the vanished messenger-第18章

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Your　pretext　of　a　political　mission　is；　of　course；　an　absurd　one；
but　fortunately　you　have　fallen　into　good　hands。　　Take　good　care　of
Mr。　Dunster；　Meekins。　　I　can　see　that　he　is　a　very　important
personage。　　We　must　be　careful　not　to　lose　sight　of　him。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　steered　his　chair　to　the　door；　opened　it；　and　passed
out。　　On　the　landing　he　blew　his　whistle；　the　lift　almost　immediately
ascended。　　A　moment　or　two　later　he　glided　into　the　dining…room。　　The
three　men　were　still　seated　around　the　table。　　A　decanter　of　wine；
almost　empty；　was　before　Doctor　Sarson；　whose　pallid　cheeks；　however；
were　as　yet　unflushed。

〃At　last；　my　dear　guest；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　exclaimed；　turning　to　Hamel；
〃I　am　able　to　return　to　you。　　If　you　will　drink　no　more　wine；　let
us　have　our　coffee　in　the　library；　you　and　I。　　I　want　to　talk　to
you　about　the　Tower。〃




CHAPTER　XV

Mr。　Fentolin　led　the　way　to　a　delightful　little　corner　of　his
library；　where　before　the　open　grate；　recently　piled　with　hissing
logs；　an　easy　chair　had　been　drawn。　　He　wheeled　himself　up　to　the
other　side　of　the　hearthrug　and　leaned　back　with　a　little　air　of
exhaustion。　　The　butler；　who　seemed　to　have　appeared　unsummoned
from　somewhere　among　the　shadows；　served　coffee　and　poured　some
old　brandy　into　large　and　wonderfully　thin　glasses。

〃Why　my　house　should　be　turned　into　an　asylum　to　gratify　the
hospitable　instincts　of　my　young　nephew；　I　cannot　imagine；〃　Mr。
Fentolin　grumbled。　　〃A　most　extraordinary　person；　our　visitor；
I　can　assure　you。　　Quite　violent；　too；　he　was　at　first。〃

〃Have　you　had　any　outside　advice　about　his　condition？〃　Hamel
inquired。

Mr。　Fentolin　glanced　across　those　few　feet　of　space　and　looked　at
Hamel　with　swift　suspicion。

〃Why　should　I？〃　he　asked。　　〃Doctor　Sarson　is　fully　qualified；　and
the　case　seems　to　present　no　unusual　characteristics。〃

Hamel　sipped　his　brandy　thoughtfully。

〃I　don't　know　why　I　suggested　it；〃　he　admitted。　　〃I　only　thought
that　an　outside　doctor　might　help　you　to　get　rid　of　the　fellow。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃After　all；〃　he　said；　〃the　matter　is　of　no　real　consequence。　　Doctor
Sarson　assures　me　that　we　shall　be　able　to　send　him　on　his　way　very
shortly。　　In　the　meantime；　Mr。　Hamel；　what　about　the　Tower？〃

〃What　about　it？〃　Hamel　asked；　selecting　a　cigar　from　the　box　which
had　been　pushed　to　his　side。　　〃I　am　sure　I　haven't　any　wish　to
inconvenience　you。〃

〃I　will　be　quite　frank；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　declared。　　〃I　do　not　dispute
your　right　for　a　moment。　　On　the　other　hand；　my　few　hours　daily　down
there　have　become　a　habit　with　me。　　I　do　not　wish　to　give　them　up。
Stay　here　with　us；　Mr。　Hamel。　　You　will　be　doing　us　a　great　kindness。
My　nephew　and　niece　have　too　little　congenial　society。　　Make　up　your
mind　to　give　us　a　fortnight　of　your　time；　and　I　can　assure　you　that
we　will　do　our　best　to　make　yours　a　pleasant　stay。〃

Hamel　was　a　little　taken　aback。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃I　couldn't　think　of　accepting　your
hospitality　to　such　an　extent。　　My　idea　in　coming　here　was　simply
to　fulfil　an　old　promise　to　my　father　and　to　rough　it　at　the　Tower
for　a　week　or　so；　and　when　that　was　over；　I　don't　suppose　I　should
ever　be　likely　to　come　back　again。　　You　had　better　let　me　carry　out
that　plan；　and　afterwards　the　place　shall　be　entirely　at　your
disposal。〃

〃You　don't　quite　understand；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　persisted；　a　little
irritably。　　〃I　sit　there　every　morning。　　I　want；　for　instance；　to
be　there　to…morrow　morning；　and　the　next　morning；　and　the　morning
afterwards；　to　finish　a　little　seascape　I　have　commenced。　　Nowhere
else　will　do。　　Call　it　a　whim　or　what　you　will　I　have　begun　the
picture；　and　I　want　to　finish　it。〃

