CHAPTER XX
FROM A DIM WORLD
Wolfenden was in no particularly cheerful frame of mind when, a fewmoments after the half hour was up, Mr. Sabin appeared upon the paviliontee, followed by a tall, dark young man carrying a bag of golf clubs.Mr. Sabin, on the other hand, was inclined to be sardonically cheerful.
"Your handicap," he remarked, "is two. Mine is one. Suppose we playlevel. We ought to make a good match."
Wolfenden looked at him in surprise.
"Did you say one?"
Mr. Sabin smiled.
"Yes; they give me one at Pau and Cannes. My foot interferes very littlewith my walking upon turf. All the same, I expect you will find me aneasy victim here. Shall I drive? Just here, Dumayne," he added, pointingto a convenient spot upon the tee with the head of his driver. "Not toomuch sand."
"Where did you get your caddie?" Wolfenden asked. "He is not one ofours, is he?"
Mr. Sabin shook his head.
"I found him on some links in the South of France," he answered. "He isthe only caddie I ever knew who could make a decent tee, so I take himabout with me. He valets me as well. That will do nicely, Dumayne."
Mr. Sabin's expression suddenly changed. His body, as though byinstinct, fell into position. He scarcely altered his stand an inchfrom the position he had first taken up. Wolfenden, who had expected ahalf-swing, was amazed at the wonderfully lithe, graceful movement withwhich he stooped down and the club flew round his shoulder. Clean andtrue the ball flew off the tee in a perfectly direct line--a capitaldrive only a little short of the two hundred yards. Master and servantwatched it critically.
"A fairly well hit ball, I think, Dumayne," Mr. Sabin remarked.
"You got it quite clean away, sir," the man answered. "It hasn't runvery well though; you will find it a little near the far bunker for acomfortable second."
"I shall carry it all right," Mr. Sabin said quietly.
Wolfenden also drove a long ball, but with a little slice. He had toplay the odd, and caught the top of the bunker. The hole fell to Mr.Sabin in four.
They strolled off towards the second teeing ground.
"Are you staying down here for long?" Mr. Sabin asked.
Wolfenden hesitated.
"I am not sure," he said. "I am rather oddly situated at home. At anyrate I shall probably be here as long as you."
"I am not sure about that," Mr. Sabin said. "I think that I am going tolike these links, and if so I shall not hurry away. Forgive me if I aminquisitive, but your reference to home affairs is, I presume, inconnection with your father's health. I was very sorry to hear that heis looked upon now as a confirmed invalid."
Wolfenden assented gravely. He did not wish to talk about his father toMr. Sabin. On the other hand, Mr. Sabin was politely persistent.
"He does not, I presume, receive visitors," he said, as they left thetee after the third drive.
"Never," Wolfenden answered decisively. "He suffers a good deal invarious ways, and apart from that he is very much absorbed in thecollection of some statistics connected with a hobby of his. He does notsee even his oldest friends."
Mr. Sabin was obviously interested.
"Many years ago," he said, "I met your father at Alexandria. He was thenin command of the _Victoria_. He would perhaps scarcely recollect menow, but at the time he made me promise to visit him if ever I was inEngland. It must be--yes, it surely must be nearly fifteen years ago."
"I am afraid," Wolfenden remarked, watching the flight of his ball aftera successful brassy shot, "that he would have forgotten all about it bynow. His memory has suffered a good deal."
Mr. Sabin addressed his own ball, and from a bad lie sent it flying ahundred and fifty yards with a peculiar, jerking shot which Wolfendenwatched with envy.
"You must have a wonderful eye," he remarked, "to hit a ball with a fullswing lying like that. Nine men out of ten would have taken an iron."
Mr. Sabin shrugged his shoulders. He did not wish to talk golf.
"I was about to remark," he said, "that your father had then thereputation of, and impressed me as being, the best informed man withregard to English naval affairs with whom I ever conversed."
"He was considered an authority, I believe," Wolfenden admitted.
"What I particularly admired about him," Mr. Sabin continued, "was theabsence of that cocksureness which sometimes, I am afraid, almost blindsthe judgment of your great naval officers. I have heard him even discussthe possibility of an invasion of England with the utmost gravity. Headmitted that it was far from improbable."
