Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
'Quite sure, Mr. Hersheimmer. It is an uncommon name, and I `
` should not have been likely to forget it.' `
` `
` "Well, that was flat. It laid me out for a space. I'd kind of `
` hoped my search was at an end. 'That's that,' I said at last. `
` 'Now, there's another matter. When I was hugging that darned `
` branch I thought I recognized an old friend of mine talking to `
` one of your nurses.' I purposely didn't mention any name `
` because, of course, Whittington might be calling himself `
` something quite different down here, but the doctor answered at `
` once. 'Mr. Whittington, perhaps?' 'That's the fellow,' I `
` replied. 'What's he doing down here? Don't tell me HIS nerves `
` are out of order?' `
` `
` "Dr. Hall laughed. 'No. He came down to see one of my nurses, `
` Nurse Edith, who is a niece of his.' 'Why, fancy that!' I `
` exclaimed. 'Is he still here?' 'No, he went back to town almost `
` immediately.' 'What a pity!' I ejaculated. 'But perhaps I could `
` speak to his niece--Nurse Edith, did you say her name was?' `
` `
` "But the doctor shook his head. 'I'm afraid that, too, is `
` impossible. Nurse Edith left with a patient to-night also.' 'I `
` seem to be real unlucky,' I remarked. 'Have you Mr. `
` Whittington's address in town? I guess I'd like to look him up `
` when I get back.' 'I don't know his address. I can write to `
` Nurse Edith for it if you like.' I thanked him. 'Don't say who `
` it is wants it. I'd like to give him a little surprise.' `
` `
` "That was about all I could do for the moment. Of course, if the `
` girl was really Whittington's niece, she might be too cute to `
` fall into the trap, but it was worth trying. Next thing I did `
` was to write out a wire to Beresford saying where I was, and that `
` I was laid up with a sprained foot, and telling him to come down `
` if he wasn't busy. I had to be guarded in what I said. However, `
` I didn't hear from him, and my foot soon got all right. It was `
` only ricked, not really sprained, so to-day I said good-bye to `
` the little doctor chap, asked him to send me word if he heard `
` from Nurse Edith, and came right away back to town. Say, Miss `
` Tuppence, you're looking mighty pale!" `
` `
` "It's Tommy," said Tuppence. "What can have happened to him?" `
` `
` "Buck up, I guess he's all right really. Why shouldn't he be? `
` See here, it was a foreign-looking guy he went off after. Maybe `
` they've gone abroad--to Poland, or something like that?" `
` `
` Tuppence shook her head. `
` `
` "He couldn't without passports and things. Besides I've seen `
` that man, Boris Something, since. He dined with Mrs. Vandemeyer `
` last night." `
` `
` "Mrs. Who?" `
` `
` "I forgot. Of course you don't know all that." `
` `
` "I'm listening," said Julius, and gave vent to his favourite `
` expression. "Put me wise." `
` `
` Tuppence thereupon related the events of the last two days. `
` Julius's astonishment and admiration were unbounded. `
` `
` "Bully for you! Fancy you a menial. It just tickles me to `
` death!" Then he added seriously: "But say now, I don't like it, `
` Miss Tuppence, I sure don't. You're just as plucky as they make `
` 'em, but I wish you'd keep right out of this. These crooks we're `
` up against would as soon croak a girl as a man any day." `
` `
` "Do you think I'm afraid?" said Tuppence indignantly, valiantly `
` repressing memories of the steely glitter in Mrs. Vandemeyer's `
` eyes. `
` `
` "I said before you were darned plucky. But that doesn't alter `
` facts." `
` `
` "Oh, bother ME!" said Tuppence impatiently. "Let's think about `
` what can have happened to Tommy. I've written to Mr. Carter `
` about it," she added, and told him the gist of her letter. `
` `
` Julius nodded gravely. `
` `
` "I guess that's good as far as it goes. But it's for us to get `
` busy and do something." `
` `
` "What can we do?" asked Tuppence, her spirits rising. `
