the vanished messenger-第13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！


way　out　along　the　passage　to　the　front　door；　which　from　the　inside
he　was　able　to　open　easily　enough。　　Leaving　it　carefully　ajar；　he
〃went　out　with　the　intention　of　making　an　examination　of　the　outside
of　the　place。　　Instead；　however；　he　paused　at　the　corner　of　the
building　with　his　face　turned　landwards。　　Exactly　fronting　him　now；
about　three…quarters　of　a　mile　away；　on　the　summit　of　that　strange
hill　which　stood　out　like　a　gigantic　rock　in　the　wilderness；　was　St。
David's　Hall。　　He　looked　at　it　steadily　and　with　increasing
admiration。　　Its　long；　red　brick　front　with　its　masses　of　clustering
chimneys；　a　little　bare　and　weather…beaten；　impressed　him　with　a
sense　of　dignity　due　as　much　to　the　purity　of　its　architecture　as
the　singularity　of　its　situation。　　Behind　…　a　wonderfully　effective
background　…　were　the　steep　gardens　from　which；　even　in　this
uncertain　light；　he　caught　faint　glimpses　of　colouring　subdued　from
brilliancy　by　the　twilight。　　These　were　encircled　by　a　brick　wall
of　great　height；　the　whole　of　the　southern　portion　of　which　was
enclosed　with　glass。　　From　the　fragment　of　rock　upon　which　he　had
seated　himself；　to　the　raised　stone　terrace　in　front　of　the　house；
was　an　absolutely　straight　path；　beautifully　kept　like　an　avenue；
with　white　posts　on　either　side；　and　built　up　to　a　considerable
height　above　the　broad　tidal　way　which　ran　for　some　distance　by　its
side。　　It　had　almost　the　appearance　of　a　racing　track；　and　its
state　of　preservation　in　the　midst　of　the　wilderness　was　little
short　of　remarkable。

〃This；〃　Hamel　said　to　himself；　as　he　slowly　produced　a　pipe　from
his　pocket　and　began　to　fill　it　with　tobacco　from　a　battered　silver
box；　〃is　a　queer　fix。　　Looks　rather　like　the　inn　for　me！〃

〃And　who　might　you　be；　gentleman？〃

He　turned　abruptly　around　towards　his　unseen　questioner。　　A　woman
was　standing　by　the　side　of　the　rock　upon　which　he　was　sitting；　a
woman　from　the　village；　apparently；　who　must　have　come　with
noiseless　footsteps　along　the　sandy　way。　　She　was　dressed　in　rusty
black；　and　in　place　of　a　hat　she　wore　a　black　woolen　scarf　tied
around　her　head　and　underneath　her　chin。　　Her　face　was　lined；　her
hair　of　a　deep　brown　plentifully　besprinkled　with　grey。　　She　had　a
curious　habit　of　moving　her　lips；　even　when　she　was　not　speaking。
She　stood　there　smiling　at　him；　but　there　was　something　about　that
smile　and　about　her　look　which　puzzled　him。

〃I　am　just　a　visitor；〃　he　replied。　　〃Who　are　you？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　saw　you　come　out　of　the　Tower；〃　she　said；　speaking　with　a　strong
local　accent　and　yet　with　a　certain　unusual　correctness；　〃in　at　the
window　and　out　of　the　door。　　You're　a　brave　man。〃

〃Why　brave？〃　he　asked。

She　turned　her　head　very　slowly　towards　St。　David's　Hall。　　A　gleam
of　sunshine　had　caught　one　of　the　windows；　which　shone　like　fire。
She　pointed　toward　it　with　her　head。

〃He's　looking　at　you；〃　she　muttered。　　〃He　don't　like　strangers
poking　around　here；　that　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃And　who　is　he？〃　Hamel　enquired。

〃Squire　Fentolin；〃　she　answered；　dropping　her　voice　a　little。　　〃He's
a　very　kind…hearted　gentleman；　Squire　Fentolin；　but　he　don't　like
strangers　hanging　around。〃

〃Well；　I　am　not　exactly　a　stranger；　you　see；〃　Hamel　remarked。　　〃My
father　used　to　stay　for　months　at　a　time　in　that　little　shanty　there
and　paint　pictures。　　It's　a　good　many　years　ago。〃

〃I　mind　him；〃　the　woman　said　slowly。　　〃His　name　was　Hamel。〃

〃I　am　his　son；〃　Hamel　announced。

She　pointed　to　the　Hall。　　〃Does　he　know　that　you　are　here？〃

Hamel　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　yet。　　I　have　been　abroad　for　so　long。〃

She　suddenly　relapsed　into　her　curious　habit。　　Her　lips　moved；　but
no　words　came。　　She　had　turned　her　head　a　little　and　was　facing
the　sea。

