the vanished messenger-第17章

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and　I　received　this　blow　to　my　head　…　only　a　trifling　affair；　after
all。　　I　come　to　my　senses　to　find　myself　here。　　I　do　not　know　exactly
what　part　of　the　world　you　call　this；　but　from　the　fact　that　I　can
see　the　sea　from　my　window；　it　must　be　some　considerable　distance
from　the　scene　of　the　accident。　　I　find　that　my　dressing…case　has
been　opened；　my　pocket…book　examined；　and　I　am　apparently　a　prisoner。
I　ask　you；　Mr。　　Fentolin；　for　an　explanation。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　reassuringly。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　he　said；　〃my　dear　Mr。　Dunster；　I　believe　I　may　have
the　pleasure　of　calling　you　…　your　conclusions　seem　to　me　just　a
little　melodramatic。　　My　nephew　…　Gerald　Fentolin　…　did　what　I
consider　the　natural　thing；　under　the　circumstances。　　You　had　been
courteous　to　him；　and　he　repaid　the　obligation　to　the　best　of　his
ability。　　The　accident　to　your　train　happened　in　a　dreary　part　of
the　country；　some　thirty　miles　from　here。　　My　nephew　adopted　a
course　which　I　think；　under　the　circumstances；　was　the　natural　and
hospitable　one。　　He　brought　you　to　his　home。　　There　was　no　hospital
or　town　of　any　importance　nearer。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Mr。　Dunster　decided。　　〃I　will　accept　your　version　of
the　affair。　　I　will；　then；　up　to　this　point　acknowledge　myself　your
debtor。　　But　will　you　tell　me　why　my　dressing…case　has　been　opened；
my　clothes　removed；　and　a　pocket…book　containing　papers　of　great
importance　to　me　has　been　tampered　with？〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Dunster；〃　his　host　replled　calmly；　〃you　surely　cannot
imagine　that　you　are　among　thieves！　　Your　dressing…case　was　opened
and　the　contents　of　your　pocket…book　inspected　with　a　view　to
ascertaining　your　address；　or　the　names　of　some　friends　with　whom
we　might　communicate。〃

〃Am　I　to　understand　that　they　are　to　be　restored　to　me；　then？〃　Mr。
Dunster　demanded。

〃Without　a　doubt；　yes！〃　　Mr。　Fentolin　assured　him。　　〃You；　however；
are　not　fit　for　anything；　at　the　present　moment；　but　to　return　to
your　bed；　from　which　I　understand　you　rose　rather　suddenly　a　few
minutes　ago。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Mr。　Dunster　insisted；　〃I　am　feeling　absolutely
well　enough　to　travel。　　I　have　an　appointment　on　the　Continent　of
great　importance；　as　you　may　judge　by　the　fact　that　at　Liverpool
Street　I　chartered　a　special　train。　　I　trust　that　nothing　in　my
manner　may　have　given　you　offence；　but　I　am　anxious　to　get　through
with　the　business　which　brought　me　over　to　this　side　of　the　water。
I　have　sent　for　you　to　ask　that　my　pocket…book；　dressing…case；　and
clothes　be　at　once　restored　to　me；　and　that　I　be　provided　with
the　means　of　continuing　my　journey　without　a　moment's　further　delay。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　very　gently；　very　regretfully；　but　also
firmly。

〃Mr。　Dunster；〃　he　pleaded；　〃do　be　reasonable。　　Think　of　all　you　have
been　through。　　I　can　quite　sympathise　with　you　in　your　impatience；
but　I　am　forced　to　tell　you　that　the　doctor　who　has　been　attending　
you　since　the　moment　you　were　brought　into　this　house　has　absolutely
forbidden　anything　of　the　sort。〃

Mr。　Dunster　seemed；　for　a　moment；　to　struggle　for　composure。

〃I　am　an　American　citizen；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　am　willing　to　listen
to　the　advice　of　any　physician；　but　so　long　as　I　take　the　risk；　I
am　not　bound　to　follow　it。

In　the　present　case　I　decline　to　follow　it。　　I　ask　for　facilities
to　leave　this　house　at　once。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃In　your　own　interests；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃they　will　not　be　granted
to　you。〃

Mr。　Dunster　had　spoken　all　the　time　like　a　man　struggling　to
preserve　his　self…control。　　There　were　signs　now　that　his　will　was
ceasing　to　serve　him。　　His　eyes　flashed　fire；　his　voice　was　raised。

