# ■ 4 The Experiment

In the last days of December，Dr Hall，the village priest， was working in his study when his servant entered the room，in great alarm．

Oh，Dr Hall，sir，'she cried．'What do you think？The poor Squire's dead！'

What？Squire Bowles？What are you saying，woman？'replied the priest．'I saw him only yesterday—'

Yes，sir，I know，'said the servant，'but it's true．Mr Wickem，the clerk，has just brought the news on his way to ring the church bell． You'll hear it yourself in a moment．Listen！There it is．'And sure enough，the bell then began to ring，long and slow，telling the people of the village that someone had died．

Dr Hall stood up．'This is terrible，'he said．'I must go up to the Hall at once．The Squire was so much better yesterday． It seems so sudden．'

Yes，sir，'agreed the servant．'Mr Wickem said that the poor Squire was taken ill very suddenly with a terrible pain． He died very quickly，and Wickem said they want him buried quickly too．'

Yes，yes；well，I must ask Mrs Bowles herself of Mr Joseph，'said the priest．'Bring me my coat and hat，please． Oh，and tell Mr Wickem that I would like to see him when he has finished ringing the bell．'And he hurried off to the Hall．

When he returned an hour later，he found the clerk waiting for him．

There's a lot of work for you to do，Wickem，'he said， and not much time to do it．'

Yes，sir，'said Wickem．'You'll want the family tomb opened，of course…'

No，no，not at all，'replied Dr Hall．'The poor Squire said before he died that he did not want to be buried in the family tomb．It is to be an earth grave in the churchyard．'

Excuse me，sir，'said Wickem，very surprised．'Do I understand you right？No tomb，you say，and just an earth grave？The poor Squire was too ill to know what he was saying，surely？'

Yes，Wickem，it seems strange to me too，'said the priest． 'But Mr Joseph tells me that his father，or I should say his stepfather，made his wishes very clear when he was in good health． Clean earth and open air．You know，of course，the Squire had some strange ideas，though he never told me of this one．And there's another thing，Wickem．No coffin．'

Oh dear，oh dear！'said Wickem．'There'll be some talk about that．And I know that old Mr Wright has some lovely wood for the Squire's coffin—he's kept it for him for years．'ei

Well，'said Dr Hall，'those are the Squire's wishes，so I'm told，so that's what we must do．You must get the grave dug and everything ready by ten o'clock tomorrow night．Tell Wright that we shall need some lights．'

Very well，sir．If those are the orders，I must do my best，'said Wickem．'Shall I send the women from the village to prepare the body？'

No，Wickem．That was not mentioned，'said the priest． 'No doubt Mr Joseph will send for them if he wants them． You have enough work to do without that．Good night，Wick- em．'He paused．'I was just writing out the year's burials in the church records．I didn't think that I'd have to add Squire Bowles'name to them．'

The Squire's burial took place as planned．All the villagers and a few neighbours were present，and the Squire's stepson Joseph walked behind the body as it was carried to the church- yard．In those days nobody expected the Squire's wife to come to the burial．The Squire had no family except his wife and stepson，and he had left everything to his wife．

But what was everything？The land，house，furniture，pictures，and sliver were all there，but no money was found． This was very strange．Squire Bowles was quite a rich man；he received plenty of money from his land every year，his lawyers were honest，but still there was no money．The Squire had not been mean with his money．His wife had all she needed，he sent Joseph to school and university，and he lived well．But still he earned more money than he spent．Where was it？

Mrs Bowles and her son searched the house and grounds several times but found no money．They could not understand it． They sat one evening in the library discussing the problem for the twentieth time．

You've been through his papers again，Joseph，have you？' asked the mother．

Yes，Mother，and I've found nothing．'

What was he writing the day before he died，do you know？ And why was he always writing to Mr Fowler in Gloucester？'

You know he had some strange ideas about what happens to a person's soul when he dies．He was writing to Mr Fowler about it but he didn't finish the letter．Here，I'll read it to you．

He fetched some papers from the Squire's writing table and began to read．

My dear friend，

You will be interested to hear about my latest studies， though I am not sure how accurate they are．One writer says that for a time after death a man's soul stays close to the places he knew during life—so close，in fact，that he can be called to speak to the living．Indeed，he must come，if he is called with the right words．And these words are given in an experiment in Dr Moore's book，which I have copied out for you．But when the soul has come，and has opened its mouth to speak，the caller may see and hear more than he wishes， which is usually to know where the dead man has hidden his money．

Joseph stopped reading and there was silence for a moment．

Then his mother said，'There was no more than that？'

No，Mother，nothing．'

And have you met this Mr Fowler？'

