Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
`
` Tommy had been right in his forecast of the situation. It had `
` been a one-man show. Deprived of their chief, the organization `
` fell to pieces. Kramenin had made a precipitate return to Russia, `
` leaving England early on Sunday morning. The gang had fled from `
` Astley Priors in a panic, leaving behind, in their haste, various `
` damaging documents which compromised them hopelessly. With these `
` proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a small `
` brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had `
` contained a full and damning resume of the whole plot, the `
` Government had called an eleventh-hour conference. The Labour `
` leaders were forced to recognize that they had been used as a `
` cat's paw. Certain concessions were made by the Government, and `
` were eagerly accepted. It was to be Peace, not War! `
` `
` But the Cabinet knew by how narrow a margin they had escaped `
` utter disaster. And burnt in on Mr. Carter's brain was the `
` strange scene which had taken place in the house in Soho the `
` night before. `
` `
` He had entered the squalid room to find that great man, the `
` friend of a lifetime, dead--betrayed out of his own mouth. From `
` the dead man's pocket-book he had retrieved the ill-omened draft `
` treaty, and then and there, in the presence of the other three, `
` it had been reduced to ashes.... England was saved! `
` `
` And now, on the evening of the 30th, in a private room at the `
` Savoy, Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer was receiving his guests. `
` `
` Mr. Carter was the first to arrive. With him was a `
` choleric-looking old gentleman, at sight of whom Tommy flushed up `
` to the roots of his hair. He came forward. `
` `
` "Ha!" said the old gentleman, surveying him apoplectically. "So `
` you're my nephew, are you? Not much to look at--but you've done `
` good work, it seems. Your mother must have brought you up well `
` after all. Shall we let bygones be bygones, eh? You're my heir, `
` you know; and in future I propose to make you an allowance--and `
` you can look upon Chalmers Park as your home." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir, it's awfully decent of you." `
` `
` "Where's this young lady I've been hearing such a lot about?" `
` `
` Tommy introduced Tuppence. `
` `
` "Ha!" said Sir William, eyeing her. "Girls aren't what they used `
` to be in my young days." `
` `
` "Yes, they are," said Tuppence. "Their clothes are different, `
` perhaps, but they themselves are just the same." `
` `
` "Well, perhaps you're right. Minxes then--minxes now!" `
` `
` "That's it," said Tuppence. "I'm a frightful minx myself." `
` `
` "I believe you," said the old gentleman, chuckling, and pinched `
` her ear in high good-humour. Most young women were terrified of `
` the "old bear," as they termed him. Tuppence's pertness `
` delighted the old misogynist. `
` `
` Then came the timid archdeacon, a little bewildered by the `
` company in which he found himself, glad that his daughter was `
` considered to have distinguished herself, but unable to help `
` glancing at her from time to time with nervous apprehension. But `
` Tuppence behaved admirably. She forbore to cross her legs, set a `
` guard upon her tongue, and steadfastly refused to smoke. `
` `
` Dr. Hall came next, and he was followed by the American `
` Ambassador. `
` `
` "We might as well sit down," said Julius, when he had introduced `
` all his guests to each other. "Tuppence, will you " `
` `
` He indicated the place of honour with a wave of his hand. `
` `
` But Tuppence shook her head. `
` `
` "No--that's Jane's place! When one thinks of how she's held out `
` all these years, she ought to be made the queen of the feast `
` to-night." `
` `
` Julius flung her a grateful glance, and Jane came forward shyly `
` to the allotted seat. Beautiful as she had seemed before, it was `
` as nothing to the loveliness that now went fully adorned. `
` Tuppence had performed her part faithfully. The model gown `
` supplied by a famous dressmaker had been entitled "A tiger lily." `
` It was all golds and reds and browns, and out of it rose the pure `
` column of the girl's white throat, and the bronze masses of hair `
` that crowned her lovely head. There was admiration in every eye, `
` as she took her seat. `
` `
` Soon the supper party was in full swing, and with one accord `
` Tommy was called upon for a full and complete explanation. `
` `
` "You've been too darned close about the whole business," Julius `
` accused him. "You let on to me that you were off to the `
` Argentine--though I guess you had your reasons for that. The idea `
` of both you and Tuppence casting me for the part of Mr. Brown `
` just tickles me to death!" `
