the vanished messenger-第9章

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〃I　am　afraid　there's　no　doubt　about　it；〃　Kinsley　declared。　　〃Their
ambassadors　in　London　profess　to　know　nothing。　　That；　of　course；
is　their　reasonable　attitude；　but　there's　no　doubt　whatever　that
the　conference　has　been　planned。　　I　should　say　that　to…night　we　are
nearer　war；　if　we　can　summon　enough　spirit　to　fight；　than　we　have
been　since　Fashoda。〃

〃Queer　if　I　have　returned　just　in　time　for　the　scrap；〃　Hamel　remarked
thoughtfully。　　〃I　was　in　the　Militia　once；　so　I　expect　I　can　get　a
job；　if　there's　any　fighting。〃

〃I　can　get　you　a　better　job　than　fighting　…　one　you　can　start　on
to…morrow；　too；〃　Kinsley　announced　abruptly；　〃that　is　if　you　really
want　to　help？〃

〃Of　course　I　do；〃　Hamel　insisted。　　〃I'm　on　for　anything。〃

〃You　say　that　you　are　entirely　your　own　master　for　the　next　six
months？〃

〃Or　as　much　longer　as　I　like；〃　Hamel　assented。　　〃No　plans　at　all；
except　that　I　might　drift　round　to　the　Norfolk　coast　and　look　up
some　of　the　places　where　the　governor　used　to　paint。　　There's　a
queer　little　house　…　St。　David's　Tower；　I　believe　they　call　it
…　which　really　belongs　to　me。　　It　was　given　to　my　father；　or　rather
he　bought　it；　from　a　man　who　I　think　must　have　been　some　relative
of　your　friend。　　I　feel　sure　the　name　was　Fentolin。〃

Reginald　Kinsley　set　down　his　wine…glass。

〃Is　your　St。　David's　Tower　anywhere　near　a　place　called　Salthouse？〃
he　asked　reflectively。

〃That's　the　name　of　the　village；〃　Hamel　admitted。　　〃My　father　used
to　spend　quite　a　lot　of　time　in　those　parts；　and　painted　at　least　a
dozen　pictures　down　there。〃

〃This　is　a　coincidence；〃　Reginald　Kinsley　declared；　lighting　a
cigarette。　　〃I　think；　if　I　were　you；　Dick；　I'd　go　down　and　claim
my　property。〃

〃Tired　of　me　already？〃　Hamel　asked；　smiling。

Reginald　Kinsley　knocked　the　ash　from　his　cigarette。

〃It　isn't　that。　　The　fact　is；　that　job　I　was　speaking　to　you　about
was　simply　this。　　We　want　some　one　to　go　down　to　Salthouse　…　not
exactly　as　a　spy；　you　know；　but　some　one　who　has　his　wits　about　him。
We　are　all　of　us　very　curious　about　this　man　Fentolin。　　There　are　
o　end　of　rumours　which　I　won't　mention　to　you；　for　they　might　only
put　you　off　the　scent。　　But　the　man　seems　to　be　always　intriguing。
It　wouldn't　matter　so　much　if　he　were　our　friend；　or　if　he　were
simply　a　financier；　but　to　tell　you　the　truth；　we　have　cause　to
suspect　him。〃

〃But　he's　an　Englishman；　surely？〃　Hamel　asked。　　〃The　Fentolin　who
was　my　father's　friend　was　just　a　very　wealthy　Norfolk　squire　…　one
of　the　best；　from　all　I　have　heard。〃

〃Miles　Fentolin　is　an　Englishman；〃　Kinsley　admitted。　　〃It　is　true；
too；　that　he　comes　of　a　very　ancient　Norfolk　family。　　It　doesn't　do；
however；　to　build　too　much　upon　that。　　From　all　I　can　learn　of　him；
he　is　a　sort　of　Puck；　a　professional　mischief…maker。　　I　don't
suppose　there's　anything　an　outsider　could　find　out　which　would　be
really　useful　to　us；　but　all　the　same；　if　I　had　the　time；　I　should
certainly　go　down　to　Norfolk　myself。〃

The　conversation　drifted　away　for　a　while。　　Mutual　acquaintances
entered；　there　were　several　introductions；　and　it　was　not　until
the　two　found　themselves　together　in　Kinsley's　rooms　for　a　few
minutes　before　parting　that　they　were　alone　again。　　Hamel　returned
then　once　more　to　the　subject。

〃Reggie；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　think　it　would　be　of　the　slightest　use；
I'll　go　down　to　Salthouse　to…morrow。　　I　am　rather　keen　on　going
there；　anyway。　　I　am　absolutely　fed　up　with　life　here　already。〃

