Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated a moment, then `
` addressed himself to Tuppence. `
` `
` "Were you wanting the Esthonia Glassware?" `
` `
` "Yes, please." `
` `
` "It's closed down. Since yesterday afternoon. Company being `
` wound up, they say. Not that I've ever heard of it myself. But `
` anyway the office is to let." `
` `
` "Th--thank you," faltered Tuppence. "I suppose you don't know `
` Mr. Whittington's address?" `
` `
` "Afraid I don't. They left rather suddenly." `
` `
` "Thank you very much," said Tommy. "Come on, Tuppence." `
` `
` They descended to the street again where they gazed at one `
` another blankly. `
` `
` "That's torn it," said Tommy at length. `
` `
` "And I never suspected it," wailed Tuppence. `
` `
` "Cheer up, old thing, it can't be helped." `
` `
` "Can't it, though!" Tuppence's little chin shot out defiantly. `
` "Do you think this is the end? If so, you're wrong. It's just `
` the beginning!" `
` `
` "The beginning of what?" `
` `
` "Of our adventure! Tommy, don't you see, if they are scared `
` enough to run away like this, it shows that there must be a lot `
` in this Jane Finn business! Well, we'll get to the bottom of it. `
` We'll run them down! We'll be sleuths in earnest!" `
` `
` "Yes, but there's no one left to sleuth." `
` `
` "No, that's why we'll have to start all over again. Lend me that `
` bit of pencil. Thanks. Wait a minute--don't interrupt. There!" `
` Tuppence handed back the pencil, and surveyed the piece of paper `
` on which she had written with a satisfied eye: `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "Advertisement." `
` `
` "You're not going to put that thing in after all?" `
` `
` "No, it's a different one." She handed him the slip of paper. `
` `
` Tommy read the words on it aloud: `
` `
` "WANTED, any information respecting Jane Finn. Apply Y.A." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV `
` `
` WHO IS JANE FINN? `
` `
` THE next day passed slowly. It was necessary to curtail `
` expenditure. Carefully husbanded, forty pounds will last a long `
` time. Luckily the weather was fine, and "walking is cheap," `
` dictated Tuppence. An outlying picture house provided them with `
` recreation for the evening. `
` `
` The day of disillusionment had been a Wednesday. On Thursday the `
` advertisement had duly appeared. On Friday letters might be `
` expected to arrive at Tommy's rooms. `
` `
` He had been bound by an honourable promise not to open any such `
` letters if they did arrive, but to repair to the National `
` Gallery, where his colleague would meet him at ten o'clock. `
` `
` Tuppence was first at the rendezvous. She ensconced herself on a `
` red velvet seat, and gazed at the Turners with unseeing eyes `
` until she saw the familiar figure enter the room. `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well," returned Mr. Beresford provokingly. "Which is your `
` favourite picture?" `
` `
` "Don't be a wretch. Aren't there ANY answers?" `
` `
` Tommy shook his head with a deep and somewhat overacted `
` melancholy. `
` `
` "I didn't want to disappoint you, old thing, by telling you right `
` off. It's too bad. Good money wasted." He sighed. "Still, `
` there it is. The advertisement has appeared, and--there are only `
` two answers!" `
` `
` "Tommy, you devil!" almost screamed Tuppence. "Give them to me. `
` How could you be so mean!" `
` `
` "Your language, Tuppence, your language! They're very particular `
` at the National Gallery. Government show, you know. And do `
` remember, as I have pointed out to you before, that as a `
` clergyman's daughter----" `
` `
` "I ought to be on the stage!" finished Tuppence with a snap. `
` `
` "That is not what I intended to say. But if you are sure that `
` you have enjoyed to the full the reaction of joy after despair `
` with which I have kindly provided you free of charge, let us get `
` down to our mail, as the saying goes." `
` `
` Tuppence snatched the two precious envelopes from him `
` unceremoniously, and scrutinized them carefully. `
` `
` "Thick paper, this one. It looks rich. We'll keep it to the `
` last and open the other first." `
` `
` "Right you are. One, two, three, go!" `
` `
` Tuppence's little thumb ripped open the envelope, and she `
` extracted the contents. `
` `
` `
` "DEAR SIR, `
` `
` "Referring to your advertisement in this morning's paper, I may `
` be able to be of some use to you. Perhaps you could call and see `
` me at the above address at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. `
` "Yours truly, `
` "A. CARTER. `
` `
` `
` "27 Carshalton Gardens," said Tuppence, referring to the address. `
` "That's Gloucester Road way. Plenty of time to get there if we `
` tube." `
` `
` "The following," said Tommy, "is the plan of campaign. It is my `
` turn to assume the offensive. Ushered into the presence of Mr. `
