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Professor Challenger Stories (¹3) - The Land Of MistModernLib.Net / Êëàññè÷åñêàÿ ïðîçà / Doyle Arthur Conan / The Land Of Mist - ×òåíèå (Îçíàêîìèòåëüíûé îòðûâîê) (ñòð. 2)
«Yes, yes, wait your turn! Speak up, woman! Well, take your place near him. How should I know? Well, I will if I can.» She was like a janitor at the theatre marshalling a queue. Her next attempt was a total failure. A solid man with bushy side-whiskers absolutely refused to have anything to do with an elderly gentleman who claimed kinship. The medium worked with admirable patience, coming back again and again with some fresh detail, but no progress could be made. «Are you a Spiritualist, friend?» «Yes, for ten years.» «Well, you know there are difficulties.» «Yes, I know that.» «Think it over. It may come to you later. We must just leave it at that. I am only sorry for your friend.» There was a pause during which Enid and Malone exchanged whispered confidences. «What do you make of it, Enid?» «I don't know. It confuses me.» «I believe it is half guess-work and the other half a case of confederates. These people are all of the same church, and naturally they know each other's affairs. If they don't know they can inquire.» «Someone said it was Mrs. Debbs' first visit.» «Yes but they could easily coach her up. It is all clever quackery and bluff. It must be, for just think what is implied if it is not.» «Telepathy, perhaps.» «Yes, some element of that also. Listen! She is off again.» Her next attempt was more fortunate. A lugubrious man at the back of the hall readily recognized the description and claims of his deceased wife. «I get the name Walter.» «Yes, that's me.» «She called you Wat?» «No.» «Well, she calls you Wat now. 'Tell Wat to give my love to the children'. That's how I get it. She is worrying about the children.» «She always did.» «Well, they don't change. Furniture. Something about furniture. She says you gave it away. Is that right?» «Well, I might as well.» The audience tittered. It was strange how the most solemn and comic were eternally blended – strange and yet very natural and human. «She has a message: 'The man will pay up and all will be well. Be a good man, Wat, and we will be happier here then ever we were on earth'.» The man put his hand over his eyes. As the seeress stood irresolute the tall young secretary half rose and whispered something in her ear. The woman shot a swift glance over her left shoulder in the direction of the visitors. «I'll come back to it,» said she. She gave two more descriptions to the audience, both of them rather vague, and both recognized with some reservations. It was a curious fact that her details were such as she could not possibly see at the distance. Thus, dealing with a form which she claimed had built up at the far end of the hall, she could none the less give the colour of the eyes and small points of the face. Malone noted the point as one which he could use for destructive criticism. He was just jotting it down when the woman's voice sounded louder and, looking up, he found that she had turned her head and her spectacles were flashing in his direction. «It is not often I give a reading from the platform,» said she, her face rotating between him and the audience, «but we have friends here to-night, and it may interest them to come in contact with the spirit people. There is a presence building up behind the gentleman with a moustache – the gentleman who sits next to the young lady. Yes, sir, behind you. He is a man of middle size, rather inclined to shortness. He is old, over sixty, with white hair, curved nose and a white, small beard of the variety that is called goatee. He is no relation, I gather, but a friend. Does that suggest anyone to you, sir?» Malone shook his head with some contempt. «It would nearly fit any old man,» he whispered to Enid. «We will try to get a little closer. He has deep lines on his face. I should say he was an irritable man in his lifetime. He was quick and nervous in his ways. Does that help you?» Again Malone shook his head. «Rot! Perfect rot,» he muttered. «Well, he seems very anxious, so we must do what we can for him. He holds up a book. It is a learned book. He opens it and I see diagrams in it. Perhaps he wrote it – or perhaps he taught from it. Yes, he nods. He taught from it. He was a teacher.» Malone remained unresponsive. «I don't know that I can help him any more. Ah! there is one thing. He has a mole over his right eyebrow.» Malone started as if he had been stung. «One mole?» he cried. The spectacles flashed round again. «Two moles – one large, one small.» «My God!» gasped Malone. «It's Professor Summerlee!» «Ah, you've got it. There's a message: 'Greetings to old –' It's a long name and begins with a C. I can't get it. Does it mean anything?» «Yes.» In an instant she had turned and was describing something or someone else. But she had left a badly-shaken man