the vanished messenger-第39部分

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very　unlikely　thing；　and　now；〃　he　added；　leaning　forward　in　his
chair；　〃I　pronounce　it　almost　a　certainty。〃

Hamel　looked　at　his　host　a　little　curiously。　　Mr。　Fentolin's
gentleness　of　expression　seemed　to　have　departed。　　His　face　was
hard；　his　eyes　agleam。　　He　bad　almost　the　look　of　a　bird　of　prey。
For　some　reason；　the　thought　of　war　seemed　to　be　a　joy　to　him。
Perhaps　he　read　something　of　Hamel's　wonder　in　his　expression；　for
with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders　he　dismissed　the　subject。

〃Well；〃　he　concluded；　〃all　these　things　lie　on　the　knees　of　the　gods。
I　dare　say　you　wonder；　Mr。　Hamel；　why　a　poor　useless　creature　like
myself　should　take　the　slightest　interest　in　passing　events？　　It　is
just　the　fascination　of　the　looker…on。　　I　want　your　opinion　about
that　champagne。　　Florence　dear；　you　must　join　us。　　We　will　drink　to
Mr。　Hamel's　health。　　We　will　perhaps　couple　that　toast　in　our　minds
with　the　sentiment　which　I　am　sure　is　not　very　far　from　your
thoughts；　Florence。〃

Hamel　raised　his　glass　and　bowed　to　his　host　and　hostess。　　He　was
not　wholly　at　his　ease。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　being　watched
with　a　queer　persistence　by　both　of　them。　　Mrs；　Fentolin　continued
to　talk　and　laugh　with　a　gaiety　which　was　too　obviously　forced。　　Mr。
Fentolin　posed　for　a　while　as　the　benevolent　listener。　　He　mildly
applauded　his　sister…in…law's　stories；　and　encouraged　Hamel　in　the
recital　of　some　of　his　reminiscences。　　Suddenly　the　door　was　opened。
Miss　Price　appeared。　　She　walked　smoothly　across　the　room　and　stood
by　Mr。　Fentolin's　side。　　Stooping　down；　she　whispered　in　his　ear。　　He
pushed　his　chair　back　a　little　from　the　table。　　His　face　was　dark
with　anger。

〃I　said　not　before　ten　to…night；〃　he　muttered。

Again　she　spoke　in　his　ear；　so　softly　that　the　sound　of　her　voice
itself　scarcely　travelled　even　as　far　as　where　Hamel　was　sitting。
Mr。　Fentolin　looked　steadfastly　for　a　moment　at　his　sister…in…law
and　from　her　to　Hamel。　　Then　he　backed　his　chair　away　front　the
table。

〃I　shall　have　to　ask　to　be　excused　for　three　minutes；〃　he　said。
〃I　must　speak　upon　the　telephone。　　It　is　a　call　from　some　one　who
declares　that　they　have　important　news。〃

He　turned　the　steering…wheel　of　his　chair；　and　with　Miss　Price
by　his　side　passed　across　the　dining…room；　out　of　the　Oasis　of
rose…shaded　lights　into　the　shadows；　and　through　the　open　door。
》From　there　he　turned　his　head　before　he　disappeared；　as　though　to
watch　his　guest。　　Mrs；　Fentolin　was　busy　fondling　one　of　her　dogs；
which　she　had　raised　to　her　lap；　and　Hamel　was　watching　her　with　a
tolerant　smile。

〃Koto；　you　little　idiot；　why　can't　you　sit　up　like　your　sister？
Was　its　tail　in　the　way；　then！　　Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　whispered　under　her
breath；　so　softly　that　he　barely　caught　the　words；　although　he　was
only　a　few　feet　away；　〃don't　look　at　me。　　I　feel　as　though　we　were
being　watched　all　the　time。　　You　can　destroy　that　piece　of　paper　in
your　pocket。　　All　that　it　says　is　'Leave　here　immediately　after
dinner》'〃

Hamel　sipped　his　wine　in　a　nonchalant　fashion。　　His　fingers　had
strayed　over　the　silky　coat　of　the　little　dog；　which　she　had　held
out　as　though　for　his　inspection。

〃How　can　I？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　excuse　can　I　make？〃

〃Invent　one；〃　she　insisted　swiftly。　　〃Leave　here　before　ten　o'clock。
Don't　let　anything　keep　you。　　And　destroy　that　piece　of　paper　in
your　pocket；　if　you　can　…　now。〃