` `
` "The idea was not original to them," said Mr. Carter gravely. "It `
` was suggested, and the poison very carefully instilled, by a `
` past-master in the art. The paragraph in the New York paper `
` suggested the plan to him, and by means of it he wove a web that `
` nearly enmeshed you fatally." `
` `
` "I never liked him," said Julius. "I felt from the first that `
` there was something wrong about him, and I always suspected that `
` it was he who silenced Mrs. Vandemeyer so appositely. But it `
` wasn't till I heard that the order for Tommy's execution came `
` right on the heels of our interview with him that Sunday that I `
` began to tumble to the fact that he was the big bug himself." `
` `
` "I never suspected it at all," lamented Tuppence. "I've always `
` thought I was so much cleverer than Tommy--but he's undoubtedly `
` scored over me handsomely." `
` `
` Julius agreed. `
` `
` "Tommy's been the goods this trip! And, instead of sitting there `
` as dumb as a fish, let him banish his blushes, and tell us all `
` about it." `
` `
` "Hear! hear!" `
` `
` "There's nothing to tell," said Tommy, acutely uncomfortable. "I `
` was an awful mug--right up to the time I found that photograph of `
` Annette, and realized that she was Jane Finn. Then I remembered `
` how persistently she had shouted out that word 'Marguerite'--and `
` I thought of the pictures, and--well, that's that. Then of course `
` I went over the whole thing to see where I'd made an ass of `
` myself." `
` `
` "Go on," said Mr. Carter, as Tommy showed signs of taking refuge `
` in silence once more. `
` `
` "That business about Mrs. Vandemeyer had worried me when Julius `
` told me about it. On the face of it, it seemed that he or Sir `
` James must have done the trick. But I didn't know which. `
` Finding that photograph in the drawer, after that story of how it `
` had been got from him by Inspector Brown, made me suspect Julius. `
` Then I remembered that it was Sir James who had discovered the `
` false Jane Finn. In the end, I couldn't make up my mind--and `
` just decided to take no chances either way. I left a note for `
` Julius, in case he was Mr. Brown, saying I was off to the `
` Argentine, and I dropped Sir James's letter with the offer of the `
` job by the desk so that he would see it was a genuine stunt. `
` Then I wrote my letter to Mr. Carter and rang up Sir James. `
` Taking him into my confidence would be the best thing either way, `
` so I told him everything except where I believed the papers to be `
` hidden. The way he helped me to get on the track of Tuppence and `
` Annette almost disarmed me, but not quite. I kept my mind open `
` between the two of them. And then I got a bogus note from `
` Tuppence--and I knew!" `
` `
` "But how?" `
` `
` Tommy took the note in question from his pocket and passed it `
` round the table. `
` `
` "It's her handwriting all right, but I knew it wasn't from her `
` because of the signature. She'd never spell her name 'Twopence,' `
` but anyone who'd never seen it written might quite easily do so. `
` Julius HAD seen it--he showed me a note of hers to him once--but `
` SIR JAMES HADN'T! After that everything was plain sailing. I sent `
` off Albert post-haste to Mr. Carter. I pretended to go away, but `
` doubled back again. When Julius came bursting up in his car, I `
` felt it wasn't part of Mr. Brown's plan--and that there would `
` probably be trouble. Unless Sir James was actually caught in the `
` act, so to speak, I knew Mr. Carter would never believe it of him `
` on my bare word----" `
` `
` "I didn't," interposed Mr. Carter ruefully. `
` `
` "That's why I sent the girls off to Sir James. I was sure they'd `
` fetch up at the house in Soho sooner or later. I threatened `
` Julius with the revolver, because I wanted Tuppence to repeat `
` that to Sir James, so that he wouldn't worry about us. The moment `
` the girls were out of sight I told Julius to drive like hell for `
` London, and as we went along I told him the whole story. We got `
` to the Soho house in plenty of time and met Mr. Carter outside. `
` After arranging things with him we went in and hid behind the `
` curtain in the recess. The policemen had orders to say, if they `
` were asked, that no one had gone into the house. That's all." `
` `
` And Tommy came to an abrupt halt. `
` `
` There was silence for a moment. `
` `
` "By the way," said Julius suddenly, "you're all wrong about that `
` photograph of Jane. It WAS taken from me, but I found it again." `
` `
` "Where?" cried Tuppence. `
` `
` "In that little safe on the wall in Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom." `
` `
` "I knew you found something," said Tuppence reproachfully. "To `
` tell you the truth, that's what started me off suspecting you. `
