Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
handed her a pocket-knife, and she ripped away the brown paper `
` from the back.... The advertisement page of a magazine fell out. `
` Jane picked it up. Holding apart the frayed inner edges she `
` extracted two thin sheets covered with writing! `
` `
` No dummy this time! The real thing! `
` `
` "We've got it," said Tuppence. "At last...." `
` `
` The moment was almost breathless in its emotion. Forgotten the `
` faint creakings, the imagined noises of a minute ago. None of `
` them had eyes for anything but what Jane held in her hand. `
` `
` Sir James took it, and scrutinized it attentively. `
` `
` "Yes," he said quietly, "this is the ill-fated draft treaty!" `
` `
` "We've succeeded," said Tuppence. There was awe and an almost `
` wondering unbelief in her voice. `
` `
` Sir James echoed her words as he folded the paper carefully and `
` put it away in his pocket-book, then he looked curiously round `
` the dingy room. `
` `
` "It was here that our young friend was confined for so long, was `
` it not?" he said. "A truly sinister room. You notice the `
` absence of windows, and the thickness of the close-fitting door. `
` Whatever took place here would never be heard by the outside `
` world." `
` `
` Tuppence shivered. His words woke a vague alarm in her. What if `
` there WAS some one concealed in the house? Some one who might bar `
` that door on them, and leave them to die like rats in a trap? `
` Then she realized the absurdity of her thought. The house was `
` surrounded by police who, if they failed to reappear, would not `
` hesitate to break in and make a thorough search. She smiled at `
` her own foolishness--then looked up with a start to find Sir `
` James watching her. He gave her an emphatic little nod. `
` `
` "Quite right, Miss Tuppence. You scent danger. So do I. So does `
` Miss Finn." `
` `
` "Yes," admitted Jane. "It's absurd--but I can't help it." `
` `
` Sir James nodded again. `
` `
` "You feel--as we all feel--THE PRESENCE OF MR. BROWN. Yes"--as `
` Tuppence made a movement--"not a doubt of it--MR. BROWN IS `
` HERE...." `
` `
` "In this house?" `
` `
` "In this room.... You don't understand? I AM MR. BROWN...." `
` `
` Stupefied, unbelieving, they stared at him. The very lines of `
` his face had changed. It was a different man who stood before `
` them. He smiled a slow cruel smile. `
` `
` "Neither of you will leave this room alive! You said just now we `
` had succeeded. I have succeeded! The draft treaty is mine." His `
` smile grew wider as he looked at Tuppence. "Shall I tell you how `
` it will be? Sooner or later the police will break in, and they `
` will find three victims of Mr. Brown--three, not two, you `
` understand, but fortunately the third will not be dead, only `
` wounded, and will be able to describe the attack with a wealth of `
` detail! The treaty? It is in the hands of Mr. Brown. So no one `
` will think of searching the pockets of Sir James Peel Edgerton!" `
` `
` He turned to Jane. `
` `
` "You outwitted me. I make my acknowledgments. But you will not `
` do it again." `
` `
` There was a faint sound behind him, but, intoxicated with `
` success, he did not turn his head. `
` `
` He slipped his hand into his pocket. `
` `
` "Checkmate to the Young Adventurers," he said, and slowly raised `
` the big automatic. `
` `
` But, even as he did so, he felt himself seized from behind in a `
` grip of iron. The revolver was wrenched from his hand, and the `
` voice of Julius Hersheimmer said drawlingly: `
` `
` "I guess you're caught redhanded with the goods upon you." `
` `
` The blood rushed to the K.C.'s face, but his self-control was `
` marvellous, as he looked from one to the other of his two `
` captors. He looked longest at Tommy. `
` `
` "You," he said beneath his breath. "YOU! I might have known." `
` `
` Seeing that he was disposed to offer no resistance, their grip `
` slackened. Quick as a flash his left hand, the hand which bore `
` the big signet ring, was raised to his lips.... `
` `
` " 'Ave, Caesar! te morituri salutant,' " he said, still looking `
` at Tommy. `
` `
