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have¡¡seen¡¡evil¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡rebellion£»¡¡and
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loathing¡¡myself£»¡¡out¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡terrace¡¡and¡¡down¡¡below£»¡¡just¡¡where
it¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡know¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡there£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hamel£¿¡¨

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¡¨It¡¡was¡¡no¡¡accident£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡my¡¡husband¡¡who¡¡took¡¡him¡¡up¡¡and¡¡threw
him¡¡over¡¡the¡¡terrace£»¡¡down¡¡below£»¡¡my¡¡husband¡¡who¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡him£»
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then£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡did¡¡something¡¡disgraceful¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sold¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡to¡¡Austria¡£
He¡¡was¡¡always¡¡a¡¡great¡¡gambler£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡debt¡£¡¡¡¡Seymour¡¡found
out¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡down¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡met¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡terrace¡£
I¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it£¡¡¨

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can't¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hamel¡£¡¨

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from¡¡Miles¡¡Fentolin¡¡because¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡secret¡£¡¡¡¡Very¡¡well£»¡¡that
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man¡¡Dunster¡¡¡­¡¨

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¡¨And¡¡Dunster£¿¡¨

She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡horror¡£

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She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£

¡¨It¡¡wasn't¡¡Dunster¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡man¡¡Miles¡¡makes¡¡use¡¡of¡¡¡­¡¡Ryan£»¡¡the
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¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡Dunster£»¡¡then£¿¡¨¡¡Hamel¡¡asked¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡has¡¡become
of¡¡him£¿¡¨

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failed¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡breathing¡¡quickly£»¡¡but¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡power
of¡¡speech¡¡had¡¡gone¡£




CHAPTER¡¡XXXII

Hamel£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡forgot¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡in¡¡his
efforts¡¡to¡¡restore¡¡to¡¡consciousness¡¡his¡¡unexpected¡¡visitor¡£¡¡¡¡He
rebuilt¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡heated¡¡some¡¡water¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡spirit¡¡lamp£»¡¡and¡¡forced
some¡¡hot¡¡drink¡¡between¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡was¡¡now¡¡almost¡¡in
a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡collapse¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡wrapped¡¡her¡¡round¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡ulster
and¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡tried¡¡during¡¡those¡¡few¡¡moments
to¡¡put¡¡away¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Gradually¡¡she
began¡¡to¡¡recover¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡little¡¡sigh¡£¡¡¡¡She
made¡¡no¡¡effort¡¡at¡¡speech£»¡¡however¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡simply¡¡lay¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at
him¡¡like¡¡some¡¡wounded¡¡animal¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡came¡¡over¡¡to¡¡her¡¡side¡¡and¡¡chafed
one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡cold¡¡hands¡£

¡¨Come£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡look¡¡more¡¡like¡¡yourself¡¡now¡£
You¡¡are¡¡quite¡¡safe¡¡in¡¡here£»¡¡and£»¡¡for¡¡Esther's¡¡sake¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡your
own£»¡¡you¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡your¡¡friend¡£¡¨

She¡¡nodded£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡gently¡¡pressed¡¡his¡£

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¡¨Now¡¡let¡¡us¡¡see¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡continued¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡exactly¡¡why
you¡¡risked¡¡so¡¡much¡¡by¡¡leaving¡¡St¡£¡¡David's¡¡Hall¡¡to¡­night¡¡and¡¡coming
down¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡Isn't¡¡there¡¡any¡¡chance¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡find¡¡out£¿¡¨

¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡Lucy¡¡Price¡¡who¡¡sent¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡She
came¡¡to¡¡my¡¡room¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡undressing¡£¡¨

¡¨Lucy¡¡Price£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡repeated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡secretary£¿¡¨

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sent¡¡me¡¡instead¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡man¡¡Dunster¡¡is¡¡being
kept¡¡alive¡¡because¡¡there¡¡is¡¡something¡¡Miles¡¡wants¡¡him¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him£»
and¡¡he¡¡won't¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡to¡­night£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡is¡¡still¡¡alive£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡tell£»
they¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡make¡¡away¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡afraid¡£¡¨

¡¨Miss¡¡Price¡¡told¡¡you¡¡this£¿¡¨¡¡Hamel¡¡asked¡¡gravely¡£

Mrs£»¡¡Fentolin¡¡nodded¡£

¡¨Yes£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡said¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡knows¡¡¡­¡¡she¡¡knows¡¡everything¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡has
been¡¡like¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡She£»¡¡too£»¡¡has¡¡suffered¡£¡¡¡¡She£»¡¡too£»¡¡has
reached¡¡the¡¡breaking¡¡point¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡loved¡¡him¡¡before¡¡the¡¡accident¡£
She¡¡has¡¡been¡¡his¡¡slave¡¡ever¡¡since¡£¡¡¡¡Listen£¡¡¨

