the vanished messenger-第51章
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〃Mr。 Fentolin has invented something；〃 Hamel explained。 〃He keeps
the model in there。 Inventors are very jealous of their work。〃
She looked down upon the floor for a moment。
〃I shall be here at seven o'clock in the morning； sir。 I will give
you your breakfast at the usual time。〃
Hamel opened the door for her。
〃Good night； Mrs。 Cox；〃 he said。 〃Would you like me to walk a
little way with you？ It's a lonely path to the village； and the
dikes are full。〃
〃Thank you； no； sir；〃 she replied。 〃It's a lonely way； right enough；
but it isn't loneliness that frightens me。 I am less afraid out
with the winds and the darkness than under this roof。 If I lose my
way and wander all night upon the marsh； I'll be safer out there
than you； sir。
She passed away； and Hamel watched her disappear into the darkness。
Then he dragged out a bowl of tobacco and filled a pipe。 Although
he was half ashamed of himself； he strolled back once more into the
kitchen； and； drawing up a stool； he sat down just where he had
discovered Hannah Cox； sat still and listened。 No sound of any sort
reached him。 He sat there for ten minutes。 Then he scrambled to
his feet。
〃She is mad； of course！〃 he muttered。
He mixed himself a whisky and soda； relit his pipe； which had gone
out； and drew up an easy…chair to the fire which she had left him
in the sitting…room。 The wind had increased in violence； and the
panes of his window rattled continually。 He yawned and tried to
fancy that he was sleepy。 It was useless。 He was compelled to
admit the truth … that his nerves were all on edge。 In a sense he
was afraid。 The thought of bed repelled him。 He had not a single
impulse towards repose。 Outside； the wind all the time was
gathering force。 More than once his window was splashed with the
spray carried on by the wind which followed the tide。 He sat quite
still and tried to think calmly； tried to piece together in his mind
the sequence of events which had brought him to this part of the
world and which had led to his remaining where he was； an undesired
hanger…on at the threshold of Miles Fentolin。 He had the feeling
that to…night he had burned his boats。 There was no longer any
pretence of friendliness possible between him and this strange
creature。 Mr。 Fentolin suspected him； realised that he himself was
suspected。 But of what？ Hamel moved in his chair restlessly。
Sometimes that gathering cloud of suspicion seemed to him grotesque。
Of what real harm could he be capable； this little autocrat who from
his chair seemed to exercise such a malign influence upon every one
with whom he was brought into contact？ Hamel sighed。 The riddle
was insoluble。 With a sudden rush of warmer and more joyous
feelings； he let the subject slip away from him。 He closed his eyes
and dreamed for a while。 There was a new world before him； joys
which only so short a time ago he had fancied had passed him by。
He sat up in his chair with a start。 The fire had become merely
a handful of grey ashes； his limbs were numb and stiff。 The lamp
was flickering out。 He had been dozing； how long he had no idea。
Something had awakened him abruptly。 There was a cold draught
blowing through the room。 He turned his head； his hands still
gripping the sides of his chair。 His heart gave a leap。 The
outer door was a few inches open； was being held open by some
invisible force。 There was some one there； some one on the point
of entering stealthily。 Even as he watched； the crack became a
little wider。 He sat with his eyes riveted upon that opening
space。 The unseen hand was still at work。 Every instant he
expected to see a face thrust forward。 The sensation of absolute
physical fear by which he was oppressed was a revelation to him。
He found himself wishing almost feverishly that he was armed。 The
physical strength in which he had trusted seemed to him at that
instant a valueless and impotent thing。 There was a splash of
spray or raindrops against the window and through the crack in
the door。 The lamp chimney hissed and spluttered and finally the
light went out。 The room was in sudden darkness。 Hamel sprang
then to his feet。 Silence had become an intolerable thing。 He
felt the close presence of another human being creeping in upon
him。
〃Who's there？〃 he cried。 〃Who's there； I say？〃
There was no direct answer； only the door was pushed a little
further open。 He had stepped close to it now。 The sweep of the
wind was upon his face； although in the black darkness he could
see nothing。 And then a sudden recollection flashed in upon him。
》From his trousers pocket he snatched a little electric torch。 In
an instant his thumb had pressed the button。 He turned it upon
the door。 The shivering white hand which held it open was plainly
in view。 It was the hand of a woman！ He stepped swiftly forward。
A dark figure almost fell into his arms。
〃Mrs； Fentolin！〃 he exclaimed； aghast。
An hysterical cry； choked and subdued； broke from her lips。 He
half carried； half led her to his easy…chair。 Suddenly steadied by
the presence of this unlooked…for emergency； he closed the outside
door and relit the lamp with firm fingers。 Then he turned to face
her； and his amazement at this strange visit became consternation。
She was still in her dinner…gown of black satin； but it was soaked
through with the rain and hung about her like a black shroud。 She
had lost one shoe； and there was a great hole in her silk stocking。
Her hair was all disarranged； one of its numerous switches was
hanging down over her ear。 The rouge upon her cheeks had run down
on to her neck。 She sat there； looking at him out of her hollow
eyes like some trapped animal。 She was shaking with fear。 It was
fear； not faintness； which kept her silent。
〃Tell me； please； what is the matter？〃 he insisted； speaking as
indifferently as he could。 〃Tell me at once what has happened？〃
She pointed to the door。
〃Lock it！〃 she implored。
He turned down the latch and drew the bolt。 The sound seemed to
give her a little courage。 Her fingers went to her throat for a
moment。
〃Give me some water。〃
He poured out some soda…water。 She drank only o sip and put it down
again。 He began to be alarmed。 She had the appearance of one who
has suddenly lost her senses。
〃Please tell me just what has happened？〃 he begged。 〃If I can help
in any way； you know I will。 But you must tell me。 Do you realise
that it is three o'clock？ I should have been in bed； only I went
to sleep over the fire here。〃
〃I know；〃 she answered。 〃It is just the wind that has taken away
my breath。 It was a hard struggle to get here。 Listen … you are
our friend； Mr。 Hamel … Esther's and mine？ Swear that you are our
friend？〃
〃Upon my honour； I am；〃 he assured her。 〃You should know that。〃
〃For eight years；〃 she went on； her voice clear enough now； although
it seemed charged with a curious metallic vibration； 〃for eight
years we've borne it； all three of us； slaves； bound hand and foot；
lashed with his tongue； driven along the path of his desires。 We
have seen evil things。 We have been on the point of rebellion； and
he's come a little nearer and he's pointed back。 He has taken me by
the hand； and I have walked by the side of his chair； loathing it；
loathing myself； out on to the terrace and down below； just where
it happened。 You know what happened there； Mr。 Hamel？〃
〃You mean where Mr。 Fentolin met with his accident。〃
〃It was no accident！〃 she cried； glancing for a moment around her。
〃It was no accident！ It was my husband who took him up and threw
him over the terrace； down below； my husband who tried to kill him；
Esther's father … Gerald's father！ Miles was in the Foreign Office
then； and he did something disgraceful。 He sold a secret to Austria。
He was always a great gambler； and he was in debt。 Seymour found
out about it。 He followed him down here。 They met upon the terrace。
I … I saw it！〃
He was silent for a moment。
〃No one has known the truth；〃 he murmured。
〃No one has ever known；〃 she assented； 〃and our broken lives have
been the price。 It was Miles himself who made the bargain。 We …
