THE SECRET ADVERSARY AGATHA CHRISTIE

THE SECRET
ADVERSARY
AGATHA CHRISTIE
TO ALL THOSE WHO LEAD
MONOTONOUS LIVES
IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE
AT SECOND HAND
THE DELIGHTS AND DANGERS OF
ADVENTURE
CONTENTS
Prologue
I The Young Adventurers, Ltd.
II Mr. Whittington's Offer
III A Set Back
IV Who Is Jane Finn?
V Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer
VI A Plan of Campaign
VII The House in Soho
VIII The Adventures of Tommy
IX Tuppence Enters Domestic Service
X Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton
XI Julius Tells a Story
XII A Friend in Need
XIII The Vigil
XIV A Consultation
XV Tuppence Receives a Proposal
XVI Further Adventures of Tommy
XVII Annette
XVIII The Telegram
XIX Jane Finn
XX Too Late
XXI Tommy Makes a Discovery
XXII In Downing Street
XXIII A Race Against Time
XXIV Julius Takes a Hand
XXV Jane's Story
XXVI Mr. Brown
XXVII A Supper Party at the Savoy
XXVIII And After
PROLOGUE
IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had
been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking
rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible
speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their
turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and fathers;
others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl
stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young,
not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave,
steadfast eyes looked straight ahead.
"I beg your pardon."
A man's voice beside her made her start and turn. She had
noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first-class
passengers. There had been a hint of mystery about him which had
appealed to her imagination. He spoke to no one. If anyone spoke
to him he was quick to rebuff the overture. Also he had a nervous
way of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance.
She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads
of perspiration on his brow. He was evidently in a state of
overmastering fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of
man who would be afraid to meet death!
"Yes?" Her grave eyes met his inquiringly.
He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution.
"It must be!" he muttered to himself. "Yes--it is the only way."
Then aloud he said abruptly: "You are an American?"
"Yes."
"A patriotic one?"
The girl flushed.
"I guess you've no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!"
"Don't be offended. You wouldn't be if you knew how much there
was at stake. But I've got to trust some one--and it must be a
woman."
"Why?"
"Because of 'women and children first.' " He looked round and
lowered his voice. "I'm carrying papers--vitally important
papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the
war. You understand? These papers have GOT to be saved! They've
more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?"
The girl held out her hand.
"Wait--I must warn you. There may be a risk--if I've been
followed. I don't think I have, but one never knows. If so,
there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?"
The girl smiled.
"I'll go through with it all right. And I'm real proud to be
chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards?"
"Watch the newspapers! I'll advertise in the personal column of
the Times, beginning 'Shipmate.' At the end of three days if
there's nothing--well, you'll know I'm down and out. Then take
the packet to the American Embassy, and deliver it into the
Ambassador's own hands. Is that clear?"
"Quite clear."
"Then be ready--I'm going to say good-bye." He took her hand in
his. "Good-bye. Good luck to you," he said in a louder tone.
Her hand closed on the oilskin packet that had lain in his palm.
The Lusitania settled with a more decided list to starboard. In
answer to a quick command, the girl went forward to take her
place in the boat.
CHAPTER I
THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD.
"TOMMY, old thing!"
"Tuppence, old bean!"
The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and
momentarily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The
adjective "old" was misleading. Their united ages would
certainly not have totalled forty-five.
"Not seen you for simply centuries," continued the young man.
"Where are you off to? Come and chew a bun with me. We're
getting a bit unpopular here--blocking the gangway as it were.
Let's get out of it."
The girl assenting, they started walking down Dover Street
towards Piccadilly.
"Now then," said Tommy, "where shall we go?"
The very faint anxiety which underlay his tone did not escape the
astute ears of Miss Prudence Cowley, known to her intimate
friends for some mysterious reason as "Tuppence." She pounced at
once.
"Tommy, you're stony!"
"Not a bit of it," declared Tommy unconvincingly. "Rolling in
cash."
"You always were a shocking liar," said Tuppence severely,
"though you did once persuade Sister Greenbank that the doctor
had ordered you beer as a tonic, but forgotten to write it on the
chart. Do you remember?"
Tommy chuckled.
"I should think I did! Wasn't the old cat in a rage when she
found out? Not that she was a bad sort really, old Mother
Greenbank! Good old hospital--demobbed like everything else, I
suppose?"
Tuppence sighed.
"Yes. You too?"
Tommy nodded.
"Two months ago."
"Gratuity?" hinted Tuppence.
"Spent."
"Oh, Tommy!"
"No, old thing, not in riotous dissipation. No such luck! The
cost of living--ordinary plain, or garden living nowadays is, I
assure you, if you do not know----"
"My dear child," interrupted Tuppence, "there is nothing I do NOT
know about the cost of living. Here we are at Lyons', and we
will each of us pay for our own. That's it!" And Tuppence led
the way upstairs.
The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table,
catching odds and ends of conversation as they did so.
"And--do you know, she sat down and CRIED when I told her she
couldn't have the flat after all." "It was simply a BARGAIN, my
dear! Just like the one Mabel Lewis brought from Paris----"
"Funny scraps one does overhear," murmured Tommy. "I passed two
Johnnies in the street to-day talking about some one called Jane
Finn. Did you ever hear such a name?"
But at that moment two elderly ladies rose and collected parcels,
and Tuppence deftly ensconced herself in one of the vacant seats.
Tommy ordered tea and buns. Tuppence ordered tea and buttered
toast.
"And mind the tea comes in separate teapots," she added severely.
Tommy sat down opposite her. His bared head revealed a shock of
exquisitely slicked-back red hair. His face was pleasantly
ugly--nondescript, yet unmistakably the face of a gentleman and a
sportsman. His brown suit was well cut, but perilously near the
end of its tether.
They were an essentially modern-looking couple as they sat there.
Tuppence had no claim to beauty, but there was character and
charm in the elfin lines of her little face, with its determined
chin and large, wide-apart grey eyes that looked mistily out from
under straight, black brows. She wore a small bright green toque
over her black bobbed hair, and her extremely short and rather
shabby skirt revealed a pair of uncommonly dainty ankles. Her
appearance presented a valiant attempt at smartness.
The tea came at last, and Tuppence, rousing herself from a fit of
meditation, poured it out.
"Now then," said Tommy, taking a large bite of bun, "let's get
up-to-date. Remember, I haven't seen you since that time in
hospital in 1916."
"Very well." Tuppence helped herself liberally to buttered
toast. "Abridged biography of Miss Prudence Cowley, fifth
daughter of Archdeacon Cowley of Little Missendell, Suffolk.
Miss Cowley left the delights (and drudgeries) of her home life
early in the war and came up to London, where she entered an
officers' hospital. First month: Washed up six hundred and
forty-eight plates every day. Second month: Promoted to drying
aforesaid plates. Third month: Promoted to peeling potatoes.
Fourth month: Promoted to cutting bread and butter. Fifth month:
Promoted one floor up to duties of wardmaid with mop and pail.
Sixth month: Promoted to waiting at table. Seventh month:
Pleasing appearance and nice manners so striking that am promoted
to waiting on the Sisters! Eighth month: Slight check in career.
Sister Bond ate Sister Westhaven's egg! Grand row! Wardmaid
clearly to blame! Inattention in such important matters cannot
be too highly censured. Mop and pail again! How are the mighty
fallen! Ninth month: Promoted to sweeping out wards, where I
found a friend of my childhood in Lieutenant Thomas Beresford
(bow, Tommy!), whom I had not seen for five long years. The
meeting was affecting! Tenth month: Reproved by matron for
visiting the pictures in company with one of the patients,
namely: the aforementioned Lieutenant Thomas Beresford.
Eleventh and twelfth months: Parlourmaid duties resumed with
entire success. At the end of the year left hospital in a blaze
of glory. After that, the talented Miss Cowley drove
successively a trade delivery van, a motor-lorry and a general!"
The last was the pleasantest. He was quite a young general!"
"What brighter was that?" inquired Tommy. "Perfectly sickening
the way those brass hats drove from the War Office to the Savoy,
and from the Savoy to the War Office!"
"I've forgotten his name now," confessed Tuppence. "To resume,
that was in a way the apex of my career. I next entered a
Government office. We had several very enjoyable tea parties. I
had intended to become a land girl, a postwoman, and a bus
conductress by way of rounding off my career--but the Armistice
intervened! I clung to the office with the true limpet touch for
many long months, but, alas, I was combed out at last. Since then
I've been looking for a job. Now then--your turn."
"There's not so much promotion in mine," said Tommy regretfully,
"and a great deal less variety. I went out to France again, as
you know. Then they sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded
for the second time, and went into hospital out there. Then I got
stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, kicked my heels there
some time longer, and, as I told you, finally got demobbed. And,
for ten long, weary months I've been job hunting! There aren't
any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldn't give 'em to me. What
good am I? What do I know about business? Nothing."
Tuppence nodded gloomily.
"What about the colonies?" she suggested.
Tommy shook his head.
"I shouldn't like the colonies--and I'm perfectly certain they
wouldn't like me!"
"Rich relations?"
Again Tommy shook his head.
"Oh, Tommy, not even a great-aunt?"
"I've got an old uncle who's more or less rolling, but he's no
good."
"Why not?"
"Wanted to adopt me once. I refused."
"I think I remember hearing about it," said Tuppence slowly. "You
refused because of your mother----"
Tommy flushed.
"Yes, it would have been a bit rough on the mater. As you know,
I was all she had. Old boy hated her--wanted to get me away from
her. Just a bit of spite."
"Your mother's dead, isn't she?" said Tuppence gently.
Tommy nodded.
Tuppence's large grey eyes looked misty.
"You're a good sort, Tommy. I always knew it."
"Rot!" said Tommy hastily. "Well, that's my position. I'm just
about desperate."
"So am I! I've hung out as long as I could. I've touted round.
I've answered advertisements. I've tried every mortal blessed
thing. I've screwed and saved and pinched! But it's no good. I
shall have to go home!"
"Don't you want to?"
"Of course I don't want to! What's the good of being
sentimental? Father's a dear--I'm awfully fond of him--but you've
no idea how I worry him! He has that delightful early Victorian
view that short skirts and smoking are immoral. You can imagine
what a thorn in the flesh I am to him! He just heaved a sigh of
relief when the war took me off. You see, there are seven of us
at home. It's awful! All housework and mothers' meetings! I
have always been the changeling. I don't want to go back,
but--oh, Tommy, what else is there to do?"
Tommy shook his head sadly. There was a silence, and then
Tuppence burst out:
"Money, money, money! I think about money morning, noon and
night! I dare say it's mercenary of me, but there it is!"
"Same here," agreed Tommy with feeling.
"I've thought over every imaginable way of getting it too,"
continued Tuppence. "There are only three! To be left it, to
marry it, or to make it. First is ruled out. I haven't got any
rich elderly relatives. Any relatives I have are in homes for
decayed gentlewomen! I always help old ladies over crossings,
and pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in case they should turn
out to be eccentric millionaires. But not one of them has ever
asked me my name--and quite a lot never said 'Thank you.' "
There was a pause.
"Of course," resumed Tuppence, "marriage is my best chance. I
made up my mind to marry money when I was quite young. Any
thinking girl would! I'm not sentimental, you know." She paused.
"Come now, you can't say I'm sentimental," she added sharply.
"Certainly not," agreed Tommy hastily. "No one would ever think
of sentiment in connection with you."
"That's not very polite," replied Tuppence. "But I dare say you
mean it all right. Well, there it is! I'm ready and willing--but
I never meet any rich men! All the boys I know are about as hard
up as I am."
"What about the general?" inquired Tommy.
"I fancy he keeps a bicycle shop in time of peace," explained
Tuppence. "No, there it is! Now you could marry a rich girl."
"I'm like you. I don't know any."
"That doesn't matter. You can always get to know one. Now, if I
see a man in a fur coat come out of the Ritz I can't rush up to
him and say: 'Look here, you're rich. I'd like to know you.' "
"Do you suggest that I should do that to a similarly garbed
female?"
"Don't be silly. You tread on her foot, or pick up her
handkerchief, or something like that. If she thinks you want to
know her she's flattered, and will manage it for you somehow."
"You overrate my manly charms," murmured Tommy.
"On the other hand," proceeded Tuppence, "my millionaire would
probably run for his life! No--marriage is fraught with
difficulties. Remains--to MAKE money!"
"We've tried that, and failed," Tommy reminded her.
"We've tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try the
unorthodox. Tommy, let's be adventurers!"
"Certainly," replied Tommy cheerfully. "How do we begin?"
"That's the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people
might hire us to commit crimes for them."
"Delightful," commented Tommy. "Especially coming from a
clergyman's daughter!"
"The moral guilt," Tuppence pointed out, "would be theirs--not
mine. You must admit that there's a difference between stealing a
diamond necklace for yourself and being hired to steal it."
"There wouldn't be the least difference if you were caught!"
"Perhaps not. But I shouldn't be caught. I'm so clever."
"Modesty always was your besetting sin," remarked Tommy.
"Don't rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a
business partnership?"
"Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?"
"That was only an illustration. Let's have a--what do you call
it in book-keeping?"
"Don't know. Never did any."
"I have--but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit
entries on the debit side, and vice versa--so they fired me out.
Oh, I know--a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic
phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures. It's
got an Elizabethan flavour about it--makes one think of galleons
and doubloons. A joint venture!"
"Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that
your idea, Tuppence?"
"It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something
in it."
"How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be
employers?"
"Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit
of paper and a pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we
have hairpins and powder-puffs."
Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppence
began writing busily.
"Shall we begin: 'Young officer, twice wounded in the war--' "
"Certainly not."
"Oh, very well, my dear boy. But I can assure you that that sort
of thing might touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she
might adopt you, and then there would be no need for you to be a
young adventurer at all."
"I don't want to be adopted."
"I forgot you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging
you! The papers are full up to the brim with that type of thing.
Now listen--how's this? 'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing
to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good.' (We might as
well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 'No
reasonable offer refused'--like flats and furniture."
"I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a
pretty UNreasonable one!"
"Tommy! You're a genius! That's ever so much more chic. 'No
unreasonable offer refused--if pay is good.' How's that?"
"I shouldn't mention pay again. It looks rather eager."
"It couldn't look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right.
Now I'll read it straight through. 'Two young adventurers for
hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No
unreasonable offer refused.' How would that strike you if you
read it?"
"It would strike me as either being a hoax, or else written by a
lunatic."
"It's not half so insane as a thing I read this morning beginning
'Petunia' and signed 'Best Boy.' " She tore out the leaf and
handed it to Tommy. "There you are. Times, I think. Reply to
Box so-and-so. I expect it will be about five shillings. Here's
half a crown for my share."
Tommy was holding the paper thoughtfully. His faced burned a
deeper red.
"Shall we really try it?" he said at last. "Shall we, Tuppence?
Just for the fun of the thing?"
"Tommy, you're a sport! I knew you would be! Let's drink to
success." She poured some cold dregs of tea into the two cups.
"Here's to our joint venture, and may it prosper!"
"The Young Adventurers, Ltd.!" responded Tommy.
They put down the cups and laughed rather uncertainly. Tuppence
rose.
"I must return to my palatial suite at the hostel."
"Perhaps it is time I strolled round to the Ritz," agreed Tommy
with a grin. "Where shall we meet? And when?"
"Twelve o'clock to-morrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that
suit you?"
"My time is my own," replied Mr. Beresford magnificently.
"So long, then."
"Good-bye, old thing."
The two young people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence's
hostel was situated in what was charitably called Southern
Belgravia. For reasons of economy she did not take a bus.
She was half-way across St. James's Park, when a man's voice
behind her made her start.
"Excuse me," it said. "But may I speak to you for a moment?"
CHAPTER II
MR. WHITTINGTON'S OFFER
TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words hovering on the tip of her
tongue remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did
not bear out her first and most natural assumption. She
hesitated. As if he read her thoughts, the man said quickly:
"I can assure you I mean no disrespect."
Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him
instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular
motive which she had at first attributed to him. She looked him
up and down. He was a big man, clean shaven, with a heavy jowl.
His eyes were small and cunning, and shifted their glance under
her direct gaze.
"Well, what is it?" she asked.
The man smiled.
"I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young
gentleman in Lyons'."
"Well--what of it?"
"Nothing--except that I think I may be of some use to you."
Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind:
"You followed me here?"
"I took that liberty."
"And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?"
The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a
bow.
Tuppence took it and scrutinized it carefully. It bore the
inscription, "Mr. Edward Whittington." Below the name were the
words "Esthonia Glassware Co.," and the address of a city office.
Mr. Whittington spoke again:
"If you will call upon me to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, I
will lay the details of my proposition before you."
"At eleven o'clock?" said Tuppence doubtfully.
"At eleven o'clock."
Tuppence made up her mind.
"Very well. I'll be there."
"Thank you. Good evening."
He raised his hat with a flourish, and walked away. Tuppence
remained for some minutes gazing after him. Then she gave a
curious movement of her shoulders, rather as a terrier shakes
himself.
"The adventures have begun," she murmured to herself. "What does
he want me to do, I wonder? There's something about you, Mr.
Whittington, that I don't like at all. But, on the other hand,
I'm not the least bit afraid of you. And as I've said before, and
shall doubtless say again, little Tuppence can look after
herself, thank you!"
And with a short, sharp nod of her head she walked briskly
onward. As a result of further meditations, however, she turned
aside from the direct route and entered a post office. There she
pondered for some moments, a telegraph form in her hand. The
thought of a possible five shillings spent unnecessarily spurred
her to action, and she decided to risk the waste of ninepence.
Disdaining the spiky pen and thick, black treacle which a
beneficent Government had provided, Tuppence drew out Tommy's
pencil which she had retained and wrote rapidly: "Don't put in
advertisement. Will explain to-morrow." She addressed it to Tommy
at his club, from which in one short month he would have to
resign, unless a kindly fortune permitted him to renew his
subscription.
"It may catch him," she murmured. "Anyway, it's worth trying."
After handing it over the counter she set out briskly for home,
stopping at a baker's to buy three penny-worth of new buns.
Later, in her tiny cubicle at the top of the house she munched
buns and reflected on the future. What was the Esthonia
Glassware Co., and what earthly need could it have for her
services? A pleasurable thrill of excitement made Tuppence
tingle. At any rate, the country vicarage had retreated into the
background again. The morrow held possibilities.
It was a long time before Tuppence went to sleep that night, and,
when at length she did, she dreamed that Mr. Whittington had set
her to washing up a pile of Esthonia Glassware, which bore an
unaccountable resemblance to hospital plates!
It wanted some five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached the
block of buildings in which the offices of the Esthonia Glassware
Co. were situated. To arrive before the time would look
over-eager. So Tuppence decided to walk to the end of the street
and back again. She did so. On the stroke of eleven she plunged
into the recesses of the building. The Esthonia Glassware Co.
was on the top floor. There was a lift, but Tuppence chose to
walk up.
Slightly out of breath, she came to a halt outside the ground
glass door with the legend painted across it "Esthonia Glassware
Co."
Tuppence knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned
the handle and walked into a small rather dirty outer office.
A middle-aged clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the
window and came towards her inquiringly.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Whittington," said Tuppence.
"Will you come this way, please." He crossed to a partition door
with "Private" on it, knocked, then opened the door and stood
aside to let her pass in.
Mr. Whittington was seated behind a large desk covered with
papers. Tuppence felt her previous judgment confirmed. There was
something wrong about Mr. Whittington. The combination of his
sleek prosperity and his shifty eye was not attractive.
He looked up and nodded.
"So you've turned up all right? That's good. Sit down, will
you?"
Tuppence sat down on the chair facing him. She looked
particularly small and demure this morning. She sat there meekly
with downcast eyes whilst Mr. Whittington sorted and rustled
amongst his papers. Finally he pushed them away, and leaned over
the desk.
"Now, my dear young lady, let us come to business." His large
face broadened into a smile. "You want work? Well, I have work
to offer you. What should you say now to L100 down, and all
expenses paid?" Mr. Whittington leaned back in his chair, and
thrust his thumbs into the arm-holes of his waistcoat.
Tuppence eyed him warily.
"And the nature of the work?" she demanded.
"Nominal--purely nominal. A pleasant trip, that is all."
"Where to?"
Mr. Whittington smiled again.
"Paris."
"Oh!" said Tuppence thoughtfully. To herself she said: "Of
course, if father heard that he would have a fit! But somehow I
don't see Mr. Whittington in the role of the gay deceiver."
"Yes," continued Whittington. "What could be more delightful? To
put the clock back a few years--a very few, I am sure--and
re-enter one of those charming pensionnats de jeunes filles with
which Paris abounds----"
Tuppence interrupted him.
"A pensionnat?"
"Exactly. Madame Colombier's in the Avenue de Neuilly."
Tuppence knew the name well. Nothing could have been more
select. She had had several American friends there. She was more
than ever puzzled.
"You want me to go to Madame Colombier's? For how long?"
"That depends. Possibly three months."
"And that is all? There are no other conditions?"
"None whatever. You would, of course, go in the character of my
ward, and you would hold no communication with your friends. I
should have to request absolute secrecy for the time being. By
the way, you are English, are you not?"
"Yes."
"Yet you speak with a slight American accent?"
"My great pal in hospital was a little American girl. I dare say
I picked it up from her. I can soon get out of it again."
"On the contrary, it might be simpler for you to pass as an
American. Details about your past life in England might be more
difficult to sustain. Yes, I think that would be decidedly
better. Then----"
"One moment, Mr. Whittington! You seem to be taking my consent
for granted."
Whittington looked surprised.
"Surely you are not thinking of refusing? I can assure you that
Madame Colombier's is a most high-class and orthodox
establishment. And the terms are most liberal."
"Exactly," said Tuppence. "That's just it. The terms are almost
too liberal, Mr. Whittington. I cannot see any way in which I
can be worth that amount of money to you."
"No?" said Whittington softly. "Well, I will tell you. I could
doubtless obtain some one else for very much less. What I am
willing to pay for is a young lady with sufficient intelligence
and presence of mind to sustain her part well, and also one who
will have sufficient discretion not to ask too many questions."
Tuppence smiled a little. She felt that Whittington had scored.
"There's another thing. So far there has been no mention of Mr.
Beresford. Where does he come in?"
"Mr. Beresford?"
"My partner," said Tuppence with dignity. "You saw us together
yesterday."
"Ah, yes. But I'm afraid we shan't require his services."
"Then it's off!" Tuppence rose. "It's both or neither.
Sorry--but that's how it is. Good morning, Mr. Whittington."
"Wait a minute. Let us see if something can't be managed. Sit
down again, Miss----" He paused interrogatively.
Tuppence's conscience gave her a passing twinge as she remembered
the archdeacon. She seized hurriedly on the first name that came
into her head.
"Jane Finn," she said hastily; and then paused open-mouthed at
the effect of those two simple words.
All the geniality had faded out of Whittington's face. It was
purple with rage, and the veins stood out on the forehead. And
behind it all there lurked a sort of incredulous dismay. He
leaned forward and hissed savagely:
"So that's your little game, is it?"
Tuppence, though utterly taken aback, nevertheless kept her head.
She had not the faintest comprehension of his meaning, but she
was naturally quick-witted, and felt it imperative to "keep her
end up" as she phrased it.
Whittington went on:
"Been playing with me, have you, all the time, like a cat and
mouse? Knew all the time what I wanted you for, but kept up the
comedy. Is that it, eh?" He was cooling down. The red colour
was ebbing out of his face. He eyed her keenly. "Who's been
blabbing? Rita?"
Tuppence shook her head. She was doubtful as to how long she
could sustain this illusion, but she realized the importance of
not dragging an unknown Rita into it.
"No," she replied with perfect truth. "Rita knows nothing about
me."
His eyes still bored into her like gimlets.
"How much do you know?" he shot out.
"Very little indeed," answered Tuppence, and was pleased to note
that Whittington's uneasiness was augmented instead of allayed.
To have boasted that she knew a lot might have raised doubts in
his mind.
"Anyway," snarled Whittington, "you knew enough to come in here
and plump out that name."
"It might be my own name," Tuppence pointed out.
"It's likely, isn't it, then there would be two girls with a name
like that?"
"Or I might just have hit upon it by chance," continued Tuppence,
intoxicated with the success of truthfulness.
Mr. Whittington brought his fist down upon the desk with a bang.
"Quit fooling! How much do you know? And how much do you want?"
The last five words took Tuppence's fancy mightily, especially
after a meagre breakfast and a supper of buns the night before.
Her present part was of the adventuress rather than the
adventurous order, but she did not deny its possibilities. She
sat up and smiled with the air of one who has the situation
thoroughly well in hand.
"My dear Mr. Whittington," she said, "let us by all means lay our
cards upon the table. And pray do not be so angry. You heard me
say yesterday that I proposed to live by my wits. It seems to me
that I have now proved I have some wits to live by! I admit I
have knowledge of a certain name, but perhaps my knowledge ends
there."
"Yes--and perhaps it doesn't," snarled Whittington.
"You insist on misjudging me," said Tuppence, and sighed gently.
"As I said once before," said Whittington angrily, "quit fooling,
and come to the point. You can't play the innocent with me. You
know a great deal more than you're willing to admit."
Tuppence paused a moment to admire her own ingenuity, and then
said softly:
"I shouldn't like to contradict you, Mr. Whittington."
"So we come to the usual question--how much?"
Tuppence was in a dilemma. So far she had fooled Whittington
with complete success, but to mention a palpably impossible sum
might awaken his suspicions. An idea flashed across her brain.
"Suppose we say a little something down, and a fuller discussion
of the matter later?"
Whittington gave her an ugly glance.
"Blackmail, eh?"
Tuppence smiled sweetly.
"Oh no! Shall we say payment of services in advance?"
Whittington grunted.
"You see," explained Tuppence still sweetly, "I'm so very fond of
money!"
"You're about the limit, that's what you are," growled
Whittington, with a sort of unwilling admiration. "You took me
in all right. Thought you were quite a meek little kid with just
enough brains for my purpose."
"Life," moralized Tuppence, "is full of surprises."
"All the same," continued Whittington, "some one's been talking.
You say it isn't Rita. Was it----? Oh, come in."
The clerk followed his discreet knock into the room, and laid a
paper at his master's elbow.
"Telephone message just come for you, sir."
Whittington snatched it up and read it. A frown gathered on his
brow.
"That'll do, Brown. You can go."
The clerk withdrew, closing the door behind him. Whittington
turned to Tuppence.
"Come to-morrow at the same time. I'm busy now. Here's fifty to
go on with."
He rapidly sorted out some notes, and pushed them across the
table to Tuppence, then stood up, obviously impatient for her to
go.
The girl counted the notes in a businesslike manner, secured them
in her handbag, and rose.
"Good morning, Mr. Whittington," she said politely. "At least, au
revoir, I should say."
"Exactly. Au revoir!" Whittington looked almost genial again, a
reversion that aroused in Tuppence a faint misgiving. "Au revoir,
my clever and charming young lady."
Tuppence sped lightly down the stairs. A wild elation possessed
her. A neighbouring clock showed the time to be five minutes to
twelve.
"Let's give Tommy a surprise!" murmured Tuppence, and hailed a
taxi.
The cab drew up outside the tube station. Tommy was just within
the entrance. His eyes opened to their fullest extent as he
hurried forward to assist Tuppence to alight. She smiled at him
affectionately, and remarked in a slightly affected voice:
"Pay the thing, will you, old bean? I've got nothing smaller
than a five-pound note!"
CHAPTER III
A SET BACK
THE moment was not quite so triumphant as it ought to have been.
To begin with, the resources of Tommy's pockets were somewhat
limited. In the end the fare was managed, the lady recollecting a
plebeian twopence, and the driver, still holding the varied
assortment of coins in his hand, was prevailed upon to move on,
which he did after one last hoarse demand as to what the
gentleman thought he was giving him?
"I think you've given him too much, Tommy," said Tuppence
innocently. "I fancy he wants to give some of it back."
It was possibly this remark which induced the driver to move
away.
"Well," said Mr. Beresford, at length able to relieve his
feelings, "what the--dickens, did you want to take a taxi for?"
"I was afraid I might be late and keep you waiting," said
Tuppence gently.
"Afraid--you--might--be--late! Oh, Lord, I give it up!" said Mr.
Beresford.
"And really and truly," continued Tuppence, opening her eyes very
wide, "I haven't got anything smaller than a five-pound note."
"You did that part of it very well, old bean, but all the same
the fellow wasn't taken in--not for a moment!"
"No," said Tuppence thoughtfully, "he didn't believe it. That's
the curious part about speaking the truth. No one does believe
it. I found that out this morning. Now let's go to lunch. How
about the Savoy?"
Tommy grinned.
"How about the Ritz?"
"On second thoughts, I prefer the Piccadilly. It's nearer. We
shan't have to take another taxi. Come along."
"Is this a new brand of humour? Or is your brain really
unhinged?" inquired Tommy.
"Your last supposition is the correct one. I have come into
money, and the shock has been too much for me! For that
particular form of mental trouble an eminent physician recommends
unlimited Hors d'oeuvre, Lobster a l'americane, Chicken Newberg,
and Peche Melba! Let's go and get them!"
"Tuppence, old girl, what has really come over you?"
"Oh, unbelieving one!" Tuppence wrenched open her bag. "Look
here, and here, and here!"
"Great Jehosaphat! My dear girl, don't wave Fishers aloft like
that!"
"They're not Fishers. They're five times better than Fishers,
and this one's ten times better!"
Tommy groaned.
"I must have been drinking unawares! Am I dreaming, Tuppence, or
do I really behold a large quantity of five-pound notes being
waved about in a dangerous fashion?"
"Even so, O King! Now, will you come and have lunch?"
"I'll come anywhere. But what have you been doing? Holding up a
bank?"
"All in good time. What an awful place Piccadilly Circus is.
There's a huge bus bearing down on us. It would be too terrible
if they killed the five-pound notes!"
"Grill room?" inquired Tommy, as they reached the opposite
pavement in safety.
"The other's more expensive," demurred Tuppence.
"That's mere wicked wanton extravagance. Come on below."
"Are you sure I can get all the things I want there?"
"That extremely unwholesome menu you were outlining just now? Of
course you can--or as much as is good for you, anyway."
"And now tell me," said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up
curiosity any longer, as they sat in state surrounded by the many
hors d'oeuvre of Tuppence's dreams.
Miss Cowley told him.
"And the curious part of it is," she ended, "that I really did
invent the name of Jane Finn! I didn't want to give my own
because of poor father--in case I should get mixed up in anything
shady."
"Perhaps that's so," said Tommy slowly. "But you didn't invent
it."
"What?"
"No. I told it to you. Don't you remember, I said yesterday I'd
overheard two people talking about a female called Jane Finn?
That's what brought the name into your mind so pat."
"So you did. I remember now. How extraordinary----" Tuppence
tailed off into silence. Suddenly she aroused herself. "Tommy!"
"Yes?"
"What were they like, the two men you passed?"
Tommy frowned in an effort at remembrance.
"One was a big fat sort of chap. Clean shaven, I think--and
dark."
"That's him," cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatical squeal. "That's
Whittington! What was the other man like?"
"I can't remember. I didn't notice him particularly. It was
really the outlandish name that caught my attention."
"And people say that coincidences don't happen!" Tuppence tackled
her Peche Melba happily.
But Tommy had become serious.
"Look here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?"
"More money," replied his companion.
"I know that. You've only got one idea in your head. What I mean
is, what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game
up?"
"Oh!" Tuppence laid down her spoon. "You're right, Tommy, it is
a bit of a poser."
"After all, you know, you can't bluff him forever. You're sure to
slip up sooner or later. And, anyway, I'm not at all sure that
it isn't actionable--blackmail, you know."
"Nonsense. Blackmail is saying you'll tell unless you are given
money. Now, there's nothing I could tell, because I don't really
know anything."
"Hm," said Tommy doubtfully. "Well, anyway, what ARE we going to
do? Whittington was in a hurry to get rid of you this morning,
but next time he'll want to know something more before he parts
with his money. He'll want to know how much YOU know, and where
you got your information from, and a lot of other things that you
can't cope with. What are you going to do about it?"
Tuppence frowned severely.
"We must think. Order some Turkish coffee, Tommy. Stimulating
to the brain. Oh, dear, what a lot I have eaten!"
"You have made rather a hog of yourself! So have I for that
matter, but I flatter myself that my choice of dishes was more
judicious than yours. Two coffees." (This was to the waiter.)
"One Turkish, one French."
Tuppence sipped her coffee with a deeply reflective air, and
snubbed Tommy when he spoke to her.
"Be quiet. I'm thinking."
"Shades of Pelmanism!" said Tommy, and relapsed into silence.
"There!" said Tuppence at last. "I've got a plan. Obviously what
we've got to do is to find out more about it all."
Tommy applauded.
"Don't jeer. We can only find out through Whittington. We must
discover where he lives, what he does--sleuth him, in fact! Now I
can't do it, because he knows me, but he only saw you for a
minute or two in Lyons'. He's not likely to recognize you. After
all, one young man is much like another."
"I repudiate that remark utterly. I'm sure my pleasing features
and distinguished appearance would single me out from any crowd."
"My plan is this," Tuppence went on calmly, "I'll go alone
to-morrow. I'll put him off again like I did to-day. It doesn't
matter if I don't get any more money at once. Fifty pounds ought
to last us a few days."
"Or even longer!"
"You'll hang about outside. When I come out I shan't speak to
you in case he's watching. But I'll take up my stand somewhere
near, and when he comes out of the building I'll drop a
handkerchief or something, and off you go!"
"Off I go where?"
"Follow him, of course, silly! What do you think of the idea?"
"Sort of thing one reads about in books. I somehow feel that in
real life one will feel a bit of an ass standing in the street
for hours with nothing to do. People will wonder what I'm up
to."
"Not in the city. Every one's in such a hurry. Probably no one
will even notice you at all."
"That's the second time you've made that sort of remark. Never
mind, I forgive you. Anyway, it will be rather a lark. What are
you doing this afternoon?"
"Well," said Tuppence meditatively. "I HAD thought of hats! Or
perhaps silk stockings! Or perhaps----"
"Hold hard," admonished Tommy. "There's a limit to fifty pounds!
But let's do dinner and a show to-night at all events."
"Rather."
The day passed pleasantly. The evening even more so. Two of the
five-pound notes were now irretrievably dead.
They met by arrangement the following morning and proceeded
citywards. Tommy remained on the opposite side of the road while
Tuppence plunged into the building.
Tommy strolled slowly down to the end of the street, then back
again. Just as he came abreast of the building, Tuppence darted
across the road.
"Tommy!"
"Yes. What's up?"
"The place is shut. I can't make anyone hear."
"That's odd."
"Isn't it? Come up with me, and let's try again."
Tommy followed her. As they passed the third floor landing a
young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated a moment, then
addressed himself to Tuppence.
"Were you wanting the Esthonia Glassware?"
"Yes, please."
"It's closed down. Since yesterday afternoon. Company being
wound up, they say. Not that I've ever heard of it myself. But
anyway the office is to let."
"Th--thank you," faltered Tuppence. "I suppose you don't know
Mr. Whittington's address?"
"Afraid I don't. They left rather suddenly."
"Thank you very much," said Tommy. "Come on, Tuppence."
They descended to the street again where they gazed at one
another blankly.
"That's torn it," said Tommy at length.
"And I never suspected it," wailed Tuppence.
"Cheer up, old thing, it can't be helped."
"Can't it, though!" Tuppence's little chin shot out defiantly.
"Do you think this is the end? If so, you're wrong. It's just
the beginning!"
"The beginning of what?"
"Of our adventure! Tommy, don't you see, if they are scared
enough to run away like this, it shows that there must be a lot
in this Jane Finn business! Well, we'll get to the bottom of it.
We'll run them down! We'll be sleuths in earnest!"
"Yes, but there's no one left to sleuth."
"No, that's why we'll have to start all over again. Lend me that
bit of pencil. Thanks. Wait a minute--don't interrupt. There!"
Tuppence handed back the pencil, and surveyed the piece of paper
on which she had written with a satisfied eye:
"What's that?"
"Advertisement."
"You're not going to put that thing in after all?"
"No, it's a different one." She handed him the slip of paper.
Tommy read the words on it aloud:
"WANTED, any information respecting Jane Finn. Apply Y.A."
CHAPTER IV
WHO IS JANE FINN?
THE next day passed slowly. It was necessary to curtail
expenditure. Carefully husbanded, forty pounds will last a long
time. Luckily the weather was fine, and "walking is cheap,"
dictated Tuppence. An outlying picture house provided them with
recreation for the evening.
The day of disillusionment had been a Wednesday. On Thursday the
advertisement had duly appeared. On Friday letters might be
expected to arrive at Tommy's rooms.
He had been bound by an honourable promise not to open any such
letters if they did arrive, but to repair to the National
Gallery, where his colleague would meet him at ten o'clock.
Tuppence was first at the rendezvous. She ensconced herself on a
red velvet seat, and gazed at the Turners with unseeing eyes
until she saw the familiar figure enter the room.
"Well?"
"Well," returned Mr. Beresford provokingly. "Which is your
favourite picture?"
"Don't be a wretch. Aren't there ANY answers?"
Tommy shook his head with a deep and somewhat overacted
melancholy.
"I didn't want to disappoint you, old thing, by telling you right
off. It's too bad. Good money wasted." He sighed. "Still,
there it is. The advertisement has appeared, and--there are only
two answers!"
"Tommy, you devil!" almost screamed Tuppence. "Give them to me.
How could you be so mean!"
"Your language, Tuppence, your language! They're very particular
at the National Gallery. Government show, you know. And do
remember, as I have pointed out to you before, that as a
clergyman's daughter----"
"I ought to be on the stage!" finished Tuppence with a snap.
"That is not what I intended to say. But if you are sure that
you have enjoyed to the full the reaction of joy after despair
with which I have kindly provided you free of charge, let us get
down to our mail, as the saying goes."
Tuppence snatched the two precious envelopes from him
unceremoniously, and scrutinized them carefully.
"Thick paper, this one. It looks rich. We'll keep it to the
last and open the other first."
"Right you are. One, two, three, go!"
Tuppence's little thumb ripped open the envelope, and she
extracted the contents.
"DEAR SIR,
"Referring to your advertisement in this morning's paper, I may
be able to be of some use to you. Perhaps you could call and see
me at the above address at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning.
"Yours truly, "A. CARTER.
"27 Carshalton Gardens," said Tuppence, referring to the address.
"That's Gloucester Road way. Plenty of time to get there if we
tube."
"The following," said Tommy, "is the plan of campaign. It is my
turn to assume the offensive. Ushered into the presence of Mr.
Carter, he and I wish each other good morning as is customary. He
then says: 'Please take a seat, Mr.--er?' To which I reply
promptly and significantly: 'Edward Whittington!' whereupon Mr.
Carter turns purple in the face and gasps out: 'How much?'
Pocketing the usual fee of fifty pounds, I rejoin you in the road
outside, and we proceed to the next address and repeat the
performance."
"Don't be absurd, Tommy. Now for the other letter. Oh, this is
from the Ritz!"
"A hundred pounds instead of fifty!"
"I'll read it:
"DEAR SIR,
"Re your advertisement, I should be glad if you would call round
somewhere about lunch-time. "Yours truly,
"JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER."
"Ha!" said Tommy. "Do I smell a Boche? Or only an American
millionaire of unfortunate ancestry? At all events we'll call at
lunch-time. It's a good time--frequently leads to free food for
two."
Tuppence nodded assent.
"Now for Carter. We'll have to hurry."
Carshalton Terrace proved to be an unimpeachable row of what
Tuppence called "ladylike looking houses." They rang the bell at
No. 27, and a neat maid answered the door. She looked so
respectable that Tuppence's heart sank. Upon Tommy's request for
Mr. Carter, she showed them into a small study on the ground
floor where she left them. Hardly a minute elapsed, however,
before the door opened, and a tall man with a lean hawklike face
and a tired manner entered the room.
"Mr. Y. A.?" he said, and smiled. His smile was distinctly
attractive. "Do sit down, both of you."
They obeyed. He himself took a chair opposite to Tuppence and
smiled at her encouragingly. There was something in the quality
of his smile that made the girl's usual readiness desert her.
As he did not seem inclined to open the conversation, Tuppence
was forced to begin.
"We wanted to know--that is, would you be so kind as to tell us
anything you know about Jane Finn?"
"Jane Finn? Ah!" Mr. Carter appeared to reflect. "Well, the
question is, what do you know about her?"
Tuppence drew herself up.
"I don't see that that's got anything to do with it."
"No? But it has, you know, really it has." He smiled again in
his tired way, and continued reflectively. "So that brings us
down to it again. What do you know about Jane Finn?
"Come now," he continued, as Tuppence remained silent. "You must
know SOMETHING to have advertised as you did?" He leaned forward
a little, his weary voice held a hint of persuasiveness. "Suppose
you tell me . . ."
There was something very magnetic about Mr. Carter's personality.
Tuppence seemed to shake herself free of it with an effort, as
she said:
"We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?"
But to her surprise, her companion did not back her up. His eyes
were fixed on Mr. Carter, and his tone when he spoke held an
unusual note of deference.
"I dare say the little we know won't be any good to you, sir. But
such as it is, you're welcome to it."
"Tommy!" cried out Tuppence in surprise.
Mr. Carter slewed round in his chair. His eyes asked a question.
Tommy nodded.
"Yes, sir, I recognized you at once. Saw you in France when I
was with the Intelligence. As soon as you came into the room, I
knew----"
Mr. Carter held up his hand.
"No names, please. I'm known as Mr. Carter here. It's my
cousin's house, by the way. She's willing to lend it to me
sometimes when it's a case of working on strictly unofficial
lines. Well, now"--he looked from one to the other--"who's going
to tell me the story?"
"Fire ahead, Tuppence," directed Tommy. "It's your yarn."
"Yes, little lady, out with it."
And obediently Tuppence did out with it, telling the whole story
from the forming of the Young Adventurers, Ltd., downwards.
Mr. Carter listened in silence with a resumption of his tired
manner. Now and then he passed his hand across his lips as though
to hide a smile. When she had finished he; nodded gravely.
"Not much. But suggestive. Quite suggestive. If you'll excuse
my saying so, you're a curious young couple. I don't know--you
might succeed where others have failed . . . I believe in luck,
you know--always have...."
He paused a moment, and then went on.
"Well, how about it? You're out for adventure. How would you
like to work for me? All quite unofficial, you know. Expenses
paid, and a moderate screw?"
Tuppence gazed at him, her lips parted, her eyes growing wider
and wider.
"What should we have to do?" she breathed.
Mr. Carter smiled.
"Just go on with what you're doing now. FIND JANE FINN."
"Yes, but--who IS Jane Finn?"
Mr. Carter nodded gravely.
"Yes, you're entitled to know that, I think."
He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, brought the tips
of his fingers together, and began in a low monotone:
"Secret diplomacy (which, by the way, is nearly always bad
policy!) does not concern you. It will be sufficient to say that
in the early days of 1915 a certain document came into being. It
was the draft of a secret agreement--treaty--call it what you
like. It was drawn up ready for signature by the various
representatives, and drawn up in America--at that time a neutral
country. It was dispatched to England by a special messenger
selected for that purpose, a young fellow called Danvers. It was
hoped that the whole affair had been kept so secret that nothing
would have leaked out. That kind of hope is usually
disappointed. Somebody always talks!
"Danvers sailed for England on the Lusitania. He carried the
precious papers in an oilskin packet which he wore next his skin.
It was on that particular voyage that the Lusitania was torpedoed
and sunk. Danvers was among the list of those missing.
Eventually his body was washed ashore, and identified beyond any
possible doubt. But the oilskin packet was missing!
"The question was, had it been taken from him, or had he himself
passed it on into another's keeping? There were a few incidents
that strengthened the possibility of the latter theory. After the
torpedo struck the ship, in the few moments during the launching
of the boats, Danvers was seen speaking to a young American girl.
No one actually saw him pass anything to her, but he might have
done so. It seems to me quite likely that he entrusted the papers
to this girl, believing that she, as a woman, had a greater
chance of bringing them safely to shore.
"But if so, where was the girl, and what had she done with the
papers? By later advice from America it seemed likely that
Danvers had been closely shadowed on the way over. Was this girl
in league with his enemies? Or had she, in her turn, been
shadowed and either tricked or forced into handing over the
precious packet?
"We set to work to trace her out. It proved unexpectedly
difficult. Her name was Jane Finn, and it duly appeared among the
list of the survivors, but the girl herself seemed to have
vanished completely. Inquiries into her antecedents did little to
help us. She was an orphan, and had been what we should call
over here a pupil teacher in a small school out West. Her
passport had been made out for Paris, where she was going to join
the staff of a hospital. She had offered her services
voluntarily, and after some correspondence they had been
accepted. Having seen her name in the list of the saved from the
Lusitania, the staff of the hospital were naturally very
surprised at her not arriving to take up her billet, and at not
hearing from her in any way.
"Well, every effort was made to trace the young lady--but all in
vain. We tracked her across Ireland, but nothing could be heard
of her after she set foot in England. No use was made of the
draft treaty--as might very easily have been done--and we
therefore came to the conclusion that Danvers had, after all,
destroyed it. The war entered on another phase, the diplomatic
aspect changed accordingly, and the treaty was never redrafted.
Rumours as to its existence were emphatically denied. The
disappearance of Jane Finn was forgotten and the whole affair was
lost in oblivion."
