the vanished messenger-第21章

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〃We　have　spent　a　very　agreeable　few　minutes　in　explanations；〃　Mr。
Dunster　continued。　　〃Would　it　be　asking　too　much　if　I　now　suggest
that　we　remove　the　buttons　from　our　foils？〃

〃Why　not？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assented　smoothly。　　〃Your　first　question
to　yourself；　under　these　circumstances；　would　naturally　be：　'What
does　Mr。　Fentolin　want　with　me？'　　I　will　answer　that　question　for
you。　　All　that　I　ask　…　it　is　really　very　little　…　is　the　word
agreed　upon。〃

Mr。　Dunster　held　his　cigar　a　little　way　off　and　looked　steadfastly
at　his　host　for　a　moment。　　So　you　have　interpreted　my　cipher？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　spread　out　the　palms　of　his　hands　in　a　delicate　gesture。

〃My　dear　Mr。　Dunster；〃　he　said；　〃one　of　the　simplest；　I　think；　that
was　ever　strung　together。　　I　am　somewhat　of　an　authority　upon
ciphers。〃

〃I　gather；〃　Mr。　Dunster　went　on；　although　his　cigar　was　burning
itself　out；　〃that　you　have　broken　the　seal　of　my　dispatches？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　closed　his　eyes　as　though　he　had　heard　a　discord。

〃Nothing　so　clumsy　as　that；　I　hope；〃　he　murmured　gently。　　〃I　will
not　insult　a　person　of　your　experience　and　intelligence　by
enumerating　the　various　ways　in　which　the　seal　of　a　dispatch　may
be　liquefied。　　It　is　quite　true　that　I　have　read　with　much　pleasure
the　letter　which　you　are　carrying　from　a　certain　group　of　very
distinguished　men　to　a　certain　person　now　in　The　Hague。　　The　letter；
however；　is　replaced　in　its　envelope；　the　seal　is　still　there。　　You
need　have　no　fears　whatever　concerning　it。　　All　that　I　require　is
that　one　word　from　you。〃

〃And　if　I　give　you　that　one　word？〃　Mr。　Dunster　asked。

〃If　you　give　it　me；　as　I　think　you　will；〃　Mr。　　Fentolin　replied
suavely；　〃I　shall　then　telegraph　to　my　agent；　or　rather　I　should
say　to　a　dear　friend　of　mine　who　lives　at　The　Hague；　and　that
single　word　will　be　cabled　by　him　from　The　Hague　to　New　York。〃

〃And　in　that　case；〃　Mr。　Dunster　enquired；　〃what　would　become　of　me？〃

〃You　would　give　us　the　great　pleasure　of　your　company　here　for　a
very　brief　visit；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　answered。　　〃We　should；　I　can　assure
you；　do　our　very　best　to　entertain　you。〃

〃And　the　dispatch　which　I　am　carrying　to　The　Hague？〃

〃Would　remain　here　with　you。〃

Mr。　Dunster　knocked　the　ash　from　his　cigar。　　Without　being　a　man
of　great　parts；　he　was　a　shrewd　person；　possessed　of　an　abundant
stock　of　common　sense。　　He　applied　himself；　for　a　few　moments；　to
a　consideration　of　this　affair；　without　arriving　at　any　satisfactory
conclusion。

〃Come；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you　must　really　forgive　me；
but　I　can't　see　what　you're　driving　at。　　You　are　an　Englishman；　are
you　not？〃

〃I　am　an　Englishman；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　confessed　〃or　rather；〃　he　added；
with　ghastly　humour；　〃I　am　half　an　Englishman。〃

〃You　are；　I　am　sure；〃　Mr。　Dunster　continued；　〃a　person　of
intelligence；　a　well…read　person；　a　person　of　perceptions。　　Surely
you　can　see　and　appreciate　the　danger　with　which　your　country　is
threatened？〃

〃With　regard　to　political　affairs；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　admitted；　〃I
consider　myself　unusually　well　posted　…　in　fact；　the　study　of　the
diplomatic　methods　of　the　various　great　Powers　is　rather　a　hobby
of　mine。〃

〃Yet；〃　Mr。　Dunster　persisted；　〃you　do　not　wish　this　letter　delivered
to　that　little　conference　in　The　Hague；　which　you　must　be　aware　is
now　sitting　practically　to　determine　the　fate　of　your　nation？〃

〃I　do　not　wish；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied；　〃I　do　not　intend；　that　that
letter　shall　be　delivered。　　Why　do　you　worry　about　my　point　of　view？
I　may　have　a　dozen　reasons。　　I　may　believe　that　it　will　be　good　for
my　country　to　suffer　a　little　chastisement。〃

