the vanished messenger-第47节

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shall　we　do？　　What　shall　we　do？〃

Hamel　was　conscious　of　a　gathering　sense　of　excitement。　　He；　too；
looked　at　the　signal　which　was　flashing　out　its　message　towards　them。
Then　he　gripped　his　companion's　arm　and　almost　carried　her　back　into
the　sitting…room。

〃Look　here；〃　he　said　firmly；　〃you　can　do　nothing　further。　　You　have
done　your　part　and　done　it　well。　　Stay　where　you　are　and　wait。　　The
rest　belongs　to　me。〃

〃But　what　can　you　do？〃　she　demanded；　her　voice　shaking　with　fear。
〃Meekins　will　come　with　him；　and　Doctor　Sarson；　unless　he　is　here
already。　　What　can　you　do　against　them？　　Meekins　can　break　any
ordinary　man's　back；　and　Mr。　Fentolin　will　have　a　revolver。〃

Hamel　threw　another　log　on　to　the　fire　and　drew　her　chair　closer
to　it。

〃Never　mind　about　he　declared　cheerfully。　　〃Mr。　Fentolin　is　too
clever　to　attempt　violence；　except　as　a　last　resource。　　He　knows
that　I　have　friends　in　London　who　would　need　some　explanation
of　my　disappearance。　　Stay　here　and　wait。〃

She　recognised　the　note　of　authority　in　his　tone；　and　she　bowed　her
head。　　Then　she　looked　up　at　him；　she　was　a　changed　woman。

〃Perhaps　I　have　done　ill　to　drag　you　into　our　troubles；　Mr。　Hamel；〃
she　said；　〃and　yet；　I　believe　in　you。　　I　believe　that　you　really
care　for　Esther。　　If　you　can　help　us　now；　it　will　be　for　your
happiness；　too。　　You　are　a　man。　　God　bless　you！〃

Hamel　groped　his　way　round　the　side　of　the　Tower　and　took　up　a
position　at　the　extreme　corner　of　the　landward　side　of　the　building；
within　a　yard　of　the　closed　doors。　　The　light　far　out　upon　the　left
was　still　gleaming　brightly；　but　two　of　the　others　in　a　line　with
it　had　disappeared。　　He　flattened　himself　against　the　wall　and
waited；　listening　intently；　his　eyes　straining　through　the　darkness。
Yet　they　were　almost　upon　him　before　he　had　the　slightest　indication
of　their　presence。　　A　single　gleam　of　light　in　the　path；　come　and
gone　like　a　flash；　the　gleam　of　an　electric　torch　directed
momentarily　towards　the　road；　was　his　first　indication　that　they
were　near。　　A　moment　or　two　later　he　heard　the　strange　click；　click
of　the　little　engine　attached　to　Mr。　Fentolin's　chair。　　Hamel　set
his　teeth　and　stepped　a　few　inches　further　back。　　The　darkness　was
so　intense　that　they　were　actually　within　a　yard　or　so　of　him　before
he　could　even　dimly　discern　their　shapes。　　There　were　three　of　them
…　Mr。　Fentolin　in　his　chair；　Doctor　Sarson；　and　Meekins。　　They
paused　for　a　moment　while　the　latter　produced　a　key。　　Hamel
distinctly　heard　a　slow；　soft　whisper　from　Doctor　Sarson。

〃Shall　I　go　round　to　the　front　and　see　that　he　is　in　bed？〃

〃No　need；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　replied　calmly。　　〃It　is　nearly　four　o'clock。
Better　not　to　risk　the　sound　of　your　footsteps　upon　the　pebbles。
Now！〃