upon the platform behind her. It was at this point that the orderly service had a remarkable interruption which surprised the audience as much as it did the two visitors. This was the sudden appearance beside the chairman of a tall, pale-faced bearded man dressed like a superior artisan, who held up his hand with a quietly impressive gesture as one who was accustomed to exert authority. He then half-turned and said a word to Mr. Bolsover. «This is Mr. Miromar of Dalston,» said the chairman. «Mr. Miromar has a message to deliver. We are always glad to hear from Mr. Miromar.» The reporters could only get a half-view of the newcomer's face, but both of them were struck by his noble bearing and by the massive outline of his head which promised very unusual intellectual power. His voice when he spoke rang clearly and pleasantly through the hall. «I have been ordered to give the message wherever I think that there are ears to hear it. There are some here who are ready for it, and that is why I have come. They wish that the human race should gradually understand the situation so that there shall be the less shock or panic. I am one of several who are chosen to carry the news.» «A lunatic, I'm afraid!» whispered Malone, scribbling hard upon his knee. There was a general inclination to smile among the audience. And yet there was something in the man's manner and voice which made them hang on every word. «Things have now reached a climax. The very idea of progress has been made material. It is progress to go swiftly, to send swift messages, to build new machinery. All this is a diversion of real ambition. There is only one real progress – spiritual progress. Mankind gives it a lip tribute but presses on upon its false road of material science. «The Central Intelligence recognized that amid all the apathy there was also much honest doubt which had out-grown old creeds and had a right to fresh evidence. Therefore fresh evidence was sent – evidence which made the life after death as clear as the sun in the heavens. It was laughed at by scientists, condemned by the churches, became the butt of the newspapers, and was discarded with contempt. That was the last and greatest blunder of humanity.» The audience had their chins up now. General speculations were beyond their mental horizon. But this was very clear to their comprehension. There was a murmur of sympathy and applause. «The thing was now hopeless. It had got beyond all control. Therefore something sterner was needed since Heaven's gift had been disregarded. The blow fell. Ten million young men were laid dead upon the ground. Twice as many were mutilated. That was God's first warning to mankind. But it was vain. The same dull materialism prevailed as before. Years of grace were given, and save the stirrings of the spirit seen in such churches as these, no change was anywhere to be seen. The nations heaped up fresh loads of sin, and sin must ever be atoned for. Russia became a cesspool. Germany was unrepentant of her terrible materialism which had been the prime cause of the war. Spain and Italy were sunk in alternate atheism and superstition. France had no religious ideal. Britain was confused and distracted, full of wooden sects which had nothing of life in them. America had abused her glorious opportunities and, instead of being the loving younger brother to a stricken Europe, she held up all economic reconstruction by her money claims; she dishonoured the signature of her own president, and she refused to join that League of Peace which was the one hope of the future. All have sinned, but some more than others, and their punishment will be in exact proportion. «And that punishment soon comes. These are the exact words I have been asked to give you. I read them lest I should in any way garble them.» He took a slip of paper from his pocket and read: «'What we want is, not that folk should be frightened, but that they should begin to change themselves – to develop themselves on more spiritual lines. We are not trying to make people nervous, but to prepare while there is yet time. The world cannot go on as it has done. It would destroy itself if it did. Above all we must sweep away the dark cloud of theology which has come between mankind and God'.» He folded up the paper and replaced it in his pocket. «That is what I have been asked to tell you. Spread the news where there seems to be a window in the soul. Say to them, 'Repent! Reform! the Time is at hand'.» He had paused and seemed about to turn. The spell was broken. The audience rustled and leaned back in its seats. Then a voice from the back: «Is this the end of the world, mister?» «No,» said the stranger, curtly. «Is it the Second Coming?» asked another voice. «Yes.» With quick light steps he threaded his way among the chairs on the platform and stood near the door. When Malone next looked round he was gone. «He is one of these Second-coming fanatics,» he whispered to Enid. «There are