Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
poor fellow. His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeing `
` you all face to face." `
` `
` He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among the `
` group, but the watchful German stilled it with a wave of his `
` hand. `
` `
` "Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly. `
` `
` "Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!" `
` `
` "You soon will be, my young friend," said the German. `
` `
` An assenting murmur came from the others. `
` `
` Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did not `
` waver. `
` `
` "I think not," he said firmly. "I should have a great objection `
` to dying." `
` `
` He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor's `
` face. `
` `
` "Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?" `
` asked the German. `
` `
` "Several," replied Tommy. "Look here, you've been asking me a `
` lot of questions. Let me ask you one for a change. Why didn't `
` you kill me off at once before I regained consciousness?" `
` `
` The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage. `
` `
` "Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtained `
` that knowledge. If you kill me now, you never will know." `
` `
` But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. He `
` stepped forward waving his arms. `
` `
` "You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed. "We will give you short `
` shrift. Kill him! Kill him!" `
` `
` There was a roar of applause. `
` `
` "You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy. "What have you `
` to say to that?" `
` `
` "Say?" Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Pack of fools. Let them `
` ask themselves a few questions. How did I get into this place? `
` Remember what dear old Conrad said--WITH YOUR OWN PASSWORD, `
` wasn't it? How did I get hold of that? You don't suppose I came `
` up those steps haphazard and said the first thing that came into `
` my head?" `
` `
` Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. His `
` only regret was that Tuppence was not present to appreciate its `
` full flavour. `
` `
` "That is true," said the working man suddenly. "Comrades, we `
` have been betrayed!" `
` `
` An ugly murmur arose. Tommy smiled at them encouragingly. `
` `
` "That's better. How can you hope to make a success of any job if `
` you don't use your brains?" `
` `
` "You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German. "But `
` that shall not save you--oh, no! You shall tell us all that you `
` know. Boris, here, knows pretty ways of making people speak!" `
` `
` "Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularly `
` unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You will neither `
` torture me nor kill me." `
` `
` "And why not?" asked Boris. `
` `
` "Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," replied `
` Tommy quietly. `
` `
` There was a momentary pause. It seemed as though Tommy's `
` persistent assurance was at last conquering. They were no longer `
` completely sure of themselves. The man in the shabby clothes `
` stared at Tommy searchingly. `
` `
` "He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly. `
` `
` Tommy hated him. Had the man seen through him? `
` `
` The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy. `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperately `
` in his own mind. `
` `
` Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy's `
` face. `
` `
` "Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!" `
` `
` "Don't get so excited, my good fellow," said Tommy calmly. `
` "That's the worst of you foreigners. You can't keep calm. Now, I `
` ask you, do I look as though I thought there were the least `
` chance of your killing me?" `
` `
` He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear the `
` persistent beating of his heart which gave the lie to his words. `
` `
` "No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not." `
` `
` "Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy. Aloud he `
` pursued his advantage: `
` `
` "And why am I so confident? Because I know something that puts `
` me in a position to propose a bargain." `
` `
` "A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply. `
` `
` "Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused. `
` `
` "Against what?" `
` `
` The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop. `
` `
` Slowly Tommy spoke. `
` `
` "The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the `
` Lusitania." `
` `
` The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on his `
` feet. The German waved them back. He leaned over Tommy, his face `
` purple with excitement. `
` `
` "Himmel! You have got them, then?" `
` `
` With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head. `
` `
` "You know where they are?" persisted the German. `
` `
` Again Tommy shook his head. "Not in the least." `
` `
` "Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him. `
` `
` Tommy looked round. He saw anger and bewilderment on every face, `
` but his calm assurance had done its work--no one doubted but that `
` something lay behind his words. `
` `
` "I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can find `
` them. I have a theory----" `
` `
` "Pah!" `
` `
` Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust. `
` `
` "I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts that `
` are known to no one but myself. In any case what do you lose? If `
` I can produce the papers--you give me my life and liberty in `
` exchange. Is it a bargain?" `
` `
` "And if we refuse?" said the German quietly. `
` `
` Tommy lay back on the couch. `
` `
` "The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnight `
` ahead----" `
` `
` For a moment the German hesitated. Then he made a sign to `
` Conrad. `
` `
` "Take him into the other room." `
` `
` For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room next `
` door. His heart was beating violently. He had risked all on this `
` throw. How would they decide? And all the while that this `
` agonized questioning went on within him, he talked flippantly to `
` Conrad, enraging the cross-grained doorkeeper to the point of `
` homicidal mania. `
` `
` At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously to `
` Conrad to return. `
` `
` "Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarked `
` Tommy frivolously. "That's right, Conrad, march me in. The `
` prisoner is at the bar, gentlemen." `
` `
` The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned to `
` Tommy to sit down opposite to him. `
` `
` "We accept," he said harshly, "on terms. The papers must be `
` delivered to us before you go free." `
` `
` "Idiot!" said Tommy amiably. "How do you think I can look for `
` them if you keep me tied by the leg here?" `
` `
` "What do you expect, then?" `
` `
` "I must have liberty to go about the business in my own way." `
` `
` The German laughed. `
` `