Mr. Carter paused, and Tuppence broke in impatiently:
"But why has it all cropped up again? The war's over."
A hint of alertness came into Mr. Carter's manner.
"Because it seems that the papers were not destroyed after all,
and that they might be resurrected to-day with a new and deadly
significance."
Tuppence stared. Mr. Carter nodded.
"Yes, five years ago, that draft treaty was a weapon in our
hands; to-day it is a weapon against us. It was a gigantic
blunder. If its terms were made public, it would mean
disaster.... It might possibly bring about another war--not with
Germany this time! That is an extreme possibility, and I do not
believe in its likelihood myself, but that document undoubtedly
implicates a number of our statesmen whom we cannot afford to
have discredited in any way at the present moment. As a party
cry for Labour it would be irresistible, and a Labour Government
at this juncture would, in my opinion, be a grave disability for
British trade, but that is a mere nothing to the REAL danger."
He paused, and then said quietly:
"You may perhaps have heard or read that there is Bolshevist
influence at work behind the present Labour unrest?"
Tuppence nodded.
"That is the truth. Bolshevist gold is pouring into this country
for the specific purpose of procuring a Revolution. And there is
a certain man, a man whose real name is unknown to us, who is
working in the dark for his own ends. The Bolshevists are behind
the Labour unrest--but this man is BEHIND THE BOLSHEVISTS. Who
is he? We do not know. He is always spoken of by the unassuming
title of 'Mr. Brown.' But one thing is certain, he is the master
criminal of this age. He controls a marvellous organization.
Most of the Peace propaganda during the war was originated and
financed by him. His spies are everywhere."
"A naturalized German?" asked Tommy.
"On the contrary, I have every reason to believe he is an
Englishman. He was pro-German, as he would have been pro-Boer.
What he seeks to attain we do not know--probably supreme power
for himself, of a kind unique in history. We have no clue as to
his real personality. It is reported that even his own followers
are ignorant of it. Where we have come across his tracks, he has
always played a secondary part. Somebody else assumes the chief
role. But afterwards we always find that there has been some
nonentity, a servant or a clerk, who has remained in the
background unnoticed, and that the elusive Mr. Brown has escaped
us once more."
"Oh!" Tuppence jumped. "I wonder----"
"Yes?"
"I remember in Mr. Whittington's office. The clerk--he called
him Brown. You don't think----"
Carter nodded thoughtfully.
"Very likely. A curious point is that the name is usually
mentioned. An idiosyncrasy of genius. Can you describe him at
all?"
"I really didn't notice. He was quite ordinary--just like anyone
else."
Mr. Carter sighed in his tired manner.
"That is the invariable description of Mr. Brown! Brought a
telephone message to the man Whittington, did he? Notice a
telephone in the outer office?"
Tuppence thought.
"No, I don't think I did."
"Exactly. That 'message' was Mr. Brown's way of giving an order
to his subordinate. He overheard the whole conversation of
course. Was it after that that Whittington handed you over the
money, and told you to come the following day?"
Tuppence nodded.
"Yes, undoubtedly the hand of Mr. Brown!" Mr. Carter paused.
"Well, there it is, you see what you are pitting yourselves
against? Possibly the finest criminal brain of the age. I don't
quite like it, you know. You're such young things, both of you.
I shouldn't like anything to happen to you."
"It won't," Tuppence assured him positively.
"I'll look after her, sir," said Tommy.
"And I'll look after YOU," retorted Tuppence, resenting the manly
assertion.
"Well, then, look after each other," said Mr. Carter, smiling.
"Now let's get back to business. There's something mysterious
about this draft treaty that we haven't fathomed yet. We've been
threatened with it--in plain and unmistakable terms. The
Revolutionary element as good as declare that it's in their
hands, and that they intend to produce it at a given moment. On
the other hand, they are clearly at fault about many of its
provisions. The Government consider it as mere bluff on their
part, and, rightly or wrongly, have stuck to the policy of
absolute denial. I'm not so sure. There have been hints,
indiscreet allusions, that seem to indicate that the menace is a
real one. The position is much as though they had got hold of an
incriminating document, but couldn't read it because it was in
cipher--but we know that the draft treaty wasn't in
cipher--couldn't be in the nature of things--so that won't wash.
But there's SOMETHING. Of course, Jane Finn may be dead for all
we know--but I don't think so. The curious thing is that THEY'RE
TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE GIRL FROM US"
"What?"
"Yes. One or two little things have cropped up. And your story,
little lady, confirms my idea. They know we're looking for Jane
Finn. Well, they'll produce a Jane Finn of their own--say at a
pensionnat in Paris." Tuppence gasped, and Mr. Carter smiled.
"No one knows in the least what she looks like, so that's all
right. She's primed with a trumped-up tale, and her real business
is to get as much information as possible out of us. See the
idea?"
"Then you think"--Tuppence paused to grasp the supposition
fully--"that it WAS as Jane Finn that they wanted me to go to
Paris?"
Mr. Carter smiled more wearily than ever.
"I believe in coincidences, you know," he said.
CHAPTER V
MR. JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER
"WELL," said Tuppence, recovering herself, "it really seems as
though it were meant to be."
Carter nodded.
"I know what you mean. I'm superstitious myself. Luck, and all
that sort of thing. Fate seems to have chosen you out to be
mixed up in this."
Tommy indulged in a chuckle.
"My word! I don't wonder Whittington got the wind up when
Tuppence plumped out that name! I should have myself. But look
here, sir, we're taking up an awful lot of your time. Have you
any tips to give us before we clear out?"
"I think not. My experts, working in stereotyped ways, have
failed. You will bring imagination and an open mind to the task.
Don't be discouraged if that too does not succeed. For one thing
there is a likelihood of the pace being forced."
Tuppence frowned uncomprehendingly.
"When you had that interview with Whittington, they had time
before them. I have information that the big coup was planned for
early in the new year. But the Government is contemplating
legislative action which will deal effectually with the strike
menace. They'll get wind of it soon, if they haven't already,
and it's possible that that may bring things to a head. I hope it
will myself. The less time they have to mature their plans the
better. I'm just warning you that you haven't much time before
you, and that you needn't be cast down if you fail. It's not an
easy proposition anyway. That's all."
Tuppence rose.
I think we ought to be businesslike. What exactly can we count
upon you for, Mr. Carter?" Mr. Carter's lips twitched slightly,
but he replied succinctly: "Funds within reason, detailed
information on any point, and NO OFFICIAL RECOGNITION. I mean
that if you get yourselves into trouble with the police, I can't
officially help you out of it. You're on your own."
Tuppence nodded sagely.
"I quite understand that. I'll write out a list of the things I
want to know when I've had time to think. Now--about money----"
"Yes, Miss Tuppence. Do you want to say how much?"
"Not exactly. We've got plenty to go with for the present, but
when we want more----"
"It will be waiting for you."
"Yes, but--I'm sure I don't want to be rude about the Government
if you've got anything to do with it, but you know one really has
the devil of a time getting anything out of it! And if we have to
fill up a blue form and send it in, and then, after three months,
they send us a green one, and so on--well, that won't be much
use, will it?"
Mr. Carter laughed outright.
"Don't worry, Miss Tuppence. You will send a personal demand to
me here, and the money, in notes, shall be sent by return of
post. As to salary, shall we say at the rate of three hundred a
year? And an equal sum for Mr. Beresford, of course."
Tuppence beamed upon him.
"How lovely. You are kind. I do love money! I'll keep
beautiful accounts of our expenses all debit and credit, and the
balance on the right side, and red line drawn sideways with the
totals the same at the bottom. I really know how to do it when I
think."
"I'm sure you do. Well, good-bye, and good luck to you both."
He shook hands with them, and in another minute they were
descending the steps of 27 Carshalton Terrace with their heads in
a whirl.
"Tommy! Tell me at once, who is 'Mr. Carter'?"
Tommy murmured a name in her ear.
"Oh!" said Tuppence, impressed.
"And I can tell you, old bean, he's IT!"
"Oh!" said Tuppence again. Then she added reflectively,
"I like him, don't you? He looks so awfully tired and bored, and
yet you feel that underneath he's just like steel, all keen and
flashing. Oh!" She gave a skip. "Pinch me, Tommy, do pinch me.
I can't believe it's real!"
Mr. Beresford obliged.
"Ow! That's enough! Yes, we're not dreaming. We've got a job!"
"And what a job! The joint venture has really begun."
"It's more respectable than I thought it would be," said Tuppence
thoughtfully.
"Luckily I haven't got your craving for crime! What time is it?
Let's have lunch--oh!"
The same thought sprang to the minds of each. Tommy voiced it
first.
"Julius P. Hersheimmer!"
"We never told Mr. Carter about hearing from him."
"Well, there wasn't much to tell--not till we've seen him. Come
on, we'd better take a taxi."
"Now who's being extravagant?"
"All expenses paid, remember. Hop in."
"At any rate, we shall make a better effect arriving this way,"
said Tuppence, leaning back luxuriously. "I'm sure blackmailers
never arrive in buses!"
"We've ceased being blackmailers," Tommy pointed out.
"I'm not sure I have," said Tuppence darkly.
On inquiring for Mr. Hersheimmer, they were at once taken up to
his suite. An impatient voice cried "Come in" in answer to the
page-boy's knock, and the lad stood aside to let them pass in.
Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer was a great deal younger than either
Tommy or Tuppence had pictured him. The girl put him down as
thirty-five. He was of middle height, and squarely built to match
his jaw. His face was pugnacious but pleasant. No one could have
mistaken him for anything but an American, though he spoke with
very little accent.
"Get my note? Sit down and tell me right away all you know about
my cousin."
"Your cousin?"
"Sure thing. Jane Finn."
"Is she your cousin?"
"My father and her mother were brother and sister," explained Mr.
Hersheimmer meticulously.
"Oh!" cried Tuppence. "Then you know where she is?"
"No!" Mr. Hersheimmer brought down his fist with a bang on the
table. "I'm darned if I do! Don't you?"
"We advertised to receive information, not to give it," said
Tuppence severely.
"I guess I know that. I can read. But I thought maybe it was
her back history you were after, and that you'd know where she
was now?"
"Well, we wouldn't mind hearing her back history," said Tuppence
guardedly.
But Mr. Hersheimmer seemed to grow suddenly suspicious.
"See here," he declared. "This isn't Sicily! No demanding
ransom or threatening to crop her ears if I refuse. These are the
British Isles, so quit the funny business, or I'll just sing out
for that beautiful big British policeman I see out there in
Piccadilly."
Tommy hastened to explain.
"We haven't kidnapped your cousin. On the contrary, we're trying
to find her. We're employed to do so."
Mr. Hersheimmer leant back in his chair.
"Put me wise," he said succinctly.
Tommy fell in with this demand in so far as he gave him a guarded
version of the disappearance of Jane Finn, and of the possibility
of her having been mixed up unawares in "some political show." He
alluded to Tuppence and himself as "private inquiry agents"
commissioned to find her, and added that they would therefore be
glad of any details Mr. Hersheimmer could give them.
That gentleman nodded approval.
"I guess that's all right. I was just a mite hasty. But London
gets my goat! I only know little old New York. Just trot out
your questions and I'll answer."
For the moment this paralysed the Young Adventurers, but
Tuppence, recovering herself, plunged boldly into the breach with
a reminiscence culled from detective fiction.
"When did you last see the dece--your cousin, I mean?"
"Never seen her," responded Mr. Hersheimmer.
"What?" demanded Tommy, astonished.
Hersheimmer turned to him.
"No, sir. As I said before, my father and her mother were
brother and sister, just as you might be"--Tommy did not correct
this view of their relationship--"but they didn't always get on
together. And when my aunt made up her mind to marry Amos Finn,
who was a poor school teacher out West, my father was just mad!
Said if he made his pile, as he seemed in a fair way to do, she'd
never see a cent of it. Well, the upshot was that Aunt Jane went
out West and we never heard from her again.
"The old man DID pile it up. He went into oil, and he went into
steel, and he played a bit with railroads, and I can tell you he
made Wall Street sit up!" He paused. "Then he died--last
fall--and I got the dollars. Well, would you believe it, my
conscience got busy! Kept knocking me up and saying: What
abour{sic} your Aunt Jane, way out West? It worried me some. You
see, I figured it out that Amos Finn would never make good. He
wasn't the sort. End of it was, I hired a man to hunt her down.
Result, she was dead, and Amos Finn was dead, but they'd left a
daughter--Jane--who'd been torpedoed in the Lusitania on her way
to Paris. She was saved all right, but they didn't seem able to
hear of her over this side. I guessed they weren't hustling any,
so I thought I'd come along over, and speed things up. I phoned
Scotland Yard and the Admiralty first thing. The Admiralty
rather choked me off, but Scotland Yard were very civil--said
they would make inquiries, even sent a man round this morning to
get her photograph. I'm off to Paris to-morrow, just to see what
the Prefecture is doing. I guess if I go to and fro hustling
them, they ought to get busy!"
The energy of Mr. Hersheimmer was tremendous. They bowed before
it.
"But say now," he ended, "you're not after her for anything?
Contempt of court, or something British? A proud-spirited young
American girl might find your rules and regulations in war time
rather irksome, and get up against it. If that's the case, and
there's such a thing as graft in this country, I'll buy her off."
Tuppence reassured him.
"That's good. Then we can work together. What about some lunch?
Shall we have it up here, or go down to the restaurant?"
Tuppence expressed a preference for the latter, and Julius bowed
to her decision.
Oysters had just given place to Sole Colbert when a card was
brought to Hersheimmer.
"Inspector Japp, C.I.D. Scotland Yard again. Another man this
time. What does he expect I can tell him that I didn't tell the
first chap? I hope they haven't lost that photograph. That
Western photographer's place was burned down and all his
negatives destroyed--this is the only copy in existence. I got it
from the principal of the college there."
An unformulated dread swept over Tuppence.
"You--you don't know the name of the man who came this morning?"
"Yes, I do. No, I don't. Half a second. It was on his card.
Oh, I know! Inspector Brown. Quiet, unassuming sort of chap."
CHAPTER VI
A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
A veil might with profit be drawn over the events of the next
half-hour. Suffice it to say that no such person as "Inspector
Brown" was known to Scotland Yard. The photograph of Jane Finn,
which would have been of the utmost value to the police in
tracing her, was lost beyond recovery. Once again "Mr. Brown" had
triumphed.
The immediate result of this set back was to effect a
rapprochement between Julius Hersheimmer and the Young
Adventurers. All barriers went down with a crash, and Tommy and
Tuppence felt they had known the young American all their lives.
They abandoned the discreet reticence of "private inquiry
agents," and revealed to him the whole history of the joint
venture, whereat the young man declared himself "tickled to
death."
He turned to Tuppence at the close of the narration.
"I've always had a kind of idea that English girls were just a
mite moss-grown. Old-fashioned and sweet, you know, but scared to
move round without a footman or a maiden aunt. I guess I'm a bit
behind the times!"
The upshot of these confidential relations was that Tommy and
Tuppence took up their abode forthwith at the Ritz, in order, as
Tuppence put it, to keep in touch with Jane Finn's only living
relation. "And put like that," she added confidentially to Tommy,
"nobody could boggle at the expense!"
Nobody did, which was the great thing.
"And now," said the young lady on the morning after their
installation, "to work!"
Mr. Beresford put down the Daily Mail, which he was reading, and
applauded with somewhat unnecessary vigour. He was politely
requested by his colleague not to be an ass.
"Dash it all, Tommy, we've got to DO something for our money."
Tommy sighed.
"Yes, I fear even the dear old Government will not support us at
the Ritz in idleness for ever."
"Therefore, as I said before, we must DO something."
"Well," said Tommy, picking up the Daily Mail again, "DO it. I
shan't stop you."
"You see," continued Tuppence. "I've been thinking----"
She was interrupted by a fresh bout of applause.
"It's all very well for you to sit there being funny, Tommy. It
would do you no harm to do a little brain work too."
"My union, Tuppence, my union! It does not permit me to work
before 11 a.m."
"Tommy, do you want something thrown at you? It is absolutely
essential that we should without delay map out a plan of
campaign."
"Hear, hear!"
"Well, let's do it."
Tommy laid his paper finally aside. "There's something of the
simplicity of the truly great mind about you, Tuppence. Fire
ahead. I'm listening."
"To begin with," said Tuppence, "what have we to go upon?"
"Absolutely nothing," said Tommy cheerily.
"Wrong!" Tuppence wagged an energetic finger. "We have two
distinct clues."
"What are they?"
"First clue, we know one of the gang."
"Whittington?"
"Yes. I'd recognize him anywhere."
"Hum," said Tommy doubtfully, "I don't call that much of a clue.
You don't know where to look for him, and it's about a thousand
to one against your running against him by accident."
"I'm not so sure about that," replied Tuppence thoughtfully.
"I've often noticed that once coincidences start happening they
go on happening in the most extraordinary way. I dare say it's
some natural law that we haven't found out. Still, as you say, we
can't rely on that. But there ARE places in London where simply
every one is bound to turn up sooner or later. Piccadilly Circus,
for instance. One of my ideas was to take up my stand there
every day with a tray of flags."
"What about meals?" inquired the practical Tommy.
"How like a man! What does mere food matter?"
"That's all very well. You've just had a thundering good
breakfast. No one's got a better appetite than you have,
Tuppence, and by tea-time you'd be eating the flags, pins and
all. But, honestly, I don't think much of the idea. Whittington
mayn't be in London at all."
"That's true. Anyway, I think clue No. 2 is more promising."
"Let's hear it."
"It's nothing much. Only a Christian name--Rita. Whittington
mentioned it that day."
"Are you proposing a third advertisement: Wanted, female crook,
answering to the name of Rita?"
"I am not. I propose to reason in a logical manner. That man,
Danvers, was shadowed on the way over, wasn't he? And it's more
likely to have been a woman than a man----"
"I don't see that at all."
"I am absolutely certain that it would be a woman, and a
good-looking one," replied Tuppence calmly.
"On these technical points I bow to your decision," murmured Mr.
Beresford.
"Now, obviously this woman, whoever she was, was saved."
"How do you make that out?"
"If she wasn't, how would they have known Jane Finn had got the
papers?"
"Correct. Proceed, O Sherlock!"
"Now there's just a chance, I admit it's only a chance, that this
woman may have been 'Rita.' "
"And if so?"
"If so, we've got to hunt through the survivors of the Lusitania
till we find her."
"Then the first thing is to get a list of the survivors."
"I've got it. I wrote a long list of things I wanted to know,
and sent it to Mr. Carter. I got his reply this morning, and
among other things it encloses the official statement of those
saved from the Lusitania. How's that for clever little
Tuppence?"
"Full marks for industry, zero for modesty. But the great point
is, is there a 'Rita' on the list?"
"That's just what I don't know," confessed Tuppence.
"Don't know?"
"Yes. Look here." Together they bent over the list. "You see,
very few Christian names are given. They're nearly all Mrs. or
Miss."
Tommy nodded.
"That complicates matters," he murmured thoughtfully.
Tuppence gave her characteristic "terrier" shake.
"Well, we've just got to get down to it, that's all. We'll start
with the London area. Just note down the addresses of any of the
females who live in London or roundabout, while I put on my hat."
Five minutes later the young couple emerged into Piccadilly, and
a few seconds later a taxi was bearing them to The Laurels,
Glendower Road, N.7, the residence of Mrs. Edgar Keith, whose
name figured first in a list of seven reposing in Tommy's
pocket-book.
The Laurels was a dilapidated house, standing back from the road
with a few grimy bushes to support the fiction of a front garden.
Tommy paid off the taxi, and accompanied Tuppence to the front
door bell. As she was about to ring it, he arrested her hand.
"What are you going to say?"
"What am I going to say? Why, I shall say--Oh dear, I don't
know. It's very awkward."
"I thought as much," said Tommy with satisfaction. "How like a
woman! No foresight! Now just stand aside, and see how easily
the mere male deals with the situation." He pressed the bell.
Tuppence withdrew to a suitable spot.
A slatternly looking servant, with an extremely dirty face and a
pair of eyes that did not match, answered the door.
Tommy had produced a notebook and pencil.
"Good morning," he said briskly and cheerfully. "From the
Hampstead Borough Council. The new Voting Register. Mrs. Edgar
Keith lives here, does she not?"
"Yaas," said the servant.
"Christian name?" asked Tommy, his pencil poised.
"Missus's? Eleanor Jane."
"Eleanor," spelt Tommy. "Any sons or daughters over twenty-one?"
"Naow."
"Thank you." Tommy closed the notebook with a brisk snap. "Good
morning."
The servant volunteered her first remark:
"I thought perhaps as you'd come about the gas," she observed
cryptically, and shut the door.
Tommy rejoined his accomplice.
"You see, Tuppence," he observed. "Child's play to the masculine
mind."
"I don't mind admitting that for once you've scored handsomely. I
should never have thought of that."
"Good wheeze, wasn't it? And we can repeat it ad lib."
Lunch-time found the young couple attacking a steak and chips in
an obscure hostelry with avidity. They had collected a Gladys
Mary and a Marjorie, been baffled by one change of address, and
had been forced to listen to a long lecture on universal suffrage
from a vivacious American lady whose Christian name had proved to
be Sadie.
"Ah!" said Tommy, imbibing a long draught of beer, "I feel
better. Where's the next draw?"
The notebook lay on the table between them. Tuppence picked it
up.
"Mrs. Vandemeyer," she read, "20 South Audley Mansions. Miss
Wheeler, 43 Clapington Road, Battersea. She's a lady's maid, as
far as I remember, so probably won't be there, and, anyway, she's
not likely."
"Then the Mayfair lady is clearly indicated as the first port of
call."
"Tommy, I'm getting discouraged."
"Buck up, old bean. We always knew it was an outside chance.
And, anyway, we're only starting. If we draw a blank in London,
there's a fine tour of England, Ireland and Scotland before us."
"True," said Tuppence, her flagging spirits reviving. "And all
expenses paid! But, oh, Tommy, I do like things to happen
quickly. So far, adventure has succeeded adventure, but this
morning has been dull as dull."
"You must stifle this longing for vulgar sensation, Tuppence.
Remember that if Mr. Brown is all he is reported to be, it's a
wonder that he has not ere now done us to death. That's a good
sentence, quite a literary flavour about it."
"You're really more conceited than I am--with less excuse! Ahem!
But it certainly is queer that Mr. Brown has not yet wreaked
vengeance upon us. (You see, I can do it too.) We pass on our way
unscathed."
"Perhaps he doesn't think us worth bothering about," suggested
the young man simply.
Tuppence received the remark with great disfavour.
"How horrid you are, Tommy. Just as though we didn't count."
"Sorry, Tuppence. What I meant was that we work like moles in
the dark, and that he has no suspicion of our nefarious schemes.
Ha ha!"
"Ha ha!" echoed Tuppence approvingly, as she rose.
South Audley Mansions was an imposing-looking block of flats just
off Park Lane. No. 20 was on the second floor.
Tommy had by this time the glibness born of practice. He rattled
off the formula to the elderly woman, looking more like a
housekeeper than a servant, who opened the door to him.
"Christian name?"
"Margaret."
Tommy spelt it, but the other interrupted him.
"No, G U E."
"Oh, Marguerite; French way, I see." He paused, then plunged
boldly. "We had her down as Rita Vandemeyer, but I suppose that's
incorrect?"
"She's mostly called that, sir, but Marguerite's her name."
"Thank you. That's all. Good morning."
Hardly able to contain his excitement, Tommy hurried down the
stairs. Tuppence was waiting at the angle of the turn.
"You heard?"
"Yes. Oh, TOMMY!"
Tommy squeezed her arm sympathetically.
"I know, old thing. I feel the same."
"It's--it's so lovely to think of things--and then for them
really to happen!" cried Tuppence enthusiastically.
Her hand was still in Tommy's. They had reached the entrance
hall. There were footsteps on the stairs above them, and voices.
Suddenly, to Tommy's complete surprise, Tuppence dragged him into
the little space by the side of the lift where the shadow was
deepest.
"What the----"
"Hush!"
Two men came down the stairs and passed out through the entrance.
Tuppence's hand closed tighter on Tommy's arm.
"Quick--follow them. I daren't. He might recognize me. I don't
know who the other man is, but the bigger of the two was
Whittington."
CHAPTER VII
THE HOUSE IN SOHO
WHITTINGTON and his companion were walking at a good pace. Tommy
started in pursuit at once, and was in time to see them turn the
corner of the street. His vigorous strides soon enabled him to
gain upon them, and by the time he, in his turn, reached the
corner the distance between them was sensibly lessened. The small
Mayfair streets were comparatively deserted, and he judged it
wise to content himself with keeping them in sight.
The sport was a new one to him. Though familiar with the
technicalities from a course of novel reading, he had never
before attempted to "follow" anyone, and it appeared to him at
once that, in actual practice, the proceeding was fraught with
difficulties. Supposing, for instance, that they should suddenly
hail a taxi? In books, you simply leapt into another, promised
the driver a sovereign--or its modern equivalent--and there you
were. In actual fact, Tommy foresaw that it was extremely likely
there would be no second taxi. Therefore he would have to run.
What happened in actual fact to a young man who ran incessantly
and persistently through the London streets? In a main road he
might hope to create the illusion that he was merely running for
a bus. But in these obscure aristocratic byways he could not but
feel that an officious policeman might stop him to explain
matters.
At this juncture in his thoughts a taxi with flag erect turned
the corner of the street ahead. Tommy held his breath. Would
they hail it?
He drew a sigh of relief as they allowed it to pass unchallenged.
Their course was a zigzag one designed to bring them as quickly
as possible to Oxford Street. When at length they turned into
it, proceeding in an easterly direction, Tommy slightly increased
his pace. Little by little he gained upon them. On the crowded
pavement there was little chance of his attracting their notice,
and he was anxious if possible to catch a word or two of their
conversation. In this he was completely foiled; they spoke low
and the din of the traffic drowned their voices effectually.
Just before the Bond Street Tube station they crossed the road,
Tommy, unperceived, faithfully at their heels, and entered the
big Lyons'. There they went up to the first floor, and sat at a
small table in the window. It was late, and the place was
thinning out. Tommy took a seat at the table next to them,
sitting directly behind Whittington in case of recognition. On
the other hand, he had a full view of the second man and studied
him attentively. He was fair, with a weak, unpleasant face, and
Tommy put him down as being either a Russian or a Pole. He was
probably about fifty years of age, his shoulders cringed a little
as he talked, and his eyes, small and crafty, shifted
unceasingly.
Having already lunched heartily, Tommy contented himself with
ordering a Welsh rarebit and a cup of coffee. Whittington
ordered a substantial lunch for himself and his companion; then,
as the waitress withdrew, he moved his chair a little closer to
the table and began to talk earnestly in a low voice. The other
man joined in. Listen as he would, Tommy could only catch a word
here and there; but the gist of it seemed to be some directions
or orders which the big man was impressing on his companion, and
with which the latter seemed from time to time to disagree.
Whittington addressed the other as Boris.
Tommy caught the word "Ireland" several times, also "propaganda,"
but of Jane Finn there was no mention. Suddenly, in a lull in
the clatter of the room, he got one phrase entire. Whittington
was speaking. "Ah, but you don't know Flossie. She's a marvel.
An archbishop would swear she was his own mother. She gets the
voice right every time, and that's really the principal thing."
Tommy did not hear Boris's reply, but in response to it
Whittington said something that sounded like: "Of course--only
in an emergency...."
Then he lost the thread again. But presently the phrases became
distinct again whether because the other two had insensibly
raised their voices, or because Tommy's ears were getting more
attuned, he could not tell. But two words certainly had a most
stimulating effect upon the listener. They were uttered by Boris
and they were: "Mr. Brown."
Whittington seemed to remonstrate with him, but he merely
laughed.
"Why not, my friend? It is a name most respectable--most common.
Did he not choose it for that reason? Ah, I should like to meet
him--Mr. Brown."
There was a steely ring in Whittington's voice as he replied:
"Who knows? You may have met him already."
"Bah!" retorted the other. "That is children's talk--a fable for
the police. Do you know what I say to myself sometimes? That he
is a fable invented by the Inner Ring, a bogy to frighten us
with. It might be so."
"And it might not."
"I wonder ... or is it indeed true that he is with us and amongst
us, unknown to all but a chosen few? If so, he keeps his secret
well. And the idea is a good one, yes. We never know. We look
at each other--ONE OF US IS MR. BROWN--which? He commands--but
also he serves. Among us--in the midst of us. And no one knows
which he is...."
With an effort the Russian shook off the vagary of his fancy. He
looked at his watch.
"Yes," said Whittington. "We might as well go."
He called the waitress and asked for his bill. Tommy did
likewise, and a few moments later was following the two men down
the stairs.
Outside, Whittington hailed a taxi, and directed the driver to go
to Waterloo.
Taxis were plentiful here, and before Whittington's had driven
off another was drawing up to the curb in obedience to Tommy's
peremptory hand.
"Follow that other taxi," directed the young man. "Don't lose
it."
The elderly chauffeur showed no interest. He merely grunted and
jerked down his flag. The drive was uneventful. Tommy's taxi
came to rest at the departure platform just after Whittington's.
Tommy was behind him at the booking-office. He took a first-class
single ticket to Bournemouth, Tommy did the same. As he emerged,
Boris remarked, glancing up at the clock: "You are early. You
have nearly half an hour."
Boris's words had aroused a new train of thought in Tommy's mind.
Clearly Whittington was making the journey alone, while the other
remained in London. Therefore he was left with a choice as to
which he would follow. Obviously, he could not follow both of
them unless----Like Boris, he glanced up at the clock, and then
to the announcement board of the trains. The Bournemouth train
left at 3.30. It was now ten past. Whittington and Boris were
walking up and down by the bookstall. He gave one doubtful look
at them, then hurried into an adjacent telephone box. He dared
not waste time in trying to get hold of Tuppence. In all
probability she was still in the neighbourhood of South Audley
Mansions. But there remained another ally. He rang up the Ritz
and asked for Julius Hersheimmer. There was a click and a buzz.
Oh, if only the young American was in his room! There was another
click, and then "Hello" in unmistakable accents came over the
wire.
"That you, Hersheimmer? Beresford speaking. I'm at Waterloo.
I've followed Whittington and another man here. No time to
explain. Whittington's off to Bournemouth by the 3.30. Can you
get there by then?"
The reply was reassuring.
"Sure. I'll hustle."
The telephone rang off. Tommy put back the receiver with a sigh
of relief. His opinion of Julius's power of hustling was high.
He felt instinctively that the American would arrive in time.
Whittington and Boris were still where he had left them. If Boris
remained to see his friend off, all was well. Then Tommy fingered
his pocket thoughtfully. In spite of the carte blanche assured
to him, he had not yet acquired the habit of going about with any
considerable sum of money on him. The taking of the first-class
ticket to Bournemouth had left him with only a few shillings in
his pocket. It was to be hoped that Julius would arrive better
provided.
In the meantime, the minutes were creeping by: 3.15, 3.20, 3.25,
3.27. Supposing Julius did not get there in time. 3.29.... Doors
were banging. Tommy felt cold waves of despair pass over him.
Then a hand fell on his shoulder.
"Here I am, son. Your British traffic beats description! Put me
wise to the crooks right away."
"That's Whittington--there, getting in now, that big dark man.
The other is the foreign chap he's talking to."
"I'm on to them. Which of the two is my bird?"
Tommy had thought out this question.
"Got any money with you?"
Julius shook his head, and Tommy's face fell.
"I guess I haven't more than three or four hundred dollars with
me at the moment," explained the American.
Tommy gave a faint whoop of relief.
"Oh, Lord, you millionaires! You don't talk the same language!
Climb aboard the lugger. Here's your ticket. Whittington's your
man."
"Me for Whittington!" said Julius darkly. The train was just
starting as he swung himself aboard. "So long, Tommy." The
train slid out of the station.
Tommy drew a deep breath. The man Boris was coming along the
platform towards him. Tommy allowed him to pass and then took up
the chase once more.
From Waterloo Boris took the tube as far as Piccadilly Circus.
Then he walked up Shaftesbury Avenue, finally turning off into
the maze of mean streets round Soho. Tommy followed him at a
judicious distance.
They reached at length a small dilapidated square. The houses
there had a sinister air in the midst of their dirt and decay.
Boris looked round, and Tommy drew back into the shelter of a
friendly porch. The place was almost deserted. It was a
cul-de-sac, and consequently no traffic passed that way. The
stealthy way the other had looked round stimulated Tommy's
imagination. From the shelter of the doorway he watched him go
up the steps of a particularly evil-looking house and rap
sharply, with a peculiar rhythm, on the door. It was opened
promptly, he said a word or two to the doorkeeper, then passed
inside. The door was shut to again.
It was at this juncture that Tommy lost his head. What he ought
to have done, what any sane man would have done, was to remain
patiently where he was and wait for his man to come out again.
What he did do was entirely foreign to the sober common sense
which was, as a rule, his leading characteristic. Something, as
he expressed it, seemed to snap in his brain. Without a moment's
pause for reflection he, too, went up the steps, and reproduced
as far as he was able the peculiar knock.
The door swung open with the same promptness as before. A
villainous-faced man with close-cropped hair stood in the
doorway.
"Well?" he grunted.
It was at that moment that the full realization of his folly
began to come home to Tommy. But he dared not hesitate. He
seized at the first words that came into his mind.
"Mr. Brown?" he said.
To his surprise the man stood aside.
"Upstairs," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, "second
door on your left."
CHAPTER VIII
THE ADVENTURES OF TOMMY
TAKEN aback though he was by the man's words, Tommy did not
hesitate. If audacity had successfully carried him so far, it was
to be hoped it would carry him yet farther. He quietly passed
into the house and mounted the ramshackle staircase. Everything
in the house was filthy beyond words. The grimy paper, of a
pattern now indistinguishable, hung in loose festoons from the
wall. In every angle was a grey mass of cobweb.
Tommy proceeded leisurely. By the time he reached the bend of
the staircase, he had heard the man below disappear into a back
room. Clearly no suspicion attached to him as yet. To come to
the house and ask for "Mr. Brown" appeared indeed to be a
reasonable and natural proceeding.
At the top of the stairs Tommy halted to consider his next move.
In front of him ran a narrow passage, with doors opening on
either side of it. From the one nearest him on the left came a
low murmur of voices. It was this room which he had been
directed to enter. But what held his glance fascinated was a
small recess immediately on his right, half concealed by a torn
velvet curtain. It was directly opposite the left-handed door
and, owing to its angle, it also commanded a good view of the
upper part of the staircase. As a hiding-place for one or, at a
pinch, two men, it was ideal, being about two feet deep and three
feet wide. It attracted Tommy mightily. He thought things over
in his usual slow and steady way, deciding that the mention of
"Mr. Brown" was not a request for an individual, but in all
probability a password used by the gang. His lucky use of it had
gained him admission. So far he had aroused no suspicion. But he
must decide quickly on his next step.
Suppose he were boldly to enter the room on the left of the
passage. Would the mere fact of his having been admitted to the
house be sufficient? Perhaps a further password would be
required, or, at any rate, some proof of identity. The
doorkeeper clearly did not know all the members of the gang by
sight, but it might be different upstairs. On the whole it seemed
to him that luck had served him very well so far, but that there
was such a thing as trusting it too far. To enter that room was a
colossal risk. He could not hope to sustain his part
indefinitely; sooner or later he was almost bound to betray
himself, and then he would have thrown away a vital chance in
mere foolhardiness.
A repetition of the signal knock sounded on the door below, and
Tommy, his mind made up, slipped quickly into the recess, and
cautiously drew the curtain farther across so that it shielded
him completely from sight. There were several rents and slits in
the ancient material which afforded him a good view. He would
watch events, and any time he chose could, after all, join the
assembly, modelling his behaviour on that of the new arrival.
The man who came up the staircase with a furtive, soft-footed
tread was quite unknown to Tommy. He was obviously of the very
dregs of society. The low beetling brows, and the criminal jaw,
the bestiality of the whole countenance were new to the young
man, though he was a type that Scotland Yard would have
recognized at a glance.
The man passed the recess, breathing heavily as he went. He
stopped at the door opposite, and gave a repetition of the signal
knock. A voice inside called out something, and the man opened
the door and passed in, affording Tommy a momentary glimpse of
the room inside. He thought there must be about four or five
people seated round a long table that took up most of the space,
but his attention was caught and held by a tall man with
close-cropped hair and a short, pointed, naval-looking beard, who
sat at the head of the table with papers in front of him. As the
new-comer entered he glanced up, and with a correct, but
curiously precise enunciation, which attracted Tommy's notice, he
asked:
"Your number, comrade?"
"Fourteen, gov'nor," replied the other hoarsely.
"Correct."
The door shut again.
"If that isn't a Hun, I'm a Dutchman!" said Tommy to himself.
"And running the show darned systematically too--as they always
do. Lucky I didn't roll in. I'd have given the wrong number, and
there would have been the deuce to pay. No, this is the place
for me. Hullo, here's another knock."
This visitor proved to be of an entirely different type to the
last. Tommy recognized in him an Irish Sinn Feiner. Certainly
Mr. Brown's organization was a far-reaching concern. The common
criminal, the well-bred Irish gentleman, the pale Russian, and
the efficient German master of the ceremonies! Truly a strange
and sinister gathering! Who was this man who held in his finger
these curiously variegated links of an unknown chain?
In this case, the procedure was exactly the same. The signal
knock, the demand for a number, and the reply "Correct."
Two knocks followed in quick succession on the door below. The
first man was quite unknown to Tommy, who put him down as a city
clerk. A quiet, intelligent-looking man, rather shabbily dressed.
The second was of the working classes, and his face was vaguely
familiar to the young man.
Three minutes later came another, a man of commanding appearance,
exquisitely dressed, and evidently well born. His face, again,
was not unknown to the watcher, though he could not for the
moment put a name to it.
After his arrival there was a long wait. In fact Tommy concluded
that the gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously
creeping out from his hiding-place, when another knock sent him
scuttling back to cover.
This last-comer came up the stairs so quietly that he was almost
abreast of Tommy before the young man had realized his presence.
He was a small man, very pale, with a gentle almost womanish air.
The angle of the cheek-bones hinted at his Slavonic ancestry,
otherwise there was nothing to indicate his nationality. As he
passed the recess, he turned his head slowly. The strange light
eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly
believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of
himself he shivered. He was no more fanciful than the majority of
young Englishmen, but he could not rid himself of the impression
that some unusually potent force emanated from the man. The
creature reminded him of a venomous snake.
A moment later his impression was proved correct. The new-comer
knocked on the door as all had done, but his reception was very
different. The bearded man rose to his feet, and all the others
followed suit. The German came forward and shook hands. His
heels clicked together.
"We are honoured," he said. "We are greatly honoured. I much
feared that it would be impossible."
The other answered in a low voice that had a kind of hiss in it:
"There were difficulties. It will not be possible again, I fear.
But one meeting is essential--to define my policy. I can do
nothing without--Mr. Brown. He is here?"
The change in the German's voice was audible as he replied with
slight hesitation:
"We have received a message. It is impossible for him to be
present in person." He stopped, giving a curious impression of
having left the sentence unfinished.
A very slow smile overspread the face of the other. He looked
round at a circle of uneasy faces.
"Ah! I understand. I have read of his methods. He works in the
dark and trusts no one. But, all the same, it is possible that
he is among us now...." He looked round him again, and again that
expression of fear swept over the group. Each man seemed eyeing
his neighbour doubtfully.
The Russian tapped his cheek.
"So be it. Let us proceed."
The German seemed to pull himself together. He indicated the
place he had been occupying at the head of the table. The Russian
demurred, but the other insisted.
"It is the only possible place," he said, "for--Number One.
Perhaps Number Fourteen will shut the door?"
In another moment Tommy was once more confronting bare wooden
panels, and the voices within had sunk once more to a mere
undistinguishable murmur. Tommy became restive. The conversation
he had overheard had stimulated his curiosity. He felt that, by
hook or by crook, he must hear more.
There was no sound from below, and it did not seem likely that
the doorkeeper would come upstairs. After listening intently for
a minute or two, he put his head round the curtain. The passage
was deserted. Tommy bent down and removed his shoes, then,
leaving them behind the curtain, he walked gingerly out on his
stockinged feet, and kneeling down by the closed door he laid his
ear cautiously to the crack. To his intense annoyance he could
distinguish little more; just a chance word here and there if a
voice was raised, which merely served to whet his curiosity still
farther.
He eyed the handle of the door tentatively. Could he turn it by
degrees so gently and imperceptibly that those in the room would
notice nothing? He decided that with great care it could be
done. Very slowly, a fraction of an inch at a time, he moved it
round, holding his breath in his excessive care. A little more--a
little more still--would it never be finished? Ah! at last it
would turn no farther.
He stayed so for a minute or two, then drew a deep breath, and
pressed it ever so slightly inward. The door did not budge.
Tommy was annoyed. If he had to use too much force, it would
almost certainly creak. He waited until the voices rose a little,
then he tried again. Still nothing happened. He increased the
pressure. Had the beastly thing stuck? Finally, in desperation,
he pushed with all his might. But the door remained firm, and at
last the truth dawned upon him. It was locked or bolted on the
inside.
For a moment or two Tommy's indignation got the better of him.
"Well, I'm damned!" he said. "What a dirty trick!"
As his indignation cooled, he prepared to face the situation.
Clearly the first thing to be done was to restore the handle to
its original position. If he let it go suddenly, the men inside
would be almost certain to notice it, so, with the same infinite
pains, he reversed his former tactics. All went well, and with a
sigh of relief the young man rose to his feet. There was a
certain bulldog tenacity about Tommy that made him slow to admit
defeat. Checkmated for the moment, he was far from abandoning the
conflict. He still intended to hear what was going on in the
locked room. As one plan had failed, he must hunt about for
another.
He looked round him. A little farther along the passage on the
left was a second door. He slipped silently along to it. He
listened for a moment or two, then tried the handle. It yielded,
and he slipped inside.
The room, which was untenanted, was furnished as a bedroom. Like
everything else in the house, the furniture was falling to
pieces, and the dirt was, if anything, more abundant.
But what interested Tommy was the thing he had hoped to find, a
communicating door between the two rooms, up on the left by the
window. Carefully closing the door into the passage behind him,
he stepped across to the other and examined it closely. The bolt
was shot across it. It was very rusty, and had clearly not been
used for some time. By gently wriggling it to and fro, Tommy
managed to draw it back without making too much noise. Then he
repeated his former manoeuvres with the handle--this time with
complete success. The door swung open--a crack, a mere fraction,
but enough for Tommy to hear what went on. There was a velvet
portiere on the inside of this door which prevented him from
seeing, but he was able to recognize the voices with a reasonable
amount of accuracy.
The Sinn Feiner was speaking. His rich Irish voice was
unmistakable:
"That's all very well. But more money is essential. No money--no
results!"
Another voice which Tommy rather thought was that of Boris
replied:
"Will you guarantee that there ARE results?"
"In a month from now--sooner or later as you wish--I will
guarantee you such a reign of terror in Ireland as shall shake
the British Empire to its foundations."
There was a pause, and then came the soft, sibilant accents of
Number One:
"Good! You shall have the money. Boris, you will see to that."
Boris asked a question:
"Via the Irish Americans, and Mr. Potter as usual?"
"I guess that'll be all right!" said a new voice, with a
transatlantic intonation, "though I'd like to point out, here and
now, that things are getting a mite difficult. There's not the
sympathy there was, and a growing disposition to let the Irish
settle their own affairs without interference from America."
Tommy felt that Boris had shrugged his shoulders as he answered:
"Does that matter, since the money only nominally comes from the
States?"
"The chief difficulty is the landing of the ammunition," said the
Sinn Feiner. "The money is conveyed in easily enough--thanks to
our colleague here."
Another voice, which Tommy fancied was that of the tall,
commanding-looking man whose face had seemed familiar to him,
said:
"Think of the feelings of Belfast if they could hear you!"
"That is settled, then," said the sibilant tones. "Now, in the
matter of the loan to an English newspaper, you have arranged the
details satisfactorily, Boris?"
"I think so."
"That is good. An official denial from Moscow will be
forthcoming if necessary."
There was a pause, and then the clear voice of the German broke
the silence:
"I am directed by--Mr. Brown, to place the summaries of the
reports from the different unions before you. That of the miners
is most satisfactory. We must hold back the railways. There may
be trouble with the A.S.E."
For a long time there was a silence, broken only by the rustle of
papers and an occasional word of explanation from the German.
Then Tommy heard the light tap-tap of fingers, drumming on the
table.
"And--the date, my friend?" said Number One.
"The 29th."
The Russian seemed to consider:
"That is rather soon."
"I know. But it was settled by the principal Labour leaders, and
we cannot seem to interfere too much. They must believe it to be
entirely their own show."
The Russian laughed softly, as though amused.
"Yes, yes," he said. "That is true. They must have no inkling
that we are using them for our own ends. They are honest
men--and that is their value to us. It is curious--but you
cannot make a revolution without honest men. The instinct of the
populace is infallible." He paused, and then repeated, as though
the phrase pleased him: "Every revolution has had its honest
men. They are soon disposed of afterwards."
There was a sinister note in his voice.
The German resumed:
"Clymes must go. He is too far-seeing. Number Fourteen will see
to that."
There was a hoarse murmur.
