"You never hear of two people getting into trouble with these here customers, and while he was going for this blackguard ghost in the name of the Lord, I could keep my weather eye lifting for trouble.'Tis a matter for common sense and keeping your nerve, in my opinion, and we don't want another death on our hands, I suppose.There'll be half the mountebanks and photograph men and newspaper men in the land here to- morrow, and 'twill take me all my time to keep 'em from over-running the house.Because if they could come in their scores for the late captain- poor gentleman! - what won't they try now this here famous detective has been done in?""Henry deplored the same thing," said Mary."And I answer again, asI answered then," replied Septimus May."You mean well, Sir Walter, and your butler means well; but you propose an act in direct opposition to the principle that inspires me.""What do you expect to happen?" asked Mary."Do you suppose you will see something, and that something will tell you what it is, and why it killed dear Tom?""That, at any rate, would be a very great blessing to the living," said her father.
"The least the creature could do, in my humble opinion," ventured Masters.
But Septimus May deprecated such curiosity.
"Hope for no such thing, and do not dwell upon what is to happen until I am able to tell you what does happen," he answered."Allow no human weakness, no desire to learn the secrets of another world, to distract your thoughts.I am only concerned with what I know beyond possibility of doubt is my duty - to be entered upon as swiftly as possible.I hear my call in the very voice of the wind shouting round the house to-night.But beyond my duty I do not seek.Whether information awaits me, whether some manifestation indicating my success and valuable to humanity will be granted, I cannot say.I do not stop now to think about that.
"Alone I do this thing - yet not alone, for my hand is in my Maker's hand.Your part will not be to accompany me.Let each man and woman be informed of what I do, and let them lift a petition for me, that my work be crowned with success.But let them not assume that to- morrow I shall have anything to impart.The night may be one of peace within, though so stormy without.I may pray till dawn with no knowledge how my prayer prospers, or I may be called to face a being that no human eye has ever seen and lived.These things are hidden from us." "You are wonderful, and it is heartening to meet with such mighty faith," replied Sir Walter."You have no fear, no shadow of hesitation ordoubt at the bottom of your mind?"
"None.Only an overmastering desire to obey the message that throbs in my heart.I will be honest with you, for I recognize that many might doubt whether you were in the right to let me face this ordeal.But I amdriven by an overwhelming mandate.Did I fear, or feel one tremor of uncertainty, I would not proceed; for any wavering might be fatal and give me helpless into the power of this watchful spirit; but I am as certain of my duty as I am that salvation awaits the just man.
"I believe that I shall liberate this arrested being with cathartic prayer and cleansing petition to our common Maker.And have I not the spirit of my dead boy on my side? Could any living man, however well intentioned, watch with me and over me as he will? Fear nothing; go to your rest, and let all who would assist me do so on their, knees before they sleep."Even Masters echoed some of this fierce and absolute faith when he returned to the servants' hall.
"His eyes blaze," he said."He's about the most steadfast man ever I saw inside a pulpit, or out of it.You feel if that man went to the window and told the rain to stop and the wind to go down, they would.No ghost that ever walked could best him anyway.They asked me to talk and say what I felt, and I did; but words are powerless against such an iron will as he's got.
"I doubted first, and Sir Walter said he doubted likewise; but he's dead sure now, and what's good enough for him is good enough for us.I'll bet Caunter, or any man, an even flyer that he's going to put the creature down and out and come off without a scratch himself.I offered to sit up with him, so did Sir Walter; but he wouldn't hear of it.So all we've got to do is to turn in and say our prayers.That's simple enough for God-fearing people, and we can't do no better than to obey orders."It was none the less a nervous and highly strung household that presently went to bed, and no woman slept without another woman to keep her company.Sir Walter found himself worn out in mind and body.Mary made him take his bromide, and he slept without a dream, despite the din of the great "sou'-wester" and the distant, solemn crash of more than one great tree thrown upon the lap of mother earth at last.
Before he retired, however, something in the nature of a procession had escorted the priest to his ordeal.Mr.May donned baretta, surplice, and stole, for, as he explained, he was to hold a religious service as sacredand significant as any other rite.
"Lord send him no congregation then," thought Masters.
But, with Sir Walter and Mary, he followed the ministrant, and left him at the open door of the Grey Room.The electric light shone steadily; but the storm seemed to beat its fists at the windows, and the leaded panes shook and chattered.With no bell and candle, but his Bible alone, Septimus May entered the room, having first made the sign of the Cross before him; then he turned and bade good-night to all.
"Be of good faith!" were the last words he spoke to them.
Having done so he shut the door, and they heard his voice immediately uplifted in prayer.They waited a little, and the sound roiled steadily on.Sir Walter then bade Masters extinguish all the lights and send the household to bed, though the time was not more than ten o'clock.
