Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
`
` "I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "No `
` use crying over spilt milk, you know." `
` `
` "The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence the `
` practical. `
` `
` Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. That `
` is the only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do not `
` hope for much result. Otherwise there is nothing to be done." `
` `
` "Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly. "And--Tommy?" `
` `
` "We must hope for the best," said Sir James. "Oh yes, we must go `
` on hoping." `
` `
` But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almost `
` imperceptibly he shook his head. Julius understood. The lawyer `
` considered the case hopeless. The young American's face grew `
` grave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand. `
` `
` "You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letters `
` will always be forwarded." `
` `
` Tuppence stared at him blankly. `
` `
` "You are going away?" `
` `
` "I told you. Don't you remember? To Scotland." `
` `
` "Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated. `
` `
` Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clues `
` have all ended in thin air. You can take my word for it that `
` there is nothing more to be done. If anything should arise, I `
` shall be glad to advise you in any way I can." `
` `
` His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling. `
` `
` "I suppose you're right," she said. "Anyway, thank you very much `
` for trying to help us. Good-bye." `
` `
` Julius was bending over the car. A momentary pity came into Sir `
` James's keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face. `
` `
` "Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a low `
` voice. "Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. One `
` sometimes manages to put in some work as well." `
` `
` Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shook `
` his head with a smile. `
` `
` "No, I shan't say any more. Great mistake to say too much. `
` Remember that. Never tell all you know--not even to the person `
` you know best. Understand? Good-bye." `
` `
` He strode away. Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning to `
` understand Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her a `
` hint in the same careless fashion. Was this a hint? What exactly `
` lay behind those last brief words? Did he mean that, after all, `
` he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would be `
` working on it still while---- `
` `
` Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to `
` "get right in." `
` `
` "You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they started `
` off. "Did the old guy say anything more?" `
` `
` Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again. `
` Sir James's words sounded in her ears: "Never tell all you `
` know--not even to the person you know best." And like a flash `
` there came into her mind another memory. Julius before the safe `
` in the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply, `
` "Nothing." Was there really nothing? Or had he found something `
` he wished to keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, so `
` could she. `
` `
` "Nothing particular," she replied. `
` `
` She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her. `
` `
` "Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?" `
` `
` "If you like." `
` `
` For a while they ran on under the trees in silence. It was a `
` beautiful day. The keen rush through the air brought a new `
` exhilaration to Tuppence. `
` `
` "Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?" `
` `
` Julius spoke in a discouraged voice. The mood was so alien to `
` him that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise. He `
` nodded. `
` `
` "That's so. I'm getting down and out over the business. Sir `
` James to-day hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. I `
` don't like him--we don't gee together somehow--but he's pretty `
` cute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there was any chance of `
` success--now, would he?" `
` `
` Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her belief `
` that Julius also had withheld something from her, she remained `
` firm. `
` `
` "He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him. `
` `
` "Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice! No--I'm about `
` fed up. I've half a mind to go back to the States right away." `
` `
` "Oh no!" cried Tuppence. "We've got to find Tommy." `
` `
` "I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely. "That's so. `
` We must find him. But after--well, I've been day-dreaming ever `
` since I started on this trip--and these dreams are rotten poor `
` business. I'm quit of them. Say, Miss Tuppence, there's `
` something I'd like to ask you." `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "You and Beresford. What about it?" `
` `
` "I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, adding `
` rather inconsequently: "And, anyway, you're wrong!" `
` `
` "Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?" `
` `
` "Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth. "Tommy and I are `
` friends--nothing more." `
` `
` "I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another," `
` observed Julius. `
` `
` "Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence. "Do I look the sort of girl that's `
` always falling in love with every man she meets?" `
` `
` "You do not. You look the sort of girl that's mighty often `
` getting fallen in love with!" `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback. "That's a compliment, I `
` suppose?" `
` `
` "Sure. Now let's get down to this. Supposing we never find `
` Beresford and--and----" `
` `
` "All right--say it! I can face facts. Supposing he's--dead! `
` Well?" `
` `
` "And all this business fiddles out. What are you going to do?" `
` `
` "I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly. `
` `
` "You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid." `
` `
` "I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usual `
` resentment of any kind of pity. `
` `
` "What about marriage?" inquired Julius. "Got any views on the `
` subject?" `
` `
` "I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence. "That is, `
` if"--she paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and then `
` stuck to her guns bravely--"I can find some one rich enough to `
` make it worth my while. That's frank, isn't it? I dare say you `
` despise me for it." `
` `
` "I never despise business instinct," said Julius. "What `
` particular figure have you in mind?" `
` `
` "Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled. "Do you mean tall or short?" `
` `
` "No. Sum--income." `
` `
` "Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out." `
` `
` "What about me?" `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Sure thing." `
` `
` "Oh, I couldn't!" `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "I tell you I couldn't." `
` `
` "Again, why not?" `
` `
` "It would seem so unfair." `
` `
` "I don't see anything unfair about it. I call your bluff, that's `
` all. I admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girl `
` I've ever met. You're so darned plucky. I'd just love to give `
` you a real, rattling good time. Say the word, and we'll run `