〃Well；　you　can　sit　there　all　right；〃　Hamel　assured　him。　　〃I　shall
be　out　playing　golf　or　fishing。　　I　shall　do　nothing　but　sleep　there。〃

〃And　very　uncomfortable　you　will　be；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　pointed　out。
〃You　have　no　servant；　I　understand；　and　there　is　no　one　in　the
village　fit　to　look　after　you。　　Think　of　my　thirty…nine　empty　rooms；
my　books　here；　my　gardens；　my　motor…cars；　my　young　people；　entirely
at　your　service。　　You　can　have　a　suite　to　yourself。　　You　can
disappear　when　you　like。　　To　all　effects　and　purposes　you　will　be
the　master　of　St。　David's　Hall。　　Be　reasonable。　　Don't　you　think；
now；　that　you　can　spend　a　fortnight　more　pleasantly　under　such
circumstances　than　by　playing　the　misanthrope　down　at　the　Tower？〃

〃Please　don't　think；〃　Hamel　begged；　〃that　I　don't　appreciate　your
hospitality。　　I　should　feel　uncomfortable；　however；　if　I　paid　you
a　visit　of　the　length　you　have　suggested。　　Come；　I　don't　see；〃　he
added；　〃why　my　occupation　of　the　Tower　should　interfere　with　you。
I　should　be　away　from　it　by　about　nine　or　ten　o'clock　every　morning。
I　should　probably　only　sleep　there。　　Can't　you　accept　the　use　of
it　all　the　rest　of　the　time？　　I　can　assure　you　that　you　will　be
welcome　to　come　and　go　as　though　it　were　entirely　your　own。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　had　lit　a　cigarette　and　was　watching　the　blue　smoke
curl　upwards　to　the　ceiling。

〃You're　an　obstinate　man；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　sighed；　〃but　I　suppose
you　must　have　your　own　way。　　By…the…by；　you　would　only　need　to　use
the　up…stairs　room　and　the　sitting…room。　　You　will　not　need　the
outhouse　…　rather　more　than　an　outhouse；　though　isn't　it？　　I　mean
the　shed　which　leads　out　from　the　kitchen；　where　the　lifeboat　used
to　be　kept？〃

〃I　don't　think　I　shall　need　that；〃　Hamel　admitted；　a　little
hesitatingly。

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued；　〃among　my　other
hobbies　I　have　done　a　little　inventing。　　I　work　sometimes　at　a
model　there。　　It　is　foolish；　perhaps；　but　I　wish　no　one　to　see　it。
Do　you　mind　if　I　keep　the　keys　of　the　place？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃Tell　me；　what　direction　do　your
inventions　take；　Mr。　　Fentolin？

〃Before　you　go；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　promised；　〃I　will　show　you　my　little
model　at　work。　　Until　then　we　will　not　talk　of　it。　　Now　come；　be
frank　with　me。　　Shall　we　exchange　ideas　for　a　little　time？　　Will　you
talk　of　books？　　They　are　my　daily　friends。　　I　have　thousands　of　them；
beloved　companions　on　every　side。　　Or　will　you　talk　of　politics　or
travel？　　Or　would　you　rather　be　frivolous　with　my　niece　and　nephew？
That；　I　think；　is　Esther　playing。〃

〃To　be　quite　frank；〃　Hamel　declared　bluntly；　〃I　should　like　to　talk
to　your　niece。

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　as　though　amused。　　His　amusement；　however；
was　perfectly　good…natured。

〃If　you　will　open　this　door；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　see　another　one
exactly　opposite　to　you。　　That　is　the　drawing…room。　　You　will　find
Esther　there。　　Before　you　go；　will　you　pass　me　the　Quarterly　Review？
Thank　you。〃

Hamel　crossed　the　hail；　opened　the　door　of　the　room　to　which　he
had　been　directed；　and　made　his　way　towards　the　piano。　　Esther　was
there；　playing　softly　to　herself　with　eyes　half　closed。　　He　came
and　stood　by　her　side；　and　she　stopped　abruptly。　　Her　eyes
questioned　him。　　Then　her　fingers　stole　once　more　over　the　keys；
more　softly　still。

〃I　have　just　left　your　uncle；〃　Hamel　said。　　〃He　told　me　that　I　might
come　in　here。〃

〃Yes？〃　she　murmured。

〃He　was　very　hospitable；〃　Hamel　continued。　　〃He　wanted　me　to　remain
here　as　a　guest　and　not　go　to　the　Tower　at　all。〃

〃And　you？〃

〃I　am　going　to　the　Tower；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　going　there　to…morrow
or　the　day　after。〃

The　music　swelled　beneath　her　fingers。

〃For　how　long？〃

〃For　a　week　or　so。　　I　am　just　giving　your　uncle　time　to　clear　out
his　belongings。　　I　am　leaving　him　the　outhouse。〃

