the vanished messenger-第6章

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commission；　eh？〃

The　young　man's　face　was　dark　and　sullen。　　He　spoke　quickly　but
without　any　sign　of　eagerness　or　interest　in　the　information　he
vouchsafed。

〃The　storm　has　stopped　all　the　trains；〃　he　said。　　〃The　boat　did　not
cross　last　night；　and　in　any　ease　I　couldn't　have　reached　Harwich。
As　for　your　commission；　I　travelled　down　from　London　alone　with　the
man　you　told　me　to　spy　upon。　　I　could　have　stolen　anything　he　had
if　I　had　been　used　to　the　work。　　As　it　was　…　I　brought　the　man
himself。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　delicate　fingers　played　with　the　handle　of　his　chair。
The　smile　had　passed　from　his　lips。　　He　looked　at　his　nephew　in
gentle　bewilderment。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　protested；　〃come；　come；　be　careful　what　you　are
saying。　　You　have　brought　the　man　himself！　　So　far　as　my　information
goes；　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　is　charged　with　a　very　important　diplomatic
commission。　　He　is　on　his　way　to　Cologne；　and　from　what　I　know　about
the　man；　I　think　that　it　would　require　more　than　your　persuasions　to
induce　him　to　break　off　his　journey。　　You　do　not　really　wish　me　to
believe　that　you　have　brought　him　here　as　a　guest？〃

〃I　was　at　Liverpool　Street　Station　last　night；〃　Gerald　declared。
〃I　had　no　idea　how　to　accost　him；　and　as　to　stealing　any　of　his
belongings；　I　couldn't　have　done　it。　　You　must　hear　how　fortune
helped　me；　though。　　Mr。　Dunster　missed　the　train；　so　did　I
…　purposely。　　He　ordered　a　special。　　I　asked　permission　to　travel
with　him。　　I　told　him　a　lie　as　to　how　I　had　missed　the　train。　　I
hated　it；　but　it　was　necessary。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　approvingly。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃to　trifle　with　the　truth　is　always
unpleasant。　　Besides；　you　are　a　Fentolin；　and　our　love　of　truth　is
proverbial。　　But　there　are　times；　you　know；　when　for　the　good　of
others　we　must　sacrifice　our　scruples。　　So　you　told　Mr。　Dunster　a
alsehood。〃

〃He　let　me　travel　with　him；〃　Gerald　continued。　　〃We　were　all　night
getting　about　half…way　here。　　Then　…　you　know　about　the　storm；　I
suppose？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　spread　out　his　hands。

〃Could　one　avoid　the　knowledge　of　it　he　asked。　〃Such　a　sight　has
never　been　seen。〃

〃We　found　we　couldn't　get　to　Harwich；〃　Gerald　went　on。　　〃They
telegraphed　to　London　and　got　permission　to　bring　us　to　Yarmouth。
We　were　on　our　way　to　Norwich；　and　the　train　ran　off　the　line。〃

〃An　accident？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　exclaimed。

Gerald　nodded。

〃Our　train　ran　off　the　line　and　pitched　down　an　embankment。　　Mr。
Dunster　has　concussion　of　the　brain。　　He　and　I　were　taken　to　a
miserable　little　inn　near　Wymondham。　　From　there　I　hired　a　motor…car
and　brought　him　here。〃

〃You　hired　a　motor…car　and　brought　him　here；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated
softly。　　〃My　dear　boy　…　forgive　me　if　I　find　this　a　little　hard　to
understand。　　You　say　that　you　have　brought　him　here。　　Had　he　nothing
to　say　about　it？〃

〃He　was　unconscious　when　we　picked　him　up；〃　　Gerald　explained。　　〃He
is　unconscious　now。　　Tbe　doctor　said　he　would　remain　so　for　at　least
twenty…four　hours；　and　it　didn't　seem　to　me　that　the　journey　would
do　him　any　particular　harm。　　The　roof　had　been　stripped　off　the　inn
where　we　were；　and　the　place　was　quite　uninhabitable；　so　we　should
have　had　to　have　moved　him　somewhere。　　We　put　him　in　the　tonneau　of
the　car　and　covered　him　up。　　They　have　carried　him　now　into　a
bedroom；　and　Sarson　is　looking　after　him。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　quite　silent。　　His　eyes　blinked　once　or　twice；　and
there　was　a　curious　curve　about　his　lips。