` round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ring `
`
` "I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "No `
` use crying over spilt milk, you know." `
` `
` "The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence the `
` practical. `
` `
` Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. That `
` is the only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do not `
` hope for much result. Otherwise there is nothing to be done." `
` `
` "Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly. "And--Tommy?" `
` `
` "We must hope for the best," said Sir James. "Oh yes, we must go `
` on hoping." `
` `
` But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almost `
` imperceptibly he shook his head. Julius understood. The lawyer `
` considered the case hopeless. The young American's face grew `
` grave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand. `
` `
` "You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letters `
` will always be forwarded." `
` `
` Tuppence stared at him blankly. `
` `
` "You are going away?" `
` `
` "I told you. Don't you remember? To Scotland." `
` `
` "Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated. `
` `
` Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clues `
` have all ended in thin air. You can take my word for it that `
` there is nothing more to be done. If anything should arise, I `
` shall be glad to advise you in any way I can." `
` `
` His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling. `
` `
` "I suppose you're right," she said. "Anyway, thank you very much `
` for trying to help us. Good-bye." `
` `
` Julius was bending over the car. A momentary pity came into Sir `
` James's keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face. `
` `
` "Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a low `
` voice. "Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. One `
` sometimes manages to put in some work as well." `
` `
` Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shook `
` his head with a smile. `
` `
` "No, I shan't say any more. Great mistake to say too much. `
` Remember that. Never tell all you know--not even to the person `
` you know best. Understand? Good-bye." `
` `
` He strode away. Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning to `
` understand Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her a `
` hint in the same careless fashion. Was this a hint? What exactly `
` lay behind those last brief words? Did he mean that, after all, `
` he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would be `
` working on it still while---- `
` `
` Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to `
` "get right in." `
` `
` "You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they started `
` off. "Did the old guy say anything more?" `
` `
` Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again. `
` Sir James's words sounded in her ears: "Never tell all you `
` know--not even to the person you know best." And like a flash `
` there came into her mind another memory. Julius before the safe `
` in the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply, `
` "Nothing." Was there really nothing? Or had he found something `
` he wished to keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, so `
` could she. `
` `
` "Nothing particular," she replied. `
` `
` She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her. `
` `
` "Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?" `
` `
` "If you like." `
` `
` For a while they ran on under the trees in silence. It was a `
` beautiful day. The keen rush through the air brought a new `
` exhilaration to Tuppence. `
` `
` "Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?" `
` `
` Julius spoke in a discouraged voice. The mood was so alien to `
` him that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise. He `
` nodded. `
` `
` "That's so. I'm getting down and out over the business. Sir `
` James to-day hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. I `
` don't like him--we don't gee together somehow--but he's pretty `
` cute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there was any chance of `
` success--now, would he?" `
` `
` Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her belief `
` that Julius also had withheld something from her, she remained `
` firm. `
` `
` "He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him. `
` `
` "Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice! No--I'm about `
` fed up. I've half a mind to go back to the States right away." `
` `
` "Oh no!" cried Tuppence. "We've got to find Tommy." `
` `
` "I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely. "That's so. `
` We must find him. But after--well, I've been day-dreaming ever `
` since I started on this trip--and these dreams are rotten poor `
` business. I'm quit of them. Say, Miss Tuppence, there's `
` something I'd like to ask you." `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "You and Beresford. What about it?" `
` `
` "I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, adding `
` rather inconsequently: "And, anyway, you're wrong!" `
` `
` "Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?" `
` `
` "Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth. "Tommy and I are `
` friends--nothing more." `
` `
` "I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another," `
` observed Julius. `
` `
` "Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence. "Do I look the sort of girl that's `
` always falling in love with every man she meets?" `
` `
` "You do not. You look the sort of girl that's mighty often `
` getting fallen in love with!" `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback. "That's a compliment, I `
` suppose?" `
` `
` "Sure. Now let's get down to this. Supposing we never find `
` Beresford and--and----" `
` `
` "All right--say it! I can face facts. Supposing he's--dead! `
` Well?" `
` `
` "And all this business fiddles out. What are you going to do?" `
` `
` "I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly. `
` `
` "You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid." `
` `
` "I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usual `
` resentment of any kind of pity. `
` `
` "What about marriage?" inquired Julius. "Got any views on the `
` subject?" `
` `
` "I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence. "That is, `
` if"--she paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and then `
` stuck to her guns bravely--"I can find some one rich enough to `
` make it worth my while. That's frank, isn't it? I dare say you `
` despise me for it." `
` `
` "I never despise business instinct," said Julius. "What `
` particular figure have you in mind?" `
` `
` "Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled. "Do you mean tall or short?" `
` `
` "No. Sum--income." `
` `
` "Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out." `
` `
` "What about me?" `
` `
` "You?" `
` `
` "Sure thing." `
` `
` "Oh, I couldn't!" `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` "I tell you I couldn't." `
` `
` "Again, why not?" `
` `
` "It would seem so unfair." `
` `
` "I don't see anything unfair about it. I call your bluff, that's `
` all. I admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girl `
` I've ever met. You're so darned plucky. I'd just love to give `
` you a real, rattling good time. Say the word, and we'll run `
` round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ring `
`