Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
know her she's flattered, and will manage it for you somehow." `
` `
` "You overrate my manly charms," murmured Tommy. `
` `
` "On the other hand," proceeded Tuppence, "my millionaire would `
` probably run for his life! No--marriage is fraught with `
` difficulties. Remains--to MAKE money!" `
` `
` "We've tried that, and failed," Tommy reminded her. `
` `
` "We've tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try the `
` unorthodox. Tommy, let's be adventurers!" `
` `
` "Certainly," replied Tommy cheerfully. "How do we begin?" `
` `
` "That's the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people `
` might hire us to commit crimes for them." `
` `
` "Delightful," commented Tommy. "Especially coming from a `
` clergyman's daughter!" `
` `
` "The moral guilt," Tuppence pointed out, "would be theirs--not `
` mine. You must admit that there's a difference between stealing a `
` diamond necklace for yourself and being hired to steal it." `
` `
` "There wouldn't be the least difference if you were caught!" `
` `
` "Perhaps not. But I shouldn't be caught. I'm so clever." `
` `
` "Modesty always was your besetting sin," remarked Tommy. `
` `
` "Don't rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a `
` business partnership?" `
` `
` "Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?" `
` `
` "That was only an illustration. Let's have a--what do you call `
` it in book-keeping?" `
` `
` "Don't know. Never did any." `
` `
` "I have--but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit `
` entries on the debit side, and vice versa--so they fired me out. `
` Oh, I know--a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic `
` phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures. It's `
` got an Elizabethan flavour about it--makes one think of galleons `
` and doubloons. A joint venture!" `
` `
` "Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that `
` your idea, Tuppence?" `
` `
` "It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something `
` in it." `
` `
` "How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be `
` employers?" `
` `
` "Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit `
` of paper and a pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we `
` have hairpins and powder-puffs." `
` `
` Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppence `
` began writing busily. `
` `
` "Shall we begin: 'Young officer, twice wounded in the war--' " `
` `
` "Certainly not." `
` `
` "Oh, very well, my dear boy. But I can assure you that that sort `
` of thing might touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she `
` might adopt you, and then there would be no need for you to be a `
` young adventurer at all." `
` `
` "I don't want to be adopted." `
` `
` "I forgot you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging `
` you! The papers are full up to the brim with that type of thing. `
` Now listen--how's this? 'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing `
` to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good.' (We might as `
` well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 'No `
` reasonable offer refused'--like flats and furniture." `
` `
` "I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a `
` pretty UNreasonable one!" `
` `
` "Tommy! You're a genius! That's ever so much more chic. 'No `
` unreasonable offer refused--if pay is good.' How's that?" `
` `
` "I shouldn't mention pay again. It looks rather eager." `
` `
` "It couldn't look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right. `
` Now I'll read it straight through. 'Two young adventurers for `
` hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No `
` unreasonable offer refused.' How would that strike you if you `
` read it?" `
` `
` "It would strike me as either being a hoax, or else written by a `
` lunatic." `
` `
` "It's not half so insane as a thing I read this morning beginning `
` 'Petunia' and signed 'Best Boy.' " She tore out the leaf and `
` handed it to Tommy. "There you are. Times, I think. Reply to `
` Box so-and-so. I expect it will be about five shillings. Here's `
` half a crown for my share." `
` `
` Tommy was holding the paper thoughtfully. His faced burned a `
` deeper red. `
` `
` "Shall we really try it?" he said at last. "Shall we, Tuppence? `
` Just for the fun of the thing?" `
` `
` "Tommy, you're a sport! I knew you would be! Let's drink to `
` success." She poured some cold dregs of tea into the two cups. `
` `
` "Here's to our joint venture, and may it prosper!" `
` `
` "The Young Adventurers, Ltd.!" responded Tommy. `
` `
` They put down the cups and laughed rather uncertainly. Tuppence `
` rose. `
` `
` "I must return to my palatial suite at the hostel." `
` `
` "Perhaps it is time I strolled round to the Ritz," agreed Tommy `