` Why didn't you say?" `
` `
`
` Tommy had been right in his forecast of the situation. It had `
` been a one-man show. Deprived of their chief, the organization `
` fell to pieces. Kramenin had made a precipitate return to Russia, `
` leaving England early on Sunday morning. The gang had fled from `
` Astley Priors in a panic, leaving behind, in their haste, various `
` damaging documents which compromised them hopelessly. With these `
` proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a small `
` brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had `
` contained a full and damning resume of the whole plot, the `
` Government had called an eleventh-hour conference. The Labour `
` leaders were forced to recognize that they had been used as a `
` cat's paw. Certain concessions were made by the Government, and `
` were eagerly accepted. It was to be Peace, not War! `
` `
` But the Cabinet knew by how narrow a margin they had escaped `
` utter disaster. And burnt in on Mr. Carter's brain was the `
` strange scene which had taken place in the house in Soho the `
` night before. `
` `
` He had entered the squalid room to find that great man, the `
` friend of a lifetime, dead--betrayed out of his own mouth. From `
` the dead man's pocket-book he had retrieved the ill-omened draft `
` treaty, and then and there, in the presence of the other three, `
` it had been reduced to ashes.... England was saved! `
` `
` And now, on the evening of the 30th, in a private room at the `
` Savoy, Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer was receiving his guests. `
` `
` Mr. Carter was the first to arrive. With him was a `
` choleric-looking old gentleman, at sight of whom Tommy flushed up `
` to the roots of his hair. He came forward. `
` `
` "Ha!" said the old gentleman, surveying him apoplectically. "So `
` you're my nephew, are you? Not much to look at--but you've done `
` good work, it seems. Your mother must have brought you up well `
` after all. Shall we let bygones be bygones, eh? You're my heir, `
` you know; and in future I propose to make you an allowance--and `
` you can look upon Chalmers Park as your home." `
` `
` "Thank you, sir, it's awfully decent of you." `
` `
` "Where's this young lady I've been hearing such a lot about?" `
` `
` Tommy introduced Tuppence. `
` `
` "Ha!" said Sir William, eyeing her. "Girls aren't what they used `
` to be in my young days." `
` `
` "Yes, they are," said Tuppence. "Their clothes are different, `
` perhaps, but they themselves are just the same." `
` `
` "Well, perhaps you're right. Minxes then--minxes now!" `
` `
` "That's it," said Tuppence. "I'm a frightful minx myself." `
` `
` "I believe you," said the old gentleman, chuckling, and pinched `
` her ear in high good-humour. Most young women were terrified of `
` the "old bear," as they termed him. Tuppence's pertness `
` delighted the old misogynist. `
` `
` Then came the timid archdeacon, a little bewildered by the `
` company in which he found himself, glad that his daughter was `
` considered to have distinguished herself, but unable to help `
` glancing at her from time to time with nervous apprehension. But `
` Tuppence behaved admirably. She forbore to cross her legs, set a `
` guard upon her tongue, and steadfastly refused to smoke. `
` `
` Dr. Hall came next, and he was followed by the American `
` Ambassador. `
` `
` "We might as well sit down," said Julius, when he had introduced `
` all his guests to each other. "Tuppence, will you " `
` `
` He indicated the place of honour with a wave of his hand. `
` `
` But Tuppence shook her head. `
` `
` "No--that's Jane's place! When one thinks of how she's held out `
` all these years, she ought to be made the queen of the feast `
` to-night." `
` `
` Julius flung her a grateful glance, and Jane came forward shyly `
` to the allotted seat. Beautiful as she had seemed before, it was `
` as nothing to the loveliness that now went fully adorned. `
` Tuppence had performed her part faithfully. The model gown `
` supplied by a famous dressmaker had been entitled "A tiger lily." `
` It was all golds and reds and browns, and out of it rose the pure `
` column of the girl's white throat, and the bronze masses of hair `
` that crowned her lovely head. There was admiration in every eye, `
` as she took her seat. `
` `
` Soon the supper party was in full swing, and with one accord `
` Tommy was called upon for a full and complete explanation. `
` `
` "You've been too darned close about the whole business," Julius `
` accused him. "You let on to me that you were off to the `
` Argentine--though I guess you had your reasons for that. The idea `
` of both you and Tuppence casting me for the part of Mr. Brown `
` just tickles me to death!" `
` `