Yes．He came to speak once or twice at Oxford．'

Well，'said the mother，as he was a friend of the Squire， I think you should write to him and tell him what…what has happened．You will know what to say．And the letter is for him，after all．'

You're right，Mother，'replied Joseph．'I'll write to him at once．'And he wrote that same evening．

In time a letter came back from Gloucester and with it a large packet；and there were more evening talks in the library at the Hall．At the end of one evening，the mother said：

Well，if you are sure，do it tonight．Go round by the fields where no one will see you．Oh，and here's a cloth you can use．'

What cloth is it，Mother？'asked Joseph．

Just a cloth，'was the answer．

Joseph went out by the garden door，and his mother stood in the doorway，thinking，with her hand over her mouth． Then she said quietly，'It was the cloth to cover his face．Oh， I wish I had not been so hurried！'

The night was very dark and a strong wind blew loud over the black fields；loud enough to drown all sounds of calling or answering—if anyone did call or answer．

Next morning Joseph's mother hurried to his bedroom．

Give me the cloth，'she said．'The servants must not find it． And tell me，tell me，quick！'

Her son，sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands，looked up at her with wild，red eyes．

We have opened his mouth，'he said．'Why，oh why， Mother，did you leave his face uncovered？'

You know how hurried I was that day，'she replied．'I had no time．But do you mean that you have seen it？'

Joseph hid his face in his hands．'Yes，Mother，and he said you would see it，too，'

His mother gave an awful cry and caught hold of the bedpost．

He's angry，'Joseph went on．'He was waiting for me to call him，I'm sure．I had only just finished saying the words when I heard him—like a dog growling under the earth．'

He jumped to his feet and walked up and down the room．

And now he's free！What can we do？I cannot meet him again．I cannot take the drink he drank and go where he is！And I'm afraid to lie here another night！Oh，why did you do it，Mother？We had enough as it was．'

Be quiet！'said his mother through dry lips．'It was you as much as I．But why spend time talking？Listen to me．It's only six o'clock Yarmouth's not far，and we've enough money to cross the sea—things like him can't follow us over water．We'll take the night boat to Holland．You see to the horses while I pack our bags．'

Joseph stared at her．'What will people say here？'

You must tell the priest that we've learnt of some of the Squire's money in Amsterdam and we must go to collect it． Go，go！Or if you're not brave enough to do that，lie here and wait for him again tonight．'

Joseph trembled and left the room．

That evening after dark a boatman entered an inn at Yarmouth，where a man and a woman were waiting，with their bags on the floor beside them．

Are you ready，sir and madam？'he asked．'We sail in less than an hour．My other passenger is waiting by the boat．Is this all your luggage？'He picked up the bags．

Yes，We are travelling light，'said Joseph．'Did you say you have other passengers for Holland？'

Just one，'replied the boatman，'and he seems to travel even lighter than you．'

Do you know him？'asked Mrs Bowles．She put her hand on her son's arm，and they both paused in the doorway．

No，'said the boatman．'He keeps his face hidden，but I'd know him again by his voice—he's got a strange way of speaking，like a dog growling．But you'll find that he knows you．“Go and fetch them out，”he said to me，“and I'll wait for them here．”And sure enough，he's coming this way now．'

In those days women who poisoned their husbands were burnt to death．The records for a certain year at Norwich tell of a woman who was punished in this way，and whose son was hanged afterwards．No one had accused them of their crime， but they told the priest of their village what they had done． The name of the village must remain secret，because people say there is money still hidden there．

Dr Moore's book of experiments is now in the University Library at Cambridge，and on page 144 this is written：

■ 實驗

12月末的一天，鄉村牧師霍爾醫生正在書房工作，突然僕人十分驚慌地進了屋。

“噢，霍爾醫生，”她叫道，“你說怎麼的，那可憐的鄉紳死了！”

“什麼？鄉紳鮑爾斯？你在說些什麼呀？”牧師說，“我昨天還見到他了呢——”

“是啊，先生，我知道，”僕人說，“可這的確是真的。教堂執事威克姆先生剛剛在去教堂敲鐘的路上送來的信兒，一會兒您就會親耳聽到鐘聲。聽！鐘聲響了。”果真如此，這時鐘聲開始響起來，聲音悠長而緩慢，告訴村裡人有人去世了。

霍爾醫生站起身來。“太糟糕了，”他說，“我必須馬上到他府上去一趟。他昨天好多了。這事兒似乎挺突然的。”

“是的，先生，”僕人附和說，“威克姆先生說那可憐的鄉紳突然發病，疼痛難忍，接著很快就死了。威克姆先生還說他們希望能很快把他葬了。”