` `
` "I guess we'd better get on the track of Boris. You say he's `
` been to your place. Is he likely to come again?" `
` `
` "He might. I really don't know." `
` `
` "I see. Well, I guess I'd better buy a car, a slap-up one, dress `
` as a chauffeur and hang about outside. Then if Boris comes, you `
` could make some kind of signal, and I'd trail him. How's that?" `
` `
` "Splendid, but he mightn't come for weeks." `
` `
` "We'll have to chance that. I'm glad you like the plan." He `
` rose. `
` `
` "Where are you going?" `
` `
` "To buy the car, of course," replied Julius, surprised. "What `
` make do you like? I guess you'll do some riding in it before `
` we've finished." `
` `
` "Oh," said Tuppence faintly, "I LIKE Rolls-Royces, but----" `
` `
` "Sure," agreed Julius. "What you say goes. I'll get one." `
` `
` "But you can't at once," cried Tuppence. "People wait ages `
` sometimes." `
` `
` "Little Julius doesn't," affirmed Mr. Hersheimmer. "Don't you `
` worry any. I'll be round in the car in half an hour." `
` `
` Tuppence got up. `
` `
` "You're awfully good, Julius. But I can't help feeling that it's `
` rather a forlorn hope. I'm really pinning my faith to Mr. `
` Carter." `
` `
` "Then I shouldn't." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Just an idea of mine." `
` `
` "Oh; but he must do something. There's no one else. By the way, `
` I forgot to tell you of a queer thing that happened this `
` morning." `
` `
` And she narrated her encounter with Sir James Peel Edgerton. `
` Julius was interested. `
` `
` "What did the guy mean, do you think?" he asked. `
` `
` "I don't quite know," said Tuppence meditatively. "But I think `
` that, in an ambiguous, legal, without prejudishish lawyer's way, `
` he was trying to warn me." `
` `
` "Why should he?" `
` `
` "I don't know," confessed Tuppence. "But he looked kind, and `
` simply awfully clever. I wouldn't mind going to him and telling `
` him everything." `
` `
` Somewhat to her surprise, Julius negatived the idea sharply. `
` `
` "See here," he said, "we don't want any lawyers mixed up in this. `
` That guy couldn't help us any." `
` `
` "Well, I believe he could," reiterated Tuppence obstinately. `
` `
` "Don't you think it. So long. I'll be back in half an hour." `
` `
` Thirty-five minutes had elapsed when Julius returned. He took `
` Tuppence by the arm, and walked her to the window. `
` `
` "There she is." `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tuppence with a note of reverence in her voice, as she `
` gazed down at the enormous car. `
` `
` "She's some pace-maker, I can tell you," said Julius `
` complacently. `
` `
` "How did you get it?" gasped Tuppence. `
` `
` "She was just being sent home to some bigwig." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I went round to his house," said Julius. "I said that I `
` reckoned a car like that was worth every penny of twenty thousand `
` dollars. Then I told him that it was worth just about fifty `
` thousand dollars to me if he'd get out." `
` `
` "Well?" said Tuppence, intoxicated. `
` `
` "Well," returned Julius, "he got out, that's all." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XII `
` `
` A FRIEND IN NEED `
` `
` FRIDAY and Saturday passed uneventfully. Tuppence had received a `
` brief answer to her appeal from Mr. Carter. In it he pointed out `
` that the Young Adventurers had undertaken the work at their own `
` risk, and had been fully warned of the dangers. If anything had `
` happened to Tommy he regretted it deeply, but he could do `
` nothing. `
` `
` This was cold comfort. Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour `
` went out of the adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt `
` doubtful of success. While they had been together she had never `
` questioned it for a minute. Although she was accustomed to take `
` the lead, and to pride herself on her quick-wittedness, in `
