the vanished messenger-第24章

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wrong　in　having　him　here。　　This；　I　suppose；　must　be　the　Inspector
Yardley　whom　Lord　Saxthorpe　spoke　of。〃

〃A　very　intelligent…looking　officer；　I　am　sure；〃　Mr。　Fentolin
remarked。　　〃Gerald；　go　and　meet　him；　if　you　please。　　I　should　like
to　speak　to　him　out　here。〃

The　dog…cart　had　drawn　up　at　the　front　door；　and　the　inspector　had
already　alighted。　　Gerald　intervened　as　he　was　in　the　act　of
questioning　the　butler。

〃Mr。　Fentolin　would　like　to　speak　to　you；　inspector；〃　he　said；　〃if
you　will　come　this　way。〃

The　inspector　followed　Gerald　and　saluted　the　little　group　solemnly。
Mr。　Fentolin　held　out　his　hand。

〃You　got　my　telephone　message；　inspector？〃　he　asked。

〃We　have　not　received　any　message　that　I　know　of；　sir；〃　the　inspector
replied。　　〃I　have　come　over　here　in　accordance　with　instructions
received　from　headquarters　…　in　fact　from　Scotland　Yard。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assented。　　〃You've　come　over；　I　presume；
to　make　enquiries　concerning　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster？〃

〃That　is　the　name　of　the　gentleman；　sir。〃

〃I　only　understood　to…day　from　my　friena　Lord　Saxthorpe；〃　Mr。
Fentolin　continued；　〃that　Mr。　Dunster　was　being　enquired　about　as
though　he　had　disappeared。　　My　nephew　brought　him　here　after　the
railway　accident　at　Wymondham；　since　when　he　has　been　under　the
care　of　my　own　physician。　　I　trust　that　you　have　nothing　serious
against　him？〃

〃My　first　duty；　sir；〃　the　inspector　pronounced；　〃is　to　see　the
gentleman　in　question。〃

〃By　all　means；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　agreed。　　〃Gerald；　will　you　take　the
inspector　up　to　Mr。　Dunster's　rooms？　　Or　stop；　I　will　go　myself。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　started　his　chair　and　beckoned　the　inspector　to　follow
him。　　Meekins；　who　was　waiting　inside　the　hall；　escorted　them　by
means　of　the　lift　to　the　second　floor。　　They　made　their　way　to　Mr。
Dunster's　room。　　Mr。　Fentolin　knocked　softly　at　the　door。　　It　was
opened　by　the　nurse。

〃How　is　the　patient？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　enquired。

Doctor　Sarson　appeared　from　the　interior　of　the　room。

〃Still　unconscious；〃　he　reported。　　〃Otherwise；　the　symptoms　are
favourable。　　He　is　quite　unfit；〃　the　doctor　added；　looking　steadily
at　the　inspector；　〃to　be　removed　or　questioned。〃

〃There　is　no　idea　of　anything　of　the　sort；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　explained。
〃It　is　Inspector　Yardley's　duty　to　satisfy　himself　that　Mr。　Dunster
is　here。　　It　is　necessary　for　the　inspector　to　see　your　patient；　so
that　he　can　make　his　report　at　headquarters。〃

Doctor　Sarson　bowed。

〃That　is　quite　simple；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃Please　step　in。〃

They　all　entered　the　room；　which　was　large　and　handsomely　furnished。
Through　the　open　windows　came　a　gentle　current　of　fresh　air。　　Mr。
Dunster　lay　in　the　midst　of　all　the　luxury　of　fine　linen　sheets　and
embroidered　pillow…cases。　　The　inspector　looked　at　him　stolidly。

〃Is　he　asleep？〃　he　asked。

The　doctor　shook　his　head。

〃It　is　the　third　day　of　his　concussion；〃　he　whispered。　　〃He　is　still
unconscious。　　He　will　remain　in　the　same　condition　for　another　two
days。　　After　that　he　will　begin　to　recover。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　touched　the　inspector　on　the　arm。

〃You　see　his　clothing　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；〃　he　pointed　out。
〃His　linen　is　marked　with　his　name。　　That　is　his　dressing…case　with
his　name　painted　on　it。〃

〃I　am　quite　satisfied；　sir；〃　the　inspector　announced。　　〃I　will　not
intrude　any　further。〃

They　left　the　room。　　Mr。　Fentolin　himself　escorted　the　inspector
into　the　library　and　ordered　whisky　and　cigars。

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　am　unreasonably　curious；〃　Mr。　Fentolin
remarked；　〃but　is　it　really　true　that　you　have　had　enquiries　from
Scotland　Yard　about　the　poor　fellow　up…stairs？〃

〃We　had　a　very　important　enquiry　indeed；　sir；〃　the　inspector　replied。
〃I　have　instructions　to　telegraph　all　I　have　been　able　to　discover；
immediately。〃

