Sir Walter invited them to dine with him, and they did so.There were present the master of Chadlands, Dr.Mannering - who asked to spend the night there - and Henry Lennox; while Masters and Fred Caunter waited upon them.The detectives heard with interest the result of the post-mortem conducted during the morning, and related incidents in the life of Peter Hardcastle.They were all unfeignedly amazed that a man with such a record - one who had carried his life in his hand on many occasions - should have lost it thus, at noonday and without a sound of warning to his fellow-creatures.Dr.Mannering told how he had watched the medical examination, but not assisted at it.All attempts to galvanize back life failed, as the experts engaged immediately perceived they must upon viewing the corpse; and during the subsequent autopsy, when thedead man's body had been examined by chemist and microscopist, the result was barren of any pathological detail.No indication to explain his death rewarded the search.Not a clue or suspicion existed.He was healthy in every particular, and his destruction remained, so far, inexplicable to science.Hardcastle had died in a syncope, as the other victims; that was all the most learned could declare.
Impressed by these facts, the four made ready, and Lennox observed that they neither drank during their meal nor smoked after it.
At nine o'clock they began their work of the night, but invited nobody to assist them, and begged that they might not be approached until daylight on the following morning.
Dr.Mannering took it upon himself earnestly to beg they would abandon the vigil.Indeed, he argued strongly against it.
"Consider, gentlemen," he said, "you are now possibly convinced in your own minds that the source of these horrible things is to be found outside the Grey Room, and not in it.I agree with you, so far.We have reached a pitch where, in my judgment, we are justified in believing that some motiveless malignity is at work.But by going into that room, are you not giving somebody another opportunity to do what has already been done? Evil performed without motive, as you know better than I can tell you, must be the work of a maniac, and there may exist in this house, unsuspected and unguessed, a servant afflicted in this awful way.One has heard of such things."The eldest of his listeners felt unspeakable interest in these remarks, since his own opinion inclined in the same direction.He was, however, none the less chagrined that another should thus voice his secret theory.He did not answer, but his chief replied.
"It is proved," said Frith, "that no violence overtakes those subjected to this ordeal.And I have decided that we shall not be in danger, for this reason.We shall be armed as none of the dead were.Our precautions will preclude any possibility of foul play from a material assault.And, needless to say, we contemplate no other.We are free agents, and I should not quarrel with any among us who shirked; but duty is duty, and we have all faced dangers as great as this - probably far greater.Whatyou say is most interesting, doctor, and I agree with you, that outside the room we must look for the explanation of these murders - if murders they are.Upon that business we shall start to-morrow.Forgive me for not going into details, because we have our personal methods.They embrace the element of surprise, and, of course, prevent any conversation concerning what we are going to do until we have done it.""Supposing you are all found dead to-morrow?" asked Dr.Mannering bluntly.
"Then we are all found dead to-morrow; and others will have the satisfaction of finding out why.""You suspect somebody, yet can absolve nobody?""Exactly, Sir Walter.I said pretty much that to the pressmen, who forced themselves in this afternoon.The accursed daily Press of this country has saved the skin of more blackguards than I like to count.Keep them and the photographers away.It ought to be criminal - their interference.""I ordered that none was to be admitted for a moment.""It is always very hard to keep them out.They are cunning devils, and take a perverse pleasure in adding to our difficulties.Little they care how they defeat justice if they can only get 'copy' for their infernal newspapers."Inspector Frith spoke with some warmth; he had little for which to thank the popular Press.
Within an hour the four departed, and it was understood that they should not be disturbed until they themselves cared to reappear.
Mannering remained with Sir Walter and Lennox.He was dejected and exceedingly anxious.But the others did not share his fears.The younger, indeed, felt hopeful that definite results might presently be recorded, and he went to his bed very thankful to get there.But Sir Walter, now calm and refreshed by some hours of sleep during the afternoon, designed to keep his own vigil.
"Poor May lies in my library to-night," he said, "and I shall watch beside him.Mary also wishes to do so.It seems a proper respect to pay the dead.The inquest takes place to-morrow, and he will be buried in hisparish.We must attend the funeral, Mary and I.""If ever a man took his own life, that man did!" declared the doctor.
