the vanished messenger-第14章

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her　had　been　so　strange：　her　quiet　entrance　into　the　carriage；
her　unusual　manner　of　talking；　and　finally　this　last　passionate；
inexplicable　appeal。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　don't　quite　understand。　　You
say　the　poor　fellow　has　taken　a　fancy　to　the　place　and　likes　being
there。　　Well；　it　isn't　much　of　a　catch　for　me；　anyway。　　I'm　rather
a　wanderer；　and　I　dare　say　I　shan't　be　back　in　these　parts　again
for　years。　　Why　shouldn't　I　let　him　have　it　if　he　wants　it？　　It's
no　loss　to　me。　　I'm　not　a　painter；　you　know；　like　my　father。〃

She　seemed　on　the　point　of　making　a　further　appeal。　　Her　lips；　even；
were　parted；　her　head　a　little　thrown　back。　　And　then　she　stopped。
She　said　nothing。　　The　silence　lasted　so　long　that　he　became　almost
embarrassed。

〃You　will　forgive　me　if　I　am　a　little　dense；　won't　you？〃　he　begged。
〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　went　on；　smiling；　〃I've　got　a　sort　of
feeling　that　I'd　like　to　do　anything　you　ask　me。　　Now　won't　you
just　explain　a　little　more　clearly　what　you　mean；　and　I'll　blow
up　the　old　place　sky　high；　if　it's　any　pleasure　to　you。〃

She　seemed　suddenly　to　have　reverted　to　her　former　self　…　the　cold
and　colourless　young　woman　who　had　first　taken　the　seat　opposite
to　his。

〃Mine　was　a　very　foolish　request；〃　she　admitted　quietly。　　〃I　am
sorry　that　I　ever　made　it。　　It　was　just　an　impulse；　because　the
little　building　we　were　speaking　of　has　been　connected　with　one　or
two　very　disagreeable　episodes。　　Nevertheless；　it　was　foolish　of
me。　　How　long　did　you　think　of　staying　there　…　that　is；〃　she　added；
with　a　faint　smile；〃　providing　that　you　find　it　possible　to　prove
your　claim　and　take　up　possession？　　〃

〃Oh；　just　for　a　week　or　so；〃　he　answered　lightly；　〃and　as　to
regaining　possession　of　it；〃　he　went　on；　a　slightly　pugnacious
instinct　stirring　him；　〃I　don't　imagine　that　there'll　be　any
difficulty　about　that。〃

〃Really！〃　she　murmured。

〃Not　that　I　want　to　make　myself　disagreeable；〃　he　continued；　〃but
the　Tower　is　mine；　right　enough；　even　if　I　have　let　it　remain
unoccupied　for　some　time。〃

She　let　down　the　window　…　a　task　in　which　he　hastened　to　assist　her。
A　rush　of　salt；　cold　air　swept　into　the　compartment。　　He　sniffed　it
eagerly。

〃Wonderful！　〃　he　exclaimed。

She　stretched　out　a　long　arm　and　pointed。　　Away　in　the　distance；　on
the　summit　of　a　line　of　pebbled　shore；　standing；　as　it　seemed；　sheer
over　the　sea；　was　a　little　black　speck。

That；〃　she　said；　〃　is　the　Tower。〃

He　changed　his　position　and　leaned　out　of　the　window。

〃Well；　it's　a　queer　little　place；〃　he　remarked。　　〃It　doesn't　look
worth　quarrelling　over；　does　it？〃

〃And　that；〃　she　went　on；　directing　his　attention　to　the　hill；　〃　is
Mr。　Fentolin's　home；　St。　　David's　Hall。〃

For　several　moments　he　made　no　remark　at　all。　　There　was　something
curiously　impressive　in　that　sudden　sweep　up　from　the　sea…line；　the
strange；　miniature　mountain　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　marshes；
with　its　tree…crowned　background；　and　the　long；　weather…beaten　front
of　the　house　turned　bravely　to　the　sea。

〃I　never　saw　anything　like　it；〃　he　declared。　　〃Why；　it's　barely　a
quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　sea；　isn't　it？　　〃

〃A　little　more　than　that。　　It　is　a　strangely　situated　abode；　isn't
it？〃

〃Wonderful！〃　he　agreed；　with　emphasis。　　〃I　must　study　the　geological
formation　of　that　hill；〃　he　continued；　with　interest。　　〃Why；　it　looks
almost　like　an　island　now。〃

〃That　is　because　of　the　floods；〃　she　told　him。　　〃Even　at　high　tide
the　creeks　never　reach　so　far　as　the　back　there。　　All　the　water　you
see　stretching　away　inland　is　flood　water　…　the　result　of　the　storm；
I　suppose。　　This　is　where　you　get　out；〃　she　concluded；　rising　to
her　feet。

She　turned　away　with　the　slightest　nod。　　A　maid　was　already
awaiting　her　at　the　door　of　the　compartment。　　Hamel　was　suddenly
conscious　of　the　fact　that　he　disliked　her　going　immensely。

