the vanished messenger-第21章
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of the time I have been abroad； I have been practically pioneering。
Building railways in the far West； with gangs of Chinese and Italians
and Hungarians and scarcely a foreman who isn't terrified of his job；
isn't exactly drawing…room work。〃
〃You are going back there？〃 Mr。 Fentolin asked； with interest。
Hamel shook his head。
〃I have no plans；〃 he declared。 〃I have been fortunate enough； or
shall I some day say unfortunate enough； I wonder； to have inherited
a large legacy。〃
Mr。 Fentolin smiled。
〃Don't ever doubt your good fortune；〃 he said earnestly。 〃The
longer I live … and in my limited way I do see a good deal of life
… the more I appreciate the fact that there isn't anything in this
world that compares with the power of money。 I distrust a poor man。
He may mean to be honest； but he is at all times subject to
temptation。 Ah！ here is my niece。
Mr。 Fentolin turned towards the door。 Hamel rose at once to his
feet。 His surmise； then； had been correct。 She was coming towards
them very quietly。 In her soft grey dinner…gown； her brown hair
smoothly brushed back； a pearl necklace around her long； delicate
neck； she seemed to him a very exquisite embodiment of those
memories which he had been carrying about throughout the afternoon。
〃Here； Mr。 Hamel；〃 his host said； 〃 is a member of my family who
has been a deserter for a short time。 This is Mr。 Richard Hamel；
Esther； my niece； Miss Esther Fentolin。〃
She held out her hand with the faintest possible smile； which might
have been of greeting or recognition。
〃I travelled for some distance in the train with Mr。 Hamel this
afternoon； I think；〃 she remarked。
〃Indeed？〃 Mr。 Fentolin exclaimed。 〃Dear me； that is very
interesting … very interesting； indeed！ Mr。 Hamel； I am sure； did
not tell you of his destination？〃
He watched them keenly。 Hamel； though he scareely understood； was
quick to appreciate the possible significance of that tentative
question。
〃We did not exchange confidences；〃 he observed。 〃Miss Fentolin
only changed into my carriage during the last few minutes of her
journey。 Besides；〃 he continued； 〃to tell you the truth； my ideas
as to my destination were a little hazy。 To come and look for some
queer sort of building by the side of the sea； which has been
unoccupied for a dozen years or so； scarcely seems a reasonable
quest； does it？〃
〃Scarcely； indeed；〃 Mr。 Fentolin assented。 〃You may thank me； Mr。
Hamel； for the fact that the place is not in ruins。 My blatant
trespassing has saved you from that； at least。 After dinner we must
talk further about the Tower。 To tell you the truth； I have grown
accustomed to the use of the little place。〃
The sound of the dinner gong boomed through the house。 A moment
later Gerald entered； followed by a butler announcing dinner。
〃The only remaining member of my family；〃 Mr。 Fentolin remarked；
indicating his nephew。 〃Gerald； you will be pleased； I know； to
meet Mr。 Hamel。 Mr。 Hamel has been a great traveller。 Long before
you can remember； his father used to paint wonderful pictures of
this coast。〃
Gerald shook hands with his visitor。 His face； for a moment；
lighted up。 He was looking pale； though； and singularly sullen
and dejected。
〃There are two of your father's pictures in the modern side of the
gallery up…stairs；〃 he remarked； a little diffidently。 〃They are
great favourites with everybody here。〃
They all went in to dinner together。 Meekins； who had appeared
silently； had glided unnoticed behind his master's chair and
wheeled it across the hall。
〃A partie carree to…night；〃 Mr。 Fentolin declared。 〃I have a
resident doctor here； a very delightful person； who often dines
with us； but to…night I thought not。 Five is an awkward number。
I want to get to know you better； Mr。 Hamel； and quickly。 I
want you； too； to make friends with my niece and nephew。 Mr。
Hamel's father；〃 he went on； addressing the two latter；〃 and your
father were great friends。 By…the…by； have I told you both
exactly why Mr。 Hamel is a guest here to…night … why he came to
these parts at all？ No？ Listen； then。 He came to take possession
of the Tower。 The worst of it is that it belongs to him； too。 His
father bought it from your father more years ago than we should
care to talk about。 I have really been a trespasser all this time。〃
They took their places at a small round table in the middle of the
dining…room。 The shaded lights thrown downwards upon the table
seemed to leave most of the rest of the apartment in semi…darkness。
The gloomy faces of the men and women whose pictures hung upon the
walls were almost invisible。 The servants themselves； standing a
little outside the halo of light； were like shadows passing swiftly
and noiselessly back and forth。 At the far end of the room was an
organ； and to the left a little balcony； built out as though for an
orchestra。 Hamel looked about him almost in wonderment。 There was
something curiously impressive in the size of the apartment and
its emptiness。
〃A trespasser；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued； as he took up the menu and
criticised it through his horn…rimmed eyeglass； 〃that is what I
have been； without a doubt。〃
〃But for your interest and consequent trespass；〃 Hamel remarked； 〃I
should probably have found the roof off and the whole place in ruins。〃
〃Instead of which you found the door locked against you；〃 Mr。
Fentolin pointed out。 〃Well； we shall see。 I might； at any rate；
have lost the opportunity of entertaining you here this evening。
I am particularly glad to have an opportunity of making you known
to my niece and nephew。 I think you will agree with me that here
are two young people who are highly to be commended。 I cannot offer
them a cheerful life here。 There is little society； no gaiety； no
sort of excitement。 Yet they never leave me。 They seem to have no
other interest in life but to be always at my beck and call。 A case；
Mr。 Hamel； of really touching devotion。 If anything could reconcile
me to my miserable condition； it would he the kindness and
consideration of those by whom I am surrounded。〃
Hamel murmured a few words of cordial agreement。 Yet he found
himself； in a sense； embarrassed。 Gerald was looking down upon his
plate and his face was hidden。 Esther's features had suddenly
become stony and expressionless。 Hamel felt instinctively that
something was wrong。
〃There are compensations；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued； with the air of
one enjoying speech； 〃which find their way into even the gloomiest
of lives。 As I lie on my back； hour after hour； I feel all the more
conscious of this。 The world is a school of compensations； Mr。 Hamel。
The interests … the mental interests； I mean … of unfortunate people
like myself； come to possess in time a peculiar significance and to
yield a peculiar pleasure。 I have hobbies； Mr。 Hamel。 I frankly
admit it。 Without my hobbies； I shudder to think what might become
of me。 I might become a selfish； cruel； misanthropical person。
Hobbies are indeed a great thing。〃
The brother and sister sat still in stony silence。 Hamel； looking
across the little table with its glittering load of cut glass and
silver and scarlet flowers； caught something in Esther's eyes； so
rarely expressive of any emotion whatever； which puzzled him。 He
looked swiftly back at his host。 Mr。 Fentolin's face； at that
moment； was like a beautiful cameo。 His expression was one of
gentle benevolence。
〃Let me be quite frank with you；〃 Mr。 Fentolin murmured。 〃My
occupation of the Tower is one of these hobbies。 I love to sit
there within a few yards of the sea and watch the tide come in。
I catch something of the spirit； I think； which caught your father；
Mr。 Hamel； and kept him a prisoner here。 In my small way I； too；
paint while I am down there； paint and dream。 These things may not
appeal to you； but you must remember that there are few things left
to me in life； and that those； therefore； which I can make use of；
are dear to me。 Gerald； you are silent to…night。 How is it that
you say nothing？〃
〃I am tired； sir；〃 the boy answered quietly。
Mr。 Fentolin nodded gravely。
〃It is inexcusable of me；〃
