the vanished messenger-第19章

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emptiness。　　From　somewhere　below　him　he　could　hear　the　wind　in　the
tree…tops。

〃This　way；〃　she　directed。　　〃Be　careful。〃

They　walked　to　the　very　edge　of　the　palisading。　　It　was　scarcely
more　than　a　couple　of　feet　high。　　She　pointed　downwards。

〃Can　you　see？　〃　she　whispered。

By　degrees　his　eyes　faintly　penetrated　the　darkness。　　It　was　as
though　they　were　looking　down　a　precipice。　　The　descent　was　perfectly
sheer　for　nearly　a　hundred　feet。　　At　the　bottom　were　the　pine　trees。

〃Come　here　again　in　the　morning；〃　she　whispered。　　〃You　will　see　then。
I　brought　you　here　to　show　you　the　place。　　It　was　here　that　the
accident　happened。〃

〃What　accident？〃

〃Mr。　Fentolln's；〃　she　continued。　　〃It　was　here　that　he　went　over。
He　was　picked　up　with　both　his　legs　broken。　　They　never　thought　that
he　would　live。〃

Hamel　shivered　a　little。　　As　his　eyes　grew　accustomed　to　the
darkness；　he　saw　more　distinctly　than　ever　the　sheer　fall；　the　tops
of　the　bending　trees　below。

〃What　a　horrible　thing！　　〃he　exclaimed。

〃It　was　more　horrible　than　you　know；〃　she　continued；　dropping　her
voice　a　little；　almost　whispering　in　his　ear。　　〃I　do　not　know　why
I　tell　you　this　…　you；　a　stranger　…　but　if　I　do　not　tell　some　one；
I　think　that　the　memory　of　it　will　drive　me　mad。　　It　was　no　accident
at　all。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　thrown　over！〃

〃By　whom？〃　he　asked。

She　clung　to　his　arm　for　a　moment。

〃Ah；　don't　ask　me！〃　she　begged。　　〃No　one　knows。　　My　uncle　gave　out；
as　soon　as　he　was　conscious；　that　it　was　an　accident。〃

〃That；　at　any　rate；　was　fine　of　him；〃　Hamel　dedared。

She　shivered。

〃He　was　proud；　at　least；　of　our　family　name。　　Whatever　credit　he
deserves　for　it；　he　must　have。　　It　was　owing　to　that　accident　that
we　became　his　slaves：　nothing　but　that　…　his　absolute　slaves；　to
wait　upon　him；　if　he　would；　hand　and　foot。　　You　see；　he　has　never
been　able　to　marry。　　His　life　was；　of　course；　ruined。　　So　the　burden
came　to　us。　　We　took　it　up；　little　thinking　what　was　in　store　for　us。
Five　years　ago　we　came　here　to　live。　　Gerald　wanted　to　go　into　the
army；　I　wanted　to　travel　with　my　mother。　　Gerald　has　done　all　the
work　secretly；　but　he　has　never　been　allowed　to　pass　his　examinations。
I　have　never　left　England　except　to　spend　two　years　at　the　strictest
boarding…school　in　Paris；　to　which　I　was　taken　and　fetched　away　by
one　of　his　creatures。　　We　live　here；　with　the　shadow　of　this　thing
always　with　us。　　We　are　his　puppets。　　If　we　hesitate　to　do　his
bidding；　he　reminds　us。　　So　far；　we　have　been　his　creatures；　body
and　soul。　　Whether　it　will　go　on；　I　cannot　say　…　oh；　I　cannot　say！
It　is　bad　for　us；　but　…　there　is　mother；　too。　　He　makes　her　life　a
perfect　hell！〃

A　roar　of　wind　came　booming　once　more　across　the　marshes；　bending
the　trees　which　grew　so　thickly　beneath　them　and　which　ascended
precipitately　to　the　back　of　the　house。　　The　French　windows　behind
rattled。　　She　looked　around　nervously。

〃I　am　afraid　of　him　all　the　time；〃　she　murmured。　　〃He　seems　to
overhear　everything　…　he　or　his　creatures。　　Listen！〃

They　were　silent　for　several　moments。　　He　whispered　in　her　ear　so
closely　that　through　the　darkness　he　could；　see　the　fire　in　her
eyes。

〃You　are　telling　me　half；〃　he　said。　　〃Tell　me　everything。　　Who
threw　your　uncle　over　the　parapet？

She　stood　by　his　side；　motionless　and　trembling。

〃It　was　the　passion　of　a　moment；〃　she　said　at　last；　speaking
hoarsely。　　〃I　cannot　tell　you。　　Listen！　　Listen！〃

