the vanished messenger-第12章

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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　brilliantly　successful。〃

〃I　cannot　say　that　I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　Esther　replied　quietly。

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　back　in　his　chair。　　His　long　fingers　played
nervously　together；　he　looked　at　her　gravely。

〃My　dear　child；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　pained　surprise；　〃your
attitude　distresses　me！〃

〃I　cannot　help　it。　　I　have　told　you　what　I　think　about　Gerald　and
the　life　he　is　compelled　to　live　here。　　I　don't　mind　so　much　for
myself；　but　for　him　I　think　it　is　abominable。〃

〃The　same　as　ever；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。　　〃I　fear　that　this　little
change　has　done　you　no　good；　dear　niece。

〃Change！〃　she　echoed。　　〃It　was　only　a　change　of　prisons。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　slowly　…　a　distressful　gesture。　　Yet
all　the　time　he　had　somehow　the　air　of　a　man　secretly　gratified。

〃You　are　beginning　to　depress　me；〃　he　announced。　　〃I　think　that
you　can　go　away。　　No；　stop　for　just　one　moment。　　Stand　there　in
the　light。　　Dear　me；　how　unfortunate！　　Who　would　have　thought　that
so　beautiful　a　mother　could　have　so　plain　a　daughter！〃

She　stood　quite　still　before　him；　her　hands　crossed　in　front　of
her；　something　of　the　look　of　the　nun　from　whom　the　power　of
suffering　has　gone　in　her　still；　cold　face　and　steadfast　eyes。

〃Not　a　touch　of　colour；〃　he　continued　meditatively；　〃a　figure
straight　as　my　walking…stick。　　What　a　pity！　　And　all　the　taste；
nowadays；　they　tell　me；　is　in　the　other　direction。　　The　lank
damsels　have　gone　completely　out。　　We　buried　them　with　Oscar　Wilde。
Run　along；　my　dear　child。　　You　do　not　amuse　me。　　You　can　take　Gerald
with　you；　if　you　will。　　I　have　nothing　to　say　to　Gerald　just　now。
He　is　in　my　good　books。　　Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you；　Gerald？
Your　allowance；　for　instance　…　a　trifling　increase　or　an　advance？
I　am　in　a　generous　humour。〃

〃Then　grant　me　what　I　begged　for　the　other　day；〃　the　boy　answered
quickly。　　〃Let　me　go　to　Sandhurst。　　I　could　enter　my　name　next　week
for　the　examinations；　and　I　could　pass　to…morrow。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　tapped　the　table　thoughtfully　with　his　forefinger。

〃A　little　ungrateful；　my　dear　boy；〃　he　declared；　〃a　little　ungrateful
that；　I　think。　　Your　confidence　in　yourself　pleases　me；　though。　　You
think　you　could　pass　your　examinations？〃

〃I　did　a　set　of　papers　last　week；〃　the　boy　replied。　　〃On　the　given
percentages　I　came　out　twelfth　or　better。　　Mr。　　Brown　assured　me
that　I　could　go　in　for　them　at　any　moment。　　He　promised　to　write
you　about　it　before　he　left。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　gently。

〃Now　I　come　to　think　of　it；　I　did　have　a　letter　from　Mr。　　Brown；〃
he　remarked。　　〃Rather　an　impertinence　for　a　tutor；　I　thought　it。
He　devoted　three　pages　towards　impressing　upon　me　the　necessity　of
your　adopting　some　sort　of　a　career。〃

〃He　wrote　because　he　thought　it　was　his　duty；〃　the　boy　said　doggedly。

〃So　you　want　to　be　a　soldier；〃　Mr。　Fentolln　continued　musingly。
〃Well；　well；　why　not？　　Our　picture　galleries　are　full　of　them。
There　has　been　a　Fentolin　in　every　great　battle　for　the　last　five
hundred　years。　　Sailors；　too　…　plenty　of　them　…　and　just　a　few
diplomatists。　　Brave　fellows！　　Not　one；　I　fancy；〃　he　added；　〃like
me　…　not　one　condemned　to　pass　their　days　in　a　perambulator。　　You
are　a　fine　fellow；　Gerald　…　a　regular　Fentolin。　　Getting　on　for
six　feet；　aren't　you？

〃　Six　feet　two；　sir。〃

〃A　very　fine　fellow；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated。　　〃I　am　not　so　sure
about　the　army；　Gerald。　　You　see；　there　are　some　people　who　say；
like　your　American　friend；　that　we　are　even　now　almost　on　the　brink
of　war。〃

