Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
"But you'll be so tired, child." `
` `
` "No, I shan't. I'd rather stay up--really." `
` `
` The lawyer gave in. `
` `
` Julius reappeared some minutes later, having reassured Albert and `
` rewarded him lavishly for his services. Having in his turn failed `
` to persuade Tuppence to go to bed, he said decisively: `
` `
` "At any rate, you've got to have something to eat right away. `
` Where's the larder?" `
` `
` Tuppence directed him, and he returned in a few minutes with a `
` cold pie and three plates. `
` `
` After a hearty meal, the girl felt inclined to pooh-pooh her `
` fancies of half an hour before. The power of the money bribe `
` could not fail. `
` `
` "And now, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "we want to hear your `
` adventures." `
` `
` "That's so," agreed Julius. `
` `
` Tuppence narrated her adventures with some complacence. Julius `
` occasionally interjected an admiring "Bully." Sir James said `
` nothing until she had finished, when his quiet "well done, Miss `
` Tuppence," made her flush with pleasure. `
` `
` "There's one thing I don't get clearly," said Julius. "What put `
` her up to clearing out?" `
` `
` "I don't know," confessed Tuppence. `
` `
` Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully. `
` `
` "The room was in great disorder. That looks as though her flight `
` was unpremeditated. Almost as though she got a sudden warning to `
` go from some one." `
` `
` "Mr. Brown, I suppose," said Julius scoffingly. `
` `
` The lawyer looked at him deliberately for a minute or two. `
` `
` "Why not?" he said. "Remember, you yourself have once been `
` worsted by him." `
` `
` Julius flushed with vexation. `
` `
` "I feel just mad when I think of how I handed out Jane's `
` photograph to him like a lamb. Gee, if I ever lay hands on it `
` again, I'll freeze on to it like--like hell!" `
` `
` "That contingency is likely to be a remote one," said the other `
` dryly. `
` `
` "I guess you're right," said Julius frankly. "And, in any case, `
` it's the original I'm out after. Where do you think she can be, `
` Sir James?" `
` `
` The lawyer shook his head. `
` `
` "Impossible to say. But I've a very good idea where she has `
` been." `
` `
` "You have? Where?" `
` `
` Sir James smiled. `
` `
` "At the scene of your nocturnal adventures, the Bournemouth `
` nursing home." `
` `
` "There? Impossible. I asked." `
` `
` "No, my dear sir, you asked if anyone of the name of Jane Finn `
` had been there. Now, if the girl had been placed there it would `
` almost certainly be under an assumed name." `
` `
` "Bully for you," cried Julius. "I never thought of that!" `
` `
` "It was fairly obvious," said the other. `
` `
` "Perhaps the doctor's in it too," suggested Tuppence. `
` `
` Julius shook his head. `
` `
` "I don't think so. I took to him at once. No, I'm pretty sure `
` Dr. Hall's all right." `
` `
` "Hall, did you say?" asked Sir James. "That is curious--really `
` very curious." `
` `
` "Why?" demanded Tuppence. `
` `
` "Because I happened to meet him this morning. I've known him `
` slightly on and off for some years, and this morning I ran across `
` him in the street. Staying at the Metropole, he told me." He `
` turned to Julius. "Didn't he tell you he was coming up to town?" `
` `
` Julius shook his head. `
` `
` "Curious," mused Sir James. "You did not mention his name this `
` afternoon, or I would have suggested your going to him for `
` further information with my card as introduction." `
` `
` "I guess I'm a mutt," said Julius with unusual humility. "I ought `
` to have thought of the false name stunt." `
` `
` "How could you think of anything after falling out of that tree?" `
` cried Tuppence. "I'm sure anyone else would have been killed `
` right off." `
` `
` "Well, I guess it doesn't matter now, anyway," said Julius. `
` "We've got Mrs. Vandemeyer on a string, and that's all we need." `
` `
` "Yes," said Tuppence, but there was a lack of assurance in her `
` voice. `
` `
` A silence settled down over the party. Little by little the `
` magic of the night began to gain a hold on them. There were `
` sudden creaks of the furniture, imperceptible rustlings in the `
` curtains. Suddenly Tuppence sprang up with a cry. `
` `
` "I can't help it. I know Mr. Brown's somewhere in the flat! I `
` can FEEL him." `
` `
` "Sure, Tuppence, how could he be? This door's open into the `
` hall. No one could have come in by the front door without our `
` seeing and hearing him." `
` `
` "I can't help it. I FEEL he's here!" `
` `
` She looked appealingly at Sir James, who replied gravely: `
` `
` "With due deference to your feelings, Miss Tuppence (and mine as `
` well for that matter), I do not see how it is humanly possible `
` for anyone to be in the flat without our knowledge." `
` `
