the grey room(灰房间)-第25章
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bargained for。 And I remember a proverb as I heard in India； from a
Hindoo。 I've forgot the lingo now； but I remember the sense。 They
Hindoos say that if you knock long enough at a closed door； the devil will
open it … excuse my mentioning such a thing； but Hindoos are awful wise。〃
〃And what then； Masters？ I know not who may open the door of this
mystery； but this I know； that； in the Name of the Most High God； I can
face whatever opens it。〃
〃I ain't particular frightened neither； your reverence；〃 said Masters。
〃But I wouldn't chance it alone； being about average sinful and not near
good enough to tackle that unknown horror hid up there single…handed。
I'd chance it； though； in high company like yours。 And that's something。〃
〃It is； Masters； and much to your credit；〃 declared Sir Walter。 〃For that
matter； I would do the like。 Indeed； I am willing to accompany Mr。
May。〃
While Septimus May shook his head and Mary trembled； the butler
spoke again。
〃But there's nobody else in this house would。 Not even Fred Caunter；
who doesn't know the meaning of fear； as you can testify； Sir Walter。 But
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he's fed up with the Grey Room； if I may say so； and so's the housekeeper；
Mrs。 Forbes； and so's Jane Bond。 Not that they would desert the ship； but
there's others that be going to do so。 I may mention that four maids and
Jackson intend to give notice to…morrow。 Ann Maine； the second
housemaid； has gone to…night。 Her father fetched her。 Excuse me
mentioning it； but Mrs。 Forbes will give you the particulars to…morrow； if
you please。〃
〃Hysteria；〃 declared Sir Walter。 〃I don't blame them。 It is natural。
Everybody is free to go； if they desire to do so。 But tell them what you
have heard to…night； Masters。 Tell them that no good Christian need fear
to rest in peace。 Explain that Mr。 May will presently enter the Grey
Room in the name of God； and bid them pray on their knees for him
before they go to sleep。〃
Masters hesitated。
〃All the same； I very much wish the reverend gentleman would give
Scotland Yard a chance。 If they fall； then he can wipe their eye after …
excuse my language； Sir Walter。 I've read a lot about the spirits； being
terrible interested in 'em； as all human men must be； and I hear that
running after 'em often brings trouble。 I don't mean to your life； Sir
Walter； but to your wits。 People get cracked on 'em and have to be
locked up。 I stopped everybody frightening themselves into 'sterics at
dinner to…day； but you could see how it took 'em； and； whether or no； I do
beg Mr。 May to be so kind as to let me sit up along with him to…night。
〃You never hear of two people getting into trouble with these here
customers； and while he was going for this blackguard ghost in the name
of the Lord； I could keep my weather eye lifting for trouble。 'Tis a matter
for common sense and keeping your nerve； in my opinion； and we don't
want another death on our hands； I suppose。 There'll be half the
mountebanks and photograph men and newspaper men in the land here to…
morrow； and 'twill take me all my time to keep 'em from over…running the
house。 Because if they could come in their scores for the late captain…
poor gentleman！ … what won't they try now this here famous detective has
been done in？〃
〃Henry deplored the same thing；〃 said Mary。 〃And I answer again； as
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I answered then；〃 replied Septimus May。 〃You mean well； Sir Walter；
and your butler means well； but you propose an act in direct opposition to
the principle that inspires me。〃
〃What do you expect to happen？〃 asked Mary。 〃Do you suppose you
will see something； and that something will tell you what it is； and why it
killed dear Tom？〃
〃That； at any rate； would be a very great blessing to the living；〃 said
her father。
〃The least the creature could do； in my humble opinion；〃 ventured
Masters。
But Septimus May deprecated such curiosity。
〃Hope for no such thing； and do not dwell upon what is to happen until
I am able to tell you what does happen；〃 he answered。 〃Allow no human
weakness； no desire to learn the secrets of another world； to distract your
thoughts。 I am only concerned with what I know beyond possibility of
doubt is my duty … to be entered upon as swiftly as possible。 I hear my
call in the very voice of the wind shouting round the house to…night。 But
beyond my duty I do not seek。 Whether information awaits me； whether
some manifestation indicating my success and valuable to humanity will