` Carter, he and I wish each other good morning as is customary. He `
` then says: 'Please take a seat, Mr.--er?' To which I reply `
` promptly and significantly: 'Edward Whittington!' whereupon Mr. `
` Carter turns purple in the face and gasps out: 'How much?' `
` Pocketing the usual fee of fifty pounds, I rejoin you in the road `
` outside, and we proceed to the next address and repeat the `
` performance." `
` `
` "Don't be absurd, Tommy. Now for the other letter. Oh, this is `
` from the Ritz!" `
` `
` "A hundred pounds instead of fifty!" `
` `
` "I'll read it: `
` `
` "DEAR SIR, `
` `
` "Re your advertisement, I should be glad if you would call round `
` somewhere about lunch-time. `
` "Yours truly, `
` "JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER." `
` `
` `
` "Ha!" said Tommy. "Do I smell a Boche? Or only an American `
` millionaire of unfortunate ancestry? At all events we'll call at `
` lunch-time. It's a good time--frequently leads to free food for `
` two." `
` `
` Tuppence nodded assent. `
` `
` "Now for Carter. We'll have to hurry." `
` `
` Carshalton Terrace proved to be an unimpeachable row of what `
` Tuppence called "ladylike looking houses." They rang the bell at `
` No. 27, and a neat maid answered the door. She looked so `
` respectable that Tuppence's heart sank. Upon Tommy's request for `
` Mr. Carter, she showed them into a small study on the ground `
` floor where she left them. Hardly a minute elapsed, however, `
` before the door opened, and a tall man with a lean hawklike face `
` and a tired manner entered the room. `
` `
` "Mr. Y. A.?" he said, and smiled. His smile was distinctly `
` attractive. "Do sit down, both of you." `
` `
` They obeyed. He himself took a chair opposite to Tuppence and `
` smiled at her encouragingly. There was something in the quality `
` of his smile that made the girl's usual readiness desert her. `
` `
` As he did not seem inclined to open the conversation, Tuppence `
` was forced to begin. `
` `
` "We wanted to know--that is, would you be so kind as to tell us `
` anything you know about Jane Finn?" `
` `
` "Jane Finn? Ah!" Mr. Carter appeared to reflect. "Well, the `
` question is, what do you know about her?" `
` `
` Tuppence drew herself up. `
` `
` "I don't see that that's got anything to do with it." `
` `
` "No? But it has, you know, really it has." He smiled again in `
` his tired way, and continued reflectively. "So that brings us `
`
` addressed himself to Tuppence. `
` `
` "Were you wanting the Esthonia Glassware?" `
` `
` "Yes, please." `
` `
` "It's closed down. Since yesterday afternoon. Company being `
` wound up, they say. Not that I've ever heard of it myself. But `
` anyway the office is to let." `
` `
` "Th--thank you," faltered Tuppence. "I suppose you don't know `
` Mr. Whittington's address?" `
` `
` "Afraid I don't. They left rather suddenly." `
` `
` "Thank you very much," said Tommy. "Come on, Tuppence." `
` `
` They descended to the street again where they gazed at one `
` another blankly. `
` `
` "That's torn it," said Tommy at length. `
` `
` "And I never suspected it," wailed Tuppence. `
` `
` "Cheer up, old thing, it can't be helped." `
` `
` "Can't it, though!" Tuppence's little chin shot out defiantly. `
` "Do you think this is the end? If so, you're wrong. It's just `
` the beginning!" `
` `
` "The beginning of what?" `
` `
` "Of our adventure! Tommy, don't you see, if they are scared `
` enough to run away like this, it shows that there must be a lot `
` in this Jane Finn business! Well, we'll get to the bottom of it. `
` We'll run them down! We'll be sleuths in earnest!" `
` `
` "Yes, but there's no one left to sleuth." `
` `
` "No, that's why we'll have to start all over again. Lend me that `
` bit of pencil. Thanks. Wait a minute--don't interrupt. There!" `
` Tuppence handed back the pencil, and surveyed the piece of paper `
` on which she had written with a satisfied eye: `
` `
` "What's that?" `
` `
` "Advertisement." `
` `
` "You're not going to put that thing in after all?" `
` `
` "No, it's a different one." She handed him the slip of paper. `
` `
` Tommy read the words on it aloud: `
` `
` "WANTED, any information respecting Jane Finn. Apply Y.A." `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER IV `
` `
` WHO IS JANE FINN? `
` `
` THE next day passed slowly. It was necessary to curtail `
` expenditure. Carefully husbanded, forty pounds will last a long `
` time. Luckily the weather was fine, and "walking is cheap," `
` dictated Tuppence. An outlying picture house provided them with `
` recreation for the evening. `
` `
` The day of disillusionment had been a Wednesday. On Thursday the `
` advertisement had duly appeared. On Friday letters might be `
` expected to arrive at Tommy's rooms. `
` `
` He had been bound by an honourable promise not to open any such `