〃We　shall；　perhaps；　meet　again　during　the　next　few　days；〃　he
remarked。

She　half　turned　her　head。　　Her　expression　was　scarcely　encouraging。

〃I　hope；〃　she　said；　〃that　you　will　not　be　disappointed　in　your
quarters。〃

Hamel　followed　her　slowly　on　to　the　platform；　saw　her　escorted　to
a　very　handsome　motor…car　by　an　obsequious　station…master；　and
watched　the　former　disappear　down　the　stretch　of　straight　road
which　led　to　the　hill。　　Then；　with　a　stick　in　one　hand；　and　the
handbag　which　was　his　sole　luggage　in　the　other；　he　left　the
station　and　turned　seaward。




CHAPTER　IX

Mr。　Fentolin；　surrounded　by　his　satellites；　was　seated　in　his　chair
before　the　writing…table。　　There　were　present　in　the　room　most　of
the　people　important　to　him　in　his　somewhat　singular　life。　　A　few
feet　away；　in　characteristic　attitude；　stood　Meekins。　　Doctor　Sarson；
with　his　hands　behind　him；　was　looking　out　of　the　window。　　At　the
further　end　of　the　table　stood　a　confidential　telegraph　clerk；　who
was　just　departing　with　a　little　sheaf　of　messages。　　By　his　side；
with　a　notebook　in　her　hand；　stood　Mr。　Fentolin's　private　secretary
…　a　white…haired　woman；　with　a　strangely　transparent　skin　and　light
brown　eyes；　dressed　in　somber　black；　a　woman　who　might　have　been
of　any　age　from　thirty　to　fifty。　　Behind　her　was　a　middle…aged　man
whose　position　in　the　household　no　one　was　quite　sure　about　…　a
clean…shaven　man　whose　name　was　Ryan；　and　who　might　very　well　have
been　once　an　actor　or　a　clergyman。。　　In　the　background　stood
Henderson；　the　perfect　butler。

〃It　is　perhaps　opportune；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　quietly；　〃that　you
all　whom　I　trust　should　be　present　here　together。　　I　wish　you　to
understand　one　thing。　　You　have；　I　believe；　in　my　employ　learned
the　gift　of　silence。　　It　is　to　be　exercised　with　regard　to　a
certain　visitor　brought　here　by　my　nephew；　a　visitor　whom　I　regret
to　say　is　now　lying　seriously　ill。〃

There　was　absolute　silence。　　Doctor　Sarson　alone　turned　from　the
window　as　though　about　to　speak；　but　met　Mr。　Fentolin's　eye　and　at
once　resumed　his　position。

〃I　rely　upon　you　all；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued　softly。　　〃Henderson；　you；　perhaps；　have　the　most
difficult　task；　for　you　have　the　servants　to　control。　　Nevertheless；
I　rely　upon　you；　also。　　If　one　word　of　this　visitor's　presence　here
leaks　out　even　so　far　as　the　village；　out　they　go；　every　one　of　them。
I　will　not　have　a　servant　in　the　place　who　does　not　respect　my
wishes。　　You　can　give　any　reason　you　like　for　my　orders。　　It　is　a
whim。　　I　have　whims；　and　I　choose　to　pay　for　them。　　You　are　all
better　paid　than　any　man　breathing　could　pay　you。　　In　return　I　ask
only　for　your　implicit　obedience。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　and　took　a　cigarette　from　a　curiously
carved　ivory　box　which　stood　by　his　side。　　He　tapped　it　gently　upon
the　table　and　looked　up。

〃I　think；　sir；〃　Henderson　said　respectfully；　〃that　I　can　answer　for
the　servants。　　Being　mostly　foreigners；　they　see　little　or　nothing
of　the　village　people。〃

No　one　else　made　any　remark。　　It　was　strange　to　see　how　dominated
they　all　were　by　that　queer　little　fragment　of　humanity；　whose　head
scarcely　reached　a　foot　above　the　table　before　which　he　sat。　　They
departed　silently；　almost　abjectly；　dismissed　with　a　single　wave　of
the　hand。　　Mr。　Fentolin　beckoned　his　secretary　to　remain。　　She　came
a　little　nearer。

〃Sit　down；　Lucy；〃　he　ordered。

She　seated　herself　a　few　feet　away　from　him。　　Mr。　Fentolin　watched
her　for　several　moments。　　He　himself　had　his　back　to　the　light。
The　woman；　on　the　other　hand；　was　facing　it。　　The　windows　were　high；
and　the　curtains　were　drawn　back　to　their　fullest　extent。　　A　cold
stream　of　northern　light　fell　upon　her　face。　　Mr。　Fentolin　gazed　at
her　and　nodded　her　head　slightly。

〃My　dear　Lucy；〃　he　declared；　〃you　are　wonderful　…　a　perfect　cameo；
a　gem。　　To　look　at　you　now；　with　your　delightful　white　hair　and　your
flawless　skin；　one　would　never　believe　that　you　bad　ever　spoken　a
single　angry　word；　that　you　had　ever　felt　the　blood　flow　through
your　veins；　or　that　your　eyes　had　ever　looked　upon　the　gentle　things
of　life。〃

She　looked　at　him；　still　without　speech。　　The　immobility　of　her
face　was　indeed　a　marvellous　thing。　　Mr。　Fentolin's　expression
darkened。

〃Sometimes；〃　he　murmured　softly；　〃I　think　that　if　I　had　strong
fi