the vanished messenger-第31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！


you　saw。　　At　the　same　time；　you　may　be　surprised　to　hear　that　Mr。
Dunster　has　disappeared　again。〃

〃Disappeared　again？〃　Hamel　muttered。

〃It　looks　very　much；〃　Kinsley　continued；　〃as　though　your　friend
Miles　Fentolin　has　been　playing　with　him　like　a　cat　with　a　mouse。
He　has　been　obliged　to　turn　him　out　of　one　hiding…place；　and　he　has
simply　transferred　him　to　another。〃

Hamel　looked　doubtful。

〃Mr。　Dunster　left　quite　alone　in　the　car；〃　he　said。　　〃He　was　on　his
guard　too；　for　Mr。　Fentolin　and　he　had　had　words。　　1　really　can't
see　how　it　was　possible　for　him　to　have　got　into　any　more　trouble。〃

〃Where　is　he；　then？〃　Kinsley　demanded。　　〃Come；　I　will　let　you　a
little　further　into　our　confidence。　　We　have　reason　to　believe　that
he　carries　with　him　a　written　message　which　is　practically　the　only
chance　we　have　of　avoiding　disaster　during　the　next　few　days。　　That
written　message　is　addressed　to　the　delegates　at　The　Hague；　who　are
now　sitting。　　Nothing　had　been　heard　of　Dunster　or　the　document　he
carries。　　No　word　has　come　from　him　of　any　sort　since　he　left　St。
David's　Hall。〃

〃Have　you　tried　to　trace　him　from　there？〃　Hamel　asked。

〃Trace　him？〃　Kinsley　repeated。　　〃By　heavens；　you　don't　seem　to
understand；　Dick；　the　immense；　the　extraordinary　importance　of　this
man　to　us！　　The　cleverest　detective　in　England　spent　yesterday
under　your　nose　at　St。　David's　Hall。　　There　are　a　dozen　others
working　upon　the　job　as　hard　as　they　can。　　All　the　reports　confirm
what　you　say　…　that　Dunster　left　St。　David's　Hall　at　half…past　nine
yesterday　morning；　and　he　certainly　arrived　in　Yarmouth　at　a　little
before　twelve。　　From　there　he　seems；　however；　to　have　completely
disappeared。　　The　car　went　back　to　St。　David's　Hall　empty；　the　man
only　stayed　long　enough　in　Yarmouth；　in　fact；　to　have　his　dinner。
We　cannot　find　a　single　smack　owner　who　was　approached　in　any　way
for　the　hire　of　a　boat。　　Yarmouth　has　been　ransacked　in　vain。　　He
certainly　has　not　arrived　at　The　Hague　or　we　should　have　heard　news
at　once。　　As　a　last　resource；　I　ran　down　here　to　see　you　on　the
chance　of　your　having　picked　up　any　information。〃

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃You　seem　to　know　a　good　deal　more　than　I　do；　already；〃　he　said。

〃What　do　you　think　of　Mr。　Fentolin？　　You　have　stayed　in　his　house。
You　have　had　an　opportunity　of　studying　him。〃

〃So　far　as　my　impressions　go；〃　Hamel　replied；　〃everything　which　you
have　suggested　might　very　well　be　true。　　I　think　that　either　out　of
sheer　love　of　mischief；　or　from　some　subtler　motive；　he　is　capable
of　anything。　　Every　one　in　the　place；　except　one　poor　woman；　seems
to　look　upon　him　as　a　sort　of　supernatural　being。　　He　gives　money
away　to　worthless　people　with　both　hands。　　Yet　I　share　your　opinion
of　him。　　I　believe　that　he　is　a　creature　without　conscience　or　morals。
I　have　sat　at　his　table　and　shivered　when　he　has　smiled。〃

〃Are　you　staying　at　St。　　David's　Hall　now？〃

〃I　left　yesterday。〃

〃Where　are　you　now；　then？〃

〃I　am　at　St。　　David's　Tower　…　the　little　place　I　told　you　of　that
belonged　to　my　father　…　but　I　don't　know　whether　I　shall　be　able　to
stop　there。　　Mr。　Fentolin；　for　some　reason　or　other；　very　much
resented　my　leaving　the　Hall　and　was　very　annoyed　at　my　insisting
upon　claiming　the　Tower。　　When　I　went　down　to　the　village　to　get
some　one　to　come　up　and　look　after　me；　there　wasn't　a　woman　there
who　would　come。　　It　didn't　matter　what　I　offered；　they　were　all　the
same。　　They　all　muttered　some　excuse　or　other；　and　seemed　only
anxious　to　show　me　out。　　At　the　village　shop　they　seemed　to　hate
to　serve　me　with　anything。　　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　get　a　packet
of　tobacco　yesterday　afternoon。　　You　would　really　think　that　I　was
the　most　unpopular　person　who　ever　lived；　and　it　can　only　be　because
of　Mr。　Fentolin's　influence。〃

