the vanished messenger-第56章

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because　of　his　fits　of　mental　wandering。　　Our　statements；　however；
may　be　doubted。　　An　apparent　return　to　sanity　on　his　part　may　lend
colour　to　his　accusations；　especially　if　permanent。　　Perhaps　it
would　be　as　well　to　pursue　that　investigation　a　shade　further。　　A
touch　more　to　the　left　and　I　do　not　think　that　Mr。　Dunster　will
remember　much　in　this　world　likely　to　affect　us。〃

Mr。　Dunster's　face　was　like　marble。　　There　were　beads　of　perspiration
upon　his　forehead；　his　eyes　were　filled　with　reminiscent　horror。　　Mr。
Fentolin　bent　over　him　with　genuine　interest。

〃What　a　picture　he　would　make！〃　he　murmured。　　〃What　a　drama！　Do　you
know；　I　am　half　inclined　to　agree　with　you；　Sarson。　　The　only　trouble
is　that　you　have　not　your　instruments　here。〃

〃I　could　improvise　something　that　would　do　the　trick；〃　the　doctor
said　thoughtfully。　　〃It　really　isn't　a　complicated　affair。　　It
seems　to　me　that　his　story　may　gain　credence　from　the　very　fact　of
our　being　discovered　in　this　extraordinary　place。　　To　have　moved
him　here　was　a　mistake；　sir。〃

〃Perhaps　so；〃　Mr。　　Fentolin　admitted；　with　a　sigh。　　〃It　was　our
young　friend　Mr。　Hamel　who　was　responsible　for　it。　　I　fancied　him
arriving　with　a　search　warrant　at　any　moment。　　We　will　bear　in　mind
your　suggestion　for　a　few　minutes。　　Let　us　watch　Meekins。　　This
promises　to　be　interesting。〃

By　dint　of　piling　together　all　the　furniture　in　the　place；　the
man　was　now　able　to　reach　the　trap…door。　　He　pressed　upon　it
vigorously　without　even　bending　the　wood。　　Mr。　　Fentolin　smiled
pleasantly。

〃Meekins；〃　he　said；　〃look　at　me。〃

The　man　turned　and　faced　his　master。　　His　aspect　of　dogged　civility
had　never　been　more　apparent。

〃Now　listen；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　went　on。　　〃I　want　to　remind　you　of
certain　things；　Meekins。　　We　are　among　friends　here　…　no　secrecy；
you　understand；　or　anything　of　that　sort。　　You　need　not　be　afraid！
You　know　how　you　came　to　me？　　You　remember　that　little　affair　of
Anna　Jayes　in　Hartlepool？〃

The　face　of　the　man　was　filled　with　terror。　　He　began　to　tremble
where　he　stood。　　Mr。　Fentolin　played　for　a　moment　with　his　collar；
as　though　he　found　it　tight。

〃Such　a　chance　it　was；　my　dear　Meekins；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　continued
cheerfully；　〃which　brought　me　that　little　scrap　of　knowledge
concerning　you。　　It　has　bought　me　through　all　these　years　a　good
deal　of　faithful　service。　　I　am　not　ungrateful；　believe　me。　　I
intend　to　retain　you　for　my　body…servant　and　to　keep　my　lips　sealed；
for　a　great　many　years　to　come。　　Now　remember　what　I　have　said。
When　we　leave　this　place；　that　little　episode　will　steal　back　into
a　far　corner　of　my　mind。　　I　shall；　in　short；　forget　it。　　If　we　are
caught　here　and　inconvenience　follows；　well；　I　cannot　say。　　Do　your
best；　Meekins。　　Do　a　little　better　than　your　best。　　You　have　the
reputation　of　being　a　strong　man。　　Let　us　see　you　justify　it。〃

The　man　took　a　long　breath　and　returned　to　his　task。　　His　shoulders
and　arms　were　upon　the　door。　　He　began　to　strain。　　He　grew　red　in
the　face；　the　veins　across　his　forehead　stood　out；　blue；　like
tightly…drawn　string。　　His　complexion　became　purple。　　Through　his
open　mouth　his　breath　came　in　short　pants。　　With　every　muscle　of
his　body　and　neck　he　strained　and　strained。　　The　woodwork　gave　a
little；　but　it　never　even　cracked。　　With　a　sob　he　suddenly　almost
collapsed。　　Mr。　Fentolin　looked　at　him；　frowning。

〃Very　good　…　very　good；　Meekins；〃　he　said；　〃but　not　quite　good
enough。　　You　are　a　trifle　out　of　practice；　perhaps。　　Take　your
breath；　take　time。　　Remember　that　you　have　anotber　chance。　　I　am
not　angry　with　you；　Meekins。　　I　know　there　are　many　enterprises
upon　which　one　does　not　succeed　the　first　time。　　Get　your　breath；
there　is　no　hurry。　　Next　time　you　try；　see　that　you　succeed。　　It
is　very　important；　Meekins；　for　you　as　well　as　for　us；　that　you
succeed。〃

The　man　turned　doggedly　back　to　his　task。　　The　eyes　of　the　three
men　watched　him　…　Mr。　Dunster　on　the　bed；　Doctor　Sarson；　pale　and
gloomy；　with　something　of　fear　in　his　dark　eyes；　and　Mr。　Fentolin
himself；　whose　expression　seemed　to　be　one　of　purely　benevolent　and
encouraging　interest。　　Once　more　the　face　of　the　man　became　almost
unrecognisable。　　There　was　a　great　crack；　the　trap…door　had　shifted。
Meekins；　with　a　little　cry；　reeled　and　sank　backwards。　　Mr。　Fentolin
clapped　his　hands　lightly。

