very unlikely thing； and now；〃 he added； leaning forward in his
chair； 〃I pronounce it almost a certainty。〃
Hamel looked at his host a little curiously。 Mr。 Fentolin's
gentleness of expression seemed to have departed。 His face was
hard； his eyes agleam。 He bad almost the look of a bird of prey。
For some reason； the thought of war seemed to be a joy to him。
Perhaps he read something of Hamel's wonder in his expression； for
with a shrug of the shoulders he dismissed the subject。
〃Well；〃 he concluded； 〃all these things lie on the knees of the gods。
I dare say you wonder； Mr。 Hamel； why a poor useless creature like
myself should take the slightest interest in passing events？ It is
just the fascination of the looker…on。 I want your opinion about
that champagne。 Florence dear； you must join us。 We will drink to
Mr。 Hamel's health。 We will perhaps couple that toast in our minds
with the sentiment which I am sure is not very far from your
thoughts； Florence。〃
Hamel raised his glass and bowed to his host and hostess。 He was
not wholly at his ease。 It seemed to him that he was being watched
with a queer persistence by both of them。 Mrs； Fentolin continued
to talk and laugh with a gaiety which was too obviously forced。 Mr。
Fentolin posed for a while as the benevolent listener。 He mildly
applauded his sister…in…law's stories； and encouraged Hamel in the
recital of some of his reminiscences。 Suddenly the door was opened。
Miss Price appeared。 She walked smoothly across the room and stood
by Mr。 Fentolin's side。 Stooping down； she whispered in his ear。 He
pushed his chair back a little from the table。 His face was dark
with anger。
〃I said not before ten to…night；〃 he muttered。
Again she spoke in his ear； so softly that the sound of her voice
itself scarcely travelled even as far as where Hamel was sitting。
Mr。 Fentolin looked steadfastly for a moment at his sister…in…law
and from her to Hamel。 Then he backed his chair away front the
table。
〃I shall have to ask to be excused for three minutes；〃 he said。
〃I must speak upon the telephone。 It is a call from some one who
declares that they have important news。〃
He turned the steering…wheel of his chair； and with Miss Price
by his side passed across the dining…room； out of the Oasis of
rose…shaded lights into the shadows； and through the open door。
》From there he turned his head before he disappeared； as though to
watch his guest。 Mrs； Fentolin was busy fondling one of her dogs；
which she had raised to her lap； and Hamel was watching her with a
tolerant smile。
〃Koto； you little idiot； why can't you sit up like your sister？
Was its tail in the way； then！ Mr。 Hamel；〃 she whispered under her
breath； so softly that he barely caught the words； although he was
only a few feet away； 〃don't look at me。 I feel as though we were
being watched all the time。 You can destroy that piece of paper in
your pocket。 All that it says is 'Leave here immediately after
dinner》'〃
Hamel sipped his wine in a nonchalant fashion。 His fingers had
strayed over the silky coat of the little dog； which she had held
out as though for his inspection。
〃How can I？〃 he asked。 〃What excuse can I make？〃
〃Invent one；〃 she insisted swiftly。 〃Leave here before ten o'clock。
Don't let anything keep you。 And destroy that piece of paper in
your pocket； if you can … now。〃
〃But； Mrs； Fentolin …〃 he began。
She caught up one of her absurd little pets and held it to her mouth。
〃Meekins is in the doorway；〃 she whispered
Don't argue with me； please。 You are in danger you know nothing
about。 Pass me the cigarettes。〃
She leaned back in her chair； smoking quickly。 She held one of the
dogs on her knee and talked rubbish to it。 Hamel watched her；
leaning back in his carved oak chair； and he found it hard to keep
the pity from his eyes。 The woman was playing a part； playing it
with desperate and pitiful earnestness； a part which seemed the more
tragical because of the soft splendour of their surroundings。 From
the shadowy walls； huge； dimly…seen pictures hung about them； a
strange and yet impressive background。 Their small round
dining…table； with its rare cut glass； its perfect appointments； its
bowls of pink roses； was like a spot of wonderful colour in the great
room。 Two men servants stood at the sideboard a few yards away； a
triumph of negativeness。 The butler； who had been absent for a
moment； stood now silently waiting behind his master's place。 Hamel
was oppressed； during those few minutes of waiting； by a curious
sense of unreality； as though he were taking part in some strange
tableau。 There was something unreal about his surroundings and his
own presence there； something unreal in the atmosphere； charged as
it seemed to be with some omen of impending happenings； something
unreal in that whispered warning； those few hoarsely uttered words
which had stolen to his hearing across the clusters of drooping
roses； the absurd babble of the woman； who sat there with tragic
things under the powder with which her face was daubed。
