can start
without the knowledge of anybody involved, and the Scotland Yard of the
future will pursue its business under very different circumstances from
the present. The detective's work should be made easier and not
more difficult. None should know who is working on a case. The law's
representatives should be disguised and move among the characters
surrounding the crime as something other than they really are. They
will--"

Here Hardcastle's reflections came to an end. Some previous notes there
were of superficial accidents in the Grey Room and a rough ground plan
of it; but nothing more. He had evidently, for the time being, broken
away from his environment and was merely thinking, with a pen on paper,
when he died.

CHAPTER VII. THE FANATIC

A succession of incidents, that must have perturbed the doctor and his
companion in earnest, had followed upon their departure from Chadlands,
and Mary soon discovered that she was faced with a terrible problem.

For one young woman had little chance of winning her way against an old
man and the religious convictions that another had impressed upon him.
Sir Walter and the priest were now at one, nor did the common sense of
a fourth party to the argument convince them. At dinner Septimus May
declared his purpose.

"We are happily free of any antagonistic and material influence," he
said. "Providence has willed that those opposed to us should be taken
elsewhere, and I am now able to do my duty without more opposition."

"Surely, father, you do not wish this?" asked Mary. "I thought you--"

But the elder was fretful.

"Let me eat my meal in peace," he answered. "I am not made of iron, and
reason cuts both ways. It was reasonable to deny Mr. May before these
events. It would be unreasonable to pretend that the death of Peter
Hardcastle has not changed my opinions. To cleave to the possibility of
a physical explanation any longer is mere folly and obstinacy. I believe
him to be right."

"This is fearful for me--and fearful for everybody here. Don't you see
what it would mean if anything happened to you, Mr. May? Even supposing
there is a spirit hidden in the Grey Room with power and permission to
destroy us--why, that being so, are you any safer than dear Tom was or
this poor man?"

"Because I am armed, Mary, and they were defenseless. Unhappily youth
is seldom clothed in the whole armor of righteousness. My dear son was
a good and honorable man, but he was not