the vanished messenger-第22章

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the　still；　cold　emphasis　of　this　man's　voice　which　made　him　shiver。

〃Do　you　think；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　went　on；　〃that　I　spend　a　great　fortune
buying　the　secrets　of　the　world；　that　I　live　from　day　to　day　with
the　risk　of　ignominious　detection　always　hovering　about　me　…　do
you　think　that　I　do　this　and　am　yet　unprepared　to　run　the　final　risks
of　life　and　death？　　Have　you　ever　talked　with　a　murderer；　Mr。　Dunster？
Has　curiosity　ever　taken　you　within　the　walls　of　Sing　Sing？　　Have　you
sat　within　the　cell　of　a　doomed　man　and　felt　the　thrill　of　his　touch；
of　his　close　presence？　　Well；　I　will　not　ask　you　those　questions。　　I
will　simply　tell　you　that　you　are　talking　to　one　now。〃

Mr。　Dunster　had　forgotten　his　extinct　cigar。　　He　found　it　difficult
to　remove　his　eyes　from　Mr。　Fentolin's　face。　　He　was　half　fascinated；
half　stirred　with　a　vague；　mysterious　fear。　　Underneath　these　wild
words　ran　always　that　hard　note　of　truth。

〃You　seem　to　be　in　earnest；〃　he　muttered。

〃I　am；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assured　him　quietly。　　〃I　have　more　than　once
been　instrumental　in　bringing　about　the　death　of　those　who　have
crossed　my　purposes。　　I　plead　guilty　to　the　weakness　of　Nero。
Suffering　and　death　are　things　of　joy　to　me。　　There！〃

〃I　am　not　sure；〃　Mr。　Dunster　said　slowly；　〃that　I　ought　not　to
wring　your　neck。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled。　　His　chair　receded　an　inch　or　two。　　There　was
never　a　time　when　his　expression　had　seemed　more　seraphic。

〃There　is　no　emergency　of　that　sort；〃　he　remarked；〃　for　which　I　am
not　prepared。〃

His　little　revolver　gleamed　for　a　minute　beneath　his　cuff。　　He
backed　his　chair　slowly　and　with　wonderful　skill　towards　the　door。

〃We　will　fix　the　period　of　your　probation；　Mr。　Dunster；　at　…　say；
twenty…four　hours；〃　he　decided。　　〃Please　make　yourself　until　then
entirely　at　home。　　My　cook；　my　cellar；　my　cigar　cabinets；　are　at
your　disposal。　　If　some　happy　impulse；〃　he　concluded；　〃should　show
you　the　only　reasonable　course　by　dinnertime；　it　would　give　me　the
utmost　pleasure　to　have　you　join　us　at　that　meal。　　I　can　promise
you　a　cheque　beneath　your　plate　which　even　you　might　think　worth
considering；　wine　in　your　glass　which　kings　might　sigh　for；　cigars
by　your　side　which　even　your　Mr。　Pierpont　Morgan　could　not　buy。
Au　revoir！〃

The　door　opened　and　closed。　　Mr。　Dunster　sat　staring　into　the　open
space　like　a　man　still　a　little　dazed。




CHAPTER　XVIII

The　beautiful　but　somewhat　austere　front　of　St。　David's　Hall　seemed；
in　a　sense；　transformed；　as　Hamel　and　his　companion　climbed　the　worn
grey　steps　which　led　on　to　the　broad　sweep　of　terrace。　　Evidently
visitors　had　recently　arrived。　　A　dark；　rather　good…looking　woman；
with　pleasant　round　face　and　a　ceaseless　flow　of　conversation；　was
chattering　away　to　Mr。　Fentolin。　　By　her　side　stood　another　woman　who
was　a　stranger　to　Hamel　…　thin；　still　elegant；　with　tired；　worn　face；
and　the　shadow　of　something　in　her　eyes　which　reminded　him　at　once　of
Esther。　　She　wore　a　large　picture　hat　and　carried　a　little　Pomeranian
dog　under　her　arm。　　In　the　background；　an　insignificant…looking　man
with　grey　side…whiskers　and　spectacles　was　beaming　upon　everybody。
Mr。　Fentolin　waved　his　hand　and　beckoned　to　Hamel　and　Esther　as　they
somewhat　hesitatingly　approached。

〃This　is　one　of　my　fortunate　mornings；　you　see；　Esther！〃　he　exclaimed；
smiling。　　〃Lady　Saxthorpe　has　brought　her　husband　over　to　lunch。　　Lady
Saxthorpe；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　woman　at　his　side；　〃let　me　present
to　you　the　son　of　one　of　the　first　men　to　realise　the　elusive　beauty
of　our　coast。　　This　is　Mr。　Hamel；　son　of　Peter　Hamel；　R。A。　…　the
Countess　of　Saxthorpe。〃

Lady　Saxthorpe；　who　had　been　engaged　in　greeting
Esther；　held　out　her　hand　and　smiled　good…humour…
edly　at　Hamel。