a lot of them – Christadelphians, Russellites, Bible Students and what-not. But he was impressive.» «Very,» said Enid. «We have, I am sure, been very interested in what our friend has told us,» said the chairman. «Mr. Miromar is in hearty sympathy with our movement even though he cannot be said actually to belong to it. I am sure he is always welcome upon our platforms. As to his prophecy, it seems to me the world has had enough trouble without our anticipating any more. If it is as our friend says, we can't do much to mend the matter. We can only go about our daily jobs, do them as well as we can, and await the event in full confidence of help from above. If it's the Day of Judgment to-morrow,» he added, smiling, «I mean to look after my provision store at Hammersmith to-day. We shall now continue with the service.» There was a vigorous appeal for money and a great deal about the building-fund from the young secretary. «It's a shame to think that there are more left in the street than in the building on a Sunday night. We all give our services. No one takes a penny. Mrs. Debbs is here for her bare expenses. But we want another thousand pounds before we can start. There is one brother here who mortgaged his house to help us. That's the spirit that wins. Now let us see what you can do for us to-night.» A dozen soup-plates circulated, and a hymn was sung to the accompaniment of much chinking of coin. Enid and Malone conversed in undertones. «Professor Summerlee died, you know, at Naples last year.» «Yes, I remember him well.» «And 'old C' was, of course, your father.» «It was really remarkable.» «Poor old Summerlee. He thought survival was an absurdity. And here he is – or here he seems to be.» The soup-plates returned – it was mostly brown soup, unhappily, and they were deposited on the table where the eager eye of the secretary appraised their value. Then the little shaggy man from Australia gave a benediction in the same simple fashion as the opening prayer. It needed no Apostolic succession or laying-on of hands to make one feel that his words were from a human heart and might well go straight to a Divine one. Then the audience rose and sang their final farewell hymn – a hymn with a haunting tune and a sad, sweet refrain of «God keep you safely till we meet once more.» Enid was surprised to feel the tears running down her cheeks. These earnest, simple folks with their direct methods had wrought upon her more than all the gorgeous service and rolling music of the cathedral. Mr. Bolsover, the stout president, was in the waiting-room and so was Mrs. Debbs. «Well, I expect you are going to let us have it,» he laughed. «We are used to it Mr. Malone. We don't mind. But you will see the turn some day. These articles may rise up in judgement.» «I will treat it fairly, I assure you.» «Well, we ask no more.» The medium was leaning with her elbow on the mantel piece, austere and aloof. «I am afraid you are tired,» said Enid. «No, young lady, I am never tired in doing the work of the spirit people. They see to that.» «May I ask,» Malone ventured, «whether you ever knew Professor Summerlee?» The medium shook her head. «No, sir, no. They always think I know them. I know none of them. They come and I describe them.» «How do you get the message?» «Clairaudient. I hear it. I hear them all the time. The poor things all want to come through and they pluck at me and pull me and pester me on the platform. 'Me next – me – me'! That's what I hear. I do my best, but I can't handle them all.» «Can you tell me anything of that prophetic person?» asked Malone of the chairman. Mr. Bolsover shrugged his shoulders with a deprecating smile. «He is an Independent. We see him now and again as a sort of comet passing across us. By the way, it comes back to me that he prophesied the war. I'm a practical man myself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. We get plenty in ready cash without any bills for the future. Well, good night! Treat us as well as you can.» «Good night,» said Enid. «Good night,» said Mrs. Debbs. «By the way, young lady, you are a medium yourself. Good night!» And so they found themselves in the street once more inhaling long draughts of the night air. It was sweet after that crowded hall. A minute later they were in the rush of the Edgware Road and Malone had hailed a cab to carry them back to Victoria Gardens. 