the vanished messenger-第5章

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many　as　would　be　fools　enough　to　take　one　out。　　You　couldn't　see
the　road；　and　I　doubt　if　one　of　them　plaguey　things　would　stir　in
this　storm。〃

〃Such　nonsense　as　you　talk；　Richard　Budden！〃　his　wife　exclaimed
sharply。　　〃It's　twenty　minutes　past　three　of　the　clock；　and　there's
light　coming　on　us　fast。　　If　so　be　as　the　young　gentleman　knows
folks　round　about　here；　or　happens　to　live　nigh；　why　shouldn't　he
take　one　of　them　motor…cars　and　get　away　to　some　decent　place？
It'll　be　better　for　the　poor　gentleman　than　lying　here　in　a　house
smitten　by　the　Lord。〃

Gerald　rose　stiffly　to　his　feet。　　An　idea　was　forming　in　his　brain。
His　eyes　were　bright。　　He　looked　at　the　body　of　John　Dunster　upon
the　floor；　and　felt　once　more　in　his　pocket。

〃How　far　off　is　the　garage？〃　he　asked。

〃It's　right　across　the　way；〃　the　innkeeper　replied；　a　speculation
of　Neighbour　Martin's；　and　a　foolish　one　it　do　seem　to　me。　　He's　two
cars　there；　and　one　he　lets　to　the　Government　for　delivering　the
mails。〃

Gerald　felt　in　his　pocket　and　produced　a　sovereign。

〃Give　this；〃　he　said；　〃to　any　man　you　can　find　who　will　go　across
there　and　bring　me　a　car　…　the　most　powerful　they've　got；　if　there's
any　difference。　　Tell　them　I'll　pay　well。　　This　…　my　friend　will　be
much　better　at　home　with　me　than　in　a　strange　place　when　he　comes
to　his　senses。〃

〃It's　sound　common　sense；〃　the　woman　declared。　　〃Be　off　with　you；
Richard。〃

The　man　was　looking　at　the　coin　covetously；　but　his　wife　pushed　him
away。

〃It's　not　a　sovereign　you'll　be　taking　from　the　gentleman　for　a
little　errand　like　that；〃　she　insisted　sharply。　　〃He　shall　pay　us
for　what　he's　had　when　he　goes；　and　welcome；　and　if　so　be　that　he's
willing　to　make　it　a　sovereign；　to　include　the　milk　and　the　brandy
and　the　confusion　we've　been　put　to　this　night；　well　and　good。　　It's
a　heavy　reckoning；　maybe；　but　the　night　calls　for　it。　　We'll　see
about　that　afterwards。　　Get　along　with　you；　I　say；　Richard。〃

〃I'll　be　wet　through；〃　the　man　muttered。

〃And　serve　you　right！〃　the　woman　exclaimed。　　〃If　there's　a　man　in
this　village　to…night　whose　clothes　are　dry；　it's　a　thing　for　him
to　be　ashamed　of。〃

The　innkeeper　reluctantly　departed。　　They　heard　the　roar　of　the
wind　as　the　door　was　opened　and　closed。　　The　woman　poured　out　another
glass　of　milk　and　brought　it　to　Gerald。

〃A　godless　man；　mine；〃　she　said　grimly。　　〃If　so　happen　as　Mr。　Wembley
had　come　to　these　parts　years　ago；　I'd　have　seen　myself　in　my　grave
before　I'd　have　married　a　publican。　　But　it's　too　late　now。　　We're
mostly　too　late　about　the　things　that　count　in　this　world。　　So　it's
your　friend　that's　been　stricken　down；　young　man。　　A　well…living　man；
I　hope？〃

Gerald　shivered　ever　so　slightly。　　He　drank　the　milk；　however。　　He
felt　that　he　might　need　his　strength。

〃What　train　might　you　have　been　on　the　woman　continued。　　〃There's
none　due　on　this　line　that　we　knew　of。　　David　Bass；　the
station…master；　was　here　but　two　hours　ago　and　said　he'd　finished
for　the　night；　and　praised　the　Lord　for　that。　　The　goods　trains
had　all　been　stopped　at　Ipswich；　and　the　first　passenger　train　was
not　due　till　six　o'clock。〃

Gerald　shook　his　head　with　an　affectation　of　weariness。

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　don't　remember　anything　about　it。
We　were　hours　late；　I　think。〃

The　woman　was　looking　down　at　the　unconscious　man。　　Gerald　rose
slowly　to　his　feet　and　stood　by　her　side。　　The　face　of　Mr。　John　P。
Dunster；　even　in　unconsciousness；　had　something　in　it　of　strength
and　purpose。　　The　shape　of　his　head；　the　squareness　of　his　jaws；
the　straightness　of　his　thick　lips；　all　seemed　to　speak　of　a　hard
and　inflexible　disposition。　　His　hair　was　coal　black；　coarse；　and
without　the　slightest　sprinkling　of　grey。　　He　had　the　neck　and
throat　of　a　fighter。　　But　for　that　single；　livid；　blue　mark　across
his　forehead；　he　carried　with　him　no　signs　of　his　accident。　　He　was
a　little　inclined　to　be　stout。　　There　was　a　heavy　gold　chain
stretched　across　his　waist…coat。　　From　where　he　lay；　the　shining
handle　of　his　revolver　protruded　from　his　hip；　pocket。

