the vanished messenger-第5节

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handle　of　his　revolver　protruded　from　his　hip；　pocket。

〃Sakes　alive！。〃　the　woman　muttered；　as　she　looked　down。　　〃What　does
he　carry　a　thing　like　that　for　…　in　a　peaceful　country；　too！〃
　
〃It　was　just　an　idea　of　his；〃　Gerald　answered。　　〃We　were　going
abroad　in　a　day　or　two。　　He　was　always　nervous。　　If　you　like；　I'll
take　it　away。〃

He　stooped　down　and　withdrew　it　from　the　unconscious　man's　pocket。
He　started　as　he　discovered　that　it　was　loaded　in　every　chamber。

〃I　can't　bear　the　sight　of　them　things；〃　the　woman　declared。　　〃It's
the　men　of　evil　ways；　who've　no　trust　in　the　Lord；　who　need　that
sort　of　protection。〃

They　heard　the　door　pushed　open；　the　howl　of　wind　down　the　passage；
and　the　beating　of　rain　upon　the　stone　flags。　　Then　it　was　softly
closed　again。　　The　landlord　staggered　into　the　room；　followed　by　a
young　man。

〃This　'ere　is　Mr。　Martin's　chaffer；〃　he　announced。　　〃You　can　tell
him　what　you　want　yerself。〃

Gerald　turned　almost　eagerly　towards　the　newcomer。

〃I　want　to　go　to　the　other　side　of　Holt；〃　he　said；　〃and　get　my
friend　…　get　this　gentleman　away　from　here　…　get　him　home；　if
possible。　　Can　you　take　me？〃

The　chauffeur　looked　doubtful。

〃I'm　afraid　of　the　roads；　sir；〃　he　replied。　　〃There's　talk　about
many　bridges　down；　and　trees；　and　there's　floods　out　everywhere。
There's　half　a　foot　of　water；　even；　across　the　village　street　now。
I'm　afraid　we　shouldn't　get　very　far。〃

〃Look　here；〃　Gerald　begged　eagerly；　〃let's　make　a　shot　at　it。　　I'll
pay　you　double　the　hire　of　the　car；　and　I'll　be　responsible　for　any
damage。　　I　want　to　get　out　of　this　beastly　place。　　Let's　get
somewhere；　at　any　rate；　towards　a　civilised　country。　　I'll　see　you
don't　lose　anything。　　I'll　give　you　a　five　pound　note　for　yourself
if　we　get　as　far　as　Holt。〃

〃I'm　on；〃　the　young　man　agreed　shortly。　　〃It's　an　open　car；　you　know。〃

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　Gerald　replied。　　〃I　can　stick　it　in　front　with
you；　and　we　can　cover　…　him　up　in　the　tonneau。〃

〃You'll　wait　until　the　doctor　comes　back？〃　the　landlord　asked。

〃And　why　should　they？〃　his　wife　interposed　sharply。　　〃Them　doctors
are　all　the　same。　　He'll　try　and　keep　the　poor　gentleman　here　for
the　sake　of　a　few　extra　guineas；　and　a　miserable　place　for　him　to
open　his　eyes　upon；　even　if　the　rest　of　the　roof　holds；　which　for
my　part　I'm　beginning　to　doubt。　　They'd　have　to　move　him　from　here
with　the　daylight；　anyhow。　　He　can't　lie　in　the　bar　parlour　all　day；
can　he？〃

〃It　don't　seem　right；　somehow；〃　the　man　com　plained　doggedly。　　〃The
doctor　didn't　say　anything　about　having　him　moved。〃

〃You　get　the　car；〃　Gerald　ordered　the　young　man。　　〃I'll　take　the
whole　responsibility。〃

The　chauffeur　silently　left　the　room。　　Gerald　put　a　couple　of
sovereigns　upon　the　mantelpiece。

