the vanished messenger-第20节

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〃I　am　sorry　to　disturb　you；　Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃but　our　patient
is　becoming　a　little　difficult。　　The　concussion　has　left　him；　as　I
feared　it　might；　in　a　state　of　nervous　excitability。　　He　insists
upon　an　interview　with　you。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　backed　his　little　chair　from　the　table。　　The　doctor
came　over　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　handle。

〃You　will；　I　am　sure；　excuse　me　for　a　few　moments；　Mr。　　Hamel；〃
his　host　begged。　　〃My　niece　and　nephew　will　do　their　best　to
entertain　you。　　Now；　Sarson；　I　am　ready。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　glided　across　the　dim；　empty　spaces　of　the　splendid
apartment；　followed　by　the　doctor；　a　ghostly　little　procession　it
seemed。　　The　door　was　closed　behind　them。　　For　a　few　moments　a
curious　silence　ensued。　　Gerald　remained　tense　and　apparently
suffering　from　some　sort　of　suppressed　emotion。　　Esther　for　the
first　time　moved　in　her　place。　　She　leaned　towards　Hamel。　　Her　lips
were　slowly　parted；　her　eyes　sought　the　door　as　though　in　terror。
Her　voice；　although　save　for　themselves　there　was　no　one　else　in
the　whole　of　that　great　apartment；　had　sunk　to　the　lowest　of
whispers。

〃Are　you　a　brave　man；　Mr。　Hamel？〃　she　asked。

He　was　staggered　but　he　answered　her　promptly。

〃I　believe　so。〃

〃Don't　give　up　the　Tower　…　just　yet。　　That　is　what　…　he　has　brought
you　here　for。　　He　wants　you　to　give　it　up　and　go　back。　　Don't！〃

The　earnestness　of　her　words　was　unmistakable。　　Hamel　felt　the
thrill　of　coming　events。

〃Why　not？〃

〃Don't　ask　me；〃　she　begged。　　〃Only　if　you　are　brave；　if　you　have
feeling　for　others；　keep　the　Tower；　if　it　be　for　only　a　week。
Hush！〃

The　door　had　been　noiselessly　opened。　　The　doctor　appeared　and
advanced　to　the　table　with　a　grave　little　bow。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃has　been　kind　enough　to　suggest　that　I
take　a　glass　of　wine　with　you。　　My　presence　is　not　needed　up…stairs。
Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　added；　〃I　am　glad；　sir；　to　make　your　acquaintance。
I　have　for　a　long　time　been　a　great　admirer　of　your　father's　work。〃

He　took　his　place　at　the　head　of　the　table　and；　filling　his　glass；
bowed　towards　Hamel。　　Once　more　Gerald　and　his　sister　relapsed
almost　automatically　into　an　indifferent　and　cultivated　silence。
Hamel　found　civility　towards　the　newcomer　difficult。　　Unconsciously
his　attitude　became　that　of　the　other　two。　　He　resented　the
intrusion。　　He　found　himself　regarding　the　advent　of　Doctor　Sarson
as　possessing　some　secondary　significance。　　It　was　almost　as　though
Mr。　Fentolin　preferred　not　to　leave　him　alone　with　his　niece　and
nephew。

Neverthe1ess；　his　voice；　when　he　spoke；　was　clear　and
firm。




CHAPTER　XIV

Mr。　Fentolin；　on　leaving　the　dining…room；　steered　his　chair　with
great　precision　through　the　open；　wrought…iron　doors　of　a　small
lift　at　the　further　end　of　the　hall；　which　Doctor　Sarson；　who
stepped　in　with　him；　promptly　directed　to　the　second　floor。　　Here
they　made　their　way　to　the　room　in　which　Mr。　Dunster　was　lying。
Doctor　Sarson　opened　the　door　and　looked　in。　　　Almost　immediately
he　stood　at　one　side；　out　of　sight　of　Mr。　Dunster；　and　nodded　to　Mr。
Fentolin。

〃If　there　is　any　trouble；〃　he　whispered；　〃send　for　me。　　I　am　better
away；　for　the　present。　　My　presence　only　excites　him。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded。

〃You　are　right；〃　he　said。　　〃Go　down　into　the　dining…room。　　I　am　not
sure　about　that　fellow　Hamel；　and　Gerald　is　in　a　queer　temper。　　Stay
with　them。　　See　that　they　are　not　alone。〃

The　doctor　silently　withdrew；　and　Mr。　Fentolin　promptly　glided　past
him　into　the　room。　　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster；　in　his　night　clothes；　was
sitting　on　the　side　of　the　bed。　　Standing　within　a　few　feet　of　him；
watching　him　all　the　time　with　the　subtle　intentness　of　a　cat
watching　a　mouse；　stood　Meekins。　　Mr。　Dunster's　head　was　still　bound；
although　the　bandage　had　slipped　a　little；　apparently　in　some
struggle。　　His　face　was　chalklike；　and　he　was　breathing　quickly。

〃So　you've　come　at　last！〃　he　exclaimed；　a　little　truculently。　　〃Are
you　Mr。　Fentolin？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　gravely　admitted　his　identity。　　His　eyes　rested　upon
his　guest　with　an　air　of　tender　interest。　　His　face　was　almost
beautiful。

〃You　are　the　owner　of　this　house　…　I　am　underneath　your　roof　…　is
that　so？〃

〃This　is　certainly　St。　David's　Hall；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied。　　〃It
really　appears　as　though　your　conclusions　were　correct。〃

〃Then　will　you　tell　me　why　I　am　kept　a　prisoner　here？〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　expression　was　for　a　moment　clouded。　　He　seemed　hurt。