` letters if they did arrive, but to repair to the National `
` Gallery, where his colleague would meet him at ten o'clock. `
` `
` Tuppence was first at the rendezvous. She ensconced herself on a `
` red velvet seat, and gazed at the Turners with unseeing eyes `
` until she saw the familiar figure enter the room. `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well," returned Mr. Beresford provokingly. "Which is your `
` favourite picture?" `
` `
` "Don't be a wretch. Aren't there ANY answers?" `
` `
` Tommy shook his head with a deep and somewhat overacted `
` melancholy. `
` `
` "I didn't want to disappoint you, old thing, by telling you right `
` off. It's too bad. Good money wasted." He sighed. "Still, `
` there it is. The advertisement has appeared, and--there are only `
` two answers!" `
` `
` "Tommy, you devil!" almost screamed Tuppence. "Give them to me. `
` How could you be so mean!" `
` `
` "Your language, Tuppence, your language! They're very particular `
` at the National Gallery. Government show, you know. And do `
` remember, as I have pointed out to you before, that as a `
` clergyman's daughter----" `
` `
` "I ought to be on the stage!" finished Tuppence with a snap. `
` `
` "That is not what I intended to say. But if you are sure that `
` you have enjoyed to the full the reaction of joy after despair `
` with which I have kindly provided you free of charge, let us get `
` down to our mail, as the saying goes." `
` `
` Tuppence snatched the two precious envelopes from him `
` unceremoniously, and scrutinized them carefully. `
` `
` "Thick paper, this one. It looks rich. We'll keep it to the `
` last and open the other first." `
` `
` "Right you are. One, two, three, go!" `
` `
` Tuppence's little thumb ripped open the envelope, and she `
` extracted the contents. `
` `
` `
` "DEAR SIR, `
` `
` "Referring to your advertisement in this morning's paper, I may `
` be able to be of some use to you. Perhaps you could call and see `
` me at the above address at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. `
` "Yours truly, `
` "A. CARTER. `
` `
` `
` "27 Carshalton Gardens," said Tuppence, referring to the address. `
` "That's Gloucester Road way. Plenty of time to get there if we `
` tube." `
` `
` "The following," said Tommy, "is the plan of campaign. It is my `
` turn to assume the offensive. Ushered into the presence of Mr. `
` Carter, he and I wish each other good morning as is customary. He `
` then says: 'Please take a seat, Mr.--er?' To which I reply `
` promptly and significantly: 'Edward Whittington!' whereupon Mr. `
` Carter turns purple in the face and gasps out: 'How much?' `
` Pocketing the usual fee of fifty pounds, I rejoin you in the road `
` outside, and we proceed to the next address and repeat the `
` performance." `
` `
` "Don't be absurd, Tommy. Now for the other letter. Oh, this is `
` from the Ritz!" `
` `
` "A hundred pounds instead of fifty!" `
` `
` "I'll read it: `
` `
` "DEAR SIR, `
` `
` "Re your advertisement, I should be glad if you would call round `
` somewhere about lunch-time. `
` "Yours truly, `
` "JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER." `
` `
` `
` "Ha!" said Tommy. "Do I smell a Boche? Or only an American `
` millionaire of unfortunate ancestry? At all events we'll call at `
` lunch-time. It's a good time--frequently leads to free food for `
` two." `
` `
` Tuppence nodded assent. `
` `
` "Now for Carter. We'll have to hurry." `
` `
` Carshalton Terrace proved to be an unimpeachable row of what `
` Tuppence called "ladylike looking houses." They rang the bell at `
` No. 27, and a neat maid answered the door. She looked so `
` respectable that Tuppence's heart sank. Upon Tommy's request for `
` Mr. Carter, she showed them into a small study on the ground `
` floor where she left them. Hardly a minute elapsed, however, `
` before the door opened, and a tall man with a lean hawklike face `
` and a tired manner entered the room. `
` `
` "Mr. Y. A.?" he said, and smiled. His smile was distinctly `
` attractive. "Do sit down, both of you." `
` `
` They obeyed. He himself took a chair opposite to Tuppence and `
` smiled at her encouragingly. There was something in the quality `
` of his smile that made the girl's usual readiness desert her. `
` `
` As he did not seem inclined to open the conversation, Tuppence `
` was forced to begin. `
` `
` "We wanted to know--that is, would you be so kind as to tell us `
` anything you know about Jane Finn?" `
` `
` "Jane Finn? Ah!" Mr. Carter appeared to reflect. "Well, the `
` question is, what do you know about her?" `
` `
` Tuppence drew herself up. `
` `
` "I don't see that that's got anything to do with it." `
` `
` "No? But it has, you know, really it has." He smiled again in `
` his tired way, and continued reflectively. "So that brings us `
`