` Then his face changed, and with a long convulsive shudder he fell `
` forward in a crumpled heap, whilst an odour of bitter almonds `
` filled the air. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXVII `
` `
` A SUPPER PARTY AT THE SAVOY `
` `
` THE supper party given by Mr. Julius Hersheimmer to a few friends `
` on the evening of the 30th will long be remembered in catering `
` circles. It took place in a private room, and Mr. Hersheimmer's `
` orders were brief and forcible. He gave carte blanche--and when `
` a millionaire gives carte blanche he usually gets it! `
` `
` Every delicacy out of season was duly provided. Waiters carried `
` bottles of ancient and royal vintage with loving care. The floral `
` decorations defied the seasons, and fruits of the earth as far `
` apart as May and November found themselves miraculously side by `
` side. The list of guests was small and select. The American `
` Ambassador, Mr. Carter, who had taken the liberty, he said, of `
` bringing an old friend, Sir William Beresford, with him, `
` Archdeacon Cowley, Dr. Hall, those two youthful adventurers, Miss `
` Prudence Cowley and Mr. Thomas Beresford, and last, but not `
` least, as guest of honour, Miss Jane Finn. `
` `
` Julius had spared no pains to make Jane's appearance a success. A `
` mysterious knock had brought Tuppence to the door of the `
` apartment she was sharing with the American girl. It was Julius. `
` In his hand he held a cheque. `
` `
` "Say, Tuppence," he began, "will you do me a good turn? Take `
` this, and get Jane regularly togged up for this evening. You're `
` all coming to supper with me at the Savoy. See? Spare no `
` expense. You get me?" `
` `
` "Sure thing," mimicked Tuppence. "We shall enjoy ourselves. It `
` will be a pleasure dressing Jane. She's the loveliest thing I've `
` ever seen." `
` `
` "That's so," agreed Mr. Hersheimmer fervently. `
` `
` His fervour brought a momentary twinkle to Tuppence's eye. `
` `
` "By the way, Julius," she remarked demurely, "I--haven't given `
` you my answer yet." `
` `
` "Answer?" said Julius. His face paled. `
` `
` "You know--when you asked me to--marry you," faltered Tuppence, `
` her eyes downcast in the true manner of the early Victorian `
` heroine, "and wouldn't take no for an answer. I've thought it `
` well over----" `
` `
` "Yes?" said Julius. The perspiration stood on his forehead. `
` `
` Tuppence relented suddenly. `
` `
` "You great idiot!" she said. "What on earth induced you to do `
` it? I could see at the time you didn't care a twopenny dip for `
` me!" `
` `
` "Not at all. I had--and still have--the highest sentiments of `
` esteem and respect--and admiration for you----" `
` `
` "H'm!" said Tuppence. "Those are the kind of sentiments that `
` very soon go to the wall when the other sentiment comes along! `
` Don't they, old thing?" `
` `
` "I don't know what you mean," said Julius stiffly, but a large `
` and burning blush overspread his countenance. `
` `
` "Shucks!" retorted Tuppence. She laughed, and closed the door, `
` reopening it to add with dignity: "Morally, I shall always `
` consider I have been jilted!" `
` `
` "What was it?" asked Jane as Tuppence rejoined her. `
` `
` "Julius." `
` `
` "What did he want?" `
` `
` "Really, I think, he wanted to see you, but I wasn't going to let `
` him. Not until to-night, when you're going to burst upon every `
` one like King Solomon in his glory! Come on! WE'RE GOING TO `
` SHOP!" `
` `
` To most people the 29th, the much-heralded "Labour Day," had `
` passed much as any other day. Speeches were made in the Park and `
` Trafalgar Square. Straggling processions, singing the Red Flag, `
` wandered through the streets in a more or less aimless manner. `
` Newspapers which had hinted at a general strike, and the `
` inauguration of a reign of terror, were forced to hide their `
` diminished heads. The bolder and more astute among them sought to `
` prove that peace had been effected by following their counsels. `
` In the Sunday papers a brief notice of the sudden death of Sir `
` James Peel Edgerton, the famous K.C., had appeared. Monday's `
` paper dealt appreciatively with the dead man's career. The exact `
