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mine； and you will do very wrongly if you deny me the right to drink it。 I
desire to say； 'Peace be to this house' before I leave it； and； Christian to
Christian； you cannot deny me； or hesitate as to your answer。〃
No argument would bend his obstinate conviction； and he debated with
great force from his own standpoint。 He presented a man overmastered
and mentally incapable of appreciating any argument against his
possession。
But Sir Walter； now determined； was as obstinate as the clergyman。
Mannering bluntly declared that it would be suicide on May's part； and a
conniving at the same by any who permitted him to attempt his vigil。
〃I； too； must do my duty as I see it；〃 summed up the master of
Chadlands； 〃and after I have done so； then we may be in a position to
admit the case is altered。〃
The other suddenly rose and lifted his hands。 He was trembling with
emotion。
〃May my God give a sign； then！〃 he cried。
They were silent a moment； for courtesy or astonishment。 Nothing
happened； and presently Sir Walter spoke：
〃You must bear with me。 You are upset； and scarcely know the
gravity of the things you say。 To…morrow the physical and material
investigation that I consider proper； and the world has a right to demand；
will be made…in a spirit； I hope； as earnest and devout as your own。 And
if after that no shadow of explanation is forthcoming； and no peril to life
can be discovered； then I should feel disposed to consider your views
more seriously … with many reserves； however。 At any rate； it will be your
turn then； if you still adhere to your opinions； and I am sure all just
persons who hear of your purpose would join their prayers with you。〃
〃Your faith is weak； though you believe it strong；〃 answered the other。
And he was equally curt when the physician advised him to take a
sleeping…draught before retiring。 He bade them 〃Good…night〃 without
more words； and went to his room； while after further conversation； Dr。
Mannering and Mr。 Prodgers took their leave。
The former strongly urged Sir Walter to set some sort of guard outside
the door of the Grey Room。 〃That man's not wholly sane to…night；〃 he
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THE GREY ROOM
declared； 〃and he appears to glory in the fact that he isn't。 He must surely
be aware that much he said was superstitious bosh。 Look after him。
Guard his own apartment。 That will be the simplest plan。〃
When they had gone； Sir Walter addressed his nephew。 They went
upstairs together and stood for a moment outside the Grey Room。 The
door was wide open； and the place brilliantly lighted by a high…powered
bulb。 So had it been by night ever since the disaster。 None of the
household entered it； and none； save Sir Walter or Henry； was willing to do
so until more should be known。
〃I have your word of honor you will not go into that room to…night；〃
said his uncle； 〃but such is the mental condition of this poor clergyman
that I can but feel Mannering is right。 May might； from some fancied
call of the spirit； take the law into his own hands and do what he wishes to
do。 This must be prevented at any cost。 I will ask you； Henry； to follow
the doctor's suggestion on my behalf； and keep guard over him。 Oppose
him actively if he should appear； and call me。 I would suggest that
Caunter or Masters accompanied you； but that is only to make gossip and
mystery。〃
〃On no account。 I'll look after him。 You can trust me。 I expect
he's pretty worn out after such a harrowing day； poor old beggar。 He'll
probably sleep soundly enough when he gets to bed。〃
〃I trust so。 I cannot offer to aid you myself； for I am dead beat；〃 said
the other。
Then they parted； and the younger presently took up a position in the
west wing of the house； where Septimus May had his bedroom。
Not until sunrise did Henry Lennox go to his own chamber； but his
sleepless night proved a needless precaution； for Septimus May gave no
sign。
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THE GREY ROOM
CHAPTER V
THE UNSEEN MOVES
Before ten o'clock on the following morning Peter Hardcastle； who
had travelled by the night train from Paddington； was at Chadlands。 A car
had gone into Newton Abbot to meet him； as no train ran on the branch
line until a later hour。
The history of the detective was one of hard work； crowned at last by a
very remarkable success。 His opportunity had come； and he had grasped
it。 The accident of the war and the immense publicity given to his
capture of a German secret agent had brought him into fame； and raised
him to the heights of his profession。 Moreover； the extraordinary
histrionic means taken to achieve his purpose； and the picturesqueness of
the details； captured that latent love of romance common to all minds。
Hardcastle had become a lion； women were foolish about him； he might
have made a great match and retired into private life had he desired to do
so。 At the present time an American heiress ardently wished to wed the
man。 But he was not fond of women； and only in love with his business。
A hard life in the seamy places of the world had made him something of a
cynic。 He had always appreciated his own singular powers； and
consciousness of ability； combined with a steadfast patience and
unconquerable devotion to his 〃art；〃 as he called it； had brought him
through twenty years in the police force。 He began at the bottom and
reached the top。 He was the son of a small shopkeeper； and now that his
father was dead his mother still ran a little eating…house for her own
satisfaction and occupation。
Peter Hardcastle was forty。 He had already made arrangements to
leave Scotland Yard and set up； single…handed； as a private inquiry agent。
The mystery of Chadlands would be the last case