the vanished messenger-第36节

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had　passed。　　He　was　out　of　sight　now；　inside　the　Tower。　　Somehow
or　other；　the　thought　seemed　to　give　her　courage　and　dignity。　　She
spoke　differently；　without　nervousness　or　hurry。

〃To　you；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　said；　〃it　may　seem　so。　　We　who　make　it　know
of　its　necessity。〃

He　bowed　his　head。　　It　was　not　a　subject　for　him　to　discuss　with　her。

〃Mr。　Fentolin　has　whims；〃　she　went　on；　〃violent　whims。　　We　all　try
to　humour　him。　　He　has　his　own　ideas　about　Gerald's　bringing　up。
I　do　not　agree　with　them；　but　we　submit。　　Esther；　too；　suffers；
perhaps　to　a　less　extent。　　As　for　me；〃　…　her　voice　broke　a　little　…〃
Mr。　Fentolin　likes　people　around　him　who　are　always　cheerful。　　He
prefers　even　a　certain　style　…　of　dress。　　I；　too；　have　to　do　my
little　share。〃

Hamel's　face　grew　darker。

〃Has　it　ever　occurred　to　you；〃　he　demanded；　〃that　Mr。　Fentolin　is　a
tyrant？〃

She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment。

〃There　are　reasons；〃　she　declared；　〃why　I　cannot　discuss　that　with
you。　　He　has　these　strong　fancies；　and　it　is　our　task　in　life　to
humour　them。　　He　has　one　now　with　regard　to　the　Tower；　with　regard
to　you。　　You　are；　of　course；　your　own　master。　　You　can　do　as　you
choose；　and　you　will　do　as　you　choose。　　Neither　I　nor　my　children
have　any　claim　upon　your　consideration。　　But；　Mr。　Hamel；　you　have
been　so　kind　that　I　feel　moved　to　tell　you　this。　　It　would　make　it
very　much　easier　for　all　of　us　if　you　would　give　up　this　scheme　of
yours；　if　you　would　stay　on　here　instead　of　going　to　reside　at　the
Tower。〃

Hamel　threw　away　his　cigarette。　　He　was　deeply　interested。

〃Mrs。　　Fentolin；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　glad　to　have　you　speak　so　plainly。
Let　me　answer　you　in　the　same　spirit。　　I　am　leaving　this　house
mainly　because　I　have　conceived　certain　suspicions　with　regard　to
Mr。　Fentolin。　　I　do　not　like　him；　I　do　not　trust　him；　I　do　not
believe　in　him。　　Therefore；　I　mean　to　remove　myself　from　the　burden
of　his　hospitality。　　There　are　reasons；〃　he　went　on；　〃why　I　do　not
wish　to　leave　the　neighbourhood　altogether。　　There　are　certain
investigations　which　I　wish　to　make。　　That　is　why　I　have　decided　to
go　to　the　Tower。〃

〃Miles　was　right；　then！〃　she　cried　suddenly。　　〃You　are　here　to　spy
upon　him！〃

He　turned　towards　her　swiftly。

〃To　spy　upon　him；　Mrs。　Fentolin？　　For　what　reason？　　Why？　　Is　he　a
criminal；　then？〃

She　opened　her　lips　and　closed　them　again。　　There　was　a　slight　frown
upon　her　forehead。　　It　was　obvious　that　the　word　had　unintentionally
escaped　her。

〃I　only　know　what　it　is　that　he　called　you；　what　he　suspects　you　of
being；〃　she　explained。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin　is　very　clever；　and　he　is
generally　at　work　upon　something。　　We　do　not　enquire　into　the
purpose　of　his　labours。　　The　only　thing　I　know　is　that　he　suspects
you　of　wanting　to　steal　one　of　his　secrets。〃

〃Secrets？　　But　what　secrets　has　he？〃　Hamel　demanded。　　〃Is　he　an
inventor？〃

〃You　ask　me　idle　questions；〃　she　sighed。　　〃We　have　gone；　perhaps；
a　little　further　than　I　intended。　　I　came　to　plead　with　you　for　all
our　sakes；　if　I　could；　to　make　things　more　comfortable　by　remaining
here　instead　of　insisting　upon　your　claim　to　the　Tower。〃

