the vanished messenger-第23章

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conclusion　and　glanced　enquiringly　around　the　table。

〃A　man　could　scarcely　disappear　in　a　civilised　neighbourhood　like
this；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked　quietly；　〃but　there　is　a　certain
amount　of　coincidence　about　your　question。　　May　I　ask　whether　it
was　altogether　a　haphazard　one？〃

〃Absolutely；〃　Lord　Saxthorpe　declared。　　〃The　idea　seems　to　be　that
the　fellow　was　brought　to　one　of　the　houses　in　the　neighbourhood；
and　we　were　all　rather　chaffing　one　another　this　morning　about　it。
Inspector　Yardley　…　the　stout　fellow　with　the　beard；　you　know　…　was
just　starting　off　in　his　dogcart　to　make　enquiries　round　the
neighbourhood。　　If　any　one　in　fiction　wants　a　type　of　the　ridiculous
detective；　there　he　is；　ready…made。〃

〃The　coincidence　of　your　question；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　smoothly；　〃is
certainly　a　strange　one。　　The　mysterious　stranger　is　within　our
gates。〃

Lady　Saxthorpe；　who　had　been　out　of　the　conversation　for　far　too
long；　laid　down　her　knife　and　fork。

〃My　dear　Mr。　Fentolin！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃My　dear　Mrs。　Fentolin！
This　is　really　most　exciting！　　Do　tell　us　all　about　it　at　once。　　I
thought　that　the　man　was　supposed　to　have　been　decoyed　away　in　a
motor…car。　　Do　you　know　his　name　and　all　about　him？〃

〃There　are　a　few　minor　points；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　murmured；　〃such　as
his　religious　convictions　and　his　size　in　boots；　which　I　could
not　swear　about；　but　so　far　as　regards　his　name　and　his　occupation；
I　think　I　can　gratify　your　curiosity。　　He　is　a　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster；
and　he　appears　to　be　the　representative　of　an　American　firm　of
bankers；　on　his　way　to　Germany　to　conclude　a　loan。〃

〃God　bless　my　soul！〃　Lord　Saxthorpe　exclaimed　wonderingly。　　〃The
fellow　is　actually　here　under　this　roof！　　But　who　brought　him？
How　did　he　find　his　way？〃

〃Better　ask　Gerald；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied。　　〃He　is　the　abductor。
It　seems　that　they　both　missed　the　train　from　Liverpool　Street；
and　Mr。　Dunster　invited　Gerald　to　travel　down　in　his　special　train。
Very　kind　of　him；　but　might　have　been　very　unlucky　for　Gerald。
As　you　know；　they　got　smashed　up　at　Wymondham；　and　Gerald；　feeling
in　a　way　responsible　for　him；　brought　him　on　here；　quite　properly；
I　think。　　Sarson　has　been　looking　after　him；　but　I　am　afraid　he　has
slight　concussion　of　the　brain。〃

〃I　shall　remember　this　all　my　life；〃　Lord　Saxthorpe　declared
solemnly；　〃as　one　of　the　most　singular　coincidences　which　has　ever
come　within　my　personal　knowledge。　　Perhaps　after　lunch；　Mr。
Fentolin；　you　will　let　some　of　your　people　telephone　to　the
police…station　at　Wells？　　There　really　is　an　important　enquiry
respecting　this　man。　　I　should　not　be　surprised；〃　he　added；
dropping　his　voice　a　little　for　the　benefit　of　the　servants；
〃to　find　that　Scotland　Yard　needed　him　on　their　own　account。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked；　〃he　is　quite　safe；　for　Sarson
tells　me　there　is　no　chance　of　his　being　able　to　travel；　at　any　rate
for　twenty…four　hours。〃

Lady　Saxthorpe　shivered。

〃Aren't　you　afraid　to　have　him　in　the　house？〃　she　asked；　〃a　man　who
is　really　and　actually　wanted　by　Scotland　Yard？　　When　one　considers
that　nothing　ever　happens　here　except　an　occasional　shipwreck　in
the　winter　and　a　flower…show　in　the　summer；　it　does　sound　positively
thrilling。　　I　wonder　what　he　has　done。〃

They　discussed　the　subject　of　Mr。　Dunster's　possible　iniquities。
Meanwhile；　a　young　man　carrying　his　hat　in　his　hand　had　slipped　in
past　the　servants　and　was　leaning　over　Mr。　Fentolin's　chair。　　He
laid　two　or　three　sheets　of　paper　upon　the　table　and　waited　while
his　employer　glanced　them　through　and　dismissed　him　with　a　little
nod。

〃My　wireless　has　been　busy　this　morning；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked。
〃We　seem　to　have　collected　about　forty　messages　from　different
battleships　and　cruisers。　　There　must　be　a　whole　squadron　barely
thirty　miles　out。〃

