the vanished messenger-第53章
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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 stepped a few inches further back。 The darkness was
so intense that they were actually within a yard or so of him before
he could even dimly discern their shapes。 There were three of them
… Mr。 Fentolin in his chair； Doctor Sarson； and Meekins。 They
paused for a moment while the latter produced a key。 Hamel
distinctly heard a slow； soft whisper from Doctor Sarson。
〃Shall I go round to the front and see that he is in bed？〃
〃No need；〃 Mr。 Fentolin replied calmly。 〃It is nearly four o'clock。
Better not to risk the sound of your footsteps upon the pebbles。
Now！〃
The door swung noiselessly open。 The darkness was so complete that
even though Hamel could have touched them with an outstretched hand；
their shapes were invisible。 Hamel； who had formed no definite
plans； had no time to hesitate。 As the last one disappeared through
the door； he； too； slipped in。 He turned abruptly to the left and；
holding his breath； stood against the wall。 The door closed behind
them。 The gleam of the electric light flashed across the stone
floor and rested for a moment upon a trapdoor； which Meekins had
already stooped to lift。 It fell back noiselessly upon rubber studs；
and Meekins immediately slipped through it a ladder； on either side
of which was a grooved stretch of board； evidently fashioned to
allow Mr。 Fentolin's carriage to pass down。 Hamel held his breath。
The moment for him was critical。 If the light flashed once in his
direction； he must be discovered。 Both Meekins and Doctor Sarson；
however； were intent upon the task of steering Mr。 Fentolin's little
carriage down below。 They placed the wheels in the two grooves；
and Meekins secured the carriage with a rope which he let run
through his fingers。 As soon as the little vehicle had apparently
reached the bottom； he turned； thrust the electric torch in his
pocket； and stepped lightly down the ladder。 Doctor Sarson
followed his example。 They disappeared in perfect silence and left
the door open。 Presently a gleam of light came travelling up； from
which Hamel knew that they had lit a lamp below。 Very softly he
crept across the floor； threw himself upon his stomach and peered
down。 Below him was a room； or rather a cellar； parts of which
seemed to have been cut out of the solid rock。 Immediately
underneath was a plain iron bedstead； on which was lying stretched
the figure of a man。 In those first few moments Hamel failed
altogether to recognise Mr。 Dunster。 He was thin and white； and
he seemed to have shrunken； his face； with its coarse growth of
beard； seemed like the face of an old man。 Yet the eyes were open；
eyes dull and heavy as though with pain。 So far no word had been
spoken； but at that moment Mr。 Fentolin broke the silence。
〃My dear guest；〃 he said； 〃I bring you our most sincere apologies。
It has gone very much against the grain； I can assure you； to have
neglected you for so long a time。 It is entirely the fault of the
very troublesome young man who occupies the other portion of this
building。 In the daytime his presence makes it exceedingly
difficult for us to offer you those little attentions which you
might naturally expect。〃
The man upon the bed neither moved nor changed his position in any
way。 Nor did he speak。 All power of initiative seemed to have
deserted him。 He lay quite still； his eyes fixed upon Mr。 Fentolin。
〃There comes a time；〃 the latter continued； 〃when every one of us
is confronted with what might be described as the crisis of our
lives。 Yours has come； my guest； at precisely this moment。 It is；
if my watch tells me the truth； five and twenty minutes to four。
It is the last day of April。 The year you know。 You have exactly
one minute to decide whether you will live a short time longer； or
whether you will on this last day of April； and before … say； a
quarter to four； make that little journey the nature of which you
and I have discussed more than once。〃
Still the man upon the bed made no movement nor any reply。 Mr。
Fentolin sighed and beckoned to Doctor Sarson。
〃I am afraid；〃 he whispered； 〃that that wonderful drug of yours；
Doctor； has been even a little too far…reaching in its results。 It
has kept our friend so quiet that he has lost even the power of
speech； perhaps even the desire to speak。 A little restorative；
I think … just a few drops。〃
Doctor Sarson nodded silently。 He drew from his pocket a little
phial and poured into a wine…glass which stood on a table by the
side of the bed； half a dozen drops of some ruby…coloured liquid；
to which he added a tablespoonful of water。 Then he leaned once
more over the bed and poured the contents of the glass between the
lips of the semi…conscious man。
〃Give him two minutes；〃 he said calmly。 〃He will be able to speak
then。〃
Mr。 Fentolin nodded and leaned back in his chair。 He glanced around
the room a little critically。 There was a thick carpet upon the
floor； a sofa piled with cushions in one corner； and several other
articles of furniture。 The walls； however； were uncovered and were
stained with damp。 A great pink fungus stood out within a few
inches of the bed； a grim mixture of exquisite colouring and
loathsome imperfections。 The atmosphere was fetid。 Meekins suddenly
struck a match and lit some grains of powder in a saucer。 A curious
odour of incense stole through the place。 Mr。 Fentolin nodded
appreciatively。
〃That is better；〃 he declared。 〃 Really； the atmosphere here is
positively unpleasant。 I am ashamed to think that our guest has
had to put up with it so long。 And yet；〃 he went on； 〃I think we
must call it his own fault。 I trust that he will no longer be
obstinate。〃
The effect of the restorative began to show itself。 The man on the
bed moved restlessly。 His eyes were no longer altogether
expressionless。 He was staring at Mr。 Fentolin as one looks at some
horrible vision。 Mr。 Fentolin smiled pleasantly。
〃Now you are looking more like your old self； my dear Mr。 Dunster；〃
he remarked。 〃I don't think that I need repeat what I said when I
first came； need I？ You have just to utter that one word； and your
little visit to us will be at an end。〃
The man looked around at all of them。 He raised himself a little
on his elbow。 For the first time； Hamel； crouching above；
recognised any likeness to Mr。 John P。 Dunster。
〃I'll see you in hell first！〃
Mr。 Fentolin's face momentarily darkened。 He moved a little nearer
to the man upon the bed。
〃Dunster；〃 he said； 〃I am in grim earnest。 Never mind arguments。
Never mind why I am on the other side。 They are restless about you
in America。 Unless I can cable that word to…morrow morning； they'll
communicate direct with The Hague； and I shall have had my trouble
for nothing。 It is not my custom to put up with failure。 Therefore；
let me tell you that no single one of my threats has been
exaggerated。 My patience has reached its breaking point。 Give me
that word； or before four o'clock strikes； you will find yourself
in a new chamber； among the corpses of those misguided fishermen；
mariners of ancient days； and a few others。 It's only a matter of
fifty yards out to the great sea pit below the Dagger Rocks … I've
spoken to you about it before； haven't I？ So surely as I speak to
you of it at this moment
Mr。 Fentolin's speech came to an abrupt termination。 A convulsive
movement of Meekins'； an expression of blank amazement on the part
of Doctor Sarson； had suddenly checked the words upon his lips。 He
turned his head quickly in the direction towards which they had been
gazing； towards which in fact； at that moment； Meekins； with a low
cry； had made a fruitless spring。 The ladder down which they had
descended was slowly disappearing。 Meekins； with a jump； missed
the last rung by only a few inches。 Some unseen hand was drawing
it up。 Already the last few feet were vanishing in mid…air。 Mr。
Fentolin sat quite quiet and still。 He looked through the trap…door
and saw Hamel。
〃Most ingenious and； I must confess； most s