〃Mrs。　　Fentolin；〃　Hamel　said　firmly。　　〃I　like　to　do　what　I　can　to
please　and　benefit　my　friends；　especially　those　who　have　been　kind
to　me。　　I　will　be　quite　frank　with　you。　　There　is　nothing　you　could
ask　me　which　I　would　not　do　for　your　daughter's　sake　…　if　I　were
convinced　that　it　was　for　her　good。〃

Mrs。　Seymour　Fentolin　seemed　to　be　trembling　a　little。　　Her　hands
were　crossed　upon　her　bosom。

〃You　have　known　her　for　so　short　a　time；〃　she　murmured。

Hamel　smiled　confidently。

〃I　will　not　weary　you；〃　he　said；　〃with　the　usual　trite　remarks。　　I
will　simply　tell　you　that　the　time　has　been　long　enough。　　I　love
your　daughter。〃

Mrs。　　Fentolin　sat　quite　still。　　Only　in　her　eyes；　fixed　steadily
seawards；　there　was　the　light　of　something　new；　as　though　some　new
thought　was　stirring　in　her　brain。　　Her　lips　moved；　although　the
sound　which　came　was　almost　inaudible。

〃Why　not？〃　she　murmured；　as　though　arguing　with　some　unseen　critic
of　her　thoughts。　　〃Why　not？〃

〃I　am　not　a　rich　man；〃　Hamel　went　on；　〃but　I　am　fairly　well　off。
I　could　afford　to　be　married　at　once；　and　I　should　like　…

She　turned　suddenly　upon　him　and　gripped　his　wrist。

〃Listen；〃　she　interrupted；　〃you　are　a　traveller；　are　you　not？　　You
have　been　to　distant　countries；　where　white　people　go　seldom；
inaccessible　countries；　where　even　the　arm　of　the　law　seldom　reaches。
Couldn't　you　take　her　away　there；　take　her　right　away；　travel　so　fast
that　nothing　could　catch　you；　and　hide　…　hide　for　a　little　time？〃

Hamel　stared　at　his　companion；　for　a　moment；　blankly。　　Her　attitude
was　so　unexpected；　her　questioning　so　fierce。

〃My　dear　Mrs。　　Fentolin；〃　he　began　…

She　suddenly　relaxed　her　grip　of　his　arm。　　Something　of　the　old
hopelessness　was　settling　down　upon　her　face。　　Her　hands　fell　into
her　lap。

〃No；〃　she　interrupted；　〃I　forgot！　　I　mustn't　talk　like　that。　　She；
too；　is　part　of　the　sacrifice。〃

〃Part　of　the　sacrifice；〃　Hamel　repeated；　frowning。　　〃Is　she；　indeed！
I　don't　know　what　sacrifice　you　mean；　but　Esther　is　the　girl　whom
sooner　or　later；　somehow　or　other；　I　am　going　to　make　my　wife；　and
when　she　is　my　wife；　I　shall　see　to　it　that　she　isn't　afraid　of
Miles　Fentolin　or　of　any　other　man　breathing。〃

A　gleam　of　hopefulness　shone　through　the　stony　misery　of　the　woman's
face。

〃Does　Esther　care？〃　she　asked　softly。

〃How　can　I　tell？　　I　can　only　hope　so。　　If　she　doesn't　yet；　she　shall
some　day。　　I　suppose；〃　he　added；　with　a　sigh；　〃it　is　rather　too　soon
yet　to　expect　that　she　should。　　If　it　is　necessary；　I　can　Wait。〃

Mrs。　　Fentolin's　eyes　were　once　more　fixed　upon　the　Tower。　　The　sun
had　caught　the　top　of　the　telephone　wire　and　played　around　it　till
it　seemed　like　a　long；　thin　shaft　of　silver。

〃If　you　go　down　there；〃　she　said；　〃Esther　will　not　be　allowed　to
see　you　at　all。　　Mr。　Fentolin　has　decided　to　take　it　as　a　personal
affront。　　You　will　be　ostracised　from　here。〃

