the vanished messenger-第25章

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there；　fully　dressed；　his　dark；　heavy　face　full　of　somber　warning。
He　started　a　little　as　he　saw　the　two　whispering　together。　　Gerald
addressed　him　almost　apologetically。　

〃We　both　heard　the　same　sound；　Meekins。　　Is　any　one　ill？　　　It　sounded
like　some　one　in　pain。〃

The　man　hesitated。　　Then　from　behind　his　shoulder　came　Mr。
Fentolin's　still；　soft　voice。　　There　was　a　little　click；　and　Meekins；
as　though　obeying　an　unseen　gesture；　stepped　back。　　Mr。　Fentolin
glided　on　to　the　threshold。　　He　was　still　dressed。　　He　propelled　his
chair　a　few　yards　down　the　corridor　and　beckoned　them　to　approach。

〃I　am　so　sorry；〃　he　said　softly；　〃that　you　should　have　been
disturbed；　Mr。　Hamel。　　We　have　been　a　little　anxious　about　our
mysterious　guest。　　Doctor　Sarson　fetched　me　an　hour　ago。　　He
discovered　that　it　was　necessary　to　perform　a　very　slight　operation；
merely　the　extraction　of　a　splinter　of　wood。　　It　is　all　over　now；
and　I　think　that　he　will　do　very　well。〃

Notwithstanding　this　very　plausible　explanation；　Hamel　was　conscious
of　the　remains　of　an　uneasiness　which　he　scarcely　knew　how　to　put
into　words。

〃It　was　a　most　distressing　cry；〃　he　observed　doubtfully；　〃a　cry　of
fear　as　well　as　of　pain。〃

〃Poor　fellow！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked　compassionately。　　〃I　am　afraid
that　for　a　moment　or　two　he　must　have　suffered　acutely。　　Doctor
Sarson　is　very　clever；　however；　and　there　is　no　doubt　that　what
he　did　was　for　the　best。　　His　opinion　is　that　by　to…morrow　morning
there　will　be　a　marvellous　change。　　Good　night；　Mr。　Hamel。　　I　am
quite　sure　that　you　will　not　be　disturbed　again。〃

Hamel　neither　felt　nor　showed　any　disposition　to　depart。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　that　you　will　not　think　that　I　am
officious　or　in　any　way　abusing　your　hospitality；　but　I　cannot　help
suggesting　that　as　Dr。　Sarson　is　purely　your　household　physician；
the　relatives　of　this　man　Dunster　might　be　better　satisfied　if　some
second　opinion　were　called　in。　　Might　I　suggest　that　you　telephone
to　Norwich　for　a　surgeon？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　showed　no　signs　of　displeasure。　　He　was　silent　for　a
moment；　as　though　considering　the　matter。

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure；　Mr。　Hamel；　that　you　are　not　right；〃　he
admitted　frankly。　　〃I　believe　that　the　case　is　quite　a　simple　one；
but　on　the　other　hand　it　would　perhaps　be　more　satisfactory　to　have
an　outside　opinion。　　If　Mr。　Dunster　is　not　conscious　in　the　morning；
we　will　telephone　to　the　Norwich　Infirmary。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　advisable；〃　Hamel　agreed。

〃Good　night！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　once　more。　　I　am　sorry　that　your　
rest　has　been　disturbed。〃

Hamel；　however；　still　refused　to　take　the　hint。　　His　eyes　were　fixed
upon　that　closed　door。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　asked；　〃have　you　any　objection　to　my　seeing　Mr。
Dunster？〃

There　was　a　moment's　intense　silence。　　A　sudden　light　had　burned　in
Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes。　　His　fingers　gripped　the　side　of　his　chair。
Yet　when　he　spoke　there　were　no　signs　of　anger　in　his　tone。　　It　was
a　marvellous　effort　of　self…control。

〃There　is　no　reason；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said；　〃why　your　curiosity　should
not　be　gratified。　　Knock　softly　at　the　door；　Gerald。〃

The　boy　obeyed。　　In　a　moment　or　two　Doctor　Sarson　appeared　on　the
threshold。

〃Our　guest；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　explained　in　a　whisper；　〃has
been　awakened　by　this　poor　fellow's　cry。　　He　would　like　to　see　him
for　a　moment。〃

Doctor　Sarson　opened　the　door。　　They　all　passed　in　on　tiptoe。　　The
doctor　led　the　way　towards　the　bed　upon　which　Mr。　Dunster　was　lying；
quite　still。　　His　head　was　bandaged；　and　his　eyes　closed。　　His　face
was　ghastly。　　Gerald　gave　vent　to　a　little　muttered　exclamation。
Mr。　Fentolin　turned　to　him。　quickly。

〃Gerald！〃

The　boy　stood　still；　trembling；　speechless。　　Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes
were　riveted　upon　him。　　The　doctor　was　standing；　still　and　dark；　a
motionless　image。

