the vanished messenger-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


I　rely　upon　you；　also。　　If　one　word　of　this　visitor's　presence　here
leaks　out　even　so　far　as　the　village；　out　they　go；　every　one　of　them。
I　will　not　have　a　servant　in　the　place　who　does　not　respect　my
wishes。　　You　can　give　any　reason　you　like　for　my　orders。　　It　is　a
whim。　　I　have　whims；　and　I　choose　to　pay　for　them。　　You　are　all
better　paid　than　any　man　breathing　could　pay　you。　　In　return　I　ask
only　for　your　implicit　obedience。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　and　took　a　cigarette　from　a　curiously
carved　ivory　box　which　stood　by　his　side。　　He　tapped　it　gently　upon
the　table　and　looked　up。

〃I　think；　sir；〃　Henderson　said　respectfully；　〃that　I　can　answer　for
the　servants。　　Being　mostly　foreigners；　they　see　little　or　nothing
of　the　village　people。〃

No　one　else　made　any　remark。　　It　was　strange　to　see　how　dominated
they　all　were　by　that　queer　little　fragment　of　humanity；　whose　head
scarcely　reached　a　foot　above　the　table　before　which　he　sat。　　They
departed　silently；　almost　abjectly；　dismissed　with　a　single　wave　of
the　hand。　　Mr。　Fentolin　beckoned　his　secretary　to　remain。　　She　came
a　little　nearer。

〃Sit　down；　Lucy；〃　he　ordered。

She　seated　herself　a　few　feet　away　from　him。　　Mr。　Fentolin　watched
her　for　several　moments。　　He　himself　had　his　back　to　the　light。
The　woman；　on　the　other　hand；　was　facing　it。　　The　windows　were　high；
and　the　curtains　were　drawn　back　to　their　fullest　extent。　　A　cold
stream　of　northern　light　fell　upon　her　face。　　Mr。　Fentolin　gazed　at
her　and　nodded　her　head　slightly。

〃My　dear　Lucy；〃　he　declared；　〃you　are　wonderful　…　a　perfect　cameo；
a　gem。　　To　look　at　you　now；　with　your　delightful　white　hair　and　your
flawless　skin；　one　would　never　believe　that　you　bad　ever　spoken　a
single　angry　word；　that　you　had　ever　felt　the　blood　flow　through
your　veins；　or　that　your　eyes　had　ever　looked　upon　the　gentle　things
of　life。〃

She　looked　at　him；　still　without　speech。　　The　immobility　of　her
face　was　indeed　a　marvellous　thing。　　Mr。　Fentolin's　expression
darkened。

〃Sometimes；〃　he　murmured　softly；　〃I　think　that　if　I　had　strong
fingers　…　really　strong　fingers；　you　know；　Lucy　…　I　should　want　to
take　you　by　the　throat　and　hold　you　tighter　and　tighter；　until　your
breath　came　fast；　and　your　eyes　came　out　from　their　shadows。〃

She　turned　over　a　few　pages　of　her　notebook。　　To　all　appearance
she　had　not　heard　a　word。

〃To…day；〃　she　announced；　〃is　the　fourth　of　April。　　Shall　I　send　out
the　various　checks　to　those　men　in　Paris；　New　York；　Frankfort；　St。
Petersburg；　and　Tokio？〃

〃You　can　send　the　checks；〃　he　told　her。　　〃Be　sure　that　you　draw
them；　as　usual；　upon　the　Credit　Lyonaise　and　in　the　name　you　know
of。　　Say　to　Lebonaitre　of　Paris　that　you　consider　his　last　reports
faulty。　　No　mention　was　made　of　Monsieur　C's　visit　to　the　Russian
Embassy；　or　of　the　supper　party　given　to　the　Baron　von　Erlstein　by
a　certain　Russian　gentleman。　　Warn　him；　if　you　please；　that　reports
with　such　omissions　are　useless　to　me。〃

She　wrote　a　few　words　in　her　book。

〃You　made　a　note　of　that？〃

She　raised　her　head。

〃I　do　not　make　mistakes；〃　she　said。

His　eyebrows　were　drawn　together。　　This　was　his　work；　he　told
himself；　this　magnificent　physical　subjection。　　Yet　his
inability　to　stir　her　sometimes　maddened　him。

〃You　know　who　is　in　this　house？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　know　the　name　of
my　unknown　guest？〃

〃I　know　nothing；〃　she　replied。　　〃His　presence　does　not　interest　me。〃

〃Supposing　I　desire　you　to　know？〃　he　persisted；　leaning　a　little
forward。　　〃Supposing　I　tell　you　that　it　is　your　duty　to　know？〃

〃Then；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　tell　you　that　I　believe　him　to　be　the
special　envoy　from　New　York　to　The　Hague；　or　whatever　place　on　the
Continent　this　coming　conference　is　to　be　held　at。〃

