THE SECRET ADVERSARY
     AGATHA CHRISTIE
      TO ALL THOSE WHO LEAD MONOTONOUS LIVES IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY 
EXPERIENCE AT SECOND HAND THE DELIGHTS AND DANGERS OF ADVENTURE
     
     
     PROLOGUE
     IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915.  The Lusitania had been 
struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats 
were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being 
lined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and 
fathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl stood 
alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than 
eighteen.  She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked 
straight ahead.
     "I beg your pardon."
     A man's voice beside her made her start and turn.  She had noticed the 
speaker more than once amongst the first-class passengers. There had been a hint 
of mystery about him which had appealed to her imagination.  He spoke to no one. 
If anyone spoke to him he was quick to rebuff the overture. Also he had a 
nervous way of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance.
     She noticed now that he was greatly agitated.  There were beads of 
perspiration on his brow.  He was evidently in a state of overmastering fear. 
And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet 
death!
     "Yes?"  Her grave eyes met his inquiringly.
     He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution.
     "It must be!" he muttered to himself.  "Yes--it is the only way." Then 
aloud he said abruptly:  "You are an American?"
     "Yes."
     "A patriotic one?"
     The girl flushed.
     "I guess you've no right to ask such a thing!  Of course I am!"
     "Don't be offended.  You wouldn't be if you knew how much there was at 
stake. But I've got to trust some one--and it must be a woman."
     "Why?"
     "Because of 'women and children first.'  " He looked round and lowered his 
voice.  "I'm carrying papers--vitally important papers. They may make all the 
difference to the Allies in the war. You understand?  These papers have GOT to 
be saved! They've more chance with you than with me.  Will you take them?"
     The girl held out her hand.
     "Wait--I must warn you.  There may be a risk--if I've been followed. I 
don't think I have, but one never knows.  If so, there will be danger. Have you 
the nerve to go through with it?"
     The girl smiled.
     "I'll go through with it all right.  And I'm real proud to be chosen! What 
am I to do with them afterwards?"
     "Watch the newspapers!  I'll advertise in the personal column of the Times, 
beginning 'Shipmate.' At the end of three days if there's nothing--well, you'll 
know I'm down and out. Then take the packet to the American Embassy, and deliver 
it into the Ambassador's own hands.  Is that clear?"
     "Quite clear."
     "Then be ready--I'm going to say good-bye." He took her hand in his. 
"Good-bye. Good luck to you," he said in a louder tone.
     Her hand closed on the oilskin packet that had lain in his palm.
     The Lusitania settled with a more decided list to starboard. In answer to a 
quick command, the girl went forward to take her place in the boat.
     
     CHAPTER I
     THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD.
     "TOMMY, old thing!"
     "Tuppence, old bean!"
     The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and momentarily 
blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The adjective "old" was 
misleading.  Their united ages would certainly not have totalled forty-five.
     "Not seen you for simply centuries," continued the young man. "Where are 
you off to?  Come and chew a bun with me. We're getting a bit unpopular 
here--blocking the gangway as it were. Let's get out of it."
     The girl assenting, they started walking down Dover Street towards 
Piccadilly.
     "Now then," said Tommy, "where shall we go?"
     The very faint anxiety which underlay his tone did not escape the astute 
ears of Miss Prudence Cowley, known to her intimate friends for some mysterious 
reason as "Tuppence."  She pounced at once.
     "Tommy, you're stony!"
     "Not a bit of it," declared Tommy unconvincingly. "Rolling in cash."
     "You always were a shocking liar," said Tuppence severely, "though you did 
once persuade Sister Greenbank that the doctor had ordered you beer as a tonic, 
but forgotten to write it on the chart. Do you remember?"
     Tommy chuckled.
     "I should think I did!  Wasn't the old cat in a rage when she found out? 
Not that she was a bad sort really, old Mother Greenbank!  Good old 
hospital--demobbed like everything else, I suppose?"
     Tuppence sighed.
     "Yes.  You too?"
     Tommy nodded.
     "Two months ago."
     "Gratuity?" hinted Tuppence.
     "Spent."
     "Oh, Tommy!"
