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