〃My　friend　is　a　man　of　somewhat　peculiar　temperament；〃　he　said
quietly。　　〃If　he　finds　himself　at　home　in　a　comfortable　room　when
he　comes　to　his　senses；　I　am　quite　sure　that　he　will　have　a　better
chance　of　recovery。　　He　cannot　possibly　be　made　comfortable　here；
and　he　will　feel　the　shock　of　what　has　happened　all　the　more　if　he
finds　himself　still　in　the　neighbourhood　when　he　opens　his　eyes。
If　there　is　any　change　in　his　condition；　we　can　easily　stop　somewhere
on　the　way。〃

The　woman　pocketed　the　two　sovereigns。

〃That's　common　sense；　sir；〃　she　agreed　heartily；　〃and　I'm　sure　we
are　very　much　obliged　to　you。　　If　we　had　a　decent　room；　and　a　roof
above　it；　you'd　be　heartily　welcome；　but　as　it　is；　this　is　no　place
for　a　sick　man；　and　those　that　say　different　don't　know　what　they
are　talking　about。　　That's　a　real　careful　young　man　who's　going　to
take　you　along　in　the　motor…car。　　He'll　get　you　there　safe；　if　any
one　will。〃

〃What　I　say　is；〃　her　husband　protested　sullenly；　〃that　we　ought　to
wait　for　the　doctor's　orders。　　I'm　against　seeing　a　poor　body　like
that　jolted　across　the　country　in　an　open　motor…car；　in　his　state。
I'm　not　sure　that　it's　for　his　good。〃

〃And　what　business　is　it　of　yours；　I　should　like　to　know？〃　the　woman
demanded　sharply。　　〃You　get　up…stairs　and　begin　moving　the　furniture
from　where　the　rain　s　coming　sopping　in。　　And　if　so　be　you　can
remember　while　you　do　it　that　this　is　a　judgment　that's　come　upon　us；
why；　so　much　the　better。　　We　are　evil…doers；　all　of　us；　though　them
as　likes　the　easy　ways　generally　manage　to　forget　it。〃

The　man　retreated　silently。　　The　woman　sat　down　upon　a　stool　and
waited。　　Gerald　sat　opposite　to　her；　the　battered　dressing…case
upon　his　knees。　　Between　them　was　stretched　the　body　of　the
unconscious　man。

〃Are　you　used　to　prayer；　young　sir？〃　the　woman　asked。

Gerald　shook　his　head；　and　the　woman　did　not　pursue　the　subject。
Only　once　her　eyes　were　half　closed　and　her　words　drifted　across
the　room。

〃The　Lord　have　mercy　on　this　man；　a　sinner！〃




CHAPTER　IV

〃My　advice　to　you；　sir；　is　to　chuck　it！〃

Gerald　turned　towards　the　chauffeur　by　whose　side　he　was　seated　a
little　stiffly；　for　his　limbs　were　numbed　with　the　cold　and
exhaustion。　　The　morning　had　broken　with　a　grey　and　uncertain　light。
A　vaporous　veil　of　mist　seemed　to　have　taken　the　place　of　the
darkness。　　Even　from　the　top　of　the　hill　where　the　car　had　come　to
a　standstill；　there　was　little　to　be　seen。

〃We　must　have　come　forty　miles　already；〃　the　chauffeur　continued；
〃what　with　going　out　of　our　way　all　the　time　because　of　the　broken
bridges。　　I'm　pretty　well　frozen　through；　and　as　for　him；〃　he　added；
jerking　his　thumb　across　his　shoulder；　〃it　seems　to　me　you're　taking
a　bit　of　a　risk。〃

〃The　doctor　said　he　would　remain　in　exactly　the　same　condition　for
twenty…four　hours；〃　Gerald　declared。

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　say　anything　about　shaking　him　up　over　forty
miles　of　rough　road；〃　the　other　protested。　　〃You'll　excuse　me；　sir；〃
he　continued；　in　a　slightly　changed　tone；　〃it　isn't　my　business；　of
course；　but　I'm　fairly　done。　　It　don't　seem　reasonable　to　stick　at
it　like　this。　　There's　Holt　village　not　a　mile　away；　and　a　comfortable
inn　and　a　fire　waiting。　　I　thought　that　was　as　far　as　you　wanted　to
come。　　We　might　lie　up　there　for　a　few　hours；　at　any　rate。〃