〃Tell　me；〃　Hamel　asked　gently；　〃why　do　you　come　out　here　alone；　so
far　from　the　village？〃

She　pointed　with　her　finger　to　where　the　waves　were　breaking　in　a
thin　line　of　white；　about　fifty　yards　from　the　beach。

〃It's　the　cemetery；。　　that；〃　she　said；　〃the　village　cemetery；　you
know。　　I　have　three　buried　there：　George；　the　eldest；　James；　the
middle　one；　and　David；　the　youngest。　　Three　of　them　…　that's　why
I　come。　I　can't　put　flowers　on　their　graves；　but　I　can　sit　and
watch　and　look　through　the　sea；　down　among　the　rocks　where　their
bodies　are；　and　wonder。〃

Hamel　looked　at　her　curiously。　　Her　voice　had　grown　lower　and　lower。

〃It's　what　you　land　folks　don't　believe；　perhaps；〃　she　went　on；　〃but
it's　true。　　It's　only　us　who　live　near　the　sea　who　understand　it。
I　am　not　an　ignorant　body；　either。　　I　was　schoolmistress　here　before
I　married　David　Cox。　　They　thought　I'd　done　wrong　to　marry　a
fisherman；　but　I　bore　him　brave　sons；　and　I　lived　the　life　a　woman
craves　for。　　No；　I　am　not　ignorant。　　I　have　fancies；　perhaps　…　the
Lord　be　praised　for　them！　…　and　I　tell　you　it's　true。　　You　look　at
a　spot　in　the　sea　and　you　see　nothing　…　a　gleam　of　blue；　a　fleck　of
white　foam；　one　day；　a　gleam　of　green　with　a　black　line；　another；
and　a　grey　little　sob；　the　next；　perhaps。　　But　you　go　on　looking。
You　look　day　by　day　and　hour　by　hour；　and　the　chasms　of　the　sea　will
open；　and　their　voices　will　come　to　you。　　Listen！〃

She　clutched　his　arm。

〃Couldn't　you　hear　that？〃　she　half　whispered。

〃'The　light！'　　It　was　David's　voice！　　'The　light！'〃　Hamel　was
speechless。　　The　woman's　face　was　suddenly　strangely　transformed。
Her　mood；　however；　swiftly　changed。　　She　turned　once　more　towards
the　　hall。
　
〃You'll　know　him　soon；〃　she　went　on；　〃the　kindest　man　in　these
parts；　they　say。　　It's　not　much　that　he　gives　away；　but　he's　a　kind
heart。　　You　see　that　great　post　at　the　entrance　to　the　river　there？〃
she　went　on；　pointing　to　it。　　〃He　had　that　set　up　and　a　lamp　hung
from　there。　　Fentolin's　light；　they　call　it。　　It　was　to　save　men's
lives。　　It　was　burning；　they　say；　the　night　I　lost　my　lads。
Fentolin's　light！〃

〃They　were　wrecked？〃　he　asked　her　gently。

〃Wrecked；〃　　she　answered。　　〃Bad　steering　it　must　have　been。　　James
would　steer；　and　they　say　that　he　drank　a　bit。　　Bad　steering！　　Yes；
you'll　meet　Squire　Fentolin　before　long。　　He's　queer　to　look　at　…　a
small　body　but　a　great；　kind　heart。　　A　miserable　life；　his；　but　it
will　be　made　up　to　him。　　It　will　be　made　up　to　him！〃

She　turned　away。　　Her　lips　were　moving　all　the　time。　　She　walked
about　a　dozen　steps；　and　then　she　returned。

〃You're　Hamel's　son；　the　painter；〃　she　said。　　〃You'll　be　welcome
down　here。　　He'll　have　you　to　stay　at　the　Hall　…　a　brave　place。
Don't　let　him　be　too　kind　to　you。　　Sometimes　kindness　hurts。〃

She　passed　on；　walking　with　a　curious；　shambling　gait；　and　soon　she
disappeared　on　her　way　to　the　village。　　Hamel　watched　her　for　a
moment　and　then　turned　his　head　towards　St。　　David's　Hall。　　He　felt
somehow　that　her　abrupt　departure　was　due　to　something　which　she
had　seen　in　that　direction。　　He　rose　to　his　feet。　　His　instinct　had
been　a　true　one。