She¡¡suddenly¡¡clutched¡¡his¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡both¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was
nothing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡heard¡¡but¡¡the¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡leaned¡¡a¡¡little¡¡closer¡¡to
him¡£

¡¨Lucy¡¡Price¡¡sent¡¡me¡¡here¡¡to¡­night¡¡because¡¡she¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡it
was¡¡to¡­night¡¡they¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡from¡¡his¡¡hiding¡­place¡¡and¡¡kill
him¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡police¡¡have¡¡left¡¡off¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dunster¡¡in¡¡Yarmouth
and¡¡at¡¡The¡¡Hague¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡detective¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡and
another¡¡one¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡alive¡¡any
longer¡£¡¨

¡¨Where¡¡was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin¡¡when¡¡you¡¡left£¿¡¨¡¡Hamel¡¡asked¡£

¡¨I¡¡asked¡¡Lucy¡¡Price¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡she¡¡came¡¡to¡¡my¡¡room£»
there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡his¡¡leaving¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡told¡¡me¡¡to¡¡come¡¡and¡¡tell
you¡¡everything¡£¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡where¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dunster¡¡is£¿¡¨

Hamel¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£

¡¨¡¡Within¡¡a¡¡few¡¡yards¡¡of¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the
boat¡­house£»¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡Miles¡¡told¡¡you¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡a¡¡model¡¡of¡¡his
invention¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡here¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before¡¡they¡¡put¡¡his
clothes¡¡on¡¡Ryan¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡off¡¡disguised¡¡as¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dunster£»¡¡in¡¡the
car¡¡to¡¡Yarmouth¡£¡¨

Hamel¡¡started¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡clutched¡¡at¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡him¡¡back¡£
¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡can't¡¡break¡¡in£¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡double¡¡doors¡¡and
a¡¡wonderful¡¡lock¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡boat¡­house¡¡is¡¡yours£»¡¡the¡¡building¡¡is¡¡yours¡£
In¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡you¡¡must¡¡demand¡¡the¡¡keys¡¡¡­¡¡if¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡come
to¡­night£¡¡¨

¡¨And¡¡how¡¡are¡¡we¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡Hamel¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨if¡¡he¡¡comes¡¡to¡­night£¿¡¨

¡¨Go¡¡outside£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Look¡¡towards¡¡St¡£¡¡David's¡¡Hall¡¡and
tell¡¡me¡¡how¡¡many¡¡lights¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡£¡¨

He¡¡drew¡¡back¡¡the¡¡bolt£»¡¡unlatched¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the
darkness¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡and¡¡the¡¡driving¡¡rain¡¡beat¡¡against¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡A
cloud¡¡of¡¡spray¡¡enveloped¡¡and¡¡soaked¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Like¡¡lamps¡¡hung¡¡in¡¡the
sky£»¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡David's¡¡Hall¡¡shone¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡black
gulf¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡counted¡¡them¡¡carefully£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡back¡£

¡¨There¡¡are¡¡seven£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡told¡¡her£»¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡an¡¡effort¡£

She¡¡counted¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡fingers¡£

¡¨I¡¡must¡¡come¡¡and¡¡see£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡must¡¡be¡¡sure¡£¡¡¡¡Help¡¡me¡£¡¨

He¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡staggered¡¡out¡¡together¡£

¡¨Look£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡gripping¡¡his¡¡arm¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡see¡¡that¡¡row¡¡of¡¡lights£¿
If¡¡anything¡¡happens£»¡¡if¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin¡¡leaves¡¡the¡¡Hall¡¡to¡­night¡¡to
come¡¡down¡¡here£»¡¡a¡¡light¡¡will¡¡appear¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡corner¡£
We¡¡must¡¡watch¡¡for¡¡that¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡must¡¡watch¡¡¡­¡¨

The¡¡words£»¡¡whispered¡¡hoarsely¡¡into¡£¡¡¡¡his¡¡ear£»¡¡suddenly¡¡died¡¡away¡£
Even¡¡as¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡there£»¡¡far¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡other¡¡lights£»¡¡another
one¡¡shone¡¡suddenly¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡towards¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡pointed£»
and¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡burn¡¡steadily¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡was¡¡clinging
to¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡become¡¡suddenly¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡weight¡£

