the vanished messenger-第14章

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grandfather；　and　that　we　have　had　rights　over　the　whole　of　the
foreshore　here　from　time　immemorial。　　I　know　quite　well　that　my
brother　gave　it　to　your　father　…　or　rather　he　sold　it　to　him　for　a
nominal　sum。　　I　must　tell　you　that　it　was　a　most　complicated
transaction。　　He　had　the　greatest　difficulty　in　getting　any　lawyer
to　draft　the　deed　of　sale。　　There　were　so　many　ancient　rights　and
privileges　which　it　was　impossible　to　deal　with。　　Even　now　there
are　grave　doubts　as　to　the　validity　of　the　transaction。　　When　nothing
was　heard　of　you；　and　we　all　concluded　that　you　were　dead；　I　ventured
to　take　back　what　I　honestly　believed　to　be　my　own。　　Owing；〃　he
continued　slowly；　〃to　my　unfortunate　affliction；　I　am　obliged　to
depend　for　interest　in　my　life　upon　various　hobbies。　　This　little
place；　queerly　enough；　has　become　one　of　them。　　I　have　furnished　it；
in　a　way；　installed　the　telephone　to　the　house；　connected　it　with
my　electric　plant；　and　I　come　down　here　when　I　want　to　be　quite
alone；　and　paint。　　I　watch　the　sea　…　such　a　sea　sometimes；　such
storms；　such　colour！　　You　notice　that　ridge　of　sand　out　yonder？　　It
forms　a　sort　of　natural　breakwater。　　Even　on　the　calmest　day　you
can　trace　that　white　line　of　foam。〃

〃It　is　a　strange　coast；〃　Hamel　admitted。

Mr。　Fentolin　pointed　with　his　forefinger　northwards。

〃Somewhere　about　there；〃　he　indicated；　〃is　the　entrance　to　the
tidal　river　which　flows　up　to　the　village　of　St。　　David's　yonder。
You　see？〃

His　finger　traced　its　course　until　it　came　to　a　certain　point　near
the　beach；　where　a　tall　black　pillar　stood；　surmounted　by　a　globe。

〃I　have　had　a　light　fixed　there　for　the　benefit　or　the　fishermen；〃
he　said；　〃a　light　which　I　work　from　my　own　dynamo。　　Between　where
we　are　sitting　now　and　there　…　only　a　little　way　out　to　sea　…　is　a
jagged　cluster　of　cruel　rocks。　　You　can　see　them　if　you　care　to　swim
out　in　calm　weather。　　Fishermen　who　tried　to　come　in　by　night　were
often　trapped　there　and；　in　a　rough　sea；　drowned。　　That　is　why　I
had　that　pillar　of　light　built。　　On　stormy　nights　it　shows　the　exact
entrance　to　the　water　causeway。〃

〃Very　kind　of　you　indeed；〃　Hamel　remarked；　〃very　benevolent。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃So　few　people　have　any　real　feeling　for　sailors；〃　he　continued。
〃The　fishermen　around　here　are　certainly　rather　a　casual　class。　　Do
you　know　that　there　is　scarcely　one　of　them　who　can　swim？　　There
isn't　one　of　them　who　isn't　too　lazy　to　learn　even　the　simplest
stroke。　　My　brother　used　to　say　…　dear　Gerald　…　that　it　served　them
right　if　they　were　drowned。　　I　have　never　been　able　to　feel　like
that；　Mr。　Hamel。　　Life　is　such　a　wonderful　thing。　　One　night；〃　he
went　on；　dropping　his　voice　and　leaning　a　little　forward　in　his
carriage　…〃　it　was　just　before；　or　was　it　just　after　I　had　fixed
that　light　…　I　was　down　here　one　dark　winter　night。　　There　was　a
great　north　wind　and　a　huge　sea　running。　　It　was　as　black　as　pitch；
but　I　heard　a　boat　making　for　St。　David's　causeway　strike　on　those
rocks　just　hidden　in　front　there。　　I　heard　those　fishermen　shriek
as　they　went　under。　　I　heard　their　shouts　for　help；　I　heard　their
death　cries。　　Very　terrible；　Mr。　Hamel！　　Very　terrible！〃

Hamel　looked　at　the　speaker　curiously。　　Mr。　Fentolin　seemed
absorbed　in　his　subject。　　He　had　spoken　with　relish；　as　one　who
loves　the　things　he　speaks　about。　　Quite　unaccountably；　Hamel
found　himself　shivering。

〃It　was　their　mother；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued；　leaning　again　a
little　forward　in　his　chair；　〃their　mother　whom　I　saw　pass　along
the　beach　just　now　…　a　widow；　too；　poor　thing。　　She　comes　here
often　…　a　morbid　taste。　　She　spoke　to　you；　I　think？〃