〃I　know　your　father's　work　quite　well；〃　she　declared；　〃and　I　don't
wonder　that　you　have　made　a　pilgrimage　here。　　They　tell　me　that　he
painted　nineteen　pictures　…　pictures　of　importance；　that　is　to　say
…　within　this　little　area　of　ten　miles。　　Do　you　paint；　Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Hamel　answered。

〃Our　friend　Hamel；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　intervened；　〃woos　other　and　sterner
muses。　　He　fights　nature　in　distant　countries；　spans　her　gorges　with
iron　bridges；　stems　the　fury　of　her　rivers；　and　carries　to　the
boundary　of　the　world　that　little　twin　line　of　metal　which　brings
men　like　ants　to　the　work…heaps　of　the　universe。　　My　dear　Florence；〃
he　added；　suddenly　turning　to　the　woman　at　his　other　side；　〃for　the
moment　I　had　forgotten。　　You　have　not　met　our　guest　yet。　　Hamel；
this　is　my　sister…in…law；　Mrs。　Seymour　Fentolin。〃

She　held　out　her　hand　to　him；　unnaturally　thin　and　white；　covered
with　jewels。　　Again　he　saw　something　in　her　eyes　which　stirred　him
vaguely。

〃It　is　so　nice　that　you　are　able　to　spend　a　few　days：　with　us；　Mr。
Hamel；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　am　sorry　that　I　have　been　too
indisposed　to　make　your　acquaintance　earlier。〃

〃And；　　　　　Mr。　Fentolin　continued；　〃you　must　know　my　young　friend　here；
too。　　Mr。　Hamel　…　Lord　Saxthorpe。〃

The　latter　shook　hands　heartily　with　the　young　man。

〃I　knew　your　father　quite　well；〃　he　announced。　　〃Queer　thing；　he
used　to　hang　out　for　months　at　a　time　at　that　little　shanty　on　the
beach　there。　　Hardest　work　in　the　world　to　get　him　away。　　He　came
over　to　dine　with　us　once　or　twice；　but　we　saw　scarcely　anything
of　him。　　I　hope　his　son　will　not　prove　so　obdurate。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；〃　Hamel　murmured。

〃Mr。　Hamel　came　into　these　parts　to　claim　his　father's　property；〃
Mr。　Fentolin　said。　　〃However；　I　have　persuaded　him　to　spend　a　day
or　two　up　here　before　he　transforms　himself　into　a　misanthrope。
What　of　his　golf；　Esther；　eh？〃

〃Mr。　Hamel　plays　very　well；　indeed；〃　the　girl　replied。

〃Your　niece　was　too　good　for　me；〃　Hamel　confessed。

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled。

〃The　politeness　of　this　younger　generation；〃　he　remarked；　〃keeps
the　truth　sometimes　hidden　from　us。　　I　perceive　that　I　shall　not
be　told　who　won。　　Lady　Saxthorpe；　you　are　fortunate　indeed　in　the
morning　you　have　chosen　for　your　visit。　　There　is　no　sun　in　the
world　like　an　April　sun；　and　no　corner　of　the　earth　where　it　shines
with　such　effect　as　here。　　Look　steadily　to　the　eastward　of　that
second　dike　and　you　will　see　the　pink　light　upon　the　sands；　which
baffled　every　one　until　our　friend　Hamel　came　and　caught　it　on
his　canvas。〃

〃I　do　see　it；〃　Lady　Saxthorpe　murmured。　　〃What　eyes　you　have；　Mr。
Fentolin！　　What　perception　for　colour！〃

〃Dear　lady；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said；　〃I　am　one　of　those　who　benefit　by
the　law　of　compensations。　　On　a　morning　like　this　I　can　spend　hours
merely　feasting　my　eyes　upon　this　prospect；　and　I　can　find；　if　not
happiness；　the　next　best　thing。　　The　world　is　full　of　beautiful
places；　but　the　strange　part　of　it　is　that　beauty　has　countless
phases；　and　each　phase　differs　in　some　subtle　and　unexplainable
manner　from　all　others。　　Look　with　me　fixedly；　dear　Lady　Saxthorpe。
Look；　indeed；　with　more　than　your　eyes。　　Look　at　that　flush　of　wild
lavender；　where　it　fades　into　the　sands　on　one　side；　and　strikes　the
emerald　green　of　that　wet　seamoss　on　the　other。　　Look　at　the　liquid
blue　of　that　tongue　of　sea　which　creeps　along　its　bed　through　the
yellow　sands；　through　the　dark　meadowland；　which　creeps　and　oozes
and　widens　till　in　an　hour's　time　it　will　have　become　a　river。　　Look
at　my　sand　islands；　virgin　from　the　foot　of　man；　the　home　of
sea…gulls；　the　islands　of　a　day。　　There　may　be　other　and　more
beautiful　places。　　There　is　none　quite　like　this。〃

