Reading Help Secret Adversary Ch.XIV-XXVIII
in its depths. There was a wild-rose quality about her face. Her `
` eyes, set wide apart, were hazel, a golden hazel that again `
` recalled a memory of sunbeams. `
` `
` A delirious thought shot through Tommy's mind. `
` `
` "Are you Jane Finn?" he asked breathlessly. `
` `
` The girl shook her head wonderingly. `
` `
` "My name is Annette, monsieur." `
` `
` She spoke in a soft, broken English. `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tommy, rather taken aback. "Francaise?" he hazarded. `
` `
` "Oui, monsieur. Monsieur parle francais?" `
` `
` "Not for any length of time," said Tommy. "What's that? `
` Breakfast?" `
` `
` The girl nodded. Tommy dropped off the bed and came and `
` inspected the contents of the tray. It consisted of a loaf, some `
` margarine, and a jug of coffee. `
` `
` "The living is not equal to the Ritz," he observed with a sigh. `
` "But for what we are at last about to receive the Lord has made `
` me truly thankful. Amen." `
` `
` He drew up a chair, and the girl turned away to the door. `
` `
` "Wait a sec," cried Tommy. "There are lots of things I want to `
` ask you, Annette. What are you doing in this house? Don't tell `
` me you're Conrad's niece, or daughter, or anything, because I `
` can't believe it." `
` `
` "I do the SERVICE, monsieur. I am not related to anybody." `
` `
` "I see," said Tommy. "You know what I asked you just now. Have `
` you ever heard that name?" `
` `
` "I have heard people speak of Jane Finn, I think." `
` `
` "You don't know where she is?" `
` `
` Annette shook her head. `
` `
` "She's not in this house, for instance?" `
` `
` "Oh no, monsieur. I must go now--they will be waiting for me." `
` `
` She hurried out. The key turned in the lock. `
` `
` "I wonder who 'they' are," mused Tommy, as he continued to make `
` inroads on the loaf. "With a bit of luck, that girl might help `
` me to get out of here. She doesn't look like one of the gang." `
` `
` At one o'clock Annette reappeared with another tray, but this `
` time Conrad accompanied her. `
` `
` "Good morning," said Tommy amiably. "You have NOT used Pear's `
` soap, I see." `
` `
` Conrad growled threateningly. `
` `
` "No light repartee, have you, old bean? There, there, we can't `
` always have brains as well as beauty. What have we for lunch? `
` Stew? How did I know? Elementary, my dear Watson--the smell of `
` onions is unmistakable." `
` `
` "Talk away," grunted the man. "It's little enough time you'll `
` have to talk in, maybe." `
` `
` The remark was unpleasant in its suggestion, but Tommy ignored `
` it. He sat down at the table. `
` `
` "Retire, varlet," he said, with a wave of his hand. "Prate not to `
` thy betters." `
` `
` That evening Tommy sat on the bed, and cogitated deeply. Would `
` Conrad again accompany the girl? If he did not, should he risk `
` trying to make an ally of her? He decided that he must leave no `
` stone unturned. His position was desperate. `
` `
` At eight o'clock the familiar sound of the key turning made him `
` spring to his feet. The girl was alone. `
` `
` "Shut the door," he commanded. "I want to speak to you." She `
` obeyed. `
` `
` "Look here, Annette, I want you to help me get out of this." She `
` shook her head. `
` `
` "Impossible. There are three of them on the floor below." `
` `
` "Oh!" Tommy was secretly grateful for the information. "But you `
` would help me if you could?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur." `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` The girl hesitated. `
` `
` "I think--they are my own people. You have spied upon them. They `
` are quite right to keep you here." `
` `
` "They're a bad lot, Annette. If you'll help me, I'll take you `
` away from the lot of them. And you'd probably get a good whack `
` of money." `
` `
` But the girl merely shook her head. `
` `
` "I dare not, monsieur; I am afraid of them." `
` `
` She turned away. `
` `
` "Wouldn't you do anything to help another girl?" cried Tommy. `
` "She's about your age too. Won't you save her from their `
` clutches?" `
` `
` "You mean Jane Finn?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "It is her you came here to look for? Yes?" `
` `
` "That's it." `
` `
` The girl looked at him, then passed her hand across her forehead. `
` `
` "Jane Finn. Always I hear that name. It is familiar." `
` `
` Tommy came forward eagerly. `
` `
` "You must know SOMETHING about her?" `
` `
` But the girl turned away abruptly. `
` `
` "I know nothing--only the name." She walked towards the door. `
` Suddenly she uttered a cry. Tommy stared. She had caught sight `
` of the picture he had laid against the wall the night before. For `
` a moment he caught a look of terror in her eyes. As inexplicably `
` it changed to relief. Then abruptly she went out of the room. `