` with a grin. "Where shall we meet? And when?" `
` `
` "Twelve o'clock to-morrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that `
` suit you?" `
` `
` "My time is my own," replied Mr. Beresford magnificently. `
` `
` "So long, then." `
` `
` "Good-bye, old thing." `
` `
` The two young people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence's `
` hostel was situated in what was charitably called Southern `
` Belgravia. For reasons of economy she did not take a bus. `
` `
` She was half-way across St. James's Park, when a man's voice `
` behind her made her start. `
` `
` "Excuse me," it said. "But may I speak to you for a moment?" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` `
` MR. WHITTINGTON'S OFFER `
` `
` TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words hovering on the tip of her `
` tongue remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did `
` not bear out her first and most natural assumption. She `
` hesitated. As if he read her thoughts, the man said quickly: `
` `
` "I can assure you I mean no disrespect." `
` `
` Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him `
` instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular `
` motive which she had at first attributed to him. She looked him `
` up and down. He was a big man, clean shaven, with a heavy jowl. `
` His eyes were small and cunning, and shifted their glance under `
` her direct gaze. `
` `
` "Well, what is it?" she asked. `
` `
` The man smiled. `
` `
` "I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young `
` gentleman in Lyons'." `
` `
` "Well--what of it?" `
` `
` "Nothing--except that I think I may be of some use to you." `
` `
` Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind: `
` `
` "You followed me here?" `
` `
` "I took that liberty." `
` `
` "And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?" `
` `
` The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a `
` bow. `
` `
` Tuppence took it and scrutinized it carefully. It bore the `
` inscription, "Mr. Edward Whittington." Below the name were the `
` words "Esthonia Glassware Co.," and the address of a city office. `
` Mr. Whittington spoke again: `
` `
` "If you will call upon me to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, I `
` will lay the details of my proposition before you." `
` `
` "At eleven o'clock?" said Tuppence doubtfully. `
` `
` "At eleven o'clock." `
` `
` Tuppence made up her mind. `
` `
` "Very well. I'll be there." `
`
` `
` "You overrate my manly charms," murmured Tommy. `
` `
` "On the other hand," proceeded Tuppence, "my millionaire would `
` probably run for his life! No--marriage is fraught with `
` difficulties. Remains--to MAKE money!" `
` `
` "We've tried that, and failed," Tommy reminded her. `
` `
` "We've tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try the `
` unorthodox. Tommy, let's be adventurers!" `
` `
` "Certainly," replied Tommy cheerfully. "How do we begin?" `
` `
` "That's the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people `
` might hire us to commit crimes for them." `
` `
` "Delightful," commented Tommy. "Especially coming from a `
` clergyman's daughter!" `
` `
` "The moral guilt," Tuppence pointed out, "would be theirs--not `
` mine. You must admit that there's a difference between stealing a `
` diamond necklace for yourself and being hired to steal it." `
` `
` "There wouldn't be the least difference if you were caught!" `
` `
` "Perhaps not. But I shouldn't be caught. I'm so clever." `
` `
` "Modesty always was your besetting sin," remarked Tommy. `
` `
` "Don't rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a `
` business partnership?" `
` `
` "Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?" `
` `
` "That was only an illustration. Let's have a--what do you call `
` it in book-keeping?" `
` `
` "Don't know. Never did any." `
` `
` "I have--but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit `
` entries on the debit side, and vice versa--so they fired me out. `
` Oh, I know--a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic `
` phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures. It's `
` got an Elizabethan flavour about it--makes one think of galleons `
` and doubloons. A joint venture!" `
` `
` "Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that `
` your idea, Tuppence?" `
` `
` "It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something `
` in it." `
` `
` "How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be `
` employers?" `
` `
` "Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit `
` of paper and a pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we `
` have hairpins and powder-puffs." `
` `
` Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppence `
` began writing busily. `
` `
` "Shall we begin: 'Young officer, twice wounded in the war--' " `
