Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
pinch, two men, it was ideal, being about two feet deep and three `
` feet wide. It attracted Tommy mightily. He thought things over `
` in his usual slow and steady way, deciding that the mention of `
` "Mr. Brown" was not a request for an individual, but in all `
` probability a password used by the gang. His lucky use of it had `
` gained him admission. So far he had aroused no suspicion. But he `
` must decide quickly on his next step. `
` `
` Suppose he were boldly to enter the room on the left of the `
` passage. Would the mere fact of his having been admitted to the `
` house be sufficient? Perhaps a further password would be `
` required, or, at any rate, some proof of identity. The `
` doorkeeper clearly did not know all the members of the gang by `
` sight, but it might be different upstairs. On the whole it seemed `
` to him that luck had served him very well so far, but that there `
` was such a thing as trusting it too far. To enter that room was a `
` colossal risk. He could not hope to sustain his part `
` indefinitely; sooner or later he was almost bound to betray `
` himself, and then he would have thrown away a vital chance in `
` mere foolhardiness. `
` `
` A repetition of the signal knock sounded on the door below, and `
` Tommy, his mind made up, slipped quickly into the recess, and `
` cautiously drew the curtain farther across so that it shielded `
` him completely from sight. There were several rents and slits in `
` the ancient material which afforded him a good view. He would `
` watch events, and any time he chose could, after all, join the `
` assembly, modelling his behaviour on that of the new arrival. `
` `
` The man who came up the staircase with a furtive, soft-footed `
` tread was quite unknown to Tommy. He was obviously of the very `
` dregs of society. The low beetling brows, and the criminal jaw, `
` the bestiality of the whole countenance were new to the young `
` man, though he was a type that Scotland Yard would have `
` recognized at a glance. `
` `
` The man passed the recess, breathing heavily as he went. He `
` stopped at the door opposite, and gave a repetition of the signal `
` knock. A voice inside called out something, and the man opened `
` the door and passed in, affording Tommy a momentary glimpse of `
` the room inside. He thought there must be about four or five `
` people seated round a long table that took up most of the space, `
` but his attention was caught and held by a tall man with `
` close-cropped hair and a short, pointed, naval-looking beard, who `
` sat at the head of the table with papers in front of him. As the `
` new-comer entered he glanced up, and with a correct, but `
` curiously precise enunciation, which attracted Tommy's notice, he `
` asked: `
` `
` "Your number, comrade?" `
` `
` "Fourteen, gov'nor," replied the other hoarsely. `
` `
` "Correct." `
` `
` The door shut again. `
` `
` "If that isn't a Hun, I'm a Dutchman!" said Tommy to himself. `
` "And running the show darned systematically too--as they always `
` do. Lucky I didn't roll in. I'd have given the wrong number, and `
` there would have been the deuce to pay. No, this is the place `
` for me. Hullo, here's another knock." `
` `
` This visitor proved to be of an entirely different type to the `
` last. Tommy recognized in him an Irish Sinn Feiner. Certainly `
` Mr. Brown's organization was a far-reaching concern. The common `
` criminal, the well-bred Irish gentleman, the pale Russian, and `
` the efficient German master of the ceremonies! Truly a strange `
` and sinister gathering! Who was this man who held in his finger `
` these curiously variegated links of an unknown chain? `
` `
` In this case, the procedure was exactly the same. The signal `
` knock, the demand for a number, and the reply "Correct." `
` `
` Two knocks followed in quick succession on the door below. The `
` first man was quite unknown to Tommy, who put him down as a city `
` clerk. A quiet, intelligent-looking man, rather shabbily dressed. `
` The second was of the working classes, and his face was vaguely `
` familiar to the young man. `
` `
` Three minutes later came another, a man of commanding appearance, `
` exquisitely dressed, and evidently well born. His face, again, `
` was not unknown to the watcher, though he could not for the `
` moment put a name to it. `
` `
` After his arrival there was a long wait. In fact Tommy concluded `
` that the gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously `
` creeping out from his hiding-place, when another knock sent him `
` scuttling back to cover. `
` `
` This last-comer came up the stairs so quietly that he was almost `
` abreast of Tommy before the young man had realized his presence. `
` `
` He was a small man, very pale, with a gentle almost womanish air. `
` The angle of the cheek-bones hinted at his Slavonic ancestry, `
` otherwise there was nothing to indicate his nationality. As he `
` passed the recess, he turned his head slowly. The strange light `
` eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly `
` believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of `
` himself he shivered. He was no more fanciful than the majority of `
` young Englishmen, but he could not rid himself of the impression `
` that some unusually potent force emanated from the man. The `
` creature reminded him of a venomous snake. `
` `
` A moment later his impression was proved correct. The new-comer `
` knocked on the door as all had done, but his reception was very `
` different. The bearded man rose to his feet, and all the others `
` followed suit. The German came forward and shook hands. His `
` heels clicked together. `
` `
` "We are honoured," he said. "We are greatly honoured. I much `
` feared that it would be impossible." `
` `
` The other answered in a low voice that had a kind of hiss in it: `
` `
` "There were difficulties. It will not be possible again, I fear. `
` But one meeting is essential--to define my policy. I can do `
` nothing without--Mr. Brown. He is here?" `
` `
` The change in the German's voice was audible as he replied with `
` slight hesitation: `
` `
` "We have received a message. It is impossible for him to be `
` present in person." He stopped, giving a curious impression of `
` having left the sentence unfinished. `
` `
` A very slow smile overspread the face of the other. He looked `
` round at a circle of uneasy faces. `
` `
` "Ah! I understand. I have read of his methods. He works in the `
` dark and trusts no one. But, all the same, it is possible that `
` he is among us now...." He looked round him again, and again that `
` expression of fear swept over the group. Each man seemed eyeing `
` his neighbour doubtfully. `
` `
` The Russian tapped his cheek. `
` `
` "So be it. Let us proceed." `
` `
` The German seemed to pull himself together. He indicated the `
` place he had been occupying at the head of the table. The Russian `
` demurred, but the other insisted. `
` `
` "It is the only possible place," he said, "for--Number One. `
` Perhaps Number Fourteen will shut the door?" `
` `
` In another moment Tommy was once more confronting bare wooden `
` panels, and the voices within had sunk once more to a mere `
` undistinguishable murmur. Tommy became restive. The conversation `
` he had overheard had stimulated his curiosity. He felt that, by `
` hook or by crook, he must hear more. `
` `
` There was no sound from below, and it did not seem likely that `
` the doorkeeper would come upstairs. After listening intently for `
` a minute or two, he put his head round the curtain. The passage `
` was deserted. Tommy bent down and removed his shoes, then, `
` leaving them behind the curtain, he walked gingerly out on his `
` stockinged feet, and kneeling down by the closed door he laid his `
` ear cautiously to the crack. To his intense annoyance he could `
` distinguish little more; just a chance word here and there if a `
` voice was raised, which merely served to whet his curiosity still `
` farther. `
` `
` He eyed the handle of the door tentatively. Could he turn it by `
` degrees so gently and imperceptibly that those in the room would `
` notice nothing? He decided that with great care it could be `
` done. Very slowly, a fraction of an inch at a time, he moved it `
` round, holding his breath in his excessive care. A little more--a `
` little more still--would it never be finished? Ah! at last it `
` would turn no farther. `
` `
` He stayed so for a minute or two, then drew a deep breath, and `
` pressed it ever so slightly inward. The door did not budge. `
` Tommy was annoyed. If he had to use too much force, it would `
` almost certainly creak. He waited until the voices rose a little, `
` then he tried again. Still nothing happened. He increased the `
` pressure. Had the beastly thing stuck? Finally, in desperation, `
` he pushed with all his might. But the door remained firm, and at `
` last the truth dawned upon him. It was locked or bolted on the `
` inside. `
` `
` For a moment or two Tommy's indignation got the better of him. `
` `
` "Well, I'm damned!" he said. "What a dirty trick!" `
` `
` As his indignation cooled, he prepared to face the situation. `
` Clearly the first thing to be done was to restore the handle to `
` its original position. If he let it go suddenly, the men inside `
` would be almost certain to notice it, so, with the same infinite `
` pains, he reversed his former tactics. All went well, and with a `
` sigh of relief the young man rose to his feet. There was a `
` certain bulldog tenacity about Tommy that made him slow to admit `
` defeat. Checkmated for the moment, he was far from abandoning the `
` conflict. He still intended to hear what was going on in the `
` locked room. As one plan had failed, he must hunt about for `
` another. `
` `
` He looked round him. A little farther along the passage on the `
` left was a second door. He slipped silently along to it. He `
` listened for a moment or two, then tried the handle. It yielded, `
