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〃Nobody。 Of that I am quite certain。〃
〃Have you not left the house since？〃 〃Frequently。 I generally spend
March； April； and May on the Continent … in France or Italy。 But the
house is never closed； and my people are responsible to me。 The room is
always locked； and when I am not in residence Abraham Masters； my
butler； keeps the key。 He shares my own feelings so far as the Grey
Room is concerned。〃
The detective nodded。 He was standing in the middle of the room
with his hands in his pockets。
〃A strange fact … the force of superstition；〃 he said。 〃It seems to feed
on night； where ghosts are involved。 What； I suppose； credulous people
call 'the powers of darkness。' But have you ever asked yourself why the
spiritualists must work in the dark？〃
〃To simplify their operations； no doubt； and make it easier for the
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spirits。〃
〃And themselves！ But why is the night sacred to apparitions and
supernatural phenomena generally？〃
〃Tradition associates them with those hours。 Spiritualists say it is
easier for spectres to appear in the dark by reason of their material
composition。 It is then that we find the most authentic accounts of their
manifestations。〃
〃Yes； because at that time human vitality is lowest and human reason
weakest。 Darkness itself has a curious and depressing effect on the
minds of many people。 I have won my advantage from that more than
once。 I once proved a very notorious crime by the crude expedient of
impersonating the criminal's victim … a murdered woman … and appearing
to him at night before a concealed witness。 But spirits are doomed。 The
present extraordinary wave of superstition and the immense prosperity of
the dealers in the 'occult' is a direct result of the war。 They are profiteers
… every one of them…crystal gazers； mediums； fortune tellers； and the rest。
They are reaping a rare harvest for the moment。 We punish the humbler
rogues； but we don't punish the fools who go to see them。 If I had my
way； the man or woman who visited the modern witch or wizard should
get six months in the second division。 Fools should be punished oftener
for their folly。 But education will sweep these things into the limbo of
man's ignorance and mental infancy。 Ghosts cannot stand the light of
knowledge any better than they can operate in the light of day。〃
〃You are very positive； Mr。 Hardcastle。〃
〃Not often … on this subject…yes； Sir Walter Lennox。 I have seen too
much of the practitioners。 Metaphysics is largely to blame。 Physics； the
strong； you will find far too merciful to metaphysics； the weak。〃
Sir Walter found himself regarding Hardcastle with dislike。 He spoke
quietly； yet there was something mocking and annoying in his dogmatism。
〃You must discuss the subject with Mr。 May； who breakfasted with us。
He will； I think； have no difficulty in maintaining the contrary opinion。〃
〃They never have any difficulty … clergymen I mean … and argument
with them is vain； because we cannot find common ground to start from。
What is the reverend gentleman's theory？〃
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〃He believes that the room holds an invisible and conscious presence
permitted to exercise powers of a physical character antagonistic to human
life。 He is guarded； you see； and will not go so far as to say whether this
being is working for good or evil。〃
〃But it has done evil； surely？〃
〃Evil from our standpoint。 But since the Supreme Creator made this
creature as well as He made us； therefore Mr。 May holds lhat we are not
justified in declaring its operations are evil … save from a human
standpoint。〃
〃How was he related to Captain Thomas May7〃
〃His father。〃
Peter Hardcastle remained silent for a moment； then he spoke again。
〃Have you observed how many of the sons of the clergy go into the
Navy or Merchant Marine？〃
〃I have not。〃
〃They do； however。〃
Sir Walter began to dislike the detective more than before。
〃We will leave you now；〃 he said。 〃You will find me in my study if
you want me。 That bell communicates with the servants。 The lock of
the door was broken when we forced our way in； and has not been mended；
but you can close the door if you wish to do so。 It has been kept open
since and the electric light always turned on at night。〃
〃Many thanks。 I will consider a point or two here and rejoin you。
Was the clumney examined？〃
〃No。 It would not admit a human being。〃
Then Sir Walter and his nephew left the room； and Hardeastle； waiting
until they were out of earshot； shut the door and thrust a heavy chair
against it。
They heard no more of him for an hour； and joined Mary and Septimus
May； who were walking on the terrace together。 The former was eager to
learn the detective's opinions； but her husband's father had already warned
her that Peter Hardcastle was doomed to fail。
The four walked up and down together； and Prince； Sir Walter's
ancient spaniel； went beside them。
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Henry told his cousin the nature of their conversation and the direction
in which the professional inquiry seemed to turn。
〃He wants to see you and hear everything you can tell him about dear
Tom's past；〃 he said。
〃Of course I will tell him everything； and what I do not know； Mr。
May will remember。〃
〃He is very quiet and very open … minded about some things； but jolly
positive about others。 Your father…in…law won't get far with him。 He
scoffs at any supernatural explanation of our terrible loss。〃
Mr。 May overheard this remark。
〃As I have already told Mary； his failure is assured。 He is wasting his
time； and I knew he probably would do so before he came。 Not to such a
man； however clever he may be； will an explanation be vouchsafed。 I
would rather trust an innocent child to