〃All　the　more　reason　for　me　to　hurry；〃　the　boy　begged。

Mr。　Fentolin　closed　his　eyes。

〃Don't！〃　he　insisted。　　〃Have　you　ever　stopped　to　think　what　war
means　…　the　war　you　speak　of　so　lightly？　　The　suffering；　the　misery
of　it！　　All　the　pageantry　and　music　and　heroism　in　front；　and　behind；
a　blackened　world；　a　trail　of　writhing　corpses；　a　world　of　weeping
women　for　whom　the　sun　shall　never　rise　again。　　Ugh！　　An　ugly　thing
war；　Gerald。　　I　am　not　sure　that　you　are　not　better　at　home　here。
Why　not　practise　golf　a　little　more　assiduously？　　I　see　from　the
local　paper　that　you　are　still　playing　at　two　handicap。　　Now　with
your　physique；　I　should　have　thought　you　would　have　been　a　scratch
player　long　before　now。〃

〃I　play　cricket；　sir；〃　the　boy　reminded　him；　a　little　impatiently；
〃and；　after　all；　there　are　other　things　in　the　world　besides　games。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　long　finger　shot　suddenly　out。　　He　was　leaning　a
little　from　his　chair。　　His　expression　of　gentle　immobility　had
passed　away。　　His　face　was　stern；　almost　stony。

〃You　have　spoken　the　truth；　Gerald；〃　he　said。　　〃There　are　other
things　in　the　world　besides　games。　　There　is　the　real；　the　tragical
side　of　life；　the　duties　one　takes　up；　the　obligations　of　honour。
You　have　not　forgotten；　young　man；　the　burden　you　carry？〃

The　boy　was　paler；　but　he　had　drawn　himself　to　his　full　height。

〃I　have　not　forgotten；　sir；〃　he　answered　bitterly。　　〃Do　I　show　any
signs　of　forgetting？　　Haven't　I　done　your　bidding　year　by　year？
Aren't　I　here　now　to　do　it？〃

〃Then　do　it　！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　retorted　sharply。　　〃When　I　am　ready　for
you　to　leave　here；　you　shall　leave。　　Until　then；　you　are　mine。
Remember　that。　　Ah！　this　is　Doctor　Sarson　who　comes；　I　believe。
That　must　mean　that　it　is　five　o'clock。　　Come　in；　Doctor。　　I　am　not
engaged。　　You　see；　I　am　alone　with　my　dear　niece　and　nephew。　　We
have　been　having　a　little　pleasant　conversation。〃

Doctor　Sarson　bowed　to　Esther；　who　scarcely　glanced　at　him。　　He
remained　in　the　background；　quietly　waiting。

〃A　very　delightful　little　conversation；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　concluded。
〃I　have　been　congratulating　my　nephew；　Doctor；　upon　his　wisdom　in
preferring　the　quiet　country　life　down　here　to　the　wearisome　routine
of　a　profession。　　He　escapes　the　embarrassing　choice　of　a　career　by
preferring　to　devote　his　life　to　my　comfort。　　I　shall　not　forget　it。
I　shall　not　be　ungrateful。　　I　may　have　my　faults；　but　I　am　not
ungrateful　Run　away　now；　both　of　you。　　Dear　children　you　are；　but
one　wearies；　you　know；　of　everything。　　I　am　going　out。　　You　see；
the　twilight　is　coming。　　The　tide　is　changing。　　I　am　going　down　to
meet　the　sea。〃

His　little　carriage　moved　towards　the　door。　　The　brother　and　sister
passed　out。　　Esther　led　Gerald　into　the　great　dining…room；　and　from
there；　through　the　open　windows；　out　on　to　the　terrace。　　She　gripped
his　shoulder　and　pointed　down　to　the　Tower。

〃Something；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃is　going　to　happen　there。〃




CHAPTER　XI

The　little　station　at　which　Hamel　alighted　was　like　an　oasis　in　the
middle　of　a　flat　stretch　of　sand　and　marsh。　　It　consisted　only　of
a　few　raised　planks　and　a　rude　shelter　…　built；　indeed；　for　the
convenience　of　St。　　David's　Hall　alone；　for　the　nearest　village　was
two　miles　away。　　The　station…master；　on　his　return　from　escorting
the　young　lady　to　her　car；　stared　at　this　other　passenger　in　some
surprise。

〃Which　way　to　the　sea？〃　Hamel　asked。

The　man　pointed　to　the　white　gates　of　the　crossing。

〃You　can　take　any　of　those　paths　you　like；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃If　you
want　to　get　to　Salthouse；　though；　you　should　have　got　out　at　the
next　station。〃

〃This　will　do　for　me；〃　Hamel　replied　cheerfully。

〃Be　careful　of　the　dikes；〃　the　station…master　advised　him。　　〃Some
of　them　are　pretty　deep。〃

