Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
be too late. They say Peel Edgerton can SMELL a criminal! How do `
` we know what is at the bottom of his sudden interest in you? `
` Perhaps even now his suspicions are aroused. He guesses----" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scornfully. `
` `
` "Reassure yourself, my dear Boris. He suspects nothing. With `
` less than your usual chivalry, you seem to forget that I am `
` commonly accounted a beautiful woman. I assure you that is all `
` that interests Peel Edgerton." `
` `
` Boris shook his head doubtfully. `
` `
` "He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studied `
` it. Do you fancy that you can deceive him?" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes narrowed. `
` `
` "If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!" `
` `
` "Good heavens, Rita----" `
` `
` "Besides," added Mrs. Vandemeyer, "he is extremely rich. I am not `
` one who despises money. The 'sinews of war,' you know, Boris!" `
` `
` "Money--money! That is always the danger with you, Rita. I `
` believe you would sell your soul for money. I believe----" He `
` paused, then in a low, sinister voice he said slowly: "Sometimes `
` I believe that you would sell--us!" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders. `
` `
` "The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous," she said `
` lightly. "It would be beyond the power of anyone but a `
` millionaire to pay." `
` `
` "Ah!" snarled the Russian. "You see, I was right!" `
` `
` "My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?" `
` `
` "Was it a joke?" `
` `
` "Of course." `
` `
` "Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, my `
` dear Rita." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled. `
` `
` "Let us not quarrel, Boris. Touch the bell. We will have some `
` drinks." `
` `
` Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She paused a moment to survey `
` herself in Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and be sure that nothing `
` was amiss with her appearance. Then she answered the bell `
` demurely. `
` `
` The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting in `
` that it proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita and `
` Boris, threw very little light on the present preoccupations. The `
` name of Jane Finn had not even been mentioned. `
` `
` The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed her `
` that nothing was waiting for her at the stationer's. It seemed `
` incredible that Tommy, if all was well with him, should not send `
` any word to her. A cold hand seemed to close round her heart.... `
` Supposing ... She choked her fears down bravely. It was no good `
` worrying. But she leapt at a chance offered her by Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer. `
` `
` "What day do you usually go out, Prudence?" `
` `
` "Friday's my usual day, ma'am." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows. `
` `
` "And to-day is Friday! But I suppose you hardly wish to go out `
` to-day, as you only came yesterday." `
` `
` "I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma'am." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled. `
` `
` "I wish Count Stepanov could hear you. He made a suggestion `
` about you last night." Her smile broadened, catlike. "Your `
` request is very--typical. I am satisfied. You do not understand `
` all this--but you can go out to-day. It makes no difference to `
` me, as I shall not be dining at home." `
` `
` "Thank you, ma'am." `
` `
` Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of the `
` other's presence. Once again she admitted to herself that she was `
` afraid, horribly afraid, of the beautiful woman with the cruel `
` eyes. `
` `
` In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver, `
` Tuppence was disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, and `
` went to answer it. This time the visitor was neither Whittington `
` nor Boris, but a man of striking appearance. `
` `
` Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed the `
` impression of a big man. His face, clean-shaven and exquisitely `
` mobile, was stamped with an expression of power and force far `
` beyond the ordinary. Magnetism seemed to radiate from him. `
` `
` Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down as `
` an actor or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gave `
` her his name: Sir James Peel Edgerton. `
` `
` She looked at him with renewed interest. This, then, was the `
` famous K.C. whose name was familiar all over England. She had `
` heard it said that he might one day be Prime Minister. He was `
` known to have refused office in the interests of his profession, `
` preferring to remain a simple Member for a Scotch constituency. `
` `
` Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully. The great man had `
` impressed her. She understood Boris's agitation. Peel Edgerton `
` would not be an easy man to deceive. `
` `
` In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppence `
` repaired to the hall to show the visitor out. He had given her a `
` piercing glance before. Now, as she handed him his hat and `
` stick, she was conscious of his eyes raking her through. As she `
` opened the door and stood aside to let him pass out, he stopped `