     "No, old thing, not in riotous dissipation.  No such luck! The cost of 
living--ordinary plain, or garden living nowadays is, I assure you, if you do 
not know----"
     "My dear child," interrupted Tuppence, "there is nothing I do NOT know 
about the cost of living.  Here we are at Lyons', and we will each of us pay for 
our own.  That's it!" And Tuppence led the way upstairs.
     The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table, catching 
odds and ends of conversation as they did so.
     "And--do you know, she sat down and CRIED when I told her she couldn't have 
the flat after all."  "It was simply a BARGAIN, my dear! Just like the one Mabel 
Lewis brought from Paris----"
     "Funny scraps one does overhear," murmured Tommy.  "I passed two Johnnies 
in the street to-day talking about some one called Jane Finn.  Did you ever hear 
such a name?"
     But at that moment two elderly ladies rose and collected parcels, and 
Tuppence deftly ensconced herself in one of the vacant seats.
     Tommy ordered tea and buns.  Tuppence ordered tea and buttered toast.
     "And mind the tea comes in separate teapots," she added severely.
     Tommy sat down opposite her.  His bared head revealed a shock of 
exquisitely slicked-back red hair.  His face was pleasantly ugly--nondescript, 
yet unmistakably the face of a gentleman and a sportsman. His brown suit was 
well cut, but perilously near the end of its tether.
     They were an essentially modern-looking couple as they sat there. Tuppence 
had no claim to beauty, but there was character and charm in the elfin lines of 
her little face, with its determined chin and large, wide-apart grey eyes that 
looked mistily out from under straight, black brows.  She wore a small bright 
green toque over her black bobbed hair, and her extremely short and rather 
shabby skirt revealed a pair of uncommonly dainty ankles. Her appearance 
presented a valiant attempt at smartness.
     The tea came at last, and Tuppence, rousing herself from a fit of 
meditation, poured it out.
     "Now then," said Tommy, taking a large bite of bun, "let's get up-to-date. 
Remember, I haven't seen you since that time in hospital in 1916."
     "Very well."  Tuppence helped herself liberally to buttered toast. 
"Abridged biography of Miss Prudence Cowley, fifth daughter of Archdeacon Cowley 
of Little Missendell, Suffolk.  Miss Cowley left the delights (and drudgeries) 
of her home life early in the war and came up to London, where she entered an 
officers' hospital. First month:  Washed up six hundred and forty-eight plates 
every day. Second month:  Promoted to drying aforesaid plates. Third month:  
Promoted to peeling potatoes.  Fourth month: Promoted to cutting bread and 
butter.  Fifth month: Promoted one floor up to duties of wardmaid with mop and 
pail. Sixth month:  Promoted to waiting at table.  Seventh month: Pleasing 
appearance and nice manners so striking that am promoted to waiting on the 
Sisters!  Eighth month: Slight check in career.  Sister Bond ate Sister 
Westhaven's egg! Grand row!  Wardmaid clearly to blame!  Inattention in such 
important matters cannot be too highly censured. Mop and pail again!  How are 
the mighty fallen!  Ninth month: Promoted to sweeping out wards, where I found a 
friend of my childhood in Lieutenant Thomas Beresford (bow, Tommy!), whom I had 
not seen for five long years.  The meeting was affecting! Tenth month:  Reproved 
by matron for visiting the pictures in company with one of the patients, namely: 
 the aforementioned Lieutenant Thomas Beresford.  Eleventh and twelfth months: 
Parlourmaid duties resumed with entire success.  At the end of the year left 
hospital in a blaze of glory.  After that, the talented Miss Cowley drove 
successively a trade delivery van, a motor-lorry and a general!"  The last was 
the pleasantest. He was quite a young general!"
     "What brighter was that?" inquired Tommy.  "Perfectly sickening the way 
those brass hats drove from the War Office to the Savoy, and from the Savoy to 
the War Office!"
     "I've forgotten his name now," confessed Tuppence.  "To resume, that was in 
a way the apex of my career.  I next entered a Government office. We had several 
very enjoyable tea parties.  I had intended to become a land girl, a postwoman, 
and a bus conductress by way of rounding off my career--but the Armistice 
intervened!  I clung to the office with the true limpet touch for many long 
months, but, alas, I was combed out at last. Since then I've been looking for a 
job.  Now then--your turn."