` Tommy could make nothing of it. Did she fancy that he had meant `
` to attack her with it? Surely not. He rehung the picture on the `
` wall thoughtfully. `
` `
` Three more days went by in dreary inaction. Tommy felt the `
` strain telling on his nerves. He saw no one but Conrad and `
` Annette, and the girl had become dumb. She spoke only in `
` monosyllables. A kind of dark suspicion smouldered in her eyes. `
` Tommy felt that if this solitary confinement went on much longer `
` he would go mad. He gathered from Conrad that they were waiting `
` for orders from "Mr. Brown." Perhaps, thought Tommy, he was `
` abroad or away, and they were obliged to wait for his return. `
` `
` But the evening of the third day brought a rude awakening. `
` `
` It was barely seven o'clock when he heard the tramp of footsteps `
` outside in the passage. In another minute the door was flung `
` open. Conrad entered. With him was the evil-looking Number 14. `
` Tommy's heart sank at the sight of them. `
` `
` "Evenin', gov'nor," said the man with a leer. "Got those ropes, `
` mate?" `
` `
` The silent Conrad produced a length of fine cord. The next `
` minute Number 14's hands, horribly dexterous, were winding the `
` cord round his limbs, while Conrad held him down. `
` `
` "What the devil----?" began Tommy. `
` `
` But the slow, speechless grin of the silent Conrad froze the `
` words on his lips. `
` `
` Number 14 proceeded deftly with his task. In another minute `
` Tommy was a mere helpless bundle. Then at last Conrad spoke: `
` `
` "Thought you'd bluffed us, did you? With what you knew, and what `
` you didn't know. Bargained with us! And all the time it was `
` bluff! Bluff! You know less than a kitten. But your number's up `
` now all right, you b----swine." `
` `
` Tommy lay silent. There was nothing to say. He had failed. `
` Somehow or other the omnipotent Mr. Brown had seen through his `
` pretensions. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. `
` `
` "A very good speech, Conrad," he said approvingly. "But wherefore `
` the bonds and fetters? Why not let this kind gentleman here cut `
` my throat without delay?" `
` `
` "Garn," said Number 14 unexpectedly. "Think we're as green as to `
` do you in here, and have the police nosing round? Not 'alf! `
` We've ordered the carriage for your lordship to-morrow mornin', `
` but in the meantime we're not taking any chances, see!" `
` `
` "Nothing," said Tommy, "could be plainer than your words--unless `
` it was your face." `
` `
` "Stow it," said Number 14. `
`
` eyes, set wide apart, were hazel, a golden hazel that again `
` recalled a memory of sunbeams. `
` `
` A delirious thought shot through Tommy's mind. `
` `
` "Are you Jane Finn?" he asked breathlessly. `
` `
` The girl shook her head wonderingly. `
` `
` "My name is Annette, monsieur." `
` `
` She spoke in a soft, broken English. `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tommy, rather taken aback. "Francaise?" he hazarded. `
` `
` "Oui, monsieur. Monsieur parle francais?" `
` `
` "Not for any length of time," said Tommy. "What's that? `
` Breakfast?" `
` `
` The girl nodded. Tommy dropped off the bed and came and `
` inspected the contents of the tray. It consisted of a loaf, some `
` margarine, and a jug of coffee. `
` `
` "The living is not equal to the Ritz," he observed with a sigh. `
` "But for what we are at last about to receive the Lord has made `
` me truly thankful. Amen." `
` `
` He drew up a chair, and the girl turned away to the door. `
` `
` "Wait a sec," cried Tommy. "There are lots of things I want to `
` ask you, Annette. What are you doing in this house? Don't tell `
` me you're Conrad's niece, or daughter, or anything, because I `
` can't believe it." `
` `
` "I do the SERVICE, monsieur. I am not related to anybody." `
` `
` "I see," said Tommy. "You know what I asked you just now. Have `
` you ever heard that name?" `
` `
` "I have heard people speak of Jane Finn, I think." `
` `
` "You don't know where she is?" `
` `
` Annette shook her head. `
` `
` "She's not in this house, for instance?" `
` `
` "Oh no, monsieur. I must go now--they will be waiting for me." `
` `
` She hurried out. The key turned in the lock. `
` `
` "I wonder who 'they' are," mused Tommy, as he continued to make `
` inroads on the loaf. "With a bit of luck, that girl might help `
` me to get out of here. She doesn't look like one of the gang." `
` `
` At one o'clock Annette reappeared with another tray, but this `
` time Conrad accompanied her. `
` `
` "Good morning," said Tommy amiably. "You have NOT used Pear's `
` soap, I see." `
` `
` Conrad growled threateningly. `
` `
` "No light repartee, have you, old bean? There, there, we can't `
` always have brains as well as beauty. What have we for lunch? `
` Stew? How did I know? Elementary, my dear Watson--the smell of `
` onions is unmistakable." `
` `
` "Talk away," grunted the man. "It's little enough time you'll `
