the vanished messenger-第15章

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who　are　kind　to　me；　who　keep　me　informed；　send　me　odd　bits　of
information　not　available　for　every　one；　and　it　amuses　me　to　put
these　things　together　in　my　mind　and　to　try　and　play　the　prophet。
I　was　in　the　Foreign　Office　once；　you　know。　　I　take　up　my　paper
every　morning；　and　it　is　one　of　my　chief　interests　to　see　how　near
my　own　speculations　come　to　the　truth。　　Just　now　for　example；　there
are　strange　things　doing　on　the　Continent。〃

〃In　America；〃　Hamel　remarked；　〃they　affect　to　look　upon　England　as
a　doomed　Power。〃

〃Not　altogether　supine　yet；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　observed；　〃yet　even　this
last　generation　has　seen　weakening。　　We　have　lost　so　much
self…reliance。　　Perhaps　it　is　having　these　grown…up　children　who　we
think　can　take　care　of　us　…　Canada　and　Australia；　and　the　others。
However；　we　will　not　talk　of　politics。　　It　bores　you；　I　can　see。
We　will　try　and　find　some　other　subject。　　Now　tell　me；　don't　you
think　this　is　ingenious？〃

They　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　hill　upon　which　the　Hall　was
situated。　　In　front　of　them；　underneath　the　terrace；　was　a　little
iron　gate；　held　open　now　by　Meekins；　who　had　gone　on　ahead　and
dismounted　from　his　bicycle。

〃I　have　a　subterranean　way　from　here　into　the　Hall；〃　Mr。　Fentolin
explained。　　〃Come　with　me。　　You　will　only　have　to　stoop　a　little；
and　it　may　amuse　you。　　You　need　not　be　afraid。　　There　are　electric
lights　every　ten　yards。　　I　turn　them　on　with　this　switch　…　see。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　touched　a　button　in　the　wall；　and　the　place　was　at
once　brilliantly　illuminated。　　A　little　row　of　lights　from　the
ceiling　and　the　walls　stretched　away　as　far　as　one　could　see。　　They
passed　through　the　iron　gates；　which　shut　behind　them　with　a　click。
Stooping　a　little；　Hamel　was　still　able　to　walk　by　the　side　of　the
man　in　the　chair。　　They　traversed　about　a　hundred　yards　of
subterranean　way。　　Here　and　there　a　fungus　hung　down　from　the　wall；
otherwise　it　was　beautifully　kept　and　dry。　　By　and　by；　with　a
little　turn；　they　came　to　an　incline　and　another　iron　gate；　held
open　for　them　by　a　footman。　　Mr。　Fentolin　sped　up　the　last　few　feet
into　the　great　hail；　which　seemed　more　imposing　than　ever　by　reason
of　this　unexpected　entrance。　　Hamel；　blinking　a　little；　stepped　to
his　side。

〃Welcome！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　cried　gaily。　　〃Welcome；　my　friend　Mr。　Hamel；
to　St。　David's　Hall！〃




CHAPTER　XIII

During　the　next　half…hour；　Hamel　was　introduced　to　luxuries　to　which；
in　a　general　way；　he　was　entirely　unaccustomed。　　One　man…servant
was　busy　preparing　his　bath　in　a　room　leading　out　of　his　sleeping
apartment；　while　another　brought　him　a　choice　of　evening　clothes　and
superintended　his　disrobing。　　Hamel；　always　observant；　studied　his
surroundings　with　keen　interest。　　He　found　himself　in　a　queerly
mixed　atmosphere　of　luxurious　modernity　and　stately　antiquity。　　His
four…poster；　the　huge　couch　at　the　foot　of　his　bed；　and　all　the
furniture　about　the　room；　was　of　the　Queen　Anne　period。　　The
bathroom　which　communicated　with　his　apartment　was　the　latest
triumph　of　the　plumber's　art　…　a　room　with　floor　and　walls　of　white
tiles；　the　bath　itself　a　little　sunken　and　twice　the　ordinary　size。　
He　dispensed　so　far　as　he　could　with　the　services　of　the　men　and
descended；　as　soon　as　he　was　dressed；　into　the　hall。　　Meekins　was
waiting　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　dressed　now　in　somber　black。

〃Mr。　Fentolin　will　be　glad　if　you　will　step　into　his　room；　sir；〃　he
announced；　leading　the　way。

