Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
that even if she came face to face with Whittington he would not `
` recognize her. She would wear elevators in her shoes, and the `
` cap and apron would be an even more valuable disguise. From `
` hospital experience she knew only too well that a nurse out of `
` uniform is frequently unrecognized by her patients. `
` `
` "Yes," said Tuppence aloud, nodding at the pert reflection in the `
` glass, "you'll do." She then resumed her normal appearance. `
` `
` Dinner was a solitary meal. Tuppence was rather surprised at `
` Tommy's non-return. Julius, too, was absent--but that to the `
` girl's mind was more easily explained. His "hustling" activities `
` were not confined to London, and his abrupt appearances and `
` disappearances were fully accepted by the Young Adventurers as `
` part of the day's work. It was quite on the cards that Julius P. `
` Hersheimmer had left for Constantinople at a moment's notice if `
` he fancied that a clue to his cousin's disappearance was to be `
` found there. The energetic young man had succeeded in making the `
` lives of several Scotland Yard men unbearable to them, and the `
` telephone girls at the Admiralty had learned to know and dread `
` the familiar "Hullo!" He had spent three hours in Paris hustling `
` the Prefecture, and had returned from there imbued with the idea, `
` possibly inspired by a weary French official, that the true clue `
` to the mystery was to be found in Ireland. `
` `
` "I dare say he's dashed off there now," thought Tuppence. "All `
` very well, but this is very dull for ME! Here I am bursting with `
` news, and absolutely no one to tell it to! Tommy might have `
` wired, or something. I wonder where he is. Anyway, he can't have `
` 'lost the trail' as they say. That reminds me----" And Miss `
` Cowley broke off in her meditations, and summoned a small boy. `
` `
` Ten minutes later the lady was ensconced comfortably on her bed, `
` smoking cigarettes and deep in the perusal of Garnaby Williams, `
` the Boy Detective, which, with other threepenny works of lurid `
` fiction, she had sent out to purchase. She felt, and rightly, `
` that before the strain of attempting further intercourse with `
` Albert, it would be as well to fortify herself with a good supply `
` of local colour. `
` `
` The morning brought a note from Mr. Carter: `
` `
` "DEAR MISS TUPPENCE, `
` `
` "You have made a splendid start, and I congratulate you. I feel, `
` though, that I should like to point out to you once more the `
` risks you are running, especially if you pursue the course you `
` indicate. Those people are absolutely desperate and incapable of `
` either mercy or pity. I feel that you probably underestimate the `
` danger, and therefore warn you again that I can promise you no `
` protection. You have given us valuable information, and if you `
` choose to withdraw now no one could blame you. At any rate, `
` think the matter over well before you decide. `
` `
` "If, in spite of my warnings, you make up your mind to go through `
` with it, you will find everything arranged. You have lived for `
` two years with Miss Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly, and Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer can apply to her for a reference. `
` `
` "May I be permitted a word or two of advice? Stick as near to `
` the truth as possible--it minimizes the danger of 'slips.' I `
` suggest that you should represent yourself to be what you are, a `
` former V.A.D., who has chosen domestic service as a profession. `
` There are many such at the present time. That explains away any `
` incongruities of voice or manner which otherwise might awaken `
` suspicion. `
` `
` "Whichever way you decide, good luck to you. `
` "Your sincere friend, "MR. CARTER." `
` `
` `
` Tuppence's spirits rose mercurially. Mr. Carter's warnings `
` passed unheeded. The young lady had far too much confidence in `
` herself to pay any heed to them. `
` `
` With some reluctance she abandoned the interesting part she had `
` sketched out for herself. Although she had no doubts of her own `
` powers to sustain a role indefinitely, she had too much common `
` sense not to recognize the force of Mr. Carter's arguments. `
` `
` There was still no word or message from Tommy, but the morning `
` post brought a somewhat dirty postcard with the words: "It's `
` O.K." scrawled upon it. `
` `
` At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed with pride a slightly battered `
` tin trunk containing her new possessions. It was artistically `
` corded. It was with a slight blush that she rang the bell and `