CHAPTER　XII

》From　where　Hamel　stood　a　queer　object　came　strangely　into　sight。
Below　the　terrace　of　St。　David's　Hall　…　from　a　spot；　in　fact；　at
the　base　of　the　solid　wall　…　it　seemed　as　though　a　gate　had　been
opened；　and　there　came　towards　him　what　he　at　first　took　to　be　a
tricycle。　　As　it　came　nearer；　it　presented　even　a　weirder
appearance。　　Mr。　Fentolin；　in　a　black　cape　and　black　skull　cap；
sat　a　little　forward　in　his　electric　carriage；　with　his　hand　upon
the　guiding　lever。　　His　head　came　scarcely　above　the　back　of　the
little　vehicle；　his　hands　and　body　were　motionless。　　He　seemed　to
be　progressing　without　the　slightest　effort；　personal　or　mechanical；
as　though　he　rode；　in　deed；　in　some　ghostly　vehicle。　　From　the　same
place　in　the　wall　had　issued；　a　moment　or　two　later；　a　man　upon　a
bicycle；　who　was　also　coming　towards　him。　　Hamel　was　scarcely
conscious　of　this　secondary　figure。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the
strange　personage　now　rapidly　approaching　him。　　There　was　something
which　seemed　scarcely　human　in　that　shrunken　fragment　of　body；　the
pale　face　with　its　waving　white　hair；　the　strange　expression　with
which　he　was　being　regarded。　　The　little　vehicle　came　to　a
standstill　only　a　few　feet　away。　　Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　forward。　　His
features　had　lost　their　delicately　benevolent　aspect；　his　words
were　minatory。

〃I　am　under　the　impression；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃　that　I　saw　you　with　my
glasses　from　the　window　attempting　to　force　an　entrance　into　that
building。〃

Hamel　nodded。

〃I　not　only　tried　but　I　succeeded；〃　he　remarked。　　〃I　got　in　through
the　window。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes　glittered　for　a　moment。　　Hamel；　who　had　resumed
his　place　upon　the　rock　close　at　hand；　had　been　mixed　up　during　his
lifetime　in　many　wild　escapades。　　Yet　at　that　moment　he　had　a　sudden
feeling　that　there　were　dangers　in　life　which　as　yet　he　had　not
faced。

〃May　I　ask　for　your　explanation　or　your　excuse？〃　〃

〃You　can　call　it　an　explanation　or　an　excuse；　whichever　you　like；〃
Hamel　replied　steadily；　〃but　the　fact　is　that　this　little　building；
which　some　one　else　seems　to　have　appropriated；　is　mine。　　If　I　had
not　been　a　good…natured　person；　I　should　be　engaged；　at　the　present
moment；　in　turning　out　its　furniture　on　to　the　beach。〃

〃What　is　your　name？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked　suddenly。

〃My　name　is　Hamel　…　Richard　Hamel。〃

For　several　moments　there　was　silence。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　still
leaning　forward　in　his　strange　little　vehicle。　　The　colour　seemed
to　have　left　even　his　lips。　　The　hard　glitter　in　his　eyes　had　given
place　to　an　expression　almost　like　fear。　　He　looked　at　Richard
Hamel　as　though　he　were　some　strange　sea…monster　come　up　from
underneath　the　sands。

〃Richard　Hamel；〃　he　repeated。　　〃Do　you　mean　that　you　are　the　son　of
Hamel；　the　R。A。；　who　used　to　be　in　these　parts　so　often？　　He　was　my
brother's　friend。〃

〃I　am　his　son。〃

〃But　his　son　was　killed　in　the　San　Francisco　earthquake。　　I　saw　his
name　in　all　the　lists。　　It　was　copied　into　the　local　papers　here。〃

Hamel　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe。

〃I　take　a　lot　of　killing；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　was　in　that　earthquake；
right　enough；　and　in　the　hospital　afterwards；　but　it　was　a　man　named
Hamel　of　Philadelphia　who　died。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　quite　motionless　for　several　moments。　　He　seemed；
if　possible；　to　have　shrunken　into　something　smaller　still。　　A　few
yards　behind；　Meekins　had　alighted　from　his　bicycle　and　was　standing
waiting。

〃So　you　are　Richard　Hamel；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　at　last　very　softly。
〃Welcome　back　to　England；　Richard　Hamel！　　I　knew　your　father
slightly；　although　we　were　never　very　friendly。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　from　underneath　the　coverlet　of　his　little
vehicle　…　a　hand　with　long；　white　fingers；　slim　and　white　and
shapely　as　a　woman's。　　A　single　ring　with　a　dull　green　stone　was　on
his　fourth　finger。　　Hamel　shook　bands　with　him　as　he　would　have
shaken　hands　with　a　woman。　　Afterwards　he　rubbed　his　fingers　slowly
together。　　There　was　something　about　the　touch　which　worried　him。

〃You　have　been　making　use　of　this　little　shanty；　haven't　you？〃　he
asked　bluntly。

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。　　He　was　apparently　begin　ning　to　recover
himself。

〃You　must　remember；〃　he　explained　suavely；　〃that　it　was　built　by　my
grandfather；　and　that　we　have　had　rights　over　the　whole　of　the
foreshore　here　from