〃Mr。　Fentolin　evidently　doesn't　like　to　have　you　in　the　locality；〃
Kinsley　remarked　thoughtfully。

〃He　was　all　right　so　long　as　I　was　at　St。　David's　Hall；〃　Hamel
observed。

〃What's　this　little　place　like　…　St。　David's　Tower；　you　call　it？〃
Kinsley　asked。

〃Just　a　little　stone　building　actually　on　the　beach；〃　Hamel
explained。　　〃There　is　a　large　shed　which　Mr。　Fentolin　keeps　locked
up；　and　the　habitable　portion　consists　just　of　a　bedroom　and
sitting…room。　　From　what　I　can　see；　Mr。　Fentolin　has　been　making
a　sort　of　hobby　of　the　place。　　There　is　telephonic　communication
with　the　house；　and　he　seems　to　have　used　the　sitting…room　as　a
sort　of　studio。　　He　paints　sea　pictures　and　really　paints　them　
ery　well。〃

A　man　came　into　the　coffee…room；　made　some　enquiry　of　the　waiter
and　went　out　again。　　Hamel　stared　at　him　in　a　puzzled　manner。　　For
the　moment　he　could　only　remember　that　the　face　was　familiar。　　Then
he　suddenly　gave　vent　to　a　little　exclamation。

〃Any　one　would　think　that　I　had　been　followed；〃　he　remarked。　　〃The
man　who　has　just　looked　into　the　room　is　one　of　Mr。　Fentolin's
parasites　or　bodyguards；　or　whatever　you　call　them。〃

〃You　probably　have；〃　Kinsley　agreed。　　〃What　post　does　he　hold　in
the　household？〃

〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃I　saw　him　the　first　day　I　arrived
and　not　since。　　Sort　of　secretary；　I　should　think。〃

〃He　is　a　queer…looking　fellow；　anyway；〃　Kinsley　muttered。　　〃Look
out；　Dick。　　Here　he　comes　back　again。〃

Mr。　Ryan　approached　the　table　a　little　diffidently。

〃I　hope　you　will　forgive　the　liberty；　sir；〃　he　said　to　Hamel。　　〃You
remember　me；　I　trust　…　Mr。　Ryan。　　I　am　the　librarian　at　St。　David's
Hall。〃

Hamel　nodded。

〃I　thought　I'd　seen　you　there。〃

〃I　was　wondering；〃　the　man　continued；　〃whether　you　had　a　car　of　Mr。
Fentolin's　in　Norwich　to…day；　and　if　so；　whether　I　might　beg　a　seat
back　in　case　you　were　returning　before　the　five　o'clock　train？　　I
came　in　early　this　morning　to　go　through　some　manuscripts　at　a
second…hand　bookseller's　here；　and　I　have　unfortunately　missed　the
train　back。〃

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃I　came　in　by　train　myself；　or　I　would　have　given　you　a　lift　back；
with　pleasure；〃　he　said。

Mr。　　Ryan　expressed　his　thanks　briefly　and　left　the　room。　　Kinsley
watched　him　from　over　the　top　of　a　newspaper。

〃So　that　is　one　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　creatures；　too；〃　he　remarked。
〃Keeping　his　eye　on　you　in　Norwich；　eh？　　Tell　me；　Dick；　by…the…by；
how　do　you　get　on　with　the　rest　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　household；　and
exactly　of　whom　does　it　consist？〃

〃There　is　his　sister…in…law；〃　Hamel　replied；　〃Mrs。　Seymour　Fentolin。
She　is　a　strange；　tired…looking　woman　who　seems　to　stand　in　mortal
fear　of　Mr。　Fentolin。　　She　is　always　overdressed　and　never　natural；
but　it　seems　to　me　that　nearly　everything　she　does　is　done　to　suit
his　whims；　or　at　his　instigation。〃

Kinsley　nodded　thoughtfully。

〃I　remember　Seymour　Fentolin　he　said；　〃a　really　fine　fellow　he　was。
Well；　who　else？〃

〃Just　the　nephew　and　niece。　　The　boy　is　half　sullen；　half
discontented；　yet　he；　too；　seems　to　obey　his　uncle　blindly。　　The
three　of　them　seem　to　be　his　slaves。　　It's　a　thing　you　can't　live
in　the　house　without　noticing。〃

〃It　seems　to　be　a　cheerful　sort　of　household；〃　Kinsley　observed。
〃You　read　the　papers；　I　suppose；　Dick？〃　he　asked；　after　a　moment's
pause。

〃On　and　off；　the　last　few　days。　　I　seem　to　have　been　busy　doing　all
sorts　of　things。〃