“是啊，是啊。哦，我得去問問鮑爾斯太太本人或約瑟夫先生，”牧師說，“請把我的大衣和帽子拿來。對了，告訴威克姆先生敲完鍾後我想見見他。”說完他便急匆匆地趕往鄉紳府了。

一個小時後他回來了，執事正等著他呢。

“威克姆，你需要做的事情很多，”他說，“可是時間並不多。”

“是的，先生，”威克姆說，“當然，您是想找人挖開他家的墳……”

“不，不，不是的，”霍爾醫生答道，“那可憐的鄉紳死前說他不想葬在家族的墳裡。他要葬身於教堂墓地裡的土墳。”

“對不起，先生，”威克姆十分驚訝地問，“不知我理解得對不對，您是說，不要墓，只要個土墳？那可憐的鄉紳一定是病得太重，不知自己在說些什麼了吧？”

“是的，威克姆，我也覺得很奇怪，”牧師說，“可約瑟夫先生告訴我說他父親，或者我該說是他繼父，身體還好時就明確表達了自己的願望：他要乾淨的泥土露天地。當然你也知道這位鄉紳的一些想法很怪，雖然他從沒告訴過我這個想法。對了還有，威克姆，他不要棺材。”

“天啊！天啊！”威克姆說，“人們會對此議論紛紛的。我知道老賴特先生為給鄉紳做棺材準備了些很不錯的木材，而且已經給他保存了好多年了。”

“唉，”霍爾醫生說，“那都是鄉紳的願望，人家是這麼告訴我的，我們就必須這麼做。明天晚上10點以前你必須讓人挖好墳並且把一切準備就緒，跟賴特說我們需要幾盞燈。”

“好吧，先生，如果您吩咐我做，我一定盡力去做，”威克姆說，“用不用我從村裡找幾個女人來把屍體弄好準備下葬呀？”

“不用，威克姆，這事兒他們沒提，”牧師說，“如果需要，約瑟夫先生肯定會派人去找她們。你要做的事情已經不少了。晚安，威克姆。”停了一下，他接著說：“我剛剛在寫教堂記錄中關於今年葬禮那部分。我沒料到還得把鄉紳鮑爾斯的名字加進去。”

鄉紳的葬禮按計劃進行了。全村的人和幾個鄰村的人都去了。屍體被抬到教堂墓地，鄉紳的繼子約瑟夫跟在後面。按當時風俗鄉紳的妻子用不著來參加葬禮。除了妻子和繼子，鄉紳家中沒有其他人，他把所有的東西都留給了妻子。

這所有的東西是什麼呢？地產、房子、傢俱、繪畫作品和銀器都有，可就是找不到錢。這就怪了。鄉紳鮑爾斯是很富有的，每年從地產上能收入許多錢，他的律師們也很老實，可就是找不到錢。這位鄉紳花錢並不吝嗇。妻子需要什麼就有什麼，他供約瑟夫上學，後來又上大學，他自己日子過得也不錯。可他掙的錢還是花不了，可錢在哪兒呢？

鮑爾斯夫人和兒子把屋子和地面翻找了好幾遍都沒找到錢，他們感到不可理解。一天晚上倆人坐在書房裡，第20次談起這件事。

“約瑟夫，你是不是又翻了一遍他的各種材料？”母親問道。

“是呀，媽媽，可什麼也沒找到。”

“你知道他死的前一天寫了些什麼嗎？他為什麼總給格洛斯特的福勒先生寫信？”

“你知道他對人死後靈魂會如何看法很奇怪，他就這個問題給福勒先生寫了封信，可是還沒寫完。來，我給你讀一讀。”

他從鄉紳的寫字檯上拿起一些材料開始讀起來。

我親愛的朋友：

聽聽我最近的研究成果，你會感興趣的。雖然我不敢肯定這些東西有多準確。一位作家說人死後一段時間，靈魂就在他生前熟悉的那些地方附近遊蕩——近得能把他喚來與活著的人說話。如果用合適的詞語叫他，他一定會來的。穆爾博士書裡的一個實驗中列出了這些詞語，我已經給你抄下來了。那靈魂來了就張嘴說話，叫他的人通常是想知道那死人生前把錢財藏在了什麼地方，可他看到和聽到的可能還不止這些。

約瑟夫不讀了。倆人沉默了一會兒，他母親問：“沒有別的了？”

“沒有了，媽媽，沒有別的了。”

“你見過這位福勒先生嗎？”

“見過，他來牛津講過一兩次課。”