     "There's not so much promotion in mine," said Tommy regretfully, "and a 
great deal less variety.  I went out to France again, as you know.  Then they 
sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, and went into 
hospital out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, 
kicked my heels there some time longer, and, as I told you, finally got 
demobbed. And, for ten long, weary months I've been job hunting!  There aren't 
any jobs!  And, if there were, they wouldn't give 'em to me. What good am I?  
What do I know about business?  Nothing."
     Tuppence nodded gloomily.
     "What about the colonies?" she suggested.
     Tommy shook his head.
     "I shouldn't like the colonies--and I'm perfectly certain they wouldn't 
like me!"
     "Rich relations?"
     Again Tommy shook his head.
     "Oh, Tommy, not even a great-aunt?"
     "I've got an old uncle who's more or less rolling, but he's no good."
     "Why not?"
     "Wanted to adopt me once.  I refused."
     "I think I remember hearing about it," said Tuppence slowly. "You refused 
because of your mother----"
     Tommy flushed.
     "Yes, it would have been a bit rough on the mater.  As you know, I was all 
she had.  Old boy hated her--wanted to get me away from her. Just a bit of 
spite."
     "Your mother's dead, isn't she?" said Tuppence gently.
     Tommy nodded.
     Tuppence's large grey eyes looked misty.
     "You're a good sort, Tommy.  I always knew it."
     "Rot!" said Tommy hastily.  "Well, that's my position. I'm just about 
desperate."
     "So am I!  I've hung out as long as I could.  I've touted round. I've 
answered advertisements.  I've tried every mortal blessed thing. I've screwed 
and saved and pinched!  But it's no good. I shall have to go home!"
     "Don't you want to?"
     "Of course I don't want to!  What's the good of being sentimental? Father's 
a dear--I'm awfully fond of him--but you've no idea how I worry him!  He has 
that delightful early Victorian view that short skirts and smoking are immoral. 
You can imagine what a thorn in the flesh I am to him! He just heaved a sigh of 
relief when the war took me off. You see, there are seven of us at home.  It's 
awful!  All housework and mothers' meetings!  I have always been the changeling. 
I don't want to go back, but--oh, Tommy, what else is there to do?"
     Tommy shook his head sadly.  There was a silence, and then Tuppence burst 
out:
     "Money, money, money!  I think about money morning, noon and night! I dare 
say it's mercenary of me, but there it is!"
     "Same here," agreed Tommy with feeling.
     "I've thought over every imaginable way of getting it too," continued 
Tuppence.  "There are only three!  To be left it, to marry it, or to make it.  
First is ruled out. I haven't got any rich elderly relatives.  Any relatives I 
have are in homes for decayed gentlewomen!  I always help old ladies over 
crossings, and pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in case they should turn out 
to be eccentric millionaires. But not one of them has ever asked me my name--and 
quite a lot never said 'Thank you.'  "
     There was a pause.
     "Of course," resumed Tuppence, "marriage is my best chance. I made up my 
mind to marry money when I was quite young. Any thinking girl would!  I'm not 
sentimental, you know." She paused.  "Come now, you can't say I'm sentimental," 
she added sharply.
     "Certainly not," agreed Tommy hastily.  "No one would ever think of 
sentiment in connection with you."
     "That's not very polite," replied Tuppence.  "But I dare say you mean it 
all right.  Well, there it is! I'm ready and willing--but I never meet any rich 
men! All the boys I know are about as hard up as I am."
     "What about the general?" inquired Tommy.
     "I fancy he keeps a bicycle shop in time of peace," explained Tuppence.  
"No, there it is!  Now you could marry a rich girl."
     "I'm like you.  I don't know any."
     "That doesn't matter.  You can always get to know one. Now, if I see a man 
in a fur coat come out of the Ritz I can't rush up to him and say:  'Look here, 
you're rich. I'd like to know you.'  "
     "Do you suggest that I should do that to a similarly garbed female?"
