Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
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?" `
`
` `
` "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?" `
`