the vanished messenger-第28章

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Hamel　sliced　his　ball　at　the　ninth；　and　after　waiting　for　a　few
minutes　patiently；　Esther　came　to　help　him　look　for　it。　　He　was
standing　down　on　the　sands；　a　little　apart　from　the　two　caddies
who　were　beating　out　various　tufts　of　long　grass。

〃Where　did　it　go？〃　she　asked。

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　he　admitted。

〃Why　don't　you　help　look　for　it？〃

〃Searching　for　balls；〃　he　insisted；　〃is　a　caddy's　occupation。　　Both
the　caddies　are　now　busy。　　Let　us　sit　down　here。　　These　sand　hummocks
are　delightful。　　It　is　perfectly　sheltered；　and　the　sun　is　in　our
faces。　　Golf　is　an　overrated　pastime。　　Let　us　sit　and　watch　that
little　streak　of　blue　find　its　way　up　between　the　white　posts。〃

She　hesitated　for　a　moment。

〃We　shall　lose　our　place。〃

〃There　is　no　one　behind。〃

She　sank　on　to　the　little　knoll　of　sand　to　which　he　had　pointed；
with　a　resigned　sigh。

〃You　really　are　a　queer　person；〃　she　declared。　　〃You　have　been
playing　golf　this　morning　as　though　your　very　life　depended　upon　it。
You　have　scarcely　missed　a　shot　or　spoken　a　word。　　And　now；　all　of
a　sudden；　you　want　to　sit　on　a　sand　hummock　and　watch　the　tide。〃

〃I　have　been　silent；〃　he　told　her；　〃because　I　have　been　thinking。〃

〃That　may　be　truthful；〃　she　remarked；　〃but　you　wouldn't　call　it
polite；　would　you？〃

〃The　subject　of　my　thoughts　is　my　excuse。　　I　have　been　thinking　of
you。〃

For　a　single　moment　her　eyes　seemed　to　have　caught　something　of　that
sympathetic　light　with　which　he　was　regarding　her。　　Then　she　looked
away。

〃Was　it　my　mashie　shots　you　were　worrying　about？〃　she　asked。

〃It　was　not；〃　he　replied　simply。　　〃It　was　you　…　you　yourself。〃

She　laughed；　not　altogether　naturally。

〃How　flattering！〃　she　murmured。　　〃By…the…by；　you　are　rather　a
downright　person；　aren't　you；　Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃So　much　so；〃　he　admitted；　〃that　I　am　going　to　tell　you　one　or　two
things　now。　　I　am　going　to　be　very　frank　indeed。〃

She　sat　suddenly　quite　still。　　Her　face　was　turned　from　him；　but
for　the　first　time　since　he　had　known　her　there　was　a　slight
undertone　of　colour　in　her　cheeks。

〃A　week　ago；〃　he　said；　〃I　hadn't　the　faintest　idea　of　coming　into
Norfolk。　　I　knew　about　this　little　shanty　of　my　father's；　but　I
had　forgotten　all　about　it。　　I　came　as　the　result　of　a　conversation
I　had　with　a　friend　who　is　in　the　Foreign　Office。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　startled　eyes。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked　quickly。　　〃You　are　Mr。　Hamel；　aren't
you？〃

〃Certainly；〃　he　replied。　　〃Not　only　am　I　Richard　Hamel；　mining
engineer；　but　I　really　have　all　that　reading　to　do　I　have　spoken
about；　and　I　really　was　looking　for　a　quiet　spot　to　do　it　in。　　It
is　true　that　I　had　this　part　of　the　world　in　my　mind；　but　I　do　not
think　that　I　should　ever　have　really　decided　to　come　here　if　it
had　not　been　for　my　friend　in　London。　　He　was　very　interested
indeed　directly　I　mentioned　St。　David's　Tower。　　Would　you　like　to
know　what　he　told　me？〃

〃Yes！　　Go　on；　please。〃

〃He　told　me　a　little　of　the　history　of　your　uncle；　Mr。　Fentolin；
and　what　he　did　not　tell　me　at　the　time；　he　has　since　supplemented。
I　suppose；〃　he　added；　hesitatingly；　〃that　you　yourself　…〃

〃Please　go　on。　　Please　speak　as　though　I　knew　nothing。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　Hamel　continued；　〃he　told　me　that　your　uncle　was　at
one　time　in　the　Foreign　Office　himself。　　He　seemed　to　have　a　most
brilliant　career　before　him　when　suddenly　there　was　a　terrible
scandal。　　A　political　secret　…　I　don't　know　what　it　was　…　had　leaked
out。　　There　were　rumours　that　it　had　been　acquired　for　a　large　sum
of　money　by　a　foreign　Power。　　Mr。　Fentolin　retired　to　Norfolk；
pending　an　investigation。　　It　was　just　as　that　time　that　he　met　with
his　terrible　accident；　and　the　matter　was　dropped。〃