` ordered it to be placed in a taxi. She drove to Paddington, and `
` left the box in the cloak room. She then repaired with a handbag `
` to the fastnesses of the ladies' waiting-room. Ten minutes later `
` a metamorphosed Tuppence walked demurely out of the station and `
` entered a bus. `
` `
` It was a few minutes past eleven when Tuppence again entered the `
` hall of South Audley Mansions. Albert was on the look-out, `
` attending to his duties in a somewhat desultory fashion. He did `
` not immediately recognize Tuppence. When he did, his admiration `
` was unbounded. `
` `
` "Blest if I'd have known you! That rig-out's top-hole." `
` `
` "Glad you like it, Albert," replied Tuppence modestly. "By the `
` way, am I your cousin, or am I not?" `
` `
` "Your voice too," cried the delighted boy. "It's as English as `
` anything! No, I said as a friend of mine knew a young gal. Annie `
` wasn't best pleased. She's stopped on till to-day--to oblige, SHE `
` said, but really it's so as to put you against the place." `
` `
` "Nice girl," said Tuppence. `
` `
` Albert suspected no irony. `
` `
` "She's style about her, and keeps her silver a treat--but, my `
` word, ain't she got a temper. Are you going up now, miss? Step `
` inside the lift. No. 20 did you say?" And he winked. `
` `
` Tuppence quelled him with a stern glance, and stepped inside. `
` `
` As she rang the bell of No. 20 she was conscious of Albert's eyes `
` slowly descending beneath the level of the floor. `
` `
` A smart young woman opened the door. `
` `
` "I've come about the place," said Tuppence. `
` `
` "It's a rotten place," said the young woman without hesitation. `
` "Regular old cat--always interfering. Accused me of tampering `
` with her letters. Me! The flap was half undone anyway. There's `
` never anything in the waste-paper basket--she burns everything. `
` She's a wrong 'un, that's what she is. Swell clothes, but no `
` class. Cook knows something about her--but she won't `
` tell--scared to death of her. And suspicious! She's on to you in `
` a minute if you as much as speak to a fellow. I can tell you----" `
` `
` But what more Annie could tell, Tuppence was never destined to `
` learn, for at that moment a clear voice with a peculiarly steely `
` ring to it called: `
` `
` "Annie!" `
` `
` The smart young woman jumped as if she had been shot. `
` `
` "Yes, ma'am." `
` `
` "Who are you talking to?" `
` `
` "It's a young woman about the situation, ma'am." `
` `
` "Show her in then. At once." `
` `
` "Yes, ma'am." `
` `
` Tuppence was ushered into a room on the right of the long `
` passage. A woman was standing by the fireplace. She was no `
` longer in her first youth, and the beauty she undeniably `
` possessed was hardened and coarsened. In her youth she must have `
` been dazzling. Her pale gold hair, owing a slight assistance to `
` art, was coiled low on her neck, her eyes, of a piercing electric `
` blue, seemed to possess a faculty of boring into the very soul of `
` the person she was looking at. Her exquisite figure was enhanced `
` by a wonderful gown of indigo charmeuse. And yet, despite her `
` swaying grace, and the almost ethereal beauty of her face, you `
` felt instinctively the presence of something hard and menacing, a `
` kind of metallic strength that found expression in the tones of `
` her voice and in that gimletlike quality of her eyes. `
` `
` For the first time Tuppence felt afraid. She had not feared `
` Whittington, but this woman was different. As if fascinated, she `
` watched the long cruel line of the red curving mouth, and again `
` she felt that sensation of panic pass over her. Her usual `
` self-confidence deserted her. Vaguely she felt that deceiving `
` this woman would be very different to deceiving Whittington. Mr. `
` Carter's warning recurred to her mind. Here, indeed, she might `
` expect no mercy. `
` `
` Fighting down that instinct of panic which urged her to turn tail `
` and run without further delay, Tuppence returned the lady's gaze `
` firmly and respectfully. `
` `
` As though that first scrutiny had been satisfactory, Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer motioned to a chair. `
` `
` "You can sit down. How did you hear I wanted a `
` house-parlourmaid?" `
` `
` `
` "Through a friend who knows the lift boy here. He thought the `
` place might suit me." `
` `
` Again that basilisk glance seemed to pierce her through. `
` `
` "You speak like an educated girl?" `
` `
` Glibly enough, Tuppence ran through her imaginary career on the `
` lines suggested by Mr. Carter. It seemed to her, as she did so, `
` that the tension of Mrs. Vandemeyer's attitude relaxed. `
` `
` "I see," she remarked at length. "Is there anyone I can write to `