"That's all right, gov'nor." And then after a moment or two:
"Suppose I'm nabbed."
"You will have the best legal talent to defend you," replied the
German quietly. "But in any case you will wear gloves fitted
with the finger-prints of a notorious housebreaker. You have
little to fear."
"Oh, I ain't afraid, gov'nor. All for the good of the cause. The
streets is going to run with blood, so they say." He spoke with a
grim relish. "Dreams of it, sometimes, I does. And diamonds and
pearls rolling about in the gutter for anyone to pick up!"
Tommy heard a chair shifted. Then Number One spoke:
"Then all is arranged. We are assured of success?"
"I--think so." But the German spoke with less than his usual
confidence.
Number One's voice held suddenly a dangerous quality:
"What has gone wrong?"
"Nothing; but----"
"But what?"
"The Labour leaders. Without them, as you say, we can do
nothing. If they do not declare a general strike on the 29th----"
"Why should they not?"
"As you've said, they're honest. And, in spite of everything
we've done to discredit the Government in their eyes, I'm not
sure that they haven't got a sneaking faith and belief in it."
"But----"
"I know. They abuse it unceasingly. But, on the whole, public
opinion swings to the side of the Government. They will not go
against it."
Again the Russian's fingers drummed on the table.
"To the point, my friend. I was given to understand that there
was a certain document in existence which assured success."
"That is so. If that document were placed before the leaders,
the result would be immediate. They would publish it broadcast
throughout England, and declare for the revolution without a
moment's hesitation. The Government would be broken finally and
completely."
"Then what more do you want?"
"The document itself," said the German bluntly.
"Ah! It is not in your possession? But you know where it is?"
"No."
"Does anyone know where it is?"
"One person--perhaps. And we are not sure of that even."
"Who is this person?"
"A girl."
Tommy held his breath.
"A girl?" The Russian's voice rose contemptuously. "And you have
not made her speak? In Russia we have ways of making a girl
talk."
"This case is different," said the German sullenly.
"How--different?" He paused a moment, then went on: "Where is
the girl now?"
"The girl?"
"Yes."
"She is----"
But Tommy heard no more. A crashing blow descended on his head,
and all was darkness.
CHAPTER IX
TUPPENCE ENTERS DOMESTIC SERVICE
WHEN Tommy set forth on the trail of the two men, it took all
Tuppence's self-command to refrain from accompanying him.
However, she contained herself as best she might, consoled by the
reflection that her reasoning had been justified by events. The
two men had undoubtedly come from the second floor flat, and that
one slender thread of the name "Rita" had set the Young
Adventurers once more upon the track of the abductors of Jane
Finn.
The question was what to do next? Tuppence hated letting the
grass grow under her feet. Tommy was amply employed, and
debarred from joining him in the chase, the girl felt at a loose
end. She retraced her steps to the entrance hall of the mansions.
It was now tenanted by a small lift-boy, who was polishing brass
fittings, and whistling the latest air with a good deal of vigour
and a reasonable amount of accuracy.
He glanced round at Tuppence's entry. There was a certain amount
of the gamin element in the girl, at all events she invariably
got on well with small boys. A sympathetic bond seemed instantly
to be formed. She reflected that an ally in the enemy's camp, so
to speak, was not to be despised.
"Well, William," she remarked cheerfully, in the best approved
hospital-early-morning style, "getting a good shine up?"
The boy grinned responsively.
"Albert, miss," he corrected.
"Albert be it," said Tuppence. She glanced mysteriously round
the hall. The effect was purposely a broad one in case Albert
should miss it. She leaned towards the boy and dropped her voice:
"I want a word with you, Albert."
Albert ceased operations on the fittings and opened his mouth
slightly.
"Look! Do you know what this is?" With a dramatic gesture she
flung back the left side of her coat and exposed a small
enamelled badge. It was extremely unlikely that Albert would have
any knowledge of it--indeed, it would have been fatal for
Tuppence's plans, since the badge in question was the device of a
local training corps originated by the archdeacon in the early
days of the war. Its presence in Tuppence's coat was due to the
fact that she had used it for pinning in some flowers a day or
two before. But Tuppence had sharp eyes, and had noted the corner
of a threepenny detective novel protruding from Albert's pocket,
and the immediate enlargement of his eyes told her that her
tactics were good, and that the fish would rise to the bait.
"American Detective Force!" she hissed.
Albert fell for it.
"Lord!" he murmured ecstatically.
Tuppence nodded at him with the air of one who has established a
thorough understanding.
"Know who I'm after?" she inquired genially.
Albert, still round-eyed, demanded breathlessly:
"One of the flats?"
Tuppence nodded and jerked a thumb up the stairs.
"No. 20. Calls herself Vandemeyer. Vandemeyer! Ha! ha!"
Albert's hand stole to his pocket.
"A crook?" he queried eagerly.
"A crook? I should say so. Ready Rita they call her in the
States."
"Ready Rita," repeated Albert deliriously. "Oh, ain't it just
like the pictures!"
It was. Tuppence was a great frequenter of the kinema.
"Annie always said as how she was a bad lot," continued the boy.
"Who's Annie?" inquired Tuppence idly.
" 'Ouse-parlourmaid. She's leaving to-day. Many's the time
Annie's said to me: 'Mark my words, Albert, I wouldn't wonder if
the police was to come after her one of these days.' dust like
that. But she's a stunner to look at, ain't she?"
"She's some peach," allowed Tuppence carelessly. "Finds it
useful in her lay-out, you bet. Has she been wearing any of the
emeralds, by the way?"
"Emeralds? Them's the green stones, isn't they?"
Tuppence nodded.
"That's what we're after her for. You know old man Rysdale?"
Albert shook his head.
"Peter B. Rysdale, the oil king?"
"It seems sort of familiar to me."
"The sparklers belonged to him. Finest collection of emeralds in
the world. Worth a million dollars!"
"Lumme!" came ecstatically from Albert. "It sounds more like the
pictures every minute."
Tuppence smiled, gratified at the success of her efforts.
"We haven't exactly proved it yet. But we're after her.
And"--she produced a long-drawn-out wink--"I guess she won't get
away with the goods this time."
Albert uttered another ejaculation indicative of delight.
"Mind you, sonny, not a word of this," said Tuppence suddenly. "I
guess I oughtn't to have put you wise, but in the States we know
a real smart lad when we see one."
"I'll not breathe a word," protested Albert eagerly. "Ain't there
anything I could do? A bit of shadowing, maybe, or such like?"
Tuppence affected to consider, then shook her head.
"Not at the moment, but I'll bear you in mind, son. What's this
about the girl you say is leaving?"
"Annie? Regular turn up, they 'ad. As Annie said, servants is
some one nowadays, and to be treated accordingly, and, what with
her passing the word round, she won't find it so easy to get
another."
"Won't she?" said Tuppence thoughtfully. "I wonder----"
An idea was dawning in her brain. She thought a minute or two,
then tapped Albert on the shoulder.
"See here, son, my brain's got busy. How would it be if you
mentioned that you'd got a young cousin, or a friend of yours
had, that might suit the place. You get me?"
"I'm there," said Albert instantly. "You leave it to me, miss,
and I'll fix the whole thing up in two ticks."
"Some lad!" commented Tuppence, with a nod of approval. "You
might say that the young woman could come in right away. You let
me know, and if it's O.K. I'll be round to-morrow at eleven
o'clock."
"Where am I to let you know to?"
"Ritz," replied Tuppence laconically. "Name of Cowley."
Albert eyed her enviously.
"It must be a good job, this tec business."
"It sure is," drawled Tuppence, "especially when old man Rysdale
backs the bill. But don't fret, son. If this goes well, you
shall come in on the ground floor."
With which promise she took leave of her new ally, and walked
briskly away from South Audley Mansions, well pleased with her
morning's work.
But there was no time to be lost. She went straight back to the
Ritz and wrote a few brief words to Mr. Carter. Having
dispatched this, and Tommy not having yet returned--which did not
surprise her--she started off on a shopping expedition which,
with an interval for tea and assorted creamy cakes, occupied her
until well after six o'clock, and she returned to the hotel
jaded, but satisfied with her purchases. Starting with a cheap
clothing store, and passing through one or two second-hand
establishments, she had finished the day at a well-known
hairdresser's. Now, in the seclusion of her bedroom, she
unwrapped that final purchase. Five minutes later she smiled
contentedly at her reflection in the glass. With an actress's
pencil she had slightly altered the line of her eyebrows, and
that, taken in conjunction with the new luxuriant growth of fair
hair above, so changed her appearance that she felt confident
that even if she came face to face with Whittington he would not
recognize her. She would wear elevators in her shoes, and the
cap and apron would be an even more valuable disguise. From
hospital experience she knew only too well that a nurse out of
uniform is frequently unrecognized by her patients.
"Yes," said Tuppence aloud, nodding at the pert reflection in the
glass, "you'll do." She then resumed her normal appearance.
Dinner was a solitary meal. Tuppence was rather surprised at
Tommy's non-return. Julius, too, was absent--but that to the
girl's mind was more easily explained. His "hustling" activities
were not confined to London, and his abrupt appearances and
disappearances were fully accepted by the Young Adventurers as
part of the day's work. It was quite on the cards that Julius P.
Hersheimmer had left for Constantinople at a moment's notice if
he fancied that a clue to his cousin's disappearance was to be
found there. The energetic young man had succeeded in making the
lives of several Scotland Yard men unbearable to them, and the
telephone girls at the Admiralty had learned to know and dread
the familiar "Hullo!" He had spent three hours in Paris hustling
the Prefecture, and had returned from there imbued with the idea,
possibly inspired by a weary French official, that the true clue
to the mystery was to be found in Ireland.
"I dare say he's dashed off there now," thought Tuppence. "All
very well, but this is very dull for ME! Here I am bursting with
news, and absolutely no one to tell it to! Tommy might have
wired, or something. I wonder where he is. Anyway, he can't have
'lost the trail' as they say. That reminds me----" And Miss
Cowley broke off in her meditations, and summoned a small boy.
Ten minutes later the lady was ensconced comfortably on her bed,
smoking cigarettes and deep in the perusal of Garnaby Williams,
the Boy Detective, which, with other threepenny works of lurid
fiction, she had sent out to purchase. She felt, and rightly,
that before the strain of attempting further intercourse with
Albert, it would be as well to fortify herself with a good supply
of local colour.
The morning brought a note from Mr. Carter:
"DEAR MISS TUPPENCE,
"You have made a splendid start, and I congratulate you. I feel,
though, that I should like to point out to you once more the
risks you are running, especially if you pursue the course you
indicate. Those people are absolutely desperate and incapable of
either mercy or pity. I feel that you probably underestimate the
danger, and therefore warn you again that I can promise you no
protection. You have given us valuable information, and if you
choose to withdraw now no one could blame you. At any rate,
think the matter over well before you decide.
"If, in spite of my warnings, you make up your mind to go through
with it, you will find everything arranged. You have lived for
two years with Miss Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly, and Mrs.
Vandemeyer can apply to her for a reference.
"May I be permitted a word or two of advice? Stick as near to
the truth as possible--it minimizes the danger of 'slips.' I
suggest that you should represent yourself to be what you are, a
former V.A.D., who has chosen domestic service as a profession.
There are many such at the present time. That explains away any
incongruities of voice or manner which otherwise might awaken
suspicion.
"Whichever way you decide, good luck to you.
"Your sincere friend, "MR. CARTER."
Tuppence's spirits rose mercurially. Mr. Carter's warnings
passed unheeded. The young lady had far too much confidence in
herself to pay any heed to them.
With some reluctance she abandoned the interesting part she had
sketched out for herself. Although she had no doubts of her own
powers to sustain a role indefinitely, she had too much common
sense not to recognize the force of Mr. Carter's arguments.
There was still no word or message from Tommy, but the morning
post brought a somewhat dirty postcard with the words: "It's
O.K." scrawled upon it.
At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed with pride a slightly battered
tin trunk containing her new possessions. It was artistically
corded. It was with a slight blush that she rang the bell and
ordered it to be placed in a taxi. She drove to Paddington, and
left the box in the cloak room. She then repaired with a handbag
to the fastnesses of the ladies' waiting-room. Ten minutes later
a metamorphosed Tuppence walked demurely out of the station and
entered a bus.
It was a few minutes past eleven when Tuppence again entered the
hall of South Audley Mansions. Albert was on the look-out,
attending to his duties in a somewhat desultory fashion. He did
not immediately recognize Tuppence. When he did, his admiration
was unbounded.
"Blest if I'd have known you! That rig-out's top-hole."
"Glad you like it, Albert," replied Tuppence modestly. "By the
way, am I your cousin, or am I not?"
"Your voice too," cried the delighted boy. "It's as English as
anything! No, I said as a friend of mine knew a young gal. Annie
wasn't best pleased. She's stopped on till to-day--to oblige, SHE
said, but really it's so as to put you against the place."
"Nice girl," said Tuppence.
Albert suspected no irony.
"She's style about her, and keeps her silver a treat--but, my
word, ain't she got a temper. Are you going up now, miss? Step
inside the lift. No. 20 did you say?" And he winked.
Tuppence quelled him with a stern glance, and stepped inside.
As she rang the bell of No. 20 she was conscious of Albert's eyes
slowly descending beneath the level of the floor.
A smart young woman opened the door.
"I've come about the place," said Tuppence.
"It's a rotten place," said the young woman without hesitation.
"Regular old cat--always interfering. Accused me of tampering
with her letters. Me! The flap was half undone anyway. There's
never anything in the waste-paper basket--she burns everything.
She's a wrong 'un, that's what she is. Swell clothes, but no
class. Cook knows something about her--but she won't
tell--scared to death of her. And suspicious! She's on to you in
a minute if you as much as speak to a fellow. I can tell you----"
But what more Annie could tell, Tuppence was never destined to
learn, for at that moment a clear voice with a peculiarly steely
ring to it called:
"Annie!"
The smart young woman jumped as if she had been shot.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Who are you talking to?"
"It's a young woman about the situation, ma'am."
"Show her in then. At once."
"Yes, ma'am."
Tuppence was ushered into a room on the right of the long
passage. A woman was standing by the fireplace. She was no
longer in her first youth, and the beauty she undeniably
possessed was hardened and coarsened. In her youth she must have
been dazzling. Her pale gold hair, owing a slight assistance to
art, was coiled low on her neck, her eyes, of a piercing electric
blue, seemed to possess a faculty of boring into the very soul of
the person she was looking at. Her exquisite figure was enhanced
by a wonderful gown of indigo charmeuse. And yet, despite her
swaying grace, and the almost ethereal beauty of her face, you
felt instinctively the presence of something hard and menacing, a
kind of metallic strength that found expression in the tones of
her voice and in that gimletlike quality of her eyes.
For the first time Tuppence felt afraid. She had not feared
Whittington, but this woman was different. As if fascinated, she
watched the long cruel line of the red curving mouth, and again
she felt that sensation of panic pass over her. Her usual
self-confidence deserted her. Vaguely she felt that deceiving
this woman would be very different to deceiving Whittington. Mr.
Carter's warning recurred to her mind. Here, indeed, she might
expect no mercy.
Fighting down that instinct of panic which urged her to turn tail
and run without further delay, Tuppence returned the lady's gaze
firmly and respectfully.
As though that first scrutiny had been satisfactory, Mrs.
Vandemeyer motioned to a chair.
"You can sit down. How did you hear I wanted a
house-parlourmaid?"
"Through a friend who knows the lift boy here. He thought the
place might suit me."
Again that basilisk glance seemed to pierce her through.
"You speak like an educated girl?"
Glibly enough, Tuppence ran through her imaginary career on the
lines suggested by Mr. Carter. It seemed to her, as she did so,
that the tension of Mrs. Vandemeyer's attitude relaxed.
"I see," she remarked at length. "Is there anyone I can write to
for a reference?"
"I lived last with a Miss Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly. I
was with her two years."
"And then you thought you would get more money by coming to
London, I suppose? Well, it doesn't matter to me. I will give
you L50--L60--whatever you want. You can come in at once?"
"Yes, ma'am. To-day, if you like. My box is at Paddington."
"Go and fetch it in a taxi, then. It's an easy place. I am out
a good deal. By the way, what's your name?"
"Prudence Cooper, ma'am."
"Very well, Prudence. Go away and fetch your box. I shall be
out to lunch. The cook will show you where everything is."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Tuppence withdrew. The smart Annie was not in evidence. In the
hall below a magnificent hall porter had relegated Albert to the
background. Tuppence did not even glance at him as she passed
meekly out.
The adventure had begun, but she felt less elated than she had
done earlier in the morning. It crossed her mind that if the
unknown Jane Finn had fallen into the hands of Mrs. Vandemeyer,
it was likely to have gone hard with her.
CHAPTER X
ENTER SIR JAMES PEEL EDGERTON
TUPPENCE betrayed no awkwardness in her new duties. The daughters
of the archdeacon were well grounded in household tasks. They
were also experts in training a "raw girl," the inevitable result
being that the raw girl, once trained, departed elsewhere where
her newly acquired knowledge commanded a more substantial
remuneration than the archdeacon's meagre purse allowed.
Tuppence had therefore very little fear of proving inefficient.
Mrs. Vandemeyer's cook puzzled her. She evidently went in deadly
terror of her mistress. The girl thought it probable that the
other woman had some hold over her. For the rest, she cooked
like a chef, as Tuppence had an opportunity of judging that
evening. Mrs. Vandemeyer was expecting a guest to dinner, and
Tuppence accordingly laid the beautifully polished table for two.
She was a little exercised in her own mind as to this visitor. It
was highly possible that it might prove to be Whittington.
Although she felt fairly confident that he would not recognize
her, yet she would have been better pleased had the guest proved
to be a total stranger. However, there was nothing for it but to
hope for the best.
At a few minutes past eight the front door bell rang, and
Tuppence went to answer it with some inward trepidation. She was
relieved to see that the visitor was the second of the two men
whom Tommy had taken upon himself to follow.
He gave his name as Count Stepanov. Tuppence announced him, and
Mrs. Vandemeyer rose from her seat on a low divan with a quick
murmur of pleasure.
"It is delightful to see you, Boris Ivanovitch," she said.
"And you, madame!" He bowed low over her hand.
Tuppence returned to the kitchen.
"Count Stepanov, or some such," she remarked, and affecting a
frank and unvarnished curiosity: "Who's he?"
"A Russian gentleman, I believe."
"Come here much?"
"Once in a while. What d'you want to know for?"
"Fancied he might be sweet on the missus, that's all," explained
the girl, adding with an appearance of sulkiness: "How you do
take one up!"
"I'm not quite easy in my mind about the souffle," explained the
other.
"You know something," thought Tuppence to herself, but aloud she
only said: "Going to dish up now? Right-o."
Whilst waiting at table, Tuppence listened closely to all that
was said. She remembered that this was one of the men Tommy was
shadowing when she had last seen him. Already, although she
would hardly admit it, she was becoming uneasy about her partner.
Where was he? Why had no word of any kind come from him? She had
arranged before leaving the Ritz to have all letters or messages
sent on at once by special messenger to a small stationer's shop
near at hand where Albert was to call in frequently. True, it was
only yesterday morning that she had parted from Tommy, and she
told herself that any anxiety on his behalf would be absurd.
Still, it was strange that he had sent no word of any kind.
But, listen as she might, the conversation presented no clue.
Boris and Mrs. Vandemeyer talked on purely indifferent subjects:
plays they had seen, new dances, and the latest society gossip.
After dinner they repaired to the small boudoir where Mrs.
Vandemeyer, stretched on the divan, looked more wickedly
beautiful than ever. Tuppence brought in the coffee and liqueurs
and unwillingly retired. As she did so, she heard Boris say:
"New, isn't she?"
"She came in to-day. The other was a fiend. This girl seems all
right. She waits well."
Tuppence lingered a moment longer by the door which she had
carefully neglected to close, and heard him say:
"Quite safe, I suppose?"
"Really, Boris, you are absurdly suspicious. I believe she's the
cousin of the hall porter, or something of the kind. And nobody
even dreams that I have any connection with our--mutual friend,
Mr. Brown."
"For heaven's sake, be careful, Rita. That door isn't shut."
"Well, shut it then," laughed the woman.
Tuppence removed herself speedily.
She dared not absent herself longer from the back premises, but
she cleared away and washed up with a breathless speed acquired
in hospital. Then she slipped quietly back to the boudoir door.
The cook, more leisurely, was still busy in the kitchen and, if
she missed the other, would only suppose her to be turning down
the beds.
Alas! The conversation inside was being carried on in too low a
tone to permit of her hearing anything of it. She dared not
reopen the door, however gently. Mrs. Vandemeyer was sitting
almost facing it, and Tuppence respected her mistress's lynx-eyed
powers of observation.
Nevertheless, she felt she would give a good deal to overhear
what was going on. Possibly, if anything unforeseen had
happened, she might get news of Tommy. For some moments she
reflected desperately, then her face brightened. She went quickly
along the passage to Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom, which had long
French windows leading on to a balcony that ran the length of the
flat. Slipping quickly through the window, Tuppence crept
noiselessly along till she reached the boudoir window. As she had
thought it stood a little ajar, and the voices within were
plainly audible.
Tuppence listened attentively, but there was no mention of
anything that could be twisted to apply to Tommy. Mrs.
Vandemeyer and the Russian seemed to be at variance over some
matter, and finally the latter exclaimed bitterly:
"With your persistent recklessness, you will end by ruining us!"
"Bah!" laughed the woman. "Notoriety of the right kind is the
best way of disarming suspicion. You will realize that one of
these days--perhaps sooner than you think!"
"In the meantime, you are going about everywhere with Peel
Edgerton. Not only is he, perhaps, the most celebrated K.C. in
England, but his special hobby is criminology! It is madness!"
"I know that his eloquence has saved untold men from the
gallows," said Mrs. Vandemeyer calmly. "What of it? I may need
his assistance in that line myself some day. If so, how fortunate
to have such a friend at court--or perhaps it would be more to
the point to say IN court."
Boris got up and began striding up and down. He was very
excited.
"You are a clever woman, Rita; but you are also a fool! Be guided
by me, and give up Peel Edgerton."
Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head gently.
"I think not."
"You refuse?" There was an ugly ring in the Russian's voice.
"I do."
"Then, by Heaven," snarled the Russian, "we will see----" But
Mrs. Vandemeyer also rose to her feet, her eyes flashing.
"You forget, Boris," she said. "I am accountable to no one. I
take my orders only from--Mr. Brown."
The other threw up his hands in despair.
"You are impossible," he muttered. "Impossible! Already it may
be too late. They say Peel Edgerton can SMELL a criminal! How do
we know what is at the bottom of his sudden interest in you?
Perhaps even now his suspicions are aroused. He guesses----"
Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scornfully.
"Reassure yourself, my dear Boris. He suspects nothing. With
less than your usual chivalry, you seem to forget that I am
commonly accounted a beautiful woman. I assure you that is all
that interests Peel Edgerton."
Boris shook his head doubtfully.
"He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studied
it. Do you fancy that you can deceive him?"
Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes narrowed.
"If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!"
"Good heavens, Rita----"
"Besides," added Mrs. Vandemeyer, "he is extremely rich. I am not
one who despises money. The 'sinews of war,' you know, Boris!"
"Money--money! That is always the danger with you, Rita. I
believe you would sell your soul for money. I believe----" He
paused, then in a low, sinister voice he said slowly: "Sometimes
I believe that you would sell--us!"
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous," she said
lightly. "It would be beyond the power of anyone but a
millionaire to pay."
"Ah!" snarled the Russian. "You see, I was right!"
"My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?"
"Was it a joke?"
"Of course."
"Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, my
dear Rita."
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled.
"Let us not quarrel, Boris. Touch the bell. We will have some
drinks."
Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She paused a moment to survey
herself in Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and be sure that nothing
was amiss with her appearance. Then she answered the bell
demurely.
The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting in
that it proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita and
Boris, threw very little light on the present preoccupations. The
name of Jane Finn had not even been mentioned.
The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed her
that nothing was waiting for her at the stationer's. It seemed
incredible that Tommy, if all was well with him, should not send
any word to her. A cold hand seemed to close round her heart....
Supposing ... She choked her fears down bravely. It was no good
worrying. But she leapt at a chance offered her by Mrs.
Vandemeyer.
"What day do you usually go out, Prudence?"
"Friday's my usual day, ma'am."
Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows.
"And to-day is Friday! But I suppose you hardly wish to go out
to-day, as you only came yesterday."
"I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma'am."
Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled.
"I wish Count Stepanov could hear you. He made a suggestion
about you last night." Her smile broadened, catlike. "Your
request is very--typical. I am satisfied. You do not understand
all this--but you can go out to-day. It makes no difference to
me, as I shall not be dining at home."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of the
other's presence. Once again she admitted to herself that she was
afraid, horribly afraid, of the beautiful woman with the cruel
eyes.
In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver,
Tuppence was disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, and
went to answer it. This time the visitor was neither Whittington
nor Boris, but a man of striking appearance.
Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed the
impression of a big man. His face, clean-shaven and exquisitely
mobile, was stamped with an expression of power and force far
beyond the ordinary. Magnetism seemed to radiate from him.
Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down as
an actor or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gave
her his name: Sir James Peel Edgerton.
She looked at him with renewed interest. This, then, was the
famous K.C. whose name was familiar all over England. She had
heard it said that he might one day be Prime Minister. He was
known to have refused office in the interests of his profession,
preferring to remain a simple Member for a Scotch constituency.
Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully. The great man had
impressed her. She understood Boris's agitation. Peel Edgerton
would not be an easy man to deceive.
In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppence
repaired to the hall to show the visitor out. He had given her a
piercing glance before. Now, as she handed him his hat and
stick, she was conscious of his eyes raking her through. As she
opened the door and stood aside to let him pass out, he stopped
in the doorway.
"Not been doing this long, eh?"
Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished. She read in his glance
kindliness, and something else more difficult to fathom.
He nodded as though she had answered.
"V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?"
"Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously.
"No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?"
"Very good, thank you, sir."
"Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change
does no harm sometimes."
"Do you mean----?" began Tuppence.
But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked back
with his kindly, shrewd glance.
"Just a hint," he said. "That's all."
Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever.
CHAPTER XI
JULIUS TELLS A STORY
DRESSED appropriately, Tuppence duly sallied forth for her
"afternoon out." Albert was in temporary abeyance, but Tuppence
went herself to the stationer's to make quite sure that nothing
had come for her. Satisfied on this point, she made her way to
the Ritz. On inquiry she learnt that Tommy had not yet returned.
It was the answer she had expected, but it was another nail in
the coffin of her hopes. She resolved to appeal to Mr. Carter,
telling him when and where Tommy had started on his quest, and
asking him to do something to trace him. The prospect of his aid
revived her mercurial spirits, and she next inquired for Julius
Hersheimmer. The reply she got was to the effect that he had
returned about half an hour ago, but had gone out immediately.
Tuppence's spirits revived still more. It would be something to
see Julius. Perhaps he could devise some plan for finding out
what had become of Tommy. She wrote her note to Mr. Carter in
Julius's sitting-room, and was just addressing the envelope when
the door burst open.
"What the hell----" began Julius, but checked himself abruptly.
"I beg your pardon, Miss Tuppence. Those fools down at the
office would have it that Beresford wasn't here any
longer--hadn't been here since Wednesday. Is that so?"
Tuppence nodded.
"You don't know where he is?" she asked faintly.
"I? How should I know? I haven't had one darned word from him,
though I wired him yesterday morning."
"I expect your wire's at the office unopened."
"But where is he?"
"I don't know. I hoped you might."
"I tell you I haven't had one darned word from him since we
parted at the depot on Wednesday."
"What depot?"
"Waterloo. Your London and South Western road."
"Waterloo?" frowned Tuppence.
"Why, yes. Didn't he tell you?"
"I haven't seen him either," replied Tuppence impatiently. "Go on
about Waterloo. What were you doing there?"
"He gave me a call. Over the phone. Told me to get a move on,
and hustle. Said he was trailing two crooks."
"Oh!" said Tuppence, her eyes opening. "I see. Go on."
"I hurried along right away. Beresford was there. He pointed
out the crooks. The big one was mine, the guy you bluffed. Tommy
shoved a ticket into my hand and told me to get aboard the cars.
He was going to sleuth the other crook." Julius paused. "I
thought for sure you'd know all this."
"Julius," said Tuppence firmly, "stop walking up and down. It
makes me giddy. Sit down in that armchair, and tell me the whole
story with as few fancy turns of speech as possible."
Mr. Hersheimmer obeyed.
"Sure," he said. "Where shall I begin?"
"Where you left off. At Waterloo."
"Well," began Julius, "I got into one of your dear old-fashioned
first-class British compartments. The train was just off. First
thing I knew a guard came along and informed me mighty politely
that I wasn't in a smoking-carriage. I handed him out half a
dollar, and that settled that. I did a bit of prospecting along
the corridor to the next coach. Whittington was there right
enough. When I saw the skunk, with his big sleek fat face, and
thought of poor little Jane in his clutches, I felt real mad that
I hadn't got a gun with me. I'd have tickled him up some.
"We got to Bournemouth all right. Whittington took a cab and
gave the name of an hotel. I did likewise, and we drove up
within three minutes of each other. He hired a room, and I hired
one too. So far it was all plain sailing. He hadn't the remotest
notion that anyone was on to him. Well, he just sat around in
the hotel lounge, reading the papers and so on, till it was time
for dinner. He didn't hurry any over that either.
"I began to think that there was nothing doing, that he'd just
come on the trip for his health, but I remembered that he hadn't
changed for dinner, though it was by way of being a slap-up
hotel, so it seemed likely enough that he'd be going out on his
real business afterwards.
"Sure enough, about nine o'clock, so he did. Took a car across
the town--mighty pretty place by the way, I guess I'll take Jane
there for a spell when I find her--and then paid it off and
struck out along those pine-woods on the top of the cliff. I was
there too, you understand. We walked, maybe, for half an hour.
There's a lot of villas all the way along, but by degrees they
seemed to get more and more thinned out, and in the end we got to
one that seemed the last of the bunch. Big house it was, with a
lot of piny grounds around it.
"It was a pretty black night, and the carriage drive up to the
house was dark as pitch. I could hear him ahead, though I
couldn't see him. I had to walk carefully in case he might get on
to it that he was being followed. I turned a curve and I was
just in time to see him ring the bell and get admitted to the
house. I just stopped where I was. It was beginning to rain, and
I was soon pretty near soaked through. Also, it was almighty
cold.
"Whittington didn't come out again, and by and by I got kind of
restive, and began to mouch around. All the ground floor windows
were shuttered tight, but upstairs, on the first floor (it was a
two-storied house) I noticed a window with a light burning and
the curtains not drawn.
"Now, just opposite to that window, there was a tree growing. It
was about thirty foot away from the house, maybe, and I sort of
got it into my head that, if I climbed up that tree, I'd very
likely be able to see into that room. Of course, I knew there
was no reason why Whittington should be in that room rather than
in any other--less reason, in fact, for the betting would be on
his being in one of the reception-rooms downstairs. But I guess
I'd got the hump from standing so long in the rain, and anything
seemed better than going on doing nothing. So I started up.
"It wasn't so easy, by a long chalk! The rain had made the
boughs mighty slippery, and it was all I could do to keep a
foothold, but bit by bit I managed it, until at last there I was
level with the window.
"But then I was disappointed. I was too far to the left. I could
only see sideways into the room. A bit of curtain, and a yard of
wallpaper was all I could command. Well, that wasn't any manner
of good to me, but just as I was going to give it up, and climb
down ignominiously, some one inside moved and threw his shadow on
my little bit of wall--and, by gum, it was Whittington!
"After that, my blood was up. I'd just got to get a look into
that room. It was up to me to figure out how. I noticed that
there was a long branch running out from the tree in the right
direction. If I could only swarm about half-way along it, the
proposition would be solved. But it was mighty uncertain whether
it would bear my weight. I decided I'd just got to risk that, and
I started. Very cautiously, inch by inch, I crawled along. The
bough creaked and swayed in a nasty fashion, and it didn't do to
think of the drop below, but at last I got safely to where I
wanted to be.
"The room was medium-sized, furnished in a kind of bare hygienic
way. There was a table with a lamp on it in the middle of the
room, and sitting at that table, facing towards me, was
Whittington right enough. He was talking to a woman dressed as a
hospital nurse. She was sitting with her back to me, so I
couldn't see her face. Although the blinds were up, the window
itself was shut, so I couldn't catch a word of what they said.
Whittington seemed to be doing all the talking, and the nurse
just listened. Now and then she nodded, and sometimes she'd shake
her head, as though she were answering questions. He seemed very
emphatic--once or twice he beat with his fist on the table. The
rain had stopped now, and the sky was clearing in that sudden way
it does.
"Presently, he seemed to get to the end of what he was saying.
He got up, and so did she. He looked towards the window and
asked something--I guess it was whether it was raining. Anyway,
she came right across and looked out. Just then the moon came out
from behind the clouds. I was scared the woman would catch sight
of me, for I was full in the moonlight. I tried to move back a
bit. The jerk I gave was too much for that rotten old branch.
With an almighty crash, down it came, and Julius P. Hersheimmer
with it!"
"Oh, Julius," breathed Tuppence, "how exciting! Go on."
"Well, luckily for me, I pitched down into a good soft bed of
earth--but it put me out of action for the time, sure enough. The
next thing I knew, I was lying in bed with a hospital nurse (not
Whittington's one) on one side of me, and a little black-bearded
man with gold glasses, and medical man written all over him, on
the other. He rubbed his hands together, and raised his eyebrows
as I stared at him. 'Ah!' he said. 'So our young friend is
coming round again. Capital. Capital.'
"I did the usual stunt. Said: 'What's happened?' And 'Where am
I?' But I knew the answer to the last well enough. There's no
moss growing on my brain. 'I think that'll do for the present,
sister,' said the little man, and the nurse left the room in a
sort of brisk well-trained way. But I caught her handing me out a
look of deep curiosity as she passed through the door.
"That look of hers gave me an idea. 'Now then, doc,' I said, and
tried to sit up in bed, but my right foot gave me a nasty twinge
as I did so. 'A slight sprain,' explained the doctor. 'Nothing
serious. You'll be about again in a couple of days.' "
"I noticed you walked lame," interpolated Tuppence.
Julius nodded, and continued:
" 'How did it happen?' I asked again. He replied dryly. 'You
fell, with a considerable portion of one of my trees, into one of
my newly planted flower-beds.'
"I liked the man. He seemed to have a sense of humour. I felt
sure that he, at least, was plumb straight. 'Sure, doc,' I said,
'I'm sorry about the tree, and I guess the new bulbs will be on
me. But perhaps you'd like to know what I was doing in your
garden?' 'I think the facts do call for an explanation,' he
replied. 'Well, to begin with, I wasn't after the spoons.'
"He smiled. 'My first theory. But I soon altered my mind. By
the way, you are an American, are you not?' I told him my name.
'And you?' 'I am Dr. Hall, and this, as you doubtless know, is
my private nursing home.'
"I didn't know, but I wasn't going to put him wise. I was just
thankful for the information. I liked the man, and I felt he was
straight, but I wasn't going to give him the whole story. For one
thing he probably wouldn't have believed it.
"I made up my mind in a flash. 'Why, doctor,' I said, 'I guess I
feel an almighty fool, but I owe it to you to let you know that
it wasn't the Bill Sikes business I was up to.' Then I went on
and mumbled out something about a girl. I trotted out the stern
guardian business, and a nervous breakdown, and finally explained
that I had fancied I recognized her among the patients at the
home, hence my nocturnal adventures. "I guess it was just the
kind of story he was expecting. 'Quite a romance,' he said
genially, when I'd finished. 'Now, doc,' I went on, 'will you be
frank with me? Have you here now, or have you had here at any
time, a young girl called Jane Finn?' He repeated the name
thoughtfully. 'Jane Finn?' he said. 'No.'
"I was chagrined, and I guess I showed it. 'You are sure?'
'Quite sure, Mr. Hersheimmer. It is an uncommon name, and I
should not have been likely to forget it.'
"Well, that was flat. It laid me out for a space. I'd kind of
hoped my search was at an end. 'That's that,' I said at last.
'Now, there's another matter. When I was hugging that darned
branch I thought I recognized an old friend of mine talking to
one of your nurses.' I purposely didn't mention any name
because, of course, Whittington might be calling himself
something quite different down here, but the doctor answered at
once. 'Mr. Whittington, perhaps?' 'That's the fellow,' I
replied. 'What's he doing down here? Don't tell me HIS nerves
are out of order?'
"Dr. Hall laughed. 'No. He came down to see one of my nurses,
Nurse Edith, who is a niece of his.' 'Why, fancy that!' I
exclaimed. 'Is he still here?' 'No, he went back to town almost
immediately.' 'What a pity!' I ejaculated. 'But perhaps I could
speak to his niece--Nurse Edith, did you say her name was?'
"But the doctor shook his head. 'I'm afraid that, too, is
impossible. Nurse Edith left with a patient to-night also.' 'I
seem to be real unlucky,' I remarked. 'Have you Mr.
Whittington's address in town? I guess I'd like to look him up
when I get back.' 'I don't know his address. I can write to
Nurse Edith for it if you like.' I thanked him. 'Don't say who
it is wants it. I'd like to give him a little surprise.'
"That was about all I could do for the moment. Of course, if the
girl was really Whittington's niece, she might be too cute to
fall into the trap, but it was worth trying. Next thing I did
was to write out a wire to Beresford saying where I was, and that
I was laid up with a sprained foot, and telling him to come down
if he wasn't busy. I had to be guarded in what I said. However,
I didn't hear from him, and my foot soon got all right. It was
only ricked, not really sprained, so to-day I said good-bye to
the little doctor chap, asked him to send me word if he heard
from Nurse Edith, and came right away back to town. Say, Miss
Tuppence, you're looking mighty pale!"
"It's Tommy," said Tuppence. "What can have happened to him?"
"Buck up, I guess he's all right really. Why shouldn't he be?
See here, it was a foreign-looking guy he went off after. Maybe
they've gone abroad--to Poland, or something like that?"
Tuppence shook her head.
"He couldn't without passports and things. Besides I've seen
that man, Boris Something, since. He dined with Mrs. Vandemeyer
last night."
"Mrs. Who?"
"I forgot. Of course you don't know all that."
"I'm listening," said Julius, and gave vent to his favourite
expression. "Put me wise."
Tuppence thereupon related the events of the last two days.
Julius's astonishment and admiration were unbounded.
"Bully for you! Fancy you a menial. It just tickles me to
death!" Then he added seriously: "But say now, I don't like it,
Miss Tuppence, I sure don't. You're just as plucky as they make
'em, but I wish you'd keep right out of this. These crooks we're
up against would as soon croak a girl as a man any day."
"Do you think I'm afraid?" said Tuppence indignantly, valiantly
repressing memories of the steely glitter in Mrs. Vandemeyer's
eyes.
"I said before you were darned plucky. But that doesn't alter
facts."
"Oh, bother ME!" said Tuppence impatiently. "Let's think about
what can have happened to Tommy. I've written to Mr. Carter
about it," she added, and told him the gist of her letter.
Julius nodded gravely.
"I guess that's good as far as it goes. But it's for us to get
busy and do something."
"What can we do?" asked Tuppence, her spirits rising.
"I guess we'd better get on the track of Boris. You say he's
been to your place. Is he likely to come again?"
"He might. I really don't know."
"I see. Well, I guess I'd better buy a car, a slap-up one, dress
as a chauffeur and hang about outside. Then if Boris comes, you
could make some kind of signal, and I'd trail him. How's that?"
"Splendid, but he mightn't come for weeks."
"We'll have to chance that. I'm glad you like the plan." He
rose.
"Where are you going?"
"To buy the car, of course," replied Julius, surprised. "What
make do you like? I guess you'll do some riding in it before
we've finished."
"Oh," said Tuppence faintly, "I LIKE Rolls-Royces, but----"
"Sure," agreed Julius. "What you say goes. I'll get one."
"But you can't at once," cried Tuppence. "People wait ages
sometimes."
"Little Julius doesn't," affirmed Mr. Hersheimmer. "Don't you
worry any. I'll be round in the car in half an hour."
Tuppence got up.
"You're awfully good, Julius. But I can't help feeling that it's
rather a forlorn hope. I'm really pinning my faith to Mr.
Carter."
"Then I shouldn't."
"Why?"
"Just an idea of mine."
"Oh; but he must do something. There's no one else. By the way,
I forgot to tell you of a queer thing that happened this
morning."
And she narrated her encounter with Sir James Peel Edgerton.
Julius was interested.
"What did the guy mean, do you think?" he asked.
"I don't quite know," said Tuppence meditatively. "But I think
that, in an ambiguous, legal, without prejudishish lawyer's way,
he was trying to warn me."
"Why should he?"
"I don't know," confessed Tuppence. "But he looked kind, and
simply awfully clever. I wouldn't mind going to him and telling
him everything."
Somewhat to her surprise, Julius negatived the idea sharply.
"See here," he said, "we don't want any lawyers mixed up in this.
That guy couldn't help us any."
"Well, I believe he could," reiterated Tuppence obstinately.
"Don't you think it. So long. I'll be back in half an hour."
Thirty-five minutes had elapsed when Julius returned. He took
Tuppence by the arm, and walked her to the window.
"There she is."
"Oh!" said Tuppence with a note of reverence in her voice, as she
gazed down at the enormous car.
"She's some pace-maker, I can tell you," said Julius
complacently.
"How did you get it?" gasped Tuppence.
"She was just being sent home to some bigwig."
"Well?"
"I went round to his house," said Julius. "I said that I
reckoned a car like that was worth every penny of twenty thousand
dollars. Then I told him that it was worth just about fifty
thousand dollars to me if he'd get out."
"Well?" said Tuppence, intoxicated.
"Well," returned Julius, "he got out, that's all."
CHAPTER XII
A FRIEND IN NEED
FRIDAY and Saturday passed uneventfully. Tuppence had received a
brief answer to her appeal from Mr. Carter. In it he pointed out
that the Young Adventurers had undertaken the work at their own
risk, and had been fully warned of the dangers. If anything had
happened to Tommy he regretted it deeply, but he could do
nothing.
This was cold comfort. Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour
went out of the adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt
doubtful of success. While they had been together she had never
questioned it for a minute. Although she was accustomed to take
the lead, and to pride herself on her quick-wittedness, in
reality she had relied upon Tommy more than she realized at the
time. There was something so eminently sober and clear-headed
about him, his common sense and soundness of vision were so
unvarying, that without him Tuppence felt much like a rudderless
ship. It was curious that Julius, who was undoubtedly much
cleverer than Tommy, did not give her the same feeling of
support. She had accused Tommy of being a pessimist, and it is
certain that he always saw the disadvantages and difficulties
which she herself was optimistically given to overlooking, but
nevertheless she had really relied a good deal on his judgment.
He might be slow, but he was very sure.
It seemed to the girl that, for the first time, she realized the
sinister character of the mission they had undertaken so
lightheartedly. It had begun like a page of romance. Now, shorn
of its glamour, it seemed to be turning to grim reality.
Tommy--that was all that mattered. Many times in the day Tuppence
blinked the tears out of her eyes resolutely. "Little fool," she
would apostrophize herself, "don't snivel. Of course you're fond
of him. You've known him all your life. But there's no need to
be sentimental about it."
In the meantime, nothing more was seen of Boris. He did not come
to the flat, and Julius and the car waited in vain. Tuppence
gave herself over to new meditations. Whilst admitting the truth
of Julius's objections, she had nevertheless not entirely
relinquished the idea of appealing to Sir James Peel Edgerton.
Indeed, she had gone so far as to look up his address in the Red
Book. Had he meant to warn her that day? If so, why? Surely she
was at least entitled to demand an explanation. He had looked at
her so kindly. Perhaps he might tell them something concerning
Mrs. Vandemeyer which might lead to a clue to Tommy's
whereabouts.
Anyway, Tuppence decided, with her usual shake of the shoulders,
it was worth trying, and try it she would. Sunday was her
afternoon out. She would meet Julius, persuade him to her point
of view, and they would beard the lion in his den.
When the day arrived Julius needed a considerable amount of
persuading, but Tuppence held firm. "It can do no harm," was
what she always came back to. In the end Julius gave in, and
they proceeded in the car to Carlton House Terrace.
The door was opened by an irreproachable butler. Tuppence felt a
little nervous. After all, perhaps it WAS colossal cheek on her
part. She had decided not to ask if Sir James was "at home," but
to adopt a more personal attitude.
"Will you ask Sir James if I can see him for a few minutes? I
have an important message for him."
The butler retired, returning a moment or two later.
"Sir James will see you. Will you step this way?"
He ushered them into a room at the back of the house, furnished
as a library. The collection of books was a magnificent one, and
Tuppence noticed that all one wall was devoted to works on crime
and criminology. There were several deep-padded leather
arm-chairs, and an old-fashioned open hearth. In the window was a
big roll-top desk strewn with papers at which the master of the
house was sitting.
He rose as they entered.
"You have a message for me? Ah"--he recognized Tuppence with a
smile--"it's you, is it? Brought a message from Mrs. Vandemeyer,
I suppose?"
"Not exactly," said Tuppence. "In fact, I'm afraid I only said
that to be quite sure of getting in. Oh, by the way, this is Mr.
Hersheimmer, Sir James Peel Edgerton."
"Pleased to meet you," said the American, shooting out a hand.
