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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。〃
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〃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
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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；
and Henry's revolver。 The sailor's dressing…gown was still folded where
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he had placed it； his rug was at the foot of the bed。 He himself knelt in the
recess at the open window upon the settee that ran beneath。 His position
was natural； one arm held the window…ledge and steadied him； and his
back was turned to Sir Walter and Travers； who first entered the room。
Henry held Mary back and implored her to wait a moment； but she
shook off his hand and followed her father。
Sir Walter it was who approached Tom and grasped his arm。 In so
doing he disturbed the balance of the body； which fell back and was
caught by the two men。 Its weight bore Ernest Travers to the ground； but
Henry was