` manner of his sudden death was never made public. `
` `
`
` from the back.... The advertisement page of a magazine fell out. `
` Jane picked it up. Holding apart the frayed inner edges she `
` extracted two thin sheets covered with writing! `
` `
` No dummy this time! The real thing! `
` `
` "We've got it," said Tuppence. "At last...." `
` `
` The moment was almost breathless in its emotion. Forgotten the `
` faint creakings, the imagined noises of a minute ago. None of `
` them had eyes for anything but what Jane held in her hand. `
` `
` Sir James took it, and scrutinized it attentively. `
` `
` "Yes," he said quietly, "this is the ill-fated draft treaty!" `
` `
` "We've succeeded," said Tuppence. There was awe and an almost `
` wondering unbelief in her voice. `
` `
` Sir James echoed her words as he folded the paper carefully and `
` put it away in his pocket-book, then he looked curiously round `
` the dingy room. `
` `
` "It was here that our young friend was confined for so long, was `
` it not?" he said. "A truly sinister room. You notice the `
` absence of windows, and the thickness of the close-fitting door. `
` Whatever took place here would never be heard by the outside `
` world." `
` `
` Tuppence shivered. His words woke a vague alarm in her. What if `
` there WAS some one concealed in the house? Some one who might bar `
` that door on them, and leave them to die like rats in a trap? `
` Then she realized the absurdity of her thought. The house was `
` surrounded by police who, if they failed to reappear, would not `
` hesitate to break in and make a thorough search. She smiled at `
` her own foolishness--then looked up with a start to find Sir `
` James watching her. He gave her an emphatic little nod. `
` `
` "Quite right, Miss Tuppence. You scent danger. So do I. So does `
` Miss Finn." `
` `
` "Yes," admitted Jane. "It's absurd--but I can't help it." `
` `
` Sir James nodded again. `
` `
` "You feel--as we all feel--THE PRESENCE OF MR. BROWN. Yes"--as `
` Tuppence made a movement--"not a doubt of it--MR. BROWN IS `
` HERE...." `
` `
` "In this house?" `
` `
` "In this room.... You don't understand? I AM MR. BROWN...." `
` `
` Stupefied, unbelieving, they stared at him. The very lines of `
` his face had changed. It was a different man who stood before `
` them. He smiled a slow cruel smile. `
` `
` "Neither of you will leave this room alive! You said just now we `
` had succeeded. I have succeeded! The draft treaty is mine." His `
` smile grew wider as he looked at Tuppence. "Shall I tell you how `
` it will be? Sooner or later the police will break in, and they `
` will find three victims of Mr. Brown--three, not two, you `
` understand, but fortunately the third will not be dead, only `
` wounded, and will be able to describe the attack with a wealth of `
` detail! The treaty? It is in the hands of Mr. Brown. So no one `
` will think of searching the pockets of Sir James Peel Edgerton!" `
` `
` He turned to Jane. `
` `
` "You outwitted me. I make my acknowledgments. But you will not `
` do it again." `
` `
` There was a faint sound behind him, but, intoxicated with `
` success, he did not turn his head. `
` `
` He slipped his hand into his pocket. `
` `
` "Checkmate to the Young Adventurers," he said, and slowly raised `
` the big automatic. `
` `
` But, even as he did so, he felt himself seized from behind in a `
` grip of iron. The revolver was wrenched from his hand, and the `
` voice of Julius Hersheimmer said drawlingly: `
` `
` "I guess you're caught redhanded with the goods upon you." `
` `
` The blood rushed to the K.C.'s face, but his self-control was `
` marvellous, as he looked from one to the other of his two `
` captors. He looked longest at Tommy. `
` `
` "You," he said beneath his breath. "YOU! I might have known." `
` `
` Seeing that he was disposed to offer no resistance, their grip `
` slackened. Quick as a flash his left hand, the hand which bore `
` the big signet ring, was raised to his lips.... `
` `
` " 'Ave, Caesar! te morituri salutant,' " he said, still looking `
` at Tommy. `
` `
` Then his face changed, and with a long convulsive shudder he fell `