〃Will　not　be　granted　to　me？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say；
then；　that　I　am　to　be　kept　here　against　my　will？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　made　no　immediate　reply。　　With　the　delicate　fingers　of
his　right　hand　he　pushed　back　the　hair　from　his　forehead。　　He　looked
at　his　questioner　soothingly；　as　one　might　look　at　a　spoiled　child。

〃Against　my　will？〃　Mr。　Dunster　repeated；　raising　his　voice　still
higher。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；　I　have　heard　of
you　before　and　been　warned　against　you。　　I　decline　to　accept　any
longer　the　hospitality　of　your　roof。　　I　insist　upon　leaving　it。
If　you　will　not　provide　me　with　any　means　of　doing　so；　I　will　walk。〃

He　made　a　motion　as　though　to　rise　from　the　bed。　　Meekins'　hand　very
gently　closed　upon　his　arm。　　One　could　judge　that　the　grip　was　like
a　grip　of　iron。

〃Dear　me；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said；　〃this　is　really　very　unreasonable　of
you！　　If　you　have　heard　of　me；　Mr。　Dunster；　you　ought　to　understand
that　notwithstanding　my　unfortunate　physical　trouble；　I　am　a　person
of　consequence　and　position　in　this　county。　　I　am　a　magistrate；
ex…high　sheriff；　and　a　great　land…owner　here。　　I　think　I　may　say
without　boasting　that　I　represent　one　of　the　most　ancient　families
in　this　country。　　Why；　therefore；　should　you　treat　me　as　though　it
were　to　my　interest　to　inveigle　you　under　my　roof　and　keep　you　there
for　some　guilty　purpose？　　Cannot　you　understand　that　it　is　for　your
own　good　I　hesitate　to　part　with　you？〃

〃I　understand　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　Mr。　Dunster　exclaimed　angrily。
〃Let　us　bring　this　nonsense　to　an　end。　　I　want　my　clothes；　and　if
you　won't　lend　me　a　car　or　a　trap；　I'll　walk　to　the　nearest　railway
station。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head。

〃I　am　quite　sure；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　are　not　in　a　position　to
travel。　　Even　in　the　dining…room　just　now　I　heard　a　disturbance　for
which　I　was　told　that　you　were　responsible。〃

〃I　simply　insisted　upon　having　my　clothes；〃　Mr。　Dunster　explained。
〃Your　servant　refused　to　fetch　them。　　rerhaps　I　lost　my　temper。
If　so；　I　am　sorry。　　I　am　not　used　to　being　thwarted。〃

〃A　few　days'　rest　…〃　Mr。　Fentolin　began。

〃A　few　days'　rest　be　hanged！〃　Mr。　Dunster　interrupted　fiercely。
〃Listen；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　added；　with　the　air　of　one　making　a　last
effort　to　preserve　his　temper；　〃the　mission　with　which　I　am　charged
is　one　of　greater　importance　than　you　can　imagine。　　So　much　depends
upon　it　that　my　own　life；　if　that　is　in　danger；　would　be　a　mere
trifle　in　comparison　with　the　issues　involved。　　If　I　am　not　allowed
to　continue　upon　my　journey　at　once；　the　consequences　may　be　more
serious　than　I　can　tell　you；　to　you　and　yours；　to　your　own　country。
There！　…　I　am　telling　you　a　great　deal；　but　I　want　you　to　understand
that　I　am　in　earnest。　　I　have　a　mission　which　I　must　perform；　and
which　I　must　perform　quickly。〃

〃You　are　very　mysterious；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　murinured。

〃I　will　leave　nothing　to　chance；〃　Mr。　Dunster　continued。　　〃Send
this　man　who　seems　to　have　constituted　himself　my　jailer　out　of
earshot；　and　I　will　tell　you　even　more。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　turned　to　Meekins。

〃You　can　leave　the　room　for　a　moment；〃　he　ordered。　　〃Wait　upon　the
threshold。〃

Meekins　very　unwillingly　turned　to　obey。

〃You　will　excuse　me；　sir；〃　he　objected　doubtfully；　〃but　I　am　not　at
all　sure　that　he　is　safe。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　faintly。

〃You　need　have　no　fear；　Meekins；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　am　quite　sure
that　you　are　mistaken。　　I　think　that　Mr。　Dunster　is　incapable　of
any　act　of　violence　towards　a　person　in　my　unfortunate　position。
I　am　willing　to　trust　myself　with　him　…　perfectly　willing；　Meekins。〃

Meekins；　with　ponderous　footsteps；　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door
behind　him。　　Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　a　little　forward　in　his　chair。　　It
seemed　as　though　he　were　on　springs。　　The　fingers　of　his　right　hand
had　disappeared　in　the　pocket　of　his　black　velvet　dinner…coat。　　He
was　certainly　prepared　for　all　emergencies。