` reality she had relied upon Tommy more than she realized at the `
`
` should not have been likely to forget it.' `
` `
` "Well, that was flat. It laid me out for a space. I'd kind of `
` hoped my search was at an end. 'That's that,' I said at last. `
` 'Now, there's another matter. When I was hugging that darned `
` branch I thought I recognized an old friend of mine talking to `
` one of your nurses.' I purposely didn't mention any name `
` because, of course, Whittington might be calling himself `
` something quite different down here, but the doctor answered at `
` once. 'Mr. Whittington, perhaps?' 'That's the fellow,' I `
` replied. 'What's he doing down here? Don't tell me HIS nerves `
` are out of order?' `
` `
` "Dr. Hall laughed. 'No. He came down to see one of my nurses, `
` Nurse Edith, who is a niece of his.' 'Why, fancy that!' I `
` exclaimed. 'Is he still here?' 'No, he went back to town almost `
` immediately.' 'What a pity!' I ejaculated. 'But perhaps I could `
` speak to his niece--Nurse Edith, did you say her name was?' `
` `
` "But the doctor shook his head. 'I'm afraid that, too, is `
` impossible. Nurse Edith left with a patient to-night also.' 'I `
` seem to be real unlucky,' I remarked. 'Have you Mr. `
` Whittington's address in town? I guess I'd like to look him up `
` when I get back.' 'I don't know his address. I can write to `
` Nurse Edith for it if you like.' I thanked him. 'Don't say who `
` it is wants it. I'd like to give him a little surprise.' `
` `
` "That was about all I could do for the moment. Of course, if the `
` girl was really Whittington's niece, she might be too cute to `
` fall into the trap, but it was worth trying. Next thing I did `
` was to write out a wire to Beresford saying where I was, and that `
` I was laid up with a sprained foot, and telling him to come down `
` if he wasn't busy. I had to be guarded in what I said. However, `
` I didn't hear from him, and my foot soon got all right. It was `
` only ricked, not really sprained, so to-day I said good-bye to `
` the little doctor chap, asked him to send me word if he heard `
` from Nurse Edith, and came right away back to town. Say, Miss `
` Tuppence, you're looking mighty pale!" `
` `
` "It's Tommy," said Tuppence. "What can have happened to him?" `
` `
` "Buck up, I guess he's all right really. Why shouldn't he be? `
` See here, it was a foreign-looking guy he went off after. Maybe `
` they've gone abroad--to Poland, or something like that?" `
` `
` Tuppence shook her head. `
` `
` "He couldn't without passports and things. Besides I've seen `
` that man, Boris Something, since. He dined with Mrs. Vandemeyer `
` last night." `
` `
` "Mrs. Who?" `
` `
` "I forgot. Of course you don't know all that." `
` `
` "I'm listening," said Julius, and gave vent to his favourite `
` expression. "Put me wise." `
` `
` Tuppence thereupon related the events of the last two days. `
` Julius's astonishment and admiration were unbounded. `
` `
` "Bully for you! Fancy you a menial. It just tickles me to `
` death!" Then he added seriously: "But say now, I don't like it, `
` Miss Tuppence, I sure don't. You're just as plucky as they make `
` 'em, but I wish you'd keep right out of this. These crooks we're `
` up against would as soon croak a girl as a man any day." `
` `
` "Do you think I'm afraid?" said Tuppence indignantly, valiantly `
` repressing memories of the steely glitter in Mrs. Vandemeyer's `
` eyes. `
` `
` "I said before you were darned plucky. But that doesn't alter `
` facts." `
` `
` "Oh, bother ME!" said Tuppence impatiently. "Let's think about `
` what can have happened to Tommy. I've written to Mr. Carter `
` about it," she added, and told him the gist of her letter. `
` `
` Julius nodded gravely. `
` `
` "I guess that's good as far as it goes. But it's for us to get `
` busy and do something." `
` `
` "What can we do?" asked Tuppence, her spirits rising. `