¡¨She¡¡was¡¡right£¡¡¨¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡Pentolin¡¡moaned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡coming¡¡down¡¡to¡­night£¡
He¡¡is¡¡preparing¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡now£»¡¡perhaps¡¡he¡¡has¡¡already¡¡started£¡¡¡¡¡What
shall¡¡we¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡do£¿¡¨

Hamel¡¡was¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡a¡¡gathering¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡excitement¡£¡¡¡¡He£»¡¡too£»
looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡which¡¡was¡¡flashing¡¡out¡¡its¡¡message¡¡towards¡¡them¡£
Then¡¡he¡¡gripped¡¡his¡¡companion's¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡carried¡¡her¡¡back¡¡into
the¡¡sitting¡­room¡£

¡¨Look¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡firmly£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡can¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡further¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡have
done¡¡your¡¡part¡¡and¡¡done¡¡it¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡Stay¡¡where¡¡you¡¡are¡¡and¡¡wait¡£¡¡¡¡The
rest¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨

¡¨But¡¡what¡¡can¡¡you¡¡do£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡demanded£»¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡shaking¡¡with¡¡fear¡£
¡¨Meekins¡¡will¡¡come¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Doctor¡¡Sarson£»¡¡unless¡¡he¡¡is¡¡here
already¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡can¡¡you¡¡do¡¡against¡¡them£¿¡¡¡¡Meekins¡¡can¡¡break¡¡any
ordinary¡¡man's¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin¡¡will¡¡have¡¡a¡¡revolver¡£¡¨

Hamel¡¡threw¡¡another¡¡log¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡chair¡¡closer
to¡¡it¡£

¡¨Never¡¡mind¡¡about¡¡he¡¡declared¡¡cheerfully¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin¡¡is¡¡too
clever¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡violence£»¡¡except¡¡as¡¡a¡¡last¡¡resource¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knows
that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡friends¡¡in¡¡London¡¡who¡¡would¡¡need¡¡some¡¡explanation
of¡¡my¡¡disappearance¡£¡¡¡¡Stay¡¡here¡¡and¡¡wait¡£¡¨

She¡¡recognised¡¡the¡¡note¡¡of¡¡authority¡¡in¡¡his¡¡tone£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡bowed¡¡her
head¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡changed¡¡woman¡£

¡¨Perhaps¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡ill¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡you¡¡into¡¡our¡¡troubles£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hamel£»¡¨
she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡yet£»¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡you¡¡really
care¡¡for¡¡Esther¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡can¡¡help¡¡us¡¡now£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡for¡¡your
happiness£»¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡God¡¡bless¡¡you£¡¡¨

Hamel¡¡groped¡¡his¡¡way¡¡round¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tower¡¡and¡¡took¡¡up¡¡a
position¡¡at¡¡the¡¡extreme¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡landward¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building£»
within¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡closed¡¡doors¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡light¡¡far¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡left
was¡¡still¡¡gleaming¡¡brightly£»¡¡but¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡¡in¡¡a¡¡line¡¡with
it¡¡had¡¡disappeared¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡flattened¡¡himself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and
waited£»¡¡listening¡¡intently£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡straining¡¡through¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£
Yet¡¡they¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡indication
of¡¡their¡¡presence¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡single¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡light¡¡in¡¡the¡¡path£»¡¡come¡¡and
gone¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flash£»¡¡the¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡an¡¡electric¡¡torch¡¡directed
momentarily¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡was¡¡his¡¡first¡¡indication¡¡that¡¡they
were¡¡near¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡or¡¡two¡¡later¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡click£»¡¡click
of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡engine¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin's¡¡chair¡£¡¡¡¡Hamel¡¡set
his¡¡teeth¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡a¡¡few¡¡inches¡¡further¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡darkness¡¡was
so¡¡intense¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡actually¡¡within¡¡a¡¡yard¡¡or¡¡so¡¡of¡¡him¡¡before
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¡­¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Fentolin¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡Doctor¡¡Sarson£»¡¡and¡¡Meekins¡£¡¡¡¡They
paused¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡while¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡produced¡¡a¡¡key¡£¡¡¡¡Hamel
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Better¡¡not¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡your¡¡footsteps¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡pebbles¡£
Now£¡¡¨

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floor¡¡and¡¡rested¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡trapdoor£»¡¡which¡¡Meekins¡¡had
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of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grooved¡¡stretch¡¡of¡¡board£»¡¡evidently¡¡fashioned¡¡to
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and¡¡Meekins¡¡secured¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rope¡¡which¡¡he¡¡let¡¡run
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the¡¡door¡¡open¡£¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡a¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡l

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