〃Now；　Mr。　Dunster；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　can　speak　to　me　without
reserve。〃

Mr。　Dunster　dropped　his　voice。　　His　tone　became　one　of　fierce
eagerness。

〃Look　here；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　don't　think　you　ought　to　force　me　to
give　myself　away　like　this；　but；　after　all；　you　are　an　Englishman；
with　a　stake　in　your　country；　and　I　presume　you　don't　want　her　to
take　a　back　seat　for　the　next　few　generations。　　Listen　here。　　It's
to　save　your　country　that　I　want　to　get　to　The　Hague　without　a
second's　delay。　　I　tell　you　that　if　I　don't　get　there；　if　the　message
I　convey　doesn't　reach　its　destination；　you　may　find　an　agreement
signed　between　certain　Powers　which　will　mean　the　greatest　diplomatic
humiliation　which　Great　Britain　has　ever　known。　　Aye；　and　more　than
that！〃　　Mr。　Dunster　continued。　　〃It　may　be　that　the　bogey　you've　been
setting　before　yourself　for　all　these　years　may　trot　out　into　life；
and　you　may　find　St。　David's　Hall　a　barrack　for　German　soldiers
before　many　months　have　passed。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　in　gentle　disbelief。

〃You　are　speaking　to　one；〃　he　declared；　〃who　knows　more　of　the
political　situation　than　you　imagine。　　In　my　younger　days　I　was　in
the　Foreign　Office。　　Since　my　unfortunate　accident　I　have　preserved
the　keenest　interest　in　politics。　　I　tell　you　frankly　that　I　do　not
believe　you。　　As　the　Powers　are　grouped　at　present；　I　do　not　believe
in　the　possibility　of　a　successful　invasion　of　this　country。〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　Mr。　Dunster　replied　eagerly；　〃but　the　grouping　of
the　Powers　as　it　has　existed　during　the　last　few　years　is　on　the
eve　of　a　great　change。　　I　cannot　take　you　wholly　into　my　confidence。
I　can　only　give　you　my　word　of　honour　as　a　friend　to　your　country
that　the　message　I　carry　is　her　only　salvation。　　Having　told　you　as
much　as　that；　I　do　not　think　I　am　asking　too　much　if　I　ask　you　for
my　clothes　and　dressing…case；　and　for　the　fastest　motor…car　you　can
furnish　me　with。　　I　guess　I　can　get　from　here　to　Yarmouth；　and　from
there　I　can　charter　something　which　will　take　me　to　the　other　side。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　raised　the　little　gold　whistle　to　his　lips　and　blew　it
very　softly。　　Meekins　at　once　entered；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
He　moved　silently　to　the　side　of　the　man　who　bad　risen　now　from　the
bed；　and　who　was　standing　with　his　hand　grasping　the　post　and　his
eyes　fixed　upon　Mr。　Fentolin；　as　though　awaiting　his　answer。

〃Our　conversation；〃　the　latter　said　calmly；　〃has　reached　a　point；
Mr。　Dunster；　at　which　I　think　we　may　leave　it　for　the　moment。　　You
have　told　me　some　very　surprising　things。　　I　perceive　that　you　are
a　more　interesting　visitor　even　than　I　had　thought。〃

He　raised　his　left　hand；　and　Meekins；　who　seemed　to　have　been
waiting　for　some　signal　of　the　sort；　suddenly；　with　a　movement　of
his　knee　and　right　arm；　flung　Dunster　hack　upon　the　bed。　　The　man
opened　his　mouth　to　shout；　but　already；　with　lightning…like
dexterity；　his　assailant　had　inserted　a　gag　between　his　teeth。
Treating　his　struggles　as　the　struggles　of　a　baby；　Meekins　next
proceeded　to　secure　his　wrists　with　handcuffs。　　He　then　held　his
feet　together　while　he　quietly　wound　a　coil　of　cord　around　them。
Mr。　Fentolin　watched　the　proceedings　from　his　chair　with　an　air　of
pleased　and　critical　interest。

〃Very　well　done；　Meekins　…　very　neatly　done；　indeed！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃As　I　was　saying；　Mr。　Dunster；〃　he　continued；　turning　his　chair；
〃our　conversation　has　reached　a　point　at　which　I　think　we　may
safely　leave　it　for　a　time。　　We　will　discuss　these　matters　again。
Your　pretext　of　a　political　mission　is；　of　course；　an　absurd　one；
but　fortunately　you　have　fallen　into　good　hands。　　Take　good　care　of
Mr。　Duns