〃Shall　I？〃　he　answered。　　〃Well；　it　won't　be　for　long；　at　any　rate。
And　as　to　not　seeing　Esther；　you　must　remember　that　I　come　from
outside　this　little　domain；　and　I　see　nothing　more　in　Mr。　Fentolin
than　a　bad…tempered；　mischievous；　tyrannical　old　invalid；　who　is
fortunately　prevented　by　his　infirmities　from　doing　as　much　mischief
as　he　might。　　I　am　not　afraid　of　your　brother…in…law；　or　of　the
bully　he　takes　about　with　him；　and　I　am　going　to　see　your　daughter
somehow　or　other；　and　I　am　going　to　marry　her　before　very　long。〃

She　thrust　out　her　hand　suddenly　and　grasped　his。　　The　fingers　were
very　thin；　almost　bony；　and　covered　with　rings。　　Their　grip　was
feverish　and　he　felt　them　tremble。

〃You　are　a　brave　man；　Mr。　Hamel；〃　she　declared　speaking　in　a　low；
quick　undertone。　　〃Perhaps　you　are　right。　　The　shadow　isn't　over
your　head。　　You　haven't　lived　in　the　terror　of　it。　　You　may　find　a
way。　　God　grant　it！〃

She　wrung　his　fingers　and　rose　to　her　feet。　　Her　voice　suddenly
changed　into　another　key。　　Hamel　knew　instinctively　that　she　wished
him　to　understand　that　their　conversation　was　over。

〃Chow…Chow；〃　she　cried；　〃come　along；　dear；　we　must　have　our　walk。
Come　along；　Koto；　come　along；　little　dogs。〃

Hamel　strolled　down　the　terrace　steps　and　wandered　for　a　time　in
the　gardens　behind　the　house。　　Here；　in　the　shelter　of　the　great
building；　he　found　himself　suddenly　in　an　atmosphere　of　springtime。
There　were　beds　of　crocuses　and　hyacinths；　fragrant　clumps　of
violets；　borders　of　snowdrops；　masses　of　primroses　and　early
anemones。　　He　slowly　climbed　one　or　two　steep　paths　until　he　reached
a　sort　of　plateau；　level　with　the　top　of　the　house。　　The　flowers
here　grew　more　sparsely；　the　track　of　the　salt　wind　lay　like　a
withering　band　across　the　flower…beds。　　The　garden　below　was　like　a
little　oasis　of　colour　and　perfume。　　Arrived　at　the　bordering　red
brick　wall；　he　turned　around　and　looked　along　the　narrow　road　which
led　to　the　sea。　　There　was　no　sign　of　Mr。　Fentolin's　return。　　Then
to　his　left　he　saw　a　gate　open　and　heard　the　clamour　of　dogs。
Esther　appeared；　walking　swiftly　towards　the　little　stretch　of　road
which　led　to　the　village。　　He　hurried　after　her。

〃Unsociable　person！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　he　caught　her　up。　　〃Didn't
you　know　that　I　was　longing　for　a　walk？〃

〃How　should　I　read　your　thoughts？〃　she　answered。　　〃Besides；　a　few
minutes　ago　I　saw　you　on　the　terrace；　talking　to　mother。　　I　am　only
going　as　far　as　the　village。〃

〃May　I　come？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　have　business　there　myself。〃

She　laughed。

〃There　are　nine　cottages；　three　farmhouses；　and　a　general　shop　in
St。　David's；〃　she　remarked。　　〃Also　about　fifteen　fishermen's
cottages　dotted　about　the　marsh。　　Your　business；　I　presume；　is　with
the　general　shop？〃

He　shook　his　head；　falling　into　step　with　her。

〃What　I　want；〃　he　explained；　〃is　to　find　a　woman　to　come　in　and
look　after　me　at　the　Tower。　　Your　servant　who　valets　me　has　given
me　two　names。

Something　of　the　lightness　faded　from　her　face。

〃So　you　have　quite　made　up　your　mind　to　leave　us？〃　she　asked　slowly。
〃Mother　wasn't　able　to　persuade　you　to　stay？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃She　was　very　kind；〃　he