Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
and he slipped inside. `
` `
` The room, which was untenanted, was furnished as a bedroom. Like `
` everything else in the house, the furniture was falling to `
` pieces, and the dirt was, if anything, more abundant. `
` `
` But what interested Tommy was the thing he had hoped to find, a `
` communicating door between the two rooms, up on the left by the `
` window. Carefully closing the door into the passage behind him, `
` he stepped across to the other and examined it closely. The bolt `
` was shot across it. It was very rusty, and had clearly not been `
` used for some time. By gently wriggling it to and fro, Tommy `
` managed to draw it back without making too much noise. Then he `
` repeated his former manoeuvres with the handle--this time with `
` complete success. The door swung open--a crack, a mere fraction, `
` but enough for Tommy to hear what went on. There was a velvet `
` portiere on the inside of this door which prevented him from `
` seeing, but he was able to recognize the voices with a reasonable `
` amount of accuracy. `
` `
` The Sinn Feiner was speaking. His rich Irish voice was `
` unmistakable: `
` `
` "That's all very well. But more money is essential. No money--no `
` results!" `
` `
` Another voice which Tommy rather thought was that of Boris `
` replied: `
` `
` "Will you guarantee that there ARE results?" `
` `
` "In a month from now--sooner or later as you wish--I will `
` guarantee you such a reign of terror in Ireland as shall shake `
` the British Empire to its foundations." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then came the soft, sibilant accents of `
` Number One: `
` `
` "Good! You shall have the money. Boris, you will see to that." `
` `
` Boris asked a question: `
` `
` "Via the Irish Americans, and Mr. Potter as usual?" `
` `
` "I guess that'll be all right!" said a new voice, with a `
` transatlantic intonation, "though I'd like to point out, here and `
` now, that things are getting a mite difficult. There's not the `
` sympathy there was, and a growing disposition to let the Irish `
` settle their own affairs without interference from America." `
` `
` Tommy felt that Boris had shrugged his shoulders as he answered: `
` `
` "Does that matter, since the money only nominally comes from the `
` States?" `
` `
` "The chief difficulty is the landing of the ammunition," said the `
` Sinn Feiner. "The money is conveyed in easily enough--thanks to `
` our colleague here." `
` `
` Another voice, which Tommy fancied was that of the tall, `
` commanding-looking man whose face had seemed familiar to him, `
` said: `
` `
` "Think of the feelings of Belfast if they could hear you!" `
` `
` "That is settled, then," said the sibilant tones. "Now, in the `
` matter of the loan to an English newspaper, you have arranged the `
` details satisfactorily, Boris?" `
` `
` "I think so." `
` `
` "That is good. An official denial from Moscow will be `
` forthcoming if necessary." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then the clear voice of the German broke `
` the silence: `
` `
` "I am directed by--Mr. Brown, to place the summaries of the `
` reports from the different unions before you. That of the miners `
` is most satisfactory. We must hold back the railways. There may `
` be trouble with the A.S.E." `
` `
` For a long time there was a silence, broken only by the rustle of `
` papers and an occasional word of explanation from the German. `
` Then Tommy heard the light tap-tap of fingers, drumming on the `
` table. `
` `
` "And--the date, my friend?" said Number One. `
` `
` "The 29th." `
` `
` The Russian seemed to consider: `
` `
` "That is rather soon." `
` `
` "I know. But it was settled by the principal Labour leaders, and `
` we cannot seem to interfere too much. They must believe it to be `
` entirely their own show." `
` `
` The Russian laughed softly, as though amused. `
` `
` "Yes, yes," he said. "That is true. They must have no inkling `
` that we are using them for our own ends. They are honest `
` men--and that is their value to us. It is curious--but you `
` cannot make a revolution without honest men. The instinct of the `
` populace is infallible." He paused, and then repeated, as though `
` the phrase pleased him: "Every revolution has had its honest `
` men. They are soon disposed of afterwards." `
` `
` There was a sinister note in his voice. `
` `
` The German resumed: `
` `
` "Clymes must go. He is too far-seeing. Number Fourteen will see `
` to that." `
` `
` There was a hoarse murmur. `
` `
` "That's all right, gov'nor." And then after a moment or two: `
` "Suppose I'm nabbed." `
` `
` "You will have the best legal talent to defend you," replied the `
` German quietly. "But in any case you will wear gloves fitted `
