the vanished messenger-第10章

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〃And　how　long　have　you　lived　here？　　

〃Since　I　left　boarding…school；　four　years　ago。〃

〃Anywhere　near　where　I　am　going　to　bury　myself　for　a　time；　I　wonder？〃
he　went　on。

〃That　depends；〃　she　replied。　　〃Our　only　neighbours　are　the
Lorneybrookes　of　Market　Burnham。　　Are　you　going　there？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I've　got　a　little　shanty　of　my　own；〃　he　explained；　〃quite　close　to
St。　David's　Station。　　I've　never　even　seen　it　yet。〃

She　vouchsafed　some　slight　show　of　curiosity。

〃Where　is　this　shanty；　as　you　call　it？〃　she　asked　him。

〃I　really　haven't　the　faintest　idea；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　am　looking
for　it　now。　　All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　it　stands　just　out　of　reach
of　the　full　tides；　on　a　piece　of　rock；　dead　on　the　beach　and　about
a　mile　from　the　station。　　It　was　built　originally　for　a　coastguard
station　and　meant　to　hold　a　lifeboat；　but　they　found　they　could
never　launch　the　lifeboat　when　they　had　it；　so　the　man　to　whom　all
the　foreshore　and　most　of　the　land　around　here　belongs　…　a　Mr。
Fentolin；　I　believe　…　sold　it　to　my　father。　　I　expect　the　place　has
tumbled　to　pieces　by　this　time；　but　I　thought　I'd　have　a　look　at　it。〃

She　was　gazing　at　him　steadfastly　now；　with　parted　lips。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　she　demanded。

〃Richard　Hamel。〃

〃Hamel。〃

She　repeated　it　lingeringly。　　It　seemed　quite　unfamiliar。

〃Was　your　father　a　great　friend　of　Mr。　Fentolin's；　then？〃　she　asked。

〃I　believe　so；　in　a　sort　of　way；〃　he　answered。　　〃My　father　was　Hamel
the　artist；　you　know。　　They　made　him　an　R。A。　some　time　before　he
died。　　He　used　to　come　out　here　and　live　in　a　tent。　　Then　Mr。
Fentolin　let　him　use　this　place　and　finally　sold　it　to　him。　　My
father　used　often　to　speak　to　me　about　it　before　he　died。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　she　enquired；　〃I　do　not　know　much　about　these　matters；
but　have　you　any　papers　to　prove　that　it　was　sold　to　your　father
and　that　you　have　the　right　to　occupy　it　now　when　you　choose？〃

He　smiled。

〃Of　course　I　have；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　as　none
of　us　have　been　here　for　so　long；　I　thought　I'd　better　bring　the
title…deed；　or　whatever　they　call　it；　along　with　me。　　It's　with　the
rest　of　my　traps　at　Norwich。　　Oh；　the　place　belongs　to　me；　right
enough！〃　he　went　on；　smiling。　　〃Don't　tell　me　that　any　one's　pulled
it　down；　or　that　it's　disappeared　from　the　face　of　the　earth？〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃it　still　remains　there。　　When　we　are　round　the　next
curve；　I　think　I　can　show　it　to　you。　　But　every　one　has　forgotten；
I　think；　that　it　doesn't　belong　to　Mr。　Fentolin　still。　　He　uses　it
himself　very　often。〃

〃What　for？〃

She　looked　at　her　questioner　quite　steadfastly；　quite　quietly；
speechlessly。　　A　curious　uneasiness　crept　into　his　thoughts。　　There
were　mysterious　tbings　in　her　face。　　He　knew　from　that　moment　that
she；　too；　directly　or　indirectly；　was　concerned　with　those　strange
happenings　at　which　Kinsley　had　hinted。　　He　knew　that　there　were
things　which　she　was　keeping　from　him　now。

〃Mr。　Fentolin　uses　one　of　the　rooms　as　a　studio。　　He　likes　to　paint
there　and　be　near　the　sea；〃　she　explained。　　〃But　for　the　rest；　I　do
not　know。　　I　never　go　near　the　place。〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　remarked；　after　a　few　moments　of　silence；　〃that　I
shall　be　a　little　unpopular　with　Mr。　Fentolin。　　Perhaps　I　ought　to
have　written　first；　but　then；　of　course；　I　had　no　idea　that　any　one
was　making　use　of　the　place。〃

〃I　do　not　understand；〃　she　said；　〃how　you　can　possibly　expect　to
come　down　like　this　and　live　there；　without　any　preparation。〃

〃Why　not？　　〃

〃You　haven't　any　servants　nor　any　furniture　nor　things　to　cook　with。〃

He　laughed。

〃Oh！　I　am　an　old　campaigner；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I　meant　to　pick　up
a　few　oddments　in　the　village。　　I　don't　suppose　I　shall　stay　very
long；　anyhow；　but　I　thought　I'd　like　to　have　a　look　at　the　place。
By…the…by；　what　sort　of　a　man　is　Mr。　Fentolin？〃