3. In Which Professor Challenger Gives His Opinion ENID had stepped into the cab and Malone was following when his name was called and a man came running down the street. He was tall, middle-aged, handsome and well-dressed, with the clean-shaven, self– confident face of the successful surgeon. «Hullo, Malone! Stop!» «Why, it's Atkinson! Enid, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Atkinson of St. Mary's about whom I spoke to your father. Can we give you a lift? We are going towards Victoria.» «Capital!» The surgeon followed them into the cab. «I was amazed to see you at a Spiritualist meeting.» «We were only there professionally. Miss Challenger and I are both on the Press.» «Oh, really! The Daily Gazette, I suppose, as before. Well, you will have one more subscriber, for I shall want to see what you made of to-night's show.» «You'll have to wait till next Sunday. It is one of a series.» «Oh, I say, I can't wait as long as that. What did you make of it?» «I really don't know. I shall have to read my notes carefully to-morrow and think it over, and compare impressions with my colleague here. She has the intuition, you see, which goes for so much in religious matters.» «And what is your intuition, Miss Challenger?» «Good – oh yes, good! But, dear me, what an extraordinary mixture!» «Yes, indeed. I have been several times and it always leaves the same mixed impression upon my own mind. Some of it is ludicrous, and some of it might be dishonest, and yet again some of it is clearly wonderful.» «But you are not on the Press. Why were you there?» «Because I am deeply interested. You see, I am a student of psychic matters and have been for some years am not a convinced one but I am sympathetic, and I have sufficient sense of proportion to realize that while I seem to be sitting in judgment upon the subject it may in truth be the subject which is sitting in judgment upon me.» Malone nodded appreciation. «It is enormous. You will realize that as you get to close grips with it. It is half a dozen great subjects in one. And it is all in the hands of these good humble folk who, in the face of every discouragement and personal loss, have carried it on for more than seventy years. It is really very like the rise of Christianity. It was run by slaves and underlings until it gradually extended upwards. There were three hundred years between Caesar's slave and Caesar getting the light. « «But the preacher!» cried Enid in protest. Mr. Atkinson laughed. «You mean our friend from Atlantis. What a terrible bore the fellow was! I confess I don't know what to make of performances like that. Self-deception, I think, and the temporary emergence of some fresh strand of personality which dramatizes itself in this way. The only thing I am quite sure of is that it is not really an inhabitant of Atlantis who arrives from his long voyage with this awful cargo of platitudes. Well, here we are!» «I have to deliver this young lady safe and sound to her father,» said Malone. «Look here, Atkinson, don't leave us. The Professor would really like to see you.» «What at this hour! Why, he would throw me down the stairs.» «You've been hearing stories,» said Enid. «Really it is not so bad as that. Some people annoy him, but I am sure you are not one of them. Won't you chance it?» «With that encouragement, certainly.» And the three walked down the bright outer corridor to the lift. Challenger, clad now in a brilliant blue dressing-gown, was eagerly awaiting them. He eyed Atkinson as a fighting bulldog eyes some canine stranger. The inspection seemed to satisfy him, however, for he growled that he was glad to meet him. «I've heard of your name, sir, and of your rising reputation. Your resection of the cord last year made some stir, I understand. But have you been down among the lunatics also?» «Well, if you call them so,» said Atkinson with a laugh. «Good Heavens, what else could I call them? I remember now that my young friend here « (Challenger had a way of alluding to Malone as if he were a promising boy of ten) «told me you were studying the subject.» He roared with offensive laughter. «'The proper study of mankind is spooks', eh, Mr. Atkinson?» «Dad really knows nothing about it, so don't be offended with him,» said Enid. «But I assure you, Dad, you would have been interested.» She proceeded to give a sketch of their adventures, though interrupted by a running commentary of groans, grunts and derisive jeers. It was only when the Summerlee episode was reached that Challenger's indignation and contempt could no longer be restrained. The old volcano blew his head off and a torrent of red-hot invective descended upon his listeners. «The blasphemous rascals!» he shouted. «To think that they can't let poor old Summerlee rest in his grave. We had our differences in his time and I will admit that I was compelled to take a moderate view of his intelligence» but if he came back from the grave he would certainly have something worth hearing to say to us. It is an absurdity – a wicked, indecent absurdity upon the face of it. I object to any friend of mine being made a puppet for the laughter of an audience of fools. They didn't laugh! They must have laughed when they heard an educated man, a man whom I have met upon equal terms, talking such nonsense. I say it was nonsense. Don't contradict me, Malone. I won't have it! His message might have been the postscript of a schoolgirl's letter. Isn't that nonsense, coming from such a source? Are you not in agreement, Mr. Atkinson? No! I had