〃Right；　woman！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　answered　sharply。　　〃Right！　　It　is　the
special　envoy。　　He　has　his　mandate　with　him。　　I　have　them　both　…　the
man　and　his　mandate。　　Can　you　guess　what　I　am　going　to　do　with　them？〃

〃It　is　not　difficult；〃　she　replied。　　〃Your　methods　are　scarcely
original。　　His　mandate　to　the　flames；　and　his　body　to　the　sea！〃

She　raised　her　eyes　as　she　spoke　and　looked　over　Mr。　Fentolin's
shoulder；　across　the　marshland　to　the　grey　stretch　of　ocean。　　Her
eyes　became　fixed。　　It　was　not　possible　to　say　that　they　held　any
expression；　and　yet　one　felt　that　she　saw　beneath　the　grey　waves；
even　to　the　rocks　and　caverns　below。

〃It　does　not　terrify　you；　then；〃　he　asked　curiously；　〃to　think　that
a　man　under　this　roof　is　about　to　die？〃

〃Why　should　it？〃　she　retorted。　　〃Death　does　not　frighten　me　…　my
own　or　anybody　else's。　　Does　it　frighten　you？〃

His　face　was　suddenly　livid；　his　eyes　full　of　fierce　anger。　　His
lips　twitched。　　He　struck　the　table　before　him。

〃Beast　of　a　woman！〃　he　shouted。　　〃You　ghoul！　　How　dare　you！　How
dare　you　…〃

He　stopped　short。　　He　passed　his　hand　across　his　forehead。　　All　the
time　the　woman　remained　unmoved。

〃Do　you　know；〃　he　muttered；　his　voice　still　shaking　a　little；　〃that
I　believe　sometimes　I　am　afraid　of　you？　　How　would　you　like　to　see
me　there；　eh；　down　at　the　bottom　of　that　hungry　sea？　　You　watch
sometimes　so　fixedly。　　You'd　miss　me；　wouldn't　you？　　I　am　a　good
master；　you　know。　　I　pay　well。　　You've　been　with　me　a　good　many
years。　　You　were　a　different　sort　of　woman　when　you　first　came。〃

　〃Yes；〃　she　admitted；　〃I　was　a　different　sort　of　woman。〃

〃You　don't　remember　those　days；　I　suppose；〃　he　went　on；　〃the　days
when　you　had　brown　hair；　when　you　used　to　carry　roses　about　and
sing　to　yourself　while　you　beat　your　work　out　of　that　wretched
typewriter？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　〃I　do　not　remember　those　days。　　They　do　not
belong　to　me。　　It　is　some　other　woman　you　are　thinking　of。〃


Their　eyes　met。　　Mr。　Fentolin　turned　away　first。　　He　struck　the
bell　at　his　elbow。　　She　rose　at　once。

〃Be　off！〃　he　ordered。　　〃When　you　look　at　me　like　that；　you　send
shivers　through　me！　　You'll　have　to　go；　I　can　see　you'll　have　to　go。
I　can't　keep　you　any　longer。　　You　are　the　only　person　on　the　face
of　the　earth　who　dares　to　say　things　to　me　which　make　me　think；　the
only　person　who　doesn't　shrink　at　the　sound　of　my　voice。　　You'll
have　to　go。　　Send　Sarson　to　me　at　once。　　You've　upset　me！〃

She　listened　to　his　words　in　expressionless　silence。　　When　he　had
finished；　carrying　her　book　in　her　hand；　she　very　quietly　moved
towards　the　door。　　He　watched　her；　leaning　a　little　forward　in　his
chair；　his　lips　parted；　his　eyes　threatening。　　She　walked　with
steady；　even　footsteps。　　She　carried　herself　with　almost　machine…like
erectness；　her　skirts　were　noiseless。　　She　had　the　trick　of　turning
the　handle　of　the　door　in　perfect　silence。　　He　heard　her　calm　voice
in　the　hall。

〃Doctor　Sarson　is　to　go　to　Mr。　Fentolin。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　quite　still；　feeling　his　own　pulse。

〃That　woman；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃that　…woman　…　some　day　I
shouldn't　be　surprised　if　she　really　…〃

He　paused。　　The　doctor　had　entered　the　room。

〃I　am　upset；　Sarson；〃　he　declared。　　〃Come　and　feel　my　pulse　quickly。
That　woman　has　upset　me。〃

〃Miss　Price？〃

〃Miss　Price；　d…n　it！　Lucy　…　yes！〃

〃It　seems　unlike　her；〃　the　doctor　remarked。　　〃I　have　never　heard　her
utter　a　useless　syllable　in　my　life。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　held　out　his　wrist。

