the grey room(灰房间)-第34章
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and beauty。 His daughter； in the new light that was glimmering for her；
found her father's friends had shrunk a little。 She could speak with them
and share their interests less whole…heartedly than of old； but they set it
down to her tribulation and tried to 〃rouse〃 her。 Ernest Travers even
lamented her new…found interests and hoped they were 〃only a passing
phase。〃
〃She appears to escape from reality into a world of pictures and
music；〃 he said。 〃You must guard against that； my dear Walter。 These
things can be of no permanent interest to a healthy mind。〃
For a fortnight they saw much of their friends； and Mary observed how
her father expanded in the atmosphere of Ernest and Nelly。 They
understood each other so well and echoed so many similar sentiments and
convictions。
Ernest entertained a poor opinion of the Italian character。 He argued
that a nation which depended for its prosperity on wines and silk … 〃and
such wines〃 … must have too much of the feminine in it to excel。 He had
a shadowy idea that he understood the language； though he could not
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speak nor write it himself。
〃We； who have been nurtured at Eton and Oxford； remember enough
Latin to understand these people；〃 he said； 〃for what is Italian but the
emasculated tongue of ancient Rome？〃
Nelly Travers committed herself to many utterances as idiotic as
Ernest's； and Mary secretly wondered to find how shadowy and ridiculous
such solid people showed in a strange land。 They carried their ignorance
and their parochial atmosphere with them as openly and unashamedly as
they carried their luggage。 She was not sorry to leave them； for she and
her father intended to stop for a while at Como before returning home
again。
Their friends were going to motor over the battlefields of France
presently； and both Ernest and Nelly came to see Sir Walter and his
daughter off for Milan。 Mr。 Travers rushed to the door of the carriage
and thrust in a newspaper as the train moved。
〃I have secured a copy of last week's 'Field；' Walter；〃 he said。
They passed over the Apennines on a night when the fire…flies flashed
in every thicket under the starry gloom of a clear and moonless sky； and
when the train stopped at little； silent stations the throb of nightingales fell
upon their ears。
But circumstances prevented their visit to the Larian Lake； for at
Milan letters awaited Sir Walter from home； and among them one that
hastened his return。 From a stranger it came； and chance willed that the
writer； an Italian； had actually made the journey from Rome to London in
order that he might see Sir Walter； while all the time the master of
Chadlands happened to be within half a day's travel。 Now； the writer was
still in London； and proposed to stop there until he should receive an
answer to his communication。 He wrote guardedly； and made one
statement of extraordinary gravity。 He was concerned with the mystery of
the Grey Room； and believed that he might throw some light upon the
melancholy incidents recorded concerning it。
Sir Walter hesitated for Mary's sake； but was relieved when she
suggested a prompt return。
〃It would be folly to delay；〃 she said。 〃This means quite as much to
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me as to you； father； and I could not go to Como knowing there may be
even the least gleam of light for us at home。 Nothing can alter the past；
but if it were possible to explain how and why … what an unutterable relief
to us both！〃
〃Henry was to meet us at Menaggio。〃
〃He will be as thankful as we are if anything comes of this。 He
doesn't leave England till Thursday； and can join us at Chadlands instead。〃
〃I only live to explain these things；〃 confessed her father。 〃I would
give all that I have to discover reasons for the death of your dear husband。
But there are terribly grave hints here。 I can hardly imagine this man is
justified in speaking of 'crime。' Would the word mean less to him than to
us？〃
〃He writes perfect English。 Whatever may be in store； we must face
it hopefully。 Such things do not happen by chance。〃
〃He is evidently a gentleman … a man of refinement and delicate
feeling。 I am kindly disposed to him already。 There is something
chivalric and what is called 'old…fashioned' in his expressions。 No young
man writes like this nowadays。〃
The letter； which both read many times； revealed the traits that Sir
Walter declared。 It was written with Latin courtesy and distinction。
There were also touches of humor in it； which neither he nor Mary
perceived：
〃Claridge's Hotel； London。 April 9。
〃Dear Sir Walter Lennox；…In common with the rest of the
world that knows England； I have recently been profoundly
interested and moved at the amazing events reported as happening at
Chadlands； in the County of Devon； under your roof。 The
circumstances were related in Italian journals with no great detail；
but I read them in the 'Times' newspaper； being familiar with your
language and a great lover of your country。
〃I had already conceived the idea of communicating with you
when … so small is the world in this our time … accident actually threw
me into the society of one of your personal friends。 At an
entertainment given by the British Ambassador at Rome； a young
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soldier； one Colonel Vane； was able to do me some service in a crush
of people； and I enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance as the
result。 I would not have inflicted myself upon another generation；
but he took an interest in conversing with one who knew his own
language。 He was also intelligent … for a military man。 Needless to
say； he made no allusion to the tragedy at Chadlands； but when he
spoke of espionage in war and kindred matters； I found him familiar
with the details concerning the death of the great English detective；
Peter Hardcastle。 I then asked him； as being myself deeply
interested in the matter； whether it would be possible to get further
and fuller details of the story of 'the Grey Room；' whereupon he told
me； to my amazement； that he had been at Chadlands when your
lamented son…in…law； Captain Thomas May； passed out of life。 I
then recollected Colonel Vane's name； among others mentioned in
the 'Times；' as at Chadlands when the disaster occurred。
〃Finding that my curiosity was not idle； Colonel Vane accepted
an invitation to dinner； and I enjoyed the pleasure of entertaining him
and learning many personal and intimate particulars of the event。
These were imparted in confidence； and he knew that I should not
abuse his trust。 Indeed； I had already told him that it was my
determination to communicate with you upon the strength of his
narrative。
〃It seems improbable that anything I can say will bear upon
the case； and I may presently find that I lack the means to serve you；
or throw light where all is so profoundly buried in darkness。 Yet I
am not sure。 Small things will often lead to greater； and though the
past is unhappily beyond recall； since our Maker Himself cannot
undo the work of yesterday； or obliterate events embalmed in
vanished time； yet there is always the future； and if we could but
read the past aright； which we never can； then the future would
prove less of a painful riddle than mankind generally finds it。
〃If； then； I can help you to read the past； I may at least
modify your anxieties in the future； and should I； by a remote chance；
be right in my suspicions； it is quite imperative that I place myself at
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your service for the sake of mankind。 In a word； a great crime has
been committed； and the situation is possibly such that further
capital crimes will follow it。 I affirm nothing； but I conceive the
agency responsible for these murders to be still active； since the
police have been so completely foiled。 At Chadlands there may
still remain an unsleeping danger to those who follow you … a danger；
indeed； to all human life； so long as it is permitted to persist。 I
write； of course； assuming you to be desirous of clearing this
abominable mystery； both for your own satisfaction and the credit of
your house。 〃There is but little to hope from me； and I would beg
you not to feel sanguine in any way。 Yet this I do believe： t