` "The idea was not original to them," said Mr. Carter gravely. "It `
` was suggested, and the poison very carefully instilled, by a `
` past-master in the art. The paragraph in the New York paper `
` suggested the plan to him, and by means of it he wove a web that `
` nearly enmeshed you fatally." `
` `
` "I never liked him," said Julius. "I felt from the first that `
` there was something wrong about him, and I always suspected that `
` it was he who silenced Mrs. Vandemeyer so appositely. But it `
` wasn't till I heard that the order for Tommy's execution came `
` right on the heels of our interview with him that Sunday that I `
` began to tumble to the fact that he was the big bug himself." `
` `
` "I never suspected it at all," lamented Tuppence. "I've always `
` thought I was so much cleverer than Tommy--but he's undoubtedly `
` scored over me handsomely." `
` `
` Julius agreed. `
` `
` "Tommy's been the goods this trip! And, instead of sitting there `
` as dumb as a fish, let him banish his blushes, and tell us all `
` about it." `
` `
` "Hear! hear!" `
` `
` "There's nothing to tell," said Tommy, acutely uncomfortable. "I `
` was an awful mug--right up to the time I found that photograph of `
` Annette, and realized that she was Jane Finn. Then I remembered `
` how persistently she had shouted out that word 'Marguerite'--and `
` I thought of the pictures, and--well, that's that. Then of course `
` I went over the whole thing to see where I'd made an ass of `
` myself." `
` `
` "Go on," said Mr. Carter, as Tommy showed signs of taking refuge `
` in silence once more. `
` `
` "That business about Mrs. Vandemeyer had worried me when Julius `
` told me about it. On the face of it, it seemed that he or Sir `
` James must have done the trick. But I didn't know which. `
` Finding that photograph in the drawer, after that story of how it `
` had been got from him by Inspector Brown, made me suspect Julius. `
` Then I remembered that it was Sir James who had discovered the `
` false Jane Finn. In the end, I couldn't make up my mind--and `
` just decided to take no chances either way. I left a note for `
` Julius, in case he was Mr. Brown, saying I was off to the `
` Argentine, and I dropped Sir James's letter with the offer of the `
` job by the desk so that he would see it was a genuine stunt. `
` Then I wrote my letter to Mr. Carter and rang up Sir James. `
` Taking him into my confidence would be the best thing either way, `
` so I told him everything except where I believed the papers to be `
` hidden. The way he helped me to get on the track of Tuppence and `
` Annette almost disarmed me, but not quite. I kept my mind open `
` between the two of them. And then I got a bogus note from `
` Tuppence--and I knew!" `
` `
` "But how?" `
` `
` Tommy took the note in question from his pocket and passed it `
` round the table. `
` `
` "It's her handwriting all right, but I knew it wasn't from her `
` because of the signature. She'd never spell her name 'Twopence,' `
` but anyone who'd never seen it written might quite easily do so. `
` Julius HAD seen it--he showed me a note of hers to him once--but `
` SIR JAMES HADN'T! After that everything was plain sailing. I sent `
` off Albert post-haste to Mr. Carter. I pretended to go away, but `
` doubled back again. When Julius came bursting up in his car, I `
` felt it wasn't part of Mr. Brown's plan--and that there would `
` probably be trouble. Unless Sir James was actually caught in the `
` act, so to speak, I knew Mr. Carter would never believe it of him `
` on my bare word----" `
` `
` "I didn't," interposed Mr. Carter ruefully. `
` `
` "That's why I sent the girls off to Sir James. I was sure they'd `
` fetch up at the house in Soho sooner or later. I threatened `
` Julius with the revolver, because I wanted Tuppence to repeat `
` that to Sir James, so that he wouldn't worry about us. The moment `
` the girls were out of sight I told Julius to drive like hell for `
` London, and as we went along I told him the whole story. We got `
` to the Soho house in plenty of time and met Mr. Carter outside. `
` After arranging things with him we went in and hid behind the `
` curtain in the recess. The policemen had orders to say, if they `
` were asked, that no one had gone into the house. That's all." `
` `
` And Tommy came to an abrupt halt. `
` `
` There was silence for a moment. `
` `
` "By the way," said Julius suddenly, "you're all wrong about that `
` photograph of Jane. It WAS taken from me, but I found it again." `
` `
` "Where?" cried Tuppence. `
` `
` "In that little safe on the wall in Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom." `
` `
` "I knew you found something," said Tuppence reproachfully. "To `
` tell you the truth, that's what started me off suspecting you. `
` Why didn't you say?" `
` `
`