Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ring `
` business." `
` `
` "I can't," gasped Tuppence. `
` `
` "Because of Beresford?" `
` `
` "No, no, NO!" `
` `
` "Well then?" `
` `
` Tuppence merely continued to shake her head violently. `
` `
` "You can't reasonably expect more dollars than I've got." `
` `
` "Oh, it isn't that," gasped Tuppence with an almost hysterical `
` laugh. "But thanking you very much, and all that, I think I'd `
` better say no." `
` `
` "I'd be obliged if you'd do me the favour to think it over until `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` "It's no use." `
` `
` "Still, I guess we'll leave it like that." `
` `
` "Very well," said Tuppence meekly. `
` `
` Neither of them spoke again until they reached the Ritz. `
` `
` Tuppence went upstairs to her room. She felt morally battered to `
` the ground after her conflict with Julius's vigorous personality. `
` Sitting down in front of the glass, she stared at her own `
` reflection for some minutes. `
` `
` "Fool," murmured Tuppence at length, making a grimace. "Little `
` fool. Everything you want--everything you've ever hoped for, and `
` you go and bleat out 'no' like an idiotic little sheep. It's your `
` one chance. Why don't you take it? Grab it? Snatch at it? What `
` more do you want?" `
` `
` As if in answer to her own question, her eyes fell on a small `
` snapshot of Tommy that stood on her dressing-table in a shabby `
` frame. For a moment she struggled for self-control, and then `
` abandoning all presence, she held it to her lips and burst into a `
` fit of sobbing. `
` `
` "Oh, Tommy, Tommy," she cried, "I do love you so--and I may never `
` see you again...." `
` `
` At the end of five minutes Tuppence sat up, blew her nose, and `
` pushed back her hair. `
` `
` "That's that," she observed sternly. "Let's look facts in the `
` face. I seem to have fallen in love--with an idiot of a boy who `
` probably doesn't care two straws about me." Here she paused. `
` "Anyway," she resumed, as though arguing with an unseen opponent, `
` "I don't KNOW that he does. He'd never have dared to say so. `
` I've always jumped on sentiment--and here I am being more `
` sentimental than anybody. What idiots girls are! I've always `
` thought so. I suppose I shall sleep with his photograph under my `
` pillow, and dream about him all night. It's dreadful to feel `
` you've been false to your principles." `
` `
` Tuppence shook her head sadly, as she reviewed her backsliding. `
` `
` "I don't know what to say to Julius, I'm sure. Oh, what a fool I `
` feel! I'll have to say SOMETHING--he's so American and thorough, `
` he'll insist upon having a reason. I wonder if he did find `
` anything in that safe----" `
` `
` Tuppence's meditations went off on another tack. She reviewed `
` the events of last night carefully and persistently. Somehow, `
` they seemed bound up with Sir James's enigmatical words.... `
` `
` Suddenly she gave a great start--the colour faded out of her `
` face. Her eyes, fascinated, gazed in front of her, the pupils `
` dilated. `
` `
` "Impossible," she murmured. "Impossible! I must be going mad `
` even to think of such a thing...." `
` `
` Monstrous--yet it explained everything.... `
` `
` After a moment's reflection she sat down and wrote a note, `
` weighing each word as she did so. Finally she nodded her head as `
` though satisfied, and slipped it into an envelope which she `
` addressed to Julius. She went down the passage to his `
` sitting-room and knocked at the door. As she had expected, the `
` room was empty. She left the note on the table. `
` `
` A small page-boy was waiting outside her own door when she `
` returned to it. `
` `
` "Telegram for you, miss." `
` `
` Tuppence took it from the salver, and tore it open carelessly. `
` Then she gave a cry. The telegram was from Tommy! `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XVI `
` `
` FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOMMY `
` `
` FROM a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommy `
` dragged his senses slowly back to life. When he at last opened `
` his eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating pain `
` through his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliar `
` surroundings. Where was he? What had happened? He blinked `
` feebly. This was not his bedroom at the Ritz. And what the `
` devil was the matter with his head? `
` `
` "Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up. He had remembered. He `
` was in that sinister house in Soho. He uttered a groan and fell `
` back. Through his almost-closed lids he reconnoitred carefully. `
` `
` "He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He `
` recognized it at once for that of the bearded and efficient `
` German, and lay artistically inert. He felt that it would be a `
` pity to come round too soon; and until the pain in his head `
` became a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of collecting `
` his wits. Painfully he tried to puzzle out what had happened. `
` Obviously somebody must have crept up behind him as he listened `
` and struck him down with a blow on the head. They knew him now `
` for a spy, and would in all probability give him short shrift. `
` Undoubtedly he was in a tight place. Nobody knew where he was, `
` therefore he need expect no outside assistance, and must depend `
` solely on his own wits. `
` `
` "Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated his `
` former remark. `
` `