` "Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here `
`
` you all face to face." `
` `
` He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among the `
` group, but the watchful German stilled it with a wave of his `
` hand. `
` `
` "Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly. `
` `
` "Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!" `
` `
` "You soon will be, my young friend," said the German. `
` `
` An assenting murmur came from the others. `
` `
` Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did not `
` waver. `
` `
` "I think not," he said firmly. "I should have a great objection `
` to dying." `
` `
` He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor's `
` face. `
` `
` "Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?" `
` asked the German. `
` `
` "Several," replied Tommy. "Look here, you've been asking me a `
` lot of questions. Let me ask you one for a change. Why didn't `
` you kill me off at once before I regained consciousness?" `
` `
` The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage. `
` `
` "Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtained `
` that knowledge. If you kill me now, you never will know." `
` `
` But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. He `
` stepped forward waving his arms. `
` `
` "You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed. "We will give you short `
` shrift. Kill him! Kill him!" `
` `
` There was a roar of applause. `
` `
` "You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy. "What have you `
` to say to that?" `
` `
` "Say?" Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Pack of fools. Let them `
` ask themselves a few questions. How did I get into this place? `
` Remember what dear old Conrad said--WITH YOUR OWN PASSWORD, `
` wasn't it? How did I get hold of that? You don't suppose I came `
` up those steps haphazard and said the first thing that came into `
` my head?" `
` `
` Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. His `
` only regret was that Tuppence was not present to appreciate its `
` full flavour. `
` `
` "That is true," said the working man suddenly. "Comrades, we `
` have been betrayed!" `
` `
` An ugly murmur arose. Tommy smiled at them encouragingly. `
` `
` "That's better. How can you hope to make a success of any job if `
` you don't use your brains?" `
` `
` "You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German. "But `
` that shall not save you--oh, no! You shall tell us all that you `
` know. Boris, here, knows pretty ways of making people speak!" `
` `
` "Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularly `
` unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You will neither `
` torture me nor kill me." `
` `
` "And why not?" asked Boris. `
` `
` "Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," replied `
` Tommy quietly. `
` `
` There was a momentary pause. It seemed as though Tommy's `
` persistent assurance was at last conquering. They were no longer `
` completely sure of themselves. The man in the shabby clothes `
` stared at Tommy searchingly. `
` `
` "He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly. `
` `
` Tommy hated him. Had the man seen through him? `
` `
` The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy. `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperately `
` in his own mind. `
` `
` Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy's `
` face. `
` `
` "Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!" `
` `
` "Don't get so excited, my good fellow," said Tommy calmly. `
` "That's the worst of you foreigners. You can't keep calm. Now, I `
` ask you, do I look as though I thought there were the least `
` chance of your killing me?" `
` `
` He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear the `
` persistent beating of his heart which gave the lie to his words. `
` `
` "No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not." `
` `
` "Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy. Aloud he `
` pursued his advantage: `
` `
` "And why am I so confident? Because I know something that puts `
` me in a position to propose a bargain." `
` `
` "A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply. `
` `
` "Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused. `
` `
` "Against what?" `
` `
` The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop. `
` `
` Slowly Tommy spoke. `
` `
` "The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the `
` Lusitania." `
` `
` The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on his `
` feet. The German waved them back. He leaned over Tommy, his face `
` purple with excitement. `
` `
` "Himmel! You have got them, then?" `
` `
` With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head. `
` `
` "You know where they are?" persisted the German. `
` `
` Again Tommy shook his head. "Not in the least." `
` `
` "Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him. `
` `
` Tommy looked round. He saw anger and bewilderment on every face, `
` but his calm assurance had done its work--no one doubted but that `
` something lay behind his words. `
` `
` "I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can find `
` them. I have a theory----" `
` `
` "Pah!" `
` `
` Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust. `
` `
` "I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts that `
` are known to no one but myself. In any case what do you lose? If `
` I can produce the papers--you give me my life and liberty in `
` exchange. Is it a bargain?" `
` `
` "And if we refuse?" said the German quietly. `
` `
` Tommy lay back on the couch. `
` `
` "The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnight `
` ahead----" `
` `
` For a moment the German hesitated. Then he made a sign to `
` Conrad. `
` `
` "Take him into the other room." `
` `
` For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room next `
` door. His heart was beating violently. He had risked all on this `
` throw. How would they decide? And all the while that this `
` agonized questioning went on within him, he talked flippantly to `
` Conrad, enraging the cross-grained doorkeeper to the point of `
` homicidal mania. `
` `
` At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously to `
` Conrad to return. `
` `
` "Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarked `
` Tommy frivolously. "That's right, Conrad, march me in. The `
` prisoner is at the bar, gentlemen." `
` `
` The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned to `
` Tommy to sit down opposite to him. `
` `
` "We accept," he said harshly, "on terms. The papers must be `
` delivered to us before you go free." `
` `
` "Idiot!" said Tommy amiably. "How do you think I can look for `
` them if you keep me tied by the leg here?" `
` `
` "What do you expect, then?" `
` `
` "I must have liberty to go about the business in my own way." `
` `
` The German laughed. `
` `
` "Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here `
`