I are at cross…purposes。 If you like； you shall have the truth
from me。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃I was warned about your uncle before I came down into this part of
the world；〃 Hamel continued quietly。 〃I was told that he is a
dangerous conspirator； a man who sticks at nothing to gain his ends；
a person altogether out of place in these days。 It sounds
melodramatic； but I had it straight from a friend。 Since I have
been here； I have had a telegram … you brought it to me yourself
… asking for information about this man Dunster。 It was I who wired
to London that he was here。 It was through me that Scotland Yard
communicated with the police station at Wells； through me that a
man is to be sent down from London。 I didn't come here as a spy
… don't think that； I was coming here； anyhow。 On the other hand；
I believe that your uncle is playing a dangerous game。 I am going
to have Mr。 John P。 Dunster put in charge of a Norwich physician
to…morrow。〃
〃Thank God！〃 the boy murmured。
〃Look here；〃 Hamel continued； 〃what are you doing in this business；
anyway？ You are old enough to know your own mind and to go your
own way。〃
〃You say that because you don't know；〃 Gerald declared bitterly。
〃In a sense I don't；〃 Hamel admitted； 〃and yet your sister hinted
to me only this afternoon that you and she …〃
〃Oh； I know what she told you！〃 the boy interrupted。 〃We've worn
the chains for the last eight years。 They are breaking her。
They've broken my mother。 Sometimes I think they are breaking me。
But； you know； there comes a time … there comes a time when one
can't go on。 I've seen some strange things here； some that I've
half understood； some that I haven't understood at all。 I've closed
my eyes。 I've kept my promise。 I've done his bidding； where ever
it has led me。 But you know there is a time … there is a limit to
all things。 I can't go on。 I spied on this man Dunster。 I brought
him here。 It is I who am responsible for anything that may happen to
him。 It's the last time！〃
Gerald's face was white with pain。 Hamel laid his hand upon his
shoulder。
〃My boy；〃 he said； 〃there are worse things in the world than
breaking a promise。 When you gave it； the conditions which were
existing at the time made it； perhaps； a right and reasonable
undertaking； but sometimes the whole of the conditions under which
a promise was given； change。 Then one must have courage enough to
be false even to one's word。〃
〃Have you talked to my sister like that？〃 Gerald asked eagerly。
〃I have and I will again；〃 Hamel declared。 〃To…morrow morning I
leave this house； but before I go I mean to have the affair of this
man Dunster cleared up。 Your uncle will be very angry with me；
without a doubt。 I don't care。 But I do want you to trust me； if
you will； and your sister。 I should like to be your friend。〃
〃God knows we need one！〃 the boy said simply。 〃Good night！〃
Once more the house was quiet。 Hamel pushed his window wide open
and looked out into the night。 The air was absolutely still； there
was no wind。 The only sound was the falling of the low waves upon
the stony beach and the faint scrunching of the pebbles drawn back
by the ebb。 He looked along the row of windows； all dark and silent
now。 A rush of pleasant fancies suddenly chased away the grim
depression of the last few minutes。 Out of all this sordidness and
mystery there remained at least something in life for him to do。 A
certain aimlessnessn of purpose which had troubled him during the
last few months had disappeared。 He had found an object in life。
CHAPTER XXI
〃To…day；〃 Hamel declared； as he stood at the sideboard the following
morning at breakfast…time and helped himself to bacon and eggs； 〃I
am positively going to begin reading。 I have a case full of books
down at the Tower which I haven't unpacked yet。〃
Esther made a little grimace。
〃Look at the sunshine；〃 she said。 〃There isn't a breath of wind；
either。 I think to…day that I could play from the men's tees。〃
Hamel sighed as he returned to his place。
〃My good intentions are already half dissipated；〃 he admitted。
She laughed。
〃How can we attack the other half？〃 she asked。
Gerald； who was also on his way to the sideboard； suddenly stopped。
〃Hullo！〃 he exclaimed； looking out of the window。 〃Who's going
away this morning； I wonder？ There's the Rolls…Royce at the door。〃
Hamel； too； rose once more to his feet。 The two exchanged swift
glances。 Moved by a common thought； they both started for the door；
only to find it suddenly opened before them。 Mr。 Fentolin glided
into the room。
〃Uncle！〃 Gerald exclaimed。
Mr。 Fentolin glanced keenly around the room。
〃Good morning； everybody；〃 he said。 〃My appearance at this hour of
the morning naturally surprises you。 As a matter of fact； I have
been up for quite a long time。 Esther dear； give me some coffee；
will you； and be sure that it is hot。 If any of you want to say
good…by to Mr。 John P。 Dunster； you'd better hurry out。〃
〃You mean that he is going？〃 Hamel asked incredulously。