〃Sakes　alive！。〃　the　woman　muttered；　as　she　looked　down。　　〃What　does
he　carry　a　thing　like　that　for　…　in　a　peaceful　country；　too！〃
　
〃It　was　just　an　idea　of　his；〃　Gerald　answered。　　〃We　were　going
abroad　in　a　day　or　two。　　He　was　always　nervous。　　If　you　like；　I'll
take　it　away。〃

He　stooped　down　and　withdrew　it　from　the　unconscious　man's　pocket。
He　started　as　he　discovered　that　it　was　loaded　in　every　chamber。

〃I　can't　bear　the　sight　of　them　things；〃　the　woman　declared。　　〃It's
the　men　of　evil　ways；　who've　no　trust　in　the　Lord；　who　need　that
sort　of　protection。〃

They　heard　the　door　pushed　open；　the　howl　of　wind　down　the　passage；
and　the　beating　of　rain　upon　the　stone　flags。　　Then　it　was　softly
closed　again。　　The　landlord　staggered　into　the　room；　followed　by　a
young　man。

〃This　'ere　is　Mr。　Martin's　chaffer；〃　he　announced。　　〃You　can　tell
him　what　you　want　yerself。〃

Gerald　turned　almost　eagerly　towards　the　newcomer。

〃I　want　to　go　to　the　other　side　of　Holt；〃　he　said；　〃and　get　my
friend　…　get　this　gentleman　away　from　here　…　get　him　home；　if
possible。　　Can　you　take　me？〃

The　chauffeur　looked　doubtful。

〃I'm　afraid　of　the　roads；　sir；〃　he　replied。　　〃There's　talk　about
many　bridges　down；　and　trees；　and　there's　floods　out　everywhere。
There's　half　a　foot　of　water；　even；　across　the　village　street　now。
I'm　afraid　we　shouldn't　get　very　far。〃

〃Look　here；〃　Gerald　begged　eagerly；　〃let's　make　a　shot　at　it。　　I'll
pay　you　double　the　hire　of　the　car；　and　I'll　be　responsible　for　any
damage。　　I　want　to　get　out　of　this　beastly　place。　　Let's　get
somewhere；　at　any　rate；　towards　a　civilised　country。　　I'll　see　you
don't　lose　anything。　　I'll　give　you　a　five　pound　note　for　yourself
if　we　get　as　far　as　Holt。〃

〃I'm　on；〃　the　young　man　agreed　shortly。　　〃It's　an　open　car；　you　know。〃

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃I　can　stick　it　in　front　with
you；　and　we　can　cover　…　him　up　in　the　tonneau。〃

〃You'll　wait　until　the　doctor　comes　back？〃　the　landlord　asked。

〃And　why　should　they？〃　his　wife　interposed　sharply。　　〃Them　doctors
are　all　the　same。　　He'll　try　and　keep　the　poor　gentleman　here　for
the　sake　of　a　few　extra　guineas；　and　a　miserable　place　for　him　to
open　his　eyes　upon；　even　if　the　rest　of　the　roof　holds；　which　for
my　part　I'm　beginning　to　doubt。　　They'd　have　to　move　him　from　here
with　the　daylight；　anyhow。　　He　can't　lie　in　the　bar　parlour　all　day；
can　he？〃

〃It　don't　seem　right；　somehow；〃　the　man　com　plained　doggedly。　　〃The
doctor　didn't　say　anything　about　having　him　moved。〃

〃You　get　the　car；〃　Gerald　ordered　the　young　man。　　〃I'll　take　the
whole　responsibility。〃

The　chauffeur　silently　left　the　room。　　Gerald　put　a　couple　of
sovereigns　upon　the　mantelpiece。

〃My　friend　is　a　man　of　somewhat　peculiar　temperament；〃　he　said
quietly。　　〃If　he　finds　himself　at　home　in　a　comfortable　room　when
he　comes　to　his　senses；　I　am　quite　sure　that　he　will　have　a　better
chance　of　recovery。　　He　cannot　possibly　be　made　comfortable　here；
and　he　will　feel　the　shock　of　what　has　happened　all　the　more　if　he
finds　himself　still　in　the　neighbourhood　when　he　opens　his　eyes。
If　there　is　any　change　in　his　condition；　we　can　easily　stop　somewhere
on　the　way。〃

The　woman　pocketed　the　two　sovereigns。

〃That's　common　sense；　sir；〃　she　agreed　heartily；　〃and　I'm　sure　we
are　very　much　obliged　to　you。　　If　we　had　a　decent　room；　and　a　roof
above　it；　you'd　be　heartily　welcome；　but　as　it　is；　this　is　no　place
for　a　sick　man；　and　those　that　say　different　don't　know　what　they
are　talking　about。　　That's　a　real　careful　young　man　who's　going　to
take　you　along　in　the　motor…car。　　He'll　get　you　there　safe；　if　any
one　will。〃

〃What　I　say　is；〃　her　husband　protested　sullenly；　〃that　we　ought　to
wait　for　the　doctor's　orders。　　I'm　against　seeing　a　poor　body　like
that　jolted　across　the　country　in　an　open　motor…car；　in　his　state。
I'm　not　sure　that　it's　for　his　good。〃

〃And　what　business　is　it　of　yours；　I　should　like　to　know？〃　the　woman
demanded　sharply。　　〃You　get　up…stairs　and　begin　moving　the　furniture
from　where　the　rain　s　coming　sopping　in。　　And　if　so　be　you　can
remember　while