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the grey room(灰房间)-第38部分
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But Mr。 May had not finished。 He proceeded to the immediate point。
〃Shall it be denied that devils have been cast out in the name of God?〃
he asked。 〃And if from human tenements; then why not from dwellings
made with human hands also? May not a house be similarly cleansed as
well as a soul? This unknown spirit … angel or fiend; or other sentient
being … is permitted to challenge mankind and draw attention to its
existence。 A mystery; I grant; but its Maker has now willed that some
measure of this mystery shall be revealed to us。 We are called to play our
part in this spirit's existence。
〃It would seem that it has endured a sort of imprisonment in this
particular room for more years than we know; and it may actually be the
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spirit of some departed human being condemned; for causes that humanity
has forgotten; to remain within these walls。 The nameless and unknown
thing cries passionately to be liberated; and is permitted by its Maker to
draw our terrified attention upon itself by the exercise of destructive
functions transcending our reason。
〃God; then; has willed that; through the agency of devout and living
men; the unhappy phantom shall now be translated and moved from this
environment for ever; and to me the appointed task is allotted。 So I
believe; as firmly as I believe in the death and resurrection of the Lord。
Is that clear to you; Sir Walter?〃
〃It is。 You have made it convincingly clear。〃
〃So be it; then。 I; too; Mary; am not dead to the meaning of science
in its proper place。 We may take an illustration of what I have told you
from astronomy。 As comets enter our system from realms of which we
have no knowledge; dazzle us a little; awaken our speculations and then
depart; so may certain immortal spirits also be supposed to act。 We
entangle them possibly in our gross air and detain them for centuries; or
moments; until their Creator's purpose in sending them is accomplished。
Then He takes the means to liberate them and set them on their eternal
roads and to their eternal tasks once more。〃
The listening woman; almost against her reason; felt herself beginning
to share these assumptions。 But that they were fantastic; unsupported by
any human knowledge; and would presently involve an experiment full of
awful peril to the life of the man who uttered them; she also perceived。
Yet her reasonable caution and conventional distrust began to give way a
little under the priest's magnetic voice; his flaming eyes; his positive and
triumphant certainty of truth。 He burned with his inspiration; and she felt
herself powerless to oppose any argument founded on facts against the
mystic enthusiasm of such religious faith。 His honesty and fervor could
not; however; abate Mary's acute fear。 Her father had entirely gone over
to the side of the devotee and she knew it。
〃It is well we have your opportunity to…night;〃 he said; 〃for had the
police arrived; out of their ignorance they might deny it to you。〃
Yet Mary fought on against them。 In despair she appealed to Masters。
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He had been an officer's orderly in his day; and when he left the Army and
came to Chadlands; he never departed again。 He was an intelligent man;
who occupied a good part of his leisure in reading。 He set Sir Walter and
Mary first in his affections; and that Mary should have won him so
completely she always held to be a triumph; since Abraham Masters had
no regard or admiration for women。
〃Can't you help me; Masters?〃 she begged。 〃I'm sure you know as
well as I do that this ought not to happen。〃
The butler eyed his master。 He was handing coffee; but none took it。
〃By all means speak;〃 said Sir Walter。 〃You know how I rate your
judgment; Masters。 You have heard Mr。 May upon this terrible subject;
and should be convinced; as I am。〃
Masters was very guarded。
〃It's not for me to pass an opinion; Sir Walter。 But the reverend
gentleman; no doubt; understands such things。 Only there's the Witch of
Endor; if I may mention the creature; she fetched up more than she
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
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