be granted； I cannot say。 I do not stop now to think about that。
〃Alone I do this thing … yet not alone； for my hand is in my Maker's
hand。 Your part will not be to accompany me。 Let each man and
woman be informed of what I do； and let them lift a petition for me； that
my work be crowned with success。 But let them not assume that to…
morrow I shall have anything to impart。 The night may be one of peace
within； though so stormy without。 I may pray till dawn with no
knowledge how my prayer prospers； or I may be called to face a being that
no human eye has ever seen and lived。 These things are hidden from us。〃
〃You are wonderful； and it is heartening to meet with such mighty
faith；〃 replied Sir Walter。 〃You have no fear； no shadow of hesitation or
doubt at the bottom of your mind？〃
〃None。 Only an overmastering desire to obey the message that throbs
in my heart。 I will be honest with you； for I recognize that many might
doubt whether you were in the right to let me face this ordeal。 But I am
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driven by an overwhelming mandate。 Did I fear； or feel one tremor of
uncertainty； I would not proceed； for any wavering might be fatal and give
me helpless into the power of this watchful spirit； but I am as certain of
my duty as I am that salvation awaits the just man。
〃I believe that I shall liberate this arrested being with cathartic prayer
and cleansing petition to our common Maker。 And have I not the spirit of
my dead boy on my side？ Could any living man； however well
intentioned； watch with me and over me as he will？ Fear nothing； go to
your rest； and let all who would assist me do so on their； knees before they
sleep。〃
Even Masters echoed some of this fierce and absolute faith when he
returned to the servants' hall。
〃His eyes blaze；〃 he said。 〃He's about the most steadfast man ever I
saw inside a pulpit； or out of it。 You feel if that man went to the window
and told the rain to stop and the wind to go down； they would。 No ghost
that ever walked could best him anyway。 They asked me to talk and say
what I felt； and I did； but words are powerless against such an iron will as
he's got。
〃I doubted first； and Sir Walter said he doubted likewise； but he's dead
sure now； and what's good enough for him is good enough for us。 I'll bet
Caunter； or any man； an even flyer that he's going to put the creature down
and out and come off without a scratch himself。 I offered to sit up with
him； so did Sir Walter； but he wouldn't hear of it。 So all we've got to do
is to turn in and say our prayers。 That's simple enough for God…fearing
people； and we can't do no better than to obey orders。〃
It was none the less a nervous and highly strung household that
presently went to bed； and no woman slept without another woman to
keep her company。 Sir Walter found himself worn out in mind and body。
Mary made him take his bromide； and he slept without a dream； despite
the din of the great 〃sou'…wester〃 and the distant； solemn crash of more
than one great tree thrown upon the lap of mother earth at last。
Before he retired； however； something in the nature of a procession
had escorted the priest to his ordeal。 Mr。 May donned baretta； surplice；
and stole； for； as he explained； he was to hold a religious service as sacred
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and significant as any other rite。
〃Lord send him no congregation then；〃 thought Masters。
But； with Sir Walter and Mary； he followed the ministrant； and left him
at the open door of the Grey Room。 The electric light shone steadily； but
the storm seemed to beat its fists at the windows； and the leaded panes
shook and chattered。 With no bell and candle； but his Bible alone；
Septimus May entered the room； having first made the sign of the Cross
before him； then he turned and bade good…night to all。
〃Be of good faith！〃 were the last words he spoke to them。
Having done so he shut the door； and they heard his voice immediately
uplifted in prayer。 They waited a little； and the sound roiled steadily on。
Sir Walter then bade Masters extinguish all the lights and send the
household to bed； though the time was not more than ten o'clock。
As for Masters； the glamour and appeal of those strenuous words at the
dinner…table had now passed； and presently； as he prepared to retire； he
found himself far less confident and assured than his recent words had
implied。 He sank slowly from hope to fear； even pictured the worse； and
asked himself what would follow if the worst happened。 He believed
t