` "Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up. `
` `
` In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to his `
` lips, with the brief command "Drink." Tommy obeyed. The potency `
` of the draught made him choke, but it cleared his brain in a `
` marvellous manner. `
` `
` He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had been `
` held. On one side of him was the German, on the other the `
` villainous-faced doorkeeper who had let him in. The others were `
` grouped together at a little distance away. But Tommy missed one `
` face. The man known as Number One was no longer of the company. `
` `
` "Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass. `
` `
` "Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully. `
` `
` "Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick. `
` The good Conrad struck hard." He indicated the evil-faced `
` doorkeeper by a nod. The man grinned. `
` `
` Tommy twisted his head round with an effort. `
` `
` "Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you? It strikes me the `
` thickness of my skull was lucky for you too. When I look at you I `
` feel it's almost a pity I've enabled you to cheat the hangman." `
` `
` The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly: `
` `
` "He would have run no risk of that." `
` `
` "Just as you like," replied Tommy. "I know it's the fashion to `
` run down the police. I rather believe in them myself." `
` `
` His manner was nonchalant to the last degree. Tommy Beresford `
` was one of those young Englishmen not distinguished by any `
` special intellectual ability, but who are emphatically at their `
` best in what is known as a "tight place." Their natural `
` diffidence and caution fall from them like a glove. Tommy `
` realized perfectly that in his own wits lay the only chance of `
` escape, and behind his casual manner he was racking his brains `
` furiously. `
` `
` The cold accents of the German took up the conversation: `
` `
` "Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?" `
` `
` "Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity as `
` before. `
` `
` "Do you deny that you were listening at that door?" `
` `
` "I do not. I must really apologize--but your conversation was so `
` interesting that it overcame my scruples." `
` `
` "How did you get in?" `
` `
` "Dear old Conrad here." Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "I `
` hesitate to suggest pensioning off a faithful servant, but you `
` really ought to have a better watchdog." `
` `
` Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the `
` beard swung round upon him: `
` `
` "He gave the word. How was I to know?" `
` `
` "Yes," Tommy chimed in. "How was he to know? Don't blame the `
` poor fellow. His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeing `
`
` business." `
` `
` "I can't," gasped Tuppence. `
` `
` "Because of Beresford?" `
` `
` "No, no, NO!" `
` `
` "Well then?" `
` `
` Tuppence merely continued to shake her head violently. `
` `
` "You can't reasonably expect more dollars than I've got." `
` `
` "Oh, it isn't that," gasped Tuppence with an almost hysterical `
` laugh. "But thanking you very much, and all that, I think I'd `
` better say no." `
` `
` "I'd be obliged if you'd do me the favour to think it over until `
` to-morrow." `
` `
` "It's no use." `
` `
` "Still, I guess we'll leave it like that." `
` `
` "Very well," said Tuppence meekly. `
` `
` Neither of them spoke again until they reached the Ritz. `
` `
` Tuppence went upstairs to her room. She felt morally battered to `
` the ground after her conflict with Julius's vigorous personality. `
` Sitting down in front of the glass, she stared at her own `
` reflection for some minutes. `
` `
` "Fool," murmured Tuppence at length, making a grimace. "Little `
` fool. Everything you want--everything you've ever hoped for, and `
` you go and bleat out 'no' like an idiotic little sheep. It's your `
` one chance. Why don't you take it? Grab it? Snatch at it? What `
` more do you want?" `
` `
` As if in answer to her own question, her eyes fell on a small `
` snapshot of Tommy that stood on her dressing-table in a shabby `
` frame. For a moment she struggled for self-control, and then `
` abandoning all presence, she held it to her lips and burst into a `
` fit of sobbing. `
` `
` "Oh, Tommy, Tommy," she cried, "I do love you so--and I may never `
` see you again...." `
` `
` At the end of five minutes Tuppence sat up, blew her nose, and `
` pushed back her hair. `
` `
` "That's that," she observed sternly. "Let's look facts in the `
` face. I seem to have fallen in love--with an idiot of a boy who `
` probably doesn't care two straws about me." Here she paused. `
` "Anyway," she resumed, as though arguing with an unseen opponent, `
` "I don't KNOW that he does. He'd never have dared to say so. `
` I've always jumped on sentiment--and here I am being more `
` sentimental than anybody. What idiots girls are! I've always `
` thought so. I suppose I shall sleep with his photograph under my `
` pillow, and dream about him all night. It's dreadful to feel `
` you've been false to your principles." `
` `
` Tuppence shook her head sadly, as she reviewed her backsliding. `
` `
` "I don't know what to say to Julius, I'm sure. Oh, what a fool I `
` feel! I'll have to say SOMETHING--he's so American and thorough, `
` he'll insist upon having a reason. I wonder if he did find `
` anything in that safe----" `
` `
` Tuppence's meditations went off on another tack. She reviewed `