hoped better things from you.» «But the description?» «Good Heavens, where are your brains? Have not the names of Summerlee and Malone been associated with my own in some peculiarly feeble fiction which attained some notoriety? Is it not also known that you two innocents were doing the Churches week by week? Was it not patent that sooner or later you would come to a Spiritualist gathering? Here was a chance for a convert! They set a bait and poor old gudgeon Malone came along and swallowed it. Here he is with the hook still stuck in his silly mouth. Oh, yes, Malone, plain speaking is needed and you shall have it.» The Professor's black mane was bristling and his eyes glaring from one member of the company to another. «Well, we want every view expressed,» said Atkinson. «You seem very qualified, sir, to express the negative one. At the same time I would repeat in my own person the words of Thackeray. He said to some objector: 'What you say is natural, but if you had seen what I have seen you might alter your opinion'. Perhaps sometime you will be able to look into the matter, for your high position in the scientific world would give your opinion great weight.» «If I have a high place in the scientific world as you say, it is because I have concentrated upon what is useful and discarded what is nebulous or absurd. My brain, sir, does not pare the edges. It cuts right through. It has cut right through this and has found fraud and folly.» «Both are there at times,» said Atkinson, «and yet . . . and yet! Ah, well, Malone, I'm some way from home and it is late. You will excuse me, Professor. I am honoured to have met you.» Malone was leaving also and the two friends had a few minutes' chat before they went their separate ways, Atkinson to Wimpole Street and Malone to South Norwood, where he was now living. «Grand old fellow!» said Malone, chuckling. «You must never get offended with him. He means no harm. He is splendid.» «Of course he is. But if anything could make me a real out-and-out Spiritualist it is that sort of intolerance. It is very common, though it is generally cast rather in the tone of the quiet sneer than of the noisy roar. I like the latter best. By the way, Malone, if you care to go deeper into this subject I may be able to help you. You've heard of Linden?» «Linden, the professional medium. Yes, I've been told he is the greatest blackguard unhung.» «Ah, well, they usually talk of them like that. You must judge for yourself. He put his knee-cap out last winter and I put it in again, and that has made a friendly bond between us. It's not always easy to get him, and of course a small fee, a guinea I think, is usual, but if you wanted a sitting I could work it.» «You think him genuine?» Atkinson shrugged his shoulders. «I daresay they all take the line of least resistance. I can only say that I have never detected him in fraud. You must judge for yourself.» «I will,» said Malone. «I am getting hot on this trail. And there is copy in it, too. When things are more easy I'll write to you, Atkinson, and we can go more deeply into the matter.» 4. Which Describes Some Strange Doings in Hammersmith THE article by the Joint Commissioners (such was their glorious title) aroused interest and contention. It had been accompanied by a depreciating leaderette from the sub-editor which was meant to calm the susceptibilities of his orthodox readers, as who should say: «These things have to be noticed and seem to be true, but of course you and I recognize how pestilential it all is.» Malone found himself at once plunged into a huge correspondence, for and against, which in itself was enough to show how vitally the question was in the minds of men. All the previous articles had only elicited a growl here or there from a hide-bound Catholic or from an iron-clad Evangelical, but now his post-bag was full. Most of them were ridiculing the idea that psychic forces existed and many were from writers who, whatever they might know of psychic forces, had obviously not yet learned to spell. The Spiritualists were in many cases not more pleased than the others, for Malone had – even while his account was true – exercised a journalist's privilege of laying an accent on the more humorous sides of it. One morning in the succeeding week Mr. Malone was aware of a large presence in the small room wherein he did his work at the office. A page-boy, who preceded the stout visitor, had laid a card on the corner of the table which bore the legend 'James Bolsover, Provision Merchant, High Street, Hammersmith.' It was none other than the genial president of last Sunday's congregation. He wagged a paper accusingly at Malone, but his good-humoured face was wreathed in smiles. «Well, well,» said he. «I told you that the funny side would get you.» «Don't you think it a fair account?» » Well, yes, Mr. Malone, I think you and the young woman have done your best for us. But, of course, you know nothing and it all seems queer to you. Come to think of it, it would be a deal queerer if all the clever men who leave this earth could not among them find some way of getting a word back to us.» «But it's such a stupid word sometimes.» «Well, there are a lot of stupid people leave the world. They don't change. And then, you know, one never knows what sort of message is needed. We had a clergyman in to see Mrs. Debbs yesterday. He was broken-hearted because he had lost his daughter. Mrs. Debbs got several messages through that she was happy and that only his grief hurt her. 