the grey room(灰房间)-第16章
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supreme conjurer。 We have not found out all her tricks； and never shall
do so； but we very well know that a solution to all of them exists。〃
〃A material outlook and arrogant；〃 said the priest。
Whereupon Mannering grew a little warm。
〃It is neither material nor arrogant。 I am humbler than you； and your
positive assertion seems much the more arrogant。 This is the twentieth
century； and your mediaeval attitude would win no possible sympathy or
support from any educated man。
〃Truth can afford to be patient；〃 answered May。 〃But I； too； am quite
sane； though your face doubts it。 I do not claim that human prayer can
alter physical laws； and I do not ask my Maker to work a miracle on my
behalf or suspend the operations of cause and effect。 But I am satisfied
that we are in a region outside our experience and on another plane and
dimension than those controlled by natural law。 God has permitted us to
enter such a region。 He has opened the door into this mystery。 He has
spoken to my soul and so directed me that I cannot sit with folded hands。
This is； I repeat； a challenge to me personally。
There is； as I potently believe； a being in bondage here which only the
voice of God； speaking through one of His creatures； can liberate。 If I
am wrong； then I shall pray in vain； if right； as I know by deepest
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conviction and intuition； then my prayer must avail。 In any case； I do my
duty； and if I myself was called to die while so doing； what nobler death
can I desire？〃
Mannering regarded the speaker with growing concern。 But he still
assumed sanity on the part of the reverend gentleman； and still felt
considerable irritation mix with his solicitude。
〃You must consider others a little；〃 he said。
〃No； Dr。 Mannering； they must consider me。 Providence sends me a
message denied to the rest of you； because I am a fit recipient； you are not。
It is Newman's 'Illative Sense' … a conviction arising from well…springs far
deeper and purer than those that account for human reason。 I know
because I know。 Reasoning； at best； is mere inference deduced from
observation； but I am concerned with an inspiration … a something akin to
the gift of prophecy。〃
〃Then I can only hope that Sir Walter will exercise his rights and
responsibilities and deny you what you wish。〃
〃He has faith； and I am sorry that you lack it。〃
〃No； Mr。 May； you must not say that。 It is entirely reasonable that
Mannering should ask you to consider others；〃 said Sir Walter。 〃To you a
sudden and peaceful death might be no ill； but it would be a very serious
ill to the living … a loss to your work on earth； which is not done； a shock
and grief to those who respect you； and a reflection on all here。〃
〃Let the living minister to the living and put their trust in God。〃
Mannering spoke to the vicar of Chadlands。
〃What do you think； Prodgers？ You are a parson； too； yet may be
able to see with our eyes。 Surely common sense shouldn't be left out of
our calculations； even if they concern the next world？〃
〃I respect Mr。 May's faith；〃 answered the younger priest； 〃and
assuredly I believe that if we eliminate all physical and natural causes
from poor Captain May's death； then no member of our sacred calling
should fear to spend the night alone in that room。 Jacob wrestled with
the angel of light。 Shall the servants of God fear to oppose a dark
angel？〃
〃Well spoken；〃 said Mr。 May。
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〃But that is not all； sir；〃 continued Noel Prodgers。 〃It is impossible
that we can share such certainty as you claim。 Probability lies entirely
against it。 This has happened twice； remember； and each time a valuable
and precious life disappears； for causes beyond our knowledge。 That；
however； is no reason for assuming the causes are beyond all human
knowledge。 We do not all possess learning in physics。 I would venture
most earnestly to beg you to desist； at least until much more has been done
and this famous professional man has made such researches as his genius
suggests。 That is only reasonable； and reason； after all； is a mighty gift of
God…a gift； no doubt； often abused by finite beings； who actually use it to
defy the Giver … yet none the less； in its proper place； the handmaid of
faith and the light of true progress。〃
But Septimus May argued against him。 〃To shelter behind reason at
such a moment is to blunt the sword of the spirit；〃 he replied； 〃and human
