest stared in bewilderment at Septimus May's
extraordinary opinions； while to the physician this was the chatter of a
lunatic。
〃I will take my Bible into that haunted room to…night；〃 concluded the
clergyman； 〃and I will pray to God； Who sits above both quick and dead；
to protect me； guide me； and lead me to my duty。〃
Sir Walter spoke。
〃You flout reason when you say these things； my dear May。
〃And why should I not flout reason？ What Ch