"My father's views," Wolfenden said, "have always been pessimistic asregards the actual strength of our navy and coast defences. I believe heused to make himself a great nuisance at the Admiralty."
"He has ceased now, I suppose," Mr. Sabin remarked, "to take muchinterest in the matter?"
"I can scarcely say that," Wolfenden answered. "His interest, however,has ceased to be official. I daresay you have heard that he was incommand of the Channel Fleet at the time of the terrible disaster in theSolent. He retired almost immediately afterwards, and we fear that hishealth will never altogether recover from the shock."
There was a short intermission in the conversation. Wolfenden had slicedhis ball badly from the sixth tee, and Mr. Sabin, having driven as usualwith almost mathematical precision, their ways for a few minutes layapart. They came together, however, on the putting-green, and had ashort walk to the next tee.
"That was a very creditable half to you," Mr. Sabin remarked.
"My approach," Wolfenden admitted, "was a lucky one."
"It was a very fine shot," Mr. Sabin insisted. "The spin helped you, ofcourse, but you were justified in allowing for that, especially as youseem to play most of your mashie shots with a cut. What were we talkingabout? Oh, I remember of course. It was about your father and the Solentcatastrophe. Admiral Deringham was not concerned with the actualdisaster in any way, was he?"
Wolfenden shook his hand.
"Thank God, no!" he said emphatically. "But Admiral Marston was hisdearest friend, and he saw him go down with six hundred of his men. Hewas so close that they even shouted farewells to one another."
"It must have been a terrible shock," Mr. Sabin admitted. "No wonder hehas suffered from it. Now you have spoken of it, I think I rememberreading about his retirement. A sad thing for a man of action, as healways was. Does he remain in Norfolk all the year round?"
"He never leaves Deringham Hall," Wolfenden answered. "He used to makeshort yachting cruises until last year, but that is all over now. It istwelve months since he stepped outside his own gates."
Mr. Sabin remained deeply interested.
"Has he any occupation beyond this hobby of which you spoke?" he asked."He rides and shoots a little, I suppose, like the rest of your countrygentlemen."
Then for the first time Wolfenden began to wonder dimly whether Mr.Sabin had some purpose of his own in so closely pursuing the thread ofthis conversation. He looked at him keenly. At the moment his attentionseemed altogether directed to the dangerous proximity of his ball and atall sand bunker. Throughout his interest had seemed to be fairlydivided between the game and the conversation which he had initiated.None the less Wolfenden was puzzled. He could scarcely believe that Mr.Sabin had any real, personal interest in his father, but on the otherhand it was not easy to understand this persistent questioning as to hisoccupation and doings. The last inquiry, carelessly though it was asked,was a direct one. It seemed scarcely worth while to evade it.
"No; my father has special interests," he answered slowly. "He isengaged now upon some work connected with his profession."
"Indeed!"
Mr. Sabin's exclamation suggested a curiosity which it was notWolfenden's purpose to gratify. He remained silent. The game proceededwithout remark for a quarter of an hour. Wolfenden was now three down,and with all the stimulus of a strong opponent he set himself torecover lost ground. The ninth hole he won with a fine, long putt, whichMr. Sabin ap
plauded heartily.
They drove from the next tee and walked together after their balls,which lay within a few yards of one another.
"I am very much interested," Mr. Sabin remarked, "in what you have beentelling me about your father. It confirms rather a curious story aboutLord Deringham which I heard in London a few weeks ago. I was told, Iforget by whom, that your father had devoted years of his life to awonderfully minute study of English coast defences and her navalstrength. My informant went on to say that--forgive me, but this wassaid quite openly you know--that whilst on general matters your father'smental health was scarcely all that could be desired, his work inconnection with these two subjects was of great value. It struck me asbeing a very singular and a very interesting case."
Wolfenden shook his head dubiously.
"Your informant was misled, I am afraid," he said. "My father takes hishobby very seriously, and of course we humour him. But as regards thevalue of his work I am afraid it is worthless."
"Have you tested it yourself?" Mr. Sabin asked.
"I have only seen a few pages," Wolfenden admitted, "but they werewholly unintelligible. My chief authority is his own secretary, who isgiving up an excellent place simply because he is ashamed to take moneyfor assisting in work which he declares to be utterly hopeless."
