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〃Why withhold charity？ We must approach the subject in the only
spirit that can disarm the danger。 These inquirers who seek to solve the
mystery are not concerned with my son's death； only the means that
brought it about。 Not to such as they will any answer be vouchsafed； and
not to the spirit of materialistic inquiry； either。 I speak what I know； and
will say more upon the subject at another time。〃
〃You cannot accept this awful thing without resentment or demur； Mr。
May？〃 asked Henry Lennox。
〃Who shall demur？ Did not even the unenlightened men who formed
the coroner's jury declare that Tom passed into another world by the hand
of God？ Can we question our Creator？ I； too； desire as much as any
human being can an explanation； what is more； I am far more confident of
an explanation than you or any other man。 But that is because I already
know the only road by which it will please God to send an explanation。
And that is not the road which scientists or rationalists are used to travel。
It is a road that I must be allowed to walk alone。〃
He left them after dinner； and returned to his daughter…in…law。 She had
determined not to attend the funeral； but Mr。 May argued with her；
examined her reasons； found them； in his opinion； not sufficient； and
prevailed with her to change her mind。
〃Drink the cup to the dregs；〃 he said。 〃This is our grief； our trial。
None feel and know what we feel and know； and your youth is called to
bear a burden heavy to be borne。 You must stand beside his grave as
surely as I must commit him to it。〃
Men will go far to look upon the coffin of one whose end happens to
be mysterious or terrible。 The death of Sir Walter's son…in…law had made
much matter for the newspapers； and not only Chadlands； but the
countryside converged upon the naval funeral； lined the route to the grave；
and crowded the little burying ground where the dead man would lie。
Cameras pointed their eyes at the gun…carriage and the mourners behind it。
The photographers worked for a sort of illustrated paper that tramples with
a swine's hoofs and routs up with a swine's nose the matter its clients best
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love to purchase。 Mary； supported by her father and her cousin；
preserved a brave composure。 Indeed； she was less visibly moved than
they。 It seemed that the ascetic parent of the dead had power to lift the
widow to his own stern self…control。 The chaplain of Tom May's ship
assisted at the service； but Septimus May conducted it。 Not a few old
messmates attended； for the sailor had been popular； and his unexpected
death brought genuine grief to many men。 Under a pile of flowers the
coffin was carried to the grave。 Rare and precious blossoms came from
Sir Walter's friends； and H。 M。 S。 Indomitable sent a mighty anchor of
purple violets。 Mr。 May read the service without a tremor； but his eyes
blazed out of his lean head； and there lacked not other signs to indicate the
depth of emotion he concealed。 Then the bluejackets who had drawn the
gun…carriage fired a volley； and the rattle of their musketry echoed sharply
from the church tower。
Upon the evening of the day that followed Septimus May resumed the
subject concerning which he had already fitfully spoken。 His ideas were
now in order； and he brought a formidable argument to support a strange
request。 Indeed； it amounted to a demand； and for a time it seemed
doubtful whether Sir Walter would deny him。 The priest； indeed；
declared that he could take no denial； and his host was thankful that other
and stronger arguments than his own were at hand to argue the other side。
For Dr。 Mannering stayed at the manor house after the funeral； and the
Rev。 Noel Prodgers； the vicar of Chadlands； a distant connection of the
Lennoxes； was also dining there。 Until now Mannering could not well
speak； but he invited himself to dinner on the day after the funeral that he
might press a course of action upon those who had suffered so severely。
He wished Sir Walter to take his daughter away at once； for her health's
sake； and while advancing this advice considered the elder also； for these
things had upset the master of Chadlands in mind and body； and
Mannering was aware of it。
On the morrow Peter Hardcastle would arrive； and he had urgently
directed that his coming should be in a private capacity； unknown to the
local police or neighborhood。 Neither did he wish the staff of Chadlands
to associate him with the tragedy。
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An official examination of the room had been made by the local
constabulary； as upon the occasion of Nurse Forrester's death； but it was a
perfunctory matter； and those responsible for it understood that special
attention would presently be paid to the problem by the supreme authority。
〃After this man has been and gone； I do earnestly beg you to leave
England and get abroad； Sir Walter；〃 said Mannering。 〃I think it your
duty； not only for your girl's sake； but your own。 Do not even wait for
the report。 There is nothing to keep you； and I shall personally be very
thankful and relieved if you will manage this and take Mary to some fresh
scenes； a place or country that she has not visited before。 There is
nothing like an entirely novel environment for distracting the mind；
bracing the nerves； and restoring tone。〃
〃I must do my duty；〃 answered the other； 〃and that remains to be seen。
If Hardcastle should find out anything； there may be a call upon me。 At
least； I cannot turn my back upon Chadlands till the mystery is threshed
out to the bottom； as far as man can do it。〃
It was then that Septimus May spoke and astounded his hearers。
〃You give me the opportunity to introduce my subject；〃 he said； 〃for it
bears directly on Sir Walter's intentions； and it is in my power；