Again　there　was　that　curious　expression　in　her　eyes；　an　expression
almost　of　secret　terror；　this　time　not　wholly　concealed。　　He　could
have　sworn　that　her　hands　were　cold。

〃He　met　with　an　accident　many　years　ago；〃　she　said　slowly。　　〃Both
his　legs　were　amputated。　　He　spends　his　life　in　a　little　carriage
which　he　wheels　about　himself。〃

〃Poor　fellow！〃　Hamel　exclaimed；　with　a　strong　man's　ready　sympathy
for　suffering。　　〃That　is　just　as　much　as　I　have　heard　about　him。
Is　he　a　decent　sort　of　fellow　in　other　ways？　　I　suppose；　anyhow；
if　he　has　really　taken　a　fancy　to　my　little　shanty；　I　shall　have
to　give　it　up。〃

Then；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　for　the　first　time　real　life　leaped　into
her　face。　　She　leaned　towards　him。　　Her　tone　was　half　commanding；
half　imploring；　her　manner　entirely　confidential。

〃Don't！〃　she　begged。　　〃It　is　yours。　　Claim　it。　　Live　in　it。　　Do
anything　you　like　with　it；　but　take　it　away　from　Mr。　Fentolin！〃

Hamel　was　speechless。　　He　sat　a　little　forward；　a　hand　on　either
knee；　his　mouth　ungracefully　open；　an　expression　of　blank　and
utter　bewilderment　in　his　face。　　For　the　first　time　he　began　to
have　vague　doubts　concerning　this　young　lady。　　Everything　about
her　had　been　so　strange：　her　quiet　entrance　into　the　carriage；
her　unusual　manner　of　talking；　and　finally　this　last　passionate；
inexplicable　appeal。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　don't　quite　understand。　　You
say　the　poor　fellow　has　taken　a　fancy　to　the　place　and　likes　being
there。　　Well；　it　isn't　much　of　a　catch　for　me；　anyway。　　I'm　rather
a　wanderer；　and　I　dare　say　I　shan't　be　back　in　these　parts　again
for　years。　　Why　shouldn't　I　let　him　have　it　if　he　wants　it？　　It's
no　loss　to　me。　　I'm　not　a　painter；　you　know；　like　my　father。〃

She　seemed　on　the　point　of　making　a　further　appeal。　　Her　lips；　even；
were　parted；　her　head　a　little　thrown　back。　　And　then　she　stopped。
She　said　nothing。　　The　silence　lasted　so　long　that　he　became　almost
embarrassed。

〃You　will　forgive　me　if　I　am　a　little　dense；　won't　you？〃　he　begged。
〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　went　on；　smiling；　〃I've　got　a　sort　of
feeling　that　I'd　like　to　do　anything　you　ask　me。　　Now　won't　you
just　explain　a　little　more　clearly　what　you　mean；　and　I'll　blow
up　the　old　place　sky　high；　if　it's　any　pleasure　to　you。〃

She　seemed　suddenly　to　have　reverted　to　her　former　self　…　the　cold
and　colourless　young　woman　who　had　first　taken　the　seat　opposite
to　his。

〃Mine　was　a　very　foolish　request；〃　she　admitted　quietly。　　〃I　am
sorry　that　I　ever　made　it。　　It　was　just　an　impulse；　because　the
little　building　we　were　speaking　of　has　been　connected　with　one　or
two　very　disagreeable　episodes。　　Nevertheless；　it　was　foolish　of
me。　　How　long　did　you　think　of　staying　there　…　that　is；〃　she　added；
with　a　faint　smile；〃　providing　that　you　find　it　possible　to　prove
your　claim　and　take　up　possession？　　〃

〃Oh；　just　for　a　week　or　so；〃　he　answered　lightly；　〃and　as　to
regaining　possession　of　it；〃　he　went　on；　a　slightly　pugnacious
instinct　stirring　him；　〃I　don't　imagine　that　there'll　be　any
difficulty　about　that。〃

〃Really！〃　she　murmured。

〃Not　that　I　want　to　make　myself　disagreeable；〃　he　continued；　〃but
the　Tower　is　mine；　right　enough；　even　if　I　have　let　it　remain
unoccupied　for　some　time。〃

She　let　down　the　window　…　a　task　in　which　he　hastened　to　assist　her。
A　rush　of　salt；　cold　air　swept　into　the　compartment。　　He　sniffed　it
eagerly。

〃Wonderful！　〃　he　exclaimed。

She　stretched　out　a　long　arm　and　pointed。　　Away　in　the　distance；　on
the　summit　of　a　line　of　pebbled　shore；　standing；　as　it　seemed；　sheer
over　the　sea；　was　a　little　black　speck。