〃I　pity　you　no　longer；〃　Lady　Saxthorpe　asserted　fervently。　　〃The
eyes　of　the　artist　are　a　finer　possession　than　the　limbs　of　the
athlete。〃

The　butler　announced　luncheon；　and　they　all　trooped　in。　　Hamel
found　himself　next　to　Lady　Saxthorpe。

〃Dear　Mr。　Fentolin　has　been　so　kind；〃　she　confided　to　him　as　they
took　their　places。　　〃I　came　in　fear　and　trembling　to　ask　for　a　very
small　cheque　for　my　dear　brother's　diocese。　　My　brother　is　a
colonial　bishop；　you　know。　　Can　you　imagine　what　Mr。　Fentolin　has
given　me？〃

Hamel　wondered　politely。　　Lady　Saxthorpe　continued　with　an　air　of
triumph。

〃A　thousand　pounds！　　Just　fancy　that　…　a　thousand　pounds！　　And　some
people　say　he　is　so　difficult；〃　she　went　on；　dropping　her　voice。
〃Mrs。　　Hungerford　came　all　the　way　over　from　Norwich　to　beg　for　the
infirmary　there；　and　he　gave　her　nothing。〃

〃What　was　his　excuse？　〃　Hamel　asked。

〃I　think　he　told　her　that　it　was　against　his　principles　to　give　to
hospitals；〃　Lady　Saxthorpe　replied。　　〃He　thinks　that　they　should　be
supported　out　of　the　rates。〃

〃Some　people　have　queer　ideas　of　charity；〃　Hamel　remarked。　　〃Now　I
am　afraid　that　if　I　had　been　Mr。　Fentolin；　I　would　have　given　the
thousand　pounds　willingly　to　a　hospital；　but　not　a　penny　to　a
mission。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　looked　suddenly　down　the　table。　　He　was　some　distance
away；　but　his　hearing　was　wonderful。

〃Ah；　my　dear　Hamel；〃　he　said；　〃believe　me；　missions　are　very
wonderful　things。　　It　is　only　from　a　very　careful　study　of　their
results　that　I　have　brought　myself　to　be　a　considerable　supporter
of　those　where　I　have　some　personal　knowledge　of　the　organisation。
Hospitals；　on　the　other　hand；　provide　for　the　poor　what　they　ought
to　be　able　to　provide　for　themselves。　　The　one　thing　to　avoid　in
the　giving　away　of　money　is　pauperisation。　　What　do　you　think；
Florence？〃

His　sister…in…law；　who　was　seated　at　the　other　end　of　the　table；
looked　across　at　him　with　a　bright　but　stereotyped　smile。

〃I　agree　with　you；　of　course；　Miles。　　I　always　agree　with　you。　　Mr。
Fentolin　has　the　knack　of　being　right　about　most　things；〃　she
continued；　turning　to　Lord　Saxthorpe。　　〃His　judgment　is　really
wonderful。〃

〃Wish　we　could　get　him　to　come　and　sit　on　the　bench　sometimes；　then；〃
Lord　Saxthorpe　remarked　heartily。　　〃Our　neighbours　in　this　part　of
the　world　are　not　overburdened　with　brains。　　By…the…by；〃　he　went　on；
〃that　reminds　me。　　You　haven't　got　such　a　thing　as　a　mysterious
invalid　in　the　house；　have　you？〃

There　was　a　moment's　rather　curious　silence。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was
sitting　like　a　carved　figure；　with　a　glass　of　wine　half　raised　to
his　lips。　　Gerald　had　broken　off　in　the　middle　of　a　sentence　and
was　staring　at　Lord　Saxthorpe。　　Esther　was　sitting　perfectly　still；
her　face　grave　and　calm；　her　eyes　alone　full　of　fear。　　Lord
Saxthorpe　was　not　an　observant　man　and　he　continued；　quite
unconscious　of　the　sensation　which　his　question　had　aroused。

〃Sounds　a　silly　thing　to　ask　you；　doesn't　it？　　They're　all　full　of
it　at　Wells；　though。　　I　sat　on　the　bench　this　morning　and　went　into
the　police…station　for　a　moment　first。　　Seems　they've　got　a　long
dispatch　from　Scotland　Yard　about　a　missing　man　who　is　supposed　to
be　in　this　part　of　the　world。　　He　came　down　in　a　special　train　on
Tuesday　night　…　the　night　of　the　great　flood　…　and　his　train　was
wrecked　at　Wymondham。　　After　that　he　was　taken　on　by　some　one　in　a
motor…car。　　Colonel　Renshaw　wanted　me　to　allude　to　the　matter　from
the　bench；　but　it　seemed　to　me　that　it　was　an　affair　entirely　for
the　police。〃

As　though　suddenly　realising　the　unexpected　interest　which　his
words　had　caused；　Lord　Saxthorpe　brought　his　sentence　to　a
conclusion　and　glanced　enquiringly　around　the　table。

〃A　man　could　scarcely　disappear　in　a　ci