Hamel　nodded；　and　passing　through　the　white　gates；　made　his　way　by
a　raised　cattle　track　towards　the　sea。　　On　either　side　of　him　flowed
a　narrow　dike　filled　with　salt…water。　　Beyond　stretched　the　flat
marshland；　its　mossy　turf　leavened　with　cracks　and　creeks　of　all
widths；　filled　also　with　sea…slime　and　sea…water。　　A　slight　grey
mist　rested　upon　the　more　distant　parts　of　the　wilderness　which　he
was　crossing；　a　mist　which　seemed　to　be　blown　in　from　the　sea　in
little　puffs；　resting　for　a　time　upon　the　earth；　and　then　drifting
up　and　fading　away　like　soap　bubbles。

More　than　once　where　the　dikes　had　overflown　he　was　compelled　to
change　his　course；　but　he　arrived　at　last　at　the　little　ridge　of
pebbled　beach　bordering　the　sea。　　Straight　ahead　of　him　now　was
that　strange…looking　building　towards　which　he　had　all　the　time
been　directing　his　footsteps。　　As　he　approached　it；　his　forehead
slightly　contracted。　　There　was　ample　confirmation　before　him　of
the　truth　of　his　fellow…passenger's　words。　　The　place；　left　to
itself　for　so　many　years；　without　any　attention　from　its　actual
owner；　was　neither　deserted　nor　in　ruins。　　Its　solid　grey　stone
walls　were　sea…stained　and　a　trifle　worn；　but　the　arched　wooden
doors　leading　into　the　lifeboat　shelter；　which　occupied　one　side
of　the　building；　had　been　newly　painted；　and　in　the　front　the　window
was　hung　with　a　curtain；　now　closely　drawn；　of　some　dark　red
material。　　The　lock　from　the　door　had　been　removed　altogether；　and
in　its　place　was　the　aperture　for　a　Yale　latch…key。　　The　last　note
of　modernity　was　supplied　by　the　telephone　wire　attached　to　the
roof　of　the　lifeboat　shelter。　　He　walked　all　round　the　building；
seeking　in　vain　for　some　other　means　of　ingress。　　Then　he　stood　for
a　few　moments　in　front　of　the　curtained　window。　　He　was　a　man　of
somewhat　determined　disposition；　and　he　found　himself　vaguely
irritated　by　the　liberties　which　had　been　taken　with　his　property。
He　hammered　gently　upon　the　framework　with　his　fist；　and　the
windows　opened　readily　inwards；　pushing　back　the　curtain　with　them。
He　drew　himself　up　on　to　the　sill；　and；　squeezing　himself　through
the　opening；　landed　on　his　feet　and　looked　around　him；　a　little
breathless。

He　found　himself　in　a　simply　furnished　man's　sitting…room。　　An　easel
was　standing　close　to　the　window。　　There　were　reams　of　drawing　paper
and　several　unfinished　sketches　leaning　against　the　wall。　　There
was　a　small　oak　table　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　against　the　wall
stood　an　exquisite　chiffonier；　on　which　were　resting　some　cut…glass
decanters　and　goblets。　　There　was　a　Turkey　carpet　upon　the　floor
which　matched　the　curtains；　but　to　his　surprise　there　was　not　a
single　chair　of　any　sort　to　be　seen。　　The　walls　had　been　distempered
and　were　hung　with　one　or　two　engravings　which；　although　he　was　no
judge；　he　was　quite　sure　were　good。　　He　wandered　into　the　back　room；
where　he　found　a　stove；　a　tea…service　upon　a　deal　table；　and　several
other　cooking　utensils；　all　spotlessly　clean　and　of　the　most
expensive　description。　　The　walls　here　were　plainly　whitewashed；
and　the　floor　was　of　hard　stone。　　He　then　tried　the　door　on　the
left；　which　led　into　the　larger　portion　of　the　building　…　the　shed
in　which　the　lifeboat　had　once　been　kept。　　Not　only　was　the　door
locked；　but　he　saw　at　once　that　the　lock　was　modern；　and　the　door
itself　was　secured　with　heavy　iron　clamps。　　He　returned　to　the
sitting…room。

〃The　girl　with　the　grey　eyes　was　right　enough；〃　he　remarked　to
himself。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin　has　been　making　himself　very　much　at　home
with　my　property。〃

He　withdrew　the　curtains；　noticing；　to　his　surprise；　the　heavy
shutters　which　their　folds　had　partly　concealed。　　Then　he　made　his
way　out　along　the　passage　to　the　front　door；　which　from　the　inside
he　was　able　to　open　easily　enou