     "Don't be silly.  You tread on her foot, or pick up her handkerchief, or 
something like that.  If she thinks you want to know her she's flattered, and 
will manage it for you somehow."
     "You overrate my manly charms," murmured Tommy.
     "On the other hand," proceeded Tuppence, "my millionaire would probably run 
for his life!  No--marriage is fraught with difficulties.  Remains--to MAKE 
money!"
     "We've tried that, and failed," Tommy reminded her.
     "We've tried all the orthodox ways, yes.  But suppose we try the 
unorthodox. Tommy, let's be adventurers!"
     "Certainly," replied Tommy cheerfully.  "How do we begin?"
     "That's the difficulty.  If we could make ourselves known, people might 
hire us to commit crimes for them."
     "Delightful," commented Tommy.  "Especially coming from a clergyman's 
daughter!"
     "The moral guilt," Tuppence pointed out, "would be theirs--not mine. You 
must admit that there's a difference between stealing a diamond necklace for 
yourself and being hired to steal it."
     "There wouldn't be the least difference if you were caught!"
     "Perhaps not.  But I shouldn't be caught.  I'm so clever."
     "Modesty always was your besetting sin," remarked Tommy.
     "Don't rag.  Look here, Tommy, shall we really?  Shall we form a business 
partnership?"
     "Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?"
     "That was only an illustration.  Let's have a--what do you call it in 
book-keeping?"
     "Don't know.  Never did any."
     "I have--but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit entries on the 
debit side, and vice versa--so they fired me out.  Oh, I know--a joint venture!  
It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of musty old 
figures.  It's got an Elizabethan flavour about it--makes one think of galleons 
and doubloons. A joint venture!"
     "Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that your idea, 
Tuppence?"
     "It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something in it."
     "How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be employers?"
     "Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly.  "Have you got a bit of paper 
and a pencil?  Men usually seem to have. Just like we have hairpins and 
powder-puffs."
     Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppence began 
writing busily.
     "Shall we begin:  'Young officer, twice wounded in the war--' "
     "Certainly not."
     "Oh, very well, my dear boy.  But I can assure you that that sort of thing 
might touch the heart of an elderly spinster, and she might adopt you, and then 
there would be no need for you to be a young adventurer at all."
     "I don't want to be adopted."
     "I forgot you had a prejudice against it.  I was only ragging you! The 
papers are full up to the brim with that type of thing. Now listen--how's this?  
'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere.  Pay must 
be good.' (We might as well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 
'No reasonable offer refused'--like flats and furniture."
     "I should think any offer we get in answer to that would be a pretty 
UNreasonable one!"
     "Tommy!  You're a genius!  That's ever so much more chic. 'No unreasonable 
offer refused--if pay is good.'  How's that?"
     "I shouldn't mention pay again.  It looks rather eager."
     "It couldn't look as eager as I feel!  But perhaps you are right. Now I'll 
read it straight through.  'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do 
anything, go anywhere.  Pay must be good. No unreasonable offer refused.'  How 
would that strike you if you read it?"
     "It would strike me as either being a hoax, or else written by a lunatic."
     "It's not half so insane as a thing I read this morning beginning 'Petunia' 
and signed 'Best Boy.'  " She tore out the leaf and handed it to Tommy.  "There 
you are.  Times, I think. Reply to Box so-and-so. I expect it will be about five 
shillings. Here's half a crown for my share."
     Tommy was holding the paper thoughtfully.  His faced burned a deeper red.
     "Shall we really try it?" he said at last.  "Shall we, Tuppence?  Just for 
the fun of the thing?"
     "Tommy, you're a sport!  I knew you would be!  Let's drink to success." She 
poured some cold dregs of tea into the two cups.
     "Here's to our joint venture, and may it prosper!"
     "The Young Adventurers, Ltd.!" responded Tommy.
     They put down the cups and laughed rather uncertainly.  Tuppence rose.
     "I must return to my palatial suite at the hostel."
     "Perhaps it is time I strolled round to the Ritz," agreed Tommy with a 
grin.  "Where shall we meet?  And when?"
     "Twelve o'clock to-morrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that suit you?"