〃You　don't　really　think；〃　Lady　Saxthorpe　asked；　〃that　there　is　any
fear　of　war；　do　you；　Mr。　　Fentolin？

He　answered　her　with　a　certain　amount　of　gravity。　　〃Who　can　tell？
The　papers　this　morning　were　bad。　　This　conference　at　The　Hague　is
still　unexplained。　　France's　attitude　in　the　matter　is　especially
mysterious。〃

〃I　am　a　strong　supporter　of　Lord　Roberts；〃　Lord　Saxthorpe　said；
〃and　I　believe　in　the　vital　necessity　of　some　scheme　for　national
service。　　At　the　same　time；　I　find　it　hard　to　believe　that　a
successful　invasion　of　this　country　is　within　the　bounds　of
possibility。〃

〃I　quite　agree　with　you；　Lord　Saxthorpe；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared
smoothly。　　〃All　the　same；　this　Hague　Conference　is　a　most　mysterious
affair。　　The　papers　this　morning　are　ominously　silent　about　the
fleet。　　From　the　tangle　of　messages　we　have　picked　up；　I　should　say；
without　a　doubt；　that　some　form　of　mobilisation　is　going　on　in　the
North　Sea。　　If　Lady　Saxthorpe　thinks　it　warm　enough；　shall　we　take
our　coffee　upon　the　terrace？〃

〃The　terrace；　by　all　means；〃　her　ladyship　assented；　rising　from　her
place。　　〃What　a　wonderful　man　you　are；　Mr。　Fentolin；　with　your
wireless　telegraphy；　and　your　telegraph　office　in　the　house；　and
telephones。　　Does　it　really　amuse　you　to　be　so　modern？〃

〃To　a　certain　extent；　yes；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　sighed；　as　he　guided　his
chair　along　the　hall。　　〃When　my　misfortune　first　came；　I　used　to
speculate　a　good　deal　upon　the　Stock　Exchange。　　That　was　really　the
reason　I　went　in　for　all　these　modern　appliances。〃

〃And　now？〃　she　asked。　　〃What　use　do　you　make　of　them　now？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　quietly。　　He　looked　out　sea…ward；　beyond　the
sky…line；　from　whence　had　come　to　him；　through　the　clouds；　that
tangle　of　messages。

〃I　like　to　feel；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　turning　wheel　of　life　is　not
altogether　out　of　earshot。　　I　like　to　dabble　just　a　little　in　the
knowledge　of　these　things。〃

Lord　Saxthorpe　came　strolling　up　to　them。

〃You　won't　forget　to　telephone　about　this　guest　of　yours？〃　he
asked　fussily。

〃It　is　already　done；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assured　him。　　〃My　dear　sister；
why　so　silent？〃

Mrs。　Fentolin　turned　slowly　towards　him。　　She；　too；　had　been
standing　with　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　distant　sea…line。　　Her　face
seemed　suddenly　to　have　aged；　her　forced　vivacity　to　have　departed。
Her　little　Pomeranian　rubbed　against　her　feet　in　vain。　　Yet　at　the
sound　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　voice；　she　seemed　to　come　back　to　herself
as　though　by　magic。

〃I　was　looking　where　you　were　looking；〃　she　dedared　lightly；
〃just　trying　to　see　a　little　way　beyond。　　So　silly；　isn't　it？
Chow…Chow；　you　bad　little　dog；　come　and　you　shall　have　your　dinner。〃

She　strolled　off；　humming　a　tune　to　herself。　　Lord　Saxthorpe　watched
her　with　a　shadow　upon　his　plain；　good…humoured　face。

〃Somehow　or　other；〃　he　remarked　quietly；　〃Mrs。　Fentolin　never　seems
to　have　got　over　the　loss　of　her　husband；　does　she？　　How　long　is　it
since　he　died？〃

〃Eight　years；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied。　　〃It　was　just　six　months　after
my　own　accident。〃

〃I　am　losing　a　great　deal　of　sympathy　for　you；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　Lady
Saxthorpe　confessed；　coming　over　to　his　side。　　〃You　have　so　many
resources；　there　is　so　much　in　life　which　you　can　do。　　You　paint；
as　we　all　know；　exquisitely。　　They　tell　me　that　you　play　the　violin
like　a　master。　　You　have　unlimited　time　for　reading；　and　they　say
that　you　are　one　of　the　greatest　living　authorities　upon　the
politics　of　Europe。　　Your　morning　paper　must　bring　you　so　much　that
is　interesting。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　admitted；　〃that　I　have　compensations
which　no　one　can　guess　at；　compensations　which　appeal　to　me　more　as
time　steals　on。　　And　yet　…〃

