Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
particular form of mental trouble an eminent physician recommends `
` unlimited Hors d'oeuvre, Lobster a l'americane, Chicken Newberg, `
` and Peche Melba! Let's go and get them!" `
` `
` "Tuppence, old girl, what has really come over you?" `
` `
` "Oh, unbelieving one!" Tuppence wrenched open her bag. "Look `
` here, and here, and here!" `
` `
` "Great Jehosaphat! My dear girl, don't wave Fishers aloft like `
` that!" `
` `
` "They're not Fishers. They're five times better than Fishers, `
` and this one's ten times better!" `
` `
` Tommy groaned. `
` `
` "I must have been drinking unawares! Am I dreaming, Tuppence, or `
` do I really behold a large quantity of five-pound notes being `
` waved about in a dangerous fashion?" `
` `
` "Even so, O King! Now, will you come and have lunch?" `
` `
` "I'll come anywhere. But what have you been doing? Holding up a `
` bank?" `
` `
` "All in good time. What an awful place Piccadilly Circus is. `
` There's a huge bus bearing down on us. It would be too terrible `
` if they killed the five-pound notes!" `
` `
` "Grill room?" inquired Tommy, as they reached the opposite `
` pavement in safety. `
` `
` "The other's more expensive," demurred Tuppence. `
` `
` "That's mere wicked wanton extravagance. Come on below." `
` `
` "Are you sure I can get all the things I want there?" `
` `
` "That extremely unwholesome menu you were outlining just now? Of `
` course you can--or as much as is good for you, anyway." `
` `
` "And now tell me," said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up `
` curiosity any longer, as they sat in state surrounded by the many `
` hors d'oeuvre of Tuppence's dreams. `
` `
` Miss Cowley told him. `
` `
` "And the curious part of it is," she ended, "that I really did `
` invent the name of Jane Finn! I didn't want to give my own `
` because of poor father--in case I should get mixed up in anything `
` shady." `
` `
` "Perhaps that's so," said Tommy slowly. "But you didn't invent `
` it." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "No. I told it to you. Don't you remember, I said yesterday I'd `
` overheard two people talking about a female called Jane Finn? `
` That's what brought the name into your mind so pat." `
` `
` "So you did. I remember now. How extraordinary----" Tuppence `
` tailed off into silence. Suddenly she aroused herself. "Tommy!" `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "What were they like, the two men you passed?" `
` `
` Tommy frowned in an effort at remembrance. `
` `
` "One was a big fat sort of chap. Clean shaven, I think--and `
` dark." `
` `
` "That's him," cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatical squeal. "That's `
` Whittington! What was the other man like?" `
` `
` "I can't remember. I didn't notice him particularly. It was `
` really the outlandish name that caught my attention." `
` `
` "And people say that coincidences don't happen!" Tuppence tackled `
` her Peche Melba happily. `
` `
` But Tommy had become serious. `
` `
` "Look here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?" `
` `
` "More money," replied his companion. `
` `
` "I know that. You've only got one idea in your head. What I mean `
` is, what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game `
` up?" `
` `
` "Oh!" Tuppence laid down her spoon. "You're right, Tommy, it is `
` a bit of a poser." `
` `
` "After all, you know, you can't bluff him forever. You're sure to `
` slip up sooner or later. And, anyway, I'm not at all sure that `
` it isn't actionable--blackmail, you know." `
` `
` "Nonsense. Blackmail is saying you'll tell unless you are given `
` money. Now, there's nothing I could tell, because I don't really `
` know anything." `
` `
` "Hm," said Tommy doubtfully. "Well, anyway, what ARE we going to `
` do? Whittington was in a hurry to get rid of you this morning, `
` but next time he'll want to know something more before he parts `
` with his money. He'll want to know how much YOU know, and where `
` you got your information from, and a lot of other things that you `
` can't cope with. What are you going to do about it?" `
` `
` Tuppence frowned severely. `
` `
` "We must think. Order some Turkish coffee, Tommy. Stimulating `
` to the brain. Oh, dear, what a lot I have eaten!" `
` `
` "You have made rather a hog of yourself! So have I for that `
` matter, but I flatter myself that my choice of dishes was more `
` judicious than yours. Two coffees." (This was to the waiter.) `
` "One Turkish, one French." `
` `
` Tuppence sipped her coffee with a deeply reflective air, and `
` snubbed Tommy when he spoke to her. `
` `
` "Be quiet. I'm thinking." `
` `
` "Shades of Pelmanism!" said Tommy, and relapsed into silence. `
` `
` "There!" said Tuppence at last. "I've got a plan. Obviously what `
` we've got to do is to find out more about it all." `
` `
` Tommy applauded. `
` `
` "Don't jeer. We can only find out through Whittington. We must `
