the vanished messenger-第30节

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afraid；　Florence。　　Remember　always　that　I　look　ahead。　　Do　you　think
that　I　could　stay　here　contented　with　what　you　call　my　compensations
…　my　art；　the　study　of　beautiful　things；　the　calm　epicureanism　of
the　sedate　and　simple　life？　　You　know　very　well　that　I　could　not　do
that。　　The　craving　for　other　things　is　in　my　heart　and　blood。　　The
excitement　which　I　cannot　have　in　one　way；　I　must　find　in　another；
and　I　think　that　before　many　nights　have　passed；　I　shall　lie　on　my
pillow　and　hear　the　guns　roar；　hear　the　footsteps　of　the　great
armies　of　the　world　moving　into　battle。　　It　is　for　that　I　live；
Florence。〃

She　took　up　her　knitting　again。　　Her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the
sky…line。　　Twice　she　opened　her　lips；　but　twice　no　words　came。

〃You　understand？〃　he　whispered。　　〃You　begin　to　understand；　don't
you？〃

She　looked　at　him　only　for　a　moment　and　back　at　her　work。

〃I　suppose　so；〃　she　sighed。




CHAPTER　XX

In　the　middle　of　that　night　Hamel　sat　up　in　bed；　awakened　with　a
sudden　start　by　some　sound；　only　the　faintest　echo　of　which　remained
in　his　consciousness。　　　His　nerves　were　tingling　with　a　sense　of
excitement。　　He　sat　up　in　bed　and　listened。　　Suddenly　it　came　again
…　a　long；　low　moan　of　pain；　stifled　at　the　end　as　though　repressed
by　some　outside　agency。　　He　leaped　from　his　bed；　hurried　on　a　few
clothes；　and　stepped　out　on　to　the　landing。　　The　cry　had　seemed
to　him　to　come　from　the　further　end　of　the　long　corridor　…　in　the
direction；　indeed；　of　the　room　where　Mr。　Dunster　lay。　　He　made　his
way　there；　walking　on　tiptoe；　although　his　feet　fell　noiselessly
upon　the　thick　carpet。　　A　single　light　was　burning　from　a　bracket
in　the　wall；　insufficient　to　illuminate　the　empty　spaces；　but　enough
to　keep　him　from　stumbling。　　The　corridor　towards　the　south　end
gradually　widened；　terminating　in　a　splendid　high　window　with
stained　glass；　a　broad　seat；　and　a　table。　　On　the　right；　the　end
room　was　Mr。　Dunster's　apartment；　and　on　the　left　a　flight　of
stairs　led　to　the　floor　above。　　Hamel　stood　quite　still；　listening。
There　was　a　light　in　the　room；　as　he　could　see　from　under　the　door；
but　there　was　no　sound　of　any　one　moving。　　Hamel　listened　intently；
every　sense　strained。　　Then　the　sound　of　a　stair　creaking　behind
diverted　his　attention。　　He　looked　quickly　around。　　Gerald　was
descending。　　The　boy's　face　was　white；　and　his　eyes　were　filled
with　fear。　　Hamel　stepped　softly　back　from　the　door　and　met　him　at
the　foot　of　the　stairs。

〃Did　you　hear　that　cry？〃　he　whispered。

Gerald　nodded。

〃It　woke　me　up。　　What　do　you　suppose　it　was？〃　　Hamel　shook　his　head。

〃Some　one　in　pain；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　don't　understand　it。　　It　came
from　this　room。〃

〃You　know　who　sleeps　there？〃　Gerald　asked　hoarsely。

Hamel　nodded。

〃A　man　with　concussion　of　the　brain　doesn't　cry　out　like　that。
Besides；　did　you　hear　the　end　of　it？　　　It　sounded　as　though　some　one
were　choking　him。　　Hush！〃

They　had　spoken　only　in　bated　breath；　but　the　door　of　the　room
before　which　they　were　standing　was　suddenly　opened。　　Meekins　stood
there；　fully　dressed；　his　dark；　heavy　face　full　of　somber　warning。
He　started　a　little　as　he　saw　the　two　whispering　together。　　Gerald
addressed　him　almost　apologetically。　