〃Or　you　may；〃　Mr。　Dunster　suggested；　glancing　keenly　at　his　host；
〃be　the　paid　agent　of　some　foreign　Power。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head。

〃My　means；〃　he　pointed　out；　〃should　place　me　above　such　suspicion。
My　income；　I　really　believe；　is　rather　more　than　fifty　thousand
pounds　a　year。　　I　should　not　enter　into　these　adventures；　which
naturally　are　not　entirely　dissociated　from　a　certain　amount　of　risk；
for　the　purposes　of　financial　gain。〃

Mr。　Dunster　was　still　mystified。

〃Granted　that　you　do　so　from　pure　love　of　adventure；〃　he　declared；
〃I　still　cannot　see　why　you　should　range　yourself　on　the　side　of
your　country's　enemies。

〃In　time；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　observed；　〃even　that　may　become　clear　to
you。　　At　present；　well　…　just　that　word；　if　you　please？〃

Mr。　Dunster　shook　his　head。

〃No；〃　he　decided；　〃I　do　not　think　so。　　I　cannot　make　up　my　mind　to
tell　you　that　word。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　gave　no　sign　of　annoyance　or　even　disappointment。　　He
simply　sighed。　　His　eyes　were　full　of　a　gentle　sympathy；　his　face
indicated　a　certain　amount　of　concern。

〃You　distress　me；〃　he　declared。　　〃Perhaps　it　is　my　fault。　　I　have
not　made　myself　sufficiently　clear。　　The　knowledge　of　that　word　is
a　necessity　to　me。　　Without　it　I　cannot　complete　my　plans。　　Without
it　I　very　much　fear；　dear　Mr。　Dunster；　that　your　sojourn　among　us
may　be　longer　than　you　have　any　idea　of。〃

Mr。　Dunster　laughed　a　little　derisively。

〃We've　passed　those　days；〃　he　remarked。　　〃I've　done　my　best　to　enter
into　the　humour　of　this　situation；　but　there　are　limits。　　You　can't
keep　prisoners　in　English　country　houses；　nowadays。　　There　are　a
dozen　ways　of　communicating　with　the　outside　world；　and　when　that's
once　done；　it　seems　to　me　that　the　position　of　Squire　Fentolin　of
St。　David's　Hall　might　be　a　little　peculiar。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled；　very　slightly；　still　very　blandly。

〃Alas；　my　stalwart　friend；　I　fear　that　you　are　by　nature　an　optimist！
I　am　not　a　betting　man；　but　I　am　prepared　to　bet　you　a　hundred　pounds
to　one　that　you　have　made　your　last　communication　with　the　outside
world　until　I　say　the　word。〃

Mr。　Dunster　was　obviously　plentifully　supplied　with　either　courage
or　bravado；　for　he　only　laughed。

〃Then　you　had　better　make　up　your　mind　at　once；　Mr。　Fentolin；　how
soon　that　word　is　to　be　spoken；　or　you　may　lose　your　money；〃　he
remarked。

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　very　quietly　in　his　chair。

〃You　mean；　then；〃　he　asked；　〃that　you　do　not　intend　to　humour　me　in
this　little　matter？〃

〃I　do　not　intend；〃　Mr。　Dunster　assured　him；　〃to　part　with　that　word
to　you　or　to　any　one　else　in　the　the　world。　　When　my　message　has
been　presented　to　the　person　to　whom　it　has　been　addressed；　when　my
trust　is　discharged；　then　and　then　only　shall　I　send　that　cablegram。
That　moment　can　only　arrive　at　the　end　of　my　journey。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　now　a　little　forward　in　his　chair。　　His　face
was　still　smooth　and　expressionless；　but　there　was　a　queer　sort　of
meaning　in　his　words。

〃The　end　of　your　journey；〃　he　said　grimly；　〃may　be　nearer　than　you
think。〃

〃If　I　am　not　heard　of　in　The　Hague　to…morrow　at　the　latest；〃　Mr。
Dunster　pointed　out；〃　remember　that　before　many　more　hours　have
passed；　I　shall　be　searched　for；　even　to　the　far　corners　of　the
earth。〃

〃Let　me　assure　you；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　promised　serenely；　〃that　though
your　friends　search　for　you　up　in　the　skies　or　down　in　the　bowels
of　the　earth；　they　will　not　find　you。　　My　hiding…places　are　not　as
other　people's。〃

Mr。　Dunster　beat　lightly　with　his　square；　blunt　forefinger　upon　the
table　which　stood　by　his　side。

〃That's　not　the　sort　of　talk　I　understand；〃　he　declared　curtly。
〃Let　us　understand　one　another；　if　we　can。　　What　is　to　happen　to　me；
if　I　refuse　to　give　you　that　word？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　held　his　hand　in　front　of　his　eyes；　as　though　to　shut
out　some　unwelcome　vision。