The　door　swung　noiselessly　open。　　The　darkness　was　so　complete　that
even　though　Hamel　could　have　touched　them　with　an　outstretched　hand；
their　shapes　were　invisible。　　Hamel；　who　had　formed　no　definite
plans；　had　no　time　to　hesitate。　　As　the　last　one　disappeared　through
the　door；　he；　too；　slipped　in。　　He　turned　abruptly　to　the　left　and；
holding　his　breath；　stood　against　the　wall。　　The　door　closed　behind
them。　　The　gleam　of　the　electric　light　flashed　across　the　stone
floor　and　rested　for　a　moment　upon　a　trapdoor；　which　Meekins　had
already　stooped　to　lift。　　It　fell　back　noiselessly　upon　rubber　studs；
and　Meekins　immediately　slipped　through　it　a　ladder；　on　either　side
of　which　was　a　grooved　stretch　of　board；　evidently　fashioned　to
allow　Mr。　Fentolin's　carriage　to　pass　down。　　Hamel　held　his　breath。
The　moment　for　him　was　critical。　　If　the　light　flashed　once　in　his
direction；　he　must　be　discovered。　　Both　Meekins　and　Doctor　Sarson；
however；　were　intent　upon　the　task　of　steering　Mr。　Fentolin's　little
carriage　down　below。　　They　placed　the　wheels　in　the　two　grooves；
and　Meekins　secured　the　carriage　with　a　rope　which　he　let　run
through　his　fingers。　　As　soon　as　the　little　vehicle　had　apparently
reached　the　bottom；　he　turned；　thrust　the　electric　torch　in　his
pocket；　and　stepped　lightly　down　the　ladder。　　Doctor　Sarson
followed　his　example。　　They　disappeared　in　perfect　silence　and　left
the　door　open。　　Presently　a　gleam　of　light　came　travelling　up；　from
which　Hamel　knew　that　they　had　lit　a　lamp　below。　　Very　softly　he
crept　across　the　floor；　threw　himself　upon　his　stomach　and　peered
down。　　Below　him　was　a　room；　or　rather　a　cellar；　parts　of　which
seemed　to　have　been　cut　out　of　the　solid　rock。　　Immediately
underneath　was　a　plain　iron　bedstead；　on　which　was　lying　stretched
the　figure　of　a　man。　　In　those　first　few　moments　Hamel　failed
altogether　to　recognise　Mr。　Dunster。　　He　was　thin　and　white；　and
he　seemed　to　have　shrunken；　his　face；　with　its　coarse　growth　of
beard；　seemed　like　the　face　of　an　old　man。　　Yet　the　eyes　were　open；
eyes　dull　and　heavy　as　though　with　pain。　　So　far　no　word　had　been
spoken；　but　at　that　moment　Mr。　Fentolin　broke　the　silence。

〃My　dear　guest；〃　he　said；　〃I　bring　you　our　most　sincere　apologies。
It　has　gone　very　much　against　the　grain；　I　can　assure　you；　to　have
neglected　you　for　so　long　a　time。　　It　is　entirely　the　fault　of　the
very　troublesome　young　man　who　occupies　the　other　portion　of　this
building。　　In　the　daytime　his　presence　makes　it　exceedingly
difficult　for　us　to　offer　you　those　little　attentions　which　you
might　naturally　expect。〃

The　man　upon　the　bed　neither　moved　nor　changed　his　position　in　any
way。　　Nor　did　he　speak。　　All　power　of　initiative　seemed　to　have
deserted　him。　　He　lay　quite　still；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　Mr。　Fentolin。

〃There　comes　a　time；〃　the　latter　continued；　〃when　every　one　of　us
is　confronted　with　what　might　be　described　as　the　crisis　of　our
lives。　　Yours　has　come；　my　guest；　at　precisely　this　moment。　　It　is；
if　my　watch　tells　me　the　truth；　five　and　twenty　minutes　to　four。
It　is　the　last　day　of　April。　　The　year　you　know。　　You　have　exactly
one　minute　to　decide　whether　you　will　live　a　short　time　longer；　or
whether　you　will　on　this　last　day　of　April；　and　before　…　say；　a
quarter　to　four；　make　that　little　journey　the　nature　of　which　you
and　I　have　discussed　more　than　once。〃