"Won't you both sit down?" asked Sir James. He drew forward two
chairs.
"Sir James," said Tuppence, plunging boldly, "I dare say you will
think it is most awful cheek of me coming here like this.
Because, of course, it's nothing whatever to do with you, and
then you're a very important person, and of course Tommy and I
are very unimportant." She paused for breath.
"Tommy?" queried Sir James, looking across at the American.
"No, that's Julius," explained Tuppence. "I'm rather nervous,
and that makes me tell it badly. What I really want to know is
what you meant by what you said to me the other day? Did you mean
to warn me against Mrs. Vandemeyer? You did, didn't you?"
"My dear young lady, as far as I recollect I only mentioned that
there were equally good situations to be obtained elsewhere."
"Yes, I know. But it was a hint, wasn't it?"
"Well, perhaps it was," admitted Sir James gravely.
"Well, I want to know more. I want to know just WHY you gave me
a hint."
Sir James smiled at her earnestness.
"Suppose the lady brings a libel action against me for defamation
of character?"
"Of course," said Tuppence. "I know lawyers are always
dreadfully careful. But can't we say 'without prejudice' first,
and then say just what we want to."
"Well," said Sir James, still smiling, "without prejudice, then,
if I had a young sister forced to earn her living, I should not
like to see her in Mrs. Vandemeyer's service. I felt it incumbent
on me just to give you a hint. It is no place for a young and
inexperienced girl. That is all I can tell you."
"I see," said Tuppence thoughtfully. "Thank you very much. But
I'm not REALLY inexperienced, you know. I knew perfectly that
she was a bad lot when I went there--as a matter of fact that's
WHY I went----" She broke off, seeing some bewilderment on the
lawyer's face, and went on: "I think perhaps I'd better tell you
the whole story, Sir James. I've a sort of feeling that you'd
know in a minute if I didn't tell the truth, and so you might as
well know all about it from the beginning. What do you think,
Julius?"
"As you're bent on it, I'd go right ahead with the facts,"
replied the American, who had so far sat in silence.
"Yes, tell me all about it," said Sir James. "I want to know who
Tommy is."
Thus encouraged Tuppence plunged into her tale, and the lawyer
listened with close attention.
"Very interesting," he said, when she finished. "A great deal of
what you tell me, child, is already known to me. I've had
certain theories of my own about this Jane Finn. You've done
extraordinarily well so far, but it's rather too bad of--what do
you know him as?--Mr. Carter to pitchfork you two young things
into an affair of this kind. By the way, where did Mr.
Hersheimmer come in originally? You didn't make that clear?"
Julius answered for himself.
"I'm Jane's first cousin," he explained, returning the lawyer's
keen gaze.
"Ah!"
"Oh, Sir James," broke out Tuppence, "what do you think has
become of Tommy?"
"H'm." The lawyer rose, and paced slowly up and down. "When you
arrived, young lady, I was just packing up my traps. Going to
Scotland by the night train for a few days' fishing. But there
are different kinds of fishing. I've a good mind to stay, and
see if we can't get on the track of that young chap."
"Oh!" Tuppence clasped her hands ecstatically.
"All the same, as I said before, it's too bad of--of Carter to
set you two babies on a job like this. Now, don't get offended,
Miss--er----"
"Cowley. Prudence Cowley. But my friends call me Tuppence."
"Well, Miss Tuppence, then, as I'm certainly going to be a
friend. Don't be offended because I think you're young. Youth is
a failing only too easily outgrown. Now, about this young Tommy
of yours----"
"Yes." Tuppence clasped her hands.
"Frankly, things look bad for him. He's been butting in
somewhere where he wasn't wanted. Not a doubt of it. But don't
give up hope."
"And you really will help us? There, Julius! He didn't want me
to come," she added by way of explanation.
"H'm," said the lawyer, favouring Julius with another keen
glance. "And why was that?"
"I reckoned it would be no good worrying you with a petty little
business like this."
"I see." He paused a moment. "This petty little business, as
you call it, bears directly on a very big business, bigger
perhaps than either you or Miss Tuppence know. If this boy is
alive, he may have very valuable information to give us.
Therefore, we must find him."
"Yes, but how?" cried Tuppence. "I've tried to think of
everything."
Sir James smiled.
"And yet there's one person quite near at hand who in all
probability knows where he is, or at all events where he is
likely to be."
"Who is that?" asked Tuppence, puzzled.
"Mrs. Vandemeyer."
"Yes, but she'd never tell us."
"Ah, that is where I come in. I think it quite likely that I
shall be able to make Mrs. Vandemeyer tell me what I want to
know."
"How?" demanded Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide.
"Oh, just by asking her questions," replied Sir James easily.
"That's the way we do it, you know."
He tapped with his finger on the table, and Tuppence felt again
the intense power that radiated from the man.
"And if she won't tell?" asked Julius suddenly.
"I think she will. I have one or two powerful levers. Still, in
that unlikely event, there is always the possibility of bribery."
"Sure. And that's where I come in!" cried Julius, bringing his
fist down on the table with a bang. "You can count on me, if
necessary, for one million dollars. Yes, sir, one million
dollars!"
Sir James sat down and subjected Julius to a long scrutiny.
"Mr. Hersheimmer," he said at last, "that is a very large sum."
"I guess it'll have to be. These aren't the kind of folk to
offer sixpence to."
"At the present rate of exchange it amounts to considerably over
two hundred and fifty thousand pounds."
"That's so. Maybe you think I'm talking through my hat, but I
can deliver the goods all right, with enough over to spare for
your fee."
Sir James flushed slightly.
"There is no question of a fee, Mr. Hersheimmer. I am not a
private detective."
"Sorry. I guess I was just a mite hasty, but I've been feeling
bad about this money question. I wanted to offer a big reward
for news of Jane some days ago, but your crusted institution of
Scotland Yard advised me against it. Said it was undesirable."
"They were probably right," said Sir James dryly.
"But it's all O.K. about Julius," put in Tuppence. "He's not
pulling your leg. He's got simply pots of money."
"The old man piled it up in style," explained Julius. "Now,
let's get down to it. What's your idea?"
Sir James considered for a moment or two.
"There is no time to be lost. The sooner we strike the better."
He turned to Tuppence. "Is Mrs. Vandemeyer dining out to-night,
do you know?"
"Yes, I think so, but she will not be out late. Otherwise, she
would have taken the latchkey."
"Good. I will call upon her about ten o'clock. What time are you
supposed to return?"
"About nine-thirty or ten, but I could go back earlier."
"You must not do that on any account. It might arouse suspicion
if you did not stay out till the usual time. Be back by
nine-thirty. I will arrive at ten. Mr. Hersheimmer will wait
below in a taxi perhaps."
"He's got a new Rolls-Royce car," said Tuppence with vicarious
pride.
"Even better. If I succeed in obtaining the address from her, we
can go there at once, taking Mrs. Vandemeyer with us if
necessary. You understand?"
"Yes." Tuppence rose to her feet with a skip of delight. "Oh, I
feel so much better!"
"Don't build on it too much, Miss Tuppence. Go easy."
Julius turned to the lawyer.
"Say, then. I'll call for you in the car round about
nine-thirty. Is that right?"
"Perhaps that will be the best plan. It would be unnecessary to
have two cars waiting about. Now, Miss Tuppence, my advice to
you is to go and have a good dinner, a REALLY good one, mind. And
don't think ahead more than you can help."
He shook hands with them both, and a moment later they were
outside.
"Isn't he a duck?" inquired Tuppence ecstatically, as she skipped
down the steps. "Oh, Julius, isn't he just a duck?"
"Well, I allow he seems to be the goods all right. And I was
wrong about its being useless to go to him. Say, shall we go
right away back to the Ritz?"
"I must walk a bit, I think. I feel so excited. Drop me in the
park, will you? Unless you'd like to come too?"
"I want to get some petrol," he explained. "And send off a cable
or two."
"All right. I'll meet you at the Ritz at seven. We'll have to
dine upstairs. I can't show myself in these glad rags."
"Sure. I'll get Felix help me choose the menu. He's some head
waiter, that. So long."
Tuppence walked briskly along towards the Serpentine, first
glancing at her watch. It was nearly six o'clock. She remembered
that she had had no tea, but felt too excited to be conscious of
hunger. She walked as far as Kensington Gardens and then slowly
retraced her steps, feeling infinitely better for the fresh air
and exercise. It was not so easy to follow Sir James's advice,
and put the possible events of the evening out of her head. As
she drew nearer and nearer to Hyde Park corner, the temptation to
return to South Audley Mansions was almost irresistible.
At any rate, she decided, it would do no harm just to go and LOOK
at the building. Perhaps, then, she could resign herself to
waiting patiently for ten o'clock.
South Audley Mansions looked exactly the same as usual. What
Tuppence had expected she hardly knew, but the sight of its red
brick stolidity slightly assuaged the growing and entirely
unreasonable uneasiness that possessed her. She was just turning
away when she heard a piercing whistle, and the faithful Albert
came running from the building to join her.
Tuppence frowned. It was no part of the programme to have
attention called to her presence in the neighbourhood, but Albert
was purple with suppressed excitement.
"I say, miss, she's a-going!"
"Who's going?" demanded Tuppence sharply.
"The crook. Ready Rita. Mrs. Vandemeyer. She's a-packing up,
and she's just sent down word for me to get her a taxi."
"What?" Tuppence clutched his arm.
"It's the truth, miss. I thought maybe as you didn't know about
it."
"Albert," cried Tuppence, "you're a brick. If it hadn't been for
you we'd have lost her."
Albert flushed with pleasure at this tribute.
"There's no time to lose," said Tuppence, crossing the road.
"I've got to stop her. At all costs I must keep her here
until----" She broke off. "Albert, there's a telephone here,
isn't there?"
The boy shook his head.
"The flats mostly have their own, miss. But there's a box just
round the corner."
"Go to it then, at once, and ring up the Ritz Hotel. Ask for Mr.
Hersheimmer, and when you get him tell him to get Sir James and
come on at once, as Mrs. Vandemeyer is trying to hook it. If you
can't get him, ring up Sir James Peel Edgerton, you'll find his
number in the book, and tell him what's happening. You won't
forget the names, will you?"
Albert repeated them glibly. "You trust to me, miss, it'll be
all right. But what about you? Aren't you afraid to trust
yourself with her?"
"No, no, that's all right. BUT GO AND TELEPHONE. Be quick."
Drawing a long breath, Tuppence entered the Mansions and ran up
to the door of No. 20. How she was to detain Mrs. Vandemeyer
until the two men arrived, she did not know, but somehow or other
it had to be done, and she must accomplish the task
single-handed. What had occasioned this precipitate departure?
Did Mrs. Vandemeyer suspect her?
Speculations were idle. Tuppence pressed the bell firmly. She
might learn something from the cook.
Nothing happened and, after waiting some minutes, Tuppence
pressed the bell again, keeping her finger on the button for some
little while. At last she heard footsteps inside, and a moment
later Mrs. Vandemeyer herself opened the door. She lifted her
eyebrows at the sight of the girl.
"You?"
"I had a touch of toothache, ma'am," said Tuppence glibly. "So
thought it better to come home and have a quiet evening."
Mrs. Vandemeyer said nothing, but she drew back and let Tuppence
pass into the hall.
"How unfortunate for you," she said coldly. "You had better go
to bed."
"Oh, I shall be all right in the kitchen, ma'am. Cook will----"
"Cook is out," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, in a rather disagreeable
tone. "I sent her out. So you see you had better go to bed."
Suddenly Tuppence felt afraid. There was a ring in Mrs.
Vandemeyer's voice that she did not like at all. Also, the other
woman was slowly edging her up the passage. Tuppence turned at
bay.
"I don't want----"
Then, in a flash, a rim of cold steel touched her temple, and
Mrs. Vandemeyer's voice rose cold and menacing:
"You damned little fool! Do you think I don't know? No, don't
answer. If you struggle or cry out, I'll shoot you like a dog."
The rim of steel pressed a little harder against the girl's
temple.
"Now then, march," went on Mrs. Vandemeyer. "This way--into my
room. In a minute, when I've done with you, you'll go to bed as I
told you to. And you'll sleep--oh yes, my little spy, you'll
sleep all right!"
There was a sort of hideous geniality in the last words which
Tuppence did not at all like. For the moment there was nothing
to be done, and she walked obediently into Mrs. Vandemeyer's
bedroom. The pistol never left her forehead. The room was in a
state of wild disorder, clothes were flung about right and left,
a suit-case and a hat box, half-packed, stood in the middle of
the floor.
Tuppence pulled herself together with an effort. Her voice shook
a little, but she spoke out bravely.
"Come now," she said. "This is nonsense. You can't shoot me.
Why, every one in the building would hear the report."
"I'd risk that," said Mrs. Vandemeyer cheerfully. "But, as long
as you don't sing out for help, you're all right--and I don't
think you will. You're a clever girl. You deceived ME all right.
I hadn't a suspicion of you! So I've no doubt that you understand
perfectly well that this is where I'm on top and you're
underneath. Now then--sit on the bed. Put your hands above your
head, and if you value your life don't move them."
Tuppence obeyed passively. Her good sense told her that there
was nothing else to do but accept the situation. If she shrieked
for help there was very little chance of anyone hearing her,
whereas there was probably quite a good chance of Mrs.
Vandemeyer's shooting her. In the meantime, every minute of delay
gained was valuable.
Mrs. Vandemeyer laid down the revolver on the edge of the
washstand within reach of her hand, and, still eyeing Tuppence
like a lynx in case the girl should attempt to move, she took a
little stoppered bottle from its place on the marble and poured
some of its contents into a glass which she filled up with water.
"What's that?" asked Tuppence sharply.
"Something to make you sleep soundly."
Tuppence paled a little.
"Are you going to poison me?" she asked in a whisper.
"Perhaps," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, smiling agreeably.
"Then I shan't drink it," said Tuppence firmly. "I'd much rather
be shot. At any rate that would make a row, and some one might
hear it. But I won't be killed off quietly like a lamb."
Mrs. Vandemeyer stamped her foot.
"Don't be a little fool! Do you really think I want a hue and
cry for murder out after me? If you've any sense at all, you'll
realize that poisoning you wouldn't suit my book at all. It's a
sleeping draught, that's all. You'll wake up to-morrow morning
none the worse. I simply don't want the bother of tying you up
and gagging you. That's the alternative--and you won't like it, I
can tell you! I can be very rough if I choose. So drink this
down like a good girl, and you'll be none the worse for it."
In her heart of hearts Tuppence believed her. The arguments she
had adduced rang true. It was a simple and effective method of
getting her out of the way for the time being. Nevertheless, the
girl did not take kindly to the idea of being tamely put to sleep
without as much as one bid for freedom. She felt that once Mrs.
Vandemeyer gave them the slip, the last hope of finding Tommy
would be gone.
Tuppence was quick in her mental processes. All these
reflections passed through her mind in a flash, and she saw where
a chance, a very problematical chance, lay, and she determined to
risk all in one supreme effort.
Accordingly, she lurched suddenly off the bed and fell on her
knees before Mrs. Vandemeyer, clutching her skirts frantically.
"I don't believe it," she moaned. "It's poison--I know it's
poison. Oh, don't make me drink it"--her voice rose to a
shriek--"don't make me drink it!"
Mrs. Vandemeyer, glass in hand, looked down with a curling lip at
this sudden collapse.
"Get up, you little idiot! Don't go on drivelling there. How you
ever had the nerve to play your part as you did I can't think."
She stamped her foot. "Get up, I say."
But Tuppence continued to cling and sob, interjecting her sobs
with incoherent appeals for mercy. Every minute gained was to
the good. Moreover, as she grovelled, she moved imperceptibly
nearer to her objective.
Mrs. Vandemeyer gave a sharp impatient exclamation, and jerked
the girl to her knees.
"Drink it at once!" Imperiously she pressed the glass to the
girl's lips.
Tuppence gave one last despairing moan.
"You swear it won't hurt me?" she temporized.
"Of course it won't hurt you. Don't be a fool."
"Will you swear it?"
"Yes, yes," said the other impatiently. "I swear it."
Tuppence raised a trembling left hand to the glass.
"Very well." Her mouth opened meekly.
Mrs. Vandemeyer gave a sigh of relief, off her guard for the
moment. Then, quick as a flash, Tuppence jerked the glass upward
as hard as she could. The fluid in it splashed into Mrs.
Vandemeyer's face, and during her momentary gasp, Tuppence's
right hand shot out and grasped the revolver where it lay on the
edge of the washstand. The next moment she had sprung back a
pace, and the revolver pointed straight at Mrs. Vandemeyer's
heart, with no unsteadiness in the hand that held it.
In the moment of victory, Tuppence betrayed a somewhat
unsportsmanlike triumph.
"Now who's on top and who's underneath?" she crowed.
The other's face was convulsed with rage. For a minute Tuppence
thought she was going to spring upon her, which would have placed
the girl in an unpleasant dilemma, since she meant to draw the
line at actually letting off the revolver. However, with an
effort Mrs. Vandemeyer controlled herself, and at last a slow
evil smile crept over her face.
"Not a fool, then, after all! You did that well, girl. But you
shall pay for it--oh, yes, you shall pay for it! I have a long
memory!"
"I'm surprised you should have been gulfed so easily," said
Tuppence scornfully. "Did you really think I was the kind of
girl to roll about on the floor and whine for mercy?"
"You may do--some day!" said the other significantly.
The cold malignity of her manner sent an unpleasant chill down
Tuppence's spine, but she was not going to give in to it.
"Supposing we sit down," she said pleasantly. "Our present
attitude is a little melodramatic. No--not on the bed. Draw a
chair up to the table, that's right. Now I'll sit opposite you
with the revolver in front of me--just in case of accidents.
Splendid. Now, let's talk."
"What about?" said Mrs. Vandemeyer sullenly.
Tuppence eyed her thoughtfully for a minute. She was remembering
several things. Boris's words, "I believe you would sell--us!"
and her answer, "The price would have to be enormous," given
lightly, it was true, yet might not there be a substratum of
truth in it? Long ago, had not Whittington asked: "Who's been
blabbing? Rita?" Would Rita Vandemeyer prove to be the weak
spot in the armour of Mr. Brown?
Keeping her eyes fixed steadily on the other's face, Tuppence
replied quietly:
"Money----"
Mrs. Vandemeyer started. Clearly, the reply was unexpected.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you. You said just now that you had a long memory. A
long memory isn't half as useful as a long purse! I dare say it
relieves your feelings a good deal to plan out all sorts of
dreadful things to do to me, but is that PRACTICAL? Revenge is
very unsatisfactory. Every one always says so. But
money"--Tuppence warmed to her pet creed--"well, there's nothing
unsatisfactory about money, is there?"
"Do you think," said Mrs. Vandemeyer scornfully, "that I am the
kind of woman to sell my friends?"
"Yes," said Tuppence promptly. "If the price was big enough."
"A paltry hundred pounds or so!"
"No," said Tuppence. "I should suggest--a hundred thousand!"
Her economical spirit did not permit her to mention the whole
million dollars suggested by Julius.
A flush crept over Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
"What did you say?" she asked, her fingers playing nervously with
a brooch on her breast. In that moment Tuppence knew that the
fish was hooked, and for the first time she felt a horror of her
own money-loving spirit. It gave her a dreadful sense of kinship
to the woman fronting her.
"A hundred thousand pounds," repeated Tuppence.
The light died out of Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes. She leaned back in
her chair.
"Bah!" she said. "You haven't got it."
"No," admitted Tuppence, "I haven't--but I know some one who
has."
"Who?"
"A friend of mine."
"Must be a millionaire," remarked Mrs. Vandemeyer unbelievingly.
"As a matter of fact he is. He's an American. He'll pay you
that without a murmur. You can take it from me that it's a
perfectly genuine proposition."
Mrs. Vandemeyer sat up again.
"I'm inclined to believe you," she said slowly.
There was silence between them for some time, then Mrs.
Vandemeyer looked up.
"What does he want to know, this friend of yours?"
Tuppence went through a momentary struggle, but it was Julius's
money, and his interests must come first.
"He wants to know where Jane Finn is," she said boldly.
Mrs. Vandemeyer showed no surprise.
"I'm not sure where she is at the present moment," she replied.
"But you could find out?"
"Oh, yes," returned Mrs. Vandemeyer carelessly. "There would be
no difficulty about that."
"Then"--Tuppence's voice shook a little--"there's a boy, a friend
of mine. I'm afraid something's happened to him, through your pal
Boris."
"What's his name?"
"Tommy Beresford."
"Never heard of him. But I'll ask Boris. He'll tell me anything
he knows."
"Thank you." Tuppence felt a terrific rise in her spirits. It
impelled her to more audacious efforts. "There's one thing
more."
"Well?"
Tuppence leaned forward and lowered her voice.
"WHO IS MR. BROWN?"
Her quick eyes saw the sudden paling of the beautiful face. With
an effort Mrs. Vandemeyer pulled herself together and tried to
resume her former manner. But the attempt was a mere parody.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"You can't have learnt much about us if you don't know that
NOBODY KNOWS WHO MR. BROWN IS...."
"You do," said Tuppence quietly.
Again the colour deserted the other's face.
"What makes you think that?"
"I don't know," said the girl truthfully. "But I'm sure."
Mrs. Vandemeyer stared in front of her for a long time.
"Yes," she said hoarsely, at last, "I know. I was beautiful, you
see--very beautiful--"
"You are still," said Tuppence with admiration.
Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head. There was a strange gleam in her
electric-blue eyes.
"Not beautiful enough," she said in a soft dangerous voice.
"Not--beautiful--enough! And sometimes, lately, I've been
afraid.... It's dangerous to know too much!" She leaned forward
across the table. "Swear that my name shan't be brought into
it--that no one shall ever know."
"I swear it. And, once's he caught, you'll be out of danger."
A terrified look swept across Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
"Shall I? Shall I ever be?" She clutched Tuppence's arm.
"You're sure about the money?"
"Quite sure."
"When shall I have it? There must be no delay."
"This friend of mine will be here presently. He may have to send
cables, or something like that. But there won't be any
delay--he's a terrific hustler."
A resolute look settled on Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
"I'll do it. It's a great sum of money, and besides"--she gave a
curious smile--"it is not--wise to throw over a woman like me!"
For a moment or two, she remained smiling, and lightly tapping
her fingers on the table. Suddenly she started, and her face
blanched.
"What was that?"
"I heard nothing."
Mrs. Vandemeyer gazed round her fearfully.
"If there should be some one listening----"
"Nonsense. Who could there be?"
"Even the walls might have ears," whispered the other. "I tell
you I'm frightened. You don't know him!"
"Think of the hundred thousand pounds," said Tuppence soothingly.
Mrs. Vandemeyer passed her tongue over her dried lips.
"You don't know him," she reiterated hoarsely. "He's--ah!"
With a shriek of terror she sprang to her feet. Her outstretched
hand pointed over Tuppence's head. Then she swayed to the ground
in a dead faint.
Tuppence looked round to see what had startled her.
In the doorway were Sir James Peel Edgerton and Julius
Hersheimmer.
CHAPTER XIII
THE VIGIL
SIR James brushed past Julius and hurriedly bent over the fallen
woman.
"Heart," he said sharply. "Seeing us so suddenly must have given
her a shock. Brandy--and quickly, or she'll slip through our
fingers."
Julius hurried to the washstand.
"Not there," said Tuppence over her shoulder. "In the tantalus
in the dining-room. Second door down the passage."
Between them Sir James and Tuppence lifted Mrs. Vandemeyer and
carried her to the bed. There they dashed water on her face, but
with no result. The lawyer fingered her pulse.
"Touch and go," he muttered. "I wish that young fellow would
hurry up with the brandy."
At that moment Julius re-entered the room, carrying a glass half
full of the spirit which he handed to Sir James. While Tuppence
lifted her head the lawyer tried to force a little of the spirit
between her closed lips. Finally the woman opened her eyes
feebly. Tuppence held the glass to her lips.
"Drink this."
Mrs. Vandemeyer complied. The brandy brought the colour back to
her white cheeks, and revived her in a marvellous fashion. She
tried to sit up--then fell back with a groan, her hand to her
side.
"It's my heart," she whispered. "I mustn't talk."
She lay back with closed eyes.
Sir James kept his finger on her wrist a minute longer, then
withdrew it with a nod.
"She'll do now."
All three moved away, and stood together talking in low voices.
One and all were conscious of a certain feeling of anticlimax.
Clearly any scheme for cross-questioning the lady was out of the
question for the moment. For the time being they were baffled,
and could do nothing.
Tuppence related how Mrs. Vandemeyer had declared herself willing
to disclose the identity of Mr. Brown, and how she had consented
to discover and reveal to them the whereabouts of Jane Finn.
Julius was congratulatory.
"That's all right, Miss Tuppence. Splendid! I guess that
hundred thousand pounds will look just as good in the morning to
the lady as it did over night. There's nothing to worry over.
She won't speak without the cash anyway, you bet!"
There was certainly a good deal of common sense in this, and
Tuppence felt a little comforted.
"What you say is true," said Sir James meditatively. "I must
confess, however, that I cannot help wishing we had not
interrupted at the minute we did. Still, it cannot be helped, it
is only a matter of waiting until the morning."
He looked across at the inert figure on the bed. Mrs. Vandemeyer
lay perfectly passive with closed eyes. He shook his head.
"Well," said Tuppence, with an attempt at cheerfulness, "we must
wait until the morning, that's all. But I don't think we ought
to leave the flat."
"What about leaving that bright boy of yours on guard?"
"Albert? And suppose she came round again and hooked it. Albert
couldn't stop her."
"I guess she won't want to make tracks away from the dollars."
"She might. She seemed very frightened of 'Mr. Brown.' "
"What? Real plumb scared of him?"
"Yes. She looked round and said even walls had ears."
"Maybe she meant a dictaphone," said Julius with interest.
"Miss Tuppence is right," said Sir James quietly. "We must not
leave the flat--if only for Mrs. Vandemeyer's sake."
Julius stared at him.
"You think he'd get after her? Between now and to-morrow
morning. How could he know, even?"
"You forget your own suggestion of a dictaphone," said Sir James
dryly. "We have a very formidable adversary. I believe, if we
exercise all due care, that there is a very good chance of his
being delivered into our hands. But we must neglect no
precaution. We have an important witness, but she must be
safeguarded. I would suggest that Miss Tuppence should go to
bed, and that you and I, Mr. Hersheimmer, should share the
vigil."
Tuppence was about to protest, but happening to glance at the bed
she saw Mrs. Vandemeyer, her eyes half-open, with such an
expression of mingled fear and malevolence on her face that it
quite froze the words on her lips.
For a moment she wondered whether the faint and the heart attack
had been a gigantic sham, but remembering the deadly pallor she
could hardly credit the supposition. As she looked the expression
disappeared as by magic, and Mrs. Vandemeyer lay inert and
motionless as before. For a moment the girl fancied she must have
dreamt it. But she determined nevertheless to be on the alert.
"Well," said Julius, "I guess we'd better make a move out of here
any way."
The others fell in with his suggestion. Sir James again felt
Mrs. Vandemeyer's pulse.
"Perfectly satisfactory," he said in a low voice to Tuppence.
"She'll be absolutely all right after a night's rest."
The girl hesitated a moment by the bed. The intensity of the
expression she had surprised had impressed her powerfully. Mrs.
Vandemeyer lifted her lids. She seemed to be struggling to
speak. Tuppence bent over her.
"Don't--leave----" she seemed unable to proceed, murmuring
something that sounded like "sleepy." Then she tried again.
Tuppence bent lower still. It was only a breath.
"Mr.--Brown----" The voice stopped.
But the half-closed eyes seemed still to send an agonized
message.
Moved by a sudden impulse, the girl said quickly:
"I shan't leave the flat. I shall sit up all night."
A flash of relief showed before the lids descended once more.
Apparently Mrs. Vandemeyer slept. But her words had awakened a
new uneasiness in Tuppence. What had she meant by that low
murmur: "Mr. Brown?" Tuppence caught herself nervously looking
over her shoulder. The big wardrobe loomed up in a sinister
fashion before her eyes. Plenty of room for a man to hide in
that.... Half-ashamed of herself, Tuppence pulled it open and
looked inside. No one--of course! She stooped down and looked
under the bed. There was no other possible hiding-place.
Tuppence gave her familiar shake of the shoulders. It was
absurd, this giving way to nerves! Slowly she went out of the
room. Julius and Sir James were talking in a low voice. Sir James
turned to her.
"Lock the door on the outside, please, Miss Tuppence, and take
out the key. There must be no chance of anyone entering that
room."
The gravity of his manner impressed them, and Tuppence felt less
ashamed of her attack of "nerves."
"Say," remarked Julius suddenly, "there's Tuppence's bright boy.
I guess I'd better go down and ease his young mind. That's some
lad, Tuppence."
"How did you get in, by the way?" asked Tuppence suddenly. "I
forgot to ask."
"Well, Albert got me on the phone all right. I ran round for Sir
James here, and we came right on. The boy was on the look out
for us, and was just a mite worried about what might have
happened to you. He'd been listening outside the door of the
flat, but couldn't hear anything. Anyhow he suggested sending us
up in the coal lift instead of ringing the bell. And sure enough
we landed in the scullery and came right along to find you.
Albert's still below, and must be just hopping mad by this time."
With which Julius departed abruptly.
"Now then, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "you know this place
better than I do. Where do you suggest we should take up our
quarters?"
Tuppence considered for a moment or two.
"I think Mrs. Vandemeyer's boudoir would be the most
comfortable," she said at last, and led the way there.
Sir James looked round approvingly.
"This will do very well, and now, my dear young lady, do go to
bed and get some sleep."
Tuppence shook her head resolutely.
"I couldn't, thank you, Sir James. I should dream of Mr. Brown
all night!"
"But you'll be so tired, child."
"No, I shan't. I'd rather stay up--really."
The lawyer gave in.
Julius reappeared some minutes later, having reassured Albert and
rewarded him lavishly for his services. Having in his turn failed
to persuade Tuppence to go to bed, he said decisively:
"At any rate, you've got to have something to eat right away.
Where's the larder?"
Tuppence directed him, and he returned in a few minutes with a
cold pie and three plates.
After a hearty meal, the girl felt inclined to pooh-pooh her
fancies of half an hour before. The power of the money bribe
could not fail.
"And now, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "we want to hear your
adventures."
"That's so," agreed Julius.
Tuppence narrated her adventures with some complacence. Julius
occasionally interjected an admiring "Bully." Sir James said
nothing until she had finished, when his quiet "well done, Miss
Tuppence," made her flush with pleasure.
"There's one thing I don't get clearly," said Julius. "What put
her up to clearing out?"
"I don't know," confessed Tuppence.
Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"The room was in great disorder. That looks as though her flight
was unpremeditated. Almost as though she got a sudden warning to
go from some one."
"Mr. Brown, I suppose," said Julius scoffingly.
The lawyer looked at him deliberately for a minute or two.
"Why not?" he said. "Remember, you yourself have once been
worsted by him."
Julius flushed with vexation.
"I feel just mad when I think of how I handed out Jane's
photograph to him like a lamb. Gee, if I ever lay hands on it
again, I'll freeze on to it like--like hell!"
"That contingency is likely to be a remote one," said the other
dryly.
"I guess you're right," said Julius frankly. "And, in any case,
it's the original I'm out after. Where do you think she can be,
Sir James?"
The lawyer shook his head.
"Impossible to say. But I've a very good idea where she has
been."
"You have? Where?"
Sir James smiled.
"At the scene of your nocturnal adventures, the Bournemouth
nursing home."
"There? Impossible. I asked."
"No, my dear sir, you asked if anyone of the name of Jane Finn
had been there. Now, if the girl had been placed there it would
almost certainly be under an assumed name."
"Bully for you," cried Julius. "I never thought of that!"
"It was fairly obvious," said the other.
"Perhaps the doctor's in it too," suggested Tuppence.
Julius shook his head.
"I don't think so. I took to him at once. No, I'm pretty sure
Dr. Hall's all right."
"Hall, did you say?" asked Sir James. "That is curious--really
very curious."
"Why?" demanded Tuppence.
"Because I happened to meet him this morning. I've known him
slightly on and off for some years, and this morning I ran across
him in the street. Staying at the Metropole, he told me." He
turned to Julius. "Didn't he tell you he was coming up to town?"
Julius shook his head.
"Curious," mused Sir James. "You did not mention his name this
afternoon, or I would have suggested your going to him for
further information with my card as introduction."
"I guess I'm a mutt," said Julius with unusual humility. "I ought
to have thought of the false name stunt."
"How could you think of anything after falling out of that tree?"
cried Tuppence. "I'm sure anyone else would have been killed
right off."
"Well, I guess it doesn't matter now, anyway," said Julius.
"We've got Mrs. Vandemeyer on a string, and that's all we need."
"Yes," said Tuppence, but there was a lack of assurance in her
voice.
A silence settled down over the party. Little by little the
magic of the night began to gain a hold on them. There were
sudden creaks of the furniture, imperceptible rustlings in the
curtains. Suddenly Tuppence sprang up with a cry.
"I can't help it. I know Mr. Brown's somewhere in the flat! I
can FEEL him."
"Sure, Tuppence, how could he be? This door's open into the
hall. No one could have come in by the front door without our
seeing and hearing him."
"I can't help it. I FEEL he's here!"
She looked appealingly at Sir James, who replied gravely:
"With due deference to your feelings, Miss Tuppence (and mine as
well for that matter), I do not see how it is humanly possible
for anyone to be in the flat without our knowledge."
The girl was a little comforted by his wards.
"Sitting up at night is always rather jumpy," she confessed.
"Yes," said Sir James. "We are in the condition of people
holding a seance. Perhaps if a medium were present we might get
some marvellous results."
"Do you believe in spiritualism?" asked Tuppence, opening her
eyes wide.
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
"There is some truth in it, without a doubt. But most of the
testimony would not pass muster in the witness-box."
The hours drew on. With the first faint glimmerings of dawn, Sir
James drew aside the curtains. They beheld, what few Londoners
see, the slow rising of the sun over the sleeping city. Somehow,
with the coming of the light, the dreads and fancies of the past
night seemed absurd. Tuppence's spirits revived to the normal.
"Hooray!" she said. "It's going to be a gorgeous day. And we
shall find Tommy. And Jane Finn. And everything will be lovely.
I shall ask Mr. Carter if I can't be made a Dame!"
At seven o'clock Tuppence volunteered to go and make some tea.
She returned with a tray, containing the teapot and four cups.
"Who's the other cup for?" inquired Julius.
"The prisoner, of course. I suppose we might call her that?"
"Taking her tea seems a kind of anticlimax to last night," said
Julius thoughtfully.
"Yes, it does," admitted Tuppence. "But, anyway, here goes.
Perhaps you'd both come, too, in case she springs on me, or
anything. You see, we don't know what mood she'll wake up in."
Sir James and Julius accompanied her to the door.
"Where's the key? Oh, of course, I've got it myself."
She put it in the lock, and turned it, then paused.
"Supposing, after all, she's escaped?" she murmured in a whisper.
"Plumb impossible," replied Julius reassuringly.
But Sir James said nothing.
Tuppence drew a long breath and entered. She heaved a sigh of
relief as she saw that Mrs. Vandemeyer was lying on the bed.
"Good morning," she remarked cheerfully. "I've brought you some
tea."
Mrs. Vandemeyer did not reply. Tuppence put down the cup on the
table by the bed and went across to draw up the blinds. When she
turned, Mrs. Vandemeyer still lay without a movement. With a
sudden fear clutching at her heart, Tuppence ran to the bed. The
hand she lifted was cold as ice.... Mrs. Vandemeyer would never
speak now....
Her cry brought the others. A very few minutes sufficed. Mrs.
Vandemeyer was dead--must have been dead some hours. She had
evidently died in her sleep.
"If that isn't the cruellest luck," cried Julius in despair.
The lawyer was calmer, but there was a curious gleam in his eyes.
"If it is luck," he replied.
"You don't think--but, say, that's plumb impossible--no one could
have got in."
"No," admitted the lawyer. "I don't see how they could. And
yet--she is on the point of betraying Mr. Brown, and--she dies.
Is it only chance?"
"But how----"
"Yes, HOW! That is what we must find out." He stood there
silently, gently stroking his chin. "We must find out," he said
quietly, and Tuppence felt that if she was Mr. Brown she would
not like the tone of those simple words.
Julius's glance went to the window.
"The window's open," he remarked. "Do you think----"
Tuppence shook her head.
"The balcony only goes along as far as the boudoir. We were
there."
"He might have slipped out----" suggested Julius.
But Sir James interrupted him.
"Mr. Brown's methods are not so crude. In the meantime we must
send for a doctor, but before we do so, is there anything in this
room that might be of value to us?"
Hastily, the three searched. A charred mass in the grate
indicated that Mrs. Vandemeyer had been burning papers on the eve
of her flight. Nothing of importance remained, though they
searched the other rooms as well.
"There's that," said Tuppence suddenly, pointing to a small,
old-fashioned safe let into the wall. "It's for jewellery, I
believe, but there might be something else in it."
The key was in the lock, and Julius swung open the door, and
searched inside. He was some time over the task.
"Well," said Tuppence impatiently.
There was a pause before Julius answered, then he withdrew his
head and shut to the door.
"Nothing," he said.
In five minutes a brisk young doctor arrived, hastily summoned.
He was deferential to Sir James, whom he recognized.
"Heart failure, or possibly an overdose of some
sleeping-draught." He sniffed. "Rather an odour of chloral in
the air."
Tuppence remembered the glass she had upset. A new thought drove
her to the washstand. She found the little bottle from which
Mrs. Vandemeyer had poured a few drops.
It had been three parts full. Now--IT WAS EMPTY.
CHAPTER XIV
A CONSULTATION
NOTHING was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than the
ease and simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing to
Sir James's skilful handling. The doctor accepted quite readily
the theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had accidentally taken an
overdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would be
necessary. If so, he would let Sir James know. He understood
that Mrs. Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, and
that the servants had already left? Sir James and his young
friends had been paying a call upon her, when she was suddenly
stricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, not
liking to leave her alone. Did they know of any relatives? They
did not, but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer's
solicitor.
Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the other
left the ill-omened building.
"And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guess
we're down and out for good."
Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"No," he said quietly. "There is still the chance that Dr. Hall
may be able to tell us something."
"Gee! I'd forgotten him."
"The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think I
told you that he is staying at the Metropole. I should suggest
that we call upon him there as soon as possible. Shall we say
after a bath and breakfast?"
It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to the
Ritz, and call for Sir James in the car. This programme was
faithfully carried out, and a little after eleven they drew up
before the Metropole. They asked for Dr. Hall, and a page-boy
went in search of him. In a few minutes the little doctor came
hurrying towards them.
"Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir James
pleasantly. "Let me introduce you to Miss Cowley. Mr.
Hersheimmer, I think, you already know."
A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook hands
with Julius.
"Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode! Ankle all right,
eh?"
"I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc."
"And the heart trouble? Ha ha!"
"Still searching," said Julius briefly.
"To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?"
asked Sir James.
"Certainly. I think there is a room here where we shall be quite
undisturbed."
He led the way, and the others followed him. They sat down, and
the doctor looked inquiringly at Sir James.
"Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for the
purpose of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason to
believe that she has been at one time or another in your
establishment at Bournemouth. I hope I am transgressing no
professional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?"
"I suppose it is a matter of testimony?"
Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied:
"Yes."
"I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. What
is the young lady's name? Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, I
remember----" He half turned to Julius.
"The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. She
would be almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But I
should like to know if you are acquainted with a Mrs.
Vandemeyer?"
"Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions? I know her
slightly."
"You are not aware of what has happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?"
"Dear, dear, I had no idea of it! When did it happen?"
"She took an overdose of chloral last night."
"Purposely?"
"Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself.
Anyway, she was found dead this morning."
"Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was a
friend of yours, since you are acquainted with all these
details."
"I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who
found her dead."
"Indeed," said the doctor, starting.
"Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively.
"This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do
not see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?"
"It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs.
Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?"
Julius leaned forward eagerly.
"That is the case," said the doctor quietly.
"Under the name of----?"
"Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs.
Vandemeyer's."
"And she came to you?"
"As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915."
"Was she a mental case?"
"She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understood
from Mrs. Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on the
Lusitania when that ill-fated ship was sunk, and had suffered a
severe shock in consequence."
"We're on the right track, I think?" Sir James looked round.
"As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius.
The doctor looked at them all curiously.
"You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposing
she is not able to give one?"
"What? You have just said that she is perfectly sane."
"So she is. Nevertheless, if you want a statement from her
concerning any events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be able
to give it to you."
They looked at the little man, stupefied. He nodded cheerfully.
"It's a pity," he said. "A great pity, especially as I gather,
Sir James, that the matter is important. But there it is, she
can tell you nothing."
"But why, man? Darn it all, why?"
The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited young
American.
"Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss of
memory."
"WHAT?"
"Quite so. An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not so
uncommon, really, as you would think. There are several very
well known parallels. It's the first case of the kind that I've
had under my own personal observation, and I must admit that I've
found it of absorbing interest." There was something rather
ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction.
"And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly.
"Nothing prior to May 7, 1915. After that date her memory is as
good as yours or mine."
"Then the first thing she remembers?"
"Is landing with the survivors. Everything before that is a
blank. She did not know her own name, or where she had come from,
or where she was. She couldn't even speak her own tongue."
"But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius.
"No, my dear sir. Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe
shock to the nervous system. Loss of memory proceeds nearly
always on the same lines. I suggested a specialist, of course.
There's a very good man in Paris--makes a study of these
cases--but Mrs. Vandemeyer opposed the idea of publicity that
might result from such a course."
"I can imagine she would," said Sir James grimly.
"I fell in with her views. There is a certain notoriety given to
these cases. And the girl was very young--nineteen, I believe.
It seemed a pity that her infirmity should be talked about--might
damage her prospects. Besides, there is no special treatment to
pursue in such cases. It is really a matter of waiting."
"Waiting?"
"Yes, sooner or later, the memory will return--as suddenly as it
went. But in all probability the girl will have entirely
forgotten the intervening period, and will take up life where she
left off--at the sinking of the Lusitania."
"And when do you expect this to happen?"
The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
"Ah, that I cannot say. Sometimes it is a matter of months,
sometimes it has been known to be as long as twenty years!
Sometimes another shock does the trick. One restores what the
other took away."
"Another shock, eh?" said Julius thoughtfully.
"Exactly. There was a case in Colorado----" The little man's
voice trailed on, voluble, mildly enthusiastic.
Julius did not seem to be listening. He had relapsed into his
own thoughts and was frowning. Suddenly he came out of his brown
study, and hit the table such a resounding bang with his fist
that every one jumped, the doctor most of all.
"I've got it! I guess, doc, I'd like your medical opinion on the
plan I'm about to outline. Say Jane was to cross the herring
pond again, and the same thing was to happen. The submarine, the
sinking ship, every one to take to the boats--and so on.
Wouldn't that do the trick? Wouldn't it give a mighty big bump to
her subconscious self, or whatever the jargon is, and start it
functioning again right away?"
"A very interesting speculation, Mr. Hersheimmer. In my own
opinion, it would be successful. It is unfortunate that there is
no chance of the conditions repeating themselves as you suggest."
"Not by nature, perhaps, doc. But I'm talking about art."
"Art?"
"Why, yes. What's the difficulty? Hire a liner----"
"A liner!" murmured Dr. Hall faintly.
"Hire some passengers, hire a submarine--that's the only
difficulty, I guess. Governments are apt to be a bit hidebound
over their engines of war. They won't sell to the firstcomer.
Still, I guess that can be got over. Ever heard of the word
'graft,' sir? Well, graft gets there every time! I reckon that
we shan't really need to fire a torpedo. If every one hustles
round and screams loud enough that the ship is sinking, it ought
to be enough for an innocent young girl like Jane. By the time
she's got a life-belt on her, and is being hustled into a boat,
with a well-drilled lot of artistes doing the hysterical stunt on
deck, why--she ought to be right back where she was in May, 1915.
How's that for the bare outline?"
Dr. Hall looked at Julius. Everything that he was for the moment
incapable of saying was eloquent in that look.
"No," said Julius, in answer to it, "I'm not crazy. The thing's
perfectly possible. It's done every day in the States for the
movies. Haven't you seen trains in collision on the screen?
What's the difference between buying up a train and buying up a
liner? Get the properties and you can go right ahead!"
Dr. Hall found his voice.
"But the expense, my dear sir." His voice rose. "The expense!
It will be COLOSSAL!"
"Money doesn't worry me any," explained Julius simply.
Dr. Hall turned an appealing face to Sir James, who smiled
slightly.
"Mr. Hersheimmer is very well off--very well off indeed."
The doctor's glance came back to Julius with a new and subtle
quality in it. This was no longer an eccentric young fellow with
a habit of falling off trees. The doctor's eyes held the
deference accorded to a really rich man.
"Very remarkable plan. Very remarkable," he murmured. "The
movies--of course! Your American word for the kinema. Very
interesting. I fear we are perhaps a little behind the times over
here in our methods. And you really mean to carry out this
remarkable plan of yours."
"You bet your bottom dollar I do."
The doctor believed him--which was a tribute to his nationality.
If an Englishman had suggested such a thing, he would have had
grave doubts as to his sanity.
"I cannot guarantee a cure," he pointed out. "Perhaps I ought to
make that quite clear."