His　passenger　slipped　down　from　his　place；　and；　lifting　the　rug；
peered　into　the　tonneau　of　the　car；　over　which　they　had　tied　a　hood。
To　all　appearance；　the　condition　of　the　man　who　lay　there　was
unchanged。　　There　was　a　slightly　added　blueness　about　the　lps　but
his　breathing　was　still　perceptible。　　It　seemed　even　a　little
stronger。　　Gerald　resumed　his　seat。

〃It　isn't　worth　while　to　stay　at　Holt；〃　he　said　quietly。　　〃We　are
scarcely　seven　miles　from　home　now。　　Sit　still　for　a　few　minutes
and　get　your　wind。〃

〃Only　seven　miles；〃　the　chauffeur　repeated　more　cheerfully。　　〃That's
something；　anyway。〃

〃And　all　downhill。〃

〃Towards　the　sea；　then？〃

〃Straight　to　the　sea；〃　Gerald　told　him。　　〃The　place　we　are　making
for　is　St。　David's　Hall；　near　Salthouse。〃

The　chauffeur　seemed　a　little　startled。

〃'Why；　that's　Squire　Fentolin's　house！〃

Gerald　nodded。

〃That　is　where　we　are　going。　　You　follow　this　road　almost　straight
ahead。〃

The　chauffeur　slipped　in　the　clutch。

〃Oh；　I　know　the　way　now；　sir；　right　enough！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃There's
Salthouse　marsh　to　cross；　though。　　I　don't　know　about　that。〃

〃We　shall　manage　that　all　right；〃　Gerald　declared。　　〃'We've　more
light　now；　too。〃

They　both　looked　around。　　During　the　last　few　minutes　the　late
morning　seemed　to　have　forced　its　way　through　the　clouds。　　They　had
a　dim；　phantasmagoric　view　of　the　stricken　country：　a　watery　plain；
with　here　and　there　great　patches　of　fields；　submerged　to　the
hedges；　and　houses　standing　out　amidst　the　waste　of　waters　like
toy　dwellings。　　There　were　whole　plantations　of　uprooted　trees。
Close　to　the　road；　on　their　left；　was　a　roofless　house；　and　a
family　of　children　crying　underneath　a　tarpaulin　shelter。　　As　they
crept　on；　the　wind　came　to　them　with　a　brackish　flavour；　salt　with
the　sea。　　The　chauffeur　was　gazing　ahead　doubtfully。

〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　the　marsh；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃Can't　see　the
road　at　all。　　However；　here　goes。〃

〃Another　half…hour；〃　Gerald　assured　him　encouragingly；　〃and　we　shall
be　at　St。　David's　Hall。　　You　can　have　as　much　rest　as　you　like　then。〃

They　were　facing　the　wind　now；　and　conversation　became　impossible。
Twice　they　had　to　pull　up　sharp　and　make　a　considerable　detour；　once
on　account　of　a　fallen　tree　which　blocked　the　road；　and　another
time　because　of　the　yawning　gap　where　a　bridge　had　fallen　away。
Gerald；　however；　knew　every　inch　of　the　country　they　were　in　and
was　able　to　give　the　necessary　directions。　　They　began　to　meet　farm
wagons　now；　full　of　people　who　had　been　driven　from　their　homes。
Warnings　and　information　as　to　the　state　of　the　roads　were　shouted
to　them　continually。　　Presently　they　came　to　the　last　steep　descent；
and　emerged　from　the　devastated　fragment　of　a　wood　almost　on　to　the
sea　level。　　The　chauffeur　clapped　on　his　brakes　and　stopped　short。

〃My　God！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Here's　more　trouble！〃

Gerald　for　a　moment　was　speechless。　　They　seemed　to　have　come
suddenly　upon　a　huge　plain　of　waters；　an　immense　lake　reaching　as　
ar　as　they　could　see　on　either　side。　　The　road　before　them　stretched
like　a　ribbon