〃Pardon　my　putting　it　plainly；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked；　〃but　is　our
friend　a　criminal？〃

〃I　wouldn't　go　so　far　as　that；　sir；〃　the　inspector　answered。　　〃I
know　of　no　charge　against　him。　　I　don't　know　that　I　have　the　right
to　say　so　much；〃　he　added；　sipping　his　whisky　and　soda；　〃but　putting
two　and　two　together；　I　should　rather　come　to　the　conclusion　that　he
was　a　person　of　some　political　importance。〃

〃Not　a　criminal　at　all？〃

〃Not　as　I　know　of；〃　the　inspector　assented。
〃That　isn't　the　way　I　read　the　enquiries　at　all。〃

〃You　relieve　me；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared。　　〃Now　what　about　his
possessions？〃

〃There's　a　man　coming　down　shortly　from　Scotland　Yard；〃　the
inspector　announced；　a　little　gloomily。　　〃My　orders　were　to　touch
nothing；　but　to　locate　him。〃

〃Well；　you've　succeeded　so　far；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked。　　〃Here　he
is；　and　here　I　think　he　will　stay　until　some　days　after　your　friend
from　Scotland　Yard　can　get　here。〃

〃It　does　seem　so；　indeed；〃　the　inspector　agreed。　　〃To　me　he　looks
terrible　ill。　　But　there's　one　thing　sure；　he's　having　all　the　care
and　attention　that's　possible。　　And　now；　sir；　I'll　not　intrude
further　upon　your　time。　　I'll　just　make　my　report；　and　you'll
probably　have　a　visit　from　the　Scotland　Yard　man　sometime　within
the　next　few　days。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　escorted　the　inspector　to　his　dog…cart；　shook　hands
with　him；　and　watched　him　drive　off。　　Only　Mrs。　Seymour　Fentolin
remained　upon　the　terrace。　　He　glided　over　to　her　side。

〃My　dear　florence；〃　he　asked；　〃where　are　the　others？〃

〃Mr。　Hamel　and　Esther　have　gone　for　a　walk；〃　she　answered。　　〃Gerald
has　disappeared　somewhere。　　Has　anything　…　is　everything　all　right？〃

〃Naturally；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied　easily。　　〃All　that　the　inspector
desired　was　to　see　Mr。　Dunster。　　He　has　seen　him。　　The　poor　fellow
was　unfortunately　unconscious；　but　our　friend　will　at　least　be　able
to　report　that　he　was　in　good　hands　and　well　cared　for。〃

〃Unconscious；〃　Mrs。　　Fentolin　repeated。　　〃I　thought　that　he　was
better。〃

〃One　is　always　subject　to　those　slight　relapses　in　an　affair　of
concussion；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　explained。

Mrs。　Fentolin　laid　down　her　work　and　leaned　a　little　towards　her
brother…in…law。　　Her　hand　rested　upon　his。　　Her　voice　had　fallen
to　a　whisper。

〃Miles；〃　she　said；　〃forgive　me；　but　are　you　sure　that　you　are　not
getting　a　little　out　of　your　depth？　　Remember　that　there　are　some
risks　which　are　not　worth　while。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　he　answered。　　〃And　there　are　some　risks；　my　dear
Florence；　which　are　worth　every　drop　of　blood　in　a　man's　body；　and
every　breath　of　life。　　The　peace　of　Europe　turns　upon　that　man
up…stairs。　　It　is　worth　taking　a　little　risk　for；　worth　a　little
danger。　　I　have　made　my　plans；　and　I　mean　to　carry　them　through。
Tell　me；　when　I　was　up…stairs；　this　fellow　Hamel　…　was　he　talking
confidentially　to　Gerald？〃

〃Not　particularly。〃

〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　trust　him；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued。　　〃He　had
a　telegram　yesterday　from　a　man　in　the　Foreign　Office；　a　telegram
which　I　did　not　see。　　He　took　the　trouble　to　walk　three　miles　to
send　the　reply　to　it　from　another　office。〃

〃But　after　all；〃　Mrs。　Fentolinprotested；　〃you　know　who　he　is。　　You
know　that　he　is　Peter　Hamel's　son。　　He　had　a　definite　purpose　in
coming　here。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。

〃Quite　true；〃　he　admitted。　　〃But　for　that；　Mr。　Hamel　would　have
found　a　little　trouble　before　now。　　As　it　is；　he　must　be　watched。
If　any　one　comes　between　me　and　the　things　for　which　I　am　scheming
to…day；　they　will　risk　death。〃

Mrs。　Fentolin　sighed。　　She　was　watching　the　figures　of　Esther　and
Hamel　far　away　in　the　distance；　picking　their　way　across　the　last
strip　of　marshland　which　lay　between　them　and　the　sea。