"Sure, that's all right," said Julius. "You just trot out Jane,
and leave the rest to me."
"Jane?"
"Miss Janet Vandemeyer, then. Can we get on the long distance to
your place right away, and ask them to send her up; or shall I
run down and fetch her in my car?"
The doctor stared.
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Hersheimmer. I thought you understood."
"Understood what?"
"That Miss Vandemeyer is no longer under my care."
CHAPTER XV
TUPPENCE RECEIVES A PROPOSAL
JULIUS sprang up.
"What?"
"I thought you were aware of that."
"When did she leave?"
"Let me see. To-day is Monday, is it not? It must have been
last Wednesday--why, surely--yes, it was the same evening that
you--er--fell out of my tree."
"That evening? Before, or after?"
"Let me see--oh yes, afterwards. A very urgent message arrived
from Mrs. Vandemeyer. The young lady and the nurse who was in
charge of her left by the night train."
Julius sank back again into his chair.
"Nurse Edith--left with a patient--I remember," he muttered. "My
God, to have been so near!"
Dr. Hall looked bewildered.
"I don't understand. Is the young lady not with her aunt, after
all?"
Tuppence shook her head. She was about to speak when a warning
glance from Sir James made her hold her tongue. The lawyer rose.
"I'm much obliged to you, Hall. We're very grateful for all
you've told us. I'm afraid we're now in the position of having to
track Miss Vandemeyer anew. What about the nurse who accompanied
her; I suppose you don't know where she is?"
The doctor shook his head.
"We've not heard from her, as it happens. I understood she was
to remain with Miss Vandemeyer for a while. But what can have
happened? Surely the girl has not been kidnapped."
"That remains to be seen," said Sir James gravely.
The other hesitated.
"You do not think I ought to go to the police?"
"No, no. In all probability the young lady is with other
relations."
The doctor was not completely satisfied, but he saw that Sir
James was determined to say no more, and realized that to try and
extract more information from the famous K.C. would be mere waste
of labour. Accordingly, he wished them goodbye, and they left the
hotel. For a few minutes they stood by the car talking.
"How maddening," cried Tuppence. "To think that Julius must have
been actually under the same roof with her for a few hours."
"I was a darned idiot," muttered Julius gloomily.
"You couldn't know," Tuppence consoled him. "Could he?" She
appealed to Sir James.
"I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "No
use crying over spilt milk, you know."
"The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence the
practical.
Sir James shrugged his shoulders.
"You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. That
is the only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do not
hope for much result. Otherwise there is nothing to be done."
"Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly. "And--Tommy?"
"We must hope for the best," said Sir James. "Oh yes, we must go
on hoping."
But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almost
imperceptibly he shook his head. Julius understood. The lawyer
considered the case hopeless. The young American's face grew
grave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand.
"You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letters
will always be forwarded."
Tuppence stared at him blankly.
"You are going away?"
"I told you. Don't you remember? To Scotland."
"Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated.
Sir James shrugged his shoulders.
"My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clues
have all ended in thin air. You can take my word for it that
there is nothing more to be done. If anything should arise, I
shall be glad to advise you in any way I can."
His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling.
"I suppose you're right," she said. "Anyway, thank you very much
for trying to help us. Good-bye."
Julius was bending over the car. A momentary pity came into Sir
James's keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face.
"Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a low
voice. "Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. One
sometimes manages to put in some work as well."
Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shook
his head with a smile.
"No, I shan't say any more. Great mistake to say too much.
Remember that. Never tell all you know--not even to the person
you know best. Understand? Good-bye."
He strode away. Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning to
understand Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her a
hint in the same careless fashion. Was this a hint? What exactly
lay behind those last brief words? Did he mean that, after all,
he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would be
working on it still while----
Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to
"get right in."
"You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they started
off. "Did the old guy say anything more?"
Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again.
Sir James's words sounded in her ears: "Never tell all you
know--not even to the person you know best." And like a flash
there came into her mind another memory. Julius before the safe
in the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply,
"Nothing." Was there really nothing? Or had he found something
he wished to keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, so
could she.
"Nothing particular," she replied.
She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her.
"Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?"
"If you like."
For a while they ran on under the trees in silence. It was a
beautiful day. The keen rush through the air brought a new
exhilaration to Tuppence.
"Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?"
Julius spoke in a discouraged voice. The mood was so alien to
him that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise. He
nodded.
"That's so. I'm getting down and out over the business. Sir
James to-day hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. I
don't like him--we don't gee together somehow--but he's pretty
cute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there was any chance of
success--now, would he?"
Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her belief
that Julius also had withheld something from her, she remained
firm.
"He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him.
"Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice! No--I'm about
fed up. I've half a mind to go back to the States right away."
"Oh no!" cried Tuppence. "We've got to find Tommy."
"I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely. "That's so.
We must find him. But after--well, I've been day-dreaming ever
since I started on this trip--and these dreams are rotten poor
business. I'm quit of them. Say, Miss Tuppence, there's
something I'd like to ask you."
"Yes?"
"You and Beresford. What about it?"
"I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, adding
rather inconsequently: "And, anyway, you're wrong!"
"Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?"
"Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth. "Tommy and I are
friends--nothing more."
"I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another,"
observed Julius.
"Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence. "Do I look the sort of girl that's
always falling in love with every man she meets?"
"You do not. You look the sort of girl that's mighty often
getting fallen in love with!"
"Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback. "That's a compliment, I
suppose?"
"Sure. Now let's get down to this. Supposing we never find
Beresford and--and----"
"All right--say it! I can face facts. Supposing he's--dead!
Well?"
"And all this business fiddles out. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly.
"You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid."
"I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usual
resentment of any kind of pity.
"What about marriage?" inquired Julius. "Got any views on the
subject?"
"I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence. "That is,
if"--she paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and then
stuck to her guns bravely--"I can find some one rich enough to
make it worth my while. That's frank, isn't it? I dare say you
despise me for it."
"I never despise business instinct," said Julius. "What
particular figure have you in mind?"
"Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled. "Do you mean tall or short?"
"No. Sum--income."
"Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out."
"What about me?"
"You?"
"Sure thing."
"Oh, I couldn't!"
"Why not?"
"I tell you I couldn't."
"Again, why not?"
"It would seem so unfair."
"I don't see anything unfair about it. I call your bluff, that's
all. I admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girl
I've ever met. You're so darned plucky. I'd just love to give
you a real, rattling good time. Say the word, and we'll run
round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ring
business."
"I can't," gasped Tuppence.
"Because of Beresford?"
"No, no, NO!"
"Well then?"
Tuppence merely continued to shake her head violently.
"You can't reasonably expect more dollars than I've got."
"Oh, it isn't that," gasped Tuppence with an almost hysterical
laugh. "But thanking you very much, and all that, I think I'd
better say no."
"I'd be obliged if you'd do me the favour to think it over until
to-morrow."
"It's no use."
"Still, I guess we'll leave it like that."
"Very well," said Tuppence meekly.
Neither of them spoke again until they reached the Ritz.
Tuppence went upstairs to her room. She felt morally battered to
the ground after her conflict with Julius's vigorous personality.
Sitting down in front of the glass, she stared at her own
reflection for some minutes.
"Fool," murmured Tuppence at length, making a grimace. "Little
fool. Everything you want--everything you've ever hoped for, and
you go and bleat out 'no' like an idiotic little sheep. It's your
one chance. Why don't you take it? Grab it? Snatch at it? What
more do you want?"
As if in answer to her own question, her eyes fell on a small
snapshot of Tommy that stood on her dressing-table in a shabby
frame. For a moment she struggled for self-control, and then
abandoning all presence, she held it to her lips and burst into a
fit of sobbing.
"Oh, Tommy, Tommy," she cried, "I do love you so--and I may never
see you again...."
At the end of five minutes Tuppence sat up, blew her nose, and
pushed back her hair.
"That's that," she observed sternly. "Let's look facts in the
face. I seem to have fallen in love--with an idiot of a boy who
probably doesn't care two straws about me." Here she paused.
"Anyway," she resumed, as though arguing with an unseen opponent,
"I don't KNOW that he does. He'd never have dared to say so.
I've always jumped on sentiment--and here I am being more
sentimental than anybody. What idiots girls are! I've always
thought so. I suppose I shall sleep with his photograph under my
pillow, and dream about him all night. It's dreadful to feel
you've been false to your principles."
Tuppence shook her head sadly, as she reviewed her backsliding.
"I don't know what to say to Julius, I'm sure. Oh, what a fool I
feel! I'll have to say SOMETHING--he's so American and thorough,
he'll insist upon having a reason. I wonder if he did find
anything in that safe----"
Tuppence's meditations went off on another tack. She reviewed
the events of last night carefully and persistently. Somehow,
they seemed bound up with Sir James's enigmatical words....
Suddenly she gave a great start--the colour faded out of her
face. Her eyes, fascinated, gazed in front of her, the pupils
dilated.
"Impossible," she murmured. "Impossible! I must be going mad
even to think of such a thing...."
Monstrous--yet it explained everything....
After a moment's reflection she sat down and wrote a note,
weighing each word as she did so. Finally she nodded her head as
though satisfied, and slipped it into an envelope which she
addressed to Julius. She went down the passage to his
sitting-room and knocked at the door. As she had expected, the
room was empty. She left the note on the table.
A small page-boy was waiting outside her own door when she
returned to it.
"Telegram for you, miss."
Tuppence took it from the salver, and tore it open carelessly.
Then she gave a cry. The telegram was from Tommy!
CHAPTER XVI
FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOMMY
FROM a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommy
dragged his senses slowly back to life. When he at last opened
his eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating pain
through his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliar
surroundings. Where was he? What had happened? He blinked
feebly. This was not his bedroom at the Ritz. And what the
devil was the matter with his head?
"Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up. He had remembered. He
was in that sinister house in Soho. He uttered a groan and fell
back. Through his almost-closed lids he reconnoitred carefully.
"He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He
recognized it at once for that of the bearded and efficient
German, and lay artistically inert. He felt that it would be a
pity to come round too soon; and until the pain in his head
became a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of collecting
his wits. Painfully he tried to puzzle out what had happened.
Obviously somebody must have crept up behind him as he listened
and struck him down with a blow on the head. They knew him now
for a spy, and would in all probability give him short shrift.
Undoubtedly he was in a tight place. Nobody knew where he was,
therefore he need expect no outside assistance, and must depend
solely on his own wits.
"Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated his
former remark.
"Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up.
In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to his
lips, with the brief command "Drink." Tommy obeyed. The potency
of the draught made him choke, but it cleared his brain in a
marvellous manner.
He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had been
held. On one side of him was the German, on the other the
villainous-faced doorkeeper who had let him in. The others were
grouped together at a little distance away. But Tommy missed one
face. The man known as Number One was no longer of the company.
"Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass.
"Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully.
"Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick.
The good Conrad struck hard." He indicated the evil-faced
doorkeeper by a nod. The man grinned.
Tommy twisted his head round with an effort.
"Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you? It strikes me the
thickness of my skull was lucky for you too. When I look at you I
feel it's almost a pity I've enabled you to cheat the hangman."
The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly:
"He would have run no risk of that."
"Just as you like," replied Tommy. "I know it's the fashion to
run down the police. I rather believe in them myself."
His manner was nonchalant to the last degree. Tommy Beresford
was one of those young Englishmen not distinguished by any
special intellectual ability, but who are emphatically at their
best in what is known as a "tight place." Their natural
diffidence and caution fall from them like a glove. Tommy
realized perfectly that in his own wits lay the only chance of
escape, and behind his casual manner he was racking his brains
furiously.
The cold accents of the German took up the conversation:
"Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?"
"Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity as
before.
"Do you deny that you were listening at that door?"
"I do not. I must really apologize--but your conversation was so
interesting that it overcame my scruples."
"How did you get in?"
"Dear old Conrad here." Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "I
hesitate to suggest pensioning off a faithful servant, but you
really ought to have a better watchdog."
Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the
beard swung round upon him:
"He gave the word. How was I to know?"
"Yes," Tommy chimed in. "How was he to know? Don't blame the
poor fellow. His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeing
you all face to face."
He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among the
group, but the watchful German stilled it with a wave of his
hand.
"Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly.
"Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!"
"You soon will be, my young friend," said the German.
An assenting murmur came from the others.
Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did not
waver.
"I think not," he said firmly. "I should have a great objection
to dying."
He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor's
face.
"Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?"
asked the German.
"Several," replied Tommy. "Look here, you've been asking me a
lot of questions. Let me ask you one for a change. Why didn't
you kill me off at once before I regained consciousness?"
The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage.
"Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtained
that knowledge. If you kill me now, you never will know."
But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. He
stepped forward waving his arms.
"You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed. "We will give you short
shrift. Kill him! Kill him!"
There was a roar of applause.
"You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy. "What have you
to say to that?"
"Say?" Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Pack of fools. Let them
ask themselves a few questions. How did I get into this place?
Remember what dear old Conrad said--WITH YOUR OWN PASSWORD,
wasn't it? How did I get hold of that? You don't suppose I came
up those steps haphazard and said the first thing that came into
my head?"
Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. His
only regret was that Tuppence was not present to appreciate its
full flavour.
"That is true," said the working man suddenly. "Comrades, we
have been betrayed!"
An ugly murmur arose. Tommy smiled at them encouragingly.
"That's better. How can you hope to make a success of any job if
you don't use your brains?"
"You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German. "But
that shall not save you--oh, no! You shall tell us all that you
know. Boris, here, knows pretty ways of making people speak!"
"Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularly
unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You will neither
torture me nor kill me."
"And why not?" asked Boris.
"Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," replied
Tommy quietly.
There was a momentary pause. It seemed as though Tommy's
persistent assurance was at last conquering. They were no longer
completely sure of themselves. The man in the shabby clothes
stared at Tommy searchingly.
"He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly.
Tommy hated him. Had the man seen through him?
The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperately
in his own mind.
Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy's
face.
"Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!"
"Don't get so excited, my good fellow," said Tommy calmly.
"That's the worst of you foreigners. You can't keep calm. Now, I
ask you, do I look as though I thought there were the least
chance of your killing me?"
He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear the
persistent beating of his heart which gave the lie to his words.
"No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not."
"Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy. Aloud he
pursued his advantage:
"And why am I so confident? Because I know something that puts
me in a position to propose a bargain."
"A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply.
"Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused.
"Against what?"
The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop.
Slowly Tommy spoke.
"The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the
Lusitania."
The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on his
feet. The German waved them back. He leaned over Tommy, his face
purple with excitement.
"Himmel! You have got them, then?"
With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head.
"You know where they are?" persisted the German.
Again Tommy shook his head. "Not in the least."
"Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him.
Tommy looked round. He saw anger and bewilderment on every face,
but his calm assurance had done its work--no one doubted but that
something lay behind his words.
"I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can find
them. I have a theory----"
"Pah!"
Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust.
"I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts that
are known to no one but myself. In any case what do you lose? If
I can produce the papers--you give me my life and liberty in
exchange. Is it a bargain?"
"And if we refuse?" said the German quietly.
Tommy lay back on the couch.
"The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnight
ahead----"
For a moment the German hesitated. Then he made a sign to
Conrad.
"Take him into the other room."
For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room next
door. His heart was beating violently. He had risked all on this
throw. How would they decide? And all the while that this
agonized questioning went on within him, he talked flippantly to
Conrad, enraging the cross-grained doorkeeper to the point of
homicidal mania.
At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously to
Conrad to return.
"Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarked
Tommy frivolously. "That's right, Conrad, march me in. The
prisoner is at the bar, gentlemen."
The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned to
Tommy to sit down opposite to him.
"We accept," he said harshly, "on terms. The papers must be
delivered to us before you go free."
"Idiot!" said Tommy amiably. "How do you think I can look for
them if you keep me tied by the leg here?"
"What do you expect, then?"
"I must have liberty to go about the business in my own way."
The German laughed.
"Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here
leaving us a pretty story full of promises?"
"No," said Tommy thoughtfully. "Though infinitely simpler for
me, I did not really think you would agree to that plan. Very
well, we must arrange a compromise. How would it be if you
attached little Conrad here to my person. He's a faithful fellow,
and very ready with the fist."
"We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remain
here. One of our number will carry out your instructions
minutely. If the operations are complicated, he will return to
you with a report and you can instruct him further."
"You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicate
affair, and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not,
and then where shall I be? I don't believe one of you has got an
ounce of tact."
The German rapped the table.
"Those are our terms. Otherwise, death!"
Tommy leaned back wearily.
"I like your style. Curt, but attractive. So be it, then. But
one thing is essential, I must see the girl."
"What girl?"
"Jane Finn, of course."
The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said
slowly, and as though choosing his words with care:
"Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?"
Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in coming
face to face with the girl he was seeking?
"I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not
in so many words, that is."
"Then why see her?"
Tommy paused.
"To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at
last.
Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not
quite understand.
"She will not be able to answer your question."
That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it."
"And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a short
disagreeable laugh. More than ever, Tommy felt that there was a
factor somewhere that he did not understand. The German looked at
him searchingly. "I wonder whether, after all, you know as much
as we think?" he said softly.
Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His
hold had slipped a little. But he was puzzled. What had he said
wrong? He spoke out on the impulse of the moment.
"There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not
pretended to be aware of all the details of your show. But
equally I've got something up my sleeve that you don't know
about. And that's where I mean to score. Danvers was a damned
clever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much.
But the German's face had lightened a little.
"Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, then
waved to Conrad. "Take him away. Upstairs--you know."
"Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?"
"That may perhaps be arranged."
"It must be."
"We will see about it. Only one person can decide that."
"Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer.
"Mr. Brown----"
"Shall I see him?"
"Perhaps."
"Come," said Conrad harshly.
Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned to
him to mount the stairs. He himself followed close behind. On
the floor above Conrad opened a door and Tommy passed into a
small room. Conrad lit a hissing gas burner and went out. Tommy
heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room than
the one downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airless
about the atmosphere of it. Then he realized that there was no
window. He walked round it. The walls were filthily dirty, as
everywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the wall
representing scenes from Faust. Marguerite with her box of
jewels, the church scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust and
Mephistopheles. The latter brought Tommy's mind back to Mr.
Brown again. In this sealed and closed chamber, with its
close-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and the
sinister power of the arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout as
he would, no one could ever hear him. The place was a living
tomb....
With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to the
bed and gave himself up to reflection. His head ached badly;
also, he was hungry. The silence of the place was dispiriting.
"Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see the
chief--the mysterious Mr. Brown and with a bit of luck in
bluffing I shall see the mysterious Jane Finn also. After
that----"
After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary.
CHAPTER XVII
ANNETTE
THE troubles of the future, however, soon faded before the
troubles of the present. And of these, the most immediate and
pressing was that of hunger. Tommy had a healthy and vigorous
appetite. The steak and chips partaken of for lunch seemed now to
belong to another decade. He regretfully recognized the fact
that he would not make a success of a hunger strike.
He prowled aimlessly about his prison. Once or twice he
discarded dignity, and pounded on the door. But nobody answered
the summons.
"Hang it all!" said Tommy indignantly. "They can't mean to
starve me to death." A new-born fear passed through his mind
that this might, perhaps, be one of those "pretty ways" of making
a prisoner speak, which had been attributed to Boris. But on
reflection he dismissed the idea.
"It's that sour faced brute Conrad," he decided. "That's a
fellow I shall enjoy getting even with one of these days. This is
just a bit of spite on his part. I'm certain of it."
Further meditations induced in him the feeling that it would be
extremely pleasant to bring something down with a whack on
Conrad's egg-shaped head. Tommy stroked his own head tenderly,
and gave himself up to the pleasures of imagination. Finally a
bright idea flashed across his brain. Why not convert imagination
into reality? Conrad was undoubtedly the tenant of the house.
The others, with the possible exception of the bearded German,
merely used it as a rendezvous. Therefore, why not wait in
ambush for Conrad behind the door, and when he entered bring down
a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on to his head.
One would, of course, be careful not to hit too hard. And
then--and then, simply walk out! If he met anyone on the way
down, well----Tommy brightened at the thought of an encounter
with his fists. Such an affair was infinitely more in his line
than the verbal encounter of this afternoon. Intoxicated by his
plan, Tommy gently unhooked the picture of the Devil and Faust,
and settled himself in position. His hopes were high. The plan
seemed to him simple but excellent.
Time went on, but Conrad did not appear. Night and day were the
same in this prison room, but Tommy's wrist-watch, which enjoyed
a certain degree of accuracy, informed him that it was nine
o'clock in the evening. Tommy reflected gloomily that if supper
did not arrive soon it would be a question of waiting for
breakfast. At ten o'clock hope deserted him, and he flung
himself on the bed to seek consolation in sleep. In five minutes
his woes were forgotten.
The sound of the key turning in the lock awoke him from his
slumbers. Not belonging to the type of hero who is famous for
awaking in full possession of his faculties, Tommy merely blinked
at the ceiling and wondered vaguely where he was. Then he
remembered, and looked at his watch. It was eight o'clock.
"It's either early morning tea or breakfast," deduced the young
man, "and pray God it's the latter!"
The door swung open. Too late, Tommy remembered his scheme of
obliterating the unprepossessing Conrad. A moment later he was
glad that he had, for it was not Conrad who entered, but a girl.
She carried a tray which she set down on the table.
In the feeble light of the gas burner Tommy blinked at her. He
decided at once that she was one of the most beautiful girls he
had ever seen. Her hair was a full rich brown, with sudden glints
of gold in it as though there were imprisoned sunbeams struggling
in its depths. There was a wild-rose quality about her face. Her
eyes, set wide apart, were hazel, a golden hazel that again
recalled a memory of sunbeams.
A delirious thought shot through Tommy's mind.
"Are you Jane Finn?" he asked breathlessly.
The girl shook her head wonderingly.
"My name is Annette, monsieur."
She spoke in a soft, broken English.
"Oh!" said Tommy, rather taken aback. "Francaise?" he hazarded.
"Oui, monsieur. Monsieur parle francais?"
"Not for any length of time," said Tommy. "What's that?
Breakfast?"
The girl nodded. Tommy dropped off the bed and came and
inspected the contents of the tray. It consisted of a loaf, some
margarine, and a jug of coffee.
"The living is not equal to the Ritz," he observed with a sigh.
"But for what we are at last about to receive the Lord has made
me truly thankful. Amen."
He drew up a chair, and the girl turned away to the door.
"Wait a sec," cried Tommy. "There are lots of things I want to
ask you, Annette. What are you doing in this house? Don't tell
me you're Conrad's niece, or daughter, or anything, because I
can't believe it."
"I do the SERVICE, monsieur. I am not related to anybody."
"I see," said Tommy. "You know what I asked you just now. Have
you ever heard that name?"
"I have heard people speak of Jane Finn, I think."
"You don't know where she is?"
Annette shook her head.
"She's not in this house, for instance?"
"Oh no, monsieur. I must go now--they will be waiting for me."
She hurried out. The key turned in the lock.
"I wonder who 'they' are," mused Tommy, as he continued to make
inroads on the loaf. "With a bit of luck, that girl might help
me to get out of here. She doesn't look like one of the gang."
At one o'clock Annette reappeared with another tray, but this
time Conrad accompanied her.
"Good morning," said Tommy amiably. "You have NOT used Pear's
soap, I see."
Conrad growled threateningly.
"No light repartee, have you, old bean? There, there, we can't
always have brains as well as beauty. What have we for lunch?
Stew? How did I know? Elementary, my dear Watson--the smell of
onions is unmistakable."
"Talk away," grunted the man. "It's little enough time you'll
have to talk in, maybe."
The remark was unpleasant in its suggestion, but Tommy ignored
it. He sat down at the table.
"Retire, varlet," he said, with a wave of his hand. "Prate not to
thy betters."
That evening Tommy sat on the bed, and cogitated deeply. Would
Conrad again accompany the girl? If he did not, should he risk
trying to make an ally of her? He decided that he must leave no
stone unturned. His position was desperate.
At eight o'clock the familiar sound of the key turning made him
spring to his feet. The girl was alone.
"Shut the door," he commanded. "I want to speak to you." She
obeyed.
"Look here, Annette, I want you to help me get out of this." She
shook her head.
"Impossible. There are three of them on the floor below."
"Oh!" Tommy was secretly grateful for the information. "But you
would help me if you could?"
"No, monsieur."
"Why not?"
The girl hesitated.
"I think--they are my own people. You have spied upon them. They
are quite right to keep you here."
"They're a bad lot, Annette. If you'll help me, I'll take you
away from the lot of them. And you'd probably get a good whack
of money."
But the girl merely shook her head.
"I dare not, monsieur; I am afraid of them."
She turned away.
"Wouldn't you do anything to help another girl?" cried Tommy.
"She's about your age too. Won't you save her from their
clutches?"
"You mean Jane Finn?"
"Yes."
"It is her you came here to look for? Yes?"
"That's it."
The girl looked at him, then passed her hand across her forehead.
"Jane Finn. Always I hear that name. It is familiar."
Tommy came forward eagerly.
"You must know SOMETHING about her?"
But the girl turned away abruptly.
"I know nothing--only the name." She walked towards the door.
Suddenly she uttered a cry. Tommy stared. She had caught sight
of the picture he had laid against the wall the night before. For
a moment he caught a look of terror in her eyes. As inexplicably
it changed to relief. Then abruptly she went out of the room.
Tommy could make nothing of it. Did she fancy that he had meant
to attack her with it? Surely not. He rehung the picture on the
wall thoughtfully.
Three more days went by in dreary inaction. Tommy felt the
strain telling on his nerves. He saw no one but Conrad and
Annette, and the girl had become dumb. She spoke only in
monosyllables. A kind of dark suspicion smouldered in her eyes.
Tommy felt that if this solitary confinement went on much longer
he would go mad. He gathered from Conrad that they were waiting
for orders from "Mr. Brown." Perhaps, thought Tommy, he was
abroad or away, and they were obliged to wait for his return.
But the evening of the third day brought a rude awakening.
It was barely seven o'clock when he heard the tramp of footsteps
outside in the passage. In another minute the door was flung
open. Conrad entered. With him was the evil-looking Number 14.
Tommy's heart sank at the sight of them.
"Evenin', gov'nor," said the man with a leer. "Got those ropes,
mate?"
The silent Conrad produced a length of fine cord. The next
minute Number 14's hands, horribly dexterous, were winding the
cord round his limbs, while Conrad held him down.
"What the devil----?" began Tommy.
But the slow, speechless grin of the silent Conrad froze the
words on his lips.
Number 14 proceeded deftly with his task. In another minute
Tommy was a mere helpless bundle. Then at last Conrad spoke:
"Thought you'd bluffed us, did you? With what you knew, and what
you didn't know. Bargained with us! And all the time it was
bluff! Bluff! You know less than a kitten. But your number's up
now all right, you b----swine."
Tommy lay silent. There was nothing to say. He had failed.
Somehow or other the omnipotent Mr. Brown had seen through his
pretensions. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
"A very good speech, Conrad," he said approvingly. "But wherefore
the bonds and fetters? Why not let this kind gentleman here cut
my throat without delay?"
"Garn," said Number 14 unexpectedly. "Think we're as green as to
do you in here, and have the police nosing round? Not 'alf!
We've ordered the carriage for your lordship to-morrow mornin',
but in the meantime we're not taking any chances, see!"
"Nothing," said Tommy, "could be plainer than your words--unless
it was your face."
"Stow it," said Number 14.
"With pleasure," replied Tommy. "You're making a sad
mistake--but yours will be the loss."
"You don't kid us that way again," said Number 14. "Talking as
though you were still at the blooming Ritz, aren't you?"
Tommy made no reply. He was engaged in wondering how Mr. Brown
had discovered his identity. He decided that Tuppence, in the
throes of anxiety, had gone to the police, and that his
disappearance having been made public the gang had not been slow
to put two and two together.
The two men departed and the door slammed. Tommy was left to his
meditations. They were not pleasant ones. Already his limbs felt
cramped and stiff. He was utterly helpless, and he could see no
hope anywhere.
About an hour had passed when he heard the key softly turned, and
the door opened. It was Annette. Tommy's heart beat a little
faster. He had forgotten the girl. Was it possible that she had
come to his help?
Suddenly he heard Conrad's voice:
"Come out of it, Annette. He doesn't want any supper to-night."
"Oui, oui, je sais bien. But I must take the other tray. We need
the things on it."
"Well, hurry up," growled Conrad.
Without looking at Tommy the girl went over to the table, and
picked up the tray. She raised a hand and turned out the light.
"Curse you"--Conrad had come to the door--"why did you do that?"
"I always turn it out. You should have told me. Shall I relight
it, Monsieur Conrad?"
"No, come on out of it."
"Le beau petit monsieur," cried Annette, pausing by the bed in
the darkness. "You have tied him up well, hein? He is like a
trussed chicken!" The frank amusement in her tone jarred on the
boy; but at that moment, to his amazement, he felt her hand
running lightly over his bonds, and something small and cold was
pressed into the palm of his hand.
"Come on, Annette."
"Mais me voila."
The door shut. Tommy heard Conrad say:
"Lock it and give me the key."
The footsteps died away. Tommy lay petrified with amazement. The
object Annette had thrust into his hand was a small penknife, the
blade open. From the way she had studiously avoided looking at
him, and her action with the light, he came to the conclusion
that the room was overlooked. There must be a peep-hole somewhere
in the walls. Remembering how guarded she had always been in her
manner, he saw that he had probably been under observation all
the time. Had he said anything to give himself away? Hardly. He
had revealed a wish to escape and a desire to find Jane Finn, but
nothing that could have given a clue to his own identity. True,
his question to Annette had proved that he was personally
unacquainted with Jane Finn, but he had never pretended
otherwise. The question now was, did Annette really know more?
Were her denials intended primarily for the listeners? On that
point he could come to no conclusion.
But there was a more vital question that drove out all others.
Could he, bound as he was, manage to cut his bonds? He essayed
cautiously to rub the open blade up and down on the cord that
bound his two wrists together. It was an awkward business, and
drew a smothered "Ow" of pain from him as the knife cut into his
wrist. But slowly and doggedly he went on sawing to and fro. He
cut the flesh badly, but at last he felt the cord slacken. With
his hands free, the rest was easy. Five minutes later he stood
upright with some difficulty, owing to the cramp in his limbs.
His first care was to bind up his bleeding wrist. Then he sat on
the edge of the bed to think. Conrad had taken the key of the
door, so he could expect little more assistance from Annette.
The only outlet from the room was the door, consequently he would
perforce have to wait until the two men returned to fetch him.
But when they did . . . Tommy smiled! Moving with infinite
caution in the dark room, he found and unhooked the famous
picture. He felt an economical pleasure that his first plan would
not be wasted. There was now nothing to do but to wait. He
waited.
The night passed slowly. Tommy lived through an eternity of
hours, but at last he heard footsteps. He stood upright, drew a
deep breath, and clutched the picture firmly.
The door opened. A faint light streamed in from outside. Conrad
went straight towards the gas to light it. Tommy deeply regretted
that it was he who had entered first. It would have been pleasant
to get even with Conrad. Number 14 followed. As he stepped
across the threshold, Tommy brought the picture down with
terrific force on his head. Number 14 went down amidst a
stupendous crash of broken glass. In a minute Tommy had slipped
out and pulled to the door. The key was in the lock. He turned
it and withdrew it just as Conrad hurled himself against the door
from the inside with a volley of curses.
For a moment Tommy hesitated. There was the sound of some one
stirring on the floor below. Then the German's voice came up the
stairs.
"Gott im Himmel! Conrad, what is it?"
Tommy felt a small hand thrust into his. Beside him stood
Annette. She pointed up a rickety ladder that apparently led to
some attics.
"Quick--up here!" She dragged him after her up the ladder. In
another moment they were standing in a dusty garret littered with
lumber. Tommy looked round.
"This won't do. It's a regular trap. There's no way out."
"Hush! Wait." The girl put her finger to her lips. She crept to
the top of the ladder and listened.
The banging and beating on the door was terrific. The German and
another were trying to force the door in. Annette explained in a
whisper:
"They will think you are still inside. They cannot hear what
Conrad says. The door is too thick."
"I thought you could hear what went on in the room?"
"There is a peep-hole into the next room. It was clever of you
to guess. But they will not think of that--they are only anxious
to get in."
"Yes--but look here----"
"Leave it to me." She bent down. To his amazement, Tommy saw
that she was fastening the end of a long piece of string to the
handle of a big cracked jug. She arranged it carefully, then
turned to Tommy.
"Have you the key of the door?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
He handed it to her.
"I am going down. Do you think you can go halfway, and then
swing yourself down BEHIND the ladder, so that they will not see
you?"
Tommy nodded.
"There's a big cupboard in the shadow of the landing. Stand
behind it. Take the end of this string in your hand. When I've
let the others out--PULL!"
Before he had time to ask her anything more, she had flitted
lightly down the ladder and was in the midst of the group with a
loud cry:
"Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu! Qu'est-ce qu'il y a?"
The German turned on her with an oath.
"Get out of this. Go to your room!"
Very cautiously Tommy swung himself down the back of the ladder.
So long as they did not turn round ... all was well. He crouched
behind the cupboard. They were still between him and the stairs.
"AH!" Annette appeared to stumble over something. She stooped.
"Mon Dieu, voila la clef!"
The German snatched it from her. He unlocked the door. Conrad
stumbled out, swearing.
"Where is he? Have you got him?"
"We have seen no one," said the German sharply. His face paled.
"Who do you mean?"
Conrad gave vent to another oath.
"He's got away."
"Impossible. He would have passed us."
At that moment, with an ecstatic smile Tommy pulled the string. A
crash of crockery came from the attic above. In a trice the men
were pushing each other up the rickety ladder and had disappeared
into the darkness above.
Quick as a flash Tommy leapt from his hiding-place and dashed
down the stairs, pulling the girl with him. There was no one in
the hall. He fumbled over the bolts and chain. At last they
yielded, the door swung open. He turned. Annette had
disappeared.
Tommy stood spell-bound. Had she run upstairs again? What
madness possessed her! He fumed with impatience, but he stood
his ground. He would not go without her.
And suddenly there was an outcry overhead, an exclamation from
the German, and then Annette's voice, clear and high:
"Ma foi, he has escaped! And quickly! Who would have thought
it?"
Tommy still stood rooted to the ground. Was that a command to
him to go? He fancied it was.
And then, louder still, the words floated down to him:
"This is a terrible house. I want to go back to Marguerite. To
Marguerite. TO MARGUERITE!"
Tommy had run back to the stairs. She wanted him to go and leave
her. But why? At all costs he must try and get her away with
him. Then his heart sank. Conrad was leaping down the stairs,
uttering a savage cry at the sight of him. After him came the
others.
Tommy stopped Conrad's rush with a straight blow with his fist.
It caught the other on the point of the jaw and he fell like a
log. The second man tripped over his body and fell. From higher
up the staircase there was a flash, and a bullet grazed Tommy's
ear. He realized that it would be good for his health to get out
of this house as soon as possible. As regards Annette he could
do nothing. He had got even with Conrad, which was one
satisfaction. The blow had been a good one.
He leapt for the door, slamming it behind him. The square was
deserted. In front of the house was a baker's van. Evidently he
was to have been taken out of London in that, and his body found
many miles from the house in Soho. The driver jumped to the
pavement and tried to bar Tommy's way. Again Tommy's fist shot
out, and the driver sprawled on the pavement.
Tommy took to his heels and ran--none too soon. The front door
opened and a hail of bullets followed him. Fortunately none of
them hit him. He turned the corner of the square.
"There's one thing," he thought to himself, "they can't go on
shooting. They'll have the police after them if they do. I
wonder they dared to there."
He heard the footsteps of his pursuers behind him, and redoubled
his own pace. Once he got out of these by-ways he would be safe.
There would be a policeman about somewhere--not that he really
wanted to invoke the aid of the police if he could possibly do
without it. It meant explanations, and general awkwardness. In
another moment he had reason to bless his luck. He stumbled over
a prostrate figure, which started up with a yell of alarm and
dashed off down the street. Tommy drew back into a doorway. In a
minute he had the pleasure of seeing his two pursuers, of whom
the German was one, industriously tracking down the red herring!
Tommy sat down quietly on the doorstep and allowed a few moments
to elapse while he recovered his breath. Then he strolled gently
in the opposite direction. He glanced at his watch. It was a
little after half-past five. It was rapidly growing light. At
the next corner he passed a policeman. The policeman cast a
suspicious eye on him. Tommy felt slightly offended. Then,
passing his hand over his face, he laughed. He had not shaved or
washed for three days! What a guy he must look.
He betook himself without more ado to a Turkish Bath
establishment which he knew to be open all night. He emerged into
the busy daylight feeling himself once more, and able to make
plans.
First of all, he must have a square meal. He had eaten nothing
since midday yesterday. He turned into an A.B.C. shop and
ordered eggs and bacon and coffee. Whilst he ate, he read a
morning paper propped up in front of him. Suddenly he stiffened.
There was a long article on Kramenin, who was described as the
"man behind Bolshevism" in Russia, and who had just arrived in
London--some thought as an unofficial envoy. His career was
sketched lightly, and it was firmly asserted that he, and not the
figurehead leaders, had been the author of the Russian
Revolution.
In the centre of the page was his portrait.
"So that's who Number 1 is," said Tommy with his mouth full of
eggs and bacon. "Not a doubt about it, I must push on."
He paid for his breakfast, and betook himself to Whitehall. There
he sent up his name, and the message that it was urgent. A few
minutes later he was in the presence of the man who did not here
go by the name of "Mr. Carter." There was a frown on his face.
"Look here, you've no business to come asking for me in this way.
I thought that was distinctly understood?"
"It was, sir. But I judged it important to lose no time."
And as briefly and succinctly as possible he detailed the
experiences of the last few days.
Half-way through, Mr. Carter interrupted him to give a few
cryptic orders through the telephone. All traces of displeasure
had now left his face. He nodded energetically when Tommy had
finished.
"Quite right. Every moment's of value. Fear we shall be too
late anyway. They wouldn't wait. Would clear out at once.
Still, they may have left something behind them that will be a
clue. You say you've recognized Number 1 to be Kramenin? That's
important. We want something against him badly to prevent the
Cabinet falling on his neck too freely. What about the others?
You say two faces were familiar to you? One's a Labour man, you
think? Just look through these photos, and see if you can spot
him."
A minute later, Tommy held one up. Mr. Carter exhibited some
surprise.
"Ah, Westway! Shouldn't have thought it. Poses as being
moderate. As for the other fellow, I think I can give a good
guess." He handed another photograph to Tommy, and smiled at the
other's exclamation. "I'm right, then. Who is he? Irishman.
Prominent Unionist M.P. All a blind, of course. We've suspected
it--but couldn't get any proof. Yes, you've done very well, young
man. The 29th, you say, is the date. That gives us very little
time--very little time indeed."
"But----" Tommy hesitated.
Mr. Carter read his thoughts.
"We can deal with the General Strike menace, I think. It's a
toss-up--but we've got a sporting chance! But if that draft
treaty turns up--we're done. England will be plunged in anarchy.
Ah, what's that? The car? Come on, Beresford, we'll go and have
a look at this house of yours."
Two constables were on duty in front of the house in Soho. An
inspector reported to Mr. Carter in a low voice. The latter
turned to Tommy.
"The birds have flown--as we thought. We might as well go over
it."
Going over the deserted house seemed to Tommy to partake of the
character of a dream. Everything was just as it had been. The
prison room with the crooked pictures, the broken jug in the
attic, the meeting room with its long table. But nowhere was
there a trace of papers. Everything of that kind had either been
destroyed or taken away. And there was no sign of Annette.
"What you tell me about the girl puzzled me," said Mr. Carter.
"You believe that she deliberately went back?"
"It would seem so, sir. She ran upstairs while I was getting.
the door open."
"H'm, she must belong to the gang, then; but, being a woman,
didn't feel like standing by to see a personable young man
killed. But evidently she's in with them, or she wouldn't have
gone back."
"I can't believe she's really one of them, sir. She--seemed so
different----"
"Good-looking, I suppose?" said Mr. Carter with a smile that made
Tommy flush to the roots of his hair. He admitted Annette's
beauty rather shamefacedly.
"By the way," observed Mr. Carter, "have you shown yourself to
Miss Tuppence yet? She's been bombarding me with letters about
you."
"Tuppence? I was afraid she might get a bit rattled. Did she go
to the police?"
Mr. Carter shook his head.
"Then I wonder how they twigged me."
Mr. Carter looked inquiringly at him, and Tommy explained. The
other nodded thoughtfully.
"True, that's rather a curious point. Unless the mention of the
Ritz was an accidental remark?"
"It might have been, sir. But they must have found out about me
suddenly in some way."
"Well," said Mr. Carter, looking round him, "there's nothing more
to be done here. What about some lunch with me?"
"Thanks awfully, sir. But I think I'd better get back and rout
out Tuppence."
"Of course. Give her my kind regards and tell her not to believe
you're killed too readily next time."
Tommy grinned.
"I take a lot of killing, sir."
"So I perceive," said Mr. Carter dryly. "Well, good-bye.
Remember you're a marked man now, and take reasonable care of
yourself."
"Thank you, sir."
Hailing a taxi briskly Tommy stepped in, and was swiftly borne to
the Ritz' dwelling the while on the pleasurable anticipation of
startling Tuppence.
"Wonder what she's been up to. Dogging 'Rita' most likely. By
the way, I suppose that's who Annette meant by Marguerite. I
didn't get it at the time." The thought saddened him a little,
for it seemed to prove that Mrs. Vandemeyer and the girl were on
intimate terms.
The taxi drew up at the Ritz. Tommy burst into its sacred
portals eagerly, but his enthusiasm received a check. He was
informed that Miss Cowley had gone out a quarter of an hour ago.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TELEGRAM
BAFFLED for the moment, Tommy strolled into the restaurant, and
ordered a meal of surpassing excellence. His four days'
imprisonment had taught him anew to value good food.
He was in the middle of conveying a particularly choice morsel of
Sole a la Jeanette to his mouth, when he caught sight of Julius
entering the room. Tommy waved a menu cheerfully, and succeeded
in attracting the other's attention. At the sight of Tommy,
Julius's eyes seemed as though they would pop out of his head.
He strode across, and pump-handled Tommy's hand with what seemed
to the latter quite unnecessary vigour.
"Holy snakes!" he ejaculated. "Is it really you?"
"Of course it is. Why shouldn't it be?"
"Why shouldn't it be? Say, man, don't you know you've been given
up for dead? I guess we'd have had a solemn requiem for you in
another few days."
"Who thought I was dead?" demanded Tommy.
"Tuppence."
"She remembered the proverb about the good dying young, I
suppose. There must be a certain amount of original sin in me to
have survived. Where is Tuppence, by the way?"
"Isn't she here?"
"No, the fellows at the office said she'd just gone out."
"Gone shopping, I guess. I dropped her here in the car about an
hour ago. But, say, can't you shed that British calm of yours,
and get down to it? What on God's earth have you been doing all
this time?"
"If you're feeding here," replied Tommy, "order now. It's going
to be a long story."
Julius drew up a chair to the opposite side of the table,
summoned a hovering waiter, and dictated his wishes. Then he
turned to Tommy.
"Fire ahead. I guess you've had some few adventures."
"One or two," replied Tommy modestly, and plunged into his
recital.
Julius listened spellbound. Half the dishes that were placed
before him he forgot to eat. At the end he heaved a long sigh.
"Bully for you. Reads like a dime novel!"
"And now for the home front," said Tommy, stretching out his hand
for a peach.
"We-el," drawled Julius, "I don't mind admitting we've had some
adventures too."
He, in his turn, assumed the role of narrator. Beginning with his
unsuccessful reconnoitring at Bournemouth, he passed on to his
return to London, the buying of the car, the growing anxieties of
Tuppence, the call upon Sir James, and the sensational
occurrences of the previous night.
"But who killed her?" asked Tommy. "I don't quite understand."
"The doctor kidded himself she took it herself," replied Julius
dryly.
"And Sir James? What did he think?"
"Being a legal luminary, he is likewise a human oyster," replied
Julius. "I should say he 'reserved judgment.' " He went on to
detail the events of the morning.
"Lost her memory, eh?" said Tommy with interest. "By Jove, that
explains why they looked at me so queerly when I spoke of
questioning her. Bit of a slip on my part, that! But it wasn't
the sort of thing a fellow would be likely to guess."
"They didn't give you any sort of hint as to where Jane was?"
Tommy shook his head regretfully.
"Not a word. I'm a bit of an ass, as you know. I ought to have
got more out of them somehow."
"I guess you're lucky to be here at all. That bluff of yours was
the goods all right. How you ever came to think of it all so pat
beats me to a frazzle!"
"I was in such a funk I had to think of something," said Tommy
simply.
There was a moment's pause, and then Tommy reverted to Mrs.
Vandemeyer's death.
"There's no doubt it was chloral?"
"I believe not. At least they call it heart failure induced by
an overdose, or some such claptrap. It's all right. We don't
want to be worried with an inquest. But I guess Tuppence and I
and even the highbrow Sir James have all got the same idea."
"Mr. Brown?" hazarded Tommy.
"Sure thing."
Tommy nodded.
"All the same," he said thoughtfully, "Mr. Brown hasn't got
wings. I don't see how he got in and out."
"How about some high-class thought transference stunt? Some
magnetic influence that irresistibly impelled Mrs. Vandemeyer to
commit suicide?"
Tommy looked at him with respect.
