the vanished messenger-第52章

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been　the　price。　　It　was　Miles　himself　who　made　the　bargain。　　We　…　we
can't　go　on；　Mr。　Hamel。〃

〃I　begin　to　understand；〃　Hamel　said　softly。　　〃You　suffer　everything
from　Miles　Fentolin　because　he　kept　the　secret。　　Very　well；　that
belongs　to　the　past。　　Something　has　happened；　something　to…night；
which　has　brought　you　here。　　Tell　me　about　it？〃

Once　more　her　voice　began　to　shake。

〃We've　seen　…　terrible　things　…　horrible　things；〃　she　faltered。
〃We've　held　our　peace。　　Perhaps　it's　been　nearly　as　bad　before；
but　we've　closed　our　eyes；　we　haven't　wanted　to　know。　　Now　…　we
can't　help　it。　　Mr。　Hamel；　Esther　isn't　at　Lord　Saxthorpe's。
She　never　went　there。　　They　didn't　ask　her。　　And　Dunster　…　the
man　Dunster　…〃

〃'Where　is　Esther？〃　Hamel　interrupted　suddenly。

〃Locked　up　away　from　you；　locked　up　because　she　rebelled！　〃

〃And　Dunster？〃

She　shook　her　head。　　Her　eyes　were　filled　with　horror。

〃But　he　left　the　Hall　…　I　saw　him！〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃It　wasn't　Dunster。　　It　was　the　man　Miles　makes　use　of　…　Ryan；　the
librarian。　　He　was　once　an　actor。〃

〃Where　is　Dunster；　then？〃　Hamel　asked　quickly。　　〃What　has　become
of　him？〃

She　opened　her　lips　and　closed　them　again；　struggled　to　speak　and
failed。　　She　sat　there；　breathing　quickly；　but　silent。　　The　power
of　speech　had　gone。




CHAPTER　XXXII

Hamel；　for　the　next　few　minutes；　forgot　everything　else　in　his
efforts　to　restore　to　consciousness　his　unexpected　visitor。　　He
rebuilt　the　fire；　heated　some　water　upon　his　spirit　lamp；　and　forced
some　hot　drink　between　the　lips　of　the　woman　who　was　now　almost　in
a　state　of　collapse。　　Then　he　wrapped　her　round　in　his　own　ulster
and　drew　her　closer　to　the　fire。　　He　tried　during　those　few　moments
to　put　away　the　memory　of　all　that　she　had　told　him。　　Gradually　she
began　to　recover。　　She　opened　her　eyes　and　drew　a　little　sigh。　　She
made　no　effort　at　speech；　however。　　She　simply　lay　and　looked　at
him　like　some　wounded　animal。　　He　came　over　to　her　side　and　chafed
one　of　her　cold　hands。

〃Come；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you　begin　to　look　more　like　yourself　now。
You　are　quite　safe　in　here；　and；　for　Esther's　sake　as　well　as　your
own；　you　know　that　I　am　your　friend。〃

She　nodded；　and　her　fingers　gently　pressed　his。

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　she　murmured。

〃Now　let　us　see　where　we　are；〃　he　continued。　　〃Tell　me　exactly　why
you　risked　so　much　by　leaving　St。　David's　Hall　to…night　and　coming
down　here。　　Isn't　there　any　chance　that　he　might　find　out？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered。　　〃It　was　Lucy　Price　who　sent　me。　　She
came　to　my　room　just　as　I　was　undressing。〃

〃Lucy　Price；〃　he　repeated。　　〃The　secretary？〃

〃Yes！　She　told　me　that　she　had　meant　to　come　to　you　herself。　　She
sent　me　instead。　　She　thought　it　best。　　This　man　Dunster　is　being
kept　alive　because　there　is　something　Miles　wants　him　to　tell　him；
and　he　won't。　　But　to…night；　if　he　is　still　alive；　if　he　won't　tell；
they　mean　to　make　away　with　him。　　They　are　afraid。〃

〃Miss　Price　told　you　this？〃　Hamel　asked　gravely。

Mrs；　Fentolin　nodded。

〃Yes！　　She　said　so。　　She　knows　…　she　knows　everything。　　She　has
been　like　the　rest　of　us。　　She；　too；　has　suffered。　　She；　too；　has
reached　the　breaking　point。　　She　loved　him　before　the　accident。
She　has　been　his　slave　ever　since。　　Listen！〃

She　suddenly　clutched　his　arm。　　They　were　both　silent。　　There　was
nothing　to　be　heard　but　the　wind。　　She　leaned　a　little　closer　to
him。

〃Lucy　Price　sent　me　here　to…night　because　she　was　afraid　that　it
was　to…night　they　meant　to　take　him　from　his　hiding…place　and　kill
him。　　The　police　have　left　off　searching　for　Mr。　Dunster　in　Yarmouth
and　at　The　Hague。　　There　is　a　detective　in　the　neighbourhood　and
another　one　on　his　way　here。　　They　are　afraid　to　keep　him　alive　any
longer。〃

〃Where　was　Mr。　Fentolin　when　you　left？〃　Hamel　asked。

〃I　asked　Lucy　Price　that；〃　she　replied。　　〃When　she　came　to　my　room；
there　were　no　signs　of　his　leaving。　　She　told　me　to　come　and　tell
you　everything。　　Do　you　know　where　Mr。　Dunster　is？〃

Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃　Within　a　few　yards　of　here；〃　she　went　on。　　〃He　is　in　the
boat…house；　the　place　where　Miles　told　you　he　kept　a　model　of　his
invention。　　They　brought　him　here　the　night　before　they　put　his
clothes　on　Ryan　and　sent　him　off　disguised　as　Mr。　Dunster；　in　the
car　to　Yarmouth。〃

Hamel　started　up；　but　she　clutched　at　his　arm　and　pulled　him　back。
〃No；〃　she　cried；　〃you　can't　break　in！　　There　are　double　doors　and
a　wonderful　lock。　　The　boat…house　is　yours；　the　building　is　yours。
In　the　morning　you　must　demand　the　keys　…　if　he　does　not　come
to…night！〃

〃And　how　are　we　to　know；〃　Hamel　asked；　〃if　he　comes　to…night？〃

〃Go　outside；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Look　towards　St。　David's　Hall　and
tell　me　how　many　lights　you　can　see。〃

He　drew　back　the　bolt；　unlatched　the　door；　and　stepped　out　into　the
darkness。　　The　wind　and　the　driving　rain　beat　against　his　face。　　A
cloud　of　spray　enveloped　and　soaked　him。　　Like　lamps　hung　in　the
sky；　the　lights　of　St。　David's　Hall　shone　out　through　the　black
gulf。　　He　counted　them　carefully；　then　he　stepped　back。

〃There　are　seven；〃　he　told　her；　closing　the　door　with　an　effort。

She　counted　upon　her　fingers。

〃I　must　come　and　see；〃　she　muttered。　　〃I　must　be　sure。　　Help　me。〃

He　lifted　her　to　her　feet；　and　they　staggered　out　together。

〃Look！〃　she　went　on；　gripping　his　arm。　　〃You　see　that　row　of　lights？
If　anything　happens；　if　Mr。　Fentolin　leaves　the　Hall　to…night　to
come　down　here；　a　light　will　appear　on　the　left　in　the　far　corner。
We　must　watch　for　that　light。　　We　must　watch　…〃

The　words；　whispered　hoarsely　into。　　his　ear；　suddenly　died　away。
Even　as　they　stood　there；　far　away　from　the　other　lights；　another
one　shone　suddenly　out　in　the　spot　towards　which　she　had　pointed；
and　continued　to　burn　steadily。　　He　felt　the　woman　who　was　clinging
to　his　arm　become　suddenly　a　dead　weight。

〃She　was　right！〃　Mrs。　　Pentolin　moaned。　　〃He　is　coming　down　to…night！
He　is　preparing　to　leave　now；　perhaps　he　has　already　started！　　What
shall　we　do？　　What　shall　we　do？〃

Hamel　was　conscious　of　a　gathering　sense　of　excitement。　　He；　too；
looked　at　the　signal　which　was　flashing　out　its　message　towards　them。
Then　he　gripped　his　companion's　arm　and　almost　carried　her　back　into
the　sitting…room。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said　firmly；　〃you　can　do　nothing　further。　　You　have
done　your　part　and　done　it　well。　　Stay　where　you　are　and　wait。　　The
rest　belongs　to　me。〃

〃But　what　can　you　do？〃　she　demanded；　her　voice　shaking　with　fear。
〃Meekins　will　come　with　him；　and　Doctor　Sarson；　unless　he　is　here
already。　　What　can　you　do　against　them？　　Meekins　can　break　any
ordinary　man's　back；　and　Mr。　Fentolin　will　have　a　revolver。〃

Hamel　threw　another　log　on　to　the　fire　and　drew　her　chair　closer
to　it。

〃Never　mind　about　he　declared　cheerfully。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin　is　too
clever　to　attempt　violence；　except　as　a　last　resource。　　He　knows
that　I　have　friends　in　London　who　would　need　some　explanation
of　my　disappearance。　　Stay　here　and　wait。〃

She　recognised　the　note　of　authority　in　his　tone；　and　she　bowed　her
head。　　Then　she　looked　up　at　him；　she　was　a　changed　woman。

〃Perhaps　I　have　done　ill　to　drag　you　into　our　troubles；　Mr。　Hamel；〃
she　said；　〃and　yet；　I　believe　in　you。　　I　believe　that　you　really
care　for　Esther。　　If　you　can　help　us　now；　it　will　be　for　your
happiness；　too。　　You　are　a　man。　　God　bless　you！〃

Hamel　groped　his　way　round　the　side　of　the　Tower　and　took　up　a
position　at　the　extreme　corner　of　the　landward　side　of　the　building；
within　a　yard　of　the　closed　doors。　　The　light　far　out　upon　the　left
was　still　gleaming　brightly；　but　two　of　the　others　in　a　line　with
it　had　disappeared。　　He　flattened　himself　against　the　wall　and
waited；　listening　intently；　his　eyes　straining　through　the　darkness。
Yet　they　were　almost　upon　him　before　he　had　the　slightest　indication
of　their　presence。　　A　single　gleam　of　light　in　the　path；　come　and
gone　like　a　flash；　the　gleam　of　an　electric　torch　directed
momentarily　towards　the　road；　was　his　first　indication　that　they
were　near。　　A　moment　or　two　later　he　heard　the　strange　click；　click
of　the　little　engine　attached　to　Mr。　Fentolin's　chair。　　Hamel　set
his　teeth　and