Mr。　Fentolin　was　seated　in　his　chair；　reading　the　Times　in　a　corner
of　his　library。　　Shaped　blocks　had　been　placed　behind　and　in　front
of　the　wheels　of　his　little　vehicle；　to　prevent　it　from　moving。　　A
shaded　reading…lamp　stood　on　the　table　by　his　side。　　He　did　not　at
once　look　up；　and　Hamel　glanced　around　with　genuine　admiration。
The　shelves　which　lined　the　walls　and　the　winged　cases　which
protruded　into　the　room　were　filled　with　books。　　There　was　a　large
oak　table　with　beautifully　carved　legs；　piled　with　all　sorts　of
modern　reviews　and　magazines。　　A　log　fire　was　burning　in　the　big
oaken　grate。　　The　perfume　from　a　great　bowl　of　lavender　seemed　to
mingle　curiously　yet　pleasantly　with　the　half　musty　odour　of　the
old　leather…hound　volumes。　　The　massive　chimneypiece　was　of　black
oak；　and　above　it　were　carved　the　arms　of　the　House　of　Fentolin。
The　walls　were　oak…panelled　to　the　ceiling。

〃Refreshed；　I　hope；　by　your　bath　and　change；　my　dear　visitor？〃　the
head　of　the　house　remarked；　as　he　laid　down　his　paper。　　〃Draw　a
chair　up　here　and　join　me　in　a　glass　of　vermouth。　　You　need　not　be
afraid　of　it。　　It　comes　to　me　from　the　maker　as　a　special　favour。

Hamel　accepted　a　quaintly…cut　wine…glass　full　of　the　amber　liquid。
Mr。　Fentolin　sipped　his　with　the　air　of　a　connoisseur。

〃This；〃　he　continued；　〃is　one　of　our　informal　days。　　There　is　no
one　in　the　house　save　my　sister…in…law；　niece；　and　nephew；　and　a
poor　invalid　gentleman　who；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　is　confined　to　his
bed。　　My　sister…in…law　is　also；　I　regret　to　say；　indisposed。　　She
desired　me　to　present　her　excuses　to　you　and　say　how　greatly　she
is　looking　forward　to　making　your　acquaintance　during　the　next　few
days。〃

Hamel　bowed。

〃It　is　very　kind　of　Mrs。　　Fentolin；〃　he　murmured。

〃On　these　occasions；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued；　〃we　do　not　make　use
of　a　drawing…room。　　My　niece　will　come　in　here　presently。　　You　are
looking　at　my　books；　I　see。　　Are　you；　by　any　chance；　a　bibliophile？
I　have　a　case　of　manuscripts　here　which　might　interest　you。

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃Only　in　the　abstract；　I　fear；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　have　scarcely
opened　a　serious　book　since　I　was　at　Oxford。〃

〃What　was　your　year？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked。

〃Fourteen　years　ago　I　left　Magdalen；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃I　had　made
up　my　mind　to　he　an　engineer；　and　I　went　over　to　the　Boston
Institute　of　Technology。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　appreciatively。

〃A　magnificent　profession；〃　he　murmured。　　〃A　healthy　one；　too；　I
should　judge　from　your　appearance。　　You　are　a　strong　man；　Mr。　Hamel。〃

〃I　have　had　reason　to　be；〃　Hamel　rejoined。　　〃During　nearly　the　whole
of　the　time　I　have　been　abroad；　I　have　been　practically　pioneering。
Building　railways　in　the　far　West；　with　gangs　of　Chinese　and　Italians
and　Hungarians　and　scarcely　a　foreman　who　isn't　terrified　of　his　job；
isn't　exactly　drawing…room　work。〃

〃You　are　going　back　there？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked；　with　interest。

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃I　have　no　plans；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　have　been　fortunate　enough；　or
shall　I　some　day　say　unfortunate　enough；　I　wonder；　to　have　inherited
a　large　legacy。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled。

〃Don't　ever　doubt　your　good　fortune；〃　he　said　earnestly。　　〃The
longer　I　live　…　and　in　my　limited　way　I　do　see　a　good　deal　of　life
…　the　more　I　appreciate　the　fact　that　there　isn't　anything　in　this
world　that　compares　with　the　power　of　money。　　I　distrust　a　poor　man。
He　may　mean　to　be　honest；　but　he　is　at　all　times　subject　to
temptation。　　Ah！　here　is　my　niece。

Mr。　Fentolin　turned　towards　the　door。　　Hamel　rose　at　once　to　his
feet。　　His　surmise；　then；　had　been　correct。　　She　was　coming　towards
them　very　quietly。　　In　her　soft　grey　dinner…gown；　her　brown　hair
smoothly　brushed　back；　a　pearl　necklace　around　her　long；　delicate
neck；　she　seemed　to　him　a　very　exquisite　embodiment　of　those
memories　which　he　had　been　carrying　about　throughout　the　afternoon。

〃Here；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　his　host　said；　〃　is　a　member　of　my　family　who
has　been　a　deserter　for　a　short　time。　　This　is　Mr。　Richard　Hamel；
Esther；　my　niece；　Miss　Esther　Fentolin。〃