` in the doorway. `
` `
` "Not been doing this long, eh?" `
` `
` Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished. She read in his glance `
` kindliness, and something else more difficult to fathom. `
` `
` He nodded as though she had answered. `
` `
` "V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?" `
` `
` "Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously. `
` `
` "No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?" `
` `
` "Very good, thank you, sir." `
` `
` "Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change `
` does no harm sometimes." `
` `
` "Do you mean----?" began Tuppence. `
` `
` But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked back `
` with his kindly, shrewd glance. `
` `
` "Just a hint," he said. "That's all." `
` `
` Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` `
` JULIUS TELLS A STORY `
` `
` DRESSED appropriately, Tuppence duly sallied forth for her `
` "afternoon out." Albert was in temporary abeyance, but Tuppence `
` went herself to the stationer's to make quite sure that nothing `
` had come for her. Satisfied on this point, she made her way to `
` the Ritz. On inquiry she learnt that Tommy had not yet returned. `
` It was the answer she had expected, but it was another nail in `
` the coffin of her hopes. She resolved to appeal to Mr. Carter, `
` telling him when and where Tommy had started on his quest, and `
` asking him to do something to trace him. The prospect of his aid `
` revived her mercurial spirits, and she next inquired for Julius `
` Hersheimmer. The reply she got was to the effect that he had `
` returned about half an hour ago, but had gone out immediately. `
` `
` Tuppence's spirits revived still more. It would be something to `
` see Julius. Perhaps he could devise some plan for finding out `
` what had become of Tommy. She wrote her note to Mr. Carter in `
` Julius's sitting-room, and was just addressing the envelope when `
` the door burst open. `
` `
` "What the hell----" began Julius, but checked himself abruptly. `
` "I beg your pardon, Miss Tuppence. Those fools down at the `
` office would have it that Beresford wasn't here any `
` longer--hadn't been here since Wednesday. Is that so?" `
` `
` Tuppence nodded. `
` `
` "You don't know where he is?" she asked faintly. `
` `
` "I? How should I know? I haven't had one darned word from him, `
` though I wired him yesterday morning." `
` `
` "I expect your wire's at the office unopened." `
` `
` "But where is he?" `
` `
` "I don't know. I hoped you might." `
` `
` "I tell you I haven't had one darned word from him since we `
` parted at the depot on Wednesday." `
` `
` "What depot?" `
`
` we know what is at the bottom of his sudden interest in you? `
` Perhaps even now his suspicions are aroused. He guesses----" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scornfully. `
` `
` "Reassure yourself, my dear Boris. He suspects nothing. With `
` less than your usual chivalry, you seem to forget that I am `
` commonly accounted a beautiful woman. I assure you that is all `
` that interests Peel Edgerton." `
` `
` Boris shook his head doubtfully. `
` `
` "He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studied `
` it. Do you fancy that you can deceive him?" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes narrowed. `
` `
` "If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!" `
` `
` "Good heavens, Rita----" `
` `
` "Besides," added Mrs. Vandemeyer, "he is extremely rich. I am not `
` one who despises money. The 'sinews of war,' you know, Boris!" `
` `
` "Money--money! That is always the danger with you, Rita. I `
` believe you would sell your soul for money. I believe----" He `
` paused, then in a low, sinister voice he said slowly: "Sometimes `
` I believe that you would sell--us!" `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders. `
` `
` "The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous," she said `
` lightly. "It would be beyond the power of anyone but a `
` millionaire to pay." `
` `
` "Ah!" snarled the Russian. "You see, I was right!" `
` `
` "My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?" `
` `
` "Was it a joke?" `
` `
` "Of course." `
` `
` "Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, my `
` dear Rita." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled. `
` `
` "Let us not quarrel, Boris. Touch the bell. We will have some `
` drinks." `
` `
` Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She paused a moment to survey `
` herself in Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and be sure that nothing `
` was amiss with her appearance. Then she answered the bell `
` demurely. `
` `
` The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting in `
` that it proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita and `
` Boris, threw very little light on the present preoccupations. The `
` name of Jane Finn had not even been mentioned. `
` `
` The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed her `
` that nothing was waiting for her at the stationer's. It seemed `
` incredible that Tommy, if all was well with him, should not send `
` any word to her. A cold hand seemed to close round her heart.... `
` Supposing ... She choked her fears down bravely. It was no good `