` have to talk in, maybe." `
` `
` The remark was unpleasant in its suggestion, but Tommy ignored `
` it. He sat down at the table. `
` `
` "Retire, varlet," he said, with a wave of his hand. "Prate not to `
` thy betters." `
` `
` That evening Tommy sat on the bed, and cogitated deeply. Would `
` Conrad again accompany the girl? If he did not, should he risk `
` trying to make an ally of her? He decided that he must leave no `
` stone unturned. His position was desperate. `
` `
` At eight o'clock the familiar sound of the key turning made him `
` spring to his feet. The girl was alone. `
` `
` "Shut the door," he commanded. "I want to speak to you." She `
` obeyed. `
` `
` "Look here, Annette, I want you to help me get out of this." She `
` shook her head. `
` `
` "Impossible. There are three of them on the floor below." `
` `
` "Oh!" Tommy was secretly grateful for the information. "But you `
` would help me if you could?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur." `
` `
` "Why not?" `
` `
` The girl hesitated. `
` `
` "I think--they are my own people. You have spied upon them. They `
` are quite right to keep you here." `
` `
` "They're a bad lot, Annette. If you'll help me, I'll take you `
` away from the lot of them. And you'd probably get a good whack `
` of money." `
` `
` But the girl merely shook her head. `
` `
` "I dare not, monsieur; I am afraid of them." `
` `
` She turned away. `
` `
` "Wouldn't you do anything to help another girl?" cried Tommy. `
` "She's about your age too. Won't you save her from their `
` clutches?" `
` `
` "You mean Jane Finn?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "It is her you came here to look for? Yes?" `
` `
` "That's it." `
` `
` The girl looked at him, then passed her hand across her forehead. `
` `
` "Jane Finn. Always I hear that name. It is familiar." `
` `
` Tommy came forward eagerly. `
` `
` "You must know SOMETHING about her?" `
` `
` But the girl turned away abruptly. `
` `
` "I know nothing--only the name." She walked towards the door. `
` Suddenly she uttered a cry. Tommy stared. She had caught sight `
` of the picture he had laid against the wall the night before. For `
` a moment he caught a look of terror in her eyes. As inexplicably `
` it changed to relief. Then abruptly she went out of the room. `
` Tommy could make nothing of it. Did she fancy that he had meant `
` to attack her with it? Surely not. He rehung the picture on the `
` wall thoughtfully. `
` `
` Three more days went by in dreary inaction. Tommy felt the `
` strain telling on his nerves. He saw no one but Conrad and `
` Annette, and the girl had become dumb. She spoke only in `
` monosyllables. A kind of dark suspicion smouldered in her eyes. `
` Tommy felt that if this solitary confinement went on much longer `
` he would go mad. He gathered from Conrad that they were waiting `
` for orders from "Mr. Brown." Perhaps, thought Tommy, he was `
` abroad or away, and they were obliged to wait for his return. `
` `
` But the evening of the third day brought a rude awakening. `
` `
` It was barely seven o'clock when he heard the tramp of footsteps `
` outside in the passage. In another minute the door was flung `
` open. Conrad entered. With him was the evil-looking Number 14. `
` Tommy's heart sank at the sight of them. `
` `
` "Evenin', gov'nor," said the man with a leer. "Got those ropes, `
` mate?" `
` `
` The silent Conrad produced a length of fine cord. The next `
` minute Number 14's hands, horribly dexterous, were winding the `
` cord round his limbs, while Conrad held him down. `
` `
` "What the devil----?" began Tommy. `
` `
` But the slow, speechless grin of the silent Conrad froze the `
` words on his lips. `
` `
` Number 14 proceeded deftly with his task. In another minute `
` Tommy was a mere helpless bundle. Then at last Conrad spoke: `
` `
` "Thought you'd bluffed us, did you? With what you knew, and what `
` you didn't know. Bargained with us! And all the time it was `
` bluff! Bluff! You know less than a kitten. But your number's up `
` now all right, you b----swine." `
` `
` Tommy lay silent. There was nothing to say. He had failed. `
` Somehow or other the omnipotent Mr. Brown had seen through his `
` pretensions. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. `
` `
` "A very good speech, Conrad," he said approvingly. "But wherefore `
` the bonds and fetters? Why not let this kind gentleman here cut `
` my throat without delay?" `
` `
` "Garn," said Number 14 unexpectedly. "Think we're as green as to `
` do you in here, and have the police nosing round? Not 'alf! `
` We've ordered the carriage for your lordship to-morrow mornin', `
` but in the meantime we're not taking any chances, see!" `
` `
` "Nothing," said Tommy, "could be plainer than your words--unless `
` it was your face." `
` `
` "Stow it," said Number 14. `
`