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