"Good, Julius. Distinctly good. Especially the phraseology. But
it leaves me cold. I yearn for a real Mr. Brown of flesh and
blood. I think the gifted young detectives must get to work,
study the entrances and exits, and tap the bumps on their
foreheads until the solution of the mystery dawns on them. Let's
go round to the scene of the crime. I wish we could get hold of
Tuppence. The Ritz would enjoy the spectacle of the glad
reunion."
Inquiry at the office revealed the fact that Tuppence had not yet
returned.
"All the same, I guess I'll have a look round upstairs," said
Julius. "She might be in my sitting-room." He disappeared.
Suddenly a diminutive boy spoke at Tommy's elbow:
"The young lady--she's gone away by train, I think, sir," he
murmured shyly.
"What?" Tommy wheeled round upon him.
The small boy became pinker than before.
"The taxi, sir. I heard her tell the driver Charing Cross and to
look sharp."
Tommy stared at him, his eyes opening wide in surprise.
Emboldened, the small boy proceeded. "So I thought, having asked
for an A.B.C. and a Bradshaw."
Tommy interrupted him:
"When did she ask for an A.B.C. and a Bradshaw?"
"When I took her the telegram, sir."
"A telegram?"
"Yes, sir."
"When was that?"
"About half-past twelve, sir."
"Tell me exactly what happened."
The small boy drew a long breath.
"I took up a telegram to No. 891--the lady was there. She opened
it and gave a gasp, and then she said, very jolly like: 'Bring me
up a Bradshaw, and an A.B.C., and look sharp, Henry.' My name
isn't Henry, but----"
"Never mind your name," said Tommy impatiently. "Go on."
"Yes, sir. I brought them, and she told me to wait, and looked
up something. And then she looks up at the clock, and 'Hurry up,'
she says. 'Tell them to get me a taxi,' and she begins a-shoving
on of her hat in front of the glass, and she was down in two
ticks, almost as quick as I was, and I seed her going down the
steps and into the taxi, and I heard her call out what I told
you."
The small boy stopped and replenished his lungs. Tommy continued
to stare at him. At that moment Julius rejoined him. He held an
open letter in his hand.
"I say, Hersheimmer"--Tommy turned to him--"Tuppence has gone off
sleuthing on her own."
" Shucks!"
"Yes, she has. She went off in a taxi to Charing Cross in the
deuce of a hurry after getting a telegram." His eye fell on the
letter in Julius's hand. "Oh; she left a note for you. That's
all right. Where's she off to?"
Almost unconsciously, he held out his hand for the letter, but
Julius folded it up and placed it in his pocket. He seemed a
trifle embarrassed.
"I guess this is nothing to do with it. It's about something
else--something I asked her that she was to let me know about."
"Oh!" Tommy looked puzzled, and seemed waiting for more.
"See here," said Julius suddenly, "I'd better put you wise. I
asked Miss Tuppence to marry me this morning."
"Oh!" said Tommy mechanically. He felt dazed. Julius's words
were totally unexpected. For the moment they benumbed his brain.
"I'd like to tell you," continued Julius, "that before I
suggested anything of the kind to Miss Tuppence, I made it clear
that I didn't want to butt in in any way between her and you----
Tommy roused himself.
"That's all right," he said quickly. "Tuppence and I have been
pals for years. Nothing more." He lit a cigarette with a hand
that shook ever so little. "That's quite all right. Tuppence
always said that she was looking out for----"
He stopped abruptly, his face crimsoning, but Julius was in no
way discomposed.
"Oh, I guess it'll be the dollars that'll do the trick. Miss
Tuppence put me wise to that right away. There's no humbug about
her. We ought to gee along together very well."
Tommy looked at him curiously for a minute, as though he were
about to speak, then changed his mind and said nothing. Tuppence
and Julius! Well, why not? Had she not lamented the fact that
she knew no rich men? Had she not openly avowed her intention of
marrying for money if she ever had the chance? Her meeting with
the young American millionaire had given her the chance--and it
was unlikely she would be slow to avail herself of it. She was
out for money. She had always said so. Why blame her because
she had been true to her creed?
Nevertheless, Tommy did blame her. He was filled with a
passionate and utterly illogical resentment. It was all very
well to SAY things like that--but a REAL girl would never marry
for money. Tuppence was utterly cold-blooded and selfish, and he
would be delighted if he never saw her again! And it was a
rotten world!
Julius's voice broke in on these meditations.
"Yes, we ought to get along together very well. I've heard that
a girl always refuses you once--a sort of convention."
Tommy caught his arm.
"Refuses? Did you say REFUSES?"
"Sure thing. Didn't I tell you that? She just rapped out a 'no'
without any kind of reason to it. The eternal feminine, the Huns
call it, I've heard. But she'll come round right enough. Likely
enough, I hustled her some----"
But Tommy interrupted regardless of decorum.
"What did she say in that note?" he demanded fiercely.
The obliging Julius handed it to him.
"There's no earthly clue in it as to where she's gone," he
assured Tommy. "But you might as well see for yourself if you
don't believe me."
The note, in Tuppence's well-known schoolboy writing, ran as
follows:
"DEAR JULIUS,
"It's always better to have things in black and white. I don't
feel I can be bothered to think of marriage until Tommy is found.
Let's leave it till then. "Yours affectionately,
"TUPPENCE."
Tommy handed it back, his eyes shining. His feelings had
undergone a sharp reaction. He now felt that Tuppence was all
that was noble and disinterested. Had she not refused Julius
without hesitation? True, the note betokened signs of weakening,
but he could excuse that. It read almost like a bribe to Julius
to spur him on in his efforts to find Tommy, but he supposed she
had not really meant it that way. Darling Tuppence, there was not
a girl in the world to touch her! When he saw her----His thoughts
were brought up with a sudden jerk.
"As you say," he remarked, pulling himself together, "there's not
a hint here as to what she's up to. Hi--Henry!"
The small boy came obediently. Tommy produced five shillings.
"One thing more. Do you remember what the young lady did with
the telegram?"
Henry gasped and spoke.
"She crumpled it up into a ball and threw it into the grate, and
made a sort of noise like 'Whoop!' sir."
"Very graphic, Henry," said Tommy. "Here's your five shillings.
Come on, Julius. We must find that telegram."
They hurried upstairs. Tuppence had left the key in her door.
The room was as she had left it. In the fireplace was a crumpled
ball of orange and white. Tommy disentangled it and smoothed out
the telegram.
"Come at once, Moat House, Ebury, Yorkshire, great
developments--TOMMY."
They looked at each other in stupefaction. Julius spoke first:
"You didn't send it?"
"Of course not. What does it mean?"
"I guess it means the worst," said Julius quietly. "They've got
her."
"WHAT?"
"Sure thing! They signed your name, and she fell into the trap
like a lamb."
"My God! What shall we do?"
"Get busy, and go after her! Right now! There's no time to
waste. It's almighty luck that she didn't take the wire with her.
If she had we'd probably never have traced her. But we've got to
hustle. Where's that Bradshaw?"
The energy of Julius was infectious. Left to himself, Tommy
would probably have sat down to think things out for a good
half-hour before he decided on a plan of action. But with Julius
Hersheimmer about, hustling was inevitable.
After a few muttered imprecations he handed the Bradshaw to Tommy
as being more conversant with its mysteries. Tommy abandoned it
in favour of an A.B.C.
"Here we are. Ebury, Yorks. From King's Cross. Or St. Pancras.
(Boy must have made a mistake. It was King's Cross, not CHARING
Cross.) 12.50, that's the train she went by. 2.10, that's gone.
3.20 is the next--and a damned slow train too."
"What about the car?"
Tommy shook his head.
"Send it up if you like, but we'd better stick to the train. The
great thing is to keep calm."
Julius groaned.
"That's so. But it gets my goat to think of that innocent young
girl in danger!"
Tommy nodded abstractedly. He was thinking. In a moment or two,
he said:
"I say, Julius, what do they want her for, anyway?"
"Eh? I don't get you?"
"What I mean is that I don't think it's their game to do her any
harm," explained Tommy, puckering his brow with the strain of his
mental processes. "She's a hostage, that's what she is. She's in
no immediate danger, because if we tumble on to anything, she'd
be damned useful to them. As long as they've got her, they've got
the whip hand of us. See?"
"Sure thing," said Julius thoughtfully. "That's so."
"Besides," added Tommy, as an afterthought, "I've great faith in
Tuppence."
The journey was wearisome, with many stops, and crowded
carriages. They had to change twice, once at Doncaster, once at a
small junction. Ebury was a deserted station with a solitary
porter, to whom Tommy addressed himself:
"Can you tell me the way to the Moat House?"
"The Moat House? It's a tidy step from here. The big house near
the sea, you mean?"
Tommy assented brazenly. After listening to the porter's
meticulous but perplexing directions, they prepared to leave the
station. It was beginning to rain, and they turned up the collars
of their coats as they trudged through the slush of the road.
Suddenly Tommy halted.
"Wait a moment." He ran back to the station and tackled the
porter anew.
"Look here, do you remember a young lady who arrived by an
earlier train, the 12.50 from London? She'd probably ask you the
way to the Moat House."
He described Tuppence as well as he could, but the porter shook
his head. Several people had arrived by the train in question.
He could not call to mind one young lady in particular. But he
was quite certain that no one had asked him the way to the Moat
House.
Tommy rejoined Julius, and explained. Depression was settling on
him like a leaden weight. He felt convinced that their quest was
going to be unsuccessful. The enemy had over three hours' start.
Three hours was more than enough for Mr. Brown. He would not
ignore the possibility of the telegram having been found.
The way seemed endless. Once they took the wrong turning and
went nearly half a mile out of their direction. It was past seven
o'clock when a small boy told them that "t' Moat House" was just
past the next corner.
A rusty iron gate swinging dismally on its hinges! An overgrown
drive thick with leaves. There was something about the place
that struck a chill to both their hearts. They went up the
deserted drive. The leaves deadened their footsteps. The
daylight was almost gone. It was like walking in a world of
ghosts. Overhead the branches flapped and creaked with a mournful
note. Occasionally a sodden leaf drifted silently down, startling
them with its cold touch on their cheek.
A turn of the drive brought them in sight of the house. That,
too, seemed empty and deserted. The shutters were closed, the
steps up to the door overgrown with moss. Was it indeed to this
desolate spot that Tuppence had been decoyed? It seemed hard to
believe that a human footstep had passed this way for months.
Julius jerked the rusty bell handle. A jangling peal rang
discordantly, echoing through the emptiness within. No one came.
They rang again and again--but there was no sign of life. Then
they walked completely round the house. Everywhere silence, and
shuttered windows. If they could believe the evidence of their
eyes the place was empty.
"Nothing doing," said Julius.
They retraced their steps slowly to the gate.
"There must be a village handy," continued the young American.
"We'd better make inquiries there. They'll know something about
the place, and whether there's been anyone there lately."
"Yes, that's not a bad idea."
Proceeding up the road, they soon came to a little hamlet. On the
outskirts of it, they met a workman swinging his bag of tools,
and Tommy stopped him with a question.
"The Moat House? It's empty. Been empty for years. Mrs;
Sweeny's got the key if you want to go over it--next to the post
office."
Tommy thanked him. They soon found the post office, which was
also a sweet and general fancy shop, and knocked at the door of
the cottage next to it. A clean, wholesome-looking woman opened
it. She readily produced the key of the Moat House.
"Though I doubt if it's the kind of place to suit you, sir. In a
terrible state of repair. Ceilings leaking and all. 'Twould need
a lot of money spent on it."
"Thanks," said Tommy cheerily. "I dare say it'll be a washout,
but houses are scarce nowadays."
"That they are," declared the woman heartily. "My daughter and
son-in-law have been looking for a decent cottage for I don't
know how long. It's all the war. Upset things terribly, it has.
But excuse me, sir, it'll be too dark for you to see much of the
house. Hadn't you better wait until to-morrow?"
"That's all right. We'll have a look around this evening,
anyway. We'd have been here before only we lost our way. What's
the best place to stay at for the night round here?"
Mrs. Sweeny looked doubtful.
"There's the Yorkshire Arms, but it's not much of a place for
gentlemen like you."
"Oh, it will do very well. Thanks. By the way, you've not had a
young lady here asking for this key to-day?"
The woman shook her head.
"No one's been over the place for a long time."
"Thanks very much."
They retraced their steps to the Moat House. As the front door
swung back on its hinges, protesting loudly, Julius struck a
match and examined the floor carefully. Then he shook his head.
"I'd swear no one's passed this way. Look at the dust. Thick.
Not a sign of a footmark."
They wandered round the deserted house. Everywhere the same
tale. Thick layers of dust apparently undisturbed.
"This gets me," said Julius. "I don't believe Tuppence was ever
in this house."
"She must have been."
Julius shook his head without replying.
"We'll go over it again to-morrow," said Tommy. "Perhaps we'll
see more in the daylight."
On the morrow they took up the search once more, and were
reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the house had not been
invaded for some considerable time. They might have left the
village altogether but for a fortunate discovery of Tommy's. As
they were retracing their steps to the gate, he gave a sudden
cry, and stooping, picked something up from among the leaves, and
held it out to Julius. It was a small gold brooch.
"That's Tuppence's!"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I've often seen her wear it."
Julius drew a deep breath.
"I guess that settles it. She came as far as here, anyway.
We'll make that pub our head-quarters, and raise hell round here
until we find her. Somebody MUST have seen her."
Forthwith the campaign began. Tommy and Julius worked separately
and together, but the result was the same. Nobody answering to
Tuppence's description had been seen in the vicinity. They were
baffled--but not discouraged. Finally they altered their
tactics. Tuppence had certainly not remained long in the
neighbourhood of the Moat House. That pointed to her having been
overcome and carried away in a car. They renewed inquiries. Had
anyone seen a car standing somewhere near the Moat House that
day? Again they met with no success.
Julius wired to town for his own car, and they scoured the
neighbourhood daily with unflagging zeal. A grey limousine on
which they had set high hopes was traced to Harrogate, and turned
out to be the property of a highly respectable maiden lady!
Each day saw them set out on a new quest. Julius was like a
hound on the leash. He followed up the slenderest clue. Every
car that had passed through the village on the fateful day was
tracked down. He forced his way into country properties and
submitted the owners of the motors to a searching
cross-examination. His apologies were as thorough as his methods,
and seldom failed in disarming the indignation of his victims;
but, as day succeeded day, they were no nearer to discovering
Tuppence's whereabouts. So well had the abduction been planned
that the girl seemed literally to have vanished into thin air.
And another preoccupation was weighing on Tommy's mind.
"Do you know how long we've been here?" he asked one morning as
they sat facing each other at breakfast. "A week! We're no
nearer to finding Tuppence, and NEXT SUNDAY IS THE 29TH!"
"Shucks!" said Julius thoughtfully. "I'd almost forgotten about
the 29th. I've been thinking of nothing but Tuppence."
"So have I. At least, I hadn't forgotten about the 29th, but it
didn't seem to matter a damn in comparison to finding Tuppence.
But to-day's the 23rd, and time's getting short. If we're ever
going to get hold of her at all, we must do it before the
29th--her life won't be worth an hour's purchase afterwards. The
hostage game will be played out by then. I'm beginning to feel
that we've made a big mistake in the way we've set about this.
We've wasted time and we're no forrader."
"I'm with you there. We've been a couple of mutts, who've bitten
off a bigger bit than they can chew. I'm going to quit fooling
right away!"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you. I'm going to do what we ought to have done a
week ago. I'm going right back to London to put the case in the
hands of your British police. We fancied ourselves as sleuths.
Sleuths! It was a piece of damn-fool foolishness! I'm through!
I've had enough of it. Scotland Yard for me!"
"You're right," said Tommy slowly. "I wish to God we'd gone
there right away."
"Better late than never. We've been like a couple of babes
playing 'Here we go round the Mulberry Bush.' Now I'm going
right along to Scotland Yard to ask them to take me by the hand
and show me the way I should go. I guess the professional always
scores over the amateur in the end. Are you coming along with
me?"
Tommy shook his head.
"What's the good? One of us is enough. I might as well stay
here and nose round a bit longer. Something MIGHT turn up. One
never knows."
"Sure thing. Well, so long. I'll be back in a couple of shakes
with a few inspectors along. I shall tell them to pick out their
brightest and best."
But the course of events was not to follow the plan Julius had
laid down. Later in the day Tommy received a wire:
"Join me Manchester Midland Hotel. Important news--JULIUS."
At 7:30 that night Tommy alighted from a slow cross-country
train. Julius was on the platform.
"Thought you'd come by this train if you weren't out when my wire
arrived."
Tommy grasped him by the arm.
"What is it? Is Tuppence found?"
Julius shook his head.
"No. But I found this waiting in London. Just arrived."
He handed the telegraph form to the other. Tommy's eyes opened
as he read:
"Jane Finn found. Come Manchester Midland Hotel
immediately--PEEL EDGERTON."
Julius took the form back and folded it up.
"Queer," he said thoughtfully. "I thought that lawyer chap had
quit!"
CHAPTER XIX
JANE FINN
"MY train got in half an hour ago," explained Julius, as he led
the way out of the station. "I reckoned you'd come by this
before I left London, and wired accordingly to Sir James. He's
booked rooms for us, and will be round to dine at eight."
"What made you think he'd ceased to take any interest in the
case?" asked Tommy curiously.
"What he said," replied Julius dryly. "The old bird's as close
as an oyster! Like all the darned lot of them, he wasn't going to
commit himself till he was sure he could deliver the goods."
"I wonder," said Tommy thoughtfully.
Julius turned on him.
"You wonder what?"
"Whether that was his real reason."
"Sure. You bet your life it was."
Tommy shook his head unconvinced.
Sir James arrived punctually at eight o'clock, and Julius
introduced Tommy. Sir James shook hands with him warmly.
"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Beresford. I have
heard so much about you from Miss Tuppence"--he smiled
involuntarily--"that it really seems as though I already know you
quite well."
"Thank you, sir," said Tommy with his cheerful grin. He scanned
the great lawyer eagerly. Like Tuppence, he felt the magnetism
of the other's personality. He was reminded of Mr. Carter. The
two men, totally unlike so far as physical resemblance went,
produced a similar effect. Beneath the weary manner of the one
and the professional reserve of the other, lay the same quality
of mind, keen-edged like a rapier.
In the meantime he was conscious of Sir James's close scrutiny.
When the lawyer dropped his eyes the young man had the feeling
that the other had read him through and through like an open
book. He could not but wonder what the final judgment was, but
there was little chance of learning that. Sir James took in
everything, but gave out only what he chose. A proof of that
occurred almost at once.
Immediately the first greetings were over Julius broke out into a
flood of eager questions. How had Sir James managed to track the
girl? Why had he not let them know that he was still working on
the case? And so on.
Sir James stroked his chin and smiled. At last he said:
"Just so, just so. Well, she's found. And that's the great
thing, isn't it? Eh! Come now, that's the great thing?"
"Sure it is. But just how did you strike her trail? Miss
Tuppence and I thought you'd quit for good and all."
"Ah!" The lawyer shot a lightning glance at him, then resumed
operations on his chin. "You thought that, did you? Did you
really? H'm, dear me."
"But I guess I can take it we were wrong," pursued Julius.
"Well, I don't know that I should go so far as to say that. But
it's certainly fortunate for all parties that we've managed to
find the young lady."
"But where is she?" demanded Julius, his thoughts flying off on
another tack. "I thought you'd be sure to bring her along?"
"That would hardly be possible," said Sir James gravely.
"Why?"
"Because the young lady was knocked down in a street accident,
and has sustained slight injuries to the head. She was taken to
the infirmary, and on recovering consciousness gave her name as
Jane Finn. When--ah!--I heard that, I arranged for her to be
removed to the house of a doctor--a friend of mine, and wired at
once for you. She relapsed into unconsciousness and has not
spoken since."
"She's not seriously hurt?"
"Oh, a bruise and a cut or two; really, from a medical point of
view, absurdly slight injuries to have produced such a condition.
Her state is probably to be attributed to the mental shock
consequent on recovering her memory."
"It's come back?" cried Julius excitedly.
Sir James tapped the table rather impatiently.
"Undoubtedly, Mr. Hersheimmer, since she was able to give her
real name. I thought you had appreciated that point."
"And you just happened to be on the spot," said Tommy. "Seems
quite like a fairy tale."
But Sir James was far too wary to be drawn.
"Coincidences are curious things," he said dryly.
Nevertheless Tommy was now certain of what he had before only
suspected. Sir James's presence in Manchester was not accidental.
Far from abandoning the case, as Julius supposed, he had by some
means of his own successfully run the missing girl to earth. The
only thing that puzzled Tommy was the reason for all this
secrecy. He concluded that it was a foible of the legal mind.
Julius was speaking.
"After dinner," he announced, "I shall go right away and see
Jane."
"That will be impossible, I fear," said Sir James. "It is very
unlikely they would allow her to see visitors at this time of
night. I should suggest to-morrow morning about ten o'clock."
Julius flushed. There was something in Sir James which always
stirred him to antagonism. It was a conflict of two masterful
personalities.
"All the same, I reckon I'll go round there to-night and see if I
can't ginger them up to break through their silly rules."
"It will be quite useless, Mr. Hersheimmer."
The words came out like the crack of a pistol, and Tommy looked
up with a start. Julius was nervous and excited. The hand with
which he raised his glass to his lips shook slightly, but his
eyes held Sir James's defiantly. For a moment the hostility
between the two seemed likely to burst into flame, but in the end
Julius lowered his eyes, defeated.
"For the moment, I reckon you're the boss."
"Thank you," said the other. "We will say ten o'clock then?"
With consummate ease of manner he turned to Tommy. "I must
confess, Mr. Beresford, that it was something of a surprise to me
to see you here this evening. The last I heard of you was that
your friends were in grave anxiety on your behalf. Nothing had
been heard of you for some days, and Miss Tuppence was inclined
to think you had got into difficulties."
"I had, sir!" Tommy grinned reminiscently. "I was never in a
tighter place in my life."
Helped out by questions from Sir James, he gave an abbreviated
account of his adventures. The lawyer looked at him with renewed
interest as he brought the tale to a close.
"You got yourself out of a tight place very well," he said
gravely. "I congratulate you. You displayed a great deal of
ingenuity and carried your part through well."
Tommy blushed, his face assuming a prawnlike hue at the praise.
"I couldn't have got away but for the girl, sir."
"No." Sir James smiled a little. "It was lucky for you she
happened to--er--take a fancy to you." Tommy appeared about to
protest, but Sir James went on. "There's no doubt about her being
one of the gang, I suppose?"
"I'm afraid not, sir. I thought perhaps they were keeping her
there by force, but the way she acted didn't fit in with that.
You see, she went back to them when she could have got away."
Sir James nodded thoughtfully.
"What did she say? Something about wanting to be taken to
Marguerite?"
"Yes, sir. I suppose she meant Mrs. Vandemeyer."
"She always signed herself Rita Vandemeyer. All her friends
spoke of her as Rita. Still, I suppose the girl must have been
in the habit of calling her by her full name. And, at the moment
she was crying out to her, Mrs. Vandemeyer was either dead or
dying! Curious! There are one or two points that strike me as
being obscure--their sudden change of attitude towards yourself,
for instance. By the way, the house was raided, of course?"
"Yes, sir, but they'd all cleared out."
"Naturally," said Sir James dryly.
"And not a clue left behind."
"I wonder----" The lawyer tapped the table thoughtfully.
Something in his voice made Tommy look up. Would this man's eyes
have seen something where theirs had been blind? He spoke
impulsively:
"I wish you'd been there, sir, to go over the house!"
"I wish I had," said Sir James quietly. He sat for a moment in
silence. Then he looked up. "And since then? What have you been
doing?"
For a moment, Tommy stared at him. Then it dawned on him that of
course the lawyer did not know.
"I forgot that you didn't know about Tuppence," he said slowly.
The sickening anxiety, forgotten for a while in the excitement of
knowing Jane Finn was found at last, swept over him again.
The lawyer laid down his knife and fork sharply.
"Has anything happened to Miss Tuppence?" His voice was
keen-edged.
"She's disappeared," said Julius.
"When?"
"A week ago."
"How?"
Sir James's questions fairly shot out. Between them Tommy and
Julius gave the history of the last week and their futile search.
Sir James went at once to the root of the matter.
"A wire signed with your name? They knew enough of you both for
that. They weren't sure of how much you had learnt in that house.
Their kidnapping of Miss Tuppence is the counter-move to your
escape. If necessary they could seal your lips with a threat of
what might happen to her."
Tommy nodded.
"That's just what I thought, sir."
Sir James looked at him keenly. "You had worked that out, had
you? Not bad--not at all bad. The curious thing is that they
certainly did not know anything about you when they first held
you prisoner. You are sure that you did not in any way disclose
your identity?"
Tommy shook his head.
"That's so," said Julius with a nod. "Therefore I reckon some
one put them wise--and not earlier than Sunday afternoon."
"Yes, but who?"
"That almighty omniscient Mr. Brown, of course!"
There was a faint note of derision in the American's voice which
made Sir James look up sharply.
"You don't believe in Mr. Brown, Mr. Hersheimmer?"
"No, sir, I do not," returned the young American with emphasis.
"Not as such, that is to say. I reckon it out that he's a
figurehead--just a bogy name to frighten the children with. The
real head of this business is that Russian chap Kramenin. I
guess he's quite capable of running revolutions in three
countries at once if he chose! The man Whittington is probably
the head of the English branch."
"I disagree with you," said Sir James shortly. "Mr. Brown
exists." He turned to Tommy. "Did you happen to notice where
that wire was handed in?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I didn't."
"H'm. Got it with you?"
"It's upstairs, sir, in my kit."
"I'd like to have a look at it sometime. No hurry. You've
wasted a week"--Tommy hung his head--"a day or so more is
immaterial. We'll deal with Miss Jane Finn first. Afterwards,
we'll set to work to rescue Miss Tuppence from bondage. I don't
think she's in any immediate danger. That is, so long as they
don't know that we've got Jane Finn, and that her memory has
returned. We must keep that dark at all costs. You understand?"
The other two assented, and, after making arrangements for
meeting on the morrow, the great lawyer took his leave.
At ten o'clock, the two young men were at the appointed spot. Sir
James had joined them on the doorstep. He alone appeared
unexcited. He introduced them to the doctor.
"Mr. Hersheimmer--Mr. Beresford--Dr. Roylance. How's the
patient?"
"Going on well. Evidently no idea of the flight of time. Asked
this morning how many had been saved from the Lusitania. Was it
in the papers yet? That, of course, was only what was to be
expected. She seems to have something on her mind, though."
"I think we can relieve her anxiety. May we go up?"
"Certainly."
Tommy's heart beat sensibly faster as they followed the doctor
upstairs. Jane Finn at last! The long-sought, the mysterious,
the elusive Jane Finn! How wildly improbable success had seemed!
And here in this house, her memory almost miraculously restored,
lay the girl who held the future of England in her hands. A half
groan broke from Tommy's lips. If only Tuppence could have been
at his side to share in the triumphant conclusion of their joint
venture! Then he put the thought of Tuppence resolutely aside.
His confidence in Sir James was growing. There was a man who
would unerringly ferret out Tuppence's whereabouts. In the
meantime Jane Finn! And suddenly a dread clutched at his heart.
It seemed too easy.... Suppose they should find her dead ...
stricken down by the hand of Mr. Brown?
In another minute he was laughing at these melodramatic fancies.
The doctor held open the door of a room and they passed in. On
the white bed, bandages round her head, lay the girl. Somehow the
whole scene seemed unreal. It was so exactly what one expected
that it gave the effect of being beautifully staged.
The girl looked from one to the other of them with large
wondering eyes. Sir James spoke first.
"Miss Finn," he said, "this is your cousin, Mr. Julius P.
Hersheimmer."
A faint flush flitted over the girl's face, as Julius stepped
forward and took her hand.
"How do, Cousin Jane?" he said lightly.
But Tommy caught the tremor in his voice.
"Are you really Uncle Hiram's son?" she asked wonderingly.
Her voice, with the slight warmth of the Western accent, had an
almost thrilling quality. It seemed vaguely familiar to Tommy,
but he thrust the impression aside as impossible.
"Sure thing."
"We used to read about Uncle Hiram in the papers," continued the
girl, in her low soft tones. "But I never thought I'd meet you
one day. Mother figured it out that Uncle Hiram would never get
over being mad with her."
"The old man was like that," admitted Julius. "But I guess the
new generation's sort of different. Got no use for the family
feud business. First thing I thought about, soon as the war was
over, was to come along and hunt you up."
A shadow passed over the girl's face.
"They've been telling me things--dreadful things--that my memory
went, and that there are years I shall never know about--years
lost out of my life."
"You didn't realize that yourself?"
The girl's eyes opened wide.
"Why, no. It seems to me as though it were no time since we were
being hustled into those boats. I can see it all now." She
closed her eyes with a shudder.
Julius looked across at Sir James, who nodded.
"Don't worry any. It isn't worth it. Now, see here, Jane,
there's something we want to know about. There was a man aboard
that boat with some mighty important papers on him, and the big
guns in this country have got a notion that he passed on the
goods to you. Is that so?"
The girl hesitated, her glance shifting to the other two. Julius
understood.
"Mr. Beresford is commissioned by the British Government to get
those papers back. Sir James Peel Edgerton is an English Member
of Parliament, and might be a big gun in the Cabinet if he liked.
It's owing to him that we've ferreted you out at last. So you can
go right ahead and tell us the whole story. Did Danvers give you
the papers?"
"Yes. He said they'd have a better chance with me, because they
would save the women and children first."
"Just as we thought," said Sir James.
"He said they were very important--that they might make all the
difference to the Allies. But, if it's all so long ago, and the
war's over, what does it matter now?"
"I guess history repeats itself, Jane. First there was a great
hue and cry over those papers, then it all died down, and now the
whole caboodle's started all over again--for rather different
reasons. Then you can hand them over to us right away?"
"But I can't."
"What?"
"I haven't got them."
"You--haven't--got them?" Julius punctuated the words with
little pauses.
"No--I hid them."
"You hid them?"
"Yes. I got uneasy. People seemed to be watching me. It scared
me--badly." She put her hand to her head. "It's almost the last
thing I remember before waking up in the hospital...."
"Go on," said Sir James, in his quiet penetrating tones. "What do
you remember?"
She turned to him obediently.
"It was at Holyhead. I came that way--I don't remember why...."
"That doesn't matter. Go on."
"In the confusion on the quay I slipped away. Nobody saw me. I
took a car. Told the man to drive me out of the town. I watched
when we got on the open road. No other car was following us. I
saw a path at the side of the road. I told the man to wait."
She paused, then went on. "The path led to the cliff, and down
to the sea between big yellow gorse bushes--they were like golden
flames. I looked round. There wasn't a soul in sight. But just
level with my head there was a hole in the rock. It was quite
small--I could only just get my hand in, but it went a long way
back. I took the oilskin packet from round my neck and shoved it
right in as far as I could. Then I tore off a bit of gorse--My!
but it did prick--and plugged the hole with it so that you'd
never guess there was a crevice of any kind there. Then I marked
the place carefully in my own mind, so that I'd find it again.
There was a queer boulder in the path just there--for all the
world like a dog sitting up begging. Then I went back to the
road. The car was waiting, and I drove back. I just caught the
train. I was a bit ashamed of myself for fancying things maybe,
but, by and by, I saw the man opposite me wink at a woman who was
sitting next to me, and I felt scared again, and was glad the
papers were safe. I went out in the corridor to get a little air.
I thought I'd slip into another carriage. But the woman called
me back, said I'd dropped something, and when I stooped to look,
something seemed to hit me--here." She placed her hand to the
back of her head. "I don't remember anything more until I woke up
in the hospital."
There was a pause.
"Thank you, Miss Finn." It was Sir James who spoke. "I hope we
have not tired you?"
"Oh, that's all right. My head aches a little, but otherwise I
feel fine."
Julius stepped forward and took her hand again.
"So long, Cousin Jane. I'm going to get busy after those papers,
but I'll be back in two shakes of a dog's tail, and I'll tote you
up to London and give you the time of your young life before we
go back to the States! I mean it--so hurry up and get well."
CHAPTER XX
TOO LATE
IN the street they held an informal council of war. Sir James had
drawn a watch from his pocket. "The boat train to Holyhead stops
at Chester at 12.14. If you start at once I think you can catch
the connection."
Tommy looked up, puzzled.
"Is there any need to hurry, sir? To-day is only the 24th."
"I guess it's always well to get up early in the morning," said
Julius, before the lawyer had time to reply. "We'll make tracks
for the depot right away."
A little frown had settled on Sir James's brow.
"I wish I could come with you. I am due to speak at a meeting at
two o'clock. It is unfortunate."
The reluctance in his tone was very evident. It was clear, on
the other hand, that Julius was easily disposed to put up with
the loss of the other's company.
"I guess there's nothing complicated about this deal," he
remarked. "Just a game of hide-and-seek, that's all."
"I hope so," said Sir James.
"Sure thing. What else could it be?"
"You are still young, Mr. Hersheimmer. At my age you will
probably have learnt one lesson. 'Never underestimate your
adversary.' "
The gravity of his tone impressed Tommy, but had little effect
upon Julius.
"You think Mr. Brown might come along and take a hand? If he
does, I'm ready for him." He slapped his pocket. "I carry a gun.
Little Willie here travels round with me everywhere." He
produced a murderous-looking automatic, and tapped it
affectionately before returning it to its home. "But he won't be
needed this trip. There's nobody to put Mr. Brown wise."
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
"There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs.
Vandemeyer meant to betray him. Nevertheless, MRS. VANDEMEYER
DIED WITHOUT SPEAKING."
Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighter
note:
"I only want to put you on your guard. Good-bye, and good luck.
Take no unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. If
there is any reason to believe that you have been shadowed,
destroy them at once. Good luck to you. The game is in your
hands now." He shook hands with them both.
Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-class
carriage en route for Chester.
For a long time neither of them spoke. When at length Julius
broke the silence, it was with a totally unexpected remark.
"Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned fool
of yourself over a girl's face?"
Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind.
"Can't say I have," he replied at last. "Not that I can
recollect, anyhow. Why?"
"Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimental
idiot of myself over Jane! First moment I clapped eyes on her
photograph my heart did all the usual stunts you read about in
novels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, but I came over here
determined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back as
Mrs. Julius P. Hersheimmer!"
"Oh!" said Tommy, amazed.
Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued:
"Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! One
look at the girl in the flesh, and I was cured!"
Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again.
"No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She's
a real nice girl, and some fellow will fall in love with her
right away."
"I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding his
tongue.
"Sure she is. But she's not like her photo one bit. At least I
suppose she is in a way--must be--because I recognized her right
off. If I'd seen her in a crowd I'd have said 'There's a girl
whose face I know' right away without any hesitation. But there
was something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, and
heaved a sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!"
"It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here in
love with one girl, and propose to another within a fortnight."
Julius had the grace to look discomposed.
"Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd never
find Jane--and that it was all plumb foolishness anyway. And
then--oh, well, the French, for instance, are much more sensible
in the way they look at things. They keep romance and marriage
apart----"
Tommy flushed.
"Well, I'm damned! If that's----"
Julius hastened to interrupt.
"Say now, don't be hasty. I don't mean what you mean. I take it
Americans have a higher opinion of morality than you have even.
What I meant was that the French set about marriage in a
businesslike way--find two people who are suited to one another,
look after the money affairs, and see the whole thing
practically, and in a businesslike spirit."
"If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslike
nowadays. We're always saying, 'Will it pay?' The men are bad
enough, and the girls are worse!"
"Cool down, son. Don't get so heated."
"I feel heated," said Tommy.
Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more.
However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before they
reached Holyhead, and the cheerful grin had returned to his
countenance as they alighted at their destination.
After consultation, and with the aid of a road map, they were
fairly well agreed as to direction, so were able to hire a taxi
without more ado and drive out on the road leading to Treaddur
Bay. They instructed the man to go slowly, and watched narrowly
so as not to miss the path. They came to it not long after
leaving the town, and Tommy stopped the car promptly, asked in a
casual tone whether the path led down to the sea, and hearing it
did paid off the man in handsome style.
A moment later the taxi was slowly chugging back to Holyhead.
Tommy and Julius watched it out of sight, and then turned to the
narrow path.
"It's the right one, I suppose?" asked Tommy doubtfully. "There
must be simply heaps along here."
"Sure it is. Look at the gorse. Remember what Jane said?"
Tommy looked at the swelling hedges of golden blossom which
bordered the path on either side, and was convinced.
They went down in single file, Julius leading. Twice Tommy
turned his head uneasily. Julius looked back.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I've got the wind up somehow. Keep fancying
there's some one following us."
"Can't be," said Julius positively. "We'd see him."
Tommy had to admit that this was true. Nevertheless, his sense
of uneasiness deepened. In spite of himself he believed in the
omniscience of the enemy.
"I rather wish that fellow would come along," said Julius. He
patted his pocket. "Little William here is just aching for
exercise!"
"Do you always carry it--him--with you?" inquired Tommy with
burning curiosity.
"Most always. I guess you never know what might turn up."
Tommy kept a respectful silence. He was impressed by little
William. It seemed to remove the menace of Mr. Brown farther
away.
The path was now running along the side of the cliff, parallel to
the sea. Suddenly Julius came to such an abrupt halt that Tommy
cannoned into him.
"What's up?" he inquired.
"Look there. If that doesn't beat the band!"
Tommy looked. Standing out half obstructing the path was a huge
boulder which certainly bore a fanciful resemblance to a
"begging" terrier.
"Well," said Tommy, refusing to share Julius's emotion, "it's
what we expected to see, isn't it?"
Julius looked at him sadly and shook his head.
"British phlegm! Sure we expected it--but it kind of rattles me,
all the same, to see it sitting there just where we expected to
find it!"
Tommy, whose calm was, perhaps, more assumed than natural, moved
his feet impatiently.
"Push on. What about the hole?"
They scanned the cliff-side narrowly. Tommy heard himself saying
idiotically:
"The gorse won't be there after all these years."
And Julius replied solemnly:
"I guess you're right."
Tommy suddenly pointed with a shaking hand.
"What about that crevice there?"
Julius replied in an awestricken voice:
"That's it--for sure."
They looked at each other.
"When I was in France," said Tommy reminiscently, "whenever my
batman failed to call me, he always said that he had come over
queer. I never believed it. But whether he felt it or not,
there IS such a sensation. I've got it now! Badly!"
He looked at the rock with a kind of agonized passion.
"Damn it!" he cried. "It's impossible! Five years! Think of
it! Bird's-nesting boys, picnic parties, thousands of people
passing! It can't be there! It's a hundred to one against its
being there! It's against all reason!"
Indeed, he felt it to be impossible--more, perhaps, because he
could not believe in his own success where so many others had
failed. The thing was too easy, therefore it could not be. The
hole would be empty.
Julius looked at him with a widening smile.
"I guess you're rattled now all right," he drawled with some
enjoyment. "Well, here goes!" He thrust his hand into the
crevice, and made a slight grimace. "It's a tight fit. Jane's
hand must be a few sizes smaller than mine. I don't feel
anything--no--say, what's this? Gee whiz!" And with a flourish
he waved aloft a small discoloured packet. "It's the goods all
right. Sewn up in oilskin. Hold it while I get my penknife."
The unbelievable had happened. Tommy held the precious packet
tenderly between his hands. They had succeeded!
"It's queer," he murmured idly, "you'd think the stitches would
have rotted. They look just as good as new."
They cut them carefully and ripped away the oilskin. Inside was
a small folded sheet of paper. With trembling fingers they
unfolded it. The sheet was blank! They stared at each other,
puzzled.
"A dummy?" hazarded Julius. "Was Danvers just a decoy?"
Tommy shook his head. That solution did not satisfy him.
Suddenly his face cleared.
"I've got it! SYMPATHETIC INK!"
"You think so?"
"Worth trying anyhow. Heat usually does the trick. Get some
sticks. We'll make a fire."
In a few minutes the little fire of twigs and leaves was blazing
merrily. Tommy held the sheet of paper near the glow. The paper
curled a little with the heat. Nothing more.
Suddenly Julius grasped his arm, and pointed to where characters
were appearing in a faint brown colour.
"Gee whiz! You've got it! Say, that idea of yours was great. It
never occurred to me."
Tommy held the paper in position some minutes longer until he
judged the heat had done its work. Then he withdrew it. A moment
later he uttered a cry.
Across the sheet in neat brown printing ran the words: WITH THE
COMPLIMENTS OF MR. BROWN.
CHAPTER XXI
TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY
FOR a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly,
dazed with the shock. Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown had
forestalled them. Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius.
"How in tarnation did he get ahead of us? That's what beats me!"
he ended up.
Tommy shook his head, and said dully:
"It accounts for the stitches being new. We might have
guessed...."
"Never mind the darned stitches. How did he get ahead of us? We
hustled all we knew. It's downright impossible for anyone to get
here quicker than we did. And, anyway, how did he know? Do you
reckon there was a dictaphone in Jane's room? I guess there must
have been."
But Tommy's common sense pointed out objections.
"No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be in
that house--much less that particular room."
"That's so," admitted Julius. "Then one of the nurses was a
crook and listened at the door. How's that?"
"I don't see that it matters anyway," said Tommy wearily. "He may
have found out some months ago, and removed the papers,
then----No, by Jove, that won't wash! They'd have been published
at once."
"Sure thing they would! No, some one's got ahead of us to-day by
an hour or so. But how they did it gets my goat."
"I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us," said Tommy
thoughtfully.
"Why?" Julius stared. "The mischief was done when we came."
"Yes----" Tommy hesitated. He could not explain his own
feeling--the illogical idea that the K.C.'s presence would
somehow have averted the catastrophe. He reverted to his former
point of view. "It's no good arguing about how it was done. The
game's up. We've failed. There's only one thing for me to do."
"What's that?"
"Get back to London as soon as possible. Mr. Carter must be
warned. It's only a matter of hours now before the blow falls.
But, at any rate, he ought to know the worst."
The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention of
shirking it. He must report his failure to Mr. Carter. After
that his work was done. He took the midnight mail to London.
Julius elected to stay the night at Holyhead.
Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood before
his chief.
"I've come to report, sir. I've failed--failed badly."
Mr. Carter eyed him sharply.
"You mean that the treaty----"
"Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir."
"Ah!" said Mr. Carter quietly. The expression on his face did
not change, but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes.
It convinced him as nothing else had done that the outlook was
hopeless.
"Well," said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, "we mustn't sag at
the knees, I suppose. I'm glad to know definitely. We must do
what we can."
Through Tommy's mind flashed the assurance: "It's hopeless, and
he knows it's hopeless!"
The other looked up at him.
"Don't take it to heart, lad," he said kindly. "You did your
best. You were up against one of the biggest brains of the
century. And you came very near success. Remember that."
"Thank you, sir. It's awfully decent of you."
"I blame myself. I have been blaming myself ever since I heard
this other news."
Something in his tone attracted Tommy's attention. A new fear
gripped at his heart.
"Is there--something more, sir?"
"I'm afraid so," said Mr. Carter gravely. He stretched out his
hand to a sheet on the table.
"Tuppence----?" faltered Tommy.
"Read for yourself."
The typewritten words danced before his eyes. The description of
a green toque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket marked
P.L.C. He looked an agonized question at Mr. Carter. The latter
replied to it:
"Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury. I'm afraid--it
looks very much like foul play."
"My God!" gasped Tommy. "TUPPENCE! Those devils--I'll never
rest till I've got even with them! I'll hunt them down!
I'll----"
The pity on Mr. Carter's face stopped him.
"I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it's no good.
You'll waste your strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but my
advice to you is: Cut your losses. Time's merciful. You'll
forget."
"Forget Tuppence? Never!"
Mr. Carter shook his head.
"So you think now. Well, it won't bear thinking of--that brave
little girl! I'm sorry about the whole business--confoundedly
sorry."
Tommy came to himself with a start.
"I'm taking up your time, sir," he said with an effort. "There's
no need for you to blame yourself. I dare say we were a couple
of young fools to take on such a job. You warned us all right.
But I wish to God I'd been the one to get it in the neck.
Good-bye, sir."
Back at the Ritz, Tommy packed up his few belongings
mechanically, his thoughts far away. He was still bewildered by
the introduction of tragedy into his cheerful commonplace
existence. What fun they had had together, he and Tuppence! And
now--oh, he couldn't believe it--it couldn't be true!
TUPPENCE--DEAD! Little Tuppence, brimming over with life! It was
a dream, a horrible dream. Nothing more.
They brought him a note, a few kind words of sympathy from Peel
Edgerton, who had read the news in the paper. (There had been a
large headline: EX-V.A.D. FEARED DROWNED.) The letter ended with
the offer of a post on a ranch in the Argentine, where Sir James
had considerable interests.
"Kind old beggar," muttered Tommy, as he flung it aside.
The door opened, and Julius burst in with his usual violence. He
held an open newspaper in his hand.
"Say, what's all this? They seem to have got some fool idea
about Tuppence."
"It's true," said Tommy quietly.
"You mean they've done her in?"
Tommy nodded.
"I suppose when they got the treaty she--wasn't any good to them
any longer, and they were afraid to let her go."
"Well, I'm darned!" said Julius. "Little Tuppence. She sure was
the pluckiest little girl----"
But suddenly something seemed to crack in Tommy's brain. He rose
to his feet.