He　stopped　short。

〃And　yet？〃　Lady　Saxthorpe　repeated　interrogatively。

Mr。。　　Fentolin　was　watching　Gerald　drive　golf　balls　from　the　lawn
beneath。　　He　pointed　downwards。

〃I　was　like　that　when　I　was　his　age；〃　he　said　quietly。




CHAPTER　XIX

Mr。　Fentolin　remained　upon　the　terrace　long　after　the　departure　of
his　guests。　　He　had　found　a　sunny　corner　out　of　the　wind；　and　he　sat
there　with　a　telescope　by　his　side　and　a　budget　of　newspapers　upon
his　knee。　　On　some　pretext　or　another　he　had　detained　all　the　others
of　the　household　so　that　they　formed　a　little　court　around　him。
Even　Hamel；　who　had　said　something　about　a　walk；　had　been　induced
to　stop　by　an　appealing　glance　from　Esther。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　in　one
of　his　most　loquacious　moods。　　For　some　reason　or　other；　the　visit
of　the　Saxthorpes　seemed　to　have　excited　him。　　He　talked　continually；
with　the　briefest　pauses。　　Every　now　and　then　he　gazed　steadily
across　the　marshes　through　his　telescope。

〃Lord　Saxthorpe；〃　he　remarked；　〃has；　I　must　confess；　greatly
excited　my　curiosity　as　to　the　identity　of　our　visitor。　　Such　a
harmless…looking　person；　he　seems；　to　be　causing　such　a　commotion。
Gerald；　don't　you　feel　your　responsibility　in　the　matter？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　do！〃　Gerald　replied；　with　unexpected　grimness。　　〃I
feel　my　responsibility　deeply。〃

Mr。　Fentolin；　who　was　holding　the　telescope　to　his　eye；　touched
Hamel　on　the　shoulder。

〃My　young　friend；〃　he　said；　〃your　eyes　are　better　than　mine。　　You
see　the　road　there？　Look　along　it；　between　the　white　posts；　as　far
as　you　can。　　What　do　you　make　of　that　black　speck？〃

Hamel　held　the　telescope　to　his　eye　and　steadied　it　upon　the　little
tripod　stand。　　

〃It　looks　like　a　horse　and　trap；〃　he　announced。　　〃Good！〃　Mr。
Fentolin　declared。　　〃It　seemed　so　to　me；　but　I　was　not　sure。　　My　eyes
are　weak　this　afternoon。　　How　many　people　are　in　the　trap？〃

〃Two；〃　Hamel　answered。　　〃I　can　see　them　distinctly　now。　　One　man　is
driving；　another　is　sitting　by　his　side。　　They　are　coming　this　way。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　blew　his　whistle。　　Meekins　appeared　almost　directly。
His　master　whispered　a　word　in　his　ear。　　The　man　at　once　departed。

〃Let　me　make　use　of　your　eyes　once　more；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　begged。
〃About　these　two　men　in　the　trap；　Mr。　Hamel。　　Is　one　of　them；　by　any
chance；　wearing　a　uniform？〃

〃They　both　are；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃The　man　who　is　driving　is　wearing
a　peaked　hat。　　He　looks　like　a　police　inspector。　　The　man　by　his　side
is　an　ordinary　policeman。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed　gently。

〃It　is　very　interesting；〃　he　said。　　〃Let　us　hope　that　we　shall　not
see　an　arrest　under　my　roof。　　I　should　feel　it　a　reflection　upon　my
hospitality。　　I　trust；　I　sincerely　trust；　that　this　visit　does　not
bode　any　harm　to　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster。〃

Gerald　rose　impatiently　to　his　feet　and　swung　across　the　terrace。
Mr。　Fentolin；　however；　called　him　back。

〃Gerald；〃　he　advised；　〃better　not　go　away。　　The　inspector　may　desire
to　ask　you　questions。　　You　will　have　nothing　to　conceal。　　It　was　a
natural　and　delightful　impulse　of　yours　to　bring　the　man　who　had
befriended　you；　and　who　was　your　companion　in　that　disaster；　straight
to　your　own　home　for　treatment　and　care。　　It　was　an　admirable　impulse；
my　boy。　　You　have　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of。〃

〃Shall　I　tell　him；　too　…〃　Gerald　began。

〃Be　careful；　Gerald。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　words　seemed　to　be　charged　with　a　swift；　rapier…like
note。　　The　boy　broke　off　in　his　speech。　　He　looked　at　Hamel　and　was
silent。

〃Dear　me；〃　Mrs。　　Fentolin　mumured；　〃I　am　sure　there　is　no　need　for
us　to　talk　about　this　poor　man　as　though　anybody　had　done　anything
wrong　in　having　him　here。　　This；　I　suppose；　must　be　the　Inspector
Yardley　whom　Lord　Saxthorpe　spoke　of。〃

〃A　very　intel