〃A　prisoner；〃　he　repeated　softly。　　〃My　dear　Mr。　Dunster；　you　have
surely　forgotten　the　circumstances　which　procured　for　me　the　pleasure
of　this　visit；　the　condition　in　which　you　arrived　here　…　only；　after
all；　a　very　few　hours　ago？〃

〃The　circumstances；〃　Mr。　Dunster　declared　drily；　〃are　to　me　still
inexplicable。　　At　Liverpool　Street　Station　I　was　accosted　by　a
young　man　who　informed　me　that　his　name　was　Gerald　Fentolin；　and
that　he　was　on　his　way　to　The　Hague　to　play　in　a　golf　tournament。
His　story　seemed　entirely　probable；　and　I　permitted　him　a　seat　in
the　special　train　I　had　chartered　for　Harwich。　　There　was　an　accident
and　I　received　this　blow　to　my　head　…　only　a　trifling　affair；　after
all。　　I　come　to　my　senses　to　find　myself　here。　　I　do　not　know　exactly
what　part　of　the　world　you　call　this；　but　from　the　fact　that　I　can
see　the　sea　from　my　window；　it　must　be　some　considerable　distance
from　the　scene　of　the　accident。　　I　find　that　my　dressing…case　has
been　opened；　my　pocket…book　examined；　and　I　am　apparently　a　prisoner。
I　ask　you；　Mr。　　Fentolin；　for　an　explanation。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　reassuringly。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　he　said；　〃my　dear　Mr。　Dunster；　I　believe　I　may　have
the　pleasure　of　calling　you　…　your　conclusions　seem　to　me　just　a
little　melodramatic。　　My　nephew　…　Gerald　Fentolin　…　did　what　I
consider　the　natural　thing；　under　the　circumstances。　　You　had　been
courteous　to　him；　and　he　repaid　the　obligation　to　the　best　of　his
ability。　　The　accident　to　your　train　happened　in　a　dreary　part　of
the　country；　some　thirty　miles　from　here。　　My　nephew　adopted　a
course　which　I　think；　under　the　circumstances；　was　the　natural　and
hospitable　one。　　He　brought　you　to　his　home。　　There　was　no　hospital
or　town　of　any　importance　nearer。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Mr。　Dunster　decided。　　〃I　will　accept　your　version　of
the　affair。　　I　will；　then；　up　to　this　point　acknowledge　myself　your
debtor。　　But　will　you　tell　me　why　my　dressing…case　has　been　opened；
my　clothes　removed；　and　a　pocket…book　containing　papers　of　great
importance　to　me　has　been　tampered　with？〃

〃My　dear　Mr。　Dunster；〃　his　host　replled　calmly；　〃you　surely　cannot
imagine　that　you　are　among　thieves！　　Your　dressing…case　was　opened
and　the　contents　of　your　pocket…book　inspected　with　a　view　to
ascertaining　your　address；　or　the　names　of　some　friends　with　whom
we　might　communicate。〃

〃Am　I　to　understand　that　they　are　to　be　restored　to　me；　then？〃　Mr。
Dunster　demanded。

〃Without　a　doubt；　yes！〃　　Mr。　Fentolin　assured　him。　　〃You；　however；
are　not　fit　for　anything；　at　the　present　moment；　but　to　return　to
your　bed；　from　which　I　understand　you　rose　rather　suddenly　a　few
minutes　ago。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Mr。　Dunster　insisted；　〃I　am　feeling　absolutely
well　enough　to　travel。　　I　have　an　appointment　on　the　Continent　of
great　importance；　as　you　may　judge　by　the　fact　that　at　Liverpool
Street　I　chartered　a　special　train。　　I　trust　that　nothing　in　my
manner　may　have　given　you　offence；　but　I　am　anxious　to　get　through
with　the　business　which　brought　me　over　to　this　side　of　the　water。
I　have　sent　for　you　to　ask　that　my　pocket…book；　dressing…case；　and
clothes　be　at　once　restored　to　me；　and　that　I　be　provided　with
the　means　of　continuing　my　journey　without　a　moment's　further　delay。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　shook　his　head　very　gently；　very　regretfully；　but　also
firmly。

〃Mr。　Dunster；〃　he　pleaded；　〃do　be　reasonable。　　Think　of　all　you　have
been　through。　　I　can　quite　sympathise　with　you　in　your　impatience；
but　I　am　forced　to　tell　you　that　the　doctor　who　has　been　attending　
you　since　the　moment　you　were　brought　into　this　house　has　absolutely
forbidden　anything　of　the　sort。〃

Mr。　Dunster　seemed；　for　a　moment；　to　struggle　for　composure。

〃I　am　an　American　citizen；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　am　willing　to　listen
to　the　advice　of　any　physician；　but　so　long　as　I　take　the　risk；　I
am　not　bound　to　follow　it。

In　the　present　case　I　decline　to　follow　it。　　I　ask　for　facilities
to　leave　this　house　at　once。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sighed。

〃In　your　own　interests；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃they　will　not　be　granted
to　you。〃

Mr。　Dunster　had　spoken　all　the　time　like　a　man　struggling　to
preserve　his　self…control。　　There　were　signs　now　that　his　will　was
ceasing　to　serve　him。　　His　eyes　flashed　fire；　his　voice　was　raised。

〃Will　not　be　granted　to　me？〃　he　repeated。　　〃Do　you　mean　to　say；
then；　that　I　am　to　be　kept　here　against　my　will？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　made　no　immediate　reply。　　With　the　delicate　fingers　of
his　right　hand　he　pushed　back　the　hair　from　his　forehead。　　He　looked
at　his　questioner　soothingly；　as　one　might　look　at　a　spoiled　child。

〃Against　my　will？〃　Mr。　Dunster　repeated；　raising　his　voice　still
higher。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin；　if　the　truth　must　be　told；　I　have　heard　of
you　before　and　been　warned　against