〃We　both　heard　the　same　sound；　Meekins。　　Is　any　one　ill？　　　It　sounded
like　some　one　in　pain。〃

The　man　hesitated。　　Then　from　behind　his　shoulder　came　Mr。
Fentolin's　still；　soft　voice。　　There　was　a　little　click；　and　Meekins；
as　though　obeying　an　unseen　gesture；　stepped　back。　　Mr。　Fentolin
glided　on　to　the　threshold。　　He　was　still　dressed。　　He　propelled　his
chair　a　few　yards　down　the　corridor　and　beckoned　them　to　approach。

〃I　am　so　sorry；〃　he　said　softly；　〃that　you　should　have　been
disturbed；　Mr。　Hamel。　　We　have　been　a　little　anxious　about　our
mysterious　guest。　　Doctor　Sarson　fetched　me　an　hour　ago。　　He
discovered　that　it　was　necessary　to　perform　a　very　slight　operation；
merely　the　extraction　of　a　splinter　of　wood。　　It　is　all　over　now；
and　I　think　that　he　will　do　very　well。〃

Notwithstanding　this　very　plausible　explanation；　Hamel　was　conscious
of　the　remains　of　an　uneasiness　which　he　scarcely　knew　how　to　put
into　words。

〃It　was　a　most　distressing　cry；〃　he　observed　doubtfully；　〃a　cry　of
fear　as　well　as　of　pain。〃

〃Poor　fellow！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　remarked　compassionately。　　〃I　am　afraid
that　for　a　moment　or　two　he　must　have　suffered　acutely。　　Doctor
Sarson　is　very　clever；　however；　and　there　is　no　doubt　that　what
he　did　was　for　the　best。　　His　opinion　is　that　by　to…morrow　morning
there　will　be　a　marvellous　change。　　Good　night；　Mr。　Hamel。　　I　am
quite　sure　that　you　will　not　be　disturbed　again。〃

Hamel　neither　felt　nor　showed　any　disposition　to　depart。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　that　you　will　not　think　that　I　am
officious　or　in　any　way　abusing　your　hospitality；　but　I　cannot　help
suggesting　that　as　Dr。　Sarson　is　purely　your　household　physician；
the　relatives　of　this　man　Dunster　might　be　better　satisfied　if　some
second　opinion　were　called　in。　　Might　I　suggest　that　you　telephone
to　Norwich　for　a　surgeon？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　showed　no　signs　of　displeasure。　　He　was　silent　for　a
moment；　as　though　considering　the　matter。

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure；　Mr。　Hamel；　that　you　are　not　right；〃　he
admitted　frankly。　　〃I　believe　that　the　case　is　quite　a　simple　one；
but　on　the　other　hand　it　would　perhaps　be　more　satisfactory　to　have
an　outside　opinion。　　If　Mr。　Dunster　is　not　conscious　in　the　morning；
we　will　telephone　to　the　Norwich　Infirmary。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　advisable；〃　Hamel　agreed。

〃Good　night！〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said　once　more。　　I　am　sorry　that　your　
rest　has　been　disturbed。〃

Hamel；　however；　still　refused　to　take　the　hint。　　His　eyes　were　fixed
upon　that　closed　door。

〃Mr。　Fentolin；〃　he　asked；　〃have　you　any　objection　to　my　seeing　Mr。
Dunster？〃

There　was　a　moment's　intense　silence。　　A　sudden　light　had　burned　in
Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes。　　His　fingers　gripped　the　side　of　his　chair。
Yet　when　he　spoke　there　were　no　signs　of　anger　in　his　tone。　　It　was
a　marvellous　effort　of　self…control。

〃There　is　no　reason；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　he　said；　〃why　your　curiosity　should
not　be　gratified。　　Knock　softly　at　the　door；　Gerald。〃