` the events of last night carefully and persistently. Somehow, `
` they seemed bound up with Sir James's enigmatical words.... `
` `
` Suddenly she gave a great start--the colour faded out of her `
` face. Her eyes, fascinated, gazed in front of her, the pupils `
` dilated. `
` `
` "Impossible," she murmured. "Impossible! I must be going mad `
` even to think of such a thing...." `
` `
` Monstrous--yet it explained everything.... `
` `
` After a moment's reflection she sat down and wrote a note, `
` weighing each word as she did so. Finally she nodded her head as `
` though satisfied, and slipped it into an envelope which she `
` addressed to Julius. She went down the passage to his `
` sitting-room and knocked at the door. As she had expected, the `
` room was empty. She left the note on the table. `
` `
` A small page-boy was waiting outside her own door when she `
` returned to it. `
` `
` "Telegram for you, miss." `
` `
` Tuppence took it from the salver, and tore it open carelessly. `
` Then she gave a cry. The telegram was from Tommy! `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XVI `
` `
` FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOMMY `
` `
` FROM a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommy `
` dragged his senses slowly back to life. When he at last opened `
` his eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating pain `
` through his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliar `
` surroundings. Where was he? What had happened? He blinked `
` feebly. This was not his bedroom at the Ritz. And what the `
` devil was the matter with his head? `
` `
` "Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up. He had remembered. He `
` was in that sinister house in Soho. He uttered a groan and fell `
` back. Through his almost-closed lids he reconnoitred carefully. `
` `
` "He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He `
` recognized it at once for that of the bearded and efficient `
` German, and lay artistically inert. He felt that it would be a `
` pity to come round too soon; and until the pain in his head `
` became a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of collecting `
` his wits. Painfully he tried to puzzle out what had happened. `
` Obviously somebody must have crept up behind him as he listened `
` and struck him down with a blow on the head. They knew him now `
` for a spy, and would in all probability give him short shrift. `
` Undoubtedly he was in a tight place. Nobody knew where he was, `
` therefore he need expect no outside assistance, and must depend `
` solely on his own wits. `
` `
` "Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated his `
` former remark. `
` `
` "Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up. `
` `
` In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to his `
` lips, with the brief command "Drink." Tommy obeyed. The potency `
` of the draught made him choke, but it cleared his brain in a `
` marvellous manner. `
` `
` He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had been `
` held. On one side of him was the German, on the other the `
` villainous-faced doorkeeper who had let him in. The others were `
` grouped together at a little distance away. But Tommy missed one `
` face. The man known as Number One was no longer of the company. `
` `
` "Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass. `
` `
` "Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully. `
` `
` "Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick. `
` The good Conrad struck hard." He indicated the evil-faced `
` doorkeeper by a nod. The man grinned. `
` `
` Tommy twisted his head round with an effort. `
` `
` "Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you? It strikes me the `
` thickness of my skull was lucky for you too. When I look at you I `
` feel it's almost a pity I've enabled you to cheat the hangman." `
` `
` The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly: `
` `
` "He would have run no risk of that." `
` `
` "Just as you like," replied Tommy. "I know it's the fashion to `
` run down the police. I rather believe in them myself." `
` `
` His manner was nonchalant to the last degree. Tommy Beresford `
` was one of those young Englishmen not distinguished by any `
` special intellectual ability, but who are emphatically at their `
` best in what is known as a "tight place." Their natural `
` diffidence and caution fall from them like a glove. Tommy `
` realized perfectly that in his own wits lay the only chance of `
` escape, and behind his casual manner he was racking his brains `
` furiously. `
` `
` The cold accents of the German took up the conversation: `
` `
` "Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?" `
` `
` "Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity as `
` before. `
` `
` "Do you deny that you were listening at that door?" `
` `
` "I do not. I must really apologize--but your conversation was so `
` interesting that it overcame my scruples." `
` `
` "How did you get in?" `
` `
` "Dear old Conrad here." Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "I `
` hesitate to suggest pensioning off a faithful servant, but you `
` really ought to have a better watchdog." `
` `
` Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the `
` beard swung round upon him: `
` `
` "He gave the word. How was I to know?" `
` `
` "Yes," Tommy chimed in. "How was he to know? Don't blame the `
` poor fellow. His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeing `
`