` discover where he lives, what he does--sleuth him, in fact! Now I `
` can't do it, because he knows me, but he only saw you for a `
` minute or two in Lyons'. He's not likely to recognize you. After `
` all, one young man is much like another." `
` `
` "I repudiate that remark utterly. I'm sure my pleasing features `
` and distinguished appearance would single me out from any crowd." `
` `
` "My plan is this," Tuppence went on calmly, "I'll go alone `
` to-morrow. I'll put him off again like I did to-day. It doesn't `
` matter if I don't get any more money at once. Fifty pounds ought `
` to last us a few days." `
` `
` "Or even longer!" `
` `
` "You'll hang about outside. When I come out I shan't speak to `
` you in case he's watching. But I'll take up my stand somewhere `
` near, and when he comes out of the building I'll drop a `
` handkerchief or something, and off you go!" `
` `
` "Off I go where?" `
` `
` "Follow him, of course, silly! What do you think of the idea?" `
` `
` "Sort of thing one reads about in books. I somehow feel that in `
` real life one will feel a bit of an ass standing in the street `
` for hours with nothing to do. People will wonder what I'm up `
` to." `
` `
` "Not in the city. Every one's in such a hurry. Probably no one `
` will even notice you at all." `
` `
` "That's the second time you've made that sort of remark. Never `
` mind, I forgive you. Anyway, it will be rather a lark. What are `
` you doing this afternoon?" `
` `
` "Well," said Tuppence meditatively. "I HAD thought of hats! Or `
` perhaps silk stockings! Or perhaps----" `
` `
` "Hold hard," admonished Tommy. "There's a limit to fifty pounds! `
` But let's do dinner and a show to-night at all events." `
` `
` "Rather." `
` `
` The day passed pleasantly. The evening even more so. Two of the `
` five-pound notes were now irretrievably dead. `
` `
` They met by arrangement the following morning and proceeded `
` citywards. Tommy remained on the opposite side of the road while `
` Tuppence plunged into the building. `
` `
` Tommy strolled slowly down to the end of the street, then back `
` again. Just as he came abreast of the building, Tuppence darted `
` across the road. `
` `
` "Tommy!" `
` `
` "Yes. What's up?" `
` `
` "The place is shut. I can't make anyone hear." `
` `
` "That's odd." `
` `
` "Isn't it? Come up with me, and let's try again." `
` `
` Tommy followed her. As they passed the third floor landing a `
` young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated a moment, then `
`
` unlimited Hors d'oeuvre, Lobster a l'americane, Chicken Newberg, `
` and Peche Melba! Let's go and get them!" `
` `
` "Tuppence, old girl, what has really come over you?" `
` `
` "Oh, unbelieving one!" Tuppence wrenched open her bag. "Look `
` here, and here, and here!" `
` `
` "Great Jehosaphat! My dear girl, don't wave Fishers aloft like `
` that!" `
` `
` "They're not Fishers. They're five times better than Fishers, `
` and this one's ten times better!" `
` `
` Tommy groaned. `
` `
` "I must have been drinking unawares! Am I dreaming, Tuppence, or `
` do I really behold a large quantity of five-pound notes being `
` waved about in a dangerous fashion?" `
` `
` "Even so, O King! Now, will you come and have lunch?" `
` `
` "I'll come anywhere. But what have you been doing? Holding up a `
` bank?" `
` `
` "All in good time. What an awful place Piccadilly Circus is. `
` There's a huge bus bearing down on us. It would be too terrible `
` if they killed the five-pound notes!" `
` `
` "Grill room?" inquired Tommy, as they reached the opposite `
` pavement in safety. `
` `
` "The other's more expensive," demurred Tuppence. `
` `
` "That's mere wicked wanton extravagance. Come on below." `
` `
` "Are you sure I can get all the things I want there?" `
` `
` "That extremely unwholesome menu you were outlining just now? Of `
` course you can--or as much as is good for you, anyway." `
` `
` "And now tell me," said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up `
` curiosity any longer, as they sat in state surrounded by the many `
` hors d'oeuvre of Tuppence's dreams. `
` `
` Miss Cowley told him. `
` `
` "And the curious part of it is," she ended, "that I really did `
` invent the name of Jane Finn! I didn't want to give my own `
` because of poor father--in case I should get mixed up in anything `
` shady." `
` `
` "Perhaps that's so," said Tommy slowly. "But you didn't invent `
` it." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "No. I told it to you. Don't you remember, I said yesterday I'd `
` overheard two people talking about a female called Jane Finn? `
` That's what brought the name into your mind so pat." `
` `
` "So you did. I remember now. How extraordinary----" Tuppence `
` tailed off into silence. Suddenly she aroused herself. "Tommy!" `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "What were they like, the two men you passed?" `
` `
` Tommy frowned in an effort at remembrance. `