` forward in a crumpled heap, whilst an odour of bitter almonds `
` filled the air. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XXVII `
` `
` A SUPPER PARTY AT THE SAVOY `
` `
` THE supper party given by Mr. Julius Hersheimmer to a few friends `
` on the evening of the 30th will long be remembered in catering `
` circles. It took place in a private room, and Mr. Hersheimmer's `
` orders were brief and forcible. He gave carte blanche--and when `
` a millionaire gives carte blanche he usually gets it! `
` `
` Every delicacy out of season was duly provided. Waiters carried `
` bottles of ancient and royal vintage with loving care. The floral `
` decorations defied the seasons, and fruits of the earth as far `
` apart as May and November found themselves miraculously side by `
` side. The list of guests was small and select. The American `
` Ambassador, Mr. Carter, who had taken the liberty, he said, of `
` bringing an old friend, Sir William Beresford, with him, `
` Archdeacon Cowley, Dr. Hall, those two youthful adventurers, Miss `
` Prudence Cowley and Mr. Thomas Beresford, and last, but not `
` least, as guest of honour, Miss Jane Finn. `
` `
` Julius had spared no pains to make Jane's appearance a success. A `
` mysterious knock had brought Tuppence to the door of the `
` apartment she was sharing with the American girl. It was Julius. `
` In his hand he held a cheque. `
` `
` "Say, Tuppence," he began, "will you do me a good turn? Take `
` this, and get Jane regularly togged up for this evening. You're `
` all coming to supper with me at the Savoy. See? Spare no `
` expense. You get me?" `
` `
` "Sure thing," mimicked Tuppence. "We shall enjoy ourselves. It `
` will be a pleasure dressing Jane. She's the loveliest thing I've `
` ever seen." `
` `
` "That's so," agreed Mr. Hersheimmer fervently. `
` `
` His fervour brought a momentary twinkle to Tuppence's eye. `
` `
` "By the way, Julius," she remarked demurely, "I--haven't given `
` you my answer yet." `
` `
` "Answer?" said Julius. His face paled. `
` `
` "You know--when you asked me to--marry you," faltered Tuppence, `
` her eyes downcast in the true manner of the early Victorian `
` heroine, "and wouldn't take no for an answer. I've thought it `
` well over----" `
` `
` "Yes?" said Julius. The perspiration stood on his forehead. `
` `
` Tuppence relented suddenly. `
` `
` "You great idiot!" she said. "What on earth induced you to do `
` it? I could see at the time you didn't care a twopenny dip for `
` me!" `
` `
` "Not at all. I had--and still have--the highest sentiments of `
` esteem and respect--and admiration for you----" `
` `
` "H'm!" said Tuppence. "Those are the kind of sentiments that `
` very soon go to the wall when the other sentiment comes along! `
` Don't they, old thing?" `
` `
` "I don't know what you mean," said Julius stiffly, but a large `
` and burning blush overspread his countenance. `
` `
` "Shucks!" retorted Tuppence. She laughed, and closed the door, `
` reopening it to add with dignity: "Morally, I shall always `
` consider I have been jilted!" `
` `
` "What was it?" asked Jane as Tuppence rejoined her. `
` `
` "Julius." `
` `
` "What did he want?" `
` `
` "Really, I think, he wanted to see you, but I wasn't going to let `
` him. Not until to-night, when you're going to burst upon every `
` one like King Solomon in his glory! Come on! WE'RE GOING TO `
` SHOP!" `
` `
` To most people the 29th, the much-heralded "Labour Day," had `
` passed much as any other day. Speeches were made in the Park and `
` Trafalgar Square. Straggling processions, singing the Red Flag, `
` wandered through the streets in a more or less aimless manner. `
` Newspapers which had hinted at a general strike, and the `
` inauguration of a reign of terror, were forced to hide their `
` diminished heads. The bolder and more astute among them sought to `
` prove that peace had been effected by following their counsels. `
` In the Sunday papers a brief notice of the sudden death of Sir `
` James Peel Edgerton, the famous K.C., had appeared. Monday's `
` paper dealt appreciatively with the dead man's career. The exact `
` manner of his sudden death was never made public. `
` `
`