〃You　have　done　well；　my　boy；〃　he　pronounced　slowly。　　〃Your　scheme
of　bringing　him　here　sounds　a　little　primitive；　but　success
justifies　everything。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　raised　to　his　lips　and　blew　softly　a　little　gold
whistle　which　hung　from　a　chain　attached　to　his　waistcoat。　　Almost
immediately　the　door　opened。　　A　man　entered；　dressed　somberly　in
black；　whose　bearing　and　demeanour　alike　denoted　the　servant；　but
whose　physique　was　the　physique　of　a　prize…fighter。　　He　was　scarcely
more　than　five　feet　six　in　height；　but　his　shoulders　were
extraordinarily　broad。　He　had　a　short；　bull　neck　and　long；　mighty
arms。　　His　face；　with　the　heavy　jaw　and　small　eyes；　was　the　face
of　the　typical　fighting　man；　yet　his　features　seemed　to　have　become
disposed　by　habit　into　an　expression　of　gentle；　almost　servile
civility。

〃Meekins；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said；　〃a　visitor　has　arrived。　　Do　you　happen
to　have　noticed　what　luggage　he　brought？〃

〃There　is　one　small　dressing…case；　sir；〃　the　man　replied；　〃nothing
else　that　I　have　seen。〃

〃That　is　all　we　brought；〃　Gerald　interposed。

〃You　will　bring　the　dressing…case　here　at　once；〃　Mr。　Fentolin
directed；　〃and　also　my　compliments　to　Doctor　Sarson；　and　any
pocket…book　or　papers　which　may　help　us　to　send　a　message　to　the
gentleman's　friends。〃

Meekins　closed　the　door　and　departed。　　Mr。　Fentolin　turned　back
towards　his　nephew。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃tell　me　why　you　look　as　though　there　were
ghosts　flitting　about　the　room？　　You　are　not　ill；　I　trust？〃

〃Tired；　perhaps；〃　Gerald　answered　shortly。　　〃We　were　many　hours　in
the　car。　　I　have　had　no　sleep。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　face　was　full　of　kindly　sympathy。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　am　selfish；　indeed！　　I　should　not
have　kept　you　here　for　a　moment。　　You　had　better　go　and　lie　down。〃

〃I'll　go　directly；〃　Gerald　promised。　　〃Can　I　speak　to　you　for　one
moment　first？〃

〃Speak　to　me　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated；　a　little　wonderingly。　　〃My
dear　Gerald；　is　there　ever　a　moment　when　I　am　not　wholly　at　your
service？〃

〃That　fellow　Dunster；　on　the　platform；　the　first　moment　I　spoke　to
him；　made　me　feel　like　a　cur；〃　the　boy　said；　with　a　sudden　access
of　vigour　in　his　tone。　　〃I　told　him　I　was　on　my　way　to　a　golf
tournament；　and　he　pointed　to　the　news　about　the　war。　　Is　it　true；
uncle；　that　we　may　be　at　war　at　any　moment？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃A　terrible　reflection；　my　dear　boy；〃　he　admitted　softly；　〃but；　alas！
the　finger　of　probability　points　that　way。〃

〃Then　what　about　me　Gerald　exclaimed。　　〃I　don't　want　to　complain；
but　listen。　　You　dragged　me　home　from　a　public　school　before　I　could
even　join　my　cadet　corps。　　You've　kept　me　banging　around　here　with
a　tutor。　　You　wouldn't　let　me　go　to　the　university。　　You've　stopped
my　entering　either　of　the　services。　　I　am　nineteen　years　old　and
useless。　　Do　you　know　what　I　should　do　to…morrow　if　war　broke　out？
Enlist！　　It's　the　only　thing　left　for　me。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　was　shocked。

〃My　dear　boy　！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃You　must　not　talk　like　that！　　I　am
quite　sure　that　it　would　break　your　mother's　heart。　　Enlist；　indeed！
Nothing　of　the　sort。　　You　are　part　of　the　civilian　population　of
the　country。〃

〃Civilian　population　be　d…d！〃　the　boy　suddenly　cried；　white　with
rage。　　〃Uncle；　forgive　me；　I　have　stood　all　I　can　bear。　　If　you
won't　let　me　go　in　for　the　army　…　I　could　pass　my　exams　to…morrow
…　I'm　off。　　I'll　enlist　without　waiting　for　the　war。　　I　can't　bear
this　idle　life　any　longer。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　leaned　a　little　forward　in　his　chair。

〃Gerald！〃　he　said　softly。

The　boy　turned　his　head；　turned　it　unwillingly。　　He　had　the　air　of
a　caged　animal　obeying　the　word　of　his　keeper。　　A　certain　savage
uncouthness　seemed　to　have　fallen　upon　him　during　the　last　few
minutes。　　There　was　something　almost　like　a　snarl　in　his　expression。

〃Gerald！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated。

Then　it　was　obvious　that　there　was　something　between　those　two；　some
memory　or　some　living　thing；　seldom；　if　ever；　to　be　spoken　of；　and
yet　always　present。　　The　boy　began　to　tremble。