〃Miles；〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃　you　take　advice　from　no　one。　　You
will　go　your　own　way；　I　know。　　And　yet；　it　seems　to　me　that　life
holds　so　many　compensations　for　you　without　your　taking　these
terrible　risks。　　I　am　not　thinking　of　any　one　else。　　I　am　not
pleading　to　you　for　the　sake　of　any　one　else。　　I　am　thinking
only　of　yourself。　　I　have　had　a　sort　of　feeling　ever　since　this
man　was　brought　into　the　house；　that　trouble　would　come　of　it。　　To
me　the　trouble　seems　to　be　gathering　even　now。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　laughed　softly；　a　little　contemptuously。

〃Presentiments；〃　he　scoffed；　〃are　the　excuses　of　cowards。　　Don't　be
afraid；　Florence。　　Remember　always　that　I　look　ahead。　　Do　you　think
that　I　could　stay　here　contented　with　what　you　call　my　compensations
…　my　art；　the　study　of　beautiful　things；　the　calm　epicureanism　of
the　sedate　and　simple　life？　　You　know　very　well　that　I　could　not　do
that。　　The　craving　for　other　things　is　in　my　heart　and　blood。　　The
excitement　which　I　cannot　have　in　one　way；　I　must　find　in　another；
and　I　think　that　before　many　nights　have　passed；　I　shall　lie　on　my
pillow　and　hear　the　guns　roar；　hear　the　footsteps　of　the　great
armies　of　the　world　moving　into　battle。　　It　is　for　that　I　live；
Florence。〃

She　took　up　her　knitting　again。　　Her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the
sky…line。　　Twice　she　opened　her　lips；　but　twice　no　words　came。

〃You　understand？〃　he　whispered。　　〃You　begin　to　understand；　don't
you？〃

She　looked　at　him　only　for　a　moment　and　back　at　her　work。

〃I　suppose　so；〃　she　sighed。




CHAPTER　XX

In　the　middle　of　that　night　Hamel　sat　up　in　bed；　awakened　with　a
sudden　start　by　some　sound；　only　the　faintest　echo　of　which　remained
in　his　consciousness。　　　His　nerves　were　tingling　with　a　sense　of
excitement。　　He　sat　up　in　bed　and　listened。　　Suddenly　it　came　again
…　a　long；　low　moan　of　pain；　stifled　at　the　end　as　though　repressed
by　some　outside　agency。　　He　leaped　from　his　bed；　hurried　on　a　few
clothes；　and　stepped　out　on　to　the　landing。　　The　cry　had　seemed
to　him　to　come　from　the　further　end　of　the　long　corridor　…　in　the
direction；　indeed；　of　the　room　where　Mr。　Dunster　lay。　　He　made　his
way　there；　walking　on　tiptoe；　although　his　feet　fell　noiselessly
upon　the　thick　carpet。　　A　single　light　was　burning　from　a　bracket
in　the　wall；　insufficient　to　illuminate　the　empty　spaces；　but　enough
to　keep　him　from　stumbling。　　The　corridor　towards　the　south　end
gradually　widened；　terminating　in　a　splendid　high　window　with
stained　glass；　a　broad　seat；　and　a　table。　　On　the　right；　the　end
room　was　Mr。　Dunster's　apartment；　and　on　the　left　a　flight　of
stairs　led　to　the　floor　above。　　Hamel　stood　quite　still；　listening。
There　was　a　light　in　the　room；　as　he　could　see　from　under　the　door；
but　there　was　no　sound　of　any　one　moving。　　Hamel　listened　intently；
every　sense　strained。　　Then　the　sound　of　a　stair　creaking　behind
diverted　his　attention。　　He　looked　quickly　around。　　Gerald　was
descending。　　The　boy's　face　was　white；　and　his　eyes　were　filled
with　fear。　　Hamel　stepped　softly　back　from　the　door　and　met　him　at
the　foot　of　the　stairs。

〃Did　you　hear　that　cry？〃　he　whispered。

Gerald　nodded。

〃It　woke　me　up。　　What　do　you　suppose　it　was？〃　　Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃Some　one　in　pain；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　don't　understand　it。　　It　came
from　this　room。〃

〃You　know　who　sleeps　there？〃　Gerald　asked　hoarsely。

Hamel　nodded。

〃A　man　with　concussion　of　the　brain　doesn't　cry　out　like　that。
Besides；　did　you　hear　the　end　of　it？　　　It　sounded　as　though　some　one
were　choking　him。　　Hush！〃

They　had　spoken　only　in　bated　breath；　but　the　door　of　the　room
before　which　they　were　standing　was　suddenly　opened。　　Meekins　stood
there；　fully　dressed；　his　dark；　heavy　face　full　of　somber　warning。
He　s