the vanished messenger-第27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！



Gerald　turned　the　handle　of　the　door　slowly　and　entered。　　Mr。
Fentolin　was　just　replacing　the　receiver　on　its　stand。　　He　looked
up　at　his　nephew；　and　his　eyebrows　came　together。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　this？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Don't　you　know　that　I
allow　no　one　in　here　when　I　am　telephoning　on　the　private　wire？〃

Gerald　closed　the　door　behind　him　and　summoned　up　all　his　courage。

〃It　is　because　I　have　heard　what　you　were　saying　over　the　telephone
that　I　am　here；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　want　to　know　to　whom　you　were
sending　that　message　which　you　have　intercepted　outside。〃




CHAPTER　XXII

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　for　a　moment　in　his　chair　with　immovable　face。
Then　he　pointed　to　the　door；　which　Gerald　had　left　open　behind　him。

〃Close　that　door；　Gerald。〃

The　boy　obeyed。　　Mr。　Fentolin　waited　until　he　had　turned　around
again。

〃Come　and　stand　over　here　by　the　side　of　the　table；〃　he　directed。

Gerald　came　without　hesitation。　　He　stood　before　his　uncle　with
folded　arms。　　There　was　something　else　besides　sullenness　in　his
face　this　morning；　something　which　Mr。　Fentolin　was　quick　to
recognise。

〃I　do　not　quite　understand　the　nature　of　your　question；　Gerald；〃
Mr。　Fentolin　began。　　〃It　is　unlike　you。　　You　do　not　seem　yourself。
Is　there　anything　in　particular　the　matter？〃

〃Only　this；〃　Gerald　answered　firmly。　　〃I　don't　understand　why　this
naval　fellow　should　come　here　and　ask　you　to　close　up　your　wireless
because　secrets　have　been　leaking　out；　and　a　few　moments　afterwards
you　should　be　picking　up　a　message　and　telephoning　to　London
information　which　was　surely　meant　to　be　private。　　That's　all。
I've　come　to　ask　you　about　it。〃

〃You　heard　the　message；　then？〃

〃I　did。〃

〃You　listened　…　at　the　keyhole？〃

〃I　listened　outside；〃　Gerald　assented　doggedly。　　〃I　am　glad　I
listened。　　Do　you　mind　answering　my　question？

〃Do　I　mind！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated　softly。　　〃Really；　Gerald；　your
politeness；　your　consideration；　your　good　manners；　astound　me。　　I
am　positively　deprived　of　the　power　of　speech。〃

〃I'll　wait　here　till　it　comes　to　you　again；　then；〃　the　boy　declared
bluntly。　　〃I've　waited　on　you　hand　and　foot；　done　dirty　work　for
you；　put　up　with　your　ill…humours　and　your　tyranny；　and　never
grumbled。　　But　there　is　a　limit！　　You've　made　a　poor　sort　of
creature　of　me；　but　even　the　worm　turns；　you　know。　　When　it　comes
to　giving　away　secrets　about　the　movements　of　our　navy　at　a　time
when　we　are　almost　at　war；　I　strike。〃

〃Melodramatic；　almost　dramatic；　but；　alas！　　so　inaccurate；〃　Mr。
Fentolin　sighed。　　〃Is　this　a　fit　of　the　heroics；　boy；　or　what　has
come　over　you？　　Have　you　by　any　chance　…　forgotten？〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　voice　seemed　suddenly　to　have　grown　in　volume。　　His
eyes　dilated；　he　himself　seemed　to　have　grown　in　size。　　Gerald
stepped　a　little　back。　　He　was　trembling；　but　his　expression　had
not　changed。

〃No；　I　haven't　forgotten。　　There's　a　great　debt　we　are　doing　our
best　to　pay；　but　there's　such　a　thing　as　asking　top　much；　there's
such　a　thing　as　drawing　the　cords　to　snapping　point。　　I'm　speaking
for　Esther　and　mother　as　well　as　myself。　　We　have　been　your　slaves；
in　a　way　I　suppose　we　are　willing　to　go　on　being　your　slaves。　　It's
the　burden　that　Fate　has　placed　around　our　necks；　and　we'll　go
through　with　it。　　All　I　want　to　point　out　is　that　there　are　limits；
and　it　seems　to　me　that　we　are　up　against　them　now。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。　　He　had　the　air　of　a　man　who　wishes　to　be
reasonable。

〃You　are　very　young；　my　boy；〃　he　said；　〃very　young　indeed。　　Perhaps
that　is　my　fault　for　not　having　let　you　see　more　of　the　world。　　You
have　got　some　very　queer　ideas　into　your　head。　　A　little　too　much
novel　reading　lately；　eh？　　I　might　treat　you　differently。　　I　might
laugh　at　you　and　send　you　out　of　the　room。　　I　won't。　　I'll　tell　you
what　you　ask。　　I'll　explain　what　you　find　so　mysterious。　　The　person
to　whom　I　have　been　speaking　is　my　stockbroker。〃

