第 10 节
作者:
想聊 更新:2021-02-19 00:37 字数:9320
them were already assembled; and Mary May; who was just stepping into
the garden; asked Henry if he had seen her husband。
〃He's always the first to get up and the last to go to bed;〃 she said。
Bidding her good…morning; but not answering her question; the young
man hastened through the room and ascended to the corridor。 Beneath;
Ernest Travers; a being of fussy temperament with a heart of gold; spoke
to Colonel Vane。 Travers was clad in Sunday black; for he respected
tradition。
〃Forgive me; won't you; but this is your first visit; and you don't look
much like church。〃
〃Must we go to church; too ?〃 asked the colonel blankly。 He was still
a year under forty; but had achieved distinction in the war。 〃There is no
'must' about it; but Sir Walter would appreciate the effort on your part。
He likes his guests to go。 He is one of those men who are a light to this
generation … an ancient light; if you like; but a shining one。 He loves
sound maxims。 You may say he runs his life on sound maxims。 He
lives charitably with all men and it puzzles him; as it puzzles me; to
understand the growing doubt; the class prejudice … nay; class hatred the
32
… Page 33…
THE GREY ROOM
failure of trust and the increasing tension and uneasiness between
employer and employed。 He and I are agreed that the tribulations of the
present time can be traced to two disasters only … the lack of goodwill … as
shown in the proletariat; whose leaders teach them to respect nobody; and
the weakening hold of religion as also revealed in the proletariat。 Now;
to combat these things and set a good example is our duty … nay; our
privilege。 Don't you think so?〃
Such a lecture on an empty stomach depressed the colonel。 He
looked uneasy and anxious。
〃I'll come; of course; if he'd like it; but I'm afraid I shared my men's
dread of church parade; though our padre was a merciful being on the
whole and fairly sensible。〃
Overhead; Henry had tried the door of the Grey Room; and found it
locked。 As he did so; the gong sounded for breakfast。 Masters always
performed upon it。 First he woke a preliminary whisper of the great
bronze disc; then deepened the note to a genial and mellow roar; and
finally calmed it down again until it faded gently into silence。 He spoke
of the gong as a musical instrument; and declared the art of sounding it
was a gift that few men could acquire。
Neither movement nor response rewarded the summons of Lennox;
and now in genuine alarm; he went below again; stopped Fred Caunter; the
footman; and asked him to call out Sir Walter。
Fred waited until his master had said a brief grace before meat; then he
stepped to his side and explained; that his nephew desired to see him。
〃Good patience! What's the matter?〃 asked the old man as he rose
and joined Henry in the hall。
Then his nephew spoke; and indicated his alarm。 He stammered a
little; but strove to keep calm and state facts clearly。
〃It's like this。 I'm afraid you'll be rather savage; but I can't talk now。
Tom and I had a yarn when you'd gone to bed; and he was awfully keen to
spend the night in the Grey Room。〃
〃I did not wish it。〃
〃I know … we were wrong … but we were both death on it; and we
tossed up; and he won。〃
33
… Page 34…
THE GREY ROOM
〃Where is he?〃
〃Up there now; looking out of the window。 I've called him and made
a row at the door; but he doesn't answer。 He's locked himself in;
apparently。〃
〃What have you done; Henry? We must get to him instantly。 Tell
Caunter … no; I will。 Don't breathe a syllable of this to anybody unless
necessity arises。 Don't tell Mary。〃
Sir Walter beckoned the footman; bade him get some tools and ascend
quickly to the Grey Room。 He then went up beside his nephew; while
Fred; bristling with excitement; hastened to the toolroom。 He was a
handy man; had been at sea during the war; and now returned to his old
employment。 His slow brain moved backwards; and he remembered
that this was a task he had already performed ten or more years before。
Then the ill…omened chamber had revealed a dead woman。 Who was in it
now? Caunter guessed readily enough。
Lennox spoke to his uncle as they approached the locked door。
〃It was only a lark; just to clear the room of its bad character and have
a laugh at your expense this morning。 But I'm afraid he's ill … fainted or
something。 He turned in about one o'clock。 I was rather bothered; and
couldn't explain to myself why; but … 〃
〃Don't chatter!〃 answered the other。 〃You have both done a very
wrong thing。 and should have respected my wishes。〃
At the door he called loudly。
〃Let us in at once; Tom; please! I am much annoyed! If this is a
jest; it has gone far enough … and too far! I blame you severely!〃
But none replied。 Absolute silence held the Grey Room。
Then came the footman with a frail of tools。 The task could not be
performed in a moment; and Sir Walter; desirous above all things to create
no uneasiness at the breakfast…table; determined to go down again。 But
he was too late; for his daughter had already suspected something。 She
was not anxious but puzzled that her husband tarried。 She came up the
stairs with a letter。
〃I'm going to find Tom;〃 she said。 〃It's not like him to be so lazy。
Here's a letter from the ship; and I'm awfully afraid he may have to go
34
… Page 35…
THE GREY ROOM
back。〃
〃Mary;〃 said her father; 〃come here a moment。〃
He drew her under a great window which threw light into the corridor。
〃You must summon your nerve and pluck; my girl! I'm very much
afraid that something has gone amiss with Tom。 I know nothing yet; but
last night; it seems; after we had gone to bed; he and Henry determined
that one of them should sleep in the Grey Room。〃
〃Father! Was he there; and I so near him … sleeping in the very next
room?〃
〃He was there … and is there。 He is not well。 Henry saw him
looking out of the window five minutes ago; but he was; I fear;
unconscious。〃
〃Let me go to him;〃 she said。
〃I will do so first。 It will be wiser。 Run down and ask Ernest to join
me。 Do not be alarmed; I dare say it is nothing at all。〃
Her habit of obedience prompted her to do as he desired instantly; but
she descended like lightning; called Travers; and returned with him。
〃I will ask you to come in with me; Ernest;〃 explained Sir Walter。 〃My
son…in…law slept in the Grey Room last night; and he does not respond to
our calls this morning。 The door is locked and we are breaking it open。〃
〃But you expressly refused him permission to do so; Walter。〃
〃I did … you heard me。 Let sleeping dogs lie is a very good motto; but
young men will be young men。 I hope; however; nothing serious …〃
He stopped; for Caunter had forced the door and burst it inward with a
crash。 During the moment's silence that followed they heard the key
spring into the room and strike the wainscot。 The place was flooded with
sunshine; and seemed to welcome them with genial light and attractive art。
The furniture revealed its rich grain and beautiful modelling; the cherubs
carved on the great chairs seemed to dance where the light flashed on their
little; rounded limbs。 The silvery walls were bright; and the huge roses
that tumbled over them appeared to revive and display their original
color at the touch of the sun。
On a chair beside the bed stood an extinguished candle; Tom's watch;