"I don't know yet.Mannering has already urged me to consult Scotland Yard at once.Indeed, he was going to approach them to-day.Mr.Hardcastle shall certainly be invited to do what he can.I shall leave no stone unturned to reach the truth.Yet what even such a man can do is difficult to see.The walls of the Grey Room are solid, the floor is of sound oak, the ceiling is nine or ten inches thick, and supported by immense beams.The hearth is modern, and the chimney not large enough to admit a human being.This was proved twelve years ago.""Give him a free hand all the same - with servants and everybody.I should ask him to come as your guest, then nobody need know who he is, and he can pursue his investigations the more freely."Felix Fayre-Michell made this suggestion after luncheon was ended, and Masters and Fred Caunter had left the room.Then the conversation showed signs of drifting back to sentimentality.Sir Walter saw it coming in their eyes, and sought to head them off by inquiring concerning their own movements.
"Can I be of any service to simplify your plans? I fear this terrible event has put you all to great inconvenience.""Our inconvenience is nothing beside your sorrow, dear Walter," said Nelly Travers.
All declared that if they could serve the cause in any way they would gladly stop at Chadlands, but since they were powerless to assist, they felt that the sooner they departed the better.
"We go, but we leave our undying sympathy and commiseration, dear friend," declared Mr.Travers."Believe me, this has aged my wife and myself.Probably it would not be an exaggeration to say it has aged us all.That he should have come through Jutland, done worthy deeds, won honorable mention and the D.S.0., then to be snatched out of life in this incomprehensible manner - nay, perhaps even by supernatural means, for we cannot yet actually declare it is not so.All this makes it impossible to say much that can comfort you or dear Mary.Time must pass I fear, Walter.You must get her away into another environment.Thank Heaven she has youth on her side.""Yes, yes, I shall live for her, be sure of that." He left them and presently spoke to his nephew alone in his study.
"Do what you can for them.Handford and Vane are getting off this afternoon, the rest early to-morrow.I don't think I shall be able to dine with them to-night.Tom's father will be here.I fear he is likely to be prostrated when he knows that all is over.""No, he's not that kind of man, uncle.Mary tells me he will want to get to the bottom of this in his own way.He's one of the fighting sort, but he believes in a lot of queer things.I'm going in to Newton withColonel Vane, and shall meet Mannering there about - about Sir Howard Fellowes.He'll come down to-morrow, no doubt, perhaps to-night.Mannering will know.""And tell Mannering to insist on a detective called Peter Hardcastle for the inquiry.If he's left Scotland Yard and acting independently, none the less engage him.I shall, of course, thankfully pay anything to get this tragedy explained.""Be sure they will explain it."
"If they do not I shall be tempted to leave altogether.Indeed, I may do so in any case.Mary will never reconcile herself to live here now.""Don't bother about the future, don't think about it.Consider yourself, and take a little rest this afternoon.Everybody is very concerned for you, they mean to be awfully decent in their way; but I know how they try you.They can't help it.Such a thing takes them out of their daily round, and beggars their experience, and makes them excited and tactless.There's no precedent for them, and you know how most people depend on precedent and how they're bowled over before anything new.""I will go to Mary, I think.Has the undertaker been?" "Yes, uncle.""I want him to be buried with us here.I should not suppose his father will object.""Not likely.Mary would wish it so."
"It was so typical of Mary to think of Septimus May before everybody.She put her own feelings from her that she might soften the blow for him.""She would."
"Are you equal to telling the clergyman at the station that his son is dead, or can't you trust yourself to do it?""I expect he'll know it well enough, but I'll tell him everything there is to tell.I remember long ago, after the wedding, that he was interested in haunted rooms, and said he believed in such things on Scriptural grounds."Sir Walter took pause at this statement.
"That is news to me.Supposing he - However, we need not trouble ourselves with him yet.He will, of course, be as deeply concerned to get to the bottom of this as I am, though we must not interfere, or make theinquiry harder for Hardcastle than he is bound to find it.""Certainly nobody must interfere.I only hope we can get Peter Hardcastle.""Tell them to call me when Mr.May arrives, and not sooner.I'll see Mary, then lie down for an hour or two.""You feel all right?Should you care to see Mannering?""I am right enough.Say 'Good-bye' to Vane and Miles Handford for me.They may have to return here presently.One can't tell who may be wanted, and who may not be.I don't know - these things are outside my experience; but they had better both leave you their directions.""I'll ask them."
Sir Walter visited his daughter, and changed his mind about sleeping.She was passing through an hour of unspeakable horror.The dark temple of realization had opened for her and she was treading its dreary aisles.Henceforth for long days - she told herself for ever - sorrow and sense of unutterable loss must be her companions and share her waking hours.
They stopped together alone till the dusk came down and Mannering returned.He stayed but a few minutes, and presently they heard his car start again, while that containing the departing guests and Henry Lennox immediately followed it.
