the vanished messenger-第40章

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〃　You　must　be　careful；〃　she　advised　slowly。　　The　man　Dunster　has
been　drugged；　he　has　lost　some　of　his　will；　he　may　have　lost　some
of　his　mental　balance。　　Mr。　Fentolin　is　clever。　　He　will　find　a
dozen　ways　to　wriggle　out　of　any　charge　that　can　be　brought　against
him。　　You　know　what　he　has　really　done？〃

〃I　can　guess。〃

〃He　has　kept　back　a　document　signed　by　the　twelve　men　in　America
who　control　the　whole　of　Wall　Street；　who　control　practically　the
money　markets　of　the　world。　　That　document　is　a　warning　to　Germany
that　they　will　have　no　war　against　England。　　Owing　to　Mr。　Fentolin；
it　has　not　been　delivered；　and　the　Conference　is　sitting　now。　　War
may　be　declared　at　any　moment。〃

〃But　as　a　matter　of　common　sense；〃　Hamel　asked；　〃why　does　Mr。
Fentolin　desire　war？〃

〃You　do　not　understand　Mr。　　Fentolin；〃　she　told　him　quietly。　　〃He
is　not　like　other　men。　　There　are　some　who　live　almost　entirely　for
the　sake　of　making　others　happy；　who　find　joy　in　seeing　people
content　and　satisfied。　　Mr。　　Fentolin　is　the　reverse　of　this。　　He
has　but　one　craving　in　life：　to　see　pain　in　others。　　To　see　a　human
being　suffer　is　to　him　a　debauch　of　happiness。　　A　war　which　laid
this　country　waste　would　fill　him　with　a　delight　which　you　could
never　understand。　　There　are　no　normal　human　beings　like　this。　　It
is　a　disease　in　the　man；　a　disease　which　came　upon　him　after　his
accident。〃

〃Yet　you　have　all　been　his　slaves；〃　Hamel　said　curiously。

〃We　have　all　been　his　slaves；〃　she　admitted；　〃for　different　reasons。
Before　his　accident　came；　Mr。　Fentolin　was　my　master　and　the　only
man　in　the　world　for　me。　　After　his　accident；　I　think　my　feelings
for　him；　if　anything；　grew　stronger。　　I　became　his　slave。　　I　sold
my　conscience；　my　self…respect；　everything　in　life　worth　having；　to
bring　a　smile　to　his　lips；　to　help　him　through　a　single　moment　of
his　misery。　　And　just　lately　the　reaction　has　come。　　He　has　played
with　me　just　as　he　would　sit　and　pull　the　legs　out　of　a　spider　to
watch　its　agony。　　I　have　been　one　of　his　favourite　amusements。　　And
even　now；　if　he　came　into　this　room　I　think　that　I　should　be
helpless。　　I　should　probably　fall　at　his　feet　and　pray　for
forgiveness。〃

Hamel　looked　at　her　wonderingly。

〃I　have　come　down　to　warn　you；〃　she　went　on。　　〃It　is　possible　that
this　is　the　beginning　of　the　end；　that　his　wonderful　fortune　will
desert　him；　that　his　star　has　gone　down。　　But　remember　that　he　has
the　brains　and　courage　of　genius。　　You　think　that　you　have　him　in
a　trap。　　Don't　be　surprised；　when　you　go　back；　to　find　that　he　has
turned　the　tables　upon　you。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Hamel　declared。　　〃I　looked　all　round　the　place。　　There
isn't　a　window　or　opening　anywhere。　　The　trap…door　is　in　the　middle
of　the　ceiling　and　it　is　fifteen　feet　from　the　floor。　　It　shuts
with　a　spring。〃

〃It　may　be　as　you　say；〃　she　observed。　　〃It　may　be　that　he　is　safe。
Remember；　though；　if　you　go　near　him；　that　he　is　desperate。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　Miss　Fentolin　is？〃　he　interrupted。

〃She　is　with　her　mother；〃　the　woman　replied；　impatiently。　　〃She　is
coming　down。　　Tell　me；　what　are　you　going　to　do　with　Mr。　Fentolin？
Nothing　else　matters。〃

〃I　have　a　friend；〃　Hamel　answered；　〃who　will　see　to　that。〃

〃If　you　are　relying　upon　the　law；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　you　will　find
that　the　law　cannot　touch　him。　　Mr。　　Dunster　was　brought　to　the
house　in　a　perfectly　natural　manner。　　He　was　certainly　injured；　and
injured　in　a　railway　accident。　　Doctor　Sarson　is　a　fully　qualified
surgeon；　and　he　will　declare　that　Mr。　Dunster　was　unfit　to　travel。
If　necessary；　they　will　have　destroyed　‘the　man's　intelligence。　　If
you　think　that　you　have　him　broken；　let　me　warn　you　that　you　may　be
disappointed。　　Let　me；　if　I　may；　give　you　one　word　of　advice。〃