〃She　spoke　to　me　strangely；〃　Hamel　admitted。　〃She　gave　me　the
impression　of　a　woman　whose　brain　had　been　turned　with　grief。〃

〃Too　true；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。　　〃The　poor　creature！　I　offered　her
a　small　pension；　but　she　would　have　none　of　it。　　A　superior　woman
in　her　way　once；　filled　now　with　queer　fancies；〃　he　went　on；　eyeing
Hamel　steadily；…〃　the　very　strangest　fancies。　　She　spends　her　life
prowling　about　here。　　No　one　in　the　village　even　knows　how　she　lives。
Did　she　speak　of　me；　by…the…by？〃

〃She　spoke　of　you　as　being　a　very　kind…hearted　man。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃The　poor　creature！　　Well；　well；　let　us　revert　to　the　object　of
your　coming　here。　　Do　you　really　wish　to　occupy　this　little　shanty；
Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃That　was　my　idea；〃　Hamel　confessed。　　〃I　only　came　back　from　Mexico
last　month；　and　I　very　soon　got　fed　up　with　life　in　town。　　I　am
going　abroad　again　next　year。　　Till　then；　I　am　rather　at　a　loose
end。　　My　father　was　always　very　keen　indeed　about　this　place；　and
very　anxious　that　I　should　come　and　stay　here　for　a　little　time；　so
I　made　up　my　mind　to　run　down。　　I've　got　some　things　waiting　at
Norwich。　　I　thought　I　might　hire　a　woman　to　look　after　me　and　spend
a　few　weeks　here。　　They　tell　me　that　the　early　spring　is　almost　the
best　time　for　this　coast。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　slowly。　　He　moistened　his　lips　for　a　moment。
One　might　have　imagined　that　he　was　anxious。

〃Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　are　quite　right。　　It　is　the　best
time　to　visit　this　coast。　　But　why　make　a　hermit　of　yourself？　　You
are　a　family　friend。　　Come　and　stay　with　us　at　the　Hall　for　as　long
as　you　like。　　It　will　give　me　the　utmost　pleasure　to　welcome　you
there；〃　he　went　on　earnestly；　〃and　as　for　this　little　place；　of　what
use　is　it　to　you？　　Let　me　buy　it　from　you。　　You　are　a　man　of　the
world；　I　can　see。　　You　may　be　rich；　yet　money　has　a　definite　value。
To　me　it　has　none。　　That　little　place；　as　it　stands；　is　probably
worth　…　say　a　hundred　pounds。　　Your　father　gave；　if　I　remember
rightly；　a　five　pound　note　for　it。　　I　will　give　you　a　thousand　for
it　sooner　than　be　disturbed。〃

Hamel　frowned　slightly。

〃I　could　not　possibly　think；〃　he　said；　〃of　selling　what　was
practically　a　gift　to　my　father。　　You　are　welcome　to　occupy　the
place　during　my　absence　in　any　way　you　wish。　　On　the　other　hand；　I
do　not　think　that　I　care　to　part　with　it　altogether；　and　I　should
really　like　to　spend　just　a　day　or　so　here。　　I　am　used　to　roughing
it　under　all　sorts　of　conditions　…　much　more　used　to　roughing　it
than　I　am　to　staying　at　country　houses。〃
　
Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　a　little　out　of　his　carriage。　　He　reached　the
younger　man's　shoulder　with　his　hand。

〃Ah！　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　pleaded；　〃don't　make　up　your　mind　too　suddenly。
Am　I　a　little　spoilt；　I　wonder？　　Well；　you　see　what　sort　of　a
creature　I　am。　　I　have　to　go　through　life　as　best　I　may；　and　people
are　kind　to　me。　　It　is　very　seldom　I　am　crossed。　　It　is　quite
astonishing　how　often　people　let　me　have　my　own　way。　　Do　not　make
up　your　mind　too　suddenly。　　I　have　a　niece　and　a　nephew　whom　you
must　meet。　　There　are　some　treasures；　too；　at　St。　David's　Hall。
Look　at　it。　　There　isn't　another　house　quite　like　it　in　England。
It　is　worth　looking　over。〃

〃It　is　most　impressive；〃　Hamel　agreed；　〃and　wonderfully　beautiful。
It　seems　odd；〃　he　added；　with　a　laugh；〃　that　you　should　care　about
this　little　shanty　here；　with　all　the　beautiful　rooms　you　must　have
of　your　own。〃

〃It's　Naboth's　vineyard；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　groaned。　　〃Now；　Mr。　Hamel；
you　are　going　to　be　gracious；　aren't　you？　　Let　us　leave　the　question
of　your　little　habitation　here　alone　for　the　present。　　Come　back
with　me。　　My　niece　shall　give　you　some　tea；　and　you　shall　choose
your　room　from　forty。　　You　can　sleep　in　a　haunted　chamber；　or　a
historical　chamber；　in　Queen　Elizabeth's　room；　a　Victorian　chamber；
or　a　Louis　Quinze　room。　　All　my　people　have　spent　their　substance
in　furniture。　　Don't　look　at　your　bag。　　Clothes　are　unnecessary。　　I
can　supply　you　with　everything。　　Or；　if　you　prefer　it；　I　can　send　a
fast　car　into　Norwich　for　your　own　things。　　Come　and　be　my　guest；
please。〃