` for a reference?" `
` `
`
` recognize her. She would wear elevators in her shoes, and the `
` cap and apron would be an even more valuable disguise. From `
` hospital experience she knew only too well that a nurse out of `
` uniform is frequently unrecognized by her patients. `
` `
` "Yes," said Tuppence aloud, nodding at the pert reflection in the `
` glass, "you'll do." She then resumed her normal appearance. `
` `
` Dinner was a solitary meal. Tuppence was rather surprised at `
` Tommy's non-return. Julius, too, was absent--but that to the `
` girl's mind was more easily explained. His "hustling" activities `
` were not confined to London, and his abrupt appearances and `
` disappearances were fully accepted by the Young Adventurers as `
` part of the day's work. It was quite on the cards that Julius P. `
` Hersheimmer had left for Constantinople at a moment's notice if `
` he fancied that a clue to his cousin's disappearance was to be `
` found there. The energetic young man had succeeded in making the `
` lives of several Scotland Yard men unbearable to them, and the `
` telephone girls at the Admiralty had learned to know and dread `
` the familiar "Hullo!" He had spent three hours in Paris hustling `
` the Prefecture, and had returned from there imbued with the idea, `
` possibly inspired by a weary French official, that the true clue `
` to the mystery was to be found in Ireland. `
` `
` "I dare say he's dashed off there now," thought Tuppence. "All `
` very well, but this is very dull for ME! Here I am bursting with `
` news, and absolutely no one to tell it to! Tommy might have `
` wired, or something. I wonder where he is. Anyway, he can't have `
` 'lost the trail' as they say. That reminds me----" And Miss `
` Cowley broke off in her meditations, and summoned a small boy. `
` `
` Ten minutes later the lady was ensconced comfortably on her bed, `
` smoking cigarettes and deep in the perusal of Garnaby Williams, `
` the Boy Detective, which, with other threepenny works of lurid `
` fiction, she had sent out to purchase. She felt, and rightly, `
` that before the strain of attempting further intercourse with `
` Albert, it would be as well to fortify herself with a good supply `
` of local colour. `
` `
` The morning brought a note from Mr. Carter: `
` `
` "DEAR MISS TUPPENCE, `
` `
` "You have made a splendid start, and I congratulate you. I feel, `
` though, that I should like to point out to you once more the `
` risks you are running, especially if you pursue the course you `
` indicate. Those people are absolutely desperate and incapable of `
` either mercy or pity. I feel that you probably underestimate the `
` danger, and therefore warn you again that I can promise you no `
` protection. You have given us valuable information, and if you `
` choose to withdraw now no one could blame you. At any rate, `
` think the matter over well before you decide. `
` `
` "If, in spite of my warnings, you make up your mind to go through `
` with it, you will find everything arranged. You have lived for `
` two years with Miss Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly, and Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer can apply to her for a reference. `
` `
` "May I be permitted a word or two of advice? Stick as near to `
` the truth as possible--it minimizes the danger of 'slips.' I `
` suggest that you should represent yourself to be what you are, a `
` former V.A.D., who has chosen domestic service as a profession. `
` There are many such at the present time. That explains away any `
` incongruities of voice or manner which otherwise might awaken `
` suspicion. `
` `
` "Whichever way you decide, good luck to you. `
` "Your sincere friend, "MR. CARTER." `
` `
` `
` Tuppence's spirits rose mercurially. Mr. Carter's warnings `
` passed unheeded. The young lady had far too much confidence in `
` herself to pay any heed to them. `
` `
` With some reluctance she abandoned the interesting part she had `
` sketched out for herself. Although she had no doubts of her own `
` powers to sustain a role indefinitely, she had too much common `
` sense not to recognize the force of Mr. Carter's arguments. `
` `
` There was still no word or message from Tommy, but the morning `
` post brought a somewhat dirty postcard with the words: "It's `
` O.K." scrawled upon it. `
` `
` At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed with pride a slightly battered `
` tin trunk containing her new possessions. It was artistically `
` corded. It was with a slight blush that she rang the bell and `
` ordered it to be placed in a taxi. She drove to Paddington, and `
