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"I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "No `
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use crying over spilt milk, you know." `
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"The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence the `
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practical. `
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Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
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"You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. That `
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is the only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do not `
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hope for much result. Otherwise there is nothing to be done." `
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"Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly. "And--Tommy?" `
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"We must hope for the best," said Sir James. "Oh yes, we must go `
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on hoping." `
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But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almost `
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imperceptibly he shook his head. Julius understood. The lawyer `
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considered the case hopeless. The young American's face grew `
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grave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand. `
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"You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letters `
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will always be forwarded." `
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Tuppence stared at him blankly. `
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"You are going away?" `
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"I told you. Don't you remember? To Scotland." `
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"Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated. `
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Sir James shrugged his shoulders. `
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"My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clues `
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have all ended in thin air. You can take my word for it that `
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there is nothing more to be done. If anything should arise, I `
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shall be glad to advise you in any way I can." `
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His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling. `
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"I suppose you're right," she said. "Anyway, thank you very much `
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for trying to help us. Good-bye." `
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Julius was bending over the car. A momentary pity came into Sir `
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James's keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face. `
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"Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a low `
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voice. "Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. One `
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sometimes manages to put in some work as well." `
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Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shook `
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his head with a smile. `
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"No, I shan't say any more. Great mistake to say too much. `
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Remember that. Never tell all you know--not even to the person `
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you know best. Understand? Good-bye." `
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He strode away. Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning to `
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understand Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her a `
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hint in the same careless fashion. Was this a hint? What exactly `
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lay behind those last brief words? Did he mean that, after all, `
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he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would be `
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working on it still while---- `
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Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to `
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"get right in." `
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"You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they started `
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off. "Did the old guy say anything more?" `
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Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again. `
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Sir James's words sounded in her ears: "Never tell all you `
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know--not even to the person you know best." And like a flash `
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there came into her mind another memory. Julius before the safe `
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in the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply, `
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"Nothing." Was there really nothing? Or had he found something `
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he wished to keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, so `
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could she. `
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"Nothing particular," she replied. `
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She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her. `
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"Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?" `
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"If you like." `
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For a while they ran on under the trees in silence. It was a `
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beautiful day. The keen rush through the air brought a new `
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exhilaration to Tuppence. `
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"Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?" `
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Julius spoke in a discouraged voice. The mood was so alien to `
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him that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise. He `
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nodded. `
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"That's so. I'm getting down and out over the business. Sir `
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James to-day hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. I `
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don't like him--we don't gee together somehow--but he's pretty `
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cute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there was any chance of `
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success--now, would he?" `
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Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her belief `
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that Julius also had withheld something from her, she remained `
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firm. `
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"He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him. `
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"Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice! No--I'm about `
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fed up. I've half a mind to go back to the States right away." `
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"Oh no!" cried Tuppence. "We've got to find Tommy." `
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"I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely. "That's so. `
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We must find him. But after--well, I've been day-dreaming ever `
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since I started on this trip--and these dreams are rotten poor `
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business. I'm quit of them. Say, Miss Tuppence, there's `
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something I'd like to ask you." `
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"Yes?" `
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"You and Beresford. What about it?" `
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"I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, adding `
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rather inconsequently: "And, anyway, you're wrong!" `
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"Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?" `
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"Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth. "Tommy and I are `
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friends--nothing more." `
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"I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another," `
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observed Julius. `
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"Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence. "Do I look the sort of girl that's `
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always falling in love with every man she meets?" `
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"You do not. You look the sort of girl that's mighty often `
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getting fallen in love with!" `
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"Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback. "That's a compliment, I `
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suppose?" `
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"Sure. Now let's get down to this. Supposing we never find `
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Beresford and--and----" `
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"All right--say it! I can face facts. Supposing he's--dead! `
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Well?" `
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"And all this business fiddles out. What are you going to do?" `
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"I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly. `
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"You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid." `
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"I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usual `
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resentment of any kind of pity. `
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"What about marriage?" inquired Julius. "Got any views on the `
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subject?" `
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"I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence. "That is, `
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if"--she paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and then `
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stuck to her guns bravely--"I can find some one rich enough to `
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make it worth my while. That's frank, isn't it? I dare say you `
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despise me for it." `
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"I never despise business instinct," said Julius. "What `
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particular figure have you in mind?" `
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"Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled. "Do you mean tall or short?" `
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"No. Sum--income." `
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"Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out." `
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"What about me?" `
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"You?" `
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"Sure thing." `
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"Oh, I couldn't!" `
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"Why not?" `
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"I tell you I couldn't." `
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"Again, why not?" `
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"It would seem so unfair." `
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"I don't see anything unfair about it. I call your bluff, that's `
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all. I admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girl `
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I've ever met. You're so darned plucky. I'd just love to give `
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you a real, rattling good time. Say the word, and we'll run `
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round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ring `
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