The　boy　obeyed。　　In　a　moment　or　two　Doctor　Sarson　appeared　on　the
threshold。

〃Our　guest；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　explained　in　a　whisper；　〃has
been　awakened　by　this　poor　fellow's　cry。　　He　would　like　to　see　him
for　a　moment。〃

Doctor　Sarson　opened　the　door。　　They　all　passed　in　on　tiptoe。　　The
doctor　led　the　way　towards　the　bed　upon　which　Mr。　Dunster　was　lying；
quite　still。　　His　head　was　bandaged；　and　his　eyes　closed。　　His　face
was　ghastly。　　Gerald　gave　vent　to　a　little　muttered　exclamation。
Mr。　Fentolin　turned　to　him。　quickly。

〃Gerald！〃

The　boy　stood　still；　trembling；　speechless。　　Mr。　Fentolin's　eyes
were　riveted　upon　him。　　The　doctor　was　standing；　still　and　dark；　a
motionless　image。

〃Is　he　asleep？〃　Hamel　asked。

〃He　is　under　the　influence　of　a　mild　anaesthetic；〃　Doctor　Sarson
explained。　　〃He　is　doing　very　well。　　His　case　is　quite　simple。　　By
to…morrow　morning　he　will　be　able　to　sit　up　and　walk　about　if　he
wishes　to。〃

Hamel　looked　steadily　at　the　figure　upon　the　bed。　　Mr。　Dunster's
breathing　was　regular；　and　his　eyes　were　closed；　but　his　colour　was
ghastly。

〃He　doesn't　look　like　getting　up　for　a　good　many　days　to　come；〃
Hamel　observed。

The　doctor　led　the　way　towards　the　door。

〃The　man　has　a　fine　constitution；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　sure　that　if
you　wish　you　will　be　able　to　talk　to　him　to…morrow。〃

They　separated　outside　in　the　passage。　　Mr。　Fentolin　bade　his　guest
a　somewhat　restrained　good　night；　and　Gerald　mounted　the　staircase
to　his　room。　　Hamel；　however；　had　scarcely　reached　his　door　before
Gerald　reappeared。　　He　had　descended　the　stair…case　at　the　other
end　of　the　corridor。　　He　stood　for　a　moment　looking　down　the　passage。
The　doors　were　all　closed。　　Even　the　light　had　been　extinguished。

〃May　I　come　in　for　a　moment；　please？〃　he　whispered。

Hamel　nodded。

〃With　pleasure！　　Come　in　and　have　a　cigarette　if　you　will。　　I　shan't
feel　like　sleep　for　some　time。〃

They　entered　the　room；　and　Gerald　threw　himself　into　an　easy…chair
near　the　window。　　Hamel　wheeled　up　another　chair　and　produced　a　box
of　cigarettes。

〃Queer　thing　your　dropping　across　that　fellow　in　the　way　you　did；〃
he　remarked。　　〃Just　shows　how　one　may　disappear　from　the　world
altogether；　and　no　one　be　a　bit　the　wiser。〃

The　boy　was　sitting　with　folded　arms。　　His　expression　was　one　of
deep　gloom。

〃I　only　wish　I'd　never　brought　him　here；〃　he　muttered。　　〃I　ought
to　have　known　better。〃

Hamel　raised　his　eyebrows。　　〃Isn't　he　as　well　off　here　as　anywhere
else？〃

〃Do　you　think　that　he　is？〃　Gerald　demanded；　looking　across　at　Hamel。

There　was　a　brief　silence。

〃We　can　scarcely　do　your　uncle　the　injustice；〃　Hamel　remarked；　〃of
imagining　that　he　can　possibly　have　any　reason　or　any　desire　to　deal
with　that　man　except　as　a　guest。〃

〃Do　you　really　believe　that？〃　Gerald　asked。

Hamel　rose　to　his　feet。

〃Look　here；　young　man；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　getting　serious。　　You　and
I　are　at　cross…purposes。　　If　you　like；　you　shall　have　the　truth
from　me。〃

〃Go　on。〃

〃I　was　warned　ab