"He is a man," Mr. Sabin remarked, "whom you can trust, I suppose? Hisjudgment is not likely to be at fault."
"There is not the faintest chance of it," Wolfenden declared. "He is avery simple, good-hearted little chap and tremendously conscientious.What your friend told you, by the bye, reminds me of rather a curiousthing which happened yesterday."
Wolfenden paused. There did not seem, however, to be any reason forconcealment, and his companion was evidently deeply interested.
"A man called upon us," Wolfenden continued, "with a letter purportingto be from our local doctor here. He gave his name as Franklin Wilmot,the celebrated physician, you know, and explained that he was interestedin a new method of treating mental complaints. He was very plausible andhe explained everything unusual about his visit most satisfactorily. Hewanted a sight of the work on which my father was engaged, and aftertalking it over we introduced him into the study during my father'sabsence. From it he promised to give us a general opinion upon the caseand its treatment. Whilst he was there our doctor drove up in hot haste.The letter was a forgery, the man an impostor."
Wolfenden, glancing towards Mr. Sabin as he finished his story, wassurprised at the latter's imperfectly concealed interest. His lips wereindrawn, his face seemed instinct with a certain passionate but finelycontrolled emotion. Only the slight hiss of his breath and the gleam ofhis black eyes betrayed him.
"What happened?" he asked. "Did you secure the fellow?"
Wolfenden played a long shot and waited whilst he watched the run of hisball. Then he turned towards his companion and shook his head.
"No! He was a great deal too clever for that. He sent me out to meetWhitlett, and when we got back he had shown us a clean pair of heels. Hegot away through the window."
"Did he take away any papers with him?" Mr. Sabin asked.
"He may have taken a loose sheet or two," Wolfenden said. "Nothing ofany consequence, I think. He had no time. I don't think that that couldhave been his object altogether, or he would scarcely have suggested myremaining with him in the study."
Mr. Sabin drew a quick, little breath. He played an iron shot, andplayed it very badly.
"It was a most extraordinary occurrence," he remarked. "What was the manlike? Did he seem like an ordinary thief?"
Wolfenden shook his head decidedly.
"Not in the least," he declared. "He was well dressed and his mannerswere excellent. He had all the appearance of a man of position. Hecompletely imposed upon both my mother and myself."
"How long were you in the study before Dr. Whitlett arrived?" Mr. Sabinasked.
"Barely five minutes."
It was odd, but Mr. Sabin seemed positively relieved.
"And Mr. Blatherwick," he asked, "where was he all the time?"
"Who?" Wolfenden asked in surprise.
"Mr. Blatherwick--your father's secretary," Mr. Sabin repeated coolly;"I understood you to say that his name was Blatherwick."
"I don't remember mentioning his name at all," Wolfenden said, vaguelydisturbed.
Mr. Sabin addressed his ball with care and played it deliberately on tothe green. Then he returned to the subject.
"I think that you must have done," he said suavely, "or I shouldscarcely have known it. Was he in the room?"
"All the time," Wolfenden answered.
Mr. Sabin drew another little breath.
"He was there when the fellow bolted?"
Wolfenden nodded.
"Why did he not try to stop him?"
Wolfenden smiled.
"Physically," he remarked, "it would have been an impossibility.Blatherwick is a small man and an exceedingly nervous one. He is anhonest little fellow, but I am afraid he would not have shone in anencounter of that sort."
Mr. Sabin was on the point of asking another question, but Wolfendeninterrupted him. He scarcely knew why, but he wanted to get away fromthe subject. He was sorry that he had ever broached it.
"Come," he said, "we are talking too much. Let us play golf. I am sure Iput you off that last stroke."
Mr. Sabin took the hint and was silent. They were on the eleventh green,and bordering it on the far side was an open road--the sea road, whichfollowed the coast for a mile or two and then turned inland toDeringham. Wolfenden, preparing to putt, heard wheels close at hand, andas the stroke was a critical one for him he stood back from his balltill the vehicle had passed. Glancing carelessly up, he saw his own blueliveries and his mother leaning back in a barouche. With a word ofapology to his opponent, he started forward to meet her.
