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Ernest entertained a poor opinion of the Italian character。 He argued
that a nation which depended for its prosperity on wines and silk … 〃and
such wines〃 … must have too much of the feminine in it to excel。 He had
a shadowy idea that he understood the language； though he could not
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speak nor write it himself。
〃We； who have been nurtured at Eton and Oxford； remember enough
Latin to understand these people；〃 he said； 〃for what is Italian but the
emasculated tongue of ancient Rome？〃
Nelly Travers committed herself to many utterances as idiotic as
Ernest's； and Mary secretly wondered to find how shadowy and ridiculous
such solid people showed in a strange land。 They carried their ignorance
and their parochial atmosphere with them as openly and unashamedly as
they carried their luggage。 She was not sorry to leave them； for she and
her father intended to stop for a while at Como before returning home
again。
Their friends were going to motor over the battlefields of France
presently； and both Ernest and Nelly came to see Sir Walter and his
daughter off for Milan。 Mr。 Travers rushed to the door of the carriage
and thrust in a newspaper as the train moved。
〃I have secured a copy of last week's 'Field；' Walter；〃 he said。
They passed over the Apennines on a night when the fire…flies flashed
in every thicket under the starry gloom of a clear and moonless sky； and
when the train stopped at little； silent stations the throb of nightingales fell
upon their ears。
But circumstances prevented their visit to the Larian Lake； for at
Milan letters awaited Sir Walter from home； and among them one that
hastened his return。 From a stranger it came； and chance willed that the
writer； an Italian； had actually made the journey from Rome to London in
order that he might see Sir Walter； while all the time the master of
Chadlands happened to be within half a day's travel。 Now； the writer was
still in London； and proposed to stop there until he should receive an
answer to his communication。 He wrote guardedly； and made one
statement of extraordinary gravity。 He was concerned with the mystery of
the Grey Room； and believed that he might throw some light upon the
melancholy incidents recorded concerning it。
Sir Walter hesitated for Mary's sake； but was relieved when she
suggested a prompt return。
〃It would be folly to delay；〃 she said。 〃This means quite as much to
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me as to you； father； and I could not go to Como knowing there may be
even the least gleam of light for us at home。 Nothing can alter the past；
but if it were possible to explain how and why … what an unutterable relief
to us both！〃
〃Henry was to meet us at Menaggio。〃
〃He will be as thankful as we are if anything comes of this。 He
doesn't leave England till Thursday； and can join us at Chadlands instead。〃
〃I only live to explain these things；〃 confessed her father。 〃I would
give all that I have to discover reasons for the death of your dear husband。
But there are terribly grave hints here。 I can hardly imagine this man is
justified in speaking of 'crime。' Would the word mean less to him than to
us？〃
〃He writes perfect English。 Whatever may be in store； we must face
it hopefully。 Such things do not happen by chance。〃
〃He is evidently a gentleman … a man of refinement and delicate
feeling。 I am kindly disposed to him already。 There is something
chivalric and what is called 'old…fashioned' in his expressions。 No young
man writes like this nowadays。〃
The letter； which both read many times； revealed the traits that Sir
Walter declared。 It was written with Latin courtesy and distinction。
There were also touches of humor in it； which neither he nor Mary
perceived：
〃Claridge's Hotel； London。 April 9。
〃Dear Sir Walter Lennox；…In common with the rest of the
world that knows England； I have recently been profoundly
interested and moved at the amazing events reported as happening at
Chadlands； in the County of Devon； under your roof。 The
circumstances were related in Italian journals with no great detail；
but I read them in the 'Times' newspaper； being familiar with your
language and a great lover of your country。
〃I had already conceived the idea of communicating with you
when … so small is the world in this our time … accident actually threw
me into the society of one of your personal friends。 At an
entertainment given by the British Ambassador at Rome； a young
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soldier； one Colonel Vane； was able to do me some service in a crush
of people； and I enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance as the
result。 I would not have inflicted myself upon another generation；
but he took an interest in conversing with one who knew his own
language。 He was also intelligent … for a military man。 Needless to
say； he made no allusion to the tragedy at Chadlands； but when he
spoke of espionage in war and kindred matters； I found him familiar
with the details concerning the death of the great English detective；
Peter Hardcastle。 I then asked him； as being myself deeply
interested in the matter； whether it would be possible to get further
and fuller details of the story of 'the Grey Room；' whereupon he told
me； to my amazement； that he had been at Chadlands when your
lamented son…in…law； Captain Thomas May；