〃Dear　me；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃how　unpleasant　　Why　should　you　force　me
to　disclose　my　plans？　　Be　content；　dear　Mr。　Dunster；　with　the
knowledge　of　this　one　fact：　we　cannot　part　with　you。　　I　have　thought
it　over　from　every　point　of　view；　and　I　have　come　to　that　conclusion；
always　presuming；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　the　knowledge　of　that　little
word　of　which　we　have　spoken　remains　in　its　secret　chamber　of　your
memory。〃

Mr。　Dunster　smoked　in　silence　for　a　few　minutes。

〃I　am　very　comfortable　here；〃　he　remarked。

〃You　delight　me；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　murmured。

〃Your　cook；〃　Mr。　Dunster　continued；　〃has　won　my　heartfelt
appreciation。　　Your　cigars　and　wines　are　fit　for　any　nobleman。
Perhaps；　after　all；　this　little　rest　is　good　for　me。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　listened　attentively。

〃Do　not　forget；〃　he　said；　〃that　there　is　always　a　limit　fixed；
whether　it　be　one　day；　two　days；　or　three　days。〃

〃A　limit　to　your　complacence；　I　presume？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　assented。

〃Obviously；　then；〃　Mr。　Dunster　concluded；　〃you　wish　those　who　sent
me　to　believe　that　my　message　has　been　delivered。　　Yet　there　I　must
confess　that　you　puzzle　me。　　What　I　cannot　see　is；　to　put　it　bluntly；
where　you　come　in。　　Any　one　of　the　countries　represented　at　this
little　conference　would　only　be　the　gainers　by　the　miscarriage　of
my　message；　which　is；　without　doubt；　so　far　as　they　are　concerned；
of　a　distasteful　nature。　　Your　own　country　alone　could　be　the
sufferer。　　Now　what　interest　in　the　world；　then；　is　there　left　…　what
interest　in　the　world　can　you　possibly　represent　…　which　can　be　the
gainer　by　your　present　action？〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes　grew　suddenly　a　little　brighter。　　There　was　a
light　upon　his　face　strange　to　witness；

〃The　power　which　is　to　be　the　gainer；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃　is　the
power　encompassed　by　these　walls；〃

He　touched　his　chest；　his　long；　slim　fingers　were　folded　upon　it。

〃When　I　meet　a　man　whom　I　like；〃　he　continued　softly；　〃I　take　him
into　my　confidence。　　Picture　me；　if　you　will；　as　a　kind　of　Puck。
Haven't　you　heard　that　with　the　decay　of　the　body　comes　sometimes
a　malignant　growth　in　the　brain；　a　Caliban…like　desire　for　evil　to
fall　upon　the　world；　a　desire　to　escape　from　the　loneliness　of
suffering；　the　isolation　of　black　misery？〃

Mr。　　John　P。　　Dunster　let　his　cigar　burn　out。　　He　looked
steadfastly　at　this　strange　little　figure　whose　chair　had
imperceptibly　moved　a　little　nearer　to　his。

〃You　know　what　the　withholding　of　this　message　you　carry　may　mean；〃
Mr。　Fentolin　proceeded。　　〃You　come　here；　bearing　to　Europe　the　word
of　a　great　people；　a　people　whose　voice　is　powerful　enough　even　to
still　the　gathering　furies。　　I　have　read　your　ciphered　message。　　It
is　what　I　feared。　　It　is　my　will；　mine　…　Miles　Fentolin's　…　that
that　message　be　not　delivered。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　Mr。　Dunster　muttered　under　his　breath；　〃whether　you　are
in　earnest。〃

〃In　your　heart；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　told　him；　〃you　know　that　I　am。　　I　can
see　the　truth　in　your　face。　　Now；　for　the　first　time；　you　begin　to
understand。〃

〃To　a　certain　extent；〃　Mr。　Dunster　admitted。　　〃Where　I　am　still　in
the　dark；　however；　is　why　you　should　expect　that　I　should　become
your　confederate。　　It　is　true　that　by　holding　me　up　and　obstructing
my　message；　you　may　bring　about　the　evil　you　seek；　but　unless　that
word　is　cabled　back　to　New　York；　and　my　senders　believe　that　my
message　has　been　delivered；　there　can　be　no　certainty。　　What　has
been　trusted　to　me　as　the　safest　means　of　transmission；　might；　in
an　emergency；　be　committed　to　a　cable。〃

〃Excellent　reasoning；〃　Fentolin　agreed。　　〃For　the　very　reasons　you
name　that　word　will　be　given。〃

Mr。　Dunster's　face　was　momentarily　troubled。　　There　was　something　in
the　still；　cold　emphasis　of　this　man's　voice　which　made　him　shiver。

〃Do　you　t