     "My time is my own," replied Mr. Beresford magnificently.
     "So long, then."
     "Good-bye, old thing."
     The two young people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence's hostel was 
situated in what was charitably called Southern Belgravia.  For reasons of 
economy she did not take a bus.
     She was half-way across St. James's Park, when a man's voice behind her 
made her start.
     "Excuse me," it said.  "But may I speak to you for a moment?"
     
     CHAPTER II
     MR.  WHITTINGTON'S OFFER
     TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words hovering on the tip of her tongue 
remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did not bear out her 
first and most natural assumption.  She hesitated. As if he read her thoughts, 
the man said quickly:
     "I can assure you I mean no disrespect."
     Tuppence believed him.  Although she disliked and distrusted him 
instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular motive which she 
had at first attributed to him.  She looked him up and down.  He was a big man, 
clean shaven, with a heavy jowl. His eyes were small and cunning, and shifted 
their glance under her direct gaze.
     "Well, what is it?" she asked.
     The man smiled.
     "I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young gentleman 
in Lyons'."
     "Well--what of it?"
     "Nothing--except that I think I may be of some use to you."
     Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind:
     "You followed me here?"
     "I took that liberty."
     "And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?"
     The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a bow.
     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. Mr. Whittington spoke again:
     "If you will call upon me to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, I will lay 
the details of my proposition before you."
     "At eleven o'clock?" said Tuppence doubtfully.
     "At eleven o'clock."
     Tuppence made up her mind.
     "Very well.  I'll be there."
     "Thank you.  Good evening."
     He raised his hat with a flourish, and walked away. Tuppence remained for 
some minutes gazing after him. Then she gave a curious movement of her 
shoulders, rather as a terrier shakes himself.
     "The adventures have begun," she murmured to herself. "What does he want me 
to do, I wonder?  There's something about you, Mr. Whittington, that I don't 
like at all. But, on the other hand, I'm not the least bit afraid of you. And as 
I've said before, and shall doubtless say again, little Tuppence can look after 
herself, thank you!"
     And with a short, sharp nod of her head she walked briskly onward. As a 
result of further meditations, however, she turned aside from the direct route 
and entered a post office. There she pondered for some moments, a telegraph form 
in her hand. The thought of a possible five shillings spent unnecessarily 
spurred her to action, and she decided to risk the waste of ninepence.
     Disdaining the spiky pen and thick, black treacle which a beneficent 
Government had provided, Tuppence drew out Tommy's pencil which she had retained 
and wrote rapidly:  "Don't put in advertisement. Will explain to-morrow." She 
addressed it to Tommy at his club, from which in one short month he would have 
to resign, unless a kindly fortune permitted him to renew his subscription.
     "It may catch him," she murmured.  "Anyway, it's worth trying."
     After handing it over the counter she set out briskly for home, stopping at 
a baker's to buy three penny-worth of new buns.
     Later, in her tiny cubicle at the top of the house she munched buns and 
reflected on the future.  What was the Esthonia Glassware Co., and what earthly 
need could it have for her services? A pleasurable thrill of excitement made 
Tuppence tingle.  At any rate, the country vicarage had retreated into the 
background again. The morrow held possibilities.
     It was a long time before Tuppence went to sleep that night, and, when at 
length she did, she dreamed that Mr. Whittington had set her to washing up a 
pile of Esthonia Glassware, which bore an unaccountable resemblance to hospital 
plates!
     It wanted some five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached the block of 
buildings in which the offices of the Esthonia Glassware Co. were situated.  To 
arrive before the time would look over-eager. So Tuppence decided to walk to the 
end of the street and back again. She did so.  On the stroke of eleven she 
plunged into the recesses of the building.  The Esthonia Glassware Co.  was on 
the top floor. There was a lift, but Tuppence chose to walk up.
     Slightly out of breath, she came to a halt outside the ground glass door 
with the legend painted across it "Esthonia Glassware Co."
     Tuppence knocked.  In response to a voice from within, she turned the 
handle and walked into a small rather dirty outer office.
     A middle-aged clerk got down from a high stool at a desk near the window 
and came towards her inquiringly.