'That's no use', said he. 'Anyone could say that. That's not my girl'. And then suddenly she said: 'But I wish to goodness you would not wear a Roman collar with a coloured shirt'. That sounded a trivial message, but the man began to cry. 'That's her', he sobbed. 'She was always chipping me about my collars'. It's the little things that count in this life – just the homely, intimate things, Mr. Malone.» Malone shook his head. «Anyone would remark on a coloured shirt and a clerical collar.» Mr. Bolsover laughed. «You're a hard proposition. So was I once, so I can't blame you. But I called here with a purpose. I expect you are a busy man and I know that I am, so I'll get down to the brass tacks. First, I wanted to say that all our people that have any sense are pleased with the article. Mr. Algernon Mailey wrote me that it would do good, and if he is pleased we are all pleased.» «Mailey the barrister?» «Mailey, the religious reformer. That's how he will be known.» «Well, what else?» «Only that we would help you if you and the young lady wanted to go further in the matter. Not for publicity, mind you, but just for your own good – though we don't shrink from publicity, either. I have psychical phenomena seances at my own home without a professional medium, and if you would like . . . « «There's nothing I would like so much.» «Then you shall come – both of you. I don't have many outsiders. I wouldn't have one of those psychic research people inside my doors. Why should I go out of my way to be insulted by all their suspicions and their traps? They seem to think that folk have no feelings. But you have some ordinary common sense. That's all we ask.» «But I don't believe. Would that not stand in the way?» «Not in the least. So long as you are fair-minded and don't disturb the conditions, all is well. Spirits out of the body don't like disagreeable people any more than spirits in the body do. Be gentle and civil, same as you would to any other company.» «Well, I can promise that.» «They are funny sometimes,» said Mr. Bolsover, in reminiscent vein. «It is as well to keep on the right side of them. They are not allowed to hurt humans, but we all do things we're not allowed to do, and they are very human themselves. You remember how The Times correspondent got his head cut open with the tambourine in one of the Davenport Brothers' seances. Very wrong, of course, but it happened. No friend ever got his head cut open. There was another case down Stepney way. A money lender went to a seance. Some victim that he had driven to suicide got into the medium. He got the moneylender by the throat and it was a close thing for his life. But I'm off, Mr. Malone. We sit once a week and have done for four years without a break. Eight o'clock Thursdays. Give us a day's notice and I'll get Mr. Mailey to meet you. He can answer questions better than I. Next Thursday! Very good.» And Mr. Bolsover lurched out of the room. Both Malone and Enid Challenger had, perhaps, been more shaken by their short experience than they had admitted, but both were sensible people who agreed that every possible natural cause should be exhausted – and very thoroughly exhausted – before the bounds of what is possible should be enlarged. Both of them had the utmost respect for the ponderous intellect of Challenger and were affected by his strong views, though Malone was compelled to admit in the frequent arguments in which he was plunged that the opinion of a clever man who has had no experience is really of less value than that of the man in the street who has actually been there. These arguments, as often as not, were with Mervin, editor of the psychic paper Dawn, which dealt with every phase of the occult, from the lore of the Rosicrucians to the strange regions of the students of the Great Pyramid, or of those who uphold the Jewish origin of our blonde Anglo-Saxons. Mervin was a small, eager man with a brain of a high order, which might have carried him to the most lucrative heights of his profession had he not determined to sacrifice worldly prospects in order to help what seemed to him to be a great truth. As Malone was eager for knowledge and Mervin was equally keen to impart it, the waiters at the Literary Club found it no easy matter to get them away from the corner-table in the window at which they were wont to lunch. 1, 2, 3 |
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