〃But；　Mrs；　Fentolin　…〃　he　began。

She　caught　up　one　of　her　absurd　little　pets　and　held　it　to　her　mouth。

〃Meekins　is　in　the　doorway；〃　she　whispered

Don't　argue　with　me；　please。　　You　are　in　danger　you　know　nothing
about。　　Pass　me　the　cigarettes。〃

She　leaned　back　in　her　chair；　smoking　quickly。　　She　held　one　of　the
dogs　on　her　knee　and　talked　rubbish　to　it。　　Hamel　watched　her；
leaning　back　in　his　carved　oak　chair；　and　he　found　it　hard　to　keep
the　pity　from　his　eyes。　　The　woman　was　playing　a　part；　playing　it
with　desperate　and　pitiful　earnestness；　a　part　which　seemed　the　more
tragical　because　of　the　soft　splendour　of　their　surroundings。　　From
the　shadowy　walls；　huge；　dimly…seen　pictures　hung　about　them；　a
strange　and　yet　impressive　background。　　Their　small　round
dining…table；　with　its　rare　cut　glass；　its　perfect　appointments；　its
bowls　of　pink　roses；　was　like　a　spot　of　wonderful　colour　in　the　great
room。　　Two　men　servants　stood　at　the　sideboard　a　few　yards　away；　a
triumph　of　negativeness。　　The　butler；　who　had　been　absent　for　a
moment；　stood　now　silently　waiting　behind　his　master's　place。　　Hamel
was　oppressed；　during　those　few　minutes　of　waiting；　by　a　curious
sense　of　unreality；　as　though　he　were　taking　part　in　some　strange
tableau。　　There　was　something　unreal　about　his　surroundings　and　his
own　presence　there；　something　unreal　in　the　atmosphere；　charged　as
it　seemed　to　be　with　some　omen　of　impending　happenings；　something
unreal　in　that　whispered　warning；　those　few　hoarsely　uttered　words
which　had　stolen　to　his　hearing　across　the　clusters　of　drooping
roses；　the　absurd　babble　of　the　woman；　who　sat　there　with　tragic
things　under　the　powder　with　which　her　face　was　daubed。

〃Koto　must　learn　to　sit　upon　his　tail　…　like　that。　　No；　not　another
grape　till　he　sits　up。　　There；　then！〃

She　was　leaning　forward　with　a　grape　between　her　teeth；　towards　the
tiny　animal　who　was　trying　in　vain　to　balance　his　absurdly　shaped
little　body　upon　the　tablecloth。　　Hamel；　without　looking　around；
knew　quite　well　what　was　happening。　　Soon　he　heard　the　click　of　the
chair。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　back　in　his　place。　　His　skin　seemed　paler
and　more　parchment…like　than　ever。　　His　eyes　glittered。

〃It　seems；〃　he　announced　quietly；　as　he　raised　his　wine…glass　to　his
lips　with　the　air　of　one　needing　support；　〃that　we　entertained　an
angel　unawares　here。　　This　Mr。　Dunster　is　lost　for　the　second　time。
A　very　important　personage　he　turns　out　to　be。〃

〃You　mean　the　American　whom　Gerald　brought　home　after　the　accident？〃
Mrs；　Fentolin　asked　carelessly。

　Mr。　Fentolin　replied。　　〃He　insisted　upon　continuing　his　journey
before　he　was　strong　enough。　　I　warned　him　of　what　might　happen。
He　has　evidently　been　take　ill　somewhere。　　It　seems　that　he　was
on　his　way　to　The　Hague。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　he　has　disappeared　altogether　this　time？〃　Hamel
asked。

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head。

〃No；　he　has　found　his　way　to　The　Hague　safely　enough。　　He　is　lying
there　at　a　hotel　in　the　city；　but　he　is　unconscious。　　There　is　some
talk　about　his　having　been　robbed　on　the　way。　　At　any　rate；　they
are　tracing　his　movements　backwards。　　We　are　to　be　honoured　with　a
visit　from　one　of　Scotland　Yard's　detect；ives；　to　reconstruct　his
journey　from　here。　　Our　quiet　little　corner　of　the　world　is　becoming
quite　notorious。　　Florence　dear；　you　are　tired。　　I　can　see　it　in
your　eyes。　　Your　headache　continues；　I　am　sure。　　We　will　not　be
selfish。　　Mr。　Hamel　and　I　are　going　to　have　a　long　evening　in　the
library。　　Let　me　recommend　a　phenacetin　and　bed。〃