〃Koto must learn to sit upon his tail … like that。 No； not another
grape till he sits up。 There； then！〃
She was leaning forward with a grape between her teeth； towards the
tiny animal who was trying in vain to balance his absurdly shaped
little body upon the tablecloth。 Hamel； without looking around；
knew quite well what was happening。 Soon he heard the click of the
chair。 Mr。 Fentolin was back in his place。 His skin seemed paler
and more parchment…like than ever。 His eyes glittered。
〃It seems；〃 he announced quietly； as he raised his wine…glass to his
lips with the air of one needing support； 〃that we entertained an
angel unawares here。 This Mr。 Dunster is lost for the second time。
A very important personage he turns out to be。〃
〃You mean the American whom Gerald brought home after the accident？〃
Mrs； Fentolin asked carelessly。
Mr。 Fentolin replied。 〃He insisted upon continuing his journey
before he was strong enough。 I warned him of what might happen。
He has evidently been take ill somewhere。 It seems that he was
on his way to The Hague。〃
〃Do you mean that he has disappeared altogether this time？〃 Hamel
asked。
Mr。 Fentolin shook his head。
〃No； he has found his way to The Hague safely enough。 He is lying
there at a hotel in the city； but he is unconscious。 There is some
talk about his having been robbed on the way。 At any rate； they
are tracing his movements backwards。 We are to be honoured with a
visit from one of Scotland Yard's detect；ives； to reconstruct his
journey from here。 Our quiet little corner of the world is becoming
quite notorious。 Florence dear； you are tired。 I can see it in
your eyes。 Your headache continues； I am sure。 We will not be
selfish。 Mr。 Hamel and I are going to have a long evening in the
library。 Let me recommend a phenacetin and bed。〃
She rose at once to her feet； with a dog under either arm。
〃I'll take the phenacetin；〃 she promised； 〃but I hate going to bed
early。 Shall I see you again； I wonder； Mr。 Hamel？〃
〃Not this evening； I fear；〃 he answered。 〃I am going to ask Mr。
Fentolin to excuse me early。〃
She passed out of the room。 Hamel escorted her as far as the door
and then returned。 Mr。 Fentolin was sitting quite still in his
chair。 His eyes were fixed upon the tablecloth。 He looked up
quickly as Hamel resumed his seat。
〃You are not in earnest； I hope； Mr。 Hamel；〃 he said； 〃when you tell
me that you must leave early？ I have been anticipating a long
evening。 My library is filled with books on South America which I
want to discuss with you。〃
〃Another evening； if you don't mind；〃 Hamel begged。 〃To…night I
must ask you to excuse my hurrying away。〃
Mr。 Fentolin looked up from underneath his eyelids。 His glance was
quick and penetrating。
〃Why this haste？〃
Hamel shrugged his shoulders。
〃To tell you the truth；〃 he admitted； 〃I had an idea while I was
reading an article on cantilever bridges this morning。 I want to
work it out。〃
Mr。 Fentolin glanced behind him。 The door of the dining…room was
closed。 The servants had disappeared。 Meekins alone； looking more
like a prize fighter than ever in his somber evening clothes； had
taken the place of the butler behind his master's chair。
〃We shall see；〃 Mr。 Fentolin said quietly。
CHAPTER XXX
Mr。 Fentolin pointed to the little pile of books upon the table；
the deep easy…chair； the green…shaded lamps； the decanter of wine。
He had insisted upon a visit； however brief； to the library。
〃It is a student's appeal which I make to you； Mr。 Hamel；〃 he said；
with a whimsical smile。 〃Here we are in my study； with the door
closed； secure against interruption； a bright fire in the grate； a
bowling and ever…increasing wind outside。 Let us go together over
the ground of your last wonderful expedition over the Andes。 You
will find that I am not altogether ignorant of your profession； or
of those very interesting geological problems which you spoke of in
connection with that marvellous railway scheme。 We will discuss
them side by side as sybarites； hang ourselves around with cigarette
smoke； drink wine； and presently coffee。 It is necessary； is it
not； for many reasons； that we become better acquainted？ You realise
that； I am sure； and you will not persist in returning to your
selfish solitude。〃
Hamel's eyes were fixed a little longingly upon some of the volumes
with which the table was covered。
〃You must not think me ungrateful or churlish； Mr。 Fentolin；〃 he
begged。 〃I have a habit of keeping promises which I make to myself；
and to…night I have made myself a promise that I will be back at
the Tower by ten o'clock。〃
〃You are obdurate？〃 Mr。 Fentolin asked softly。
〃I am afraid I am。〃
Mr。 Fentolin busied himself with the handle of his chair。
〃Tell me；〃 he insisted； 〃is there any other person save yourself
to whom you have given this mysterious promise？〃
〃No one；〃 Hamel replied promptly。
〃I am a person very sensitive to atmosphere；〃 Mr。 Fentolin continued
slowly。 〃Since the unfortunate visit of this man Dunster； I seem to
have been conscious of a ce