` left the box in the cloak room. She then repaired with a handbag `
` to the fastnesses of the ladies' waiting-room. Ten minutes later `
` a metamorphosed Tuppence walked demurely out of the station and `
` entered a bus. `
` `
` It was a few minutes past eleven when Tuppence again entered the `
` hall of South Audley Mansions. Albert was on the look-out, `
` attending to his duties in a somewhat desultory fashion. He did `
` not immediately recognize Tuppence. When he did, his admiration `
` was unbounded. `
` `
` "Blest if I'd have known you! That rig-out's top-hole." `
` `
` "Glad you like it, Albert," replied Tuppence modestly. "By the `
` way, am I your cousin, or am I not?" `
` `
` "Your voice too," cried the delighted boy. "It's as English as `
` anything! No, I said as a friend of mine knew a young gal. Annie `
` wasn't best pleased. She's stopped on till to-day--to oblige, SHE `
` said, but really it's so as to put you against the place." `
` `
` "Nice girl," said Tuppence. `
` `
` Albert suspected no irony. `
` `
` "She's style about her, and keeps her silver a treat--but, my `
` word, ain't she got a temper. Are you going up now, miss? Step `
` inside the lift. No. 20 did you say?" And he winked. `
` `
` Tuppence quelled him with a stern glance, and stepped inside. `
` `
` As she rang the bell of No. 20 she was conscious of Albert's eyes `
` slowly descending beneath the level of the floor. `
` `
` A smart young woman opened the door. `
` `
` "I've come about the place," said Tuppence. `
` `
` "It's a rotten place," said the young woman without hesitation. `
` "Regular old cat--always interfering. Accused me of tampering `
` with her letters. Me! The flap was half undone anyway. There's `
` never anything in the waste-paper basket--she burns everything. `
` She's a wrong 'un, that's what she is. Swell clothes, but no `
` class. Cook knows something about her--but she won't `
` tell--scared to death of her. And suspicious! She's on to you in `
` a minute if you as much as speak to a fellow. I can tell you----" `
` `
` But what more Annie could tell, Tuppence was never destined to `
` learn, for at that moment a clear voice with a peculiarly steely `
` ring to it called: `
` `
` "Annie!" `
` `
` The smart young woman jumped as if she had been shot. `
` `
` "Yes, ma'am." `
` `
` "Who are you talking to?" `
` `
` "It's a young woman about the situation, ma'am." `
` `
` "Show her in then. At once." `
` `
` "Yes, ma'am." `
` `
` Tuppence was ushered into a room on the right of the long `
` passage. A woman was standing by the fireplace. She was no `
` longer in her first youth, and the beauty she undeniably `
` possessed was hardened and coarsened. In her youth she must have `
` been dazzling. Her pale gold hair, owing a slight assistance to `
` art, was coiled low on her neck, her eyes, of a piercing electric `
` blue, seemed to possess a faculty of boring into the very soul of `
` the person she was looking at. Her exquisite figure was enhanced `
` by a wonderful gown of indigo charmeuse. And yet, despite her `
` swaying grace, and the almost ethereal beauty of her face, you `
` felt instinctively the presence of something hard and menacing, a `
` kind of metallic strength that found expression in the tones of `
` her voice and in that gimletlike quality of her eyes. `
` `
` For the first time Tuppence felt afraid. She had not feared `
` Whittington, but this woman was different. As if fascinated, she `
` watched the long cruel line of the red curving mouth, and again `
` she felt that sensation of panic pass over her. Her usual `
` self-confidence deserted her. Vaguely she felt that deceiving `
` this woman would be very different to deceiving Whittington. Mr. `
` Carter's warning recurred to her mind. Here, indeed, she might `
` expect no mercy. `
` `
` Fighting down that instinct of panic which urged her to turn tail `
` and run without further delay, Tuppence returned the lady's gaze `
` firmly and respectfully. `
` `
` As though that first scrutiny had been satisfactory, Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer motioned to a chair. `
` `
` "You can sit down. How did you hear I wanted a `
` house-parlourmaid?" `
` `
` `
` "Through a friend who knows the lift boy here. He thought the `
` place might suit me." `
` `
` Again that basilisk glance seemed to pierce her through. `
` `
` "You speak like an educated girl?" `
` `
` Glibly enough, Tuppence ran through her imaginary career on the `
` lines suggested by Mr. Carter. It seemed to her, as she did so, `
` that the tension of Mrs. Vandemeyer's attitude relaxed. `
` `
` "I see," she remarked at length. "Is there anyone I can write to `
` for a reference?" `
` `
`