〃Your　stockbroker！〃　Gerald　exclaimed。

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。

〃Mr。　　Bayliss；〃　he　continued；　〃of　the　firm　of　Bayliss；　Hundercombe
&　Dunn；　Throgmorton　Court。　　Mr。　　Bayliss　is　a　man　of　keen
perceptions。　　He　understands　exactly　the　effect　of　certain　classes
of　news　upon　the　market。　　The　message　which　I　have　just　sent　to　him
is　practically　common　property。　　It　will　be　in　the　Daily　Mail
to…morrow　morning。　　The　only　thing　is　that　I　have　sent　it　to　him
just　a　few　minutes　sooner　than　any　one　else　can　get　it。　　There　is　a
good　deal　of　value　in　that；　Gerald。　　I　do　not　mind　telling　you　that
I　have　made　a　large　fortune　through　studying　the　political　situation
and　securing　advance　information　upon　matters　of　this　sort。　　That
fortune　some　day　will　probably　be　yours。　　It　will　be　you　who　will
benefit。　　Meanwhile；　I　am　enriching　myself　and　doing　no　one　any　harm。〃

〃But　how　do　you　know；〃　Gerald　persisted；　〃that　this　message　would
ever　have　found　its　way　to　the　Press？　　It　was　simply　a　message　from
one　battleship　to　another。　　It　was　not　intended　to　be　picked　up　on
land。　　There　is　no　other　installation　but　ours　that　could　have　picked
it　up。　　Besides；　it　was　in　code。　　I　know　that　you　have　the　code；　but
the　others　haven't。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　yawned　slightly。

〃Ingenious；　my　dear　Gerald；　but　inaccurate。　　You　do　not　know　that
the　message　was　in　code；　and　in　any　case　it　was　liable　to　be　picked
up　by　any　steamer　within　the　circle。　　You　really　do　treat　me；　my　boy；
rather　as　though　I　were　a　weird；　mischief…making　person　with　a
talent　for　intrigue　and　crime　of　every　sort。　　Look　at　your　suspicions
last　night。　　I　believe　that　you　and　Mr。　Hamel　had　quite　made　up　your
minds　that　I　meant　evil　things　for　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster。　　Well；　I　had
my　chance。　　You　saw　him　depart。〃

〃What　about　his　papers？〃

〃I　will　admit；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied；　〃that　I　read　his　papers。　　They
were　of　no　great　consequence；　however；　and　he　has　taken　them　away
with　him。　　Mr。　Dunster。　　as　a　matter　of　fact；　turned　out　to　be
rather　a　mare's…nest。　　Now；　come；　since　you　are　here；　finish
everything　you　have　to　say　to　me。　　I　am　not　angry。　　I　am　willing　to
listen　quite　reasonably。〃

Gerald　shook　his　head。

〃Oh；　I　can't！〃　he　declared　bitterly。　　〃You　always　get　the　best　of　it。
I'll　only　ask　you　one　more　question。　　Are　you　having　the　wireless
hauled　down？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　pointed　out　of　the　window。　　Gerald　followed　his　finger。
Three　men　were　at　work　upon　the　towering　spars。

〃You　see；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued　tolerantly；　〃that　I　am　keeping　my
word　to　Lieutenant　Godfrey。　　You　are　suffering　from　a　little　too
much　imagination；　I　am　afraid。　　It　is　really　quite　a　good　fault。
By…the…by；　how　do　you　get　on　with　our　friend　Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃Very　well；〃　the　boy　replied。　　〃I　haven't　seen　much　of　him。〃

〃He　and　Esther　are　together　a　great　deal；　eh？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked
quickly。

〃They　seem　to　be　quite　friendly。〃

〃It　isn't　Mr。　Hamel；　by　any　chance；　who　has　been　putting　these
ideas　into　your　head？〃

〃No　one　has　been　putting　any　ideas　into　my　head；〃　Gerald　answered
hotly。　　〃It's　simply　what　I've　seen　and　overheard。　　It's　simply
what　I　feel　around；　the　whole　atmosphere　of　the　place；　the　whole
atmosphere　you　seem　to　create　around　you　with　these　brutes　Sarson
and　Meekins；　and　those　white…faced；　smooth…tongued　Marconi　men　of
yours；　who　can't　talk　decent　English；　and　the　post…office　man；　who
can't　look　you　in　the　face；　and　Miss　Price；　who　looks　as　though
she　were　one　of　the　creatures；　too；　of　your　torture　chamber。
That's　all。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　waited　until　he　had　finished。　　Then　be　waved　him　away。

〃Go　and　take　a　long　walk；　Gerald；〃　he　advised。　　〃Fresh　air　is　what
you　need；　fresh　air　and　a　little　vigorous　exercise。　　Run　along　now
and　send　Miss　Price　to　me。〃

