Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
his tired way, and continued reflectively. "So that brings us `
` down to it again. What do you know about Jane Finn? `
` `
` "Come now," he continued, as Tuppence remained silent. "You must `
` know SOMETHING to have advertised as you did?" He leaned forward `
` a little, his weary voice held a hint of persuasiveness. "Suppose `
` you tell me . . ." `
` `
` There was something very magnetic about Mr. Carter's personality. `
` Tuppence seemed to shake herself free of it with an effort, as `
` she said: `
` `
` "We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?" `
` `
` But to her surprise, her companion did not back her up. His eyes `
` were fixed on Mr. Carter, and his tone when he spoke held an `
` unusual note of deference. `
` `
` "I dare say the little we know won't be any good to you, sir. But `
` such as it is, you're welcome to it." `
` `
` "Tommy!" cried out Tuppence in surprise. `
` `
` Mr. Carter slewed round in his chair. His eyes asked a question. `
` `
` Tommy nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I recognized you at once. Saw you in France when I `
` was with the Intelligence. As soon as you came into the room, I `
` knew----" `
` `
` Mr. Carter held up his hand. `
` `
` "No names, please. I'm known as Mr. Carter here. It's my `
` cousin's house, by the way. She's willing to lend it to me `
` sometimes when it's a case of working on strictly unofficial `
` lines. Well, now"--he looked from one to the other--"who's going `
` to tell me the story?" `
` `
` "Fire ahead, Tuppence," directed Tommy. "It's your yarn." `
` `
` "Yes, little lady, out with it." `
` `
` And obediently Tuppence did out with it, telling the whole story `
` from the forming of the Young Adventurers, Ltd., downwards. `
` `
` Mr. Carter listened in silence with a resumption of his tired `
` manner. Now and then he passed his hand across his lips as though `
` to hide a smile. When she had finished he nodded gravely. `
` `
` "Not much. But suggestive. Quite suggestive. If you'll excuse `
` my saying so, you're a curious young couple. I don't know--you `
` might succeed where others have failed . . . I believe in luck, `
` you know--always have...." `
` `
` He paused a moment, and then went on. `
` `
` "Well, how about it? You're out for adventure. How would you `
` like to work for me? All quite unofficial, you know. Expenses `
` paid, and a moderate screw?" `
` `
` Tuppence gazed at him, her lips parted, her eyes growing wider `
` and wider. `
` `
` "What should we have to do?" she breathed. `
` `
` Mr. Carter smiled. `
` `
` "Just go on with what you're doing now. FIND JANE FINN." `
` `
` "Yes, but--who IS Jane Finn?" `
` `
` Mr. Carter nodded gravely. `
` `
` "Yes, you're entitled to know that, I think." `
` `
` He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, brought the tips `
` of his fingers together, and began in a low monotone: `
` `
` "Secret diplomacy (which, by the way, is nearly always bad `
` policy!) does not concern you. It will be sufficient to say that `
` in the early days of 1915 a certain document came into being. It `
` was the draft of a secret agreement--treaty--call it what you `
` like. It was drawn up ready for signature by the various `
` representatives, and drawn up in America--at that time a neutral `
` country. It was dispatched to England by a special messenger `
` selected for that purpose, a young fellow called Danvers. It was `
` hoped that the whole affair had been kept so secret that nothing `
` would have leaked out. That kind of hope is usually `
` disappointed. Somebody always talks! `
` `
` "Danvers sailed for England on the Lusitania. He carried the `
` precious papers in an oilskin packet which he wore next his skin. `
` It was on that particular voyage that the Lusitania was torpedoed `
` and sunk. Danvers was among the list of those missing. `
` Eventually his body was washed ashore, and identified beyond any `
` possible doubt. But the oilskin packet was missing! `
` `
` "The question was, had it been taken from him, or had he himself `
` passed it on into another's keeping? There were a few incidents `
` that strengthened the possibility of the latter theory. After the `
` torpedo struck the ship, in the few moments during the launching `
` of the boats, Danvers was seen speaking to a young American girl. `
` No one actually saw him pass anything to her, but he might have `
` done so. It seems to me quite likely that he entrusted the papers `
` to this girl, believing that she, as a woman, had a greater `
