the grey room(灰房间)-第15章
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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 Christian but knows well
enough that reason is the staff that breaks in our hands and wounds us？
Much of our most vital experience has no part nor lot with reason。 A
thousand things happen in the soul's history which reason cannot account
for。 A thousand moods； temptations； incitements prompt us to action or
deter us from it … urge us to do or avoid … for which reason is not
responsible。 Reason； if we bring these emotions to it； cannot even
pronounce upon them。 Yet in them and from them springs the life of the
soul and the conviction of immortality。 'To act on impulse' … who but
daily realizes that commonplace in his own experience？ The mind does
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not only play tricks and laugh at reason in dreams while we sleep。 It
laughs at reason while we wake； and the sanest spirit experiences inspired
moments； mad moments； unaccountable impulses the reason for which he
knows not。 The ancients explained these as temptations of malicious and
malignant spirits or promptings from unseen beings who wish man well。
And where the urge is to evil； that may well be the truth； and where it is to
good； who can doubt whence the inspiration comes？〃
〃And shall not my inspiration … to employ the cleverest detective in
England…be also of good？〃 asked Sir Walter。
〃Emphatically not。 Because this thing is in another category than that
of human crime。 It is lifted upon a plane where the knowledge of man
avails nothing。 You are a Christian； and you should understand this as
well as I do。 If there is danger； then I am secure； because I have the only
arms that can avail in a battle of the spirit。 My trust is shield enough
against any evil being that may roam this earth or be held by invisible
bonds within the walls of the Grey Room。 I will justify the ways of God
to man and； through the channel of potent prayer； exorcise this presence
and bring peace to your afflicted house。 For any living fellow…creature
would I gladly pit my faith against evil； how much more； then； in a matter
where my very own life's blood has been shed？ You cannot deny me this。
It is my right。〃
〃I will ask you to listen to the arguments against you； nevertheless；〃
replied Mannering。 〃You have propounded an extraordinary theory； and
must not mind if we disagree with you。〃
〃Speak for yourself alone； then；〃 answered May。 〃I do not ask or
expect a man of your profession to agree with me。 But the question
ceases to be your province。〃
〃Do not say that； sir；〃 urged Henry Lennox。 〃I don't think my uncle
agrees with you either。 You are assuming too much。〃
〃Honestly； I can't quite admit your assumption； my dear May；〃
declared Sir Walter。 〃You go too far … farther than is justified at this stage
of events； at any rate。 Were we in no doubt that a spirit is granted power
within my house to destroy human life； then I confess； with due
precautions； I could not deny you access to it in the omnipotent Name you
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invoke。 I am a Christian and believe my Bible as soundly as you do。
But why assume such an extraordinary situation？ Why seek a
supernatural cause for dear Tom 's death before we are satisfied that no
other exists？〃
〃Are you not satisfied？ What mortal man can explain the facts on
any foundation of human knowledge？〃
〃Consider how limited human knowledge is； said Mannering；〃 and
grant that we have not exhausted its possibilities yet。 There may be some
physical peculiarity about the room； some deadly but perfectly natural
chemical accident； some volatile stuff； in roof or walls； that reacts to the
lowered temperatures of night。 A thousand rare chance combinations of
matter may occur which are capable of examination； and which； under
skilled experiment； will resolve their secret。 Nothing it more bewildering
than a good conjuring trick till we know how it is done； and Nature is the
supreme conjurer。 We have not found out all her tricks；