“好吧，”母親說，“既然他倆是朋友，我想你應該給他寫封信，告訴他……出了什麼事情。你知道該說些什麼。不管怎麼說信是寫給他的。”

“你說得對，媽媽，”約瑟夫答道，“我馬上給他寫。”那天晚上他便寫了。

過了一段時間，格洛斯特那個人發來了回信，還有個大包裹。鄉紳府書房裡夜晚的談話更多了。一天晚上，母親說：

“好了，如果你覺得沒問題，今天晚上就幹吧，繞過那片曠野，那裡不會有人看見你的。噢，你可以用這塊布。”

“這是什麼布呀，媽媽？”約瑟夫問。

“就是一塊布。”母親回答。

約瑟夫從花園的門出來，他母親站在門口，手捂著嘴想著事兒。接著她小聲說：“用這塊布蓋住他的臉。噢，我當時不那麼慌張多好呀！”

那天晚上天很黑，大風颳過黑暗的曠野，聲音大得能把所有的喊叫和回答聲淹沒——假如真有人喊叫或回答的話。

次日早晨，約瑟夫母親急進他的臥室。“把布給我，”她說，“千萬別讓僕人們發現。告訴我，快告訴我情況怎麼樣！”

兒子雙手託著頭坐在床邊，紅著眼睛激動地望著她。

“我們使他開了口，”他說，“為什麼，噢，媽媽，你為什麼沒把他的臉蓋上？”

“你知道那天我是多麼手忙腳亂，”她回答，“我當時沒有時間呀。你是說你看見他的臉沒蓋上？”

約瑟夫雙手掩面說：“是的，媽媽，他說你也會看見的。”

他母親發出一聲可怕的叫聲，一把抓住了床柱。

“他生氣了，”約瑟夫接著說，“我確信他在等著我叫他。我剛說完那些話，就聽見他的聲音，就像一條狗在地下嗥叫。”

他突然站起身，在屋裡踱起步來。

“現在他自由了！可我們怎麼辦呢？我不能再去見他了。我不能喝他喝的那種東西，到他去的地方去！我太怕在這裡再躺上一夜了！噢，媽媽，你為什麼要這樣做呢？我們得到的已經夠多了。”

“別說了！”他母親的嘴脣都幹了，“這不僅是我的罪過也是你的罪過。還說什麼呢？聽我的。現在才6點。雅茅斯離這兒不算遠，我們的錢足夠過海的——他是不能跟著我們過水域的。我們坐夜班船去荷蘭。你去準備好馬匹，我把包打好。”

約瑟夫盯著她問：“這兒的人會怎麼說呢？”

“你一定要跟牧師說我們聽說鄉紳在阿姆斯特丹有些錢，得去收回來。走吧，走吧！如果你不敢這麼做，今天晚上就躺在這兒再等著他吧。”

約瑟夫渾身哆嗦著離開了房間。

那天晚上天黑後，一個船伕走進了雅茅斯的一家小旅館，那裡一男一女正在等著，身邊地上放著他們的提包。

“準備好了嗎，先生和夫人？”他問。“我們一小時之內就開船。另一位旅客已經在船旁等著呢。這是你們所有的行李嗎？”他提起了包。

“是的，我們輕裝旅行，”約瑟夫說，“你是說還有其他旅客要去荷蘭？”

“只有一位，”船伕回答，“他似乎比你們更輕裝。”

“你認識他嗎？”鮑爾斯夫人問。她把手放在兒子胳膊上，倆人都在門口停下了。

“不認識，”船伕說，“他掩著臉，可我能聽出他的聲音——他說話聲音很怪，像狗叫。不過你們會發現他認識你們。'去把他們帶出來，'他對我說，'我在這兒等著他們。'他現在正往這邊走過來呢。”

那時候毒死丈夫的女人是要被燒死的。據載，有一年在諾里奇一個女人受到了這樣的懲罰，後來她的兒子被絞死了。沒人告發他們的罪行，可他們跟村裡的牧師交代了自己乾的事。那個村的名字還必須保密，因為人們說那兒還藏著錢呢。

穆爾博士關於實驗的那本書現在存放在劍橋大學的圖書館裡，書中第144頁上寫著：

這個實驗通常被證明是可靠的——用它能找到藏在地下的黃金，並能發現搶劫、謀殺或其他一些行為。到死人的墳前，叫三聲他的名字，並說：“我請你離開黑暗的墳墓，今晚來找我，告訴我金子到底藏在哪裡。”然後從他墳上取些土包在一塊乾淨布里，睡覺時把它放在右耳朵下面。不管你在哪兒躺著還是睡覺，也不管你是醒我還是睡著，那天晚上他一定會來對你以實相告的。