` chance of bringing them safely to shore. `
` `
` "But if so, where was the girl, and what had she done with the `
` papers? By later advice from America it seemed likely that `
` Danvers had been closely shadowed on the way over. Was this girl `
` in league with his enemies? Or had she, in her turn, been `
` shadowed and either tricked or forced into handing over the `
` precious packet? `
` `
` "We set to work to trace her out. It proved unexpectedly `
` difficult. Her name was Jane Finn, and it duly appeared among the `
` list of the survivors, but the girl herself seemed to have `
` vanished completely. Inquiries into her antecedents did little to `
` help us. She was an orphan, and had been what we should call `
` over here a pupil teacher in a small school out West. Her `
` passport had been made out for Paris, where she was going to join `
` the staff of a hospital. She had offered her services `
` voluntarily, and after some correspondence they had been `
` accepted. Having seen her name in the list of the saved from the `
` Lusitania, the staff of the hospital were naturally very `
` surprised at her not arriving to take up her billet, and at not `
` hearing from her in any way. `
` `
` "Well, every effort was made to trace the young lady--but all in `
` vain. We tracked her across Ireland, but nothing could be heard `
` of her after she set foot in England. No use was made of the `
` draft treaty--as might very easily have been done--and we `
` therefore came to the conclusion that Danvers had, after all, `
` destroyed it. The war entered on another phase, the diplomatic `
` aspect changed accordingly, and the treaty was never redrafted. `
` Rumours as to its existence were emphatically denied. The `
` disappearance of Jane Finn was forgotten and the whole affair was `
` lost in oblivion." `
` `
` Mr. Carter paused, and Tuppence broke in impatiently: `
` `
` "But why has it all cropped up again? The war's over." `
` `
` A hint of alertness came into Mr. Carter's manner. `
` `
` "Because it seems that the papers were not destroyed after all, `
` and that they might be resurrected to-day with a new and deadly `
` significance." `
` `
` Tuppence stared. Mr. Carter nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, five years ago, that draft treaty was a weapon in our `
` hands; to-day it is a weapon against us. It was a gigantic `
` blunder. If its terms were made public, it would mean `
` disaster.... It might possibly bring about another war--not with `
` Germany this time! That is an extreme possibility, and I do not `
` believe in its likelihood myself, but that document undoubtedly `
` implicates a number of our statesmen whom we cannot afford to `
` have discredited in any way at the present moment. As a party `
` cry for Labour it would be irresistible, and a Labour Government `
` at this juncture would, in my opinion, be a grave disability for `
` British trade, but that is a mere nothing to the REAL danger." `
` `
` He paused, and then said quietly: `
` `
` "You may perhaps have heard or read that there is Bolshevist `
` influence at work behind the present Labour unrest?" `
` `
` Tuppence nodded. `
` `
` "That is the truth. Bolshevist gold is pouring into this country `
` for the specific purpose of procuring a Revolution. And there is `
` a certain man, a man whose real name is unknown to us, who is `
` working in the dark for his own ends. The Bolshevists are behind `
` the Labour unrest--but this man is BEHIND THE BOLSHEVISTS. Who `
` is he? We do not know. He is always spoken of by the unassuming `
` title of 'Mr. Brown.' But one thing is certain, he is the master `
` criminal of this age. He controls a marvellous organization. `
` Most of the Peace propaganda during the war was originated and `
` financed by him. His spies are everywhere." `
` `
` "A naturalized German?" asked Tommy. `
` `
` "On the contrary, I have every reason to believe he is an `
` Englishman. He was pro-German, as he would have been pro-Boer. `
` What he seeks to attain we do not know--probably supreme power `
` for himself, of a kind unique in history. We have no clue as to `
` his real personality. It is reported that even his own followers `
` are ignorant of it. Where we have come across his tracks, he has `
` always played a secondary part. Somebody else assumes the chief `
` role. But afterwards we always find that there has been some `
` nonentity, a servant or a clerk, who has remained in the `
` background unnoticed, and that the elusive Mr. Brown has escaped `
` us once more." `
` `
