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