〃He　asked　you　to　leave　him　that？〃　she　whispered。

〃Yes！　　

〃You　are　not　going　in　there　at　all？〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

Again　she　played　a　little　more　loudly　for　a　few　moments。　　Then　the
music　died　away　once　more。

〃What　reason　did　he　give　for　keeping　possession　of　that？〃

〃Another　bobby；〃　Hamel　replied。　　〃He　is　an　inventor；　it　seems。　　He
has　the　model　of　something　there；　he　would　not　tell　me　what。〃

She　shivered　a　little；　and　her　music　drifted　away。　　She　bent　over
the　keys；　her　face　hidden　from　him。

〃You　will　not　go　away　just　yet？　〃she　asked　softly。　〃You　are　going
to　stay　for　a　few　days；　at　any　rate？〃

〃Without　a　doubt；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I　am　altogether　my　own　master。〃

〃Thank　God；〃　she　murmured。

He　leaned　with　his　elbow　against　the　top　of　the　piano；　looking　down
at　her。　　Since　dinnertime　she　had　fastened　a　large　red　rose　in　the
front　of　her　gown。

〃Do　you　know　that　this　is　all　rather　mysterious？〃　he　said　calmly。

〃'What　is　mysterious？〃　she　demanded。

〃The　atmosphere　of　the　place：　your　uncle's　queer　aversion　to　my
having　the　Tower；　your　visitor　upstairs；　who　fights　with　the
servants　while　we　are　at　dinner；　your　uncle　himself；　whose　will
seems　to　be　law　not　only　to　you　but　to　your　brother；　who　must　be
of　age；　I　should　think；　and　who　seems　to　have　plenty　of　spirit。〃

〃We　live　here；　both　of　us；〃　she　told　him。　　〃He　is　our　guardian。〃

〃Naturally；〃　Hamel　replied；　〃and　yet；　it　may　have　been　my　fancy；　of
course；　but　at　dinnertime　I　seemed　to　get　a　queer　impression。

〃Tell　it　me？〃　she　insisted；　her　fingers　breaking　suddenly　into　a
livelier　melody。　　〃Tell　it　me　at　once？　　You　were　there　all　the　time。
I　could　see　you　watch…ng。　　Tell　me　what　you　thought？〃

She　had　turned　her　head　now；　and　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　his。　　They
were　large　and　soft；　capable；　he　knew；　of　infinite　expression。　　Yet
at　that　moment　the　light　that　shone　from　them　was　simply　one　of　fear；
half　curious；　half　shrinking。

〃My　impression；〃　he　said；　〃was　that　both　of　you　disliked　and　feared
Mr。　Fentolin；　yet　for　some　reason　or　other　that　you　were　his　abject
slaves。〃

Her　fingers　seemed　suddenly　inspired　with　diabolical　strength　and
energy。　　Strange　chords　crashed　and　broke　beneath　them。　　She　played
some　unfamiliar　music　with　tense　and　fierce　energy。　　Suddenly　she
paused　and　rose　to　her　feet。

〃Come　out　on　to　the　terrace；〃　she　invited。　　〃You　are　not　afraid　of
cold？〃

He　followed　her　without　a　word。　　She　opened　the　French　windows；　and
they　stepped　out　on　to　the　long；　broad　stone　promenade。　　The　night
was　dark；　and　there　was　little　to　be　seen。　　The　light　was　burning
at　the　entrance　to　the　waterway；　a　few　lights　were　twinkling　from
the　village。　　The　soft　moaning　of　the　sea　was　distinctly　audible。
She　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　palisading。　　He　followed　her　closely。

〃You　are　right；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　said。　　〃I　think　that　I　am　more
afraid　of　him　than　any　woman　ever　was　of　any　man　in　this　world。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　live　here？〃　he　protested。　　〃You　must　have　other
relations　to　whom　you　could　go。　　And　your　brother　…　why　doesn't
he　do　something　…　go　into　one　of　the　professions？　　He　could　surely
leave　easily　enough？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　a　secret；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃Perhaps　it　will
help　you　to　understand。　　You　know　my　uncle's　condition。　　You　know
that　it　was　the　result　of　an　accident？〃

〃I　have　heard　so；〃　he　replied　gravely。

She　clutched　at　his　arm。

〃Come；〃　she　said。

Side　by　side　they　walked　the　entire　length　of　the　terrace。　　When
they　reached　the　corner；　they　were　met　with　a　fierce　gust　of　wind。
She　battled　along；　and　he　followed　her。　　They　were　looking　inland
now。　　There　were　no　lights　visible　…　nothing　but　dark；　chaotic
emptiness。　　From　somewhere　below　him　he　could　h