` "Oh!" Tuppence jumped. "I wonder----" `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "I remember in Mr. Whittington's office. The clerk--he called `
`
` down to it again. What do you know about Jane Finn? `
` `
` "Come now," he continued, as Tuppence remained silent. "You must `
` know SOMETHING to have advertised as you did?" He leaned forward `
` a little, his weary voice held a hint of persuasiveness. "Suppose `
` you tell me . . ." `
` `
` There was something very magnetic about Mr. Carter's personality. `
` Tuppence seemed to shake herself free of it with an effort, as `
` she said: `
` `
` "We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?" `
` `
` But to her surprise, her companion did not back her up. His eyes `
` were fixed on Mr. Carter, and his tone when he spoke held an `
` unusual note of deference. `
` `
` "I dare say the little we know won't be any good to you, sir. But `
` such as it is, you're welcome to it." `
` `
` "Tommy!" cried out Tuppence in surprise. `
` `
` Mr. Carter slewed round in his chair. His eyes asked a question. `
` `
` Tommy nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I recognized you at once. Saw you in France when I `
` was with the Intelligence. As soon as you came into the room, I `
` knew----" `
` `
` Mr. Carter held up his hand. `
` `
` "No names, please. I'm known as Mr. Carter here. It's my `
` cousin's house, by the way. She's willing to lend it to me `
` sometimes when it's a case of working on strictly unofficial `
` lines. Well, now"--he looked from one to the other--"who's going `
` to tell me the story?" `
` `
` "Fire ahead, Tuppence," directed Tommy. "It's your yarn." `
` `
` "Yes, little lady, out with it." `
` `
` And obediently Tuppence did out with it, telling the whole story `
` from the forming of the Young Adventurers, Ltd., downwards. `
` `
` Mr. Carter listened in silence with a resumption of his tired `
` manner. Now and then he passed his hand across his lips as though `
` to hide a smile. When she had finished he nodded gravely. `
` `
` "Not much. But suggestive. Quite suggestive. If you'll excuse `
` my saying so, you're a curious young couple. I don't know--you `
` might succeed where others have failed . . . I believe in luck, `
` you know--always have...." `
` `
` He paused a moment, and then went on. `
` `
` "Well, how about it? You're out for adventure. How would you `
` like to work for me? All quite unofficial, you know. Expenses `
` paid, and a moderate screw?" `
` `
` Tuppence gazed at him, her lips parted, her eyes growing wider `
` and wider. `
` `
` "What should we have to do?" she breathed. `
` `
` Mr. Carter smiled. `
` `
` "Just go on with what you're doing now. FIND JANE FINN." `
` `
` "Yes, but--who IS Jane Finn?" `
` `
` Mr. Carter nodded gravely. `
` `
` "Yes, you're entitled to know that, I think." `
` `
` He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, brought the tips `
` of his fingers together, and began in a low monotone: `
` `
` "Secret diplomacy (which, by the way, is nearly always bad `
` policy!) does not concern you. It will be sufficient to say that `
` in the early days of 1915 a certain document came into being. It `
` was the draft of a secret agreement--treaty--call it what you `
` like. It was drawn up ready for signature by the various `
` representatives, and drawn up in America--at that time a neutral `
` country. It was dispatched to England by a special messenger `
` selected for that purpose, a young fellow called Danvers. It was `
` hoped that the whole affair had been kept so secret that nothing `
` would have leaked out. That kind of hope is usually `
` disappointed. Somebody always talks! `
` `
` "Danvers sailed for England on the Lusitania. He carried the `
` precious papers in an oilskin packet which he wore next his skin. `
` It was on that particular voyage that the Lusitania was torpedoed `
` and sunk. Danvers was among the list of those missing. `
` Eventually his body was washed ashore, and identified beyond any `
` possible doubt. But the oilskin packet was missing! `
` `
` "The question was, had it been taken from him, or had he himself `
` passed it on into another's keeping? There were a few incidents `
` that strengthened the possibility of the latter theory. After the `
` torpedo struck the ship, in the few moments during the launching `
` of the boats, Danvers was seen speaking to a young American girl. `
` No one actually saw him pass anything to her, but he might have `
` done so. It seems to me quite likely that he entrusted the papers `
` to this girl, believing that she, as a woman, had a greater `
` chance of bringing them safely to shore. `