She　rose　at　once　to　her　feet；　with　a　dog　under　either　arm。

〃I'll　take　the　phenacetin；〃　she　promised；　〃but　I　hate　going　to　bed
early。　　Shall　I　see　you　again；　I　wonder；　Mr。　Hamel？〃

〃Not　this　evening；　I　fear；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　am　going　to　ask　Mr。
Fentolin　to　excuse　me　early。〃

She　passed　out　of　the　room。　　Hamel　escorted　her　as　far　as　the　door
and　then　returned。　　Mr。　Fentolin　was　sitting　quite　still　in　his
chair。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　tablecloth。　　He　looked　up
quickly　as　Hamel　resumed　his　seat。

〃You　are　not　in　earnest；　I　hope；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said；　〃when　you　tell
me　that　you　must　leave　early？　　I　have　been　anticipating　a　long
evening。　　My　library　is　filled　with　books　on　South　America　which　I
want　to　discuss　with　you。〃

〃Another　evening；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　Hamel　begged。　　〃To…night　I
must　ask　you　to　excuse　my　hurrying　away。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　looked　up　from　underneath　his　eyelids。　　His　glance　was
quick　and　penetrating。

〃Why　this　haste？〃

Hamel　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　admitted；　〃I　had　an　idea　while　I　was
reading　an　article　on　cantilever　bridges　this　morning。　　I　want　to
work　it　out。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　glanced　behind　him。　　The　door　of　the　dining…room　was
closed。　　The　servants　had　disappeared。　　Meekins　alone；　looking　more
like　a　prize　fighter　than　ever　in　his　somber　evening　clothes；　had
taken　the　place　of　the　butler　behind　his　master's　chair。

　　　　　〃We　shall　see；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　quietly。




CHAPTER　XXX

Mr。　Fentolin　pointed　to　the　little　pile　of　books　upon　the　table；
the　deep　easy…chair；　the　green…shaded　lamps；　the　decanter　of　wine。
He　had　insisted　upon　a　visit；　however　brief；　to　the　library。

〃It　is　a　student's　appeal　which　I　make　to　you；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said；
with　a　whimsical　smile。　　〃Here　we　are　in　my　study；　with　the　door
closed；　secure　against　interruption；　a　bright　fire　in　the　grate；　a
bowling　and　ever…increasing　wind　outside。　　Let　us　go　together　over
the　ground　of　your　last　wonderful　expedition　over　the　Andes。　　You
will　find　that　I　am　not　altogether　ignorant　of　your　profession；　or
of　those　very　interesting　geological　problems　which　you　spoke　of　in
connection　with　that　marvellous　railway　scheme。　　We　will　discuss
them　side　by　side　as　sybarites；　hang　ourselves　around　with　cigarette
smoke；　drink　wine；　and　presently　coffee。　　It　is　necessary；　is　it
not；　for　many　reasons；　that　we　become　better　acquainted？　　You　realise
that；　I　am　sure；　and　you　will　not　persist　in　returning　to　your
selfish　solitude。〃

Hamel's　eyes　were　fixed　a　little　longingly　upon　some　of　the　volumes
with　which　the　table　was　covered。

〃You　must　not　think　me　ungrateful　or　churlish；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he
begged。　　〃I　have　a　habit　of　keeping　promises　which　I　make　to　myself；
and　to…night　I　have　made　myself　a　promise　that　I　will　be　back　at
the　Tower　by　ten　o'clock。〃

〃You　are　obdurate？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　asked　softly。

〃I　am　afraid　I　am。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　busied　himself　with　the　handle　of　his　chair。

〃Tell　me；〃　he　insisted；　〃is　there　any　other　person　save　yourself
to　whom　you　have　given　this　mysterious　promise？〃

〃No　one；〃　Hamel　replied　promptly。

〃I　am　a　person　very　sensitive　to　atmosphere；〃　　Mr。　Fentolin　continued
slowly。　　〃Since　the　unfortunate　visit　of　this　man　Dunster；　I　seem　to
have　been　conscious　of　a　ce