〃Is　he　asleep？〃　Hamel　asked。

〃He　is　under　the　influence　of　a　mild　anaesthetic；〃　Doctor　Sarson
explained。　　〃He　is　doing　very　well。　　His　case　is　quite　simple。　　By
to…morrow　morning　he　will　be　able　to　sit　up　and　walk　about　if　he
wishes　to。〃

Hamel　looked　steadily　at　the　figure　upon　the　bed。　　Mr。　Dunster's
breathing　was　regular；　and　his　eyes　were　closed；　but　his　colour　was
ghastly。

〃He　doesn't　look　like　getting　up　for　a　good　many　days　to　come；〃
Hamel　observed。

The　doctor　led　the　way　towards　the　door。

〃The　man　has　a　fine　constitution；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　sure　that　if
you　wish　you　will　be　able　to　talk　to　him　to…morrow。〃

They　separated　outside　in　the　passage。　　Mr。　Fentolin　bade　his　guest
a　somewhat　restrained　good　night；　and　Gerald　mounted　the　staircase
to　his　room。　　Hamel；　however；　had　scarcely　reached　his　door　before
Gerald　reappeared。　　He　had　descended　the　stair…case　at　the　other
end　of　the　corridor。　　He　stood　for　a　moment　looking　down　the　passage。
The　doors　were　all　closed。　　Even　the　light　had　been　extinguished。

〃May　I　come　in　for　a　moment；　please？〃　he　whispered。

Hamel　nodded。

〃With　pleasure！　　Come　in　and　have　a　cigarette　if　you　will。　　I　shan't
feel　like　sleep　for　some　time。〃

They　entered　the　room；　and　Gerald　threw　himself　into　an　easy…chair
near　the　window。　　Hamel　wheeled　up　another　chair　and　produced　a　box
of　cigarettes。

〃Queer　thing　your　dropping　across　that　fellow　in　the　way　you　did；〃
he　remarked。　　〃Just　shows　how　one　may　disappear　from　the　world
altogether；　and　no　one　be　a　bit　the　wiser。〃

The　boy　was　sitting　with　folded　arms。　　His　expression　was　one　of
deep　gloom。

〃I　only　wish　I'd　never　brought　him　here；〃　he　muttered。　　〃I　ought
to　have　known　better。〃

Hamel　raised　his　eyebrows。　　〃Isn't　he　as　well　off　here　as　anywhere
else？〃

〃Do　you　think　that　he　is？〃　Gerald　demanded；　looking　across　at　Hamel。

There　was　a　brief　silence。

〃We　can　scarcely　do　your　uncle　the　injustice；〃　Hamel　remarked；　〃of
imagining　that　he　can　possibly　have　any　reason　or　any　desire　to　deal
with　that　man　except　as　a　guest。〃

〃Do　you　really　believe　that？〃　Gerald　asked。

Hamel　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Look　here；　young　man；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　getting　serious。　　You　and
I　are　at　cross…purposes。　　If　you　like；　you　shall　have　the　truth
from　me。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃I　was　warned　about　your　uncle　before　I　came　down　into　this　part　of
the　world；〃　Hamel　continued　quietly。　　〃I　was　told　that　he　is　a
dangerous　conspirator；　a　man　who　sticks　at　nothing　to　gain　his　ends；
a　person　altogether　out　of　place　in　these　days。　　It　sounds
melodramatic；　but　I　had　it　straight　from　a　friend。　　Since　I　have
been　here；　I　have　had　a　telegram　…　you　brought　it　to　me　yourself
…　asking　for　information　about　this　man　Dunster。　　It　was　I　who　wired
to　London　that　he　was　here。　　It　was　through　me　that　Scotland　Yard
communicated　with　the　police　station　at　Wells；　through　me　that　a
man　is　to　be　sent　down　from　London。　　I　didn't　come　here　as　a　spy
…　don't　think　that；　I　was　coming　here；　anyhow。　　On　the　other　hand；
I　believe　that　your　uncle　is　playing　a　dangerous　game。　　I　am　going
to　have　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　put　in　charge　of　a　Norwich　physician
to…morrow。〃

〃Thank　God！〃　the　boy　murmured。

〃Look　here；〃　Hamel　continued；　〃what　are　you　doing　in　this　business；
anyway？　　You　are　old　enough　to　know　your　own　mind　and　to　go　your
own　way。〃

〃You　say　that　because　you　don't　know；〃　Gerald　declared　bitterly。

〃In　a　sense　I　don't；〃　Hamel　admitted；　〃and　yet　your　sister　hinted
to　me　only　this　afternoon　that　you　and　she　…〃