` with the finger-prints of a notorious housebreaker. You have `
` little to fear." `
` `
` "Oh, I ain't afraid, gov'nor. All for the good of the cause. The `
` streets is going to run with blood, so they say." He spoke with a `
` grim relish. "Dreams of it, sometimes, I does. And diamonds and `
` pearls rolling about in the gutter for anyone to pick up!" `
` `
` Tommy heard a chair shifted. Then Number One spoke: `
` `
` "Then all is arranged. We are assured of success?" `
` `
` "I--think so." But the German spoke with less than his usual `
` confidence. `
` `
` Number One's voice held suddenly a dangerous quality: `
` `
` "What has gone wrong?" `
` `
` "Nothing; but----" `
` `
` "But what?" `
` `
` "The Labour leaders. Without them, as you say, we can do `
` nothing. If they do not declare a general strike on the 29th----" `
` `
` "Why should they not?" `
` `
` "As you've said, they're honest. And, in spite of everything `
` we've done to discredit the Government in their eyes, I'm not `
` sure that they haven't got a sneaking faith and belief in it." `
` `
` "But----" `
` `
` "I know. They abuse it unceasingly. But, on the whole, public `
` opinion swings to the side of the Government. They will not go `
` against it." `
` `
` Again the Russian's fingers drummed on the table. `
` `
` "To the point, my friend. I was given to understand that there `
` was a certain document in existence which assured success." `
` `
` "That is so. If that document were placed before the leaders, `
` the result would be immediate. They would publish it broadcast `
` throughout England, and declare for the revolution without a `
` moment's hesitation. The Government would be broken finally and `
` completely." `
` `
` "Then what more do you want?" `
` `
` "The document itself," said the German bluntly. `
` `
` "Ah! It is not in your possession? But you know where it is?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Does anyone know where it is?" `
` `
` "One person--perhaps. And we are not sure of that even." `
` `
` "Who is this person?" `
` `
` "A girl." `
` `
` Tommy held his breath. `
` `
` "A girl?" The Russian's voice rose contemptuously. "And you have `
` not made her speak? In Russia we have ways of making a girl `
` talk." `
` `
` "This case is different," said the German sullenly. `
` `
` "How--different?" He paused a moment, then went on: "Where is `
` the girl now?" `
` `
` "The girl?" `
` `
`
` `
` The room, which was untenanted, was furnished as a bedroom. Like `
` everything else in the house, the furniture was falling to `
` pieces, and the dirt was, if anything, more abundant. `
` `
` But what interested Tommy was the thing he had hoped to find, a `
` communicating door between the two rooms, up on the left by the `
` window. Carefully closing the door into the passage behind him, `
` he stepped across to the other and examined it closely. The bolt `
` was shot across it. It was very rusty, and had clearly not been `
` used for some time. By gently wriggling it to and fro, Tommy `
` managed to draw it back without making too much noise. Then he `
` repeated his former manoeuvres with the handle--this time with `
` complete success. The door swung open--a crack, a mere fraction, `
` but enough for Tommy to hear what went on. There was a velvet `
` portiere on the inside of this door which prevented him from `
` seeing, but he was able to recognize the voices with a reasonable `
` amount of accuracy. `
` `
` The Sinn Feiner was speaking. His rich Irish voice was `
` unmistakable: `
` `
` "That's all very well. But more money is essential. No money--no `
` results!" `
` `
` Another voice which Tommy rather thought was that of Boris `
` replied: `
` `
` "Will you guarantee that there ARE results?" `
` `
` "In a month from now--sooner or later as you wish--I will `
` guarantee you such a reign of terror in Ireland as shall shake `
` the British Empire to its foundations." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then came the soft, sibilant accents of `
` Number One: `
` `
` "Good! You shall have the money. Boris, you will see to that." `
` `
` Boris asked a question: `
` `
` "Via the Irish Americans, and Mr. Potter as usual?" `
` `
` "I guess that'll be all right!" said a new voice, with a `
` transatlantic intonation, "though I'd like to point out, here and `
` now, that things are getting a mite difficult. There's not the `
` sympathy there was, and a growing disposition to let the Irish `
` settle their own affairs without interference from America." `
` `
` Tommy felt that Boris had shrugged his shoulders as he answered: `
` `
` "Does that matter, since the money only nominally comes from the `
` States?" `
` `
` "The chief difficulty is the landing of the ammunition," said the `