The coachman, who had recognised him, pulled up his horses in the middleof the road. Wolfenden walked swiftly over to the carriage side. Hismother's appearance had alarmed him. She was looking at him, and yetpast him. Her cheeks were pale. Her eyes were set and distended. One ofher hands seemed to be convulsively clutching the side of the carriagenearest to her. She had all the appearance of a woman who is suddenlyface to face with some terrible vision. Wolfenden looked over hisshoulder quickly. He could see nothing more alarming in the backgroundthan the figure of his opponent, who, with his back partly turned tothem, was gazing out to sea. He stood at the edge of the green onslightly rising ground, and his figure was outlined with almost curiousdistinctness against the background of air and sky.
"Has anything fresh happened, mother?" Wolfenden asked, with concern. "Iam afraid you are upset. Were you looking for me?"
She shook her head. It struck him that she was endeavouring to assume acomposure which she assuredly did not possess.
"No; there is nothing fresh. Naturally I am not well. I am hoping thatthe drive will do me good. Are you enjoying your golf?"
"Very much," Wolfenden answered. "The course has really been capitallykept. We are having a close match."
"Who is your opponent?"
Wolfenden glanced behind him carelessly. Mr. Sabin had thrown severalballs upon the green, and was practising long putts.
"Fellow named Sabin," he answered. "No one you would be likely to beinterested in. He comes down from London, and he plays a remarkably finegame. Rather a saturnine-looking personage, isn't he?"
"He is a most unpleasant-looking man," Lady Deringham faltered, whitenow to the lips. "Where did you meet him? Here or in London?"
"In London," Wolfenden explained. "Rather a curious meeting it was too.A fellow attacked him coming out of a restaurant one night and Iinterfered--just in time. He has taken a little house down here."
"Is he alone?" Lady Deringham asked.
"He has a niece living with him," Wolfenden answered. "She is a verycharming girl. I think that you would like her."
The last words he added with something of an effort, and an indifferencewhi
ch was palpably assumed. Lady Deringham, however, did not appear tonotice them at all.
"Have no more to do with him than you can help, Wolfenden," she said,leaning a little over to him, and speaking in a half-fearful whisper. "Ithink his face is awful."
Wolfenden laughed.
"I am not likely to see a great deal of him," he declared. "In fact Ican't say that he seems very cordially disposed towards me, consideringthat I saved him from rather a nasty accident. By the bye, he saidsomething about having met the Admiral at Alexandria. You have nevercome across him, I suppose?"
The sun was warm and the wind had dropped, or Wolfenden could almosthave declared that his mother's teeth were chattering. Her eyes werefixed again in a rigid stare which passed him by and travelled beyond.He looked over his shoulder. Mr. Sabin, apparently tired of practising,was standing directly facing them, leaning upon his putter. He waslooking steadfastly at Lady Deringham, not in the least rudely, but witha faint show of curiosity and a smile which in no way improved hisappearance slightly parting his lips. Meeting his gaze, Wolfenden lookedaway with an odd feeling of uneasiness.
"You are right," he said. "His face is really a handsome one in a way,but he certainly is not prepossessing-looking!"
Lady Deringham had recovered herself. She leaned back amongst thecushions.
"Didn't you ask me," she said, "whether I had ever met the man? I cannotremember--certainly I was at Alexandria with your father, so perhaps Idid. You will be home to dinner?"
He nodded.
"Of course. How is the Admiral to-day?"
"Remarkably well. He asked for you just before I came out."
"I shall see him at dinner," Wolfenden said "Perhaps he will let mesmoke a cigar with him afterwards."
He stood away from the carriage and lifted his cap with a smile. Thecoachman touched his horses and the barouche rolled on. Wolfenden walkedslowly back to his companion.
"You will excuse my leaving you," he said. "I was afraid that my mothermight have been looking for me."
"By all means," Mr. Sabin answered. "I hope that you did not hurry on myaccount. I am trying," he added, "to recollect if ever I met LadyDeringham. At my time of life one's reminiscences become so chaotic."
He looked keenly at Wolfenden, who answered him after a moment'shesitation.
"Lady Deringham was at Alexandria with my father, so it is justpossible," he said.
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