Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
"Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here `
` leaving us a pretty story full of promises?" `
` `
` "No," said Tommy thoughtfully. "Though infinitely simpler for `
` me, I did not really think you would agree to that plan. Very `
` well, we must arrange a compromise. How would it be if you `
` attached little Conrad here to my person. He's a faithful fellow, `
` and very ready with the fist." `
` `
` "We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remain `
` here. One of our number will carry out your instructions `
` minutely. If the operations are complicated, he will return to `
` you with a report and you can instruct him further." `
` `
` "You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicate `
` affair, and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not, `
` and then where shall I be? I don't believe one of you has got an `
` ounce of tact." `
` `
` The German rapped the table. `
` `
` "Those are our terms. Otherwise, death!" `
` `
` Tommy leaned back wearily. `
` `
` "I like your style. Curt, but attractive. So be it, then. But `
` one thing is essential, I must see the girl." `
` `
` "What girl?" `
` `
` "Jane Finn, of course." `
` `
` The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said `
` slowly, and as though choosing his words with care: `
` `
` "Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?" `
` `
` Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in coming `
` face to face with the girl he was seeking? `
` `
` "I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not `
` in so many words, that is." `
` `
` "Then why see her?" `
` `
` Tommy paused. `
` `
` "To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at `
` last. `
` `
` Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not `
` quite understand. `
` `
` "She will not be able to answer your question." `
` `
` "That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it." `
` `
` "And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a short `
` disagreeable laugh. More than ever, Tommy felt that there was a `
` factor somewhere that he did not understand. The German looked at `
` him searchingly. "I wonder whether, after all, you know as much `
` as we think?" he said softly. `
` `
` Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His `
` hold had slipped a little. But he was puzzled. What had he said `
` wrong? He spoke out on the impulse of the moment. `
` `
` "There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not `
` pretended to be aware of all the details of your show. But `
` equally I've got something up my sleeve that you don't know `
` about. And that's where I mean to score. Danvers was a damned `
` clever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much. `
` `
` But the German's face had lightened a little. `
` `
` "Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, then `
` waved to Conrad. "Take him away. Upstairs--you know." `
` `
` "Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?" `
` `
` "That may perhaps be arranged." `
` `
` "It must be." `
` `
` "We will see about it. Only one person can decide that." `
` `
` "Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer. `
` `
` "Mr. Brown----" `
` `
` "Shall I see him?" `
` `
` "Perhaps." `
` `
` "Come," said Conrad harshly. `
` `
` Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned to `
` him to mount the stairs. He himself followed close behind. On `
` the floor above Conrad opened a door and Tommy passed into a `
` small room. Conrad lit a hissing gas burner and went out. Tommy `
` heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock. `
` `
` He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room than `
` the one downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airless `
` about the atmosphere of it. Then he realized that there was no `
` window. He walked round it. The walls were filthily dirty, as `
` everywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the wall `
` representing scenes from Faust. Marguerite with her box of `
` jewels, the church scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust and `
` Mephistopheles. The latter brought Tommy's mind back to Mr. `
` Brown again. In this sealed and closed chamber, with its `
` close-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and the `
` sinister power of the arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout as `
` he would, no one could ever hear him. The place was a living `
` tomb.... `
` `
` With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to the `
` bed and gave himself up to reflection. His head ached badly; `
` also, he was hungry. The silence of the place was dispiriting. `
` `
` "Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see the `
` chief--the mysterious Mr. Brown and with a bit of luck in `
` bluffing I shall see the mysterious Jane Finn also. After `
` that----" `
` `
` After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XVII `
` `
` ANNETTE `
` `
` THE troubles of the future, however, soon faded before the `
` troubles of the present. And of these, the most immediate and `
` pressing was that of hunger. Tommy had a healthy and vigorous `
` appetite. The steak and chips partaken of for lunch seemed now to `
` belong to another decade. He regretfully recognized the fact `
` that he would not make a success of a hunger strike. `
` `
` He prowled aimlessly about his prison. Once or twice he `
` discarded dignity, and pounded on the door. But nobody answered `
` the summons. `
` `
` "Hang it all!" said Tommy indignantly. "They can't mean to `
` starve me to death." A new-born fear passed through his mind `
` that this might, perhaps, be one of those "pretty ways" of making `
` a prisoner speak, which had been attributed to Boris. But on `