〃Please　do；〃　Hamel　begged。

She　looked　at　him　coldly。　　Her　tone　was　still　free　from　any　sort　of
emotion。

〃You　have　taken　up　some　sort　of　position　here；〃　she　continued；　〃as
a　friend　of　Mrs。　Seymour　Fentolin；　a　friend　of　the　family。　　Don't
let　them　come　back　under　the　yoke。　　You　know　the　secret　of　their
bondage？〃

〃I　know　it；〃　he　admitted。

〃They　have　been　his　slaves　because　their　absolute　obedience　to　his
will　was　one　of　the　conditions　of　his　secrecy。　　He　has　drawn　the
cords　too　tight。　　Better　let　the　truth　be　known；　if　needs　be；　than
have　their　three　lives　broken。　　Don't　let　them　go　back　under　his
governance。　　For　me；　I　cannot　tell。　　If　he　comes　back；　as　he　will
come　back；　I　may　become　his　slave　again；　but　let　them　break　away。
Listen　…　that　is　Mrs。　　Fentolin。〃

She　left　him。　　Hamel　followed　her　out　into　the　hail。　　Esther　and
her　mother　were　already　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　　He　drew　them
into　the　study。　　Esther　gave　him　her　hands；　but　she　was　trembling
in　every　limb。

〃I　am　terrified！〃　she　whispered。　　〃Every　moment　I　think　I　can　hear
the　click　of　that　awful　carriage。　　He　will　come　back；　I　am　sure　he
will　come　back！〃

〃He　may；〃　Hamel　answered　sturdily；　〃but　never　to　make　you　people
his　slaves　again。　　You　have　done　enough。　　You　have　earned　your
freedom。〃

〃I　agree；〃　Mrs。　　Fentolin　said　firmly。　　〃We　have　gone　on　from
sacrifice　to　sacrifice；　until　it　has　become　a　habit　with　us　to
consider　him　the　master　of　our　bodies　and　our　souls。　　To…day；
Esther；　we　have　reached　the　breaking　point。　　Not　even　for　the　sake
of　that　message　from　the　other　side　of　the　grave；　not　even　to
preserve　his　honour　and　his　memory；　can　we　do　more。〃

Hamel　held　up　his　finger。　　He　opened　the　French　windows；　and　they
followed　him　out　on　to　the　terrace。　　The　grey　dawn　had　broken　now
over　the　sea。　　There　were　gleams　of　fitful　sunshine　on　the　marshes。
Some　distance　away　a　large　motor…car　was　coming　rapidly　along　the
road。




CHAPTER　XXXIV

Mr。　　John　P。　Dunster；　lying　flat　upon　his　little　bed；　watched　with
dilated　eyes　the　disappearance　of　the　ladder。　　Then　he　laughed。　　It
was　a　queer　sound　…　broken；　spasmodic；　devoid　of　any　of　the　ordinary
elements　of　humor　…　and　yet　it　was　a　laugh。　　Mr。　Fentolin　turned　his
head　towards　his　prisoner　and　nodded　thoughtfully。

〃What　a　constitution；　my　friend！〃　he　exclaimed；　without　any　trace
of　disturbance　in　his　voice。　　〃And　what　a　sense　of　humour！　　Strange
that　a　trifling　circumstance　like　this　should　affect　it。　　Meekins；
burn　some　more　of　the　powder。　　The　atmosphere　down　here　may　be
salubrious；　but　I　am　unaccustomed　to　it。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　Mr。　Dunster　said　in　a　hollow　tone；　you　will　have　some
opportunity　now　of　discovering　with　me　what　it　is　like。〃

〃That；　too；　is　just　possible；〃　Mr。　　Fentolin　admitted；　blowing　out
a　little　volume　of　smoke　from　a　cigarette　which　he　had　just　lit；
〃but　one　never　knows。　　We　have　friends；　and　our　position；　although；
I　must　admit；　a　little　ridiculous；　is　easily　remedied。　　But　how
that　mischief…making　Mr。　Hamel　could　have　found　his　way　into　the
boat…house　does；　I　must　confess；　perplex　me。〃

〃He　must　have　been　hanging　around　and　followed　us　in　when　we　came；〃
Meekins　muttered。　　〃Somehow；　I　fancied　I　felt　some　one　near。〃

〃Our　young　friend；〃　Mr。　　Fentolin　continued；　has；　without　doubt；　an
obvious　turn　of　mind。　　He　will　send　for　his　acquaintance　in　the
Foreign　Office；　they　will　haul　out　Mr。　Dunster　here；　and　he　will
have　a　belated　opportunity　of　delivering　his　message　at　The　Hague。〃