〃Well；　I'll　tell　you　something；〃　Kinsley　continued。　　〃The　whole　of
our　available　fleet　is　engaged　in　carrying　out　what　they　call　a
demonstration　in　the　North　Sea。　　They　have　patrol　boats　out　in　every
direction；　and　only　the　short　distance　wireless　signals　are　being
used。　　Everything；　of　course；　is　in　code；　yet　we　know　this　for　a
fact：　a　good　deal　of　private　information　passing　between　the　Admiral
and　his　commanders　was　known　in　Germany　three　hours　after　the　signals
themselves　had　been　given。　　It　is　suspected　…　more　than　suspected；
in　fact　…　that　these　messages　were　picked　up　by　Mr。　Fentolin's
wireless　installation。〃

〃I　don't　suppose　he　could　help　receiving　them；〃　Hamel　remarked。

〃He　could　help　decoding　them　and　sending　them　through　to　Germany；
though；〃　Kinsley　retorted　grimly。　　〃The　worst　of　it　is；　he　has　a
private　telephone　wire　in　his　house　to　London。　　If　he　isn't　up
to　mischief；　what　does　he　need　all　these　things　for　…　private
telegraph　line；　private　telephone；　private　wireless？　　We　have　given
the　postmaster　a　hint　to　have　the　telegraph　office　moved　down　into
the　village；　but　I　don't　know　that　that　will　help　us　much。〃

〃So　far　as　regards　the　wireless；〃　Hamel　said；　〃I　rather　believe
that　it　is　temporarily　dismantled。　　We　had　a　sailor…man　over；　the
morning　before　yesterday；　to　complain　of　his　messages　having　been
picked　up。　　Mr。　Fentolin　promised　at　once　to　put　his　installation
out　of　work　for　a　time。〃

〃He　has　done　plenty　of　mischief　with　it　already；〃　Kinsley　groaned。
〃However；　it　was　Dunster　I　came　down　to　make　enquiries　about。　　I
couldn't　help　hoping　that　you　might　have　been　able　to　put　us　on　the
right　track。〃

Hamel　sighed。

〃I　know　nothing　beyond　what　I　have　told　you。〃

〃How　did　he　look　when　he　went　away？〃

〃Very　ill　indeed；〃　Hamel　declared。　　〃I　afterwards　saw　the　nurse　who
had　been　attending　him；　and　she　admitted　that　he　was　not　fit　to
travel。　　I　should　say　the　probabilities　are　that　he　is　laid　up　again
somewhere。〃

〃Did　you　actually　speak　to　him？〃

〃Just　a　word　or　two。〃

〃And　you　saw　him　go　off　in　the　car？〃

〃Gerald　Fentolin　and　I　both　saw　him　and　wished　him　good…by。〃

Kinsley　glanced　at　the　clock　and　rose　to　his　feet。　　〃Walk　down　to
the　station　with　me；〃　he　suggested。　　〃I　needn't　tell　you；　I　am　sure；〃
he　went　on；　as　they　left　the　hotel　a　few　minutes　later；　〃that　if
anything　does　turn　up；　or　if　you　get　the　glimmering　of　an　idea；
you'll　let　me　know？　　We've　a　small　army　looking　for　the　fellow；　but
it　does　seem　as　though　he　had　disappeared　off　the　face　of　the　earth。
If　he　doesn't　turn　up　before　the　end　of　the　Conference；　we　are　done。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　Hamel　asked；　after　they　had　walked　for　some　distance　in
silence；　〃exactly　why　is　our　fleet　demonstrating　to　such　an　extent？〃

〃That　Conference　I　have　spoken　of；〃　Kinsley　replied；　〃which　is　being
held　at　The　Hague；　is　being　held；　we　know；　purposely　to　discuss
certain　matters　in　which　we　are　interested。　　It　is　meeting　for　their
discussion　without　any　invitation　having　been　sent　to　this　country。
There　is　only　one　reply　possible　to　such　a　course。　　It　is　there　in
the　North　Sea。　But　unfortunately　…〃

Kinsley　paused。　　His　tone　and　his　expression　had　alike　become
gloomier。

〃Go　on；〃　Hamel　begged。

〃Our　reply；　after　all；　is　a　miserable　affair；〃　Kinsley　concluded。
〃You　remember　the　outcry　over　the　withdrawal　of　our　Mediterranean
Fleet？　　Now　you　see　its　sequel。　　We　haven't　a　ship　worth　a　snap　of
the　fingers　from　Gibraltar　to　Suez。　　If　France　deserts　us；　it's
good…by　to　Malta；　good…by　to　Egypt；　good…by　to　India。　　It's　the
disruption　of　the　British　Empire。　　And　all　this；〃　he　wound　up；　as
he　paused　before　taking　his　seat　in　the　railway　carriage；　〃all　this
might　even　now　be　avoided　if　only　we　could　lay　our　hands　upon　the
message　which　that　man　Dunster　was　bringing　from　New　York！〃




CHAPTER　XXVI

Once　more　Hamel　descended　from　the　little　train；　and；　turning　away
from　St。　David's　Hall；　made　his　way　across　the　marshes；　seawards。
The　sunshine　of　the　last