` `
` "Certainly not." `
` `
` "Oh, very well, my dear boy. But I can assure you that that sort `
` of thing might touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she `
` might adopt you, and then there would be no need for you to be a `
` young adventurer at all." `
` `
` "I don't want to be adopted." `
` `
` "I forgot you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging `
` you! The papers are full up to the brim with that type of thing. `
` Now listen--how's this? 'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing `
` to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good.' (We might as `
` well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 'No `
` reasonable offer refused'--like flats and furniture." `
` `
` "I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a `
` pretty UNreasonable one!" `
` `
` "Tommy! You're a genius! That's ever so much more chic. 'No `
` unreasonable offer refused--if pay is good.' How's that?" `
` `
` "I shouldn't mention pay again. It looks rather eager." `
` `
` "It couldn't look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right. `
` Now I'll read it straight through. 'Two young adventurers for `
` hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good. No `
` unreasonable offer refused.' How would that strike you if you `
` read it?" `
` `
` "It would strike me as either being a hoax, or else written by a `
` lunatic." `
` `
` "It's not half so insane as a thing I read this morning beginning `
` 'Petunia' and signed 'Best Boy.' " She tore out the leaf and `
` handed it to Tommy. "There you are. Times, I think. Reply to `
` Box so-and-so. I expect it will be about five shillings. Here's `
` half a crown for my share." `
` `
` Tommy was holding the paper thoughtfully. His faced burned a `
` deeper red. `
` `
` "Shall we really try it?" he said at last. "Shall we, Tuppence? `
` Just for the fun of the thing?" `
` `
` "Tommy, you're a sport! I knew you would be! Let's drink to `
` success." She poured some cold dregs of tea into the two cups. `
` `
` "Here's to our joint venture, and may it prosper!" `
` `
` "The Young Adventurers, Ltd.!" responded Tommy. `
` `
` They put down the cups and laughed rather uncertainly. Tuppence `
` rose. `
` `
` "I must return to my palatial suite at the hostel." `
` `
` "Perhaps it is time I strolled round to the Ritz," agreed Tommy `
` with a grin. "Where shall we meet? And when?" `
` `
` "Twelve o'clock to-morrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that `
` suit you?" `
` `
` "My time is my own," replied Mr. Beresford magnificently. `
` `
` "So long, then." `
` `
` "Good-bye, old thing." `
` `
` The two young people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence's `
` hostel was situated in what was charitably called Southern `
` Belgravia. For reasons of economy she did not take a bus. `
` `
` She was half-way across St. James's Park, when a man's voice `
` behind her made her start. `
` `
` "Excuse me," it said. "But may I speak to you for a moment?" `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER II `
` `
` MR. WHITTINGTON'S OFFER `
` `
` TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words hovering on the tip of her `
` tongue remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did `
` not bear out her first and most natural assumption. She `
` hesitated. As if he read her thoughts, the man said quickly: `
` `
` "I can assure you I mean no disrespect." `
` `
` Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him `
` instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular `
` motive which she had at first attributed to him. She looked him `
` up and down. He was a big man, clean shaven, with a heavy jowl. `
` His eyes were small and cunning, and shifted their glance under `
` her direct gaze. `
` `
` "Well, what is it?" she asked. `
` `
` The man smiled. `
` `
` "I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young `
` gentleman in Lyons'." `
` `
` "Well--what of it?" `
` `
` "Nothing--except that I think I may be of some use to you." `
` `
` Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind: `
` `
` "You followed me here?" `
` `
` "I took that liberty." `
` `
` "And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?" `
` `
` The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a `
` bow. `
` `
` Tuppence took it and scrutinized it carefully. It bore the `
` inscription, "Mr. Edward Whittington." Below the name were the `
` words "Esthonia Glassware Co.," and the address of a city office. `
` Mr. Whittington spoke again: `
` `
` "If you will call upon me to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, I `
` will lay the details of my proposition before you." `
` `
` "At eleven o'clock?" said Tuppence doubtfully. `
` `
` "At eleven o'clock." `
` `
` Tuppence made up her mind. `
` `
` "Very well. I'll be there." `
`