〃Really；　Meekins；〃　he　declared；　〃I　do　not　know　when　I　have　enjoyed
any　performance　so　much。　　I　feel　as　if　I　were　back　in　the　days　of
the　Roman　gladiators。　　I　can　see　that　you　mean　to　succeed。　　You　will
succeed。　　You　do　not　mean　to　end　your　days　amid　objectionable
surroundings。〃

With　the　air　of　a　man　temporarily　mad；　Meekins　went　back　to　his　task。
He　was　sobbing　to　himself　now。　　His　clothes　had　burst　away　from　him。
Suddenly　there　was　a　crash；　the　hinges　of　the　trap…door　had　parted。
With　the　blood　streaming　from　a　wound　in　his　forehead；　Meekins
staggered　back　to　his　feet。　　Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。

〃Excellent！〃　he　pronounced。　　〃Really　excellent。　　With　a　little
assistance　from　our　friend　Meekins；　you；　I　am　sure；　Sarson；　will
now　be　able　to　climb　up　and　let　down　the　steps。〃

Doctor　Sarson　stood　by　Mr。　Fentolin's　chair；　and　together　they　looked
up　through　the　fragments　of　the　trap…door。　　Meekins　was　still
breathing　heavily。　　Suddenly　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　sharp　report；
as　of　a　door　above　being　slammed。

〃Some　one　was　in　the　boat…house　when　I　broke　the　trap…door；〃　Meekins
muttered。　　〃I　heard　them　moving　about。〃

Mr。　　Fentolin　frowned。

〃Then　let　us　hurry；〃　he　said。　　〃Sarson；　what　about　your　patient？〃

Mr。　　Dunster　was　lying　upon　his　side；　watching　them。　　The　doctor
went　over　to　the　bedside　and　felt　his　pulse　and　head。

〃He　will　do　for　twelve　hours；〃　he　pronounced。　　〃If　you　think　that
other　little　operation　…〃

He　broke　off　and　looked　at　Mr。　Fentolin　meaningly。　　The　man　on　the
bed　shrank　back；　his　eyes　lit　with　horror。　　Mr。　　Fentolin　smiled
pleasantly。

〃I　fear；〃　he　said；　〃that　we　must　not　stay　for　that　just　now。　　A
little　later　on；　perhaps；　if　it　becomes　necessary。　　Let　us　first
attend　to　the　business　on　hand。〃

Meekins　once　more　clambered　on　to　the　little　heap　of　furniture。
The　doctor　stood　by　his　side　for　a　moment。　　Then；　with　an　effort；
he　was　hoisted　up　until　he　could　catch　hold　of　the　floor　of　the
outhouse。　　Meekins　gave　one　push；　and　he　disappeared。

〃Any　one　up　there？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　enquired；　a　shade　of　anxiety　in
his　tone。

〃No　one；〃　the　doctor　reported。

〃Has　anything　been　disturbed？〃

Doctor　Sarson　was　some　little　time　before　he　replied。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；〃　some　one　seems　to　have　been　rummaging　about。〃

〃Send　down　the　steps　quickly；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　ordered。　　〃I　am　beginning
to　find　the　atmosphere　here　unpleasant。〃

There　was　a　brief　silence。　　Then　they　heard　the　sound　of　the　ladder
being　dragged　across　the　floor；　and　a　moment　or　two　later　it　was
carefully　lowered　and　placed　in　position。　　Mr。　Fentolin　passed　the
rope　through　the　front　of　his　carriage　and　was　drawn　up。　　From　his
bed　Mr。　　Dunster　watched　them　go。　　It　was　hard　to　tell　whether　he
was　relieved　or　disappointed。

〃Who　has　been　in　here？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　demanded；　as　he　looked　around
the　place。

There　was　no　reply。　　A　grey　twilight　was　struggling　now　through　the
high；　dust…covered　windows。　　Meekins；　who　had　gone　on　towards　the
door；　suddenly　called　out：

〃Some　one　has　taken　away　the　key！　　The　door　is　locked　on　the　other
side！〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　frown　was　malign　even　for　him。

〃Our　dear　friend；　Mr。　Hamel；　I　suppose；〃　he　muttered。　　〃Another
little　debt　we　shall　owe　him！　　Try　the　other　door。〃

Meekins　moved　towards　the　partition。　　Suddenly　he　paused。　　Mr。
Fentolin's　hand　was　outstretched；　he；　too；　was　listening。　　Above
the　low　thunder　of　the　sea　came　another　sound；　a　sound　which　at
that　moment　they　none　of　them　probably　understood。　　There　was　the
steady　crashing　of　feet　upon　the　pebbles；　a　low　murmur　of　voices。
Mr。　Fentolin　for　the　first　time　showed　symptoms　of　fear。

〃Try　the　other　door　quickly；〃　he　directed。

Meekins　came　back；　shaking　his　head。　　Outside；　the　noise　seemed　to
be　increasing。　　The　door　was　suddenly　thrown　open。　　Hannah　Cox　stood
outside　in　her　plain　black　dress；　her　hair　wi