〃He is going；〃 Mr。 Fentolin admitted。 〃I wash my hands of the man。
He has given us an infinite amount of trouble； has monopolised
Doctor Sarson when he ought to have been attending upon me … a
little more hot milk； if you please； Esther … and now； although he
really is not fit to leave his room； he insists upon hurrying off
to keep an appointment somewhere on the Continent。 The little
operation we spoke of last night was successful； as Doctor Sarson
prophesied； and Mr。 Dunster was quite conscious and able to sit up
early this morning。 We telephoned at six o'clock to Norwich for a
surgeon； who is now on his way over here； but he will not wait even
to see him。 What can you do with a man so obstinate！〃
Neither Hamel nor Gerald had resumed their places。 The former；
after a moment's hesitation； turned towards the door。
〃I think；〃 he said； 〃that I should like to see the last of Mr。
Dunster。〃
〃Pray do；〃 Mr。 Fentolin begged。 〃I have said good…by to him myself；
and all that I hope is that next time you offer a wayfarer the
hospitality of St。 David's Hall； Gerald； he may be a more tractable
person。 This morning I shall give myself a treat。 I shall eat an
old…fashioned English breakfast。 Close the door after you； if you
please； Gerald。〃
Hamel； with Gerald by his side； hurried out into the hall。 Just
as they crossed the threshold they saw Mr。 Dunster； wrapped from
head to foot in his long ulster； a soft hat upon his head and one
of Mr。 Fentolin's cigars in his mouth； step from the bottom
stair into the hall and make his way with somewhat uncertain
footsteps towards the front door。 Doctor Sarson walked on one
side； and Meekins held him by the arm。 He glanced towards Gerald
and his companion and waved the hand which held his cigar。
〃So long； my young friend！〃 he exclaimed。 You see； I've got them
to let me make a start。 Next time we go about the country in a
saloon car together； I hope we'll have better luck。 Say； but I'm
groggy about the knees！〃
〃You'd better save your breath；〃 Doctor Sarson advised him grimly。
〃You haven't any to spare now； and you'll want more than you have
before you get to the end of your journey。 Carefully down the
steps； mind。〃
They helped him into the car。 Hamel and Gerald stood under the
great stone portico； watching。
〃Well； I'm jiggered！〃 the boy exclaimed； under his breath。
Hamel was watching the proceedings with a puzzled frown。 To his
surprise； neither Doctor Sarson nor Meekins were accompanying the
departing man。
〃He's off； right enough；〃 Hamel declared； as the car glided away。
〃Do you understand it？ I don't。〃
Gerald did not speak for several moments。 His eyes were still fixed
upon the back of the disappearing car。 Then he turned towards Hamel。
〃There isn't much；〃 he said softly； 〃that Mr。 Fentolin doesn't know。
If that detective was really on his way here； there wasn't any
chance of keeping Mr。 Dunster to himself。 You see； the whole story
is common property。 And yet； there's something about the affair
that bothers me。〃
〃And me；〃 Hamel admitted； watching the car until it became a speck
in the distance。
〃He was fairly well cornered；〃 Gerald concluded； as they made their
way back to the dining…room； 〃but it isn't like him to let go of
anything so easily。〃
〃So you've seen the last of our guest；〃 Mr。 Fentolin remarked； as
amel and Gerald re…entered the dining…room。 〃A queer fellow … almost
a new type to me。 Dogged and industrious； I should think。 He hadn't
the least right to travel； you know； and I think so long as we had
taken the trouble to telephone to Norwich； he might have waited to
see the physician。 Sarson was very angry about it； but what can you
do with these fellows who are never ill？ They scarcely know what
physical disability means。 Well； Mr。 Hamel； and how are you goin
to amuse yourself to…day？〃
〃I had thought of commencing some reading I brought with me；〃 Hamel
replied； 〃but Miss Esther has challenged me to another game of golf。〃
〃Excellent！〃 Mr。 Fentolin declared。 〃It is very kind of you indeed；
Mr。 Hamel。 It is always a matter of regret for me that society in
these parts is so restricted。 My nephew and niece have little
opportunity for enjoying themselves。 Play golf with Mr。 Hamel； by
all means； my dear child；〃 he continued； turning to his niece。 〃Make
the most of this glorious spring weather。 And what about you； Gerald？
What are you doing to…day？〃
〃I haven't made up my mind yet； sir；〃 the boy replied。
Mr。 Fentolin sighed。
〃Always that lack of initiative；〃 he remarked。 〃A lack of initiative
is one of your worst faults； I am afraid； dear Gerald。〃
The boy looked up quickly。 For a moment it seemed as though he were
about to make a fierce reply。 He met Mr。 Fentolin's steady gaze；
however； and the words died away upon his lips。
〃I rather thought；〃 he said； 〃of going into Norwich； if you could
spare me。 Captain Holt has asked me to lunch at the Barracks。〃
Mr。 Fentolin shook his head gently。
〃It is most unfortunate；〃 he declared。 〃I have a commission for
you later in the day。〃
Gerald continued his breakf