〃It's　just　what　I　want　you　to　do；〃　Kinsley　said。　　〃I　am　afraid
Fentolin　is　a　little　too　clever　for　you　to　get　on　the　right　side
of　him；　but　if　you　could　only　get　an　idea　as　to　what　his　game　is
down　there；　it　would　be　a　great　help。　　You　see；　the　fellow　can't
have　gone　into　all　this　sort　of　thing　blindfold。　　We've　lost
several　very　useful　agents　abroad　and　two　from　New　York　who've
gone　into　his　pay。　　There　must　be　a　method　in　it　somewhere。　　If
it　really　ends　with　his　financial　operations　…　why；　all　right。
That's　very　likely　what　it'll　come　to；　but　we　should　like　to　know。
The　merest　hint　would　be　usefuL〃

〃I'll　do　my　best；〃　Hamel　promised。　　〃In　any　case；　it　will　be　just
the　few　days'　holiday　I　was　looking　forward　to。〃

Kinsley　helped　himself　to　whisky　and　soda　and　turned　towards　his
friend。

〃Here's　luck　to　you；　Dick！　Take　care　of　yourself。　　All　sorts　of
things　may　happen；　you　know。　　Old　man　Fentolin　may　take　a　fancy　to
you　and　tell　you　secrets　that　any　statesman　in　Europe　would　be　glad
to　hear。　　He　may　tell　you　why　this　conference　is　being　held　and
what　the　result　will　be。　　You　may　be　the　first　to　hear　of　our　coming
fall。　　Well；　here's　to　you；　anyway！　Drop　me　a　line；　if　you've
anything　to　report。〃

〃Cheero！〃　Hamel　answered；　as　he　set　down　his　empty　tumbler。
〃Astonishing　how　keen　I　feel　about　this　little　adventure。　　I'm
perfectly　sick　of　the　humdrum　life　I　have　been　leading　the　last
week；　and　you　do　sort　of　take　one　back　to　the　Arabian　Nights；　you
know；　Reggie。　　I　am　never　quite　sure　whether　to　take　you　seriously
or　not。〃

Kinsley　smiled　as　he　held　his　friend's　band　for　a　moment。

〃Dick；〃　he　said　earnestly；　〃if　only　you'd　believe　it；　the　adventures
in　the　Arabian　Nights　were　as　nothing　compared　with　the　present…day
drama　of　foreign　politics。　　You　see；　we've　learned　to　conceal　things
nowadays　…　to　smooth　them　over；　to　play　the　part　of　ordinary　citizens
to　the　world　while　we　tug　at　the　underhand　levers　in　our　secret
moments。　　Good　night！　Good　luck！〃




CHAPTER　VIII

Richard　Hame1；　although　he　certainly　had　not　the　appearance　of　a
person　afflicted　with　nerves；　gave　a　slight　start。　　For　the　last
half…hour；　during　which　time　the　train　had　made　no　stop；　he　had
been　alone　in　his　compartment。　　Yet；　to　his　surprise；　he　was
suddenly　aware　that　the　seat　opposite　to　him　had　been　noiselessly
taken　by　a　girl　whose　eyes；　also；　were　fixed　with　curious
intentness　upon　the　broad　expanse　of　marshland　and　sands　across
which　the　train　was　slowly　making　its　way。　　Hamel　had　spent　a　great
many　years　abroad；　and　his　first　impulse　was　to　speak　with　the
unexpected　stranger。　　He　forgot　for　a　moment　that　he　was　in　England；
travelling　in　a　first…class　carriage；　and　pointed　with　his　left　hand
towards　the　sea。

〃Queer　country　this；　isn't　it？〃　he　remarked　pleasantly。　　〃Do　you
know；　I　never　heard　you　come　in。　　It　gave　me　quite　a　start　when　I
found　that　I　had　a　fellow…passenger。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　certain　amount　of　still　surprise；　a　look
which　he　returned　just　as　steadfastly；　because　even　in　those　few
seconds　he　was　conscious　of　that　strange　selective　interest；
certainly　unaccounted　for　by　his　own　impressions　of　her　appearance。
She　seemed　to　him；　at　that　first　glance；　very　far　indeed　from　being
good…looking；　according　to　any　of　the　standards　by　which　he　had
measured　good　looks。　　She　was　thin；　too　thin　for　his　taste；　and　she
carried　herself　with　an　aloofness　to　which　he　was　unaccustomed。
Her　cheeks　were　quite　pale；　her　hair　of　a　soft　shade　of　brown；　her
eyes　grey　and　sad。　　She　gave　him　altogether　an　impression　of
colourlessness；　and　he　had　been　living　in　a　land　where　colour　and
vitality　meant　much。　　Her　speech；　too；　in　its　very　restraint；　fell
strangely　upon　his　ears。

〃I　have　been　travelling　in　an　uncomfortable　compartment；〃　she
observed。　　〃I　happened　to　notice；　when　passing　along　the　corridor；
that　yours　was　empty。　　In　any　case；　I　am　getting　out　at　the　next
station。〃

