the grey room(灰房间)-第26章
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asked himself what would follow if the worst happened。 He believed
that it might mean serious disaster for Sir Walter。 If another life were
sacrified to this unknown peril； and it transpired that his master had
sanctioned what would amount to suicide in the eyes of reason； then he
began to fear that grave trouble must result。 Already the burning words
of Septimus May began to cool and sound unreal； and Masters suspected
that； if they were repeated in other ears； which had not heard him utter
them； or seen the fervor of religious earnestness and reverence in which
the had been spoken； this feverish business of exorcising a ghost in the
twentieth century might only awake derision and receive neither credence
nor respect。 His entire concern was for Sir Walter； not Mr。 May。 He
could not sleep； lighted a pipe； considered whether it was in his power to
do anything； felt a sudden impulse to take certain steps； yet hesitated …
from no fear to himself； but doubt whether action might not endanger
another。 Mary did not sleep either； and she suffered more； for she had
never approved； and now she blamed herself not a little for her weak
opposition。 A thousand arguments occurred to her while she lay awake。
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Then； for a time； she forgot present tribulations； and her own grief
overwhelmed her； as it was wont to do by night。 For while the events
that had so swiftly followed each other since her husband's death banished
him now and again； save from her subconscious mind； when alone he was
swift to return and her sorrow made many a night sleepless。 She was
herself ill； but did not know it。 The reaction had yet to come； and could
not be long delayed； for her nervous energy was worn out now。 She wept
and lived days with the dead； then the present returned to her mind； and
she fretted and prayed … for Septimus May and for daylight。 She
wondered why stormy nights were always the longest。 She heard a
thousand unfamiliar sounds； and presently leaped from her bed； put on a
dressing…gown； and crept out into the house。 To know that all was well
with the watcher would hearten her。 But then her feet dragged before she
had left the threshold of her own room； and she stood still and shuddered a
little。 For how if all were not well？ How if his voice no longer
sounded？
She hesitated to make the experiment； and balanced the relief of
reassurance against the horror of silence。 She remembered a storm at sea；
when through a long night； not lacking danger to a laboring steamer with
weak engines； she had lain awake and felt her heart warm again when the
watch shouted the hour。
She set out； then； determined to know if all prospered with her father…
in…law。 Nor would she give ear to misgiving or ask herself what she
would do if no voice were steadily uplifted in the Grey Room。
The great wind seemed to play upon Chadlands like a harp。 It roared
and reverberated； now stilled a moment for another leap； now died away
against the house； yet still sounded with a steady shout in the neighbor
trees。 At the casements it tugged and rattled； against them it flung the
rain fiercely。 Every bay and passage of the interior uttered its own voice；
and overhead was creaking of old timbers； rattling of old slates； and
rustling of mortar fragments dislodged by sudden vibrations。
Mary proceeded on her way； and then； to her astonishment； heard a
footfall； and nearly ran into an invisible figure approaching from the
direction of the Grey Room。 Man and woman startled each other； but
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neither exclaimed； and Mrs。 May spoke。
〃Who is it？〃 she asked； and Masters answered：
〃Oh； my gracious！ Terrible sorry； ma'am！ If I didn't think …〃
〃What on earth are you doing； Masters？〃
〃Much the same as you； I expect； ma'am。 I thought just to creep
along and see if the reverend gentleman was all right。 And he is。 The
light's burning … you can see it under the door … and he's praying away；
steady as a steam…threshing machine。 I doubt he's keeping the evil creature
at arm's length； and I'm a tidy lot more hopeful than what I was an hour
ago。 The thing ain't strong enough to touch a man praying to God like
what he can。 But if prayers keep it harmless； then it's got ears and it's
alive！〃
〃Can you believe that； Masters？〃 she whispered。
〃Got to； ma'am。 If it was just a natural horror beyond the reach of
prayer； it would have knocked his reverence out long before now； like
other people。 It settled the police officer in under an hour； and Mr。 May's
been up against it for three … nearly four hours； so far。 He'll bolt it yet； I
shou1dn't wonder； like a ferret bolts a rat。〃
〃You really feel more hopeful？〃
〃Yes； I do； ma'am； and if he can fire the creature and signal 'All's clear'
for Chadlands； it will calm everybody and be a proper feather in his cap；
and he did ought to be made a bishop； at the least。 Not that Scotland
Yard men will believe a word of it to…morrow； all the same。 Ghosts are
bang out of their line； and I never met even a common constable that
believed in 'em； except Bob Parrett； and he had bats in the belfry； poor
chap。 No； they'll reckon it's somebody in the house； I expect； who
wanted to kill t' others； but ain't got no quarrel with Mr。 May。 And you'd
be wise to get back to bed； ma'am； and try to sleep； else you'll catch a cold。
I'll look round again in an hour or to； if I don't go to sleep my self。〃
They parted； while the storm still ran high； and through the empty
corridor； when it was lulled； a voice rolled steadily on from the Grey
Boom。
When it suddenly ceased； an hour before dawn； the storm had already
begun to sink； and through a rack of flying and breaking cloud the
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〃Hunter〃 wheeled westerly to his setting。
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CHAPTER VIII
THE LABORS OF THE FOUR
Despite the storm； Sir Walter slept through the night； and did not
waken until his man drew the blinds upon a dawn sky so clear that it
seemed washed of its blue。 He had directed to be wakened at six o'clock。
〃What of Mr。 May？〃 he asked。
〃Masters wants to know if we shall call him； Sir Walter。〃
〃Not if he has returned to his room； but immediately if still in the Grey
Room。〃
〃He's not in his own room。； sir。〃
〃Then seek him at once。〃
The valet hesitated。
〃Please； Sir Walter； there's none much cares to open the door。〃
He heard his daughter's voice outside at the same moment。
〃Mr。 May has not left the Grey Room； father。〃
〃I'll be with you in a moment；〃 he answered。
Then he rose； dressed partially； and joined her。 She was full of active
fear。
〃All went well at two o'clock；〃 she said； 〃for I crept out to listen。 So
did Masters。 Mr。 May's voice sounded clear and steady。〃
They found the butler at the door of the Grey Room。 He was pale
and mopping his forehead。
〃I've called to him； but it's as silent as the grave in there；〃 he said。
〃It's all up with the gentleman； I know it！〃
〃He may not be there； he may have gone out；〃 answered Sir Walter。
Then he opened the door widely and entered。 The electric light still
shone and killed the pallid white stare of the morning。 Upon a little table
under it they observed Septimus May's Bible； open at an epistle of St。 Paul；
but the priest himself was on the floor some little distance away。 He lay
in a huddled heap of his vestments。 He had fallen upon his right side
apparently； and； though the surplice and cassock which he had worn were
disarranged； he appeared peaceful enough； with his cheek on a foot stool；
as though disposed deliberately upon the ground to sleep。 His biretta was
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still upon his head； his eyes were open； and the fret and passion
manifested by his face in life had entirely left it。 He looked many years
younger； and no emotion of any kind marked his placid countenance。
But he was dead； his heart had ceased to beat and his extremities were
already cold。 The room appeared unchanged in every particular。 As in
the previous cases； death had come by stealth； yet robbed； as far as the
living could judge； of all terror for its victim。
Masters called Caunter and Sir Walter's valet； who stood at the door。
The latter declined to enter or touch the dead； but Caunter obeyed； and
together the two men lifted Mr。 May and carried him to his own room。 In
a moment it seemed that the house knew what had happened。
A scene of panic and hysteria followed below stairs； and； without Jane
Bond's description of it； Mary knew the people were running out of the
house as from a plague。