reason is never the handmaid of faith； as you wrongly suggest； but her
obdurate； unsleeping foe。 That which metaphysicians call intuition； and
which I call the voice of God； tells me in clear tones that my boy died by
no human agency whatever and by no natural accident。 He was wrapt
from this life to the next in the twinkling of an eye by forces； or a force；
concerning which we know nothing save through the Word of God。 I
will go farther。 I will venture to declare that this death…dealing ghost； or
discarnate but concious being； may not be； as you say； a dark angel …
perhaps not wholly evil…perhaps not evil at all。 One thing none can
question … it did the will of its Creator； as we all must； and we are not；
therefore； justified in asserting that a malignant force was exerted。 To
say so is to speak in terms of our own bitter loss and our own aching
hearts。 But we are justified in believing that a fearful； unknown power
was liberated during the night that Tom died； and I desire to approach that
power upon my knees and with my life in my Maker's hands。〃
The conviction of this righteous but superstitious soul was uttered with
passionate zeal。 He puzzled to understand how fellow Christians could
argue against him； and much resented the fact that Sir Walter withstood his
claim and declined to permit the experiment he desired to make。 A
formalist and precisian； he held any sort of doubt to be backsliding before
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the message in his own heart。 They argued unavailingly with him； and
Henry Lennox suggested a compromise。
〃Why is it vital； after all； that only one should undertake this ordeal？ 〃
he asked。 〃I begged you to let me try … for revenge。〃
〃Do not use that word；〃 said Mr。 Prodgers。
〃Well； at any rate； I feel just as great a call to be there as Tom's father
can feel … just as pressing a demand and desire。 There may have been foul
play。 At any rate； the thing was done by an active agency； and Tom was
taken in some way at a disadvantage。 There was no fair fight； I'll swear。
He was evidently kneeling； calmly enough looking out of the window；
when he died； and the blow must have been a coward's blow； struck from
behind； whoever struck it。〃
〃There was no blow； Henry；〃 said Sir Walter。
〃Death is a blow； uncle…the most awful blow a strong man can be
called to suffer； surely。 And I beg this； that if you won't let me face the
infernal thing alone you'll let me share this business with Mr。 May。 He
can pray and I can … watch。〃
But the dead man's father made short work of Henry's proposition。
〃You are introducing that very element of rationalism to be； before all
things； distrusted here。 The mere introduction of human precaution and
human weapons would sully faith and make of no avail the only sure
means of winning light on this solemn problem。 Reason； so employed；
would be a hindrance…an actual danger。 Only absolute faith can unravel
the mystery before us。〃
〃Then； frankly； I tell you that I lack any such absolute faith；〃 declared
Sir Walter。
〃Do not say that … you libel yourself and are letting a base and material
fear cloud your own trust；〃 answered May。 〃As there is no human reason
for what has happened； so no human reason will be found to explain it。
By denying me； you are denying the sole means by which this dark terror
can be banished。 You are denying God's offer of peace。 We must not
only seek peace； but ensue it。 That means that we are now called to take
such steps as the Almighty puts at our service by the road of conscience
and faith。 I have a right to this revelation as my boy's father。 The cup is
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mine； and you will do very wrongly if you deny me the right to drink it。 I
desire to say； 'Peace be to this house' before I leave it； and； Christian to
Christian； you cannot deny me； or hesitate as to your answer。〃
No argument would bend his obstinate conviction； and he debated with
great force from his own standpoint。 He presented a man overmastered
and mentally incapable of appreciating any argument against his
possession。
But Sir Walter； now determined； was as obstinate as the clergyman。
Mannering bluntly declared that it would be suicide on May's part； and a
conniving at the same by any who permitted him to attempt his vigil。
〃I； too； must do my duty as I see it；〃 summed up the master of
Chadlands； 〃and after I have done so； then we may be in a position to
admit the case is altered。〃
The other suddenly rose and lifted his hands。 He was trembling with
emotion。
〃May my God give a sign； then！〃 he cried。
They