` `
` "I guess we'd better get on the track of Boris. You say he's `
` been to your place. Is he likely to come again?" `
` `
` "He might. I really don't know." `
` `
` "I see. Well, I guess I'd better buy a car, a slap-up one, dress `
` as a chauffeur and hang about outside. Then if Boris comes, you `
` could make some kind of signal, and I'd trail him. How's that?" `
` `
` "Splendid, but he mightn't come for weeks." `
` `
` "We'll have to chance that. I'm glad you like the plan." He `
` rose. `
` `
` "Where are you going?" `
` `
` "To buy the car, of course," replied Julius, surprised. "What `
` make do you like? I guess you'll do some riding in it before `
` we've finished." `
` `
` "Oh," said Tuppence faintly, "I LIKE Rolls-Royces, but----" `
` `
` "Sure," agreed Julius. "What you say goes. I'll get one." `
` `
` "But you can't at once," cried Tuppence. "People wait ages `
` sometimes." `
` `
` "Little Julius doesn't," affirmed Mr. Hersheimmer. "Don't you `
` worry any. I'll be round in the car in half an hour." `
` `
` Tuppence got up. `
` `
` "You're awfully good, Julius. But I can't help feeling that it's `
` rather a forlorn hope. I'm really pinning my faith to Mr. `
` Carter." `
` `
` "Then I shouldn't." `
` `
` "Why?" `
` `
` "Just an idea of mine." `
` `
` "Oh; but he must do something. There's no one else. By the way, `
` I forgot to tell you of a queer thing that happened this `
` morning." `
` `
` And she narrated her encounter with Sir James Peel Edgerton. `
` Julius was interested. `
` `
` "What did the guy mean, do you think?" he asked. `
` `
` "I don't quite know," said Tuppence meditatively. "But I think `
` that, in an ambiguous, legal, without prejudishish lawyer's way, `
` he was trying to warn me." `
` `
` "Why should he?" `
` `
` "I don't know," confessed Tuppence. "But he looked kind, and `
` simply awfully clever. I wouldn't mind going to him and telling `
` him everything." `
` `
` Somewhat to her surprise, Julius negatived the idea sharply. `
` `
` "See here," he said, "we don't want any lawyers mixed up in this. `
` That guy couldn't help us any." `
` `
` "Well, I believe he could," reiterated Tuppence obstinately. `
` `
` "Don't you think it. So long. I'll be back in half an hour." `
` `
` Thirty-five minutes had elapsed when Julius returned. He took `
` Tuppence by the arm, and walked her to the window. `
` `
` "There she is." `
` `
` "Oh!" said Tuppence with a note of reverence in her voice, as she `
` gazed down at the enormous car. `
` `
` "She's some pace-maker, I can tell you," said Julius `
` complacently. `
` `
` "How did you get it?" gasped Tuppence. `
` `
` "She was just being sent home to some bigwig." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "I went round to his house," said Julius. "I said that I `
` reckoned a car like that was worth every penny of twenty thousand `
` dollars. Then I told him that it was worth just about fifty `
` thousand dollars to me if he'd get out." `
` `
` "Well?" said Tuppence, intoxicated. `
` `
` "Well," returned Julius, "he got out, that's all." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XII `
` `
` A FRIEND IN NEED `
` `
` FRIDAY and Saturday passed uneventfully. Tuppence had received a `
` brief answer to her appeal from Mr. Carter. In it he pointed out `
` that the Young Adventurers had undertaken the work at their own `
` risk, and had been fully warned of the dangers. If anything had `
` happened to Tommy he regretted it deeply, but he could do `
` nothing. `
` `
` This was cold comfort. Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour `
` went out of the adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt `
` doubtful of success. While they had been together she had never `
` questioned it for a minute. Although she was accustomed to take `
` the lead, and to pride herself on her quick-wittedness, in `
` reality she had relied upon Tommy more than she realized at the `
`