the vanished messenger-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃He　is　going；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　admitted。　　〃I　wash　my　hands　of　the　man。
He　has　given　us　an　infinite　amount　of　trouble；　has　monopolised
Doctor　Sarson　when　he　ought　to　have　been　attending　upon　me　…　a
little　more　hot　milk；　if　you　please；　Esther　…　and　now；　although　he
really　is　not　fit　to　leave　his　room；　he　insists　upon　hurrying　off
to　keep　an　appointment　somewhere　on　the　Continent。　　The　little
operation　we　spoke　of　last　night　was　successful；　as　Doctor　Sarson
prophesied；　and　Mr。　Dunster　was　quite　conscious　and　able　to　sit　up
early　this　morning。　　We　telephoned　at　six　o'clock　to　Norwich　for　a
surgeon；　who　is　now　on　his　way　over　here；　but　he　will　not　wait　even
to　see　him。　　What　can　you　do　with　a　man　so　obstinate！〃

Neither　Hamel　nor　Gerald　had　resumed　their　places。　　The　former；
after　a　moment's　hesitation；　turned　towards　the　door。

〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　should　like　to　see　the　last　of　Mr。
Dunster。〃

〃Pray　do；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　begged。　　〃I　have　said　good…by　to　him　myself；
and　all　that　I　hope　is　that　next　time　you　offer　a　wayfarer　the
hospitality　of　St。　David's　Hall；　Gerald；　he　may　be　a　more　tractable
person。　　This　morning　I　shall　give　myself　a　treat。　　I　shall　eat　an
old…fashioned　English　breakfast。　　Close　the　door　after　you；　if　you
please；　Gerald。〃

Hamel；　with　Gerald　by　his　side；　hurried　out　into　the　hall。　　Just
as　they　crossed　the　threshold　they　saw　Mr。　Dunster；　wrapped　from
head　to　foot　in　his　long　ulster；　a　soft　hat　upon　his　head　and　one
of　Mr。　Fentolin's　cigars　in　his　mouth；　step　from　the　bottom
stair　into　the　hall　and　make　his　way　with　somewhat　uncertain
footsteps　towards　the　front　door。　　Doctor　Sarson　walked　on　one
side；　and　Meekins　held　him　by　the　arm。　　He　glanced　towards　Gerald
and　his　companion　and　waved　the　hand　which　held　his　cigar。

〃So　long；　my　young　friend！〃　he　exclaimed。　　You　see；　I've　got　them
to　let　me　make　a　start。　　Next　time　we　go　about　the　country　in　a
saloon　car　together；　I　hope　we'll　have　better　luck。　　Say；　but　I'm
groggy　about　the　knees！〃

〃You'd　better　save　your　breath；〃　Doctor　Sarson　advised　him　grimly。
〃You　haven't　any　to　spare　now；　and　you'll　want　more　than　you　have
before　you　get　to　the　end　of　your　journey。　　Carefully　down　the
steps；　mind。〃

They　helped　him　into　the　car。　　Hamel　and　Gerald　stood　under　the
great　stone　portico；　watching。

〃Well；　I'm　jiggered！〃　the　boy　exclaimed；　under　his　breath。

Hamel　was　watching　the　proceedings　with　a　puzzled　frown。　　To　his
surprise；　neither　Doctor　Sarson　nor　Meekins　were　accompanying　the
departing　man。

〃He's　off；　right　enough；〃　Hamel　declared；　as　the　car　glided　away。
〃Do　you　understand　it？　　I　don't。〃

Gerald　did　not　speak　for　several　moments。　　His　eyes　were　still　fixed
upon　the　back　of　the　disappearing　car。　　Then　he　turned　towards　Hamel。

〃There　isn't　much；〃　he　said　softly；　〃that　Mr。　Fentolin　doesn't　know。
If　that　detective　was　really　on　his　way　here；　there　wasn't　any
chance　of　keeping　Mr。　Dunster　to　himself。　　You　see；　the　whole　story
is　common　property。　　And　yet；　there's　something　about　the　affair
that　bothers　me。〃

〃And　me；〃　Hamel　admitted；　watching　the　car　until　it　became　a　speck
in　the　distance。

〃He　was　fairly　well　cornered；〃　Gerald　concluded；　as　they　made　their
way　back　to　the　dining…room；　〃but　it　isn't　like　him　to　let　go　of
anything　so　easily。〃

〃So　you've　seen　the　last　of　our　guest；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked；　as　
amel　and　Gerald　re…entered　the　dining…room。　　〃A　queer　fellow　…　almost
a　new　type　to　me。　　Dogged　and　industrious；　I　should　think。　　He　hadn't
the　least　right　to　travel；　you　know；　and　I　think　so　long　as　we　had
taken　the　trouble　to　telephone　to　Norwich；　he　might　have　waited　to
see　the　physician。　　Sarson　was　very　angry　about　it；　but　what　can　you
do　with　these　fellows　who　are　never　ill？　　They　scarcely　know　what
physical　disability　means。　　Well；　Mr。　Hamel；　and　how　are　you　goin
to　amuse　yourself　to…day？〃