〃There　is　no　one　near；〃　Hamel　assured　her。　　〃It　is　the　wind　which
shakes　the　windows。　　I　wish　that　you　would　tell　me　everything。　　I
would　like　to　be　your　friend。　　Believe　me；　I　have　that　desire；
really。　　There　are　so　many　things　which　I　do　not　understand。　　That
it　is　dull　here　for　you；　of　course；　is　natural；　but　there　is
something　more　than　that。　　You　seem　always　to　fear　something。　　Your
uncle　is　a　selfish　man；　naturally；　although　to　look　at　him　he　seems
to　have　the　disposition　of　an　angel。　　But　beyond　that；　is　there
anything　of　which　you　are　afraid？　　You　seem　all　the　time　to　live
in　fear。〃

She　suddenly　clutched　his　hand。　　There　was　nothing　of　affection　in
her　touch；　and　yet　he　felt　a　thrill　of　delight。

〃There　are　strange　things　which　happen　here；〃　she　whispered；　〃things
which　neither　Gerald　nor　I　understand。　　Yet　they　terrify　us。　　I
think　that　very　soon　the　end　will　come。　　Neither　of　us　can　stand
it　very　much　longer。　　We　have　no　friends。　　Somehow　or　other；　he
seems　to　manage　to　keep　us　always　isolated。〃

〃I　shall　not　go　away　from　here；〃　Hamel　said　firmly；　〃at　present。
Mind；　I　am　not　at　all　sure　that；　living　this　solitary　life　as　you
do；　you　have　not　become　a　little　over…nervous；　that　you　have　not
exaggerated　the　fear　of　some　things。　　To　me　your　uncle　seems
merely　quixotic　and　egregiously　selfish。　　However　that　may　be；　I
am　going　to　remain。〃　　She　clutched　once；　more　at　his　arm；　her
finger　was　upraised。　　They　listened　together。　　From　somewhere
behind　them　came　the　clear；　low　wailing　of　a　Violin。

〃It　is　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Please　come　in；　let　us　go
in　at　once。　　He　only　plays　when　he　is　excited。　　I　am　afraid！　　Oh；
I　am　afraid　that　something　is　going　to　happen！〃

She　was　already　round　the　corner　and　on　her　way　to　the　main　terrace。
He　followed　her　closely。




CHAPTER　XVI

〃Let　us　follow　the　example　of　all　great　golfers；〃　Hamel　said。　　〃Let
us　for　this　morning；　at　any　rate；　imagine　that　your　whole　world　is
encompassed　within　these　eighteen　holes。　　We　have　been　sent　here　in
a　moment　of　good　humour　by　your　tyrant　uncle。　　The　sun　shines；　and
the　wind　is　from　the　west。　　Why　not？〃

〃That　is　all　very　well　for　you；〃　she　retorted；　smiling；　〃but　I　have
topped　my　drive。〃

〃Purely　an　incident；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃The　vicissitudes　of　the　game
do　not　enter　into　the　question。　　I　have　driven　a　ball　far　above　my
usual　form；　but　I　am　not　gloating　over　it。　　I　prefer　to　remember
only　that　I　am　going　to　spend　the　next　two　hours　with　you。〃

She　played　her　shot；　and　they　walked　for　a　little　way　together。
She　was　suddenly　silent。

〃Do　you　know；〃　she　said　finally；　just　a　little　gravely；　〃I　am　not
at　all　used　to　speeches　of　this　sort。〃

〃Then　you　ought　to　be；〃　he　declared。　　〃Nothing　but　the　lonely　life
you　have　been　living　has　kept　you　from　hearing　them　continually。〃

She　laughed　a　little　at　the　impotence　of　her　rebuff　and　paused　for
a　moment　to　make　her　next　shot。　　Hame1；　standing　a　little　on　one
side；　watched　her　appraisingly。　　Her　short；　grey　tweed　skirt　was
obviously　the　handiwork　of　an　accomplished　tailor。　　Her　grey
stockings　and　suede　shoes　were　immaculate　and　showed　a　care　for　her
appearance　which　pleased　him。　　Her　swing；　too；　revealed　a　grace；
the　grace　of　long　arms　and　a　supple　body；　at　which　previously　he
had　only　guessed。　　The　sunshine　seemed　to　have　brought　out　a　copper
tinge　from　her　abundant　brown　hair。

〃Do　you　know；〃　he　remarked；　〃I　think　I　am　beginning　to　like　your
uncle。　　Great　idea　of　his；　sending　us　off　here　directly　after
breakfast。〃

Her　face　darkened　for　a　moment；　and　he　realised　his　error。　　The
same　thought；　indeed；　had　been　in　both　their　minds。　　Mr。　Fentolin's
courteous　suggestion　had　been　offered　to　them　almost　in　the　shape
of　a　command。　　It　was　scarcely　possible　to　escape　from　the
reflection　that　he　had　desired　to　rid　himself　of　their　presence　for
the　morning。

〃Of　course；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　knew　that　these　links　were　good　…　quite
famous；　aren't　they？〃

〃I　have　played　on　so　few　others；〃　she　told　him。　　〃I　learned　my　golf
here　with　King；　the　professional。〃