〃It's　what　she　doesn't　say；〃　he　muttered。

The　doctor　produced　his　watch。　　In　less　than　a　minute　he　put　it
away。

〃This　is　quite　unnecessary；〃　he　pronounced。　　〃Your　pulse　is
wonderful。〃

〃Not　hurried？　　No　signs　of　palpitation？〃

〃You　have　seven　or　eight　footmen；　all　young　men；〃　Doctor　Sarson
replied　drily。　　〃I　will　wager　that　there　isn't　one　of　them　has　a
pulse　so　vigorous　as　yours。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　a　little　back　in　his　chair。　　An　expression　of
satisfaction　crept　over　his　face。

〃You　reassure　me；　my　dear　Sarson。　　That　is　excellent。　　What　of　our
patient？〃

〃There　is　no　change。〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　sighed；　〃that　we　shall　have　trouble
with　him。　　These　strong　people　always　give　trouble。〃

〃It　will　be　just　the　same　in　the　long　run；〃　the　doctor　remarked；
shrugging　his　shoulders。

Mr。　Fentolin　held　up　his　finger。

〃Listen！　　A　motor…car；　I　believe？〃

〃It　is　Miss　Fentolin　who　is　just　arriving；〃　the　doctor　announced。
〃I　saw　the　car　coming　as　I　crossed　the　hall。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　gently。

〃Indeed？〃　he　replied。　　〃Indeed？　　So　my　dear　niece　has　returned。
Open　the　door；　friend　Sarson。　　Open　the　door；　if　you　please。　　She
will　be　anxious　to　see　me。　　We　must　summon　her。〃




CHAPTER　X

Mr。　Fentolin　raised　to　his　lips　the　little　gold　whistle　which　hung
from　his　neck　and　blew　it。　　He　seemed　to　devote　very　little　effort
to　the　operation；　yet　the　strength　of　the　note　was　wonderful。　　As
the　echoes　died　away；　he　let　it　fall　by　his　side　and　waited　with
a　pleased　smile　upon　his　lips。　　In　a　few　seconds　there　was　the
hurried　flutter　of　skirts　and　the　sound　of　footsteps。　　The　girl　who
had　just　completed　her　railway　journey　entered；　followed　by　her
brother。　　They　were　both　a　little　out　of　breath；　they　both
approached　the　chair　without　a　smile；　the　girl　in　advance；　with　a
certain　expression　of　apprehension　in　her　eyes。　　Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。
He　appeared　to　notice　these　things　and　regret　them。

〃My　child；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hands；　〃my　dear　Esther；　welcome
home　again！　　I　heard　the　car　outside。　　I　am　grieved　that　you　did　not
at　once　hurry　to　my　side。〃

〃I　have　not　been　in　the　house　two　minutes；〃　Esther　replied；　〃and　I
haven't　seen　mother　yet。　　Forgive　me。〃

She　had　come　to　a　standstill　a　few　yards　away。　　She　moved　now　very
slowly　towards　the　chair；　with　the　air　of　one　fulfilling　a　hateful
task。　　The　fingers　which　accepted　his　hands　were　extended　almost
hesitatingly。　　He　drew　her　closer　to　him　and　held　her　there。

〃Your　mother；　my　dear　Esther；　is；　I　regret　to　say；　suffering　from
a　slight　indisposition；〃　he　remarked。　　〃She　has　been　confined　to
her　room　for　the　last　few　days。　　Just　a　trifling　affair　of　the
nerves；　nothing　more；　Doctor　Sarson　assures　me。　　But　my　dear　child；〃
he　went　on；　〃your　fingers　are　as　cold　as　ice。　　You　look　at　me　so
strangely；　too。　　Alas！　you　have　not　the　affectionate　disposition
of　your　dear　mother。　　One　would　scarcely　believe　that　we　have　been
parted　for　more　than　a　week。〃

〃For　more　than　a　week；〃　she　repeated；　under　her　breath。

〃Stoop　down；　my　dear。　　I　must　kiss　your　forehead　…　there！　　Now
bring　up　a　chair　to　my　side。　　You　seem　frightened　…　alarmed。　　Have
you　ill　news　for　me？〃

〃I　have　no　news；〃　she　answered；　gradually　recovering　herself。

〃The　gaieties　of　London；　I　fear；〃　he　protested　gently；　〃have　proved
a　little　unsettling。〃

〃There　were　no　gaieties　for　me；〃　the　girl　replied　bitterly。　　〃Mrs。
Sargent　obeyed　your　orders　very　faithfully。　　I　was　not　allowed　to
move　out　except　with　her。〃

〃My　dear　child；　you　would　not　go　about　London　unchaperoned！〃

〃There　is　a　difference；〃　she　retorted；　〃between　a　chaperon　and　a
jailer。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。　　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　He　seemed　pained。

〃I　am　not　sure　that　you　repay　my　care　as　it　deserves；　Esther；〃　he
declared。　　〃There　is　something　in　your　deportment　which　disappoints
me。　　Never　mind；　your　brother　has　made　some　atonement。　　I　entrusted
him　with　a　little　mission　in　which　I　am　glad　to　say　that　he　has
been