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