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〃He is right； and because he is right； he is safe。〃
〃Admirably put！〃 cried the Italian。 〃There you have the situation in a
nutshell； my friends。 Trust a clever woman's intuition。 I am indeed
right。 Never was consciousness of right so impressed upon my mind …
prone as I am always to doubt my own conclusions。 I am； in fact； right
because I cannot be wrong。 Trust me。 My own safety is absolutely
assured； for we are concerned with the operations of men like ourselves …
at least； I hope very different from ourselves； but men； nevertheless。 It
was your fate to revive this horror； it shall be my privilege to banish it out
of the earth。 At a breath the cunning of the ungodly shall be brought to
nought。 And not before it is time。 But the mills of God grind slowly。
Our achievement will certainly resound to the corners of the civilized
world。〃
〃I'm as positive as the signor himself that he is safe； uncle；〃 said Henry
Lennox。
〃Let us go to tea；〃 replied Sir Walter。 〃These things are far too deep
for a plain man。 I only ask you to consider all this must mean to me who
am the master of Chadlands and responsible to the authorities。 Beflect if
ill overtook you。〃
〃It is impossible that it can。〃
〃So others believed。 And where are they？ Further trouble would
unhinge my mind； signor。〃
〃You have endured enough to make you speak so strongly； and your
brave girl also。 But fear nothing whatever。 I am far too deeply
concerned and committed on your behalf to add a drop to the bitter drink
of the past； my dear Sir Walter。 I am as safe in that room as I should be
at the altar steps of St。 Peter's。 Trust old Prince； if you cannot trust me。
I rely largely on your blind pet to aid me。 He has good work to do yet；
faithful fellow。〃
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〃The detectives took animals into the room； but they were not hurt；〃
said Lennox。
〃Neither shall the dog be hurt。〃
He patted the sleeping spaniel； and they rose and went into the house
together。
Mannetti evidently assumed that his wishes were to be granted。
〃I will go and sleep awhile；〃 he said。 〃Until an early dinner； excuse
me； and let Mrs。 May and Mr。 Lennox convince you； as they are
themselves convinced。 These events have immensely excited my vitality。
I little guessed that； at the end of my days； a sensation so remarkable lay in
store for me。 I must conserve my strength for to…night。 I am well … very
well … and supported by the consciousness of coming triumph。 Such an
achievement would have rewarded my long journey and these exertions；
even had not your acquaintance been ample reward already。 I will； then；
sleep until dinner…time； and so be replenished to play my part in a
wonderful though melancholy romance。 Let us dine at seven； if you
please。〃
His excitement and natural levity strove with the gloomy facts。 He
resembled a mourner at a funeral who experiences pleasant rather than
painful emotions but continually reminds himself to behave in a manner
appropriate to the occasion。
They sent for his man； and； on Stephano's arm； the old gentleman
withdrew。
He returned for a moment； however； and spoke again。
〃You will do exactly as I wish and allow no human being to enter the
Grey Room。 Keep the key in your pocket； Sir Walter； and do not go
there yourself either。 It is still a trap of death for everybody else in the
world but myself。〃
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CHAPTER XII
THE GOLDEN BULL
When Masters came to clear the tea； he found Sir Walter still
unconvinced。
〃What do you think of Signor Mannetti； Masters？〃 asked Henry； and
the butler； who was a great reader of the newspapers； made answer。
〃I think he's a bit of a freak； Mr。 Henry。 They tell me that old people
can have a slice of monkey slipped into 'em nowadays … to keep 'em going
and make 'em young and lively again。 Well； I should say the gentleman
had a whole monkey popped in somewhere。 I never see such another。
He's got a tongue like a rat…trap； and he leaves you guessing every time。
He's amazing clever； so's his man。 That Stephano knows a thing or two！
He's got round Jane Bond something disgraceful。 I never knew what was
in Jane … and her five and fifty if she's an hour。〃
〃Would he be safe in the Grey Room？〃 said Sir Walter。
〃He'd be safe anyhere。 The question in my mind is whether our
silver's safe； and a few other things。 I catched him poking about in the
silver table only this morning。 He knows what's what。 He knows
everything。 I wouldn't say he ain't one of the swell mob myself … made
up to look like an old man。 I'll swear he's never seen eighty years for all
he pretends。〃
Henry laughed。
〃Don't you be frightened of him； Masters； he's all right。〃
〃Let him go in the Grey Room by all means； Mr。 Henry。 He knows
he's safe anywhere。 Yes； Sir Walter； he knows he's safe enough。 He's got
the measure of it。〃
〃Prince is to go with him； Masters。〃
〃Prihce！ Why； ma'am？〃
〃We don't know。 He wishes it。 He can't hurt poor old Prince
anyway。〃
〃Well； I sha'n't sleep no worse； and I hope none of you won't； if you'll
excuse me。 Come what will； there's nothing in the Grey Room will catch
that man napping。 Not that I'm against the gentleman in general； you
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understand。 Only I wouldn't trust him a foot。 He's play…acting； and he's
no more a foreigner than I am … else he couldn't talk so fine English as I do；
if not finer。〃
〃Masters is on our side； father；〃 said Mary。 〃And he's right。 The
signor is play…acting。 He loves to be in the centre of the stage。 All old
people do； and one of the pathetic things in life is that they're s