the grey room(灰房间)-第35章
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you not to feel sanguine in any way。 Yet this I do believe： that if
there is one man in the world to…day who holds the key of your
tribulation； I am that man。 One lives in hope that one may empty the
world of so great a horror； and to do so would give one the most
active satisfaction。 But I promise nothing。
〃If I should be on the right track； however； let me explain the
direction in which my mind is moving。 Human knowledge may not
be equal to any solution； and I may fail accordingly。 It may even be
possible that the Rev。 Septimus May did not err； and that at the cost
of his life he exorcised some spirit whose operations were permitted
for reasons hid in the mind of its Creator； but； so far as I am
concerned； I believe otherwise。 And if I should prove correct； it
will be possible to show that all has fallen out in a manner
consonant with human reason and explicable by human
understanding。 I therefore came to England； glad of the excuse to
do so； and waited upon you at your manor； only to hear； much to my
chagrin； that you were not in residence； but had gone to Florence； a
bird's journey from my own home！
〃Now I write to the post…office at Milan； where your servant
directed me that letters should for the moment be sent。 If you are
returning soon； I wait for you。 If not； it may be possible to meet in
Italy。 But I should prefer to think you return ere long； for I cannot
be of practical service until I have myself； with your permission；
visited your house and seen the Grey Room with my own eyes。
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〃I beg you will accept my assurances of kindly regard and
sympathy in the great sufferings you and Madame May have been
called upon to endure。
〃Until I hear from you； I remain at Claridge's Hotel in
London。
〃I have the honor to be；
〃Faithfully yours；
〃Vergilio Mannetti。〃
To this communication； albeit he felt little hope； Sir Walter made
speedy response。 He declared his intention of returning to England
during the following week； after which he hoped that Signor Mannetti
would visit Chadlands at any time convenient to himself。 He thanked him
gratefully； but feared that； since the Italian based his theory on a crime； he
could not feel particularly sanguine； for the possibility of such a thing had
proved non…existent。
Mary； however； looked deeper into the letter。 She even suspected that
the writer himself entertained a greater belief in his powers than he
declared。
〃One has always felt the Grey Room is somehow associated with
Italy；〃 she said。 〃The ceiling we know was moulded by Italians in
Elizabeth's day。〃
〃It was； but so are all the other moulded ceilings in the house as well。〃
〃He may understand Italian workmanship； and know some similar roof
that hid a secret。〃
〃The roof cannot conceal an assassin； and he clearly believes himself
on the track of a crime。 Nevertheless； Sir Walter's interest increased as
the hour approached for their return home。 Only when that was decided
did he discover how much he longed to be there。 For the horror and
suffering of the past were a little dimmed already； he thirsted to see his
woods and meadows in their vernal dress； to hear the murmur of his river；
and move again among familiar voices and familiar paths。
Chadlands welcomed them on a rare evening of May； and the very
genuine joy of his people moved Sir Walter not a little。 Henry Lennox
was already arrived； and deeply interested to read the Italian's letter。 He
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and Mary walked presently in the gardens and he found her changed。
She spoke more slowly； laughed not at all。 But she had welcomed him
with affection； and been interested to learn all that he had to tell her of
himself。
〃I felt that it would disappoint you to be stopped at the last moment；〃
she said； 〃but I knew the reason would satisfy you well enough。 I feel
hopeful somehow； father does not。 Yet it is hope mixed with fear； for
Signor Mannetti speaks of a great crime。〃
〃A vain theory； I'm afraid。 Tell me about yourself。 You are well？〃
〃Yes； very well。 You must come to Italy some day； Henry； and let me
show you the wonderful things I have seen。〃
〃I should dearly love it。 I'm such a Goth。 But it's only brutal
laziness。 I want to take up art and understand a little of what it really
matters。〃
〃You have it in you。 Are you writing any more poetry？〃
〃Nothing worth showing you。〃
She exercised the old fascination； but he indulged in no hope of the
future。 He knew what her husband had been to Mary； despite the
shortness of their union； and； rightly； he felt positive that she would never
marry again。
A mournful spectacle appeared； drawn by the sound of well…known
voices； and the old spaniel； Prince； crept to Mary's feet。 He offered
feeble homage； and she made much of him； but the dog had sunk to a
shadow。
〃He must be put away； poor old beggar； it's cruel to keep him alive。
Only Masters said he was determined he should not go while Uncle Walter
was abroad。 Masters has been a mother to him。〃
〃Tell father that； he may blame Masters for letting him linger on like
this。 He rather hoped； I know； that poor Prince would be painlessly
destroyed； or die； before he came back。〃
〃Masters would never have let him die unless directed to do so。〃
〃And I'm sure father could never have written the words down and
posted them。 You know father。〃
Letters awaited the returned travellers； one from Colonel Vane； who
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described his meeting with Signor Mannetti； and hoped something might
come of it； and another from the stranger himself。 He expressed
satisfaction at his invitation； and proposed arriving at Chadlands on the
following Monday； unless directions reached him to the contrary。
When the time came； Sir Walter himself went into Exeter to meet his
guest and bring him back by motor…car。 At first sight of the signor； his
host experienced a slight shock of astonishment to mark the Italian's age。
For Vergilio Mannetti was an ancient man。 He had been tall； but now
stooped； and； though not decrepit； yet he needed assistance； and was
accompanied and attended by a middle…aged Italian。 The traveller
displayed a distinguished bearing。 He had a brown； clean…shaved face；
the skin of which appeared to have shrunk rather than wrinkled； yet no
suggestion of a mummy accompanied this physical accident。 His hair
was still plentiful； and white as snow； his dark eyes were undimmed； and
proved not only brilliant but wonderfully keen。 He told them more than
once； and indeed proved； that behind large glasses； that lent an owl…like
expression to his face； his long sight was unimpaired。 His rather round
face sparkled with intelligence and humor。
He owned to eighty years； yet presented an amazing vitality and a keen
interest in life and its fulness。 The old man had played the looker…on at
human existence； and seemed to know as much； if not more； of the game
than the players。 He confessed to this attitude and blamed himself for it。
〃I have never done a stroke of honest work in my life；〃 he said。 〃I was
born with the silver spoon in my mouth。 Alas； I have been amazingly
lazy； it was my metier to look on。 I ought； at least； to have written a
book； but then all the things I wanted to say have been so exquisitely said
by Count Gobineau in his immortal volumes； that I should only have been
an echo。 The world is too full of echoes as it is。 Believe me； if I had
been called to work for my living； I should have cut a respectable figure；
for I have an excellent brain。〃
〃You know England； signor7〃
〃When I tell you that I married an English…woman； and that both my
sons have English blood in their veins； you will realize the sincerity of my
devotion。 My dear wife was a Somerset。〃
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Mary May always declared that the old Italian won her heart and even
awakened something akin to affection before she had known him half an
hour。 There was a fascination in his admixture of childish simplicity and
varied knowledge。 None； indeed； could resist his gracious humor and
old…world courtesies。 The old man could be simple and ingenuous； too；
but only when it pleased him so to be； and it was not the second
childishness of age； for his intellect remained keen and moved far more
swiftly than any at Chadlands。 But he was modest and loved a jest。 The
hand of time had indeed touched him； and sometimes his memory broke
down and he faltered with a verbal difficulty； but this