That；〃　she　said；　〃　is　the　Tower。〃

He　changed　his　position　and　leaned　out　of　the　window。

〃Well；　it's　a　queer　little　place；〃　he　remarked。　　〃It　doesn't　look
worth　quarrelling　over；　does　it？〃

〃And　that；〃　she　went　on；　directing　his　attention　to　the　hill；　〃　is
Mr。　Fentolin's　home；　St。　　David's　Hall。〃

For　several　moments　he　made　no　remark　at　all。　　There　was　something
curiously　impressive　in　that　sudden　sweep　up　from　the　sea…line；　the
strange；　miniature　mountain　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　marshes；
with　its　tree…crowned　background；　and　the　long；　weather…beaten　front
of　the　house　turned　bravely　to　the　sea。

〃I　never　saw　anything　like　it；〃　he　declared。　　〃Why；　it's　barely　a
quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　sea；　isn't　it？　　〃

〃A　little　more　than　that。　　It　is　a　strangely　situated　abode；　isn't
it？〃

〃Wonderful！〃　he　agreed；　with　emphasis。　　〃I　must　study　the　geological
formation　of　that　hill；〃　he　continued；　with　interest。　　〃Why；　it　looks
almost　like　an　island　now。〃

〃That　is　because　of　the　floods；〃　she　told　him。　　〃Even　at　high　tide
the　creeks　never　reach　so　far　as　the　back　there。　　All　the　water　you
see　stretching　away　inland　is　flood　water　…　the　result　of　the　storm；
I　suppose。　　This　is　where　you　get　out；〃　she　concluded；　rising　to
her　feet。

She　turned　away　with　the　slightest　nod。　　A　maid　was　already
awaiting　her　at　the　door　of　the　compartment。　　Hamel　was　suddenly
conscious　of　the　fact　that　he　disliked　her　going　immensely。

〃We　shall；　perhaps；　meet　again　during　the　next　few　days；〃　he
remarked。

She　half　turned　her　head。　　Her　expression　was　scarcely　encouraging。

〃I　hope；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　not　be　disappointed　in　your
quarters。〃

Hamel　followed　her　slowly　on　to　the　platform；　saw　her　escorted　to
a　very　handsome　motor…car　by　an　obsequious　station…master；　and
watched　the　former　disappear　down　the　stretch　of　straight　road
which　led　to　the　hill。　　Then；　with　a　stick　in　one　hand；　and　the
handbag　which　was　his　sole　luggage　in　the　other；　he　left　the
station　and　turned　seaward。




CHAPTER　IX

Mr。　Fentolin；　surrounded　by　his　satellites；　was　seated　in　his　chair
before　the　writing…table。　　There　were　present　in　the　room　most　of
the　people　important　to　him　in　his　somewhat　singular　life。　　A　few
feet　away；　in　characteristic　attitude；　stood　Meekins。　　Doctor　Sarson；
with　his　hands　behind　him；　was　looking　out　of　the　window。　　At　the
further　end　of　the　table　stood　a　confidential　telegraph　clerk；　who
was　just　departing　with　a　little　sheaf　of　messages。　　By　his　side；
with　a　notebook　in　her　hand；　stood　Mr。　Fentolin's　private　secretary
…　a　white…haired　woman；　with　a　strangely　transparent　skin　and　light
brown　eyes；　dressed　in　somber　black；　a　woman　who　might　have　been
of　any　age　from　thirty　to　fifty。　　Behind　her　was　a　middle…aged　man
whose　position　in　the　household　no　one　was　quite　sure　about　…　a
clean…shaven　man　whose　name　was　Ryan；　and　who　might　very　well　have
been　once　an　actor　or　a　clergyman。。　　In　the　background　stood
Henderson；　the　perfect　butler。

〃It　is　perhaps　opportune；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　quietly；　〃that　you
all　whom　I　trust　should　be　present　here　together。　　I　wish　you　to
understand　one　thing。　　You　have；　I　believe；　in　my　employ　learned
the　gift　of　silence。　　It　is　to　be　exercised　with　regard　to　a
certain　visitor　brought　here　by　my　nephew；　a　visitor　whom　I　regret
to　say　is　now　lying　seriously　ill。〃

There　was　absolute　silence。　　Doctor　Sarson　alone　turned　from　the
window　as　though　about　to　speak；　but　met　Mr。　Fentolin's　eye　and　at
once　resumed　his　position。

〃I　rely　upon　you　all；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued　softly。　　〃Henderson；　you；　perhaps；　have　the　most
difficult　task；　for　you　have　the　servants　to　control。　　Nevertheless；
I　rely　upon　you；　also。　　If　one　word　of　this　visitor's　presence