` Sinn Feiner. "The money is conveyed in easily enough--thanks to `
` our colleague here." `
` `
` Another voice, which Tommy fancied was that of the tall, `
` commanding-looking man whose face had seemed familiar to him, `
` said: `
` `
` "Think of the feelings of Belfast if they could hear you!" `
` `
` "That is settled, then," said the sibilant tones. "Now, in the `
` matter of the loan to an English newspaper, you have arranged the `
` details satisfactorily, Boris?" `
` `
` "I think so." `
` `
` "That is good. An official denial from Moscow will be `
` forthcoming if necessary." `
` `
` There was a pause, and then the clear voice of the German broke `
` the silence: `
` `
` "I am directed by--Mr. Brown, to place the summaries of the `
` reports from the different unions before you. That of the miners `
` is most satisfactory. We must hold back the railways. There may `
` be trouble with the A.S.E." `
` `
` For a long time there was a silence, broken only by the rustle of `
` papers and an occasional word of explanation from the German. `
` Then Tommy heard the light tap-tap of fingers, drumming on the `
` table. `
` `
` "And--the date, my friend?" said Number One. `
` `
` "The 29th." `
` `
` The Russian seemed to consider: `
` `
` "That is rather soon." `
` `
` "I know. But it was settled by the principal Labour leaders, and `
` we cannot seem to interfere too much. They must believe it to be `
` entirely their own show." `
` `
` The Russian laughed softly, as though amused. `
` `
` "Yes, yes," he said. "That is true. They must have no inkling `
` that we are using them for our own ends. They are honest `
` men--and that is their value to us. It is curious--but you `
` cannot make a revolution without honest men. The instinct of the `
` populace is infallible." He paused, and then repeated, as though `
` the phrase pleased him: "Every revolution has had its honest `
` men. They are soon disposed of afterwards." `
` `
` There was a sinister note in his voice. `
` `
` The German resumed: `
` `
` "Clymes must go. He is too far-seeing. Number Fourteen will see `
` to that." `
` `
` There was a hoarse murmur. `
` `
` "That's all right, gov'nor." And then after a moment or two: `
` "Suppose I'm nabbed." `
` `
` "You will have the best legal talent to defend you," replied the `
` German quietly. "But in any case you will wear gloves fitted `
` with the finger-prints of a notorious housebreaker. You have `
` little to fear." `
` `
` "Oh, I ain't afraid, gov'nor. All for the good of the cause. The `
` streets is going to run with blood, so they say." He spoke with a `
` grim relish. "Dreams of it, sometimes, I does. And diamonds and `
` pearls rolling about in the gutter for anyone to pick up!" `
` `
` Tommy heard a chair shifted. Then Number One spoke: `
` `
` "Then all is arranged. We are assured of success?" `
` `
` "I--think so." But the German spoke with less than his usual `
` confidence. `
` `
` Number One's voice held suddenly a dangerous quality: `
` `
` "What has gone wrong?" `
` `
` "Nothing; but----" `
` `
` "But what?" `
` `
` "The Labour leaders. Without them, as you say, we can do `
` nothing. If they do not declare a general strike on the 29th----" `
` `
` "Why should they not?" `
` `
` "As you've said, they're honest. And, in spite of everything `
` we've done to discredit the Government in their eyes, I'm not `
` sure that they haven't got a sneaking faith and belief in it." `
` `
` "But----" `
` `
` "I know. They abuse it unceasingly. But, on the whole, public `
` opinion swings to the side of the Government. They will not go `
` against it." `
` `
` Again the Russian's fingers drummed on the table. `
` `
` "To the point, my friend. I was given to understand that there `
` was a certain document in existence which assured success." `
` `
` "That is so. If that document were placed before the leaders, `
` the result would be immediate. They would publish it broadcast `
` throughout England, and declare for the revolution without a `
` moment's hesitation. The Government would be broken finally and `
` completely." `
` `
` "Then what more do you want?" `
` `
` "The document itself," said the German bluntly. `
` `
` "Ah! It is not in your possession? But you know where it is?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Does anyone know where it is?" `
` `
` "One person--perhaps. And we are not sure of that even." `
` `
` "Who is this person?" `
` `
` "A girl." `
` `
` Tommy held his breath. `
` `
` "A girl?" The Russian's voice rose contemptuously. "And you have `
` not made her speak? In Russia we have ways of making a girl `
` talk." `
` `
` "This case is different," said the German sullenly. `
` `
` "How--different?" He paused a moment, then went on: "Where is `
` the girl now?" `
` `
` "The girl?" `
` `
`