the vanished messenger-第20章
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made me remarkably skilful in its manipulation。 You see； I can
steer to an inch。〃
He was already turning around。 Hamel rose to his feet。
〃You are really very kind；〃 he said。 〃I should like to come up and
see the Hall； at any rate； but in the meantime； as we are here；
could I just look over the inside of this little place？ I found the
large shed where the lifeboat used to be kept； locked up。〃
Mr。 Fentolin was manoeuvring his carriage。 His back was towards
Hamel。
〃By all means；〃 he declared。 〃We will go in together。 I have had
the entrance widened so that I can ride straight into the
sitting…room。 But wait。〃
He paused suddenly。 He felt in all his pockets。
〃Dear me；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I find that I have left the keys！ We
will come down a little later； if you do not mind； Mr。 Hamel。 Or
to…morrow； perhaps。 You will not mind？ It is very careless of me；
but seeing you about the place and imagining that you were an
intruder； made me angry； and I started off in a hurry。 Now walk by
my side up to the house； please； and talk to me。 It is so
interesting for me to meet men；〃 he went on； as they started along
the straight path； 〃who do things in life； who go to foreign
countries； meet strange people； and have new experiences。 I have
been a good many years like this； you know。〃
〃It is a great affliction；〃 Hamel murmured sympathetically。
〃In my youth I was an athlete；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued。 〃I played
cricket for the Varsity and for my county。 I hunted； too； and shot。
I did all the things a man loves to do。 I might still shoot； they
tell me； but my strength has ebbed away。 I am too weak to lift a
gun； too weak even to handle a fishing…rod。 I have just a few
hobbies in life which keep me alive。 Are you a politician； Mr。
Hamel？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 Hamel replied。 〃I have been out of England too
long to keep in touch with politics。〃
〃Naturally；〃 Mr。 Fentolin agreed。 〃It amuses me to follow the
course of events。 I have a good many friends in London and abroad
who are kind to me； who keep me informed； send me odd bits of
information not available for every one； and it amuses me to put
these things together in my mind and to try and play the prophet。
I was in the Foreign Office once； you know。 I take up my paper
every morning； and it is one of my chief interests to see how near
my own speculations come to the truth。 Just now for example； there
are strange things doing on the Continent。〃
〃In America；〃 Hamel remarked； 〃they affect to look upon England as
a doomed Power。〃
〃Not altogether supine yet；〃 Mr。 Fentolin observed； 〃yet even this
last generation has seen weakening。 We have lost so much
self…reliance。 Perhaps it is having these grown…up children who we
think can take care of us … Canada and Australia； and the others。
However； we will not talk of politics。 It bores you； I can see。
We will try and find some other subject。 Now tell me； don't you
think this is ingenious？〃
They had reached the foot of the hill upon which the Hall was
situated。 In front of them； underneath the terrace； was a little
iron gate； held open now by Meekins； who had gone on ahead and
dismounted from his bicycle。
〃I have a subterranean way from here into the Hall；〃 Mr。 Fentolin
explained。 〃Come with me。 You will only have to stoop a little；
and it may amuse you。 You need not be afraid。 There are electric
lights every ten yards。 I turn them on with this switch … see。〃
Mr。 Fentolin touched a button in the wall； and the place was at
once brilliantly illuminated。 A little row of lights from the
ceiling and the walls stretched away as far as one could see。 They
passed through the iron gates； which shut behind them with a click。
Stooping a little； Hamel was still able to walk by the side of the
man in the chair。 They traversed about a hundred yards of
subterranean way。 Here and there a fungus hung down from the wall；
otherwise it was beautifully kept and dry。 By and by； with a
little turn； they came to an incline and another iron gate； held
open for them by a footman。 Mr。 Fentolin sped up the last few feet
into the great hail； which seemed more imposing than ever by reason
of this unexpected entrance。 Hamel； blinking a little； stepped to
his side。
〃Welcome！〃 Mr。 Fentolin cried gaily。 〃Welcome； my friend Mr。 Hamel；
to St。 David's Hall！〃
CHAPTER XIII
During the next half…hour； Hamel was introduced to luxuries to which；
in a general way； he was entirely unaccustomed。 One man…servant
was busy preparing his bath in a room leading out of his sleeping
apartment； while another brought him a choice of evening clothes and
superintended his disrobing。 Hamel； always observant； studied his
surroundings with keen interest。 He found himself in a queerly
mixed atmosphere of luxurious modernity and stately antiquity。 His
four…poster； the huge couch at the foot of his bed； and all the
furniture about the room； was of the Queen Anne period。 The
bathroom which communicated with his apartment was the latest
triumph of the plumber's art … a room with floor and walls of white
tiles； the bath itself a little sunken and twice the ordinary size。
He dispensed so far as he could with the services of the men and
descended； as soon as he was dressed； into the hall。 Meekins was
waiting at the bottom of the stairs； dressed now in somber black。
〃Mr。 Fentolin will be glad if you will step into his room； sir；〃 he
announced； leading the way。
Mr。 Fentolin was seated in his chair； reading the Times in a corner
of his library。 Shaped blocks had been placed behind and in front
of the wheels of his little vehicle； to prevent it from moving。 A
shaded reading…lamp stood on the table by his side。 He did not at
once look up； and Hamel glanced around with genuine admiration。
The shelves which lined the walls and the winged cases which
protruded into the room were filled with books。 There was a large
oak table with beautifully carved legs； piled with all sorts of
modern reviews and magazines。 A log fire was burning in the big
oaken grate。 The perfume from a great bowl of lavender seemed to
mingle curiously yet pleasantly with the half musty odour of the
old leather…hound volumes。 The massive chimneypiece was of black
oak； and above it were carved the arms of the House of Fentolin。
The walls were oak…panelled to the ceiling。
〃Refreshed； I hope； by your bath and change； my dear visitor？〃 the
head of the house remarked； as he laid down his paper。 〃Draw a
chair up here and join me in a glass of vermouth。 You need not be
afraid of it。 It comes to me from the maker as a special favour。
Hamel accepted a quaintly…cut wine…glass full of the amber liquid。
Mr。 Fentolin sipped his with the air of a connoisseur。
〃This；〃 he continued； 〃is one of our informal days。 There is no
one in the house save my sister…in…law； niece； and nephew； and a
poor invalid gentleman who； I am sorry to say； is confined to his
bed。 My sister…in…law is also； I regret to say； indisposed。 She
desired me to present her excuses to you and say how greatly she
is looking forward to making your acquaintance during the next few
days。〃
Hamel bowed。
〃It is very kind of Mrs。 Fentolin；〃 he murmured。
〃On these occasions；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued； 〃we do not make use
of a drawing…room。 My niece will come in here presently。 You are
looking at my books； I see。 Are you； by any chance； a bibliophile？
I have a case of manuscripts here which might interest you。
Hamel shook his head。
〃Only in the abstract； I fear；〃 he answered。 〃I have scarcely
opened a serious book since I was at Oxford。〃
〃What was your year？〃 Mr。 Fentolin asked。
〃Fourteen years ago I left Magdalen；〃 Hamel replied。 〃I had made
up my mind to he an engineer； and I went over to the Boston
Institute of Technology。〃
Mr。 Fentolin nodded appreciatively。
〃A magnificent profession；〃 he murmured。 〃A healthy one； too； I
should judge from your appearance。 You are a strong man； Mr。 Hamel。〃
〃I have had reason to be；〃 Hamel rejoined。 〃During nearly the whole
of the time I have been abroad； I have been practically pioneering。
Building railways in the far West； with