〃Go　on；　please；〃　she　murmured。

〃My　friend　went　on　to　say　that　during　the　last　few　years　Mr。　Fentolin
has　once　again　become　an　object　of　some　suspicion　to　the　head　of　our
Secret　Service　Department。　　For　a　long　time　they　have　known　that　he
was　employing　agents　abroad；　and　that　he　was　showing　the　liveliest
interest　in　underground　politics。　　They　believed　that　it　was　a　mere
hobby；　born　of　his　useless　condition；　a　taste　ministered　to；　without
doubt；　by　the　occupation　of　his　earlier　life。　　Once　or　twice　lately
they　have　had　reason　to　change　their　minds。　　You　know；　I　dare　say；
in　what　a　terribly　disturbed　state　European　affairs　are　just　now。
Well；　my　friend　had　an　idea　that　Mr。　Fentolin　was　showing　an
extraordinary　amount　of　interest　in　a　certain　conference　which　we
understand　is　to　take　place　at　The　Hague。　　He　begged　me　to　come　down；
and　to　watch　your　uncle　while　I　was　down　here；　and　report　to　him
anything　that　seemed　to　me　noteworthy。　　Since　then　I　have　had　a
message　from　him　concerning　the　American　whom　you　entertained　…　Mr。
John　P。　Dunster。　　It　appears　that　he　was　the　bearer　of　very　important
dispatches　for　the　Continent。〃

〃But　he　has　gone；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃Nothing　happened　to　him；
after　all。　　He　went　away　without　a　word　of　complaint。　　We　all　saw
him。〃

〃That　is　quite　true；〃　Hamel　admitted。　　〃Mr。　Dunster　has　certainly
gone。　　It　is　rather　a　coincidence；　however；　that　he　should　have
taken　his　departure　just　as　the　enquiries　concerning　his　whereabouts
had　reached　such　a　stage　that　it　had　become　quite　impossible　to　keep
him　concealed　any　longer。〃

She　turned　a　little　in　her　place　and　looked　at　him　steadfastly。

〃Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　said；　〃tell　me　…　what　of　your　mission？　　You　have
had　an　opportunity　of　studying　my　uncle。　　You　have　even　lived　under
his　roof。　　Tell　me　what　you　think。〃

His　face　was　troubled。

〃Miss　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　tell　you　frankly　that　up　to　now
I　have　not　succeeded　in　solving　the　problem　of　your　uncle's
character。　　To　me　personally　he　has　been　most　courteous。　　He　lives
apparently　a　studious　and　an　unselfish　life。　　I　have　heard　him　even
spoken　of　as　a　philanthropist。　　And　yet　you　three　…　you；　your　mother；
and　your　brother；　who　are　nearest　to　him；　who　live　in　his　house　and
under　his　protection；　have　the　air　of　passing　your　days　in　mortal
fear　of　him。〃

〃Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　exclaimed　nervously；　〃you　don't　believe　that！　　He
is　always　very　kind。〃

〃Apparently；〃　Hamel　observed　drily。　　〃And　yet　you　must　remember　that
you；　too；　are　afraid　of　him。　　I　need　not　remind　you　of　our
conversations；　but　there　the　truth　is。　　You　praise　his　virtues　and
his　charities；　you　pity　him；　and　yet　you　go　about　with　a　load　of
fear；　and　…　forgive　me　…　of　secret　terror　in　your　heart；　you　and
Gerald；　too。　　As　for　your　mother　…〃

〃Don't！〃　she　interrupted　suddenly。　　〃Why　do　you　bring　me　here　to
talk　like　this？　　You　cannot　alter　things。　　Nothing　can　be　altered。〃

〃Can't　it！〃　he　replied。　　〃Well；　I　will　tell　you　the　real　reason　of
my　having　brought　you　here　and　of　my　having　made　this　confession。
I　brought　you　here　because　I　could　not　bear　to　go　on　living；　if　not
under　your　roof；　at　any　rate　in　the　neighbourhood；　without　telling
you　the　truth。　　Now　you　know　it。　　I　am　here　to　watch　Mr。　Fentolin。
I　am　going　on　watching　him。　　You　can　put　him　on　his　guard；　if　you
like；　I　shan't　complain。　　Or　you　can　…〃

He　paused　so　long　that　she　looked　at　him。　　He　moved　a　little　closer
to　her；　his　fingers　suddenly　gripped　her　hand。

〃Or　you　can　marry　me　and　come　away　from　it　all；〃　he　concluded
quietly。　　〃Forgive　me；　please　…　I　mean　it。〃

For　a　moment　the　startled　light　in　her　eyes　was　followed　by　a
delicious　softness。　　Her　lips　were　parted；　she　leaned　a　little
towards　him。　　Then　suddenly　she　seemed　to　remember。　　She　rose　with
swift　alertness　to　her　feet。

〃I　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　we　had　better　play　golf。〃