Hamel　hesitated。　　He　had　not　the　slightest　desire　to　go　to　St。
David's　Hall；　and　though　he　strove　to　ignore　it；　he　was　conscious
of　an　aversion　of　which　he　was　heartily　ashamed　for　this　strange
fragment　of　humanity。　　On　the　other　hand；　his　mission；　the　actual
mission　which　had　brought　him　down　to　these　parts；　could　certainly
best　be　served　by　an　entree　into　the　Hall　itself　…　and　there　was
the　girl；　whom　he　felt　sure　belonged　there。　　He　had　never　for　a
moment　been　able　to　dismiss　her　from　his　thoughts。　　Her　still；　cold
face；　the　delicate　perfection　of　her　clothes　and　figure；　the　grey
eyes　which　had　rested　upon　his　so　curiously；　haunted　him。　　He　was
desperately　anxious　to　see　her　again。　　If　he　refused　this　invitation；
if　he　rejected　Mr。　Fentolin's　proffered　friendship；　it　would　be　all
the　more　difficult。

〃You　are　really　very　kind；〃　he　began　hesitatingly　…

〃It　is　settled；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　interrupted；　〃settled。　　Meekins；　you
can　ride　back　again。　　I　shall　not　paint　to…day。　　Mr。　　Hamel；　you
will　walk　by　my　side；　will　you　not？　　I　can　run　my　little　machine
quite　slowly。　　You　see；　I　have　an　electric　battery。　　It　needs
charging　often；　but　I　have　a　dynamo　of　my　own。　　You　never　saw　a
vehicle　like　this　in　all　your　travellings；　did　you？〃

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃An　electrical　bath…chair；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued。　　〃Practice　has
made　me　remarkably　skilful　in　its　manipulation。　　You　see；　I　can
steer　to　an　inch。〃

He　was　already　turning　around。　　Hamel　rose　to　his　feet。

〃You　are　really　very　kind；〃　he　said。　　〃I　should　like　to　come　up　and
see　the　Hall；　at　any　rate；　but　in　the　meantime；　as　we　are　here；
could　I　just　look　over　the　inside　of　this　little　place？　　I　found　the
large　shed　where　the　lifeboat　used　to　be　kept；　locked　up。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　was　manoeuvring　his　carriage。　　His　back　was　towards
Hamel。

〃By　all　means；〃　he　declared。　　〃We　will　go　in　together。　　I　have　had
the　entrance　widened　so　that　I　can　ride　straight　into　the
sitting…room。　　But　wait。〃

He　paused　suddenly。　　He　felt　in　all　his　pockets。

〃Dear　me；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　find　that　I　have　left　the　keys！　　We
will　come　down　a　little　later；　if　you　do　not　mind；　Mr。　　Hamel。　　Or
to…morrow；　perhaps。　　You　will　not　mind？　　It　is　very　careless　of　me；
but　seeing　you　about　the　place　and　imagining　that　you　were　an
intruder；　made　me　angry；　and　I　started　off　in　a　hurry。　　Now　walk　by
my　side　up　to　the　house；　please；　and　talk　to　me。　　It　is　so
interesting　for　me　to　meet　men；〃　he　went　on；　as　they　started　along
the　straight　path；　〃who　do　things　in　life；　who　go　to　foreign
countries；　meet　strange　people；　and　have　new　experiences。　　I　have
been　a　good　many　years　like　this；　you　know。〃

〃It　is　a　great　affliction；〃　Hamel　murmured　sympathetically。

〃In　my　youth　I　was　an　athlete；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued。　　〃I　played
cricket　for　the　Varsity　and　for　my　county。　　I　hunted；　too；　and　shot。
I　did　all　the　things　a　man　loves　to　do。　　I　might　still　shoot；　they
tell　me；　but　my　strength　has　ebbed　away。　　I　am　too　weak　to　lift　a
gun；　too　weak　even　to　handle　a　fishing…rod。　　I　have　just　a　few
hobbies　in　life　which　keep　me　alive。　　Are　you　a　politician；　Mr。
Hamel？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃I　have　been　out　of　England　too
long　to　keep　in　touch　with　politics。〃

〃Naturally；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　agreed。　　〃It　amuses　me　to　follow　the
course　of　events。　　I　have　a　good　many　friends　in　London　and　abroad
who　are　kind　to　me；　who　keep　me　informed；　send　me　odd　bits　of
information　not　available　for