"Oh, get out! You don't really care, damn you! You asked her to
marry you in your rotten cold-blooded way, but I LOVED her. I'd
have given the soul out of my body to save her from harm. I'd
have stood by without a word and let her marry you, because you
could have given her the sort of time she ought to have had, and
I was only a poor devil without a penny to bless himself with.
But it wouldn't have been because I didn't care!"
"See here," began Julius temperately.
"Oh, go to the devil! I can't stand your coming here and talking
about 'little Tuppence.' Go and look after your cousin.
Tuppence is my girl! I've always loved her, from the time we
played together as kids. We grew up and it was just the same. I
shall never forget when I was in hospital, and she came in in
that ridiculous cap and apron! It was like a miracle to see the
girl I loved turn up in a nurse's kit----"
But Julius interrupted him.
"A nurse's kit! Gee whiz! I must be going to Colney Hatch! I
could swear I've seen Jane in a nurse's cap too. And that's
plumb impossible! No, by gum, I've got it! It was her I saw
talking to Whittington at that nursing home in Bournemouth. She
wasn't a patient there! She was a nurse!"
"I dare say," said Tommy angrily, "she's probably been in with
them from the start. I shouldn't wonder if she stole those
papers from Danvers to begin with."
"I'm darned if she did!" shouted Julius. "She's my cousin, and
as patriotic a girl as ever stepped."
"I don't care a damn what she is, but get out of here!" retorted
Tommy also at the top of his voice.
The young men were on the point of coming to blows. But
suddenly, with an almost magical abruptness, Julius's anger
abated.
"All right, son," he said quietly, "I'm going. I don't blame you
any for what you've been saying. It's mighty lucky you did say
it. I've been the most almighty blithering darned idiot that
it's possible to imagine. Calm down"--Tommy had made an impatient
gesture--"I'm going right away now--going to the London and North
Western Railway depot, if you want to know."
"I don't care a damn where you're going," growled Tommy.
As the door closed behind Julius, he returned to his suit-case.
"That's the lot," he murmured, and rang the bell.
"Take my luggage down."
"Yes, sir. Going away, sir?"
"I'm going to the devil," said Tommy, regardless of the menial's
feelings.
That functionary, however, merely replied respectfully:
"Yes, sir. Shall I call a taxi?"
Tommy nodded.
Where was he going? He hadn't the faintest idea. Beyond a fixed
determination to get even with Mr. Brown he had no plans. He
re-read Sir James's letter, and shook his head. Tuppence must be
avenged. Still, it was kind of the old fellow.
"Better answer it, I suppose." He went across to the
writing-table. With the usual perversity of bedroom stationery,
there were innumerable envelopes and no paper. He rang. No one
came. Tommy fumed at the delay. Then he remembered that there
was a good supply in Julius's sitting-room. The American had
announced his immediate departure, there would be no fear of
running up against him. Besides, he wouldn't mind if he did. He
was beginning to be rather ashamed of the things he had said. Old
Julius had taken them jolly well. He'd apologize if he found him
there.
But the room was deserted. Tommy walked across to the
writing-table, and opened the middle drawer. A photograph,
carelessly thrust in face upwards, caught his eye. For a moment
he stood rooted to the ground. Then he took it out, shut the
drawer, walked slowly over to an arm-chair, and sat down still
staring at the photograph in his hand.
What on earth was a photograph of the French girl Annette doing
in Julius Hersheimmer's writing-table?
CHAPTER XXII
IN DOWNING STREET
THE Prime Minister tapped the desk in front of him with nervous
fingers. His face was worn and harassed. He took up his
conversation with Mr. Carter at the point it had broken off. "I
don't understand," he said. "Do you really mean that things are
not so desperate after all?"
"So this lad seems to think."
"Let's have a look at his letter again."
Mr. Carter handed it over. It was written in a sprawling boyish
hand.
"DEAR MR. CARTER,
"Something's turned up that has given me a jar. Of course I may
be simply making an awful ass of myself, but I don't think so. If
my conclusions are right, that girl at Manchester was just a
plant. The whole thing was prearranged, sham packet and all, with
the object of making us think the game was up--therefore I fancy
that we must have been pretty hot on the scent.
"I think I know who the real Jane Finn is, and I've even got an
idea where the papers are. That last's only a guess, of course,
but I've a sort of feeling it'll turn out right. Anyhow, I
enclose it in a sealed envelope for what it's worth. I'm going to
ask you not to open it until the very last moment, midnight on
the 28th, in fact. You'll understand why in a minute. You see,
I've figured it out that those things of Tuppence's are a plant
too, and she's no more drowned than I am. The way I reason is
this: as a last chance they'll let Jane Finn escape in the hope
that she's been shamming this memory stunt, and that once she
thinks she's free she'll go right away to the cache. Of course
it's an awful risk for them to take, because she knows all about
them--but they're pretty desperate to get hold of that treaty.
BUT IF THEY KNOW THAT THE PAPERS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED BY US,
neither of those two girls' lives will be worth an hour's
purchase. I must try and get hold of Tuppence before Jane
escapes.
"I want a repeat of that telegram that was sent to Tuppence at
the Ritz. Sir James Peel Edgerton said you would be able to
manage that for me. He's frightfully clever.
"One last thing--please have that house in Soho watched day and
night. "Yours, etc.,
"THOMAS BERESFORD."
The Prime Minister looked up.
"The enclosure?"
Mr. Carter smiled dryly.
"In the vaults of the Bank. I am taking no chances."
"You don't think"--the Prime Minister hesitated a minute--"that
it would be better to open it now? Surely we ought to secure the
document, that is, provided the young man's guess turns out to be
correct, at once. We can keep the fact of having done so quite
secret."
"Can we? I'm not so sure. There are spies all round us. Once
it's known I wouldn't give that"--he snapped his fingers--"for
the life of those two girls. No, the boy trusted me, and I
shan't let him down."
"Well, well, we must leave it at that, then. What's he like,
this lad?"
"Outwardly, he's an ordinary clean-limbed, rather block-headed
young Englishman. Slow in his mental processes. On the other
hand, it's quite impossible to lead him astray through his
imagination. He hasn't got any--so he's difficult to deceive. He
worries things out slowly, and once he's got hold of anything he
doesn't let go. The little lady's quite different. More
intuition and less common sense. They make a pretty pair working
together. Pace and stamina."
"He seems confident," mused the Prime Minister.
"Yes, and that's what gives me hope. He's the kind of diffident
youth who would have to be VERY sure before he ventured an
opinion at all."
A half smile came to the other's lips.
"And it is this--boy who will defeat the master criminal of our
time?"
"This--boy, as you say! But I sometimes fancy I see a shadow
behind."
"You mean?"
"Peel Edgerton."
"Peel Edgerton?" said the Prime Minister in astonishment.
"Yes. I see his hand in THIS." He struck the open letter. "He's
there--working in the dark, silently, unobtrusively. I've always
felt that if anyone was to run Mr. Brown to earth, Peel Edgerton
would be the man. I tell you he's on the case now, but doesn't
want it known. By the way, I got rather an odd request from him
the other day."
"Yes?"
"He sent me a cutting from some American paper. It referred to a
man's body found near the docks in New York about three weeks
ago. He asked me to collect any information on the subject I
could."
"Well?"
Carter shrugged his shoulders.
"I couldn't get much. Young fellow about thirty-five--poorly
dressed--face very badly disfigured. He was never identified."
"And you fancy that the two matters are connected in some way?"
"Somehow I do. I may be wrong, of course."
There was a pause, then Mr. Carter continued:
"I asked him to come round here. Not that we'll get anything out
of him he doesn't want to tell. His legal instincts are too
strong. But there's no doubt he can throw light on one or two
obscure points in young Beresford's letter. Ah, here he is!"
The two men rose to greet the new-comer. A half whimsical thought
flashed across the Premier's mind. "My successor, perhaps!"
"We've had a letter from young Beresford," said Mr. Carter,
coming to the point at once. "You've seen him, I suppose?"
"You suppose wrong," said the lawyer.
"Oh!" Mr. Carter was a little nonplussed.
Sir James smiled, and stroked his chin.
"He rang me up," he volunteered.
"Would you have any objection to telling us exactly what passed
between you?"
"Not at all. He thanked me for a certain letter which I had
written to him--as a matter of fact, I had offered him a job.
Then he reminded me of something I had said to him at Manchester
respecting that bogus telegram which lured Miss Cowley away. I
asked him if anything untoward had occurred. He said it
had--that in a drawer in Mr. Hersheimmer's room he had discovered
a photograph." The laywer{sic} paused, then continued: "I asked
him if the photograph bore the name and address of a Californian
photographer. He replied: 'You're on to it, sir. It had.' Then
he went on to tell me something I DIDN'T know. The original of
that photograph was the French girl, Annette, who saved his
life."
"What?"
"Exactly. I asked the young man with some curiosity what he had
done with the photograph. He replied that he had put it back
where he found it." The lawyer paused again. "That was good, you
know--distinctly good. He can use his brains, that young fellow.
I congratulated him. The discovery was a providential one. Of
course, from the moment that the girl in Manchester was proved to
be a plant everything was altered. Young Beresford saw that for
himself without my having to tell it him. But he felt he couldn't
trust his judgment on the subject of Miss Cowley. Did I think
she was alive? I told him, duly weighing the evidence, that
there was a very decided chance in favour of it. That brought us
back to the telegram."
"Yes?"
"I advised him to apply to you for a copy of the original wire.
It had occurred to me as probable that, after Miss Cowley flung
it on the floor, certain words might have been erased and altered
with the express intention of setting searchers on a false
trail."
Carter nodded. He took a sheet from his pocket, and read aloud:
"Come at once, Astley Priors, Gatehouse, Kent. Great
developments--TOMMY.
"Very simple," said Sir James, "and very ingenious. Just a few
words to alter, and the thing was done. And the one important
clue they overlooked."
"What was that?"
"The page-boy's statement that Miss Cowley drove to Charing
Cross. They were so sure of themselves that they took it for
granted he had made a mistake."
"Then young Beresford is now?"
"At Gatehouse, Kent, unless I am much mistaken."
Mr. Carter looked at him curiously.
"I rather wonder you're not there too, Peel Edgerton?"
"Ah, I'm busy on a case."
"I thought you were on your holiday?"
"Oh, I've not been briefed. Perhaps it would be more correct to
say I'm preparing a case. Any more facts about that American
chap for me?"
"I'm afraid not. Is it important to find out who he was?"
"Oh, I know who he was," said Sir James easily. "I can't prove
it yet--but I know."
The other two asked no questions. They had an instinct that it
would be mere waste of breath.
"But what I don't understand," said the Prime-Minister suddenly,
"is how that photograph came to be in Mr. Hersheimmer's drawer?"
"Perhaps it never left it," suggested the lawyer gently.
"But the bogus inspector? Inspector Brown?"
"Ah!" said Sir James thoughtfully. He rose to his feet. "I
mustn't keep you. Go on with the affairs of the nation. I must
get back to--my case."
Two days later Julius Hersheimmer returned from Manchester. A
note from Tommy lay on his table:
"DEAR HERSHEIMMER,
"Sorry I lost my temper. In case I don't see you again,
good-bye. I've been offered a job in the Argentine, and might as
well take it. "Yours,
"TOMMY BERESFORD."
A peculiar smile lingered for a moment on Julius's face. He threw
the letter into the waste-paper basket.
"The darned fool!" he murmured.
CHAPTER XXIII
A RACE AGAINST TIME
AFTER ringing up Sir James, Tommy's next procedure was to make a
call at South Audley Mansions. He found Albert discharging his
professional duties, and introduced himself without more ado as a
friend of Tuppence's. Albert unbent immediately.
"Things has been very quiet here lately," he said wistfully.
"Hope the young lady's keeping well, sir?"
"That's just the point, Albert. She's disappeared." You don't
mean as the crooks have got her?"
"In the Underworld?"
"No, dash it all, in this world!"
"It's a h'expression, sir," explained Albert. "At the pictures
the crooks always have a restoorant in the Underworld. But do
you think as they've done her in, sir?"
"I hope not. By the way, have you by any chance an aunt, a
cousin, a grandmother, or any other suitable female relation who
might be represented as being likely to kick the bucket?"
A delighted grin spread slowly over Albert's countenance.
"I'm on, sir. My poor aunt what lives in the country has been
mortal bad for a long time, and she's asking for me with her
dying breath."
Tommy nodded approval.
"Can you report this in the proper quarter and meet me at Charing
Cross in an hour's time?"
"I'll be there, sir. You can count on me."
As Tommy had judged, the faithful Albert proved an invaluable
ally. The two took up their quarters at the inn in Gatehouse. To
Albert fell the task of collecting information There was no
difficulty about it.
Astley Priors was the property of a Dr. Adams. The doctor no
longer practiced, had retired, the landlord believed, but he took
a few private patients--here the good fellow tapped his forehead
knowingly--"balmy ones! You understand!" The doctor was a
popular figure in the village, subscribed freely to all the local
sports--"a very pleasant, affable gentleman." Been there long?
Oh, a matter of ten years or so--might be longer. Scientific
gentleman, he was. Professors and people often came down from
town to see him. Anyway, it was a gay house, always visitors.
In the face of all this volubility, Tommy felt doubts. Was it
possible that this genial, well-known figure could be in reality
a dangerous criminal? His life seemed so open and aboveboard. No
hint of sinister doings. Suppose it was all a gigantic mistake?
Tommy felt a cold chill at the thought.
Then he remembered the private patients--"balmy ones." He
inquired carefully if there was a young lady amongst them,
describing Tuppence. But nothing much seemed to be known about
the patients--they were seldom seen outside the grounds. A
guarded description of Annette also failed to provoke
recognition.
Astley Priors was a pleasant red-brick edifice, surrounded by
well-wooded grounds which effectually shielded the house from
observation from the road.
On the first evening Tommy, accompanied by Albert, explored the
grounds. Owing to Albert's insistence they dragged themselves
along painfully on their stomachs, thereby producing a great deal
more noise than if they had stood upright. In any case, these
precautions were totally unnecessary. The grounds, like those of
any other private house after nightfall, seemed untenanted.
Tommy had imagined a possible fierce watchdog. Albert's fancy ran
to a puma, or a tame cobra. But they reached a shrubbery near
the house quite unmolested.
The blinds of the dining-room window were up. There was a large
company assembled round the table. The port was passing from
hand to hand. It seemed a normal, pleasant company. Through the
open window scraps of conversation floated out disjointedly on
the night air. It was a heated discussion on county cricket!
Again Tommy felt that cold chill of uncertainty. It seemed
impossible to believe that these people were other than they
seemed. Had he been fooled once more? The fair-bearded,
spectacled gentleman who sat at the head of the table looked
singularly honest and normal.
Tommy slept badly that night. The following morning the
indefatigable Albert, having cemented an alliance with the
greengrocer's boy, took the latter's place and ingratiated
himself with the cook at Malthouse. He returned with the
information that she was undoubtedly "one of the crooks," but
Tommy mistrusted the vividness of his imagination. Questioned,
he could adduce nothing in support of his statement except his
own opinion that she wasn't the usual kind. You could see that
at a glance.
The substitution being repeated (much to the pecuniary advantage
of the real greengrocer's boy) on the following day, Albert
brought back the first piece of hopeful news. There WAS a French
young lady staying in the house. Tommy put his doubts aside.
Here was confirmation of his theory. But time pressed. To-day
was the 27th. The 29th was the much-talked-of "Labour Day,"
about which all sorts of rumours were running riot. Newspapers
were getting agitated. Sensational hints of a Labour coup d'etat
were freely reported. The Government said nothing. It knew and
was prepared. There were rumours of dissension among the Labour
leaders. They were not of one mind. The more far-seeing among
them realized that what they proposed might well be a death-blow
to the England that at heart they loved. They shrank from the
starvation and misery a general strike would entail, and were
willing to meet the Government half-way. But behind them were
subtle, insistent forces at work, urging the memories of old
wrongs, deprecating the weakness of half-and-half measures,
fomenting misunderstandings.
Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr. Carter, he understood the position
fairly accurately. With the fatal document in the hands of Mr.
Brown, public opinion would swing to the side of the Labour
extremists and revolutionists. Failing that, the battle was an
even chance. The Government with a loyal army and police force
behind them might win--but at a cost of great suffering. But
Tommy nourished another and a preposterous dream. With Mr. Brown
unmasked and captured he believed, rightly or wrongly, that the
whole organization would crumble ignominiously and
instantaneously. The strange permeating influence of the unseen
chief held it together. Without him, Tommy believed an instant
panic would set in; and, the honest men left to themselves, an
eleventh-hour reconciliation would be possible.
"This is a one-man show," said Tommy to himself. "The thing to do
is to get hold of the man."
It was partly in furtherance of this ambitious design that he had
requested Mr. Carter not to open the sealed envelope. The draft
treaty was Tommy's bait. Every now and then he was aghast at his
own presumption. How dared he think that he had discovered what
so many wiser and clever men had overlooked? Nevertheless, he
stuck tenaciously to his idea.
That evening he and Albert once more penetrated the grounds of
Astley Priors. Tommy's ambition was somehow or other to gain
admission to the house itself. As they approached cautiously,
Tommy gave a sudden gasp.
On the second floor window some one standing between the window
and the light in the room threw a silhouette on the blind. It was
one Tommy would have recognized anywhere! Tuppence was in that
house!
He clutched Albert by the shoulder.
"Stay here! When I begin to sing, watch that window."
He retreated hastily to a position on the main drive, and began
in a deep roar, coupled with an unsteady gait, the following
ditty:
I am a Soldier A jolly British Soldier;
You can see that I'm a Soldier by my feet . . .
It had been a favourite on the gramophone in Tuppence's hospital
days. He did not doubt but that she would recognize it and draw
her own conclusions. Tommy had not a note of music in his voice,
but his lungs were excellent. The noise he produced was terrific.
Presently an unimpeachable butler, accompanied by an equally
unimpeachable footman, issued from the front door. The butler
remonstrated with him. Tommy continued to sing, addressing the
butler affectionately as "dear old whiskers." The footman took
him by one arm, the butler by the other. They ran him down the
drive, and neatly out of the gate. The butler threatened him with
the police if he intruded again. It was beautifully done--soberly
and with perfect decorum. Anyone would have sworn that the butler
was a real butler, the footman a real footman--only, as it
happened, the butler was Whittington!
Tommy retired to the inn and waited for Albert's return. At last
that worthy made his appearance.
"Well?" cried Tommy eagerly.
"It's all right. While they was a-running of you out the window
opened, and something was chucked out." He handed a scrap of
paper to Tommy. "It was wrapped round a letterweight."
On the paper were scrawled three words: "To-morrow--same time."
"Good egg!" cried Tommy. "We're getting going."
"I wrote a message on a piece of paper, wrapped it round a stone,
and chucked it through the window," continued Albert
breathlessly.
Tommy groaned.
"Your zeal will be the undoing of us, Albert. What did you say?"
"Said we was a-staying at the inn. If she could get away, to
come there and croak like a frog."
"She'll know that's you," said Tommy with a sigh of relief. "Your
imagination runs away with you, you know, Albert. Why, you
wouldn't recognize a frog croaking if you heard it."
Albert looked rather crest-fallen.
"Cheer up," said Tommy. "No harm done. That butler's an old
friend of mine--I bet he knew who I was, though he didn't let on.
It's not their game to show suspicion. That's why we've found it
fairly plain sailing. They don't want to discourage me
altogether. On the other hand, they don't want to make it too
easy. I'm a pawn in their game, Albert, that's what I am. You
see, if the spider lets the fly walk out too easily, the fly
might suspect it was a put-up job. Hence the usefulness of that
promising youth, Mr. T. Beresford, who's blundered in just at the
right moment for them. But later, Mr. T. Beresford had better
look out!"
Tommy retired for the night in a state of some elation. He had
elaborated a careful plan for the following evening. He felt sure
that the inhabitants of Astley Priors would not interfere with
him up to a certain point. It was after that that Tommy proposed
to give them a surprise.
About twelve o'clock, however, his calm was rudely shaken. He was
told that some one was demanding him in the bar. The applicant
proved to be a rude-looking carter well coated with mud.
"Well, my good fellow, what is it?" asked Tommy.
"Might this be for you, sir?" The carter held out a very dirty
folded note, on the outside of which was written: "Take this to
the gentleman at the inn near Astley Priors. He will give you
ten shillings."
The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her
quick-wittedness in realizing that he might be staying at the inn
under an assumed name. He snatched at it.
"That's all right."
The man withheld it.
"What about my ten shillings?"
Tommy hastily produced a ten-shilling note, and the man
relinquished his find. Tommy unfastened it.
"DEAR TOMMY,
"I knew it was you last night. Don't go this evening. They'll be
lying in wait for you. They're taking us away this morning. I
heard something about Wales--Holyhead, I think. I'll drop this on
the road if I get a chance. Annette told me how you'd escaped.
Buck up. "Yours,
"TWOPENCE."
Tommy raised a shout for Albert before he had even finished
perusing this characteristic epistle.
"Pack my bag! We're off!"
"Yes, sir." The boots of Albert could be heard racing upstairs.
Holyhead? Did that mean that, after all----Tommy was puzzled. He
read on slowly.
The boots of Albert continued to be active on the floor above.
Suddenly a second shout came from below.
"Albert! I'm a damned fool! Unpack that bag!"
"Yes, sir."
Tommy smoothed out the note thoughtfully.
"Yes, a damned fool," he said softly. "But so's some one else!
And at last I know who it is!"
CHAPTER XXIV
JULIUS TAKES A HAND
IN his suite at Claridge's, Kramenin reclined on a couch and
dictated to his secretary in sibilant Russian.
Presently the telephone at the secretary's elbow purred, and he
took up the receiver, spoke for a minute or two, then turned to
his employer.
"Some one below is asking for you."
"Who is it?"
"He gives the name of Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer."
"Hersheimmer," repeated Kramenin thoughtfully. "I have heard
that name before."
"His father was one of the steel kings of America," explained the
secretary, whose business it was to know everything. "This young
man must be a millionaire several times over."
The other's eyes narrowed appreciatively.
"You had better go down and see him, Ivan. Find out what he
wants."
The secretary obeyed, closing the door noiselessly behind him. In
a few minutes he returned.
"He declines to state his business--says it is entirely private
and personal, and that he must see you."
"A millionaire several times over," murmured Kramenin. "Bring
him up, my dear Ivan."
The secretary left the room once more, and returned escorting
Julius.
"Monsieur Kramenin?" said the latter abruptly.
The Russian, studying him attentively with his pale venomous
eyes, bowed.
"Pleased to meet you," said the American. "I've got some very
important business I'd like to talk over with you, if I can see
you alone." He looked pointedly at the other.
"My secretary, Monsieur Grieber, from whom I have no secrets."
"That may be so--but I have," said Julius dryly. "So I'd be
obliged if you'd tell him to scoot."
"Ivan," said the Russian softly, "perhaps you would not mind
retiring into the next room----"
"The next room won't do," interrupted Julius. "I know these
ducal suites--and I want this one plumb empty except for you and
me. Send him round to a store to buy a penn'orth of peanuts."
Though not particularly enjoying the American's free and easy
manner of speech, Kramenin was devoured by curiosity. "Will your
business take long to state?"
"Might be an all night job if you caught on."
"Very good, Ivan. I shall not require you again this evening. Go
to the theatre--take a night off."
"Thank you, your excellency."
The secretary bowed and departed.
Julius stood at the door watching his retreat. Finally, with a
satisfied sigh, he closed it, and came back to his position in
the centre of the room.
"Now, Mr. Hersheimmer, perhaps you will be so kind as to come to
the point?"
"I guess that won't take a minute," drawled Julius. Then, with
an abrupt change of manner: "Hands up--or I shoot!"
For a moment Kramenin stared blindly into the big automatic,
then, with almost comical haste, he flung up his hands above his
head. In that instant Julius had taken his measure. The man he
had to deal with was an abject physical coward--the rest would be
easy.
"This is an outrage," cried the Russian in a high hysterical
voice. "An outrage! Do you mean to kill me?"
"Not if you keep your voice down. Don't go edging sideways
towards that bell. That's better."
"What do you want? Do nothing rashly. Remember my life is of
the utmost value to my country. I may have been maligned----"
"I reckon," said Julius, "that the man who let daylight into you
would be doing humanity a good turn. But you needn't worry any.
I'm not proposing to kill you this trip--that is, if you're
reasonable."
The Russian quailed before the stern menace in the other's eyes.
He passed his tongue over his dry lips.
"What do you want? Money?"
"No. I want Jane Finn."
"Jane Finn? I--never heard of her!"
"You're a darned liar! You know perfectly who I mean."
"I tell you I've never heard of the girl."
"And I tell you," retorted Julius, "that Little Willie here is
just hopping mad to go off!"
The Russian wilted visibly.
"You wouldn't dare----"
"Oh, yes, I would, son!"
Kramenin must have recognized something in the voice that carried
conviction, for he said sullenly:
"Well? Granted I do know who you mean--what of it?"
"You will tell me now--right here--where she is to be found."
Kramenin shook his head.
"I daren't."
"Why not?"
"I daren't. You ask an impossibility."
"Afraid, eh? Of whom? Mr. Brown? Ah, that tickles you up!
There is such a person, then? I doubted it. And the mere
mention of him scares you stiff!"
"I have seen him," said the Russian slowly. "Spoken to him face
to face. I did not know it until afterwards. He was one of a
crowd. I should not know him again. Who is he really? I do not
know. But I know this--he is a man to fear."
"He'll never know," said Julius.
"He knows everything--and his vengeance is swift. Even
I--Kramenin!--would not be exempt!"
"Then you won't do as I ask you?"
"You ask an impossibility."
"Sure that's a pity for you," said Julius cheerfully. "But the
world in general will benefit." He raised the revolver.
"Stop," shrieked the Russian. "You cannot mean to shoot me?"
"Of course I do. I've always heard you Revolutionists held life
cheap, but it seems there's a difference when it's your own life
in question. I gave you just one chance of saving your dirty
skin, and that you wouldn't take!"
"They would kill me!"
"Well," said Julius pleasantly, "it's up to you. But I'll just
say this. Little Willie here is a dead cert, and if I was you I'd
take a sporting chance with Mr. Brown!"
"You will hang if you shoot me," muttered the Russian
irresolutely.
"No, stranger, that's where you're wrong. You forget the
dollars. A big crowd of solicitors will get busy, and they'll get
some high-brow doctors on the job, and the end of it all will be
that they'll say my brain was unhinged. I shall spend a few
months in a quiet sanatorium, my mental health will improve, the
doctors will declare me sane again, and all will end happily for
little Julius. I guess I can bear a few months' retirement in
order to rid the world of you, but don't you kid yourself I'll
hang for it!"
The Russian believed him. Corrupt himself, he believed
implicitly in the power of money. He had read of American murder
trials running much on the lines indicated by Julius. He had
bought and sold justice himself. This virile young American, with
the significant drawling voice, had the whip hand of him.
"I'm going to count five," continued Julius, "and I guess, if you
let me get past four, you needn't worry any about Mr. Brown.
Maybe he'll send some flowers to the funeral, but YOU won't smell
them! Are you ready? I'll begin. One--two three--four----"
The Russian interrupted with a shriek:
"Do not shoot. I will do all you wish."
Julius lowered the revolver.
"I thought you'd hear sense. Where is the girl?"
"At Gatehouse, in Kent. Astley Priors, the place is called."
"Is she a prisoner there?"
"She's not allowed to leave the house--though it's safe enough
really. The little fool has lost her memory, curse her!"
"That's been annoying for you and your friends, I reckon. What
about the other girl, the one you decoyed away over a week ago?"
"She's there too," said the Russian sullenly.
"That's good," said Julius. "Isn't it all panning out
beautifully? And a lovely night for the run!"
"What run?" demanded Kramenin, with a stare.
"Down to Gatehouse, sure. I hope you're fond of motoring?"
"What do you mean? I refuse to go."
"Now don't get mad. You must see I'm not such a kid as to leave
you here. You'd ring up your friends on that telephone first
thing! Ah!" He observed the fall on the other's face. "You
see, you'd got it all fixed. No, sir, you're coming along with
me. This your bedroom next door here? Walk right in. Little
Willie and I will come behind. Put on a thick coat, that's
right. Fur lined? And you a Socialist! Now we're ready. We
walk downstairs and out through the hall to where my car's
waiting. And don't you forget I've got you covered every inch of
the way. I can shoot just as well through my coat pocket. One
word, or a glance even, at one of those liveried menials, and
there'll sure be a strange face in the Sulphur and Brimstone
Works!"
Together they descended the stairs, and passed out to the waiting
car. The Russian was shaking with rage. The hotel servants
surrounded them. A cry hovered on his lips, but at the last
minute his nerve failed him. The American was a man of his word.
When they reached the car, Julius breathed a sigh of relief. The
danger-zone was passed. Fear had successfully hypnotized the man
by his side.
"Get in," he ordered. Then as he caught the other's sidelong
glance, "No, the chauffeur won't help you any. Naval man. Was on
a submarine in Russia when the Revolution broke out. A brother of
his was murdered by your people. George!"
"Yes, sir?" The chauffeur turned his head.
"This gentleman is a Russian Bolshevik. We don't want to shoot
him, but it may be necessary. You understand?"
"Perfectly, sir."
"I want to go to Gatehouse in Kent. Know the road at all?"
"Yes, sir, it will be about an hour and a half's run."
"Make it an hour. I'm in a hurry."
"I'll do my best, sir." The car shot forward through the
traffic.
Julius ensconced himself comfortably by the side of his victim.
He kept his hand in the pocket of his coat, but his manner was
urbane to the last degree.
"There was a man I shot once in Arizona----" he began cheerfully.
At the end of the hour's run the unfortunate Kramenin was more
dead than alive. In succession to the anecdote of the Arizona
man, there had been a tough from 'Frisco, and an episode in the
Rockies. Julius's narrative style, if not strictly accurate, was
picturesque!
Slowing down, the chauffeur called over his shoulder that they
were just coming into Gatehouse. Julius bade the Russian direct
them. His plan was to drive straight up to the house. There
Kramenin was to ask for the two girls. Julius explained to him
that Little Willie would not be tolerant of failure. Kramenin, by
this time, was as putty in the other's hands. The terrific pace
they had come had still further unmanned him. He had given
himself up for dead at every corner.
The car swept up the drive, and stopped before the porch. The
chauffeur looked round for orders.
"Turn the car first, George. Then ring the bell, and get back to
your place. Keep the engine going, and be ready to scoot like
hell when I give the word."
"Very good, sir."
The front door was opened by the butler. Kramenin felt the
muzzle of the revolver pressed against his ribs.
"Now," hissed Julius. "And be careful."
The Russian beckoned. His lips were white, and his voice was not
very steady:
"It is I--Kramenin! Bring down the girl at once! There is no
time to lose!"
Whittington had come down the steps. He uttered an exclamation
of astonishment at seeing the other.
"You! What's up? Surely you know the plan----"
Kramenin interrupted him, using the words that have created many
unnecessary panics:
"We have been betrayed! Plans must be abandoned. We must save
our own skins. The girl! And at once! It's our only chance."
Whittington hesitated, but for hardly a moment.
"You have orders--from HIM?"
"Naturally! Should I be here otherwise? Hurry! There is no
time to be lost. The other little fool had better come too."
Whittington turned and ran back into the house. The agonizing
minutes went by. Then--two figures hastily huddled in cloaks
appeared on the steps and were hustled into the car. The smaller
of the two was inclined to resist and Whittington shoved her in
unceremoniously. Julius leaned forward, and in doing so the
light from the open door lit up his face. Another man on the
steps behind Whittington gave a startled exclamation. Concealment
was at an end.
"Get a move on, George," shouted Julius.
The chauffeur slipped in his clutch, and with a bound the car
started.
The man on the steps uttered an oath. His hand went to his
pocket. There was a flash and a report. The bullet just missed
the taller girl by an inch.
"Get down, Jane," cried Julius. "Flat on the bottom of the car."
He thrust her sharply forward, then standing up, he took careful
aim and fired.
"Have you hit him?" cried Tuppence eagerly.
"Sure," replied Julius. "He isn't killed, though. Skunks like
that take a lot of killing. Are you all right, Tuppence?"
"Of course I am. Where's Tommy? And who's this?" She indicated
the shivering Kramenin.
"Tommy's making tracks for the Argentine. I guess he thought
you'd turned up your toes. Steady through the gate, George!
That's right. It'll take 'em at least five minutes to get busy
after us. They'll use the telephone, I guess, so look out for
snares ahead--and don't take the direct route. Who's this, did
you say, Tuppence? Let me present Monsieur Kramenin. I
persuaded him to come on the trip for his health."
The Russian remained mute, still livid with terror.
"But what made them let us go?" demanded Tuppence suspiciously.
"I reckon Monsieur Kramenin here asked them so prettily they just
couldn't refuse!"
This was too much for the Russian. He burst out vehemently:
"Curse you--curse you! They know now that I betrayed them. My
life won't be safe for an hour in this country."
"That's so," assented Julius. "I'd advise you to make tracks for
Russia right away."
"Let me go, then," cried the other. "I have done what you asked.
Why do you still keep me with you?"
"Not for the pleasure of your company. I guess you can get right
off now if you want to. I thought you'd rather I tooled you back
to London."
"You may never reach London," snarled the other. "Let me go here
and now."
"Sure thing. Pull up, George. The gentleman's not making the
return trip. If I ever come to Russia, Monsieur Kramenin, I shall
expect a rousing welcome, and----"
But before Julius had finished his speech, and before the car had
finally halted, the Russian had swung himself out and disappeared
into the night.
"Just a mite impatient to leave us," commented Julius, as the car
gathered way again. "And no idea of saying good-bye politely to
the ladies. Say, Jane, you can get up on the seat now."
For the first time the girl spoke.
"How did you 'persuade' him?" she asked.
Julius tapped his revolver.
"Little Willie here takes the credit!"
"Splendid!" cried the girl. The colour surged into her face, her
eyes looked admiringly at Julius.
"Annette and I didn't know what was going to happen to us," said
Tuppence. "Old Whittington hurried us off. We thought it was
lambs to the slaughter."
"Annette," said Julius. "Is that what you call her?"
His mind seemed to be trying to adjust itself to a new idea.
"It's her name," said Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide.
"Shucks!" retorted Julius. "She may think it's her name, because
her memory's gone, poor kid. But it's the one real and original
Jane Finn we've got here."
"What?" cried Tuppence.
But she was interrupted. With an angry spurt, a bullet embedded
itself in the upholstery of the car just behind her head.
"Down with you," cried Julius. "It's an ambush. These guys have
got busy pretty quickly. Push her a bit, George."
The car fairly leapt forward. Three more shots rang out, but
went happily wide. Julius, upright, leant over the back of the
car.
"Nothing to shoot at," he announced gloomily. "But I guess
there'll be another little picnic soon. Ah!"
He raised his hand to his cheek.
"You are hurt?" said Annette quickly.
"Only a scratch."
The girl sprang to her feet.
"Let me out! Let me out, I say! Stop the car. It is me they're
after. I'm the one they want. You shall not lose your lives
because of me. Let me go." She was fumbling with the fastenings
of the door.
Julius took her by both arms, and looked at her. She had spoken
with no trace of foreign accent.
"Sit down, kid," he said gently. "I guess there's nothing wrong
with your memory. Been fooling them all the time, eh?"
The girl looked at him, nodded, and then suddenly burst into
tears. Julius patted her on the shoulder.
"There, there--just you sit tight. We're not going to let you
quit."
Through her sobs the girl said indistinctly:
"You're from home. I can tell by your voice. It makes me
home-sick."
"Sure I'm from home. I'm your cousin--Julius Hersheimmer. I
came over to Europe on purpose to find you--and a pretty dance
you've led me."
The car slackened speed. George spoke over his shoulder:
"Cross-roads here, sir. I'm not sure of the way."
The car slowed down till it hardly moved. As it did so a figure
climbed suddenly over the back, and plunged head first into the
midst of them.
"Sorry," said Tommy, extricating himself.
A mass of confused exclamations greeted him. He replied to them
severally:
"Was in the bushes by the drive. Hung on behind. Couldn't let
you know before at the pace you were going. It was all I could
do to hang on. Now then, you girls, get out!"
"Get out?"
"Yes. There's a station just up that road. Train due in three
minutes. You'll catch it if you hurry."
"What the devil are you driving at?" demanded Julius. "Do you
think you can fool them by leaving the car?"
"You and I aren't going to leave the car. Only the girls."
"You're crazed, Beresford. Stark staring mad! You can't let
those girls go off alone. It'll be the end of it if you do."
Tommy turned to Tuppence.
"Get out at once, Tuppence. Take her with you, and do just as I
say. No one will do you any harm. You're safe. Take the train
to London. Go straight to Sir James Peel Edgerton. Mr. Carter
lives out of town, but you'll be safe with him."
"Darn you!" cried Julius. "You're mad. Jane, you stay where you
are."
With a sudden swift movement, Tommy snatched the revolver from
Julius's hand, and levelled it at him.
"Now will you believe I'm in earnest? Get out, both of you, and
do as I say--or I'll shoot!"
Tuppence sprang out, dragging the unwilling Jane after her.
"Come on, it's all right. If Tommy's sure--he's sure. Be quick.
We'll miss the train."
They started running.
Julius's pent-up rage burst forth.
"What the hell----"
Tommy interrupted him.
"Dry up! I want a few words with you, Mr. Julius Hersheimmer."
CHAPTER
XXV
JANE'S STORY
HER arm through Jane's, dragging her along, Tuppence reached the
station. Her quick ears caught the sound of the approaching
train.
"Hurry up," she panted, "or we'll miss it."
They arrived on the platform just as the train came to a
standstill. Tuppence opened the door of an empty first-class
compartment, and the two girls sank down breathless on the padded
seats.
A man looked in, then passed on to the next carriage. Jane
started nervously. Her eyes dilated with terror. She looked
questioningly at Tuppence.
"Is he one of them, do you think?" she breathed.
Tuppence shook her head.
"No, no. It's all right." She took Jane's hand in hers. "Tommy
wouldn't have told us to do this unless he was sure we'd be all
right."
"But he doesn't know them as I do!" The girl shivered. "You
can't understand. Five years! Five long years! Sometimes I
thought I should go mad."
"Never mind. It's all over."
"Is it?"
The train was moving now, speeding through the night at a
gradually increasing rate. Suddenly Jane Finn started up.
"What was that? I thought I saw a face--looking in through the
window."
"No, there's nothing. See." Tuppence went to the window, and
lifting the strap let the pane down.
"You're sure?"
"Quite sure."
The other seemed to feel some excuse was necessary:
"I guess I'm acting like a frightened rabbit, but I can't help
it. If they caught me now they'd----" Her eyes opened wide and
staring.
"DON'T!" implored Tuppence. "Lie back, and DON'T THINK. You can
be quite sure that Tommy wouldn't have said it was safe if it
wasn't."
"My cousin didn't think so. He didn't want us to do this."
"No," said Tuppence, rather embarrassed.
"What are you thinking of?" said Jane sharply.
"Why?"
"Your voice was so--queer!"
"I WAS thinking of something," confessed Tuppence. "But I don't
want to tell you--not now. I may be wrong, but I don't think so.
It's just an idea that came into my head a long time ago. Tommy's
got it too--I'm almost sure he has. But don't YOU
worry--there'll be time enough for that later. And it mayn't be
so at all! Do what I tell you--lie back and don't think of
anything."
"I'll try." The long lashes drooped over the hazel eyes.
Tuppence, for her part, sat bolt upright--much in the attitude of
a watchful terrier on guard. In spite of herself she was
nervous. Her eyes flashed continually from one window to the
other. She noted the exact position of the communication cord.
What it was that she feared, she would have been hard put to it
to say. But in her own mind she was far from feeling the
confidence displayed in her words. Not that she disbelieved in
Tommy, but occasionally she was shaken with doubts as to whether
anyone so simple and honest as he was could ever be a match for
the fiendish subtlety of the arch-criminal.
If they once reached Sir James Peel Edgerton in safety, all would
be well. But would they reach him? Would not the silent forces
of Mr. Brown already be assembling against them? Even that last
picture of Tommy, revolver in hand, failed to comfort her. By
now he might be overpowered, borne down by sheer force of
numbers.... Tuppence mapped out her plan of campaign.
As the train at length drew slowly into Charing Cross, Jane Finn
sat up with a start.
"Have we arrived? I never thought we should!"
"Oh, I thought we'd get to London all right. If there's going to
be any fun, now is when it will begin. Quick, get out. We'll nip
into a taxi."
In another minute they were passing the barrier, had paid the
necessary fares, and were stepping into a taxi.
"King's Cross," directed Tuppence. Then she gave a jump. A man
looked in at the window, just as they started. She was almost
certain it was the same man who had got into the carriage next to
them. She had a horrible feeling of being slowly hemmed in on
every side.
"You see," she explained to Jane, "if they think we're going to
Sir James, this will put them off the scent. Now they'll imagine
we're going to Mr. Carter. His country place is north of London
somewhere."
Crossing Holborn there was a block, and the taxi was held up.
This was what Tuppence had been waiting for.
"Quick," she whispered. "Open the right-hand door!"
The two girls stepped out into the traffic. Two minutes later
they were seated in another taxi and were retracing their steps,
this time direct to Carlton House Terrace.
"There," said Tuppence, with great satisfaction, "this ought to
do them. I can't help thinking that I'm really rather clever!
How that other taxi man will swear! But I took his number, and
I'll send him a postal order to-morrow, so that he won't lose by
it if he happens to be genuine. What's this thing
swerving----Oh!"
There was a grinding noise and a bump. Another taxi had collided
with them.
In a flash Tuppence was out on the pavement. A policeman was
approaching. Before he arrived Tuppence had handed the driver
five shillings, and she and Jane had merged themselves in the
crowd.
"It's only a step or two now," said Tuppence breathlessly. The
accident had taken place in Trafalgar Square.
"Do you think the collision was an accident, or done
deliberately?"
"I don't know. It might have been either."
Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried along.
"It may be my fancy," said Tuppence suddenly, "but I feel as
though there was some one behind us."
"Hurry!" murmured the other. "Oh, hurry!"
They were now at the corner of Carlton House Terrace, and their
spirits lightened. Suddenly a large and apparently intoxicated
man barred their way.
"Good evening, ladies," he hiccupped. "Whither away so fast?"
"Let us pass, please," said Tuppence imperiously.
"Just a word with your pretty friend here." He stretched out an
unsteady hand, and clutched Jane by the shoulder. Tuppence heard
other footsteps behind. She did not pause to ascertain whether
they were friends or foes. Lowering her head, she repeated a
manoeuvre of childish days, and butted their aggressor full in
the capacious middle. The success of these unsportsmanlike
tactics was immediate. The man sat down abruptly on the pavement.
Tuppence and Jane took to their heels. The house they sought was
some way down. Other footsteps echoed behind them. Their breath
was coming in choking gasps as they reached Sir James's door.
Tuppence seized the bell and Jane the knocker.
The man who had stopped them reached the foot of the steps. For a
moment he hesitated, and as he did so the door opened. They fell
into the hall together. Sir James came forward from the library
door.
"Hullo! What's this?"
He stepped forward, and put his arm round Jane as she swayed
uncertainly. He half carried her into the library, and laid her
on the leather couch. From a tantalus on the table he poured out
a few drops of brandy, and forced her to drink them. With a sigh
she sat up, her eyes still wild and frightened.
"It's all right. Don't be afraid, my child. You're quite safe."
Her breath came more normally, and the colour was returning to
her cheeks. Sir James looked at Tuppence quizzically.
"So you're not dead, Miss Tuppence, any more than that Tommy boy
of yours was!"
"The Young Adventurers take a lot of killing," boasted Tuppence.
"So it seems," said Sir James dryly. "Am I right in thinking
that the joint venture has ended in success, and that this"--he
turned to the girl on the couch--"is Miss Jane Finn?"
Jane sat up.
"Yes," she said quietly, "I am Jane Finn. I have a lot to tell
you."
"When you are stronger----"
"No--now!" Her voice rose a little. "I shall feel safer when I
have told everything."
"As you please," said the lawyer.
He sat down in one of the big arm-chairs facing the couch. In a
low voice Jane began her story.
"I came over on the Lusitania to take up a post in Paris. I was
fearfully keen about the war, and just dying to help somehow or
other. I had been studying French, and my teacher said they were
wanting help in a hospital in Paris, so I wrote and offered my
services, and they were accepted. I hadn't got any folk of my
own, so it made it easy to arrange things.
"When the Lusitania was torpedoed, a man came up to me. I'd
noticed him more than once--and I'd figured it out in my own mind
that he was afraid of somebody or something. He asked me if I
was a patriotic American, and told me he was carrying papers
which were just life or death to the Allies. He asked me to take
charge of them. I was to watch for an advertisement in the Times.
If it didn't appear, I was to take them to the American
Ambassador.
"Most of what followed seems like a nightmare still. I see it in
my dreams sometimes.... I'll hurry over that part. Mr. Danvers
had told me to watch out. He might have been shadowed from New
York, but he didn't think so. At first I had no suspicions, but
on the boat to Holyhead I began to get uneasy. There was one
woman who had been very keen to look after me, and chum up with
me generally--a Mrs. Vandemeyer. At first I'd been only grateful
to her for being so kind to me; but all the time I felt there was
something about her I didn't like, and on the Irish boat I saw
her talking to some queer-looking men, and from the way they
looked I saw that they were talking about me. I remembered that
she'd been quite near me on the Lusitania when Mr. Danvers gave
me the packet, and before that she'd tried to talk to him once or
twice. I began to get scared, but I didn't quite see what to do.