     "I have an appointment with Mr. Whittington," said Tuppence.
     "Will you come this way, please."  He crossed to a partition door with 
"Private" on it, knocked, then opened the door and stood aside to let her pass 
in.
     Mr. Whittington was seated behind a large desk covered with papers. 
Tuppence felt her previous judgment confirmed.  There was something wrong about 
Mr. Whittington.  The combination of his sleek prosperity and his shifty eye was 
not attractive.
     He looked up and nodded.
     "So you've turned up all right?  That's good.  Sit down, will you?"
     Tuppence sat down on the chair facing him.  She looked particularly small 
and demure this morning.  She sat there meekly with downcast eyes whilst Mr. 
Whittington sorted and rustled amongst his papers. Finally he pushed them away, 
and leaned over the desk.
     "Now, my dear young lady, let us come to business."  His large face 
broadened into a smile.  "You want work?  Well, I have work to offer you. What 
should you say now to L100 down, and all expenses paid?" Mr. Whittington leaned 
back in his chair, and thrust his thumbs into the arm-holes of his waistcoat.
     Tuppence eyed him warily.
     "And the nature of the work?" she demanded.
     "Nominal--purely nominal.  A pleasant trip, that is all."
     "Where to?"
     Mr. Whittington smiled again.
     "Paris."
     "Oh!" said Tuppence thoughtfully.  To herself she said: "Of course, if 
father heard that he would have a fit! But somehow I don't see Mr. Whittington 
in the role of the gay deceiver."
     "Yes," continued Whittington.  "What could be more delightful? To put the 
clock back a few years--a very few, I am sure--and re-enter one of those 
charming pensionnats de jeunes filles with which Paris abounds----"
     Tuppence interrupted him.
     "A pensionnat?"
     "Exactly.  Madame Colombier's in the Avenue de Neuilly."
     Tuppence knew the name well.  Nothing could have been more select. She had 
had several American friends there.  She was more than ever puzzled.
     "You want me to go to Madame Colombier's? For how long?"
     "That depends.  Possibly three months."
     "And that is all?  There are no other conditions?"
     "None whatever.  You would, of course, go in the character of my ward, and 
you would hold no communication with your friends. I should have to request 
absolute secrecy for the time being. By the way, you are English, are you not?"
     "Yes."
     "Yet you speak with a slight American accent?"
     "My great pal in hospital was a little American girl. I dare say I picked 
it up from her.  I can soon get out of it again."
     "On the contrary, it might be simpler for you to pass as an American.  
Details about your past life in England might be more difficult to sustain.  
Yes, I think that would be decidedly better.  Then----"
     "One moment, Mr. Whittington!  You seem to be taking my consent for 
granted."
     Whittington looked surprised.
     "Surely you are not thinking of refusing?  I can assure you that Madame 
Colombier's is a most high-class and orthodox establishment. And the terms are 
most liberal."
     "Exactly," said Tuppence.  "That's just it.  The terms are almost too 
liberal, Mr. Whittington.  I cannot see any way in which I can be worth that 
amount of money to you."
     "No?" said Whittington softly.  "Well, I will tell you. I could doubtless 
obtain some one else for very much less. What I am willing to pay for is a young 
lady with sufficient intelligence and presence of mind to sustain her part well, 
and also one who will have sufficient discretion not to ask too many questions."
     Tuppence smiled a little.  She felt that Whittington had scored.
     "There's another thing.  So far there has been no mention of Mr. Beresford. 
 Where does he come in?"
     "Mr. Beresford?"
     "My partner," said Tuppence with dignity.  "You saw us together yesterday."
     "Ah, yes.  But I'm afraid we shan't require his services."
     "Then it's off!"  Tuppence rose.  "It's both or neither.  Sorry--but that's 
how it is.  Good morning, Mr. Whittington."
     "Wait a minute.  Let us see if something can't be managed. Sit down again, 
Miss----" He paused interrogatively.
     Tuppence's conscience gave her a passing twinge as she remembered the 
archdeacon.  She seized hurriedly on the first name that came into her head.
     "Jane Finn," she said hastily; and