` and he slipped inside. `
`
` feet wide. It attracted Tommy mightily. He thought things over `
` in his usual slow and steady way, deciding that the mention of `
` "Mr. Brown" was not a request for an individual, but in all `
` probability a password used by the gang. His lucky use of it had `
` gained him admission. So far he had aroused no suspicion. But he `
` must decide quickly on his next step. `
` `
` Suppose he were boldly to enter the room on the left of the `
` passage. Would the mere fact of his having been admitted to the `
` house be sufficient? Perhaps a further password would be `
` required, or, at any rate, some proof of identity. The `
` doorkeeper clearly did not know all the members of the gang by `
` sight, but it might be different upstairs. On the whole it seemed `
` to him that luck had served him very well so far, but that there `
` was such a thing as trusting it too far. To enter that room was a `
` colossal risk. He could not hope to sustain his part `
` indefinitely; sooner or later he was almost bound to betray `
` himself, and then he would have thrown away a vital chance in `
` mere foolhardiness. `
` `
` A repetition of the signal knock sounded on the door below, and `
` Tommy, his mind made up, slipped quickly into the recess, and `
` cautiously drew the curtain farther across so that it shielded `
` him completely from sight. There were several rents and slits in `
` the ancient material which afforded him a good view. He would `
` watch events, and any time he chose could, after all, join the `
` assembly, modelling his behaviour on that of the new arrival. `
` `
` The man who came up the staircase with a furtive, soft-footed `
` tread was quite unknown to Tommy. He was obviously of the very `
` dregs of society. The low beetling brows, and the criminal jaw, `
` the bestiality of the whole countenance were new to the young `
` man, though he was a type that Scotland Yard would have `
` recognized at a glance. `
` `
` The man passed the recess, breathing heavily as he went. He `
` stopped at the door opposite, and gave a repetition of the signal `
` knock. A voice inside called out something, and the man opened `
` the door and passed in, affording Tommy a momentary glimpse of `
` the room inside. He thought there must be about four or five `
` people seated round a long table that took up most of the space, `
` but his attention was caught and held by a tall man with `
` close-cropped hair and a short, pointed, naval-looking beard, who `
` sat at the head of the table with papers in front of him. As the `
` new-comer entered he glanced up, and with a correct, but `
` curiously precise enunciation, which attracted Tommy's notice, he `
` asked: `
` `
` "Your number, comrade?" `
` `
` "Fourteen, gov'nor," replied the other hoarsely. `
` `
` "Correct." `
` `
` The door shut again. `
` `
` "If that isn't a Hun, I'm a Dutchman!" said Tommy to himself. `
` "And running the show darned systematically too--as they always `
` do. Lucky I didn't roll in. I'd have given the wrong number, and `
` there would have been the deuce to pay. No, this is the place `
` for me. Hullo, here's another knock." `
` `
` This visitor proved to be of an entirely different type to the `
` last. Tommy recognized in him an Irish Sinn Feiner. Certainly `
` Mr. Brown's organization was a far-reaching concern. The common `
` criminal, the well-bred Irish gentleman, the pale Russian, and `
` the efficient German master of the ceremonies! Truly a strange `
` and sinister gathering! Who was this man who held in his finger `
` these curiously variegated links of an unknown chain? `
` `
` In this case, the procedure was exactly the same. The signal `
` knock, the demand for a number, and the reply "Correct." `
` `
` Two knocks followed in quick succession on the door below. The `
` first man was quite unknown to Tommy, who put him down as a city `
` clerk. A quiet, intelligent-looking man, rather shabbily dressed. `
` The second was of the working classes, and his face was vaguely `
` familiar to the young man. `
` `
` Three minutes later came another, a man of commanding appearance, `
` exquisitely dressed, and evidently well born. His face, again, `
` was not unknown to the watcher, though he could not for the `
` moment put a name to it. `
` `
` After his arrival there was a long wait. In fact Tommy concluded `
` that the gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously `
` creeping out from his hiding-place, when another knock sent him `
` scuttling back to cover. `
` `
` This last-comer came up the stairs so quietly that he was almost `
` abreast of Tommy before the young man had realized his presence. `
` `
` He was a small man, very pale, with a gentle almost womanish air. `
` The angle of the cheek-bones hinted at his Slavonic ancestry, `
` otherwise there was nothing to indicate his nationality. As he `
` passed the recess, he turned his head slowly. The strange light `
` eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly `
` believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of `
` himself he shivered. He was no more fanciful than the majority of `
` young Englishmen, but he could not rid himself of the impression `
` that some unusually potent force emanated from the man. The `
` creature reminded him of a venomous snake. `
` `
` A moment later his impression was proved correct. The new-comer `
` knocked on the door as all had done, but his reception was very `
` different. The bearded man rose to his feet, and all the others `
` followed suit. The German came forward and shook hands. His `
` heels clicked together. `
` `
` "We are honoured," he said. "We are greatly honoured. I much `
` feared that it would be impossible." `
` `
` The other answered in a low voice that had a kind of hiss in it: `
` `
` "There were difficulties. It will not be possible again, I fear. `
` But one meeting is essential--to define my policy. I can do `
` nothing without--Mr. Brown. He is here?" `
` `
` The change in the German's voice was audible as he replied with `
` slight hesitation: `
` `
` "We have received a message. It is impossible for him to be `
` present in person." He stopped, giving a curious impression of `
` having left the sentence unfinished. `
` `
` A very slow smile overspread the face of the other. He looked `
` round at a circle of uneasy faces. `
` `
` "Ah! I understand. I have read of his methods. He works in the `
` dark and trusts no one. But, all the same, it is possible that `
` he is among us now...." He looked round him again, and again that `
` expression of fear swept over the group. Each man seemed eyeing `
` his neighbour doubtfully. `
` `
` The Russian tapped his cheek. `
` `
` "So be it. Let us proceed." `
` `
` The German seemed to pull himself together. He indicated the `
` place he had been occupying at the head of the table. The Russian `
` demurred, but the other insisted. `
` `
` "It is the only possible place," he said, "for--Number One. `
` Perhaps Number Fourteen will shut the door?" `
` `
` In another moment Tommy was once more confronting bare wooden `
` panels, and the voices within had sunk once more to a mere `
` undistinguishable murmur. Tommy became restive. The conversation `
` he had overheard had stimulated his curiosity. He felt that, by `
` hook or by crook, he must hear more. `
` `
` There was no sound from below, and it did not seem likely that `
` the doorkeeper would come upstairs. After listening intently for `
` a minute or two, he put his head round the curtain. The passage `
` was deserted. Tommy bent down and removed his shoes, then, `
` leaving them behind the curtain, he walked gingerly out on his `
` stockinged feet, and kneeling down by the closed door he laid his `
` ear cautiously to the crack. To his intense annoyance he could `
` distinguish little more; just a chance word here and there if a `
` voice was raised, which merely served to whet his curiosity still `
` farther. `
` `
` He eyed the handle of the door tentatively. Could he turn it by `
` degrees so gently and imperceptibly that those in the room would `
` notice nothing? He decided that with great care it could be `
` done. Very slowly, a fraction of an inch at a time, he moved it `
` round, holding his breath in his excessive care. A little more--a `
` little more still--would it never be finished? Ah! at last it `
` would turn no farther. `
` `
` He stayed so for a minute or two, then drew a deep breath, and `
` pressed it ever so slightly inward. The door did not budge. `
` Tommy was annoyed. If he had to use too much force, it would `
` almost certainly creak. He waited until the voices rose a little, `
` then he tried again. Still nothing happened. He increased the `
` pressure. Had the beastly thing stuck? Finally, in desperation, `
` he pushed with all his might. But the door remained firm, and at `
` last the truth dawned upon him. It was locked or bolted on the `
` inside. `
` `
` For a moment or two Tommy's indignation got the better of him. `
` `
` "Well, I'm damned!" he said. "What a dirty trick!" `
` `
` As his indignation cooled, he prepared to face the situation. `
` Clearly the first thing to be done was to restore the handle to `
` its original position. If he let it go suddenly, the men inside `
` would be almost certain to notice it, so, with the same infinite `
` pains, he reversed his former tactics. All went well, and with a `
` sigh of relief the young man rose to his feet. There was a `
` certain bulldog tenacity about Tommy that made him slow to admit `
` defeat. Checkmated for the moment, he was far from abandoning the `
` conflict. He still intended to hear what was going on in the `
` locked room. As one plan had failed, he must hunt about for `
` another. `
` `
` He looked round him. A little farther along the passage on the `
` left was a second door. He slipped silently along to it. He `
` listened for a moment or two, then tried the handle. It yielded, `
` and he slipped inside. `
`