"I had a wild idea of stopping at Holyhead, and not going on to
London that day, but I soon saw that that would be plumb
foolishness. The only thing was to act as though I'd noticed
nothing, and hope for the best. I couldn't see how they could
get me if I was on my guard. One thing I'd done already as a
precaution--ripped open the oilskin packet and substituted blank
paper, and then sewn it up again. So, if anyone did manage to rob
me of it, it wouldn't matter.
"What to do with the real thing worried me no end. Finally I
opened it out flat--there were only two sheets--and laid it
between two of the advertisement pages of a magazine. I stuck the
two pages together round the edge with some gum off an envelope.
I carried the magazine carelessly stuffed into the pocket of my
ulster.
"At Holyhead I tried to get into a carriage with people that
looked all right, but in a queer way there seemed always to be a
crowd round me shoving and pushing me just the way I didn't want
to go. There was something uncanny and frightening about it. In
the end I found myself in a carriage with Mrs. Vandemeyer after
all. I went out into the corridor, but all the other carriages
were full, so I had to go back and sit down. I consoled myself
with the thought that there were other people in the
carriage--there was quite a nice-looking man and his wife sitting
just opposite. So I felt almost happy about it until just outside
London. I had leaned back and closed my eyes. I guess they
thought I was asleep, but my eyes weren't quite shut, and
suddenly I saw the nice-looking man get something out of his bag
and hand it to Mrs. Vandemeyer, and as he did so he WINKED....
"I can't tell you how that wink sort of froze me through and
through. My only thought was to get out in the corridor as quick
as ever I could. I got up, trying to look natural and easy.
Perhaps they saw something--I don't know--but suddenly Mrs.
Vandemeyer said 'Now,' and flung something over my nose and mouth
as I tried to scream. At the same moment I felt a terrific blow
on the back of my head...."
She shuddered. Sir James murmured something sympathetically. In
a minute she resumed:
"I don't know how long it was before I came back to
consciousness. I felt very ill and sick. I was lying on a dirty
bed. There was a screen round it, but I could hear two people
talking in the room. Mrs. Vandemeyer was one of them. I tried to
listen, but at first I couldn't take much in. When at last I did
begin to grasp what was going on--I was just terrified! I wonder
I didn't scream right out there and then.
"They hadn't found the papers. They'd got the oilskin packet
with the blanks, and they were just mad! They didn't know
whether I'd changed the papers, or whether Danvers had been
carrying a dummy message, while the real one was sent another
way. They spoke of"--she closed her eyes--"torturing me to find
out!
"I'd never known what fear--really sickening fear--was before!
Once they came to look at me. I shut my eyes and pretended to be
still unconscious, but I was afraid they'd hear the beating of my
heart. However, they went away again. I began thinking madly.
What could I do? I knew I wouldn't be able to stand up against
torture very long.
"Suddenly something put the thought of loss of memory into my
head. The subject had always interested me, and I'd read an awful
lot about it. I had the whole thing at my finger-tips. If only I
could succeed in carrying the bluff through, it might save me. I
said a prayer, and drew a long breath. Then I opened my eyes and
started babbling in FRENCH!
"Mrs. Vandemeyer came round the screen at once. Her face was so
wicked I nearly died, but I smiled up at her doubtfully, and
asked her in French where I was.
"It puzzled her, I could see. She called the man she had been
talking to. He stood by the screen with his face in shadow. He
spoke to me in French. His voice was very ordinary and quiet,
but somehow, I don't know why, he scared me worse than the woman.
I felt he'd seen right through me, but I went on playing my part.
I asked again where I was, and then went on that there was
something I MUST remember--MUST remember--only for the moment it
was all gone. I worked myself up to be more and more distressed.
He asked me my name. I said I didn't know--that I couldn't
remember anything at all.
"Suddenly he caught my wrist, and began twisting it. The pain
was awful. I screamed. He went on. I screamed and screamed, but
I managed to shriek out things in French. I don't know how long
I could have gone on, but luckily I fainted. The last thing I
heard was his voice saying: 'That's not bluff! Anyway, a kid of
her age wouldn't know enough.' I guess he forgot American girls
are older for their age than English ones, and take more interest
in scientific subjects.
"When I came to, Mrs. Vandemeyer was sweet as honey to me. She'd
had her orders, I guess. She spoke to me in French--told me I'd
had a shock and been very ill. I should be better soon. I
pretended to be rather dazed--murmured something about the
'doctor' having hurt my wrist. She looked relieved when I said
that.
"By and by she went out of the room altogether. I was suspicious
still, and lay quite quiet for some time. In the end, however, I
got up and walked round the room, examining it. I thought that
even if anyone WAS watching me from somewhere, it would seem
natural enough under the circumstances. It was a squalid, dirty
place. There were no windows, which seemed queer. I guessed the
door would be locked, but I didn't try it. There were some
battered old pictures on the walls, representing scenes from
Faust."
Jane's two listeners gave a simultaneous "Ah!" The girl nodded.
"Yes--it was the place in Soho where Mr. Beresford was
imprisoned. Of course, at the time I didn't even know if I was in
London. One thing was worrying me dreadfully, but my heart gave
a great throb of relief when I saw my ulster lying carelessly
over the back of a chair. AND THE MAGAZINE WAS STILL ROLLED UP IN
THE POCKET!
"If only I could be certain that I was not being overlooked! I
looked carefully round the walls. There didn't seem to be a
peep-hole of any kind--nevertheless I felt kind of sure there
must be. All of a sudden I sat down on the edge of the table, and
put my face in my hands, sobbing out a 'Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!'
I've got very sharp ears. I distinctly heard the rustle of a
dress, and slight creak. That was enough for me. I was being
watched!
"I lay down on the bed again, and by and by Mrs. Vandemeyer
brought me some supper. She was still sweet as they make them. I
guess she'd been told to win my confidence. Presently she
produced the oilskin packet, and asked me if I recognized it,
watching me like a lynx all the time.
"I took it and turned it over in a puzzled sort of way. Then I
shook my head. I said that I felt I OUGHT to remember something
about it, that it was just as though it was all coming back, and
then, before I could get hold of it, it went again. Then she told
me that I was her niece, and that I was to call her 'Aunt Rita.'
I did obediently, and she told me not to worry--my memory would
soon come back.
"That was an awful night. I'd made my plan whilst I was waiting
for her. The papers were safe so far, but I couldn't take the
risk of leaving them there any longer. They might throw that
magazine away any minute. I lay awake waiting until I judged it
must be about two o'clock in the morning. Then I got up as
softly as I could, and felt in the dark along the left-hand wall.
Very gently, I unhooked one of the pictures from its
nail--Marguerite with her casket of jewels. I crept over to my
coat and took out the magazine, and an odd envelope or two that I
had shoved in. Then I went to the washstand, and damped the
brown paper at the back of the picture all round. Presently I was
able to pull it away. I had already torn out the two
stuck-together pages from the magazine, and now I slipped them
with their precious enclosure between the picture and its brown
paper backing. A little gum from the envelopes helped me to stick
the latter up again. No one would dream the picture had ever been
tampered with. I rehung it on the wall, put the magazine back in
my coat pocket, and crept back to bed. I was pleased with my
hiding-place. They'd never think of pulling to pieces one of
their own pictures. I hoped that they'd come to the conclusion
that Danvers had been carrying a dummy all along, and that, in
the end, they'd let me go.
"As a matter of fact, I guess that's what they did think at
first, and, in a way, it was dangerous for me. I learnt
afterwards that they nearly did away with me then and
there--there was never much chance of their 'letting me go'--but
the first man, who was the boss, preferred to keep me alive on
the chance of my having hidden them, and being able to tell where
if I recovered my memory. They watched me constantly for weeks.
Sometimes they'd ask me questions by the hour--I guess there was
nothing they didn't know about the third degree!--but somehow I
managed to hold my own. The strain of it was awful, though . . .
"They took me back to Ireland, and over every step of the Journey
again, in case I'd hidden it somewhere en route. Mrs. Vandemeyer
and another woman never left me for a moment. They spoke of me as
a young relative of Mrs. Vandemeyer's whose mind was affected by
the shock of the Lusitania. There was no one I could appeal to
for help without giving myself away to THEM, and if I risked it
and failed--and Mrs. Vandemeyer looked so rich, and so
beautifully dressed, that I felt convinced they'd take her word
against mine, and think it was part of my mental trouble to think
myself 'persecuted'--I felt that the horrors in store for me
would be too awful once they knew I'd been only shamming."
Sir James nodded comprehendingly.
"Mrs. Vandemeyer was a woman of great personality. With that and
her social position she would have had little difficulty in
imposing her point of view in preference to yours. Your
sensational accusations against her would not easily have found
credence."
"That's what I thought. It ended in my being sent to a
sanatorium at Bournemouth. I couldn't make up my mind at first
whether it was a sham affair or genuine. A hospital nurse had
charge of me. I was a special patient. She seemed so nice and
normal that at last I determined to confide in her. A merciful
providence just saved me in time from falling into the trap. My
door happened to be ajar, and I heard her talking to some one in
the passage. SHE WAS ONE OF THEM! They still fancied it might be
a bluff on my part, and she was put in charge of me to make sure!
After that, my nerve went completely. I dared trust nobody.
"I think I almost hypnotized myself. After a while, I almost
forgot that I was really Jane Finn. I was so bent on playing the
part of Janet Vandemeyer that my nerves began to play me tricks.
I became really ill--for months I sank into a sort of stupor. I
felt sure I should die soon, and that nothing really mattered. A
sane person shut up in a lunatic asylum often ends by becoming
insane, they say. I guess I was like that. Playing my part had
become second nature to me. I wasn't even unhappy in the
end--just apathetic. Nothing seemed to matter. And the years
went on.
"And then suddenly things seemed to change. Mrs. Vandemeyer came
down from London. She and the doctor asked me questions,
experimented with various treatments. There was some talk of
sending me to a specialist in Paris. In the end, they did not
dare risk it. I overheard something that seemed to show that
other people--friends--were looking for me. I learnt later that
the nurse who had looked after me went to Paris, and consulted a
specialist, representing herself to be me. He put her through
some searching tests, and exposed her loss of memory to be
fraudulent; but she had taken a note of his methods and
reproduced them on me. I dare say I couldn't have deceived the
specialist for a minute--a man who has made a lifelong study of a
thing is unique--but I managed once again to hold my own with
them. The fact that I'd not thought of myself as Jane Finn for so
long made it easier.
"One night I was whisked off to London at a moment's notice. They
took me back to the house in Soho. Once I got away from the
sanatorium I felt different--as though something in me that had
been buried for a long time was waking up again.
"They sent me in to wait on Mr. Beresford. (Of course I didn't
know his name then.) I was suspicious--I thought it was another
trap. But he looked so honest, I could hardly believe it.
However, I was careful in all I said, for I knew we could be
overheard. There's a small hole, high up in the wall.
"But on the Sunday afternoon a message was brought to the house.
They were all very disturbed. Without their knowing, I listened.
Word had come that he was to be killed. I needn't tell the next
part, because you know it. I thought I'd have time to rush up
and get the papers from their hiding-place, but I was caught. So
I screamed out that he was escaping, and I said I wanted to go
back to Marguerite. I shouted the name three times very loud. I
knew the others would think I meant Mrs. Vandemeyer, but I hoped
it might make Mr. Beresford think of the picture. He'd unhooked
one the first day--that's what made me hesitate to trust him."
She paused.
"Then the papers," said Sir James slowly, "are still at the back
of the picture in that room."
"Yes." The girl had sunk back on the sofa exhausted with the
strain of the long story.
Sir James rose to his feet. He looked at his watch.
"Come," he said, "we must go at once."
"To-night?" queried Tuppence, surprised.
"To-morrow may be too late," said Sir James gravely. "Besides, by
going to-night we have the chance of capturing that great man and
super-criminal--Mr. Brown!"
There was dead silence, and Sir James continued:
"You have been followed here--not a doubt of it. When we leave
the house we shall be followed again, but not molested, FOR IT IS
MR. BROWN'S PLAN THAT WE ARE TO LEAD HIM. But the Soho house is
under police supervision night and day. There are several men
watching it. When we enter that house, Mr. Brown will not draw
back--he will risk all, on the chance of obtaining the spark to
fire his mine. And he fancies the risk not great--since he will
enter in the guise of a friend!"
Tuppence flushed, then opened her mouth impulsively.
"But there's something you don't know--that we haven't told you."
Her eyes dwelt on Jane in perplexity.
"What is that?" asked the other sharply. "No hesitations, Miss
Tuppence. We need to be sure of our going."
But Tuppence, for once, seemed tongue-tied.
"It's so difficult--you see, if I'm wrong--oh, it would be
dreadful." She made a grimace at the unconscious Jane. "Never
forgive me," she observed cryptically.
"You want me to help you out, eh?"
"Yes, please. YOU know who Mr. Brown is, don't you?"
"Yes," said Sir James gravely. "At last I do."
"At last?" queried Tuppence doubtfully. "Oh, but I thought----"
She paused.
"You thought correctly, Miss Tuppence. I have been morally
certain of his identity for some time--ever since the night of
Mrs. Vandemeyer's mysterious death."
"Ah!" breathed Tuppence.
"For there we are up against the logic of facts. There are only
two solutions. Either the chloral was administered by her own
hand, which theory I reject utterly, or else----"
"Yes?"
"Or else it was administered in the brandy you gave her. Only
three people touched that brandy--you, Miss Tuppence, I myself,
and one other--Mr. Julius Hersheimmer!"
Jane Finn stirred and sat up, regarding the speaker with wide
astonished eyes.
"At first, the thing seemed utterly impossible. Mr. Hersheimmer,
as the son of a prominent millionaire, was a well-known figure in
America. It seemed utterly impossible that he and Mr. Brown
could be one and the same. But you cannot escape from the logic
of facts. Since the thing was so--it must be accepted. Remember
Mrs. Vandemeyer's sudden and inexplicable agitation. Another
proof, if proof was needed.
"I took an early opportunity of giving you a hint. From some
words of Mr. Hersheimmer's at Manchester, I gathered that you had
understood and acted on that hint. Then I set to work to prove
the impossible possible. Mr. Beresford rang me up and told me,
what I had already suspected, that the photograph of Miss Jane
Finn had never really been out of Mr. Hersheimmer's
possession----"
But the girl interrupted. Springing to her feet, she cried out
angrily:
"What do you mean? What are you trying to suggest? That Mr.
Brown is JULIUS? Julius--my own cousin!"
"No, Miss Finn," said Sir James unexpectedly. "Not your cousin.
The man who calls himself Julius Hersheimmer is no relation to
you whatsoever."
CHAPTER XXVI
MR. BROWN
SIR James's words came like a bomb-shell. Both girls looked
equally puzzled. The lawyer went across to his desk, and returned
with a small newspaper cutting, which he handed to Jane.
Tuppence read it over her shoulder. Mr. Carter would have
recognized it. It referred to the mysterious man found dead in
New York.
"As I was saying to Miss Tuppence," resumed the lawyer, "I set to
work to prove the impossible possible. The great stumbling-block
was the undeniable fact that Julius Hersheimmer was not an
assumed name. When I came across this paragraph my problem was
solved. Julius Hersheimmer set out to discover what had become of
his cousin. He went out West, where he obtained news of her and
her photograph to aid him in his search. On the eve of his
departure from New York he was set upon and murdered. His body
was dressed in shabby clothes, and the face disfigured to prevent
identification. Mr. Brown took his place. He sailed immediately
for England. None of the real Hersheimmer's friends or intimates
saw him before he sailed--though indeed it would hardly have
mattered if they had, the impersonation was so perfect. Since
then he had been hand and glove with those sworn to hunt him
down. Every secret of theirs has been known to him. Only once
did he come near disaster. Mrs. Vandemeyer knew his secret. It
was no part of his plan that that huge bribe should ever be
offered to her. But for Miss Tuppence's fortunate change of
plan, she would have been far away from the flat when we arrived
there. Exposure stared him in the face. He took a desperate
step, trusting in his assumed character to avert suspicion. He
nearly succeeded--but not quite."
"I can't believe it," murmured Jane. "He seemed so splendid."
"The real Julius Hersheimmer WAS a splendid fellow! And Mr. Brown
is a consummate actor. But ask Miss Tuppence if she also has not
had her suspicions."
Jane turned mutely to Tuppence. The latter nodded.
"I didn't want to say it, Jane--I knew it would hurt you. And,
after all, I couldn't be sure. I still don't understand why, if
he's Mr. Brown, he rescued us."
"Was it Julius Hersheimmer who helped you to escape?"
Tuppence recounted to Sir James the exciting events of the
evening, ending up: "But I can't see WHY!"
"Can't you? I can. So can young Beresford, by his actions. As a
last hope Jane Finn was to be allowed to escape--and the escape
must be managed so that she harbours no suspicions of its being a
put-up job. They're not averse to young Beresford's being in the
neighbourhood, and, if necessary, communicating with you. They'll
take care to get him out of the way at the right minute. Then
Julius Hersheimmer dashes up and rescues you in true melodramatic
style. Bullets fly--but don't hit anybody. What would have
happened next? You would have driven straight to the house in
Soho and secured the document which Miss Finn would probably have
entrusted to her cousin's keeping. Or, if he conducted the
search, he would have pretended to find the hiding-place already
rifled. He would have had a dozen ways of dealing with the
situation, but the result would have been the same. And I rather
fancy some accident would have happened to both of you. You see,
you know rather an inconvenient amount. That's a rough outline.
I admit I was caught napping; but somebody else wasn't."
"Tommy," said Tuppence softly.
"Yes. Evidently when the right moment came to get rid of him--he
was too sharp for them. All the same, I'm not too easy in my
mind about him."
"Why?"
"Because Julius Hersheimmer is Mr. Brown," said Sir James dryly.
"And it takes more than one man and a revolver to hold up Mr.
Brown...."
Tuppence paled a little.
"What can we do?"
"Nothing until we've been to the house in Soho. If Beresford has
still got the upper hand, there's nothing to fear. If otherwise,
our enemy will come to find us, and he will not find us
unprepared!" From a drawer in the desk, he took a service
revolver, and placed it in his coat pocket.
"Now we're ready. I know better than even to suggest going
without you, Miss Tuppence----"
"I should think so indeed!"
"But I do suggest that Miss Finn should remain here. She will be
perfectly safe, and I am afraid she is absolutely worn out with
all she has been through."
But to Tuppence's surprise Jane shook her head.
"No. I guess I'm going too. Those papers were my trust. I must
go through with this business to the end. I'm heaps better now
anyway."
Sir James's car was ordered round. During the short drive
Tuppence's heart beat tumultuously. In spite of momentary qualms
of uneasiness respecting Tommy, she could not but feel
exultation. They were going to win!
The car drew up at the corner of the square and they got out. Sir
James went up to a plain-clothes man who was on duty with several
others, and spoke to him. Then he rejoined the girls.
"No one has gone into the house so far. It is being watched at
the back as well, so they are quite sure of that. Anyone who
attempts to enter after we have done so will be arrested
immediately. Shall we go in?"
A policeman produced a key. They all knew Sir James well. They
had also had orders respecting Tuppence. Only the third member
of the party was unknown to them. The three entered the house,
pulling the door to behind them. Slowly they mounted the rickety
stairs. At the top was the ragged curtain hiding the recess where
Tommy had hidden that day. Tuppence had heard the story from
Jane in her character of "Annette." She looked at the tattered
velvet with interest. Even now she could almost swear it
moved--as though some one was behind it. So strong was the
illusion that she almost fancied she could make out the outline
of a form.... Supposing Mr. Brown--Julius--was there waiting....
Impossible of course! Yet she almost went back to put the
curtain aside and make sure....
Now they were entering the prison room. No place for anyone to
hide here, thought Tuppence, with a sigh of relief, then chided
herself indignantly. She must not give way to this foolish
fancying--this curious insistent feeling that MR. BROWN WAS IN
THE HOUSE.... Hark! what was that? A stealthy footstep on the
stairs? There WAS some one in the house! Absurd! She was
becoming hysterical.
Jane had gone straight to the picture of Marguerite. She
unhooked it with a steady hand. The dust lay thick upon it, and
festoons of cobwebs lay between it and the wall. Sir James
handed her a pocket-knife, and she ripped away the brown paper
from the back.... The advertisement page of a magazine fell out.
Jane picked it up. Holding apart the frayed inner edges she
extracted two thin sheets covered with writing!
No dummy this time! The real thing!
"We've got it," said Tuppence. "At last...."
The moment was almost breathless in its emotion. Forgotten the
faint creakings, the imagined noises of a minute ago. None of
them had eyes for anything but what Jane held in her hand.
Sir James took it, and scrutinized it attentively.
"Yes," he said quietly, "this is the ill-fated draft treaty!"
"We've succeeded," said Tuppence. There was awe and an almost
wondering unbelief in her voice.
Sir James echoed her words as he folded the paper carefully and
put it away in his pocket-book, then he looked curiously round
the dingy room.
"It was here that our young friend was confined for so long, was
it not?" he said. "A truly sinister room. You notice the
absence of windows, and the thickness of the close-fitting door.
Whatever took place here would never be heard by the outside
world."
Tuppence shivered. His words woke a vague alarm in her. What if
there WAS some one concealed in the house? Some one who might bar
that door on them, and leave them to die like rats in a trap?
Then she realized the absurdity of her thought. The house was
surrounded by police who, if they failed to reappear, would not
hesitate to break in and make a thorough search. She smiled at
her own foolishness--then looked up with a start to find Sir
James watching her. He gave her an emphatic little nod.
"Quite right, Miss Tuppence. You scent danger. So do I. So does
Miss Finn."
"Yes," admitted Jane. "It's absurd--but I can't help it."
Sir James nodded again.
"You feel--as we all feel--THE PRESENCE OF MR. BROWN. Yes"--as
Tuppence made a movement--"not a doubt of it--MR. BROWN IS
HERE...."
"In this house?"
"In this room.... You don't understand? I AM MR. BROWN...."
Stupefied, unbelieving, they stared at him. The very lines of
his face had changed. It was a different man who stood before
them. He smiled a slow cruel smile.
"Neither of you will leave this room alive! You said just now we
had succeeded. I have succeeded! The draft treaty is mine." His
smile grew wider as he looked at Tuppence. "Shall I tell you how
it will be? Sooner or later the police will break in, and they
will find three victims of Mr. Brown--three, not two, you
understand, but fortunately the third will not be dead, only
wounded, and will be able to describe the attack with a wealth of
detail! The treaty? It is in the hands of Mr. Brown. So no one
will think of searching the pockets of Sir James Peel Edgerton!"
He turned to Jane.
"You outwitted me. I make my acknowledgments. But you will not
do it again."
There was a faint sound behind him, but, intoxicated with
success, he did not turn his head.
He slipped his hand into his pocket.
"Checkmate to the Young Adventurers," he said, and slowly raised
the big automatic.
But, even as he did so, he felt himself seized from behind in a
grip of iron. The revolver was wrenched from his hand, and the
voice of Julius Hersheimmer said drawlingly:
"I guess you're caught redhanded with the goods upon you."
The blood rushed to the K.C.'s face, but his self-control was
marvellous, as he looked from one to the other of his two
captors. He looked longest at Tommy.
"You," he said beneath his breath. "YOU! I might have known."
Seeing that he was disposed to offer no resistance, their grip
slackened. Quick as a flash his left hand, the hand which bore
the big signet ring, was raised to his lips....
" 'Ave, Caesar! te morituri salutant,' " he said, still looking
at Tommy.
Then his face changed, and with a long convulsive shudder he fell
forward in a crumpled heap, whilst an odour of bitter almonds
filled the air.
CHAPTER XXVII
A SUPPER PARTY AT THE SAVOY
THE supper party given by Mr. Julius Hersheimmer to a few friends
on the evening of the 30th will long be remembered in catering
circles. It took place in a private room, and Mr. Hersheimmer's
orders were brief and forcible. He gave carte blanche--and when
a millionaire gives carte blanche he usually gets it!
Every delicacy out of season was duly provided. Waiters carried
bottles of ancient and royal vintage with loving care. The floral
decorations defied the seasons, and fruits of the earth as far
apart as May and November found themselves miraculously side by
side. The list of guests was small and select. The American
Ambassador, Mr. Carter, who had taken the liberty, he said, of
bringing an old friend, Sir William Beresford, with him,
Archdeacon Cowley, Dr. Hall, those two youthful adventurers, Miss
Prudence Cowley and Mr. Thomas Beresford, and last, but not
least, as guest of honour, Miss Jane Finn.
Julius had spared no pains to make Jane's appearance a success. A
mysterious knock had brought Tuppence to the door of the
apartment she was sharing with the American girl. It was Julius.
In his hand he held a cheque.
"Say, Tuppence," he began, "will you do me a good turn? Take
this, and get Jane regularly togged up for this evening. You're
all coming to supper with me at the Savoy. See? Spare no
expense. You get me?"
"Sure thing," mimicked Tuppence. "We shall enjoy ourselves. It
will be a pleasure dressing Jane. She's the loveliest thing I've
ever seen."
"That's so," agreed Mr. Hersheimmer fervently.
His fervour brought a momentary twinkle to Tuppence's eye.
"By the way, Julius," she remarked demurely, "I--haven't given
you my answer yet."
"Answer?" said Julius. His face paled.
"You know--when you asked me to--marry you," faltered Tuppence,
her eyes downcast in the true manner of the early Victorian
heroine, "and wouldn't take no for an answer. I've thought it
well over----"
"Yes?" said Julius. The perspiration stood on his forehead.
Tuppence relented suddenly.
"You great idiot!" she said. "What on earth induced you to do
it? I could see at the time you didn't care a twopenny dip for
me!"
"Not at all. I had--and still have--the highest sentiments of
esteem and respect--and admiration for you----"
"H'm!" said Tuppence. "Those are the kind of sentiments that
very soon go to the wall when the other sentiment comes along!
Don't they, old thing?"
"I don't know what you mean," said Julius stiffly, but a large
and burning blush overspread his countenance.
"Shucks!" retorted Tuppence. She laughed, and closed the door,
reopening it to add with dignity: "Morally, I shall always
consider I have been jilted!"
"What was it?" asked Jane as Tuppence rejoined her.
"Julius."
"What did he want?"
"Really, I think, he wanted to see you, but I wasn't going to let
him. Not until to-night, when you're going to burst upon every
one like King Solomon in his glory! Come on! WE'RE GOING TO
SHOP!"
To most people the 29th, the much-heralded "Labour Day," had
passed much as any other day. Speeches were made in the Park and
Trafalgar Square. Straggling processions, singing the Red Flag,
wandered through the streets in a more or less aimless manner.
Newspapers which had hinted at a general strike, and the
inauguration of a reign of terror, were forced to hide their
diminished heads. The bolder and more astute among them sought to
prove that peace had been effected by following their counsels.
In the Sunday papers a brief notice of the sudden death of Sir
James Peel Edgerton, the famous K.C., had appeared. Monday's
paper dealt appreciatively with the dead man's career. The exact
manner of his sudden death was never made public.
Tommy had been right in his forecast of the situation. It had
been a one-man show. Deprived of their chief, the organization
fell to pieces. Kramenin had made a precipitate return to Russia,
leaving England early on Sunday morning. The gang had fled from
Astley Priors in a panic, leaving behind, in their haste, various
damaging documents which compromised them hopelessly. With these
proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a small
brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had
contained a full and damning resume of the whole plot, the
Government had called an eleventh-hour conference. The Labour
leaders were forced to recognize that they had been used as a
cat's paw. Certain concessions were made by the Government, and
were eagerly accepted. It was to be Peace, not War!
But the Cabinet knew by how narrow a margin they had escaped
utter disaster. And burnt in on Mr. Carter's brain was the
strange scene which had taken place in the house in Soho the
night before.
He had entered the squalid room to find that great man, the
friend of a lifetime, dead--betrayed out of his own mouth. From
the dead man's pocket-book he had retrieved the ill-omened draft
treaty, and then and there, in the presence of the other three,
it had been reduced to ashes.... England was saved!
And now, on the evening of the 30th, in a private room at the
Savoy, Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer was receiving his guests.
Mr. Carter was the first to arrive. With him was a
choleric-looking old gentleman, at sight of whom Tommy flushed up
to the roots of his hair. He came forward.
"Ha!" said the old gentleman, surveying him apoplectically. "So
you're my nephew, are you? Not much to look at--but you've done
good work, it seems. Your mother must have brought you up well
after all. Shall we let bygones be bygones, eh? You're my heir,
you know; and in future I propose to make you an allowance--and
you can look upon Chalmers Park as your home."
"Thank you, sir, it's awfully decent of you."
"Where's this young lady I've been hearing such a lot about?"
Tommy introduced Tuppence.
"Ha!" said Sir William, eyeing her. "Girls aren't what they used
to be in my young days."
"Yes, they are," said Tuppence. "Their clothes are different,
perhaps, but they themselves are just the same."
"Well, perhaps you're right. Minxes then--minxes now!"
"That's it," said Tuppence. "I'm a frightful minx myself."
"I believe you," said the old gentleman, chuckling, and pinched
her ear in high good-humour. Most young women were terrified of
the "old bear," as they termed him. Tuppence's pertness
delighted the old misogynist.
Then came the timid archdeacon, a little bewildered by the
company in which he found himself, glad that his daughter was
considered to have distinguished herself, but unable to help
glancing at her from time to time with nervous apprehension. But
Tuppence behaved admirably. She forbore to cross her legs, set a
guard upon her tongue, and steadfastly refused to smoke.
Dr. Hall came next, and he was followed by the American
Ambassador.
"We might as well sit down," said Julius, when he had introduced
all his guests to each other. "Tuppence, will you "
He indicated the place of honour with a wave of his hand.
But Tuppence shook her head.
"No--that's Jane's place! When one thinks of how she's held out
all these years, she ought to be made the queen of the feast
to-night."
Julius flung her a grateful glance, and Jane came forward shyly
to the allotted seat. Beautiful as she had seemed before, it was
as nothing to the loveliness that now went fully adorned.
Tuppence had performed her part faithfully. The model gown
supplied by a famous dressmaker had been entitled "A tiger lily."
It was all golds and reds and browns, and out of it rose the pure
column of the girl's white throat, and the bronze masses of hair
that crowned her lovely head. There was admiration in every eye,
as she took her seat.
Soon the supper party was in full swing, and with one accord
Tommy was called upon for a full and complete explanation.
"You've been too darned close about the whole business," Julius
accused him. "You let on to me that you were off to the
Argentine--though I guess you had your reasons for that. The idea
of both you and Tuppence casting me for the part of Mr. Brown
just tickles me to death!"
"The idea was not original to them," said Mr. Carter gravely. "It
was suggested, and the poison very carefully instilled, by a
past-master in the art. The paragraph in the New York paper
suggested the plan to him, and by means of it he wove a web that
nearly enmeshed you fatally."
"I never liked him," said Julius. "I felt from the first that
there was something wrong about him, and I always suspected that
it was he who silenced Mrs. Vandemeyer so appositely. But it
wasn't till I heard that the order for Tommy's execution came
right on the heels of our interview with him that Sunday that I
began to tumble to the fact that he was the big bug himself."
"I never suspected it at all," lamented Tuppence. "I've always
thought I was so much cleverer than Tommy--but he's undoubtedly
scored over me handsomely."
Julius agreed.
"Tommy's been the goods this trip! And, instead of sitting there
as dumb as a fish, let him banish his blushes, and tell us all
about it."
"Hear! hear!"
"There's nothing to tell," said Tommy, acutely uncomfortable. "I
was an awful mug--right up to the time I found that photograph of
Annette, and realized that she was Jane Finn. Then I remembered
how persistently she had shouted out that word 'Marguerite'--and
I thought of the pictures, and--well, that's that. Then of course
I went over the whole thing to see where I'd made an ass of
myself."
"Go on," said Mr. Carter, as Tommy showed signs of taking refuge
in silence once more.
"That business about Mrs. Vandemeyer had worried me when Julius
told me about it. On the face of it, it seemed that he or Sir
James must have done the trick. But I didn't know which.
Finding that photograph in the drawer, after that story of how it
had been got from him by Inspector Brown, made me suspect Julius.
Then I remembered that it was Sir James who had discovered the
false Jane Finn. In the end, I couldn't make up my mind--and
just decided to take no chances either way. I left a note for
Julius, in case he was Mr. Brown, saying I was off to the
Argentine, and I dropped Sir James's letter with the offer of the
job by the desk so that he would see it was a genuine stunt.
Then I wrote my letter to Mr. Carter and rang up Sir James.
Taking him into my confidence would be the best thing either way,
so I told him everything except where I believed the papers to be
hidden. The way he helped me to get on the track of Tuppence and
Annette almost disarmed me, but not quite. I kept my mind open
between the two of them. And then I got a bogus note from
Tuppence--and I knew!"
"But how?"
Tommy took the note in question from his pocket and passed it
round the table.
"It's her handwriting all right, but I knew it wasn't from her
because of the signature. She'd never spell her name 'Twopence,'
but anyone who'd never seen it written might quite easily do so.
Julius HAD seen it--he showed me a note of hers to him once--but
SIR JAMES HADN'T! After that everything was plain sailing. I sent
off Albert post-haste to Mr. Carter. I pretended to go away, but
doubled back again. When Julius came bursting up in his car, I
felt it wasn't part of Mr. Brown's plan--and that there would
probably be trouble. Unless Sir James was actually caught in the
act, so to speak, I knew Mr. Carter would never believe it of him
on my bare word----"
"I didn't," interposed Mr. Carter ruefully.
"That's why I sent the girls off to Sir James. I was sure they'd
fetch up at the house in Soho sooner or later. I threatened
Julius with the revolver, because I wanted Tuppence to repeat
that to Sir James, so that he wouldn't worry about us. The moment
the girls were out of sight I told Julius to drive like hell for
London, and as we went along I told him the whole story. We got
to the Soho house in plenty of time and met Mr. Carter outside.
After arranging things with him we went in and hid behind the
curtain in the recess. The policemen had orders to say, if they
were asked, that no one had gone into the house. That's all."
And Tommy came to an abrupt halt.
There was silence for a moment.
"By the way," said Julius suddenly, "you're all wrong about that
photograph of Jane. It WAS taken from me, but I found it again."
"Where?" cried Tuppence.
"In that little safe on the wall in Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom."
"I knew you found something," said Tuppence reproachfully. "To
tell you the truth, that's what started me off suspecting you.
Why didn't you say?"
"I guess I was a mite suspicious too. It had been got away from
me once, and I determined I wouldn't let on I'd got it until a
photographer had made a dozen copies of it!"
"We all kept back something or other," said Tuppence
thoughtfully. "I suppose secret service work makes you like
that!"
In the pause that ensued, Mr. Carter took from his pocket a small
shabby brown book.
"Beresford has just said that I would not have believed Sir James
Peel Edgerton to be guilty unless, so to speak, he was caught in
the act. That is so. Indeed, not until I read the entries in
this little book could I bring myself fully to credit the amazing
truth. This book will pass into the possession of Scotland Yard,
but it will never be publicly exhibited. Sir James's long
association with the law would make it undesirable. But to you,
who know the truth, I propose to read certain passages which will
throw some light on the extraordinary mentality of this great
man."
He opened the book, and turned the thin pages.
". . . It is madness to keep this book. I know that. It is
documentary evidence against me. But I have never shrunk from
taking risks. And I feel an urgent need for self-expression....
The book will only be taken from my dead body....
". . . From an early age I realized that I had exceptional
abilities. Only a fool underestimates his capabilities. My brain
power was greatly above the average. I know that I was born to
succeed. My appearance was the only thing against me. I was
quiet and insignificant--utterly nondescript....
". . . When I was a boy I heard a famous murder trial. I was
deeply impressed by the power and eloquence of the counsel for
the defence. For the first time I entertained the idea of taking
my talents to that particular market.... Then I studied the
criminal in the dock.... The man was a fool--he had been
incredibly, unbelievably stupid. Even the eloquence of his
counsel was hardly likely to save him. I felt an immeasurable
contempt for him.... Then it occurred to me that the criminal
standard was a low one. It was the wastrels, the failures, the
general riff-raff of civilization who drifted into crime....
Strange that men of brains had never realized its extraordinary
opportunities.... I played with the idea.... What a magnificent
field--what unlimited possibilities! It made my brain reel....
". . . I read standard works on crime and criminals. They all
confirmed my opinion. Degeneracy, disease--never the deliberate
embracing of a career by a far-seeing man. Then I considered.
Supposing my utmost ambitions were realized--that I was called to
the bar, and rose to the height of my profession? That I entered
politics--say, even, that I became Prime Minister of England?
What then? Was that power? Hampered at every turn by my
colleagues, fettered by the democratic system of which I should
be the mere figurehead! No--the power I dreamed of was absolute!
An autocrat! A dictator! And such power could only be obtained
by working outside the law. To play on the weaknesses of human
nature, then on the weaknesses of nations--to get together and
control a vast organization, and finally to overthrow the
existing order, and rule! The thought intoxicated me....
". . . I saw that I must lead two lives. A man like myself is
bound to attract notice. I must have a successful career which
would mask my true activities.... Also I must cultivate a
personality. I modelled myself upon famous K.C.'s. I reproduced
their mannerisms, their magnetism. If I had chosen to be an
actor, I should have been the greatest actor living! No
disguises--no grease paint--no false beards! Personality! I put
it on like a glove! When I shed it, I was myself, quiet,
unobtrusive, a man like every other man. I called myself Mr.
Brown. There are hundreds of men called Brown--there are
hundreds of men looking just like me....
". . . I succeeded in my false career. I was bound to succeed. I
shall succeed in the other. A man like me cannot fail....
". . . I have been reading a life of Napoleon. He and I have
much in common....
". . . I make a practice of defending criminals. A man should
look after his own people....
". . . Once or twice I have felt afraid. The first time was in
Italy. There was a dinner given. Professor D----, the great
alienist, was present. The talk fell on insanity. He said, 'A
great many men are mad, and no one knows it. They do not know it
themselves.' I do not understand why he looked at me when he
said that. His glance was strange.... I did not like it....
". . . The war has disturbed me.... I thought it would further my
plans. The Germans are so efficient. Their spy system, too, was
excellent. The streets are full of these boys in khaki. All
empty-headed young fools.... Yet I do not know.... They won the
war.... It disturbs me....
". . . My plans are going well.... A girl butted in--I do not
think she really knew anything.... But we must give up the
Esthonia.... No risks now....
". . . . All goes well. The loss of memory is vexing. It cannot
be a fake. No girl could deceive ME! . . .
". . .The 29th.... That is very soon...." Mr. Carter paused.
"I will not read the details of the coup that was planned. But
there are just two small entries that refer to the three of you.
In the light of what happened they are interesting.
". . . By inducing the girl to come to me of her own accord, I
have succeeded in disarming her. But she has intuitive flashes
that might be dangerous.... She must be got out of the way.... I
can do nothing with the American. He suspects and dislikes me.
But he cannot know. I fancy my armour is impregnable....
Sometimes I fear I have underestimated the other boy. He is not
clever, but it is hard to blind his eyes to facts...."
Mr. Carter shut the book.
"A great man," he said. "Genius, or insanity, who can say?"
There was silence.
Then Mr. Carter rose to his feet.
"I will give you a toast. The Joint Venture which has so amply
justified itself by success!"
It was drunk with acclamation.
"There's something more we want to hear," continued Mr. Carter.
He looked at the American Ambassador. "I speak for you also, I
know. We'll ask Miss Jane Finn to tell us the story that only
Miss Tuppence has heard so far--but before we do so we'll drink
her health. The health of one of the bravest of America's
daughters, to whom is due the thanks and gratitude of two great
countries!"
CHAPTER XXVIII
AND AFTER
"THAT was a mighty good toast, Jane," said Mr. Hersheimmer, as he
and his cousin were being driven back in the Rolls-Royce to the
Ritz.
"The one to the joint venture?"
"No--the one to you. There isn't another girl in the world who
could have carried it through as you did. You were just
wonderful! "
Jane shook her head.
"I don't feel wonderful. At heart I'm just tired and
lonesome--and longing for my own country."
"That brings me to something I wanted to say. I heard the
Ambassador telling you his wife hoped you would come to them at
the Embassy right away. That's good enough, but I've got another
plan. Jane--I want you to marry me! Don't get scared and say no
at once. You can't love me right away, of course, that's
impossible. But I've loved you from the very moment I set eyes
on your photo--and now I've seen you I'm simply crazy about you!
If you'll only marry me, I won't worry you any--you shall take
your own time. Maybe you'll never come to love me, and if that's
the case I'll manage to set you free. But I want the right to
look after you, and take care of you."
"That's what I want," said the girl wistfully. "Some one who'll
be good to me. Oh, you don't know how lonesome I feel!"
"Sure thing I do. Then I guess that's all fixed up, and I'll see
the archbishop about a special license to-morrow morning."
"Oh, Julius!"
"Well, I don't want to hustle you any, Jane, but there's no sense
in waiting about. Don't be scared--I shan't expect you to love
me all at once."
But a small hand was slipped into his.
"I love you now, Julius," said Jane Finn. "I loved you that
first moment in the car when the bullet grazed your cheek...."
Five minutes later Jane murmured softly:
"I don't know London very well, Julius, but is it such a very
long way from the Savoy to the Ritz?"
"It depends how you go," explained Julius unblushingly. "We're
going by way of Regent's Park!"
"Oh, Julius--what will the chauffeur think?"
"At the wages I pay him, he knows better than to do any
independent thinking. Why, Jane, the only reason I had the
supper at the Savoy was so that I could drive you home. I didn't
see how I was ever going to get hold of you alone. You and
Tuppence have been sticking together like Siamese twins. I guess
another day of it would have driven me and Beresford stark
staring mad!"
"Oh. Is he----?"
"Of course he is. Head over ears."
"I thought so," said Jane thoughtfully.
"Why?"
"From all the things Tuppence didn't say!"
"There you have me beat," said Mr. Hersheimmer. But Jane only
laughed.
In the meantime, the Young Adventurers were sitting bolt upright,
very stiff and ill at ease, in a taxi which, with a singular lack
of originality, was also returning to the Ritz via Regent's Park.
A terrible constraint seemed to have settled down between them.
Without quite knowing what had happened, everything seemed
changed. They were tongue-tied--paralysed. All the old
camaraderie was gone.
Tuppence could think of nothing to say.
Tommy was equally afflicted.
They sat very straight and forbore to look at each other.
At last Tuppence made a desperate effort.
"Rather fun, wasn't it?"
"Rather."
Another silence.
"I like Julius," essayed Tuppence again.
Tommy was suddenly galvanized into life.
"You're not going to marry him, do you hear?" he said
dictatorially. "I forbid it."
"Oh!" said Tuppence meekly.
"Absolutely, you understand."
"He doesn't want to marry me--he really only asked me out of
kindness."
"That's not very likely," scoffed Tommy.
"It's quite true. He's head over ears in love with Jane. I
expect he's proposing to her now."
"She'll do for him very nicely," said Tommy condescendingly.
"Don't you think she's the most lovely creature you've ever
seen?"
"Oh, I dare say."
"But I suppose you prefer sterling worth," said Tuppence
demurely.
"I--oh, dash it all, Tuppence, you know!"
"I like your uncle, Tommy," said Tuppence, hastily creating a
diversion. "By the way, what are you going to do, accept Mr.
Carter's offer of a Government job, or accept Julius's invitation
and take a richly remunerated post in America on his ranch?"
"I shall stick to the old ship, I think, though it's awfully good
of Hersheimmer. But I feel you'd be more at home in London."
"I don't see where I come in."
"I do," said Tommy positively.
Tuppence stole a glance at him sideways.
"There's the money, too," she observed thoughtfully.
"What money?"
"We're going to get a cheque each. Mr. Carter told me so."
"Did you ask how much?" inquired Tommy sarcastically.
"Yes," said Tuppence triumphantly. "But I shan't tell you."
"Tuppence, you are the limit!"
"It has been fun, hasn't it, Tommy? I do hope we shall have lots
more adventures."
"You're insatiable, Tuppence. I've had quite enough adventures
for the present."
"Well, shopping is almost as good," said Tuppence dreamily.
"Think of buying old furniture, and bright carpets, and futurist
silk curtains, and a polished dining-table, and a divan with lots
of cushions "
"Hold hard," said Tommy. "What's all this for?"
"Possibly a house--but I think a flat."
"Whose flat?"
"You think I mind saying it, but I don't in the least! OURS, so
there!"
"You darling!" cried Tommy, his arms tightly round her. "I was
determined to make you say it. I owe you something for the
relentless way you've squashed me whenever I've tried to be
sentimental."
Tuppence raised her face to his. The taxi proceeded on its
course round the north side of Regent's Park.
"You haven't really proposed now," pointed out Tuppence. "Not
what our grandmothers would call a proposal. But after listening
to a rotten one like Julius's, I'm inclined to let you off."
"You won't be able to get out of marrying me, so don't you think
it."
"What fun it will be," responded Tuppence. "Marriage is called
all sorts of things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory,
and a state of bondage, and lots more. But do you know what I
think it is?"
"What?"
"A sport!"
"And a damned good sport too," said Tommy.