` The girl was a little comforted by his wards. `
` `
` "Sitting up at night is always rather jumpy," she confessed. `
` `
` "Yes," said Sir James. "We are in the condition of people `
` holding a seance. Perhaps if a medium were present we might get `
` some marvellous results." `
` `
` "Do you believe in spiritualism?" asked Tuppence, opening her `
` eyes wide. `
` `
` The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "There is some truth in it, without a doubt. But most of the `
` testimony would not pass muster in the witness-box." `
` `
` The hours drew on. With the first faint glimmerings of dawn, Sir `
` James drew aside the curtains. They beheld, what few Londoners `
` see, the slow rising of the sun over the sleeping city. Somehow, `
` with the coming of the light, the dreads and fancies of the past `
` night seemed absurd. Tuppence's spirits revived to the normal. `
` `
` "Hooray!" she said. "It's going to be a gorgeous day. And we `
` shall find Tommy. And Jane Finn. And everything will be lovely. `
` I shall ask Mr. Carter if I can't be made a Dame!" `
` `
` At seven o'clock Tuppence volunteered to go and make some tea. `
` She returned with a tray, containing the teapot and four cups. `
` `
` "Who's the other cup for?" inquired Julius. `
` `
` "The prisoner, of course. I suppose we might call her that?" `
` `
` "Taking her tea seems a kind of anticlimax to last night," said `
` Julius thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Yes, it does," admitted Tuppence. "But, anyway, here goes. `
` Perhaps you'd both come, too, in case she springs on me, or `
` anything. You see, we don't know what mood she'll wake up in." `
` `
` Sir James and Julius accompanied her to the door. `
` `
` "Where's the key? Oh, of course, I've got it myself." `
` `
` She put it in the lock, and turned it, then paused. `
` `
` "Supposing, after all, she's escaped?" she murmured in a whisper. `
` `
` "Plumb impossible," replied Julius reassuringly. `
` `
` But Sir James said nothing. `
` `
` Tuppence drew a long breath and entered. She heaved a sigh of `
` relief as she saw that Mrs. Vandemeyer was lying on the bed. `
` `
` "Good morning," she remarked cheerfully. "I've brought you some `
` tea." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer did not reply. Tuppence put down the cup on the `
` table by the bed and went across to draw up the blinds. When she `
` turned, Mrs. Vandemeyer still lay without a movement. With a `
` sudden fear clutching at her heart, Tuppence ran to the bed. The `
`
` `
` "No, I shan't. I'd rather stay up--really." `
` `
` The lawyer gave in. `
` `
` Julius reappeared some minutes later, having reassured Albert and `
` rewarded him lavishly for his services. Having in his turn failed `
` to persuade Tuppence to go to bed, he said decisively: `
` `
` "At any rate, you've got to have something to eat right away. `
` Where's the larder?" `
` `
` Tuppence directed him, and he returned in a few minutes with a `
` cold pie and three plates. `
` `
` After a hearty meal, the girl felt inclined to pooh-pooh her `
` fancies of half an hour before. The power of the money bribe `
` could not fail. `
` `
` "And now, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "we want to hear your `
` adventures." `
` `
` "That's so," agreed Julius. `
` `
` Tuppence narrated her adventures with some complacence. Julius `
` occasionally interjected an admiring "Bully." Sir James said `
` nothing until she had finished, when his quiet "well done, Miss `
` Tuppence," made her flush with pleasure. `
` `
` "There's one thing I don't get clearly," said Julius. "What put `
` her up to clearing out?" `
` `
` "I don't know," confessed Tuppence. `
` `
` Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully. `
` `
` "The room was in great disorder. That looks as though her flight `
` was unpremeditated. Almost as though she got a sudden warning to `
` go from some one." `
` `
` "Mr. Brown, I suppose," said Julius scoffingly. `
` `
` The lawyer looked at him deliberately for a minute or two. `
` `
` "Why not?" he said. "Remember, you yourself have once been `
` worsted by him." `
` `
` Julius flushed with vexation. `
` `
` "I feel just mad when I think of how I handed out Jane's `
` photograph to him like a lamb. Gee, if I ever lay hands on it `
` again, I'll freeze on to it like--like hell!" `
` `
` "That contingency is likely to be a remote one," said the other `
` dryly. `
` `
` "I guess you're right," said Julius frankly. "And, in any case, `
` it's the original I'm out after. Where do you think she can be, `
` Sir James?" `
` `
` The lawyer shook his head. `
` `
` "Impossible to say. But I've a very good idea where she has `
` been." `
` `
` "You have? Where?" `
` `
` Sir James smiled. `
` `
` "At the scene of your nocturnal adventures, the Bournemouth `
` nursing home." `
` `
` "There? Impossible. I asked." `
