The Grey Room by Eden Phillpotts


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Page 15

"What bee has got into your bonnet?"

"Don't call it that. It's a conviction, Tom. Do be guided by me,
old chap!"

The sailor flushed a little, emptied his glass, and rose.

"If you really wanted to choke me off, you chose a funny way to do
so. Surely it only needed this to determine anybody. If you, as
a sane person, honestly believe there's a pinch of danger in that
blessed place, then I certainly sleep there to-night, or else wake
there."

"Let me come, too, then, Tom."

"That be damned for a yarn! Ghosts don't show up for two people--
haven't got pluck enough. If I get any sport, I'll be quite
straight about it, and you shall try your luck to-morrow."

"I can only make it a favor; and not for your own sake, either."

"I know. Mary will be sleeping the sleep of the just in the next
room. How little she'll guess! Perhaps, if I see an apparition
worthy of the Golden Age, I'll call her up."

"Do oblige me, May."

"In anything on earth but this thing. It's really too late now.
Don't you see you've defeated your own object? You mustn't ask me
to throw up the sponge to your sudden intuition of danger sprung
on me at the eleventh hour. I won the toss, and can't take my
orders from you, old chap, can I?"

The other, in his turn, grew a little warm.

"All right. I've spoken. I think you're rather a fool to be so
obstinate. It isn't as if a nervous old woman was talking to you.
But you'll go your own way. It doesn't matter a button to me, and
I only made it a favor for somebody else's sake."

"We'll leave it at that, then. May I trouble you for the key?
And your revolver, too. I haven't got mine here."

Henry hesitated. The key was in the pocket of his jacket.

"It is a matter of honor, Lennox," said the sailor.

The other handed over the key on this speech, and prepared to go.

"I'll get the revolver," he said.

"Thanks. Look me up in the morning, if you're awake first," added
May; but the other did not answer.

He let Tom precede him, and then turned out the lights. Other
lights he also extinguished as they left the hall and ascended
the stairs. The younger's pride was struggling for mastery; but
he conquered it and spoke again.

"I wish to Heaven you could see it from another point of view than
your own, Tom."

"I have no point of view. You're rather exasperating, and don't
seem to understand that, even if I might have changed my mind
before, it's impossible now."

"That's really only a foolish sort of pride. If I chose my words
clumsily--"

"You did. The devil and all his angels wouldn't make me climb down
now."

The younger left him, and returned in a minute or two with the
revolver.

"Good-night," he said.

"Good-night, old boy. Thank you. Loaded?"

"In all the chambers. Funny you should want it."

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Books | Photos | Paul Mutton | Tue 18th Mar 2025, 12:26