the vanished messenger-第6部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



A　wave　broke　almost　over　them　but　the　engine　continued　its　beat。

〃If　we　stop　now；〃　he　gasped；　〃we're　done！〃

The　engine　began　to　knock。

〃Stick　at　it；〃　Gerald　cried；　rising　in　his　place　a　little。　　〃Look；
there's　only　one　post　lower　than　the　last　one　that　we　passed。　　They
get　higher　all　the　time；　ahead。　　You　can　almost　see　the　road　in
front　there。　　Now；　in　with　your　gear　again；　and　stick　at　it。〃

Another　wave　broke；　this　time　completely　over　them。　　They　listened
with　strained　ears　…　the　engine　continued　to　beat。　　They　still　moved
slowly。　　Then　there　was　a　shock。　　The　wheel　had　struck　something　in
the　road　…　a　great　stone　or　rock。　　The　chauffeur　thrust　the　car　out
of　gear。　　The　engine　still　beat。　　Gerald　leaped　from　the　car。　　The
water　was　over　his　knees。　　He　crossed　in　front　of　the　bonnet　and
stooped　down。

〃I've　got　it！〃　he　exclaimed；　tugging　hard。　　〃It's　a　stone。〃

He　moved　it；　rolled　it　on　one　side；　and　pushed　at　the　wheel　of　the
car　as　his　companion　put　in　the　speed。　　They　started　again。　　He
jumped　back　his　place。

〃We've　done　it；　all　right！〃　he　cried。　　〃Don't　you　see？　　It's　getting
lower　all　the　time。〃

The　chauffeur　had　lost　his　nerve。　　His　cheeks　were　pale；　his　teeth
were　chattering。　　The　engine；　however；　was　still　beating。　　Gradually
the　pressure　of　the　water　grew　less。　　In　front　of　them　they　caught
a　glimpse　of　the　road。　　They　drew　up　at　the　top　of　a　little　bridge
over　one　of　the　dikes。　　Gerald　uttered　a　brief　exclamation　of　triumph。

〃We're　safe！〃　he　almost　sobbed。　　〃There's　the　road；　straight　ahead
and　round　to　the　right。　　There's　no　more　water　anywhere　near。〃

They　had　left　the　main　part　of　the　flood　behind　them。　　There　were
still　great　pools　in　the　side　of　the　road；　and　huge　masses　of
seaweed　had　been　carried　up　and　were　lying　in　their　track。　　There
was　no　more　water；　however。　　At　every　moment　they　drew　nearer　to
the　strangely…shaped　hill　with　its　crown　of　trees。

〃The　house　is　on　the　other　side；〃　Gerald　pointed　out。　　〃We　can　go
through　the　lodge　gates　at　the　back　here。　　The　ascent　isn't　so
steep。〃

They　turned　sharply　to　the　right；　along　another　stretch　of　straight
road　set　with　white　posts；　ending　before　a　red　brick　lodge　and　a
closed　gate。　　They　blew　the　horn　and　a　gardener　came　out。　　He　gazed
at　them　in　amazement。

〃It's　all　right；〃　Gerald　cried。　　〃Let　us　through　quickly；　Foulds。
We've　a　gentleman　in　behind　who's　ill。〃

The　man　swung　open　the　gate　with　a　respectful　salute。　　They　made
their　way　up　a　winding　drive　of　considerable　length；　and　at　last
they　came　to　a　broad；　open　space　almost　like　a　platform。　　On　their
left　were　the　marshes；　and　beyond；　the　sea。　　Along　their　right
stretched　the　long　front　of　an　Elizabethan　mansion。　　They　drew　up
in　front　of　the　hail　door。　　Their　coming　had　been　observed；　and
servants　were　already　waiting。　　Gerald　sprang　to　the　ground。

〃There's　a　gentleman　in　behind　who's　ill；〃　he　explained　to　the
butler。　　〃He　has　met　with　an　accident　on　the　way。　　Three　or　four
of　you　had　better　carry　him　up　to　a　bedroom　…　any　one　that　is　ready。
And　you；　George；〃　he　added；　turning　to　a　boy；　〃get　into　the　car　and
show　this　man　the　way　round　to　the　garage；　and　then　take　him　to　the
servants'　hall。〃

