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The Grey Room by Eden Phillpotts
page 96 of 260 (36%)

"Do not use that word," said Mr. Prodgers.

"Well, at any rate, I feel just as great a call to be there as
Tom's father can feel--just as pressing a demand and desire.
There may have been foul play. At any rate, the thing was done
by an active agency, and Tom was taken in some way at a
disadvantage. There was no fair fight, I'll swear. He was
evidently kneeling, calmly enough looking out of the window, when
he died, and the blow must have been a coward's blow, struck from
behind, whoever struck it."

"There was no blow, Henry," said Sir Walter.

"Death is a blow, uncle--the most awful blow a strong man can be
called to suffer, surely. And I beg this, that if you won't let
me face the infernal thing alone you'll let me share this business
with Mr. May. He can pray and I can--watch."

But the dead man's father made short work of Henry's proposition.

"You are introducing that very element of rationalism to be, before
all things, distrusted here. The mere introduction of human
precaution and human weapons would sully faith and make of no
avail the only sure means of winning light on this solemn problem.
Reason, so employed, would be a hindrance--an actual danger. Only
absolute faith can unravel the mystery before us."

"Then, frankly, I tell you that I lack any such absolute faith,"
declared Sir Walter.
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