the vanished messenger-第33章
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〃You see his clothing at the foot of the bed；〃 he pointed out。
〃His linen is marked with his name。 That is his dressing…case with
his name painted on it。〃
〃I am quite satisfied； sir；〃 the inspector announced。 〃I will not
intrude any further。〃
They left the room。 Mr。 Fentolin himself escorted the inspector
into the library and ordered whisky and cigars。
〃I don't know whether I am unreasonably curious；〃 Mr。 Fentolin
remarked； 〃but is it really true that you have had enquiries from
Scotland Yard about the poor fellow up…stairs？〃
〃We had a very important enquiry indeed； sir；〃 the inspector replied。
〃I have instructions to telegraph all I have been able to discover；
immediately。〃
〃Pardon my putting it plainly；〃 Mr。 Fentolin asked； 〃but is our
friend a criminal？〃
〃I wouldn't go so far as that； sir；〃 the inspector answered。 〃I
know of no charge against him。 I don't know that I have the right
to say so much；〃 he added； sipping his whisky and soda； 〃but putting
two and two together； I should rather come to the conclusion that he
was a person of some political importance。〃
〃Not a criminal at all？〃
〃Not as I know of；〃 the inspector assented。
〃That isn't the way I read the enquiries at all。〃
〃You relieve me；〃 Mr。 Fentolin declared。 〃Now what about his
possessions？〃
〃There's a man coming down shortly from Scotland Yard；〃 the
inspector announced； a little gloomily。 〃My orders were to touch
nothing； but to locate him。〃
〃Well； you've succeeded so far；〃 Mr。 Fentolin remarked。 〃Here he
is； and here I think he will stay until some days after your friend
from Scotland Yard can get here。〃
〃It does seem so； indeed；〃 the inspector agreed。 〃To me he looks
terrible ill。 But there's one thing sure； he's having all the care
and attention that's possible。 And now； sir； I'll not intrude
further upon your time。 I'll just make my report； and you'll
probably have a visit from the Scotland Yard man sometime within
the next few days。〃
Mr。 Fentolin escorted the inspector to his dog…cart； shook hands
with him； and watched him drive off。 Only Mrs。 Seymour Fentolin
remained upon the terrace。 He glided over to her side。
〃My dear florence；〃 he asked； 〃where are the others？〃
〃Mr。 Hamel and Esther have gone for a walk；〃 she answered。 〃Gerald
has disappeared somewhere。 Has anything … is everything all right？〃
〃Naturally；〃 Mr。 Fentolin replied easily。 〃All that the inspector
desired was to see Mr。 Dunster。 He has seen him。 The poor fellow
was unfortunately unconscious； but our friend will at least be able
to report that he was in good hands and well cared for。〃
〃Unconscious；〃 Mrs。 Fentolin repeated。 〃I thought that he was
better。〃
〃One is always subject to those slight relapses in an affair of
concussion；〃 Mr。 Fentolin explained。
Mrs。 Fentolin laid down her work and leaned a little towards her
brother…in…law。 Her hand rested upon his。 Her voice had fallen
to a whisper。
〃Miles；〃 she said； 〃forgive me； but are you sure that you are not
getting a little out of your depth？ Remember that there are some
risks which are not worth while。〃
〃Quite true；〃 he answered。 〃And there are some risks； my dear
Florence； which are worth every drop of blood in a man's body； and
every breath of life。 The peace of Europe turns upon that man
up…stairs。 It is worth taking a little risk for； worth a little
danger。 I have made my plans； and I mean to carry them through。
Tell me； when I was up…stairs； this fellow Hamel … was he talking
confidentially to Gerald？〃
〃Not particularly。〃
〃I am not sure that I trust him；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued。 〃He had
a telegram yesterday from a man in the Foreign Office； a telegram
which I did not see。 He took the trouble to walk three miles to
send the reply to it from another office。〃
〃But after all；〃 Mrs。 Fentolinprotested； 〃you know who he is。 You
know that he is Peter Hamel's son。 He had a definite purpose in
coming here。〃
Mr。 Fentolin nodded。
〃Quite true；〃 he admitted。 〃But for that； Mr。 Hamel would have