〃You're　a　little　overwrought；　Gerald；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared。
〃Sit　quietly　in　my　easy…chair　for　a　few　moments。　　Walt　until　I　have
examined　Mr。　Dunster's　belongings。　　Ah！　　Meekins　has　been　prompt；
indeed。〃

There　was　a　stealthy　tap　at　the　door。　　Meekins　entered　with　the
small　dressing…case　in　his　hand。　　He　brought　it　over　to　his　master's
chair。　　Mr。　Fentolin　pointed　to　the　floor。

〃Open　it　there；　Meekins；〃　he　directed。　　〃I　fancy　that　the　pocket…book
you　are　carrying　will　prove　more　interesting。　　We　will　just　glance
through　the　dressing…case　first。　　Thank　you。　　Yes；　you　can　lay　the
things　upon　the　floor。　　A　man　of　Spartan…like　life；　I　should　imagine
Mr。　Dunster。　　A　spare　toothbrush；　though；　I　am　glad　to　see。　　Pyjamas
of　most　unattractive　pattern。　　And　what　a　taste　in　shirts！　　Nothing
but　wearing　apparel　and　singularly　little　of　that；　I　fancy。〃

The　dressing…case　was　empty；　its　contents　upon　the　floor。　　Mr。
Fentolin　held　out　his　hand　and　took　the　pocket…book　which　Meekins
had　been　carrying。　　It　was　an　ordinary　morocco　affair；　similar　to
those　issued　by　American　banking　houses　to　enclose　letters　of　credit。
One　side　of　it　was　filled　with　notes。　　Mr。　Fentolin　withdrew　them
and　glanced　them　through。

〃Dear　me！〃　he　murmured。　　〃No　wonder　our　friend　engages　special
trains！　　He　travels　like　a　prince；　indeed。　　Two　thousand　pounds；　or
near　it；　in　this　little　compartment。　　And　here；　I　see；　a　letter；　a
sealed　letter　with　no　address。〃

He　held　it　out　in　front　of　him。　　It　was　a　long　commercial　envelope
of　ordinary　type；　and　although　the　flap　was　secured　with　a　blob　of
sealing　wax；　there　was　no　particular　impression　upon　it。

〃We　can　match　this　envelope；　I　think；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　softly。
〃The　seal　we　can　copy。　　I　think　that；　for　the　sake　of　others；　we
must　discover　the　cause　for　this　hurried　journey　on　the　part　of　Mr。
John　P。　Dunster。〃

With　his　long；　delicate　forefinger　Mr。　Fentolin　slit　the　envelope
and　withdrew　the　single　sheet　of　paper　which　it　contained。　　There
were　a　dozen　lines　of　written　matter；　and　what　appeared　to　be　a
dozen　signatures　appended。　　Mr。　Fentolin　read　it；　at　first　with
ordinary　interest。　　Then　a　change　came。　　The　look　of　a　man　drawn
out　of　himself；　drawn　out　of　all　knowledge　of　his　surroundings　or
his　present　state；　stole　into　his　face。　　Literally　he　became
transfixed。　　The　delicate　fingers　of　his；　left　hand　gripped　the
sides　of　his　little　carriage。　　His　eyes　shone　as　though　those　few
written　lines　upon　which　they　were　riveted　were　indeed　some　message
from　an　unknown；　an　unimagined　world。　　Yet　no　word　ever　passed　his
lips。　　There　came　a　time　when　the　tension　seemed　a　little　relaxed。
With　fingers　which　still　trembled；　he　folded　up　the　sheet　and
replaced　it　in　the　envelope。　　He　guarded　it　with　both　his　hands　and
sat　quite　still。　　Neither　Gerald　nor　his　servant　moved。　　Somehow；
the　sense　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　suppressed　excitement　seemed　to　have
become　communicated　to　them。　　It　was　a　little　tableau；　broken　at
last　by　Mr。　Fentolin　himself。

〃I　should　like；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Gerald；　〃to　be　alone。　　It　may
interest　you　to　know　that　this　docu　which　Mr。　Dunster　has　brought
across　the　seas；　and　which　I　hold　in　my　hands；　is　the　most　amazing
message　of　modern　times。〃

Gerald　rose　to　his　feet。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃　he　asked　abruptly。　　〃Do　you
want　any　one　in　from　the　telegraph　room？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　slowly。

〃At　present；〃　he　announced；　〃I　am　going　to　reflect。　　Meekins；　my
chair　to　the　north　window　…　so。　　I　am　going　to　sit　here；〃　he　went
on；　〃　and　I　am　going　to　look　across　the　sea_and　reflect。　　A　very
fortunate　storm；　after　all；　I　think；　which　kept　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster
from　the　Harwich　boat　last　night。　　Leave　me；　Gerald；　for　a