Still　the　man　upon　the　bed　made　no　movement　nor　any　reply。　　Mr。
Fentolin　sighed　and　beckoned　to　Doctor　Sarson。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　whispered；　〃that　that　wonderful　drug　of　yours；
Doctor；　has　been　even　a　little　too　far…reaching　in　its　results。　　It
has　kept　our　friend　so　quiet　that　he　has　lost　even　the　power　of
speech；　perhaps　even　the　desire　to　speak。　　A　little　restorative；
I　think　…　just　a　few　drops。〃

Doctor　Sarson　nodded　silently。　　He　drew　from　his　pocket　a　little
phial　and　poured　into　a　wine…glass　which　stood　on　a　table　by　the
side　of　the　bed；　half　a　dozen　drops　of　some　ruby…coloured　liquid；
to　which　he　added　a　tablespoonful　of　water。　　Then　he　leaned　once
more　over　the　bed　and　poured　the　contents　of　the　glass　between　the
lips　of　the　semi…conscious　man。

〃Give　him　two　minutes；〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃He　will　be　able　to　speak
then。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　　He　glanced　around
the　room　a　little　critically。　　There　was　a　thick　carpet　upon　the
floor；　a　sofa　piled　with　cushions　in　one　corner；　and　several　other
articles　of　furniture。　　The　walls；　however；　were　uncovered　and　were
stained　with　damp。　　A　great　pink　fungus　stood　out　within　a　few
inches　of　the　bed；　a　grim　mixture　of　exquisite　colouring　and
loathsome　imperfections。　　The　atmosphere　was　fetid。　　Meekins　suddenly
struck　a　match　and　lit　some　grains　of　powder　in　a　saucer。　　A　curious
odour　of　incense　stole　through　the　place。　　Mr。　Fentolin　nodded
appreciatively。

〃That　is　better；〃　he　declared。　　〃　Really；　the　atmosphere　here　is
positively　unpleasant。　　I　am　ashamed　to　think　that　our　guest　has
had　to　put　up　with　it　so　long。　　And　yet；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　think　we
must　call　it　his　own　fault。　　I　trust　that　he　will　no　longer　be
obstinate。〃

The　effect　of　the　restorative　began　to　show　itself。　　The　man　on　the
bed　moved　restlessly。　　His　eyes　were　no　longer　altogether
expressionless。　　He　was　staring　at　Mr。　Fentolin　as　one　looks　at　some
horrible　vision。　　Mr。　Fentolin　smiled　pleasantly。

〃Now　you　are　looking　more　like　your　old　self；　my　dear　Mr。　Dunster；〃
he　remarked。　　〃I　don't　think　that　I　need　repeat　what　I　said　when　I
first　came；　need　I？　　You　have　just　to　utter　that　one　word；　and　your
little　visit　to　us　will　be　at　an　end。〃

The　man　looked　around　at　all　of　them。　　He　raised　himself　a　little
on　his　elbow。　　For　the　first　time；　Hamel；　crouching　above；
recognised　any　likeness　to　Mr。　　John　P。　Dunster。

〃I'll　see　you　in　hell　first！〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　face　momentarily　darkened。　　He　moved　a　little　nearer
to　the　man　upon　the　bed。

〃Dunster；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　in　grim　earnest。　　Never　mind　arguments。
Never　mind　why　I　am　on　the　other　side。　　They　are　restless　about　you
in　America。　　Unless　I　can　cable　that　word　to…morrow　morning；　they'll
communicate　direct　with　The　Hague；　and　I　shall　have　had　my　trouble
for　nothing。　　It　is　not　my　custom　to　put　up　with　failure。　　Therefore；
let　me　tell　you　that　no　single　one　of　my　threats　has　been
exaggerated。　　My　patience　has　reached　its　breaking　point。　　Give　me
that　word；　or　before　four　o'clock　strikes；　you　will　find　yourself
in　a　new　ch