found a little trouble before now。 As it is； he must be watched。
If any one comes between me and the things for which I am scheming
to…day； they will risk death。〃
Mrs。 Fentolin sighed。 She was watching the figures of Esther and
Hamel far away in the distance； picking their way across the last
strip of marshland which lay between them and the sea。
〃Miles；〃 she said earnestly； 〃 you take advice from no one。 You
will go your own way； I know。 And yet； it seems to me that life
holds so many compensations for you without your taking these
terrible risks。 I am not thinking of any one else。 I am not
pleading to you for the sake of any one else。 I am thinking
only of yourself。 I have had a sort of feeling ever since this
man was brought into the house； that trouble would come of it。 To
me the trouble seems to be gathering even now。〃
Mr。 Fentolin laughed softly； a little contemptuously。
〃Presentiments；〃 he scoffed； 〃are the excuses of cowards。 Don't be
afraid； Florence。 Remember always that I look ahead。 Do you think
that I could stay here contented with what you call my compensations
… my art； the study of beautiful things； the calm epicureanism of
the sedate and simple life？ You know very well that I could not do
that。 The craving for other things is in my heart and blood。 The
excitement which I cannot have in one way； I must find in another；
and I think that before many nights have passed； I shall lie on my
pillow and hear the guns roar； hear the footsteps of the great
armies of the world moving into battle。 It is for that I live；
Florence。〃
She took up her knitting again。 Her eyes were fixed upon the
sky…line。 Twice she opened her lips； but twice no words came。
〃You understand？〃 he whispered。 〃You begin to understand； don't
you？〃
She looked at him only for a moment and back at her work。
〃I suppose so；〃 she sighed。
CHAPTER XX
In the middle of that night Hamel sat up in bed； awakened with a
sudden start by some sound； only the faintest echo of which remained
in his consciousness。 His nerves were tingling with a sense of
excitement。 He sat up in bed and listened。 Suddenly it came again
… a long； low moan of pain； stifled at the end as though repressed
by some outside agency。 He leaped from his bed； hurried on a few
clothes； and stepped out on to the landing。 The cry had seemed
to him to come from the further end of the long corridor … in the
direction； indeed； of the room where Mr。 Dunster lay。 He made his
way there； walking on tiptoe； although his feet fell noiselessly
upon the thick carpet。 A single light was burning from a bracket
in the wall； insufficient to illuminate the empty spaces； but enough
to keep him from stumbling。 The corridor towards the south end
gradually widened； terminating in a splendid high window with
stained glass； a broad seat； and a table。 On the right； the end
room was Mr。 Dunster's apartment； and on the left a flight of
stairs led to the floor above。 Hamel stood quite still； listening。
There was a light in the room； as he could see from under the door；
but there was no sound of any one moving。 Hamel listened intently；
every sense strained。 Then the sound of a stair creaking behind
diverted his attention。 He looked quickly around。 Gerald was
descending。 The boy's face was white； and his eyes were filled
with fear。 Hamel stepped softly back from the door and met him at
the foot of the stairs。
〃Did you hear that cry？〃 he whispered。
Gerald nodded。
〃It woke me up。 What do you suppose it was？〃 Hamel shook his head。
〃Some one in pain；〃 he replied。 〃I don't understand it。 It came
from this room。〃
〃You know who sleeps there？〃 Gerald asked hoarsely。
Hamel nodded。
〃A man with concussion of the brain doesn't cry out like that。
Besides； did you hear the end of it？ It sounded as though some one
were choking him。 Hush！〃
They had spoken only in bated breath； but the door of the room
before which they were standing was suddenly opened。 Meekins stood
there； fully dressed； his dark； heavy face full of somber warning。
He started a little as he saw the two whis