` `
` "But if so, where was the girl, and what had she done with the `
` papers? By later advice from America it seemed likely that `
` Danvers had been closely shadowed on the way over. Was this girl `
` in league with his enemies? Or had she, in her turn, been `
` shadowed and either tricked or forced into handing over the `
` precious packet? `
` `
` "We set to work to trace her out. It proved unexpectedly `
` difficult. Her name was Jane Finn, and it duly appeared among the `
` list of the survivors, but the girl herself seemed to have `
` vanished completely. Inquiries into her antecedents did little to `
` help us. She was an orphan, and had been what we should call `
` over here a pupil teacher in a small school out West. Her `
` passport had been made out for Paris, where she was going to join `
` the staff of a hospital. She had offered her services `
` voluntarily, and after some correspondence they had been `
` accepted. Having seen her name in the list of the saved from the `
` Lusitania, the staff of the hospital were naturally very `
` surprised at her not arriving to take up her billet, and at not `
` hearing from her in any way. `
` `
` "Well, every effort was made to trace the young lady--but all in `
` vain. We tracked her across Ireland, but nothing could be heard `
` of her after she set foot in England. No use was made of the `
` draft treaty--as might very easily have been done--and we `
` therefore came to the conclusion that Danvers had, after all, `
` destroyed it. The war entered on another phase, the diplomatic `
` aspect changed accordingly, and the treaty was never redrafted. `
` Rumours as to its existence were emphatically denied. The `
` disappearance of Jane Finn was forgotten and the whole affair was `
` lost in oblivion." `
` `
` Mr. Carter paused, and Tuppence broke in impatiently: `
` `
` "But why has it all cropped up again? The war's over." `
` `
` A hint of alertness came into Mr. Carter's manner. `
` `
` "Because it seems that the papers were not destroyed after all, `
` and that they might be resurrected to-day with a new and deadly `
` significance." `
` `
` Tuppence stared. Mr. Carter nodded. `
` `
` "Yes, five years ago, that draft treaty was a weapon in our `
` hands; to-day it is a weapon against us. It was a gigantic `
` blunder. If its terms were made public, it would mean `
` disaster.... It might possibly bring about another war--not with `
` Germany this time! That is an extreme possibility, and I do not `
` believe in its likelihood myself, but that document undoubtedly `
` implicates a number of our statesmen whom we cannot afford to `
` have discredited in any way at the present moment. As a party `
` cry for Labour it would be irresistible, and a Labour Government `
` at this juncture would, in my opinion, be a grave disability for `
` British trade, but that is a mere nothing to the REAL danger." `
` `
` He paused, and then said quietly: `
` `
` "You may perhaps have heard or read that there is Bolshevist `
` influence at work behind the present Labour unrest?" `
` `
` Tuppence nodded. `
` `
` "That is the truth. Bolshevist gold is pouring into this country `
` for the specific purpose of procuring a Revolution. And there is `
` a certain man, a man whose real name is unknown to us, who is `
` working in the dark for his own ends. The Bolshevists are behind `
` the Labour unrest--but this man is BEHIND THE BOLSHEVISTS. Who `
` is he? We do not know. He is always spoken of by the unassuming `
` title of 'Mr. Brown.' But one thing is certain, he is the master `
` criminal of this age. He controls a marvellous organization. `
` Most of the Peace propaganda during the war was originated and `
` financed by him. His spies are everywhere." `
` `
` "A naturalized German?" asked Tommy. `
` `
` "On the contrary, I have every reason to believe he is an `
` Englishman. He was pro-German, as he would have been pro-Boer. `
` What he seeks to attain we do not know--probably supreme power `
` for himself, of a kind unique in history. We have no clue as to `
` his real personality. It is reported that even his own followers `
` are ignorant of it. Where we have come across his tracks, he has `
` always played a secondary part. Somebody else assumes the chief `
` role. But afterwards we always find that there has been some `
` nonentity, a servant or a clerk, who has remained in the `
` background unnoticed, and that the elusive Mr. Brown has escaped `
` us once more." `
` `
` "Oh!" Tuppence jumped. "I wonder----" `
` `
` "Yes?" `
` `
` "I remember in Mr. Whittington's office. The clerk--he called `
`