Gerald　overtook　Hamel　upon　the　stairs。

〃By　this　time；〃　the　latter　remarked；　〃I　suppose　that　our　friend
Mr。　Dunster　is　upon　the　sea。〃

Gerald　nodded　silently。　　They　passed　along　the　corridor。　　The　door
of　the　room　which　Mr。　Dunster　had　occupied　was　ajar。　　As　though　by
common　consent；　they　both　stopped　and　looked　in。　　The　windows　were
all　wide　open；　the　bed　freshly　made。　　The　nurse　was　busy　collecting
some　medicine　bottles　and　fragments　of　lint。　　She　looked　at　them　in
surprise。

〃Mr。　Dunster　has　left；　sir；〃　she　told　them。

〃We　saw　him　go；〃　Gerald　replied。

〃Rather　a　quick　recovery；　wasn't　it；　nurse？〃　Hamel　asked。

〃It　wasn't　a　recovery　at　all；　sir；〃　the　woman　declared　sharply。
〃He'd　no　right　to　have　been　taken　away。　　It's　my　opinion　Doctor
Sarson　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　himself　to　have　permitted　it。〃

〃They　couldn't　exactly　make　a　prison　of　the　place；　could　they？〃
Hamel　pointed　out。　　〃The　man；　after　all；　was　only　a　guest。〃

〃That's　as　it　may　be；　sir；〃　the　nurse　replied。　　〃All　the　same；　those
that　won't　obey　their　doctors　aren't　fit　to　be　allowed　about　alone。
That's　the　way　I　look　at　it。〃

Mrs。　Fentolin　was　passing　along　the　corridor　as　they　issued　from
the　room。　　She　started　a　little　as　she　saw　them。

〃What　have　you　two　been　doing　in　there？〃　she　asked　quickly。

〃We　were　just　passing；〃　Hamel　explained。　　〃We　stopped　for　a　moment
to　speak　to　the　nurse。〃

〃Mr。　Dunster　has　gone；〃　she　said。　　〃You　saw　him　go；　Gerald。　　You
saw　him；　too；　didn't　you；　Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃I　certainly　did；〃　Hamel　admitted。

Mrs。　　Fentolin　pointed　to　the　great　north　window　near　which　they
were　standing；　through　which　the　clear　sunlight　streamed　a　little
pitilessly　upon　her　worn　face　and　mass　of　dyed　hair。

〃You　ought　neither　of　you　to　be　indoors　for　a　minute　on　a　morning
like　this；〃　she　declared。　　〃Esther　is　waiting　for　you　in　the　car；
I　think；　Mr。　Hamel。〃

Gerald　passed　on　up　the　stairs　to　his　room；　but　Hamel　lingered。
A　curious　impulse　of　pity　towards　his　hostess　stirred　him。　　The
morning　sunlight　seemed　to　have　suddenly　revealed　the　tragedy　of
her　life。　　She　stood　there；　a　tired；　worn　woman；　with　the　burden
heavy　upon　her　shoulders。

〃Why　not　come　out　with　Miss　Fentolin　and　me？　he　suggested。　　〃We
could　lunch　at　the　Golf　Club；　out　on　the　balcony。　　I　wish　you
would。　　Can't　you　manage　it？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin　does　not　like
to　be　left。〃

Something　in　the　finality　of　her　words　seemed　to　him　curiously
eloquent　of　her　state　of　mind。　　She　did　not　move　on。　　She　seemed；
indeed；　to　have　the　air　of　one　anxious　to　say　more。　　In　that
ruthless　light；　the　advantages　of　her　elegant　clothes　and
graceful　carriage　were　suddenly　stripped　away　from　her。　　She　was
the　abject　wreck　of　a　beautiful　woman；　wizened；　prematurely　aged。
Nothing　remained　but　the　eyes；　which　seemed　somehow　to　have　their
message　for　him。

〃Mr。　Fentolin　is　a　little　peculiar；　you　know；〃　she　went　on；　her
voice　shaking　slightly　with　the　effort　she　was　making　to　keep　it
low。　　〃He　allows　Esther　so　little　liberty；　she　sees　so　few　young
people　of　her　own　age。　　I　do　not　know　why　he　allows　you　to　be　with
her　so　much。　　Be　careful；　Mr。　Hamel。〃

Her　voice　seemed　suddenly　to　vibrate　with　a　curious　note　of
suppressed　fear。　　Almost　as　she　finished　her　speech；　she　passed　on。
Her　little　gesture　bade　him　remain　silent。　　As　she　went　up　the
stairs；　she　began　to　hum　scraps　of　a　little　French　air。




CHAPTER　XXIII

Hamel　sliced　his　ball　at　the　ninth；　and　after　waiting　for　a　few
minutes　patiently；　Esther　came　to　h