〃But　I　have　asked　you　to　marry　me；〃　he　protested；　as　he　scrambled　up。

〃Your　caddy　has　found　your　ball　a　long　time　ago；〃　she　pointed　out；
walking　swiftly　on　ahead。

He　played　his　shot　and　caught　her　up。

〃Miss　Fentolin　…　Esther；〃　he　pleaded　eagerly；　〃do　you　think　that　I
am　not　in　earnest？　　Because　I　am。　　I　mean　it。　　Even　if　I　have　only
known　you　for　a　few　days；　it　has　been　enough。　　I　think　that　I　knew
it　was　coming　from　the　moment　that　you　stepped　into　my　railway
carriage。〃

〃You　knew　that　what　was　coming？〃　she　asked；　raising　her　eyes
suddenly。

〃That　I　should　care　for　you。〃

〃It's　the　first　time　you've　told　me　she　reminded　him；　with　a　queer
little　smile。　　〃Oh；　forgive　me；　please！　　I　didn't　mean　to　say　that。
I　don't　want　to　have　you　tell　me　so。　　It's　all　too　ridiculous　and
impossible。〃

〃Is　it？　　And　why？〃

〃I　have　only　known　you　for　three　days。〃

〃We　can　make　up　for　that。〃

〃But　I　don't　…　care　about　you。　　I　have　never　thought　of　any　one　in
that　way。　　It　is　absurd；〃　she　went　on。

〃You'll　have　to；　sometime　or　other；〃　he　declared。　　〃I'll　take　you
travelling　with　me；　show　you　the　world；　new　worlds；　unnamed　rivers；
untrodden　mountains。　　Or　do　you　want　to　go　and　see　where　the　little
brown　people　live　among　the　mimosa　and　the　cherry　blossoms？　　I'll
take　you　so　far　away　that　this　place　and　this　life　will　seem　like
a　dream。〃

Her　breath　caught　a　little。

〃Don't；　please；〃　she　begged。　　〃You　know　very　well　…　or　rather　you
don't　know；　perhaps；　but　I　must　tell　you　…　that　I　couldn't。　　I　am
here；　tied　and　bound；　and　I　can't　escape。〃

〃Ah！　dear；　don't　believe　it；〃　he　went　on　earnestly。　　〃There　isn't
any　bond　so　strong　that　I　won't　break　it　for　you；　no　knot　I　won't
untie；　if　you　give　me　the　right。〃

They　were　climbing　slowly　on　to　the　tee。　　He　stepped　forward　and
pulled　her　up。　　Her　hand　was　cold。　　Her　eyes　were　raised　to　his；
very　softly　yet　almost　pleadingly。

〃Please　don't　say　anything　more；〃　she　begged。　　〃I　can't　…　quite　bear
it　just　now。　　You　know；　you　must　remember　…　there　is　my　mother。　　Do
you　think　that　I　could　leave　her　to　struggle　alone？〃

His　caddy；　who　had　teed　the　ball；　and　who　had　regarded　the
proceedings　with　a　moderately　tolerant　air；　felt　called　upon　at　last
to　interfere。

〃We'd　best　get　on；〃　he　remarked；　pointing　to　two　figures　in　the
distance；　〃or　they'll　say　we've　cut　in。〃

Hamel　smote　his　ball　far　and　true。　　On　a　more　moderate　scale　she
followed　his　example。　　They　descended　the　steps　together。

〃Love…making　isn't　going　to　spoil　our　golf；〃　he　whispered；　smiling；
as　he　touched　her　fingers　once　more。

She　looked　at　him　almost　shyly。

〃Is　this　love…making？〃　she　asked。

They　walked　together　from　the　eighteenth　green　towards　the
club…house。　　A　curious　silence　seemed　suddenly　to　have　enveloped
them。　　Hamel　was　conscious　of　a　strange　exhilaration；　a　queer
upheaval　of　ideas；　an　excitement　which　nothing　in　his　previous
life　had　yet　been　able　to　yield　him。　　The　wonder　of　it　amazed　him；
kept　him　silent。　　It　was　not　until　they　reached　the　steps；　indeed；
that　he　spoke。

〃On　our　way　home　…〃　he　began。

She　seemed　suddenly　to　have　stiffened。　　He　looked　at　her；　surprised。
She　was　standing　quite　still；　her　hand　gripping　the　post；　her　eyes
fixed　upon　the　waiting　motor…car。　　The　delicate　softness　had　gone
from　her　face。　　Once　more　that　look　of　partly　veiled　suffering　was
there；　suffering　mingled　with　fear。

〃Look！〃　she　whispered；　under　her　breath。　　〃Look！　　It　is　Mr。　Fentolin！
He　has　come　for　us　himself；　he　is　there　in　the　car。〃

Mr。　Fentolin；　a　strange　little　figure　lying　back　among　the　cushions
of　the　great　Daimler；　raised　his　hat　and　waved