` worrying. But she leapt at a chance offered her by Mrs. `
` Vandemeyer. `
` `
` "What day do you usually go out, Prudence?" `
` `
` "Friday's my usual day, ma'am." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows. `
` `
` "And to-day is Friday! But I suppose you hardly wish to go out `
` to-day, as you only came yesterday." `
` `
` "I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma'am." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled. `
` `
` "I wish Count Stepanov could hear you. He made a suggestion `
` about you last night." Her smile broadened, catlike. "Your `
` request is very--typical. I am satisfied. You do not understand `
` all this--but you can go out to-day. It makes no difference to `
` me, as I shall not be dining at home." `
` `
` "Thank you, ma'am." `
` `
` Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of the `
` other's presence. Once again she admitted to herself that she was `
` afraid, horribly afraid, of the beautiful woman with the cruel `
` eyes. `
` `
` In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver, `
` Tuppence was disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, and `
` went to answer it. This time the visitor was neither Whittington `
` nor Boris, but a man of striking appearance. `
` `
` Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed the `
` impression of a big man. His face, clean-shaven and exquisitely `
` mobile, was stamped with an expression of power and force far `
` beyond the ordinary. Magnetism seemed to radiate from him. `
` `
` Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down as `
` an actor or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gave `
` her his name: Sir James Peel Edgerton. `
` `
` She looked at him with renewed interest. This, then, was the `
` famous K.C. whose name was familiar all over England. She had `
` heard it said that he might one day be Prime Minister. He was `
` known to have refused office in the interests of his profession, `
` preferring to remain a simple Member for a Scotch constituency. `
` `
` Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully. The great man had `
` impressed her. She understood Boris's agitation. Peel Edgerton `
` would not be an easy man to deceive. `
` `
` In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppence `
` repaired to the hall to show the visitor out. He had given her a `
` piercing glance before. Now, as she handed him his hat and `
` stick, she was conscious of his eyes raking her through. As she `
` opened the door and stood aside to let him pass out, he stopped `
` in the doorway. `
` `
` "Not been doing this long, eh?" `
` `
` Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished. She read in his glance `
` kindliness, and something else more difficult to fathom. `
` `
` He nodded as though she had answered. `
` `
` "V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?" `
` `
` "Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously. `
` `
` "No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?" `
` `
` "Very good, thank you, sir." `
` `
` "Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change `
` does no harm sometimes." `
` `
` "Do you mean----?" began Tuppence. `
` `
` But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked back `
` with his kindly, shrewd glance. `
` `
` "Just a hint," he said. "That's all." `
` `
` Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever. `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` `
` JULIUS TELLS A STORY `
` `
` DRESSED appropriately, Tuppence duly sallied forth for her `
` "afternoon out." Albert was in temporary abeyance, but Tuppence `
` went herself to the stationer's to make quite sure that nothing `
` had come for her. Satisfied on this point, she made her way to `
` the Ritz. On inquiry she learnt that Tommy had not yet returned. `
` It was the answer she had expected, but it was another nail in `
` the coffin of her hopes. She resolved to appeal to Mr. Carter, `
` telling him when and where Tommy had started on his quest, and `
` asking him to do something to trace him. The prospect of his aid `
` revived her mercurial spirits, and she next inquired for Julius `
` Hersheimmer. The reply she got was to the effect that he had `
` returned about half an hour ago, but had gone out immediately. `
` `
` Tuppence's spirits revived still more. It would be something to `
` see Julius. Perhaps he could devise some plan for finding out `
` what had become of Tommy. She wrote her note to Mr. Carter in `
` Julius's sitting-room, and was just addressing the envelope when `
` the door burst open. `
` `
` "What the hell----" began Julius, but checked himself abruptly. `
` "I beg your pardon, Miss Tuppence. Those fools down at the `
` office would have it that Beresford wasn't here any `
` longer--hadn't been here since Wednesday. Is that so?" `
` `
` Tuppence nodded. `
` `
` "You don't know where he is?" she asked faintly. `
` `
` "I? How should I know? I haven't had one darned word from him, `
` though I wired him yesterday morning." `
` `
` "I expect your wire's at the office unopened." `
` `
` "But where is he?" `
` `
` "I don't know. I hoped you might." `
` `
` "I tell you I haven't had one darned word from him since we `
` parted at the depot on Wednesday." `
` `
` "What depot?" `
`