` reflection he dismissed the idea. `
` `
` "It's that sour faced brute Conrad," he decided. "That's a `
` fellow I shall enjoy getting even with one of these days. This is `
` just a bit of spite on his part. I'm certain of it." `
` `
` Further meditations induced in him the feeling that it would be `
` extremely pleasant to bring something down with a whack on `
` Conrad's egg-shaped head. Tommy stroked his own head tenderly, `
` and gave himself up to the pleasures of imagination. Finally a `
` bright idea flashed across his brain. Why not convert imagination `
` into reality? Conrad was undoubtedly the tenant of the house. `
` The others, with the possible exception of the bearded German, `
` merely used it as a rendezvous. Therefore, why not wait in `
` ambush for Conrad behind the door, and when he entered bring down `
` a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on to his head. `
` One would, of course, be careful not to hit too hard. And `
` then--and then, simply walk out! If he met anyone on the way `
` down, well----Tommy brightened at the thought of an encounter `
` with his fists. Such an affair was infinitely more in his line `
` than the verbal encounter of this afternoon. Intoxicated by his `
` plan, Tommy gently unhooked the picture of the Devil and Faust, `
` and settled himself in position. His hopes were high. The plan `
` seemed to him simple but excellent. `
` `
` Time went on, but Conrad did not appear. Night and day were the `
` same in this prison room, but Tommy's wrist-watch, which enjoyed `
` a certain degree of accuracy, informed him that it was nine `
` o'clock in the evening. Tommy reflected gloomily that if supper `
` did not arrive soon it would be a question of waiting for `
` breakfast. At ten o'clock hope deserted him, and he flung `
` himself on the bed to seek consolation in sleep. In five minutes `
` his woes were forgotten. `
` `
` The sound of the key turning in the lock awoke him from his `
` slumbers. Not belonging to the type of hero who is famous for `
` awaking in full possession of his faculties, Tommy merely blinked `
` at the ceiling and wondered vaguely where he was. Then he `
` remembered, and looked at his watch. It was eight o'clock. `
` `
` "It's either early morning tea or breakfast," deduced the young `
` man, "and pray God it's the latter!" `
` `
` The door swung open. Too late, Tommy remembered his scheme of `
` obliterating the unprepossessing Conrad. A moment later he was `
` glad that he had, for it was not Conrad who entered, but a girl. `
` She carried a tray which she set down on the table. `
` `
` In the feeble light of the gas burner Tommy blinked at her. He `
` decided at once that she was one of the most beautiful girls he `
` had ever seen. Her hair was a full rich brown, with sudden glints `
` of gold in it as though there were imprisoned sunbeams struggling `
` in its depths. There was a wild-rose quality about her face. Her `
`
` leaving us a pretty story full of promises?" `
` `
` "No," said Tommy thoughtfully. "Though infinitely simpler for `
` me, I did not really think you would agree to that plan. Very `
` well, we must arrange a compromise. How would it be if you `
` attached little Conrad here to my person. He's a faithful fellow, `
` and very ready with the fist." `
` `
` "We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remain `
` here. One of our number will carry out your instructions `
` minutely. If the operations are complicated, he will return to `
` you with a report and you can instruct him further." `
` `
` "You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicate `
` affair, and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not, `
` and then where shall I be? I don't believe one of you has got an `
` ounce of tact." `
` `
` The German rapped the table. `
` `
` "Those are our terms. Otherwise, death!" `
` `
` Tommy leaned back wearily. `
` `
` "I like your style. Curt, but attractive. So be it, then. But `
` one thing is essential, I must see the girl." `
` `
` "What girl?" `
` `
` "Jane Finn, of course." `
` `
` The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said `
` slowly, and as though choosing his words with care: `
` `
` "Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?" `
` `
` Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in coming `
` face to face with the girl he was seeking? `
` `
` "I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not `
` in so many words, that is." `
` `
` "Then why see her?" `
` `
` Tommy paused. `
` `
` "To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at `
` last. `
` `
` Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not `
` quite understand. `
` `
` "She will not be able to answer your question." `
` `
` "That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it." `
` `
` "And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a short `
` disagreeable laugh. More than ever, Tommy felt that there was a `
` factor somewhere that he did not understand. The German looked at `
` him searchingly. "I wonder whether, after all, you know as much `
` as we think?" he said softly. `
` `
` Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His `
` hold had slipped a little. But he was puzzled. What had he said `
` wrong? He spoke out on the impulse of the moment. `
` `
` "There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not `
` pretended to be aware of all the details of your show. But `
` equally I've got something up my sleeve that you don't know `
` about. And that's where I mean to score. Danvers was a damned `
` clever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much. `
` `
` But the German's face had lightened a little. `
` `
` "Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, then `
` waved to Conrad. "Take him away. Upstairs--you know." `