He　took　off　his　cap　and　handed　it　to　his　caddy。　　He　himself　was
beginning　already　to　look　younger。　　The　long　blue　waves　came
rippling　up　the　creeks。　　The　salt　wind；　soft　with　sunshine；　blew
in　their　faces。　　The　marshes　on　the　landward　side　were　mauve　with
lavender　blossom；　In　the　distance；　the　red…tiled　cottages　nestled
deep　among　a　background　of　green　trees　and　rising　fields。

〃This　indeed　is　a　land　of　peace；〃　he　declared。　　〃If　I　hadn't　to
give　you　quite　so　many　strokes；　I　should　be　really　enjoying　myself。〃

〃You　don't　play　like　a　man　who　has　been　living　abroad　for　a　great
many　years；〃　she　remarked。　　〃　Tell　me　about　some　of　the　places　you
have　visited？〃

〃Don't　let　us　talk　seriously；〃　he　begged。　　〃I'll　tell　you　of　them
but　let　it　be　later　on。　　This　morning　I　feel　that　the　spring　air
is　getting　into　my　head。　　I　have　an　absurd　desire　to　talk　nonsense。〃

〃So　far；〃　she　admitted；　〃you　haven't　been　altogether　unsuccessful。〃

〃If　you　are　alluding；〃　he　replied；　〃to　the　personal　remarks　I　was
emboldened　to　make　on　my　way　here；　I　can　only　say　that　they　were
excused　by　their　truthfulness。〃

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure　that　you　have　known　me　long　enough　to　tell
me　what　colours　suit　me；〃　she　demurred。

〃Then　what　will　you　say；〃　he　enquired；　〃if　I　admire　the　angle　of
that　quill　in　your　hat？〃

〃Don't　do　it；〃　she　laughed。　　〃If　you　continue　like　this；　I　may　have
to　go　home。〃

〃You　have　sent　the　car　away；〃　he　reminded　her　cheerfully。　　〃You
would　simply　have　to　sit　upon　the　balcony　and　reflect　upon　your
wasted　morning。〃

〃I　decline　to　talk　upon　the　putting　green；〃　she　said。　　〃It　puts　me
off。　　If　you　will　stand　perfectly　quiet　and　say　nothing；　I　will
play　the　like。〃

They　moved　off　presently　to　the　next　teeing　ground。

〃I　don't　believe　this　nonsense　is　good　for　our　golf；〃　she　said。

〃It　is　immensely　good　for　us　as　human　beings；〃　he　protested。

They　had　played　the　ninth　hole　and　turned　for　home。　　On　their　right
now　was　a　shimmering　stretch　of　wet　sand　and　a　thin　line　of　sea；　in
the　distance。　　The　tide；　receding；　had　left　little　islands　of　virgin
sand；　grass　tufted；　the　home　of　countless　sea…gulls。　　A　brown…sailed
fishing　boat　was　racing　for　the　narrow　entrance　to　the　tidal　way。

〃I　am　beginning　to　understand　what　there　is　about　this　coast　which
fascinated　my　father　so；〃　he　remarked。

〃Are　you？〃　she　answered　gravely。　　〃Years　ago　I　used　to　love　it；　but
not　now。〃

He　tried　to　change　the　subject；　but　the　gloom　had　settled　upon　her
face　once　more。

〃You　don't　know　what　it　is　like；〃　she　went　on；　as　they　walked　side
by　side　after　their　balls；　〃to　live　day　and　night　in　fear；　with　no
one　to　talk　to　…　no　one；　that　is　to　say；　who　is　not　under　the　same
shadow。　　Even　the　voices　of　the　wind　and　the　sea；　and　the　screaming
of　the　birds；　seem　to　bring　always　an　evil　message。　　There　is
nothing　kindly　or　hopeful　even　in　the　sunshine。　　At　night；　when　the
tide　comes　thundering　in　as　it　does　so　often　at　this　time　of　the
year；　one　is　afraid。　　There　is　so　much　to　make　one　afraid！〃

She　had　turned　pale　again；　notwithstanding　the　sunshine　and　the
freshening　wind。　　He　laid　his　hand　lightly　upon　her　arm。　　She
suffered　his　touch　without　appearing　to　notice　it。

〃Ah；　you　mustn't　talk　like　that！〃　he　pleaded。　　〃Do　you　know　what
you　make　me　feel　like？〃

She　came　back　from　the　world　of　her　own　unhappy　imaginings。

〃Really；　I　forgot　myself；〃　she　declared；　with　a　little　smile。
〃Never　mind；　it　does　one　good　sometimes。　　One　up；　are　you？
Henceforth；　then；　golf　…　all　the　rigour　of　the　game；　mind。〃

He　fell　in　with　her　mood；　and　their　conversation　touched　only　upon
the　game。　　On　the　last　green　he　suffered　defeat　and　acknowledged
it　with　a　little　grimace。

〃I