` `
` "One was a big fat sort of chap. Clean shaven, I think--and `
` dark." `
` `
` "That's him," cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatical squeal. "That's `
` Whittington! What was the other man like?" `
` `
` "I can't remember. I didn't notice him particularly. It was `
` really the outlandish name that caught my attention." `
` `
` "And people say that coincidences don't happen!" Tuppence tackled `
` her Peche Melba happily. `
` `
` But Tommy had become serious. `
` `
` "Look here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?" `
` `
` "More money," replied his companion. `
` `
` "I know that. You've only got one idea in your head. What I mean `
` is, what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game `
` up?" `
` `
` "Oh!" Tuppence laid down her spoon. "You're right, Tommy, it is `
` a bit of a poser." `
` `
` "After all, you know, you can't bluff him forever. You're sure to `
` slip up sooner or later. And, anyway, I'm not at all sure that `
` it isn't actionable--blackmail, you know." `
` `
` "Nonsense. Blackmail is saying you'll tell unless you are given `
` money. Now, there's nothing I could tell, because I don't really `
` know anything." `
` `
` "Hm," said Tommy doubtfully. "Well, anyway, what ARE we going to `
` do? Whittington was in a hurry to get rid of you this morning, `
` but next time he'll want to know something more before he parts `
` with his money. He'll want to know how much YOU know, and where `
` you got your information from, and a lot of other things that you `
` can't cope with. What are you going to do about it?" `
` `
` Tuppence frowned severely. `
` `
` "We must think. Order some Turkish coffee, Tommy. Stimulating `
` to the brain. Oh, dear, what a lot I have eaten!" `
` `
` "You have made rather a hog of yourself! So have I for that `
` matter, but I flatter myself that my choice of dishes was more `
` judicious than yours. Two coffees." (This was to the waiter.) `
` "One Turkish, one French." `
` `
` Tuppence sipped her coffee with a deeply reflective air, and `
` snubbed Tommy when he spoke to her. `
` `
` "Be quiet. I'm thinking." `
` `
` "Shades of Pelmanism!" said Tommy, and relapsed into silence. `
` `
` "There!" said Tuppence at last. "I've got a plan. Obviously what `
` we've got to do is to find out more about it all." `
` `
` Tommy applauded. `
` `
` "Don't jeer. We can only find out through Whittington. We must `
` discover where he lives, what he does--sleuth him, in fact! Now I `
` can't do it, because he knows me, but he only saw you for a `
` minute or two in Lyons'. He's not likely to recognize you. After `
` all, one young man is much like another." `
` `
` "I repudiate that remark utterly. I'm sure my pleasing features `
` and distinguished appearance would single me out from any crowd." `
` `
` "My plan is this," Tuppence went on calmly, "I'll go alone `
` to-morrow. I'll put him off again like I did to-day. It doesn't `
` matter if I don't get any more money at once. Fifty pounds ought `
` to last us a few days." `
` `
` "Or even longer!" `
` `
` "You'll hang about outside. When I come out I shan't speak to `
` you in case he's watching. But I'll take up my stand somewhere `
` near, and when he comes out of the building I'll drop a `
` handkerchief or something, and off you go!" `
` `
` "Off I go where?" `
` `
` "Follow him, of course, silly! What do you think of the idea?" `
` `
` "Sort of thing one reads about in books. I somehow feel that in `
` real life one will feel a bit of an ass standing in the street `
` for hours with nothing to do. People will wonder what I'm up `
` to." `
` `
` "Not in the city. Every one's in such a hurry. Probably no one `
` will even notice you at all." `
` `
` "That's the second time you've made that sort of remark. Never `
` mind, I forgive you. Anyway, it will be rather a lark. What are `
` you doing this afternoon?" `
` `
` "Well," said Tuppence meditatively. "I HAD thought of hats! Or `
` perhaps silk stockings! Or perhaps----" `
` `
` "Hold hard," admonished Tommy. "There's a limit to fifty pounds! `
` But let's do dinner and a show to-night at all events." `
` `
` "Rather." `
` `
` The day passed pleasantly. The evening even more so. Two of the `
` five-pound notes were now irretrievably dead. `
` `
` They met by arrangement the following morning and proceeded `
` citywards. Tommy remained on the opposite side of the road while `
` Tuppence plunged into the building. `
` `
` Tommy strolled slowly down to the end of the street, then back `
` again. Just as he came abreast of the building, Tuppence darted `
` across the road. `
` `
` "Tommy!" `
` `
` "Yes. What's up?" `
` `
` "The place is shut. I can't make anyone hear." `
` `
` "That's odd." `
` `
` "Isn't it? Come up with me, and let's try again." `
` `
` Tommy followed her. As they passed the third floor landing a `
` young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated a moment, then `
`