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