〃So　am　I；〃　he　replied；　still　cheerfully。　　〃I　suppose　the　next
station　is　St。　David's？〃

She　made　no　answer；　but　so　far　as　her　expression　counted　for
anything　at　all；　she　was　a　little　surprised。　　Her　eyes　considered
him　for　a　moment。　　Hamel　was　tall；　well　over　six　feet；　powerfully
made；　with　good　features；　clear　eyes；　and　complexion　unusually
sunburnt。　　He　wore　a　flannel　collar　of　unfamiliar　shape；　and　his
clothes；　although　they　were　neat　enough；　were　of　a　pattern　and　cut
obviously　designed　to　afford　the　maximum　of　ease　and　comfort　with
the　minimum　regard　to　appearance。　　He　wore；　too；　very　thick　boots；
and　his　hands　gave　one　the　impression　that　they　were　seldom　gloved。
His　voice　was　pleasant；　and　he　had　the　easy　self…confidence　of　a
person　sure　of　himself　in　the　world。　　She　put　him　down　as　a　colonial
…　perhaps　an　American　…　but　his　rank　in　life　mystified　her。

〃This　seems　the　queerest　stretch　of　country；〃　he　went　on；　〃long
spits　of　sand　jutting　right　out　into　the　sea；　dikes　and　creeks
…　miles　and　miles　of　them。　　Now；　I　wonder；　is　it　low　tide　or　high？
　Low；　I　should　think；　because　of　the　sea…shine　on　the　sand　there。〃

She　glanced　out　of　the　window。

〃The　tide；〃　she　told　him；　〃is　almost　at　its　lowest。〃

〃You　live　in　this　neighbourhood；　perhaps？〃　he　enquired。

〃I　do；〃　she　assented。

〃Sort　of　country　one　might　get　very　fond　of；〃　he　ventured。

She　glanced　at　him　from　the　depths　of　her　grey　eyes。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　she　rejoined　coldly。　　〃For　my　part；　I　hate　it。〃

He　was　surprised　at　the　unexpected　emphasis　of　her　tone　…　the　first
time；　indeed；　that　she　had　shown　any　signs　of　interest　in　the
conversation。

〃Kind　of　dull　I　suppose　you　find　it；〃　he　remarked　pensively；　looking
out　across　the　waste　of　lavender…grown　marshes；　sand　hummocks　piled
with　seaweed；　and　a　far　distant　line　of　pebbled　shore。　　〃And　yet；　I
don't　know。　　I　have　lived　by　the　sea　a　good　deal；　and　however
monotonous　it　may　seem　at　first；　there's　always　plenty　of　change；
really。　　Tide　and　wind　do　such　wonderful　work。〃

She；　too；　was　looking　out　now　towards　the　sea。

〃Oh；　it　isn't　exactly　that；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃I　am　quite　willing
to　admit　what　all　the　tourists　and　chance　visitors　call　the
fascination　of　these　places。　　I　happen　to　dislike　them；　that　is　all。
Perhaps　it　is　because　I　live　here；　because　I　see　them　day　by　day；
perhaps　because　the　sight　of　them　and　the　thought　of　them　have
become　woven　into　my　life。〃

She　was　talking　half　to　herself。　　For　a　moment；　even　the　knowledge
of　his　presence　had　escaped　her。　　Hamel；　however；　did　not　realise
that　fact。　　He　welcomed　her　confidence　as　a　sign　of　relaxation　from
the　frigidity　of　her　earlier　demeanour。

〃That　seems　hard；〃　he　observed　sympathetically。　　〃It　seems　odd　to
hear　you　talk　like　that；　too。　　Your　life；　surely；　ought　to　be
pleasant　enough。〃

She　looked　away　from　the　sea　into　his　face。　　Although　the　genuine
interest　which　she　saw　there　and　the　kindly　expression　of　his　eyes
disarmed　annoyance；　she　still　stiffened　slightly。

〃Why　ought　it？。〃

The　question　was　a　little　bewildering。

〃Why；　because　you　are　young　and　a　girl；〃　he　replied。　　〃It's　natural
to　be　cheerful；　isn't　it？〃

〃Is　it？〃　she　answered　listlessly。　　〃I　cannot　tell。　　I　have　not　had
much　experience。〃

〃How　old　are　you？〃　he　asked　bluntly。

This　time　it　certainly　seemed　as　though　her　reply　would　contain
some　rebuke　for　his　curiosity。　　She　glanced　once　more　into　his
face；　however；　and　the　instinctive　desire　to　administer　that
well…deserved　snub　passed　away。　　He　was　so　obviously　interested；
his　question　was　asked　so　naturally；　that　its　spice　of
impertinence　was　as　though　it　had　not　existed。

〃I　am　twenty…one；〃　she　told　him。

〃And　how　long　have　you　lived　here？　　

〃Since　I　left　boarding…school；　four　years　ago。〃

〃Anywhere　near　where　I