〃Oh；　I　know　what　she　told　you！〃　the　boy　interrupted。　　〃We've　worn
the　chains　for　the　last　eight　years。　　They　are　breaking　her。
They've　broken　my　mother。　　Sometimes　I　think　they　are　breaking　me。
But；　you　know；　there　comes　a　time　…　there　comes　a　time　when　one
can't　go　on。　　I've　seen　some　strange　things　here；　some　that　I've
half　understood；　some　that　I　haven't　understood　at　all。　　I've　closed
my　eyes。　　I've　kept　my　promise。　　I've　done　his　bidding；　where　ever
it　has　led　me。　　But　you　know　there　is　a　time　…　there　is　a　limit　to
all　things。　　I　can't　go　on。　　I　spied　on　this　man　Dunster。　　I　brought
him　here。　　It　is　I　who　am　responsible　for　anything　that　may　happen　to
him。　　It's　the　last　time！〃

Gerald's　face　was　white　with　pain。　　Hamel　laid　his　hand　upon　his
shoulder。

〃My　boy；〃　he　said；　〃there　are　worse　things　in　the　world　than
breaking　a　promise。　　When　you　gave　it；　the　conditions　which　were
existing　at　the　time　made　it；　perhaps；　a　right　and　reasonable
undertaking；　but　sometimes　the　whole　of　the　conditions　under　which
a　promise　was　given；　change。　　Then　one　must　have　courage　enough　to
be　false　even　to　one's　word。〃

〃Have　you　talked　to　my　sister　like　that？〃　Gerald　asked　eagerly。

〃I　have　and　I　will　again；〃　Hamel　declared。　　〃To…morrow　morning　I
leave　this　house；　but　before　I　go　I　mean　to　have　the　affair　of　this
man　Dunster　cleared　up。　　Your　uncle　will　be　very　angry　with　me；
without　a　doubt。　　I　don't　care。　　But　I　do　want　you　to　trust　me；　if
you　will；　and　your　sister。　　I　should　like　to　be　your　friend。〃

〃God　knows　we　need　one！〃　the　boy　said　simply。　　〃Good　night！〃

Once　more　the　house　was　quiet。　　Hamel　pushed　his　window　wide　open
and　looked　out　into　the　night。　　The　air　was　absolutely　still；　there
was　no　wind。　　The　only　sound　was　the　falling　of　the　low　waves　upon
the　stony　beach　and　the　faint　scrunching　of　the　pebbles　drawn　back
by　the　ebb。　　He　looked　along　the　row　of　windows；　all　dark　and　silent
now。　　A　rush　of　pleasant　fancies　suddenly　chased　away　the　grim
depression　of　the　last　few　minutes。　　Out　of　all　this　sordidness　and
mystery　there　remained　at　least　something　in　life　for　him　to　do。　　A
certain　aimlessnessn　of　purpose　which　had　troubled　him　during　the
last　few　months　had　disappeared。　　He　had　found　an　object　in　life。




CHAPTER　XXI

〃To…day；〃　Hamel　declared；　as　he　stood　at　the　sideboard　the　following
morning　at　breakfast…time　and　helped　himself　to　bacon　and　eggs；　〃I
am　positively　going　to　begin　reading。　　I　have　a　case　full　of　books
down　at　the　Tower　which　I　haven't　unpacked　yet。〃

Esther　made　a　little　grimace。

〃Look　at　the　sunshine；〃　she　said。　　〃There　isn't　a　breath　of　wind；
either。　　I　think　to…day　that　I　could　play　from　the　men's　tees。〃

Hamel　sighed　as　he　returned　to　his　place。

〃My　good　intentions　are　already　half　dissipated；〃　he　admitted。

She　laughed。

〃How　can　we　attack　the　other　half？〃　she　asked。

Gerald；　who　was　also　on　his　way　to　the　sideboard；　suddenly　stopped。

〃Hullo！〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　out　of　the　window。　　〃Who's　going
away　this　morning；　I　wonder？　　　There's　the　Rolls…Royce　at　the　door。〃

Hamel；　too；　rose　once　more　to　his　feet。　　The　two　exchanged　swift
glances。　　Moved　by　a　common　thought；　they　both　started　for　the　door；
only　to　find　it　suddenly　opened　before　them。　　Mr。　Fentolin　glided
into　the　room。

〃Uncle！〃　Gerald　exclaimed。

Mr。　Fentolin　glanced　keenly　around　the　room。

〃Good　morning；　everybody；〃　he　said。　　〃My　appearance　at　this　hour　of
the　morning　naturally　surprises　you。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　have
been　up　for　quite　a　long　time。　　Esther　dear；　give　me　some　coffee；
will　you；　and　be　sure　that　it　is　hot。　　If　any　of　you　want　to　say
good…by　to　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster；　you'd　better　hurry　out。〃

〃You　mean　that　he　is　going？〃　Hamel　asked　incredulously。

〃He　is　going；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　admitted。　　〃I　wash　my　hands　of　the　man。
He　has　given　us　an　infinite　am