` `
` "No, my dear sir, you asked if anyone of the name of Jane Finn `
` had been there. Now, if the girl had been placed there it would `
` almost certainly be under an assumed name." `
` `
` "Bully for you," cried Julius. "I never thought of that!" `
` `
` "It was fairly obvious," said the other. `
` `
` "Perhaps the doctor's in it too," suggested Tuppence. `
` `
` Julius shook his head. `
` `
` "I don't think so. I took to him at once. No, I'm pretty sure `
` Dr. Hall's all right." `
` `
` "Hall, did you say?" asked Sir James. "That is curious--really `
` very curious." `
` `
` "Why?" demanded Tuppence. `
` `
` "Because I happened to meet him this morning. I've known him `
` slightly on and off for some years, and this morning I ran across `
` him in the street. Staying at the Metropole, he told me." He `
` turned to Julius. "Didn't he tell you he was coming up to town?" `
` `
` Julius shook his head. `
` `
` "Curious," mused Sir James. "You did not mention his name this `
` afternoon, or I would have suggested your going to him for `
` further information with my card as introduction." `
` `
` "I guess I'm a mutt," said Julius with unusual humility. "I ought `
` to have thought of the false name stunt." `
` `
` "How could you think of anything after falling out of that tree?" `
` cried Tuppence. "I'm sure anyone else would have been killed `
` right off." `
` `
` "Well, I guess it doesn't matter now, anyway," said Julius. `
` "We've got Mrs. Vandemeyer on a string, and that's all we need." `
` `
` "Yes," said Tuppence, but there was a lack of assurance in her `
` voice. `
` `
` A silence settled down over the party. Little by little the `
` magic of the night began to gain a hold on them. There were `
` sudden creaks of the furniture, imperceptible rustlings in the `
` curtains. Suddenly Tuppence sprang up with a cry. `
` `
` "I can't help it. I know Mr. Brown's somewhere in the flat! I `
` can FEEL him." `
` `
` "Sure, Tuppence, how could he be? This door's open into the `
` hall. No one could have come in by the front door without our `
` seeing and hearing him." `
` `
` "I can't help it. I FEEL he's here!" `
` `
` She looked appealingly at Sir James, who replied gravely: `
` `
` "With due deference to your feelings, Miss Tuppence (and mine as `
` well for that matter), I do not see how it is humanly possible `
` for anyone to be in the flat without our knowledge." `
` `
` The girl was a little comforted by his wards. `
` `
` "Sitting up at night is always rather jumpy," she confessed. `
` `
` "Yes," said Sir James. "We are in the condition of people `
` holding a seance. Perhaps if a medium were present we might get `
` some marvellous results." `
` `
` "Do you believe in spiritualism?" asked Tuppence, opening her `
` eyes wide. `
` `
` The lawyer shrugged his shoulders. `
` `
` "There is some truth in it, without a doubt. But most of the `
` testimony would not pass muster in the witness-box." `
` `
` The hours drew on. With the first faint glimmerings of dawn, Sir `
` James drew aside the curtains. They beheld, what few Londoners `
` see, the slow rising of the sun over the sleeping city. Somehow, `
` with the coming of the light, the dreads and fancies of the past `
` night seemed absurd. Tuppence's spirits revived to the normal. `
` `
` "Hooray!" she said. "It's going to be a gorgeous day. And we `
` shall find Tommy. And Jane Finn. And everything will be lovely. `
` I shall ask Mr. Carter if I can't be made a Dame!" `
` `
` At seven o'clock Tuppence volunteered to go and make some tea. `
` She returned with a tray, containing the teapot and four cups. `
` `
` "Who's the other cup for?" inquired Julius. `
` `
` "The prisoner, of course. I suppose we might call her that?" `
` `
` "Taking her tea seems a kind of anticlimax to last night," said `
` Julius thoughtfully. `
` `
` "Yes, it does," admitted Tuppence. "But, anyway, here goes. `
` Perhaps you'd both come, too, in case she springs on me, or `
` anything. You see, we don't know what mood she'll wake up in." `
` `
` Sir James and Julius accompanied her to the door. `
` `
` "Where's the key? Oh, of course, I've got it myself." `
` `
` She put it in the lock, and turned it, then paused. `
` `
` "Supposing, after all, she's escaped?" she murmured in a whisper. `
` `
` "Plumb impossible," replied Julius reassuringly. `
` `
` But Sir James said nothing. `
` `
` Tuppence drew a long breath and entered. She heaved a sigh of `
` relief as she saw that Mrs. Vandemeyer was lying on the bed. `
` `
` "Good morning," she remarked cheerfully. "I've brought you some `
` tea." `
` `
` Mrs. Vandemeyer did not reply. Tuppence put down the cup on the `
` table by the bed and went across to draw up the blinds. When she `
` turned, Mrs. Vandemeyer still lay without a movement. With a `
` sudden fear clutching at her heart, Tuppence ran to the bed. The `
`