〃You　aren't　going　to　murder　me　first；　then？〃　Mr。　Dunster　grunted。

Mr。　　Fentolin　smiled　at　him　benignly。

〃My　dear　and　valued　guest；〃　he　protested；　〃why　so　forbidding　an
idea？　　Let　me　assure　you　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart　that　any　bodily
harm　to　you　is　the　most　unlikely　thing　in　the　world。　　You　see；
though　you　might　not　think　it；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　love　life。　　That　is
why　I　keep　a　doctor　always　by　my　side。　　That　is　why　I　insist　upon
his　making　a　complete　study　of　my　constitution　and　treating　me　in
every　respect　as　though　I　were　indeed　an　invalid。　　I　am　really　only
fifty…nine　years　old。　　It　is　my　intention　to　live　until　I　am
eighty…nine。　　An　offence　against　the　law　of　the　nature　you　indicate
might　interfere　materially　with　my　intentions。〃

Mr。　　Dunster　struggled　for　a　moment　for　breath。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said；　〃that's　all　right；　but　do　you　suppose　you
won't　be　punished　for　what　you've　done　to　me？　　You　laid　a
deliberate　plot　to　bring　me　to　St。　David's　Hall；　you've　kept　me
locked　up；　dosed　me　with　drugs；　brought　me　down　here　at　the　dead
of　night；　kept　me　a　prisoner　in　a　dungeon。　　Do　you　think　you　can　do
that　for　nothing？　　Do　you　think　you　won't　have　to　suffer　for　it？〃

Mr。　　Fentolin　smiled。

〃My　dear　Mr。　　Dunster；〃　he　reminded　him；　you　were　in　a　railway
accident；　you　know；　there　is　no　possible　doubt　about　that。　　And　the
wound　in　your　head　is　still　there；　in　a　very　dangerous　place。　　Men
who　have　been　in　railway　accidents；　and　who　have　a　gaping　wound
very　close　to　their　brain；　are　subject　to　delusions。　　I　have　simply
done　my　best　to　play　the　Good　Samaritan。　　Your　clothes　and　papers
are　all　untouched。　　If　my　eminent　physician　had　pronounced　you
ready　to　travel　a　week　ago；　you　would　certainly　have　been　allowed
to　depart　a　week　ago。　　Any　interference　in　your　movements　has　been
entirely　in　the　interests　of　your　health。〃

Mr。　　Dunster　tried　to　sit　up　but　found　himself　unable。

〃So　you　think　they　won't　believe　my　story；　eh？〃　he　muttered。　　〃Well；
we　shall　see。〃

Mr。　　Fentolin　thoughtfully　contemplated　the　burning　end　of　his
cigarette　for　a　moment。

〃If　I　believed；〃　he　said；　〃that　there　was　any　chance　of　your
statements　being　accepted；　I　am　afraid　I　should　be　compelled；　in
all　our　interests；　to　ask　Doctor　Sarson　to　pursue　just　a　step
further　that　experiment　into　the　anatomy　of　your　brain　with　which
he　has　already　trifled。〃

Mr。　　Dunster's　face　was　suddenly　ghastly。　　His　reserve　of　strength
seemed　to　ebb　away。　　The　memory　of　some　horrible　moment　seemed　to
hold　him　in　its　clutches。

〃For　God's　sake；　leave　me　alone！〃　he　moaned。　　〃Let　me　get　away；
that's　all；　let　me　crawl　away！〃

〃Ah！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　murmured。　　〃That　sounds　much　more　reasonable。
When　you　talk　like　that；　my　friend。　　I　feel　indeed　that　there　is
hope　for　you。　　Let　us　abandon　this　subject　for　the　present。　　Have
you　solved　the　puzzle　yet？〃　he　asked　Meekins。

Meekins　was　standing　below　the　closed　trap…door。　　He　had　already
dragged　up　a　wooden　case　underneath　and　was　piling　it　with　various
articles　of　furniture。

〃Not　yet；　sir；〃　he　replied。　　〃When　I　have　made　this　steadier；　I
am　just　going　to　see　what　pressure　I　can　bring　to　bear　on　the
trap…door。〃

〃I　heard　the　bolts　go；〃　Doctor　Sarson　remarked　uneasily。

〃In　that　case；〃　Mr。　　Fentolin　declared；　〃it　will　indeed　be　an
interesting　test　of　our　friend　Meekins'　boasted　strength。　　Meekins
holds　his　place　…　a　very　desirable　place；　too　…　chiefly　for　two
reasons：　first　his　discretion　and　secondly　his　muscles。　　He　has
never　before　had　a　real　opportunity　of　testing　the　latter。　　We
shall　see。〃

Doctor　Sarson　came　slowly　and　gravely　to　the　bedside。　　He　looked
down　upon　his　patient。　　Mr。　　Dunster　shivered。

〃I　am　not　sure；　sir；〃　he　said　very　softly；　〃that　Mr。　Dunster；　in
his　present　state　of　mind；　is　a　very　safe　person　to　be　allowed　his
freedom。　　It　is　true　that　we　have　kept　him　here　for　his　own　sake；
because　of　his　fits　of　mental　wandering。　　Our　statements；　however；
may　be　doubte