` `
` "Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?" `
` `
` "That may perhaps be arranged." `
` `
` "It must be." `
` `
` "We will see about it. Only one person can decide that." `
` `
` "Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer. `
` `
` "Mr. Brown----" `
` `
` "Shall I see him?" `
` `
` "Perhaps." `
` `
` "Come," said Conrad harshly. `
` `
` Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned to `
` him to mount the stairs. He himself followed close behind. On `
` the floor above Conrad opened a door and Tommy passed into a `
` small room. Conrad lit a hissing gas burner and went out. Tommy `
` heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock. `
` `
` He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room than `
` the one downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airless `
` about the atmosphere of it. Then he realized that there was no `
` window. He walked round it. The walls were filthily dirty, as `
` everywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the wall `
` representing scenes from Faust. Marguerite with her box of `
` jewels, the church scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust and `
` Mephistopheles. The latter brought Tommy's mind back to Mr. `
` Brown again. In this sealed and closed chamber, with its `
` close-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and the `
` sinister power of the arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout as `
` he would, no one could ever hear him. The place was a living `
` tomb.... `
` `
` With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to the `
` bed and gave himself up to reflection. His head ached badly; `
` also, he was hungry. The silence of the place was dispiriting. `
` `
` "Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see the `
` chief--the mysterious Mr. Brown and with a bit of luck in `
` bluffing I shall see the mysterious Jane Finn also. After `
` that----" `
` `
` After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XVII `
` `
` ANNETTE `
` `
` THE troubles of the future, however, soon faded before the `
` troubles of the present. And of these, the most immediate and `
` pressing was that of hunger. Tommy had a healthy and vigorous `
` appetite. The steak and chips partaken of for lunch seemed now to `
` belong to another decade. He regretfully recognized the fact `
` that he would not make a success of a hunger strike. `
` `
` He prowled aimlessly about his prison. Once or twice he `
` discarded dignity, and pounded on the door. But nobody answered `
` the summons. `
` `
` "Hang it all!" said Tommy indignantly. "They can't mean to `
` starve me to death." A new-born fear passed through his mind `
` that this might, perhaps, be one of those "pretty ways" of making `
` a prisoner speak, which had been attributed to Boris. But on `
` reflection he dismissed the idea. `
` `
` "It's that sour faced brute Conrad," he decided. "That's a `
` fellow I shall enjoy getting even with one of these days. This is `
` just a bit of spite on his part. I'm certain of it." `
` `
` Further meditations induced in him the feeling that it would be `
` extremely pleasant to bring something down with a whack on `
` Conrad's egg-shaped head. Tommy stroked his own head tenderly, `
` and gave himself up to the pleasures of imagination. Finally a `
` bright idea flashed across his brain. Why not convert imagination `
` into reality? Conrad was undoubtedly the tenant of the house. `
` The others, with the possible exception of the bearded German, `
` merely used it as a rendezvous. Therefore, why not wait in `
` ambush for Conrad behind the door, and when he entered bring down `
` a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on to his head. `
` One would, of course, be careful not to hit too hard. And `
` then--and then, simply walk out! If he met anyone on the way `
` down, well----Tommy brightened at the thought of an encounter `
` with his fists. Such an affair was infinitely more in his line `
` than the verbal encounter of this afternoon. Intoxicated by his `
` plan, Tommy gently unhooked the picture of the Devil and Faust, `
` and settled himself in position. His hopes were high. The plan `
` seemed to him simple but excellent. `
` `
` Time went on, but Conrad did not appear. Night and day were the `
` same in this prison room, but Tommy's wrist-watch, which enjoyed `
` a certain degree of accuracy, informed him that it was nine `
` o'clock in the evening. Tommy reflected gloomily that if supper `
` did not arrive soon it would be a question of waiting for `
` breakfast. At ten o'clock hope deserted him, and he flung `
` himself on the bed to seek consolation in sleep. In five minutes `
` his woes were forgotten. `
` `
` The sound of the key turning in the lock awoke him from his `
` slumbers. Not belonging to the type of hero who is famous for `
` awaking in full possession of his faculties, Tommy merely blinked `
` at the ceiling and wondered vaguely where he was. Then he `
` remembered, and looked at his watch. It was eight o'clock. `
` `
` "It's either early morning tea or breakfast," deduced the young `
` man, "and pray God it's the latter!" `
` `
` The door swung open. Too late, Tommy remembered his scheme of `
` obliterating the unprepossessing Conrad. A moment later he was `
` glad that he had, for it was not Conrad who entered, but a girl. `
` She carried a tray which she set down on the table. `
` `
` In the feeble light of the gas burner Tommy blinked at her. He `
` decided at once that she was one of the most beautiful girls he `
` had ever seen. Her hair was a full rich brown, with sudden glints `
` of gold in it as though there were imprisoned sunbeams struggling `
` in its depths. There was a wild-rose quality about her face. Her `
`