She　held　out　her　hand　with　the　faintest　possible　smile；　which　might
have　been　of　greeting　or　recognition。

〃I　travelled　for　some　distance　in　the　train　with　Mr。　Hamel　this
afternoon；　I　think；〃　she　remarked。

〃Indeed？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　exclaimed。　　〃Dear　me；　that　is　very
interesting　…　very　interesting；　indeed！　　Mr。　Hamel；　I　am　sure；　did
not　tell　you　of　his　destination？〃

He　watched　them　keenly。　　Hamel；　though　he　scareely　understood；　was
quick　to　appreciate　the　possible　significance　of　that　tentative
question。

〃We　did　not　exchange　confidences；〃　he　observed。　　〃Miss　Fentolin
only　changed　into　my　carriage　during　the　last　few　minutes　of　her
journey。　　Besides；〃　he　continued；　〃to　tell　you　the　truth；　my　ideas
as　to　my　destination　were　a　little　hazy。　　To　come　and　look　for　some
queer　sort　of　building　by　the　side　of　the　sea；　which　has　been
unoccupied　for　a　dozen　years　or　so；　scarcely　seems　a　reasonable
quest；　does　it？〃

〃Scarcely；　indeed；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assented。　　〃You　may　thank　me；　Mr。
Hamel；　for　the　fact　that　the　place　is　not　in　ruins。　　My　blatant
trespassing　has　saved　you　from　that；　at　least。　　After　dinner　we　must
talk　further　about　the　Tower。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　have　grown
accustomed　to　the　use　of　the　little　place。〃

The　sound　of　the　dinner　gong　boomed　through　the　house。　　A　moment
later　Gerald　entered；　followed　by　a　butler　announcing　dinner。

〃The　only　remaining　member　of　my　family；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked；
indicating　his　nephew。　　〃Gerald；　you　will　be　pleased；　I　know；　to
meet　Mr。　Hamel。　　Mr。　Hamel　has　been　a　great　traveller。　　Long　before
you　can　remember；　his　father　used　to　paint　wonderful　pictures　of
this　coast。〃

Gerald　shook　hands　with　his　visitor。　　His　face；　for　a　moment；
lighted　up。　　He　was　looking　pale；　though；　and　singularly　sullen
and　dejected。

〃There　are　two　of　your　father's　pictures　in　the　modern　side　of　the
gallery　up…stairs；〃　he　remarked；　a　little　diffidently。　　〃They　are
great　favourites　with　everybody　here。〃

They　all　went　in　to　dinner　together。　　Meekins；　who　had　appeared
silently；　had　glided　unnoticed　behind　his　master's　chair　and
wheeled　it　across　the　hall。

〃A　partie　carree　to…night；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared。　　〃I　have　a
resident　doctor　here；　a　very　delightful　person；　who　often　dines
with　us；　but　to…night　I　thought　not。　　Five　is　an　awkward　number。
I　want　to　get　to　know　you　better；　Mr。　　Hamel；　and　quickly。　　I
want　you；　too；　to　make　friends　with　my　niece　and　nephew。　　Mr。
Hamel's　father；〃　he　went　on；　addressing　the　two　latter；〃　and　your
father　were　great　friends。　　By…the…by；　have　I　told　you　both
exactly　why　Mr。　Hamel　is　a　guest　here　to…night　…　why　he　came　to
these　parts　at　all？　　No？　　Listen；　then。　　He　came　to　take　possession
of　the　Tower。　　The　worst　of　it　is　that　it　belongs　to　him；　too。　　His
father　bought　it　from　your　father　more　years　ago　than　we　should
care　to　talk　about。　　I　have　really　been　a　trespasser　all　this　time。〃

They　took　their　places　at　a　small　round　table　in　the　middle　of　the
dining…room。　　The　shaded　lights　thrown　downwards　upon　the　table
seemed　to　leave　most　of　the　rest　of　the　apartment　in　semi…darkness。
The　gloomy　faces　of　the　men　and　women　whose　pictures　hung　upon　the
walls　were　almost　invisible。　　The　servants　themselves；　standing　a
little　outside　the　halo　of　light；　were　like　shadows　passing　swiftly
and　noiselessly　back　and　forth。　　At　the　far　end　of　the　room　was　an
organ；　and　to　the　left　a　little　balcony；　built　out　as　though　for　an
orchestra。　　Hamel　looked　about　him　almost　in　wonderment。　　There　was
something　curiously　impressive　in　the　size　of　the　apartment　and
its　emptiness。

〃A　trespasser；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued；　as　he　took　up　the　menu　and
criticised　it　through　his　horn…rimmed　eyeglass；　〃that　is　what　I