Several　of　the　servants　hastened　to　do　his　bidding；　and　Gerald　did
his　best　to　answer　the　eager　but　respectful　stream　of　questions。
And　then；　just　as　they　were　in　the　act　of　lifting　the　still
unconscious　man　on　to　the　floor　of　the　hall；　came　a　queer　sound　…　a
shrill；　reverberating　whistle。　　They　all　looked　up　the　stairs。

〃The　master　is　awake；〃　Henderson；　the　butler；　remarked；　dropping
his　voice　a　little。

Gerald　nodded。

〃I　will　go　to　him　at　once；〃　he　said。




CHAPTER　V

Accustomed　though　he　was　to　the　sight　which　he　was　about　to　face；
Gerald　shivered　slightly　as　he　opened　the　door　of　Mr。　Fentolin's
room。　　A　strange　sort　of　fear　seemed　to　have　crept　into　his　bearing
and　expression；　a　fear　of　which　there　had　been　no　traces　whatever
during　those　terrible　hours　through　which　he　had　passed　…　not　even
during　that　last　reckless　journey　across　the　marshes。　　He　walked
with　hesitating　footsteps　across　the　spacious　and　lofty　room。　　He
had　the　air　of　some　frightened　creature　approaching　his　master。
Yet　all　that　was　visible　of　the　despot　who　ruled　his　whole
household　in　deadly　fear　was　the　kindly　and　beautiful　face　of　an
elderly　man；　whose　stunted　limbs　and　body　were　mercifully　concealed。
He　sat　in　a　little　carriage；　with　a　rug　drawn　closely　across　his
chest　and　up　to　his　armpits。　　His　beautifully　shaped　hands　were
exposed；　and　his　face；　nothing　else。　　His　hair　was　a　silvery　white；
his　complexion　parchment…like；　pallid；　entirely　colourless。　　His
eyes　were　a　soft　shade　of　blue。　　His　features　were　so　finely　cut
and　chiselled　that　they　resembled　some　exquisite　piece　of　statuary。
He　smiled　as　his　nephew　came　slowly　towards　him。　　One　might　almost
have　fancied　that　the　young　man's　abject　state　was　a　source　of
pleasure　to　him。

〃So　you　are　back　again；　my　dear　Gerald。　　A　pleasant　surprise；
indeed；　but　what　is　the　meaning　of　it？　　And　what　of　my　little
commission；　eh？〃

The　young　man's　face　was　dark　and　sullen。　　He　spoke　quickly　but
without　any　sign　of　eagerness　or　interest　in　the　information　he
vouchsafed。

〃The　storm　has　stopped　all　the　trains；〃　he　said。　　〃The　boat　did　not
cross　last　night；　and　in　any　ease　I　couldn't　have　reached　Harwich。
As　for　your　commission；　I　travelled　down　from　London　alone　with　the
man　you　told　me　to　spy　upon。　　I　could　have　stolen　anything　he　had
if　I　had　been　used　to　the　work。　　As　it　was　…　I　brought　the　man
himself。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　delicate　fingers　played　with　the　handle　of　his　chair。
The　smile　had　passed　from　his　lips。　　He　looked　at　his　nephew　in
gentle　bewilderment。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　protested；　〃come；　come；　be　careful　what　you　are
saying。　　You　have　brought　the　man　himself！　　So　far　as　my　information
goes；　Mr。　John　P。　Dunster　is　charged　with　a　very　important　diplomatic
commission。　　He　is　on　his　way　to　Cologne；　and　from　what　I　know　about
the　man；　I　think　that　it　would　require　more　than　your　persuasions　to
induce　him　to　break　off　his　journey。　　You　do　not　really　wish　me　to
believe　that　you　have　brought　him　here　as　a　guest？〃

〃I　was　at　Liverpool　Street　Station　last　night；〃　Gerald　declared。
〃I　had　no　idea　how　to　accost　him；　and　as　to　stealing　any　of　his
belongings；　I　couldn't　have　done　it。　　You　must　hear　how　fortune
helped　me；　though。　　Mr。　Dunster　missed　the　train；　so　did　I
…　purposely。　　He　ordered　a　special。　　I　asked　permission　to　travel
with　him。　　I　told　him　a　lie　as　to　how　I　had　missed　the　train。　　I
hated　it；　but　it　was　necessary。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　nodded　approvingly。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃to　trifle　with　the　truth　is　always
unpleasant。　　Besides；　you　are　a　Fentolin；　and　our　love　of　truth　is
proverbial。　　But　there　are　times；　you　know；　when　for　the　good　of
others　we　must　sacrifice　our　scruples。　　So　you　told　Mr。　Dunster　a
alsehood。〃

〃He　let　me　travel　with　him；〃　Gerald　continued。　　〃We　were　all　night
getting　about　half…way　here。　　Then　…　you　know　about　the　storm；　I
suppose？〃

Mr。　Fentolin　spread　out　his　hands。

〃Could　one　avoid　the　knowledge　of　it　he　asked。　〃Such　a　sight　has
never　been　seen。〃

〃We　found　we　couldn't　get　to　Harwich；〃　Gerald　went　on。　　〃They
telegraphed　to　London　and　got　permission　to　bring　us　to　Yarmouth。
We　were　on　our　way　to　Norwich；　and　the　train　ran　off　the　line。〃

〃An　accident？〃　Mr。　Fentolin　exclaimed。

Gerald　nodded。

〃Our　train　ran　off　the　line　and　pitched　down　an　embankment。　　Mr。
Dunster　has　concussion　of　the　brain。　　He　and　I　were　taken　to　a
miserable　little　inn　near　Wymondham。　　From　there　I　hired　a　motor…car
and　brought　him　here。〃

〃You　hired　a　motor…car　and　brought　him　here；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　repeated
softly。　　〃My　dear　boy　…　forgive　me　if　I　find　this　a　little　hard　to
understand。　　You　say　that　you　have　brought　him　here。　　Had　he　nothing
to　say　about　it？〃

〃He　was　unconscious　when　we　picked　him　up；〃　　Gerald　explained。　　〃He
is　unconscious　now。　　Tbe　doctor　said　he　would　remain　so　for　at　least
twenty…four　hours；　and　it　didn't　seem　to　me　that　the　journey　would
do　him　any　particular　harm。　　The　roof　had　been　stripped　off　the　inn
where　we　were；　and　the　place　was　quite　uninhabitable；　so　we　should
have　had　to　have　moved　him　somewhere。　　We　put　him　in　the　tonneau　of
the　car　and　covered　him　up。　　They　have　carried　him　now　into　a
bedroom；　and　Sarson　is　looking　after　him。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　sat　quite　silent。　　His　eyes　blinked　once　or　twice；　and
there　was　a　curious　curve　about　his　lips。

〃You　have　done　well；　my　boy；〃　he　pronounced　slowly。　　〃Your　scheme
of　bringing　him　here　sounds　a　little　primitive；　but　success
justifies　everything。〃

Mr。　Fentolin　raised　to　his　lips　and　blew　softly　a　little　gold
whistle　which　hung　from　a　chain　attached　to　his　waistcoat。　　Almost
immediately　the　door　opened。　　A　man　entered；　dressed　somberly　in
black；　whose　bearing　and　demeanour　alike　denoted　the　servant；　but
whose　physique　was　the　physique　of　a　prize…fighter。　　He　was　scarcely
more　than　five　feet　six　in　height；　but　his　shoulders　were
extraordinarily　broad。　He　had　a　short；　bull　neck　and　long；　mighty
arms。　　His　face；　with　the　heavy　jaw　and　small　eyes；　was　the　face
of　the　typical　fighting　man；　yet　his　features　seemed　to　have　become
disposed　by　habit　into　an　expression　of　gentle；　almost　servile
civility。

〃Meekins；〃　Mr。　Fentolin　said；　〃a　visitor　has　arrived。　　Do　you　happen
to　have　noticed　what　luggage　he　brought？〃

〃There　is　one　small　dressing…case；　sir；〃　the　man　replied；　〃nothing
else　that　I　have　seen。〃

〃That　is　all　we　brought；〃　Gerald　interposed。

〃You　will　bring　the　dressing…case　here　at　once；〃　Mr。　Fentolin
directed；　〃and　also　my　compliments　to　Doctor　Sarson；　and　any
pocket…book　or　papers　which　may　help　us　to　send　a　message　to　the
gentleman's　friends。〃

Meekins　closed　the　door　and　departed。　　Mr。　Fentolin　turned　back
towards　his　nephew。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃tell　me　why　you　look　as　though　there　were
ghosts　flitting　about　the　room？　　You　are　not　ill；　I　trust？〃

〃Tired；　perhaps；〃　Gerald　answered　shortly。　　〃We　were　many　hours　in
the　car。　　I　have　had　no　sleep。〃

Mr。　Fentolin's　face　was　full　of　kindly　sympathy。

〃My　d