the vanished messenger-第1章
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The Vanished Messenger
by E。 Phillips Oppenheim
CHAPTER I
There were very few people upon Platform Number Twenty…one of
Liverpool Street Station at a quarter to nine on the evening
of April 2 … possibly because the platform in question is one of
the most remote and least used in the great terminus。 The
station…master； however； was there himself； with an inspector in
attendance。 A dark； thick…set man； wearing a long travelling
ulster and a Homburg hat； and carrying in his hand a brown leather
dressing…case； across which was painted in black letters the name
MR。 JOHN P。 DUNSTER； was standing a few yards away； smoking a
long cigar； and； to all appearance absorbed in studying the
advertisements which decorated the grimy wall on the other side of
the single track。 A couple of porters were seated upon a barrow
which contained one solitary portmanteau。 There were no signs of
other passengers； no other luggage。 As a matter of fact； according
to the time…table； no train was due to leave the station or to
arrive at it； on this particular platform； for several hours。
Down at the other end of the platform the wooden barrier was thrust
back； and a porter with some luggage upon a barrow made his noisy
approach。 He was followed by a tall young man in a grey tweed suit
and a straw hat on which were the colours of a famous cricket club。
The inspector watched them curiously。 〃Lost his way； I should
think；〃 he observed。
The station…master nodded。 〃It looks like the young man who missed
the boat train；〃 he remarked。 〃Perhaps he has come to beg a lift。〃
The young man in question made steady progress up the platform。
His hands were thrust deep into the pockets of his coat； and his
forehead was contracted in a frown。 As he approached more closely；
he singled out Mr。 John P。 Dunster； and motioning his porter to wait；
crossed to the edge of the track and addressed him。
〃Can I speak to you for a moment； sir？〃
Mr。 John P。 Dunster turned at once and faced his questioner。 He
did so without haste … with a certain deliberation； in fact … yet
his eyes were suddenly bright and keen。 He was neatly dressed；
with the quiet precision which seems as a rule to characterise the
travelling American。 He was apparently of a little less than
middle…age； clean…shaven； broad…shouldered； with every appearance
of physical strength。 He seemed like a man on wires； a man on the
alert； likely to miss nothing。
〃Are you Mr。 John P。 Dunster？〃 the youth asked。
〃I carry my visiting…card in my hand； sir；〃 the other replied；
swinging his dressing…case around。 〃My name is John P。 Dunster。〃
The young man's expression was scarcely ingratiating。 To a natural
sullenness was added now the nervous distaste of one who approaches
a disagreeable task。
〃I want； if I may； to ask you a favour；〃 he continued。 〃If you don't
feel like granting it； please say no and I'll be off at once。 I am
on my way to The Hague。 I was to have gone by the boat train which
left half an hour ago。 I had taken a seat； and they assured me that
the train would not leave for at least ten minutes； as the mails
weren't in。 I went down the platform to buy some papers and stood
talking for a moment or two with a man whom I know。 I suppose I
must have been longer than I thought； or they must have been quicker
than they expected with the mailbags。 Anyhow； when I came back the
train was moving。 They would not let me jump in。 I could have done
it easily； but that fool of an inspector over there held me。〃
〃They are very strict in this country； I know。〃
Mr。 Dunster agreed； without change of expression。
〃Please go on。〃
〃I saw you arrive … just too late for the train。 While I was
swearing at the inspector； I heard you speak to the station…master。
Since then I have made inquiries。 I understand that you have
ordered a special train to Harwich。〃
Mr。 John P。 Dunster said nothing； only his keen； clear eyes seemed
all the time to be questioning this gloomy…looking but apparently
harmless young man。
〃I went to the station…master's office；〃 the latter continued；
〃and tried to persuade them to let me ride in the guard's van of
your special； but he made a stupid fuss about it； so I thought I'd
better come to you。 Can I beg a seat in your compartment； or
anywhere in the train； as far as Harwich？〃
Mr。 Dunster avoided； for the moment； a direct reply。 He had the
air of a man who； whether reasonably or unreasonably； disliked the
request which had been made to him。
〃You are particularly anxious to cross to…night？〃 he asked。
〃I am；〃 the youth admitted emphatically。 〃I never ought to have
risked missing the train。 I am due at The Hague to…morrow。〃
Mr。 John P。 Dunster moved his position a little。 The light from a
rain…splashed gas lamp shone now full upon the face of his suppliant：
a boy's face； which would have been pleasant and even handsome but
for the discontented mouth； the lowering forehead； and a shadow in
the eyes； as though； boy though he certainly was in years； he had
already； at some time or another； looked upon the serious things of
life。 His nervousness； too； was almost grotesque。 He had the air
of disliking immensely this asking a favour from a stranger。 Mr。
Dunster appreciated all these things； but there were reasons which
made him slow in granting the young man's request。
〃What is the nature of your pressing business at The Hague？〃 he asked。
The youth hesitated。
〃I am afraid；〃 he said grimly； 〃that you will not think it of much
importance。 I am on my way to play in a golf tournament there。〃
〃A golf tournament at The Hague！ 〃 Mr。 Dunster repeated； in a
slightly altered tone。 〃What is your name？〃
〃Gerald Fentolin。〃
Mr。 Dunster stood quite still for a moment。 He was possessed of a
wonderful memory； and he was conscious at that moment of a subtle
appeal to it。 Fentolin！ There was something in the name which
seemed to him somehow associated with the things against which he
was on guard。 He stood with puzzled frown； reminiscent for several
minutes； unsuccessful。 Then he suddenly smiled； and moving
underneath the gas lamp； shook open an evening paper which he had
been carrying。 He turned over the pages until he arrived at the
sporting items。 Here； in almost the first paragraph； he saw the
name which had happened to catch his eye a moment or two before：
GOLF AT THE HAGUE
Among the entrants for the tournament which commences
to…morrow； are several well…known English players；
including Mr。 Barwin； Mr。 Parrott； Mr。 Hillard and
Mr。 Gerald Fentolin。
Mr。 Dunster folded up the newspaper and replaced it in his pocket。
He turned towards the young man。
〃So you're a golfer； are you？〃
〃I play a bit；〃 was the somewhat indifferent reply。
Mr。 Dunster turned to another part of the paper and pointed to the
great black head…lines。
〃Seems a queer thing for a young fellow like you to be worrying
about games；〃 he remarked。 〃I haven't been in this country more
than a few hours； but I expected to find all the young men getting
ready。〃
〃Getting ready for what？〃
〃Why； to fight； of course；〃 Mr。 Dunster replied。 〃Seems pretty
clear that there's an expeditionary force being fitted out；
according to this evening's paper； somewhere up in the North Sea。
The only Englishman I've spoken to on this side was willing to lay
me odds that war would be declared within a week。〃
The young man's lack of interest was curious。
〃I am not in the army；〃 he said。 〃It really doesn't affect me。〃
Mr。 Dunster stared at him。
〃You'll forgive my curiosity；〃 he said； 〃but say； is there nothing
you could get into and fight if this thing came along？〃
〃Nothing at all； that I know of；〃 the youth replied coolly。 〃War
is an affair which concerns only the military and naval part of two
countries。 The civil population …〃
〃Plays golf； I suppose；〃 Mr。 Dunster interrupted。 〃Young man； I
haven't been in England for some years； and you rather take my
breath away。 All the same； you can come along with me as far as
Harwich。〃
The young man showed signs of some satisfaction。 〃I am very much
obli