〃I　had　thought　of　commencing　some　reading　I　brought　with　me；〃　Hamel
replied；　〃but　Miss　Esther　has　challenged　me　to　another　game　of　golf。〃

〃Excellent！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared。　　〃It　is　very　kind　of　you　indeed；
Mr。　Hamel。　　It　is　always　a　matter　of　regret　for　me　that　society　in
these　parts　is　so　restricted。　　My　nephew　and　niece　have　little
opportunity　for　enjoying　themselves。　　Play　golf　with　Mr。　Hamel；　by
all　means；　my　dear　child；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　his　niece。　　〃Make
the　most　of　this　glorious　spring　weather。　　And　what　about　you；　Gerald？
What　are　you　doing　to…day？〃

〃I　haven't　made　up　my　mind　yet；　sir；〃　the　boy　replied。

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃Always　that　lack　of　initiative；〃　he　remarked。　　〃A　lack　of　initiative
is　one　of　your　worst　faults；　I　am　afraid；　dear　Gerald。〃

The　boy　looked　up　quickly。　　For　a　moment　it　seemed　as　though　he　were
about　to　make　a　fierce　reply。　　He　met　Mr。　Fentolin's　steady　gaze；
however；　and　the　words　died　away　upon　his　lips。

〃I　rather　thought；〃　he　said；　〃of　going　into　Norwich；　if　you　could
spare　me。　　Captain　Holt　has　asked　me　to　lunch　at　the　Barracks。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　gently。

〃It　is　most　unfortunate；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　have　a　commission　for
you　later　in　the　day。〃

Gerald　continued　his　breakfast　in　silence。　　He　bent　over　his　plate
so　that　his　face　was　almost　invisible。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　peeling　a
peach。　　A　servant　entered　the　room。

〃Lieutenant　Godfrey；　sir；〃　he　announced。

They　all　looked　up。　　A　trim；　clean…shaven；　hard…featured　young　man
in　naval　uniform　was　standing　upon　the　threshold。　　He　bowed　to
Esther。

〃Very　sorry　to　intrude；　sir；　at　this　hour　of　the　morning；〃　he　said
briskly。　　〃Lieutenant　Godfrey；　my　name。　　I　am　flag　lieutenant　of
the　Britannia。　　You　can't　see　her；　but　she's　not　fifty　miles　off　at
this　minute。　　I　landed　at　Sheringham　this　morning；　hired　a　car　and
made　the　best　of　my　way　here。　　Message　from　the　Admiral；　sir。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　genially。

〃We　are　delighted　to　see　you；　Lieutenant　Godfrey；〃　he　said。　　〃Have
some　breakfast。〃

〃You　are　very　good；　sir；〃　the　officer　answered。　　〃Business　first。
I'll　breakfast　afterwards；　with　pleasure；　if　I　may。　　The　Admiral's
compliments；　and　he　would　take　it　as　a　favour　if　you　would　haul
down　your　wireless　for　a　few　days。〃

〃Had　down　my　wireless；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated　slowly。

〃We　are　doing　a　lot　of　manoeuvring　within　range　of　you；　and　likely
to　do　a　bit　more；〃　the　young　man　explained。　　〃You　are　catching　up
our　messages　all　the　time。　　Of　course；　we　know　they're　quite　safe
with　you；　but　things　get　about。　　As　yours　is　only　a　private
installation；　we'd　like　you；　if　you　don't　mind；　sir；　to　shut　up
shop　for　a　few　days。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　seemed　puzzled。

〃But；　my　dear　sir；〃　he　protested；　〃we　are　not　at　war；　are　we？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　the　young　officer　replied；　〃but　God　knows　when　we　shall
be！　　We　are　under　sealed　or　ders；　anyway；　and　we　don't　want　any
risk　of　our　plans　leaking　out。　　That's　why　we　want　your　wireless
disconnected。〃　

〃You　need　say　no　more；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　assured　him。　　〃The　matter　is
already　arranged。　　Esther；　let　me　present　Lieutenant　Godfrey　…　my
niece；　Miss　Fentolin；　Mr。　Gerald　Fentolin；　my　nephew；　Mr。　Hamel；　a
guest。　　See　that　Lieutenant　Godfrey　has　some　breakfast；　Gerald。　　I
will　go　myself　and　see　my　Marconi　operator。〃

〃Awfully　good　of　you；　sir；〃　the　young　man　declared；　〃and　I　am　sure
we　are　very　sorry　to　trouble　you。　　In　a　week　or　two's　time　you　can
go　into　business　again　as　much　as　you　like。　　It's　only　while　we
are　fiddling　around　here　that　the　Admiral's　jumpy　about　things。
May　my　man　have　a　cup　of　coffee；　sir？　　I'd　like　to　be　on　the　way
back　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　halted　his　chair　by　the　side　of　the　bell；　and　rang　it。

〃Pray　make　use　of　my　house　as　your　own；　sir；〃　he　said　gravely。
〃From　what　you　leave　unsaid；　I　gather　that　things　are　more　serious
than　the　papers　would　have　us　believe。　　Under　those　circumstances；
I　need　not　assure　you　that　any　help　we　can　render　is　entirely　yours。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　left　the　room。　　Lieutenant　Godfrey　was　already
attacking　his　breakfast。　　Gerald　leaned　towards　him　eagerly。

〃Is　there　really　going　to　be　war？〃　he　demanded。

〃Ask　those　chaps　at　The　Hague；〃　Lieutenant　Godfrey　answered。
〃Doing　their　best　to　freeze　us　out；　or　something。　　All　I　know　is；
if　there's　going　to　be　fighting；　we　are　ready　for　them。　　By…the…by；
what　have　you　got　wireless　telegraphy　for　here；　anyway？〃

〃It's　a　fad　of　my　uncle's；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃Since　his　accident　he
amuses　himself　in　all　sorts　of　queer　ways。〃

Lieutenant　Godfrey　nodded。

〃Poor　fellow！〃　he　said。　　〃I　heard　he　was　a　cripple；　or　something
of　the　sort。　　Forgive　my　asking；　but　…　you　people　are　English；
aren't　you？〃

〃Rather！〃　Gerald　answered。　　〃The　Fentolins　have　lived　here　for
hundreds　of　years。　　Why　do　you　ask　that？〃

Lieutenant　Godfrey　hesitated。　　He　looked；　for　the　moment；　scarcely
at　his　ease。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　he　replied。　　〃The　old　man　was　very　anxious　I
should　find　out。　　You　see；　a　lot　of　information　seems　to　have　got
over　on　the　other　side；　and　we　couldn't　think　where　it　had　leaked
out；　except　through　your　wireless。　　However；　that　isn't　likely；　of
course；　unless　you've　got　one　of　these　beastly　Germans　in　your
receiving…room。　　Now　if　I　can　borrow　a　cigarette；　a　cigar；　or　a
pipe　of　tobacco　…　any　mortal　thing　to　smoke　…　I'll　be　off；　if　I　may。
The　old　man　turned　me　out　at　an　unearthly　hour　this　morning；　and　in
Sheringham　all　the　shops　were　closed。　　Steady　on；　young　fellow；〃　he
laughed；　as　Gerald　filled　his　pockets　with　cigarettes。　　〃Well；　here's
good　morning　to　you；　Miss　Fentolin。　　Good　morning；　sir。　　How　long
ought　it　to　take　me　to　get　to　Sheringham？〃

〃About　forty　minutes；〃　Gerald　told　him；　〃if　your　car's　any　good　at
all。〃

〃It　isn't　much；〃　was　the　somewhat　dubious　reply。　　〃However；　we'll
shove　along。　　You　in　the　Service？〃　he　enquired；　as　they　walked　down
the　hall　together。

〃Hope　I　shall　be　before　long；〃　Gerald　answered。　　I'm　going　into　the
army；　though。〃

〃Have　to　hurry　up；　won't　you？〃

Gerald　sighed。

〃It's　a　little　difficult　for　me。　　Here's　your　car。　Good　luck　to　you！〃

〃My　excuses　to　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　Lieutenant　Godfrey　shouted；　〃and　many
thanks。〃

He　jumped　into　the　automobile　and　was　soon　on　his　way　back。　　Gerald
watched　him　until　he　was　nearly　out　of　sight。　　On　the　knoll；　two　of
the　wireless　operators　were　already　at　work。　　Mr。　Fentolin　sat　in
his　chair　below；　watching。　　The　blue　sparks　were　flashing。　　A　message
was　just　being　delivered。　　Presently　Mr。　Fentolin　turned　his　chair；
and　with　Meekins　by　his　side；　made　his　way　back　to　the　house。　　He
passed　along　the　ball　and　into　his　study。　　Gerald；　who　was　on　his
way　to　the　dining…room；　heard　the　ring　of　the　telephone　bell　and　the
call　for　the　trunk　special　line。　　He　hesitated　for　a　moment。　　Then
he　made　his　way　slowly　down　towards　the　study　and　stood　outside　the
door；　listening。　　In　a　moment　he　heard　Mr。　Fentolin's　clear　voice；
very　low　yet　very　penetrating。

〃The　Mediterranean　Fleet　will　be　forty…seven　hours　before　it　comes
together；〃　was　the　message　he　heard。　　〃The　Channel　Fleet　will
manoeuvre　off　Sheerness；　waiting　for　it。　　The　North　Sea　Fleet　is
seventeen　units　under　nominal　strength。〃

Gerald　turned　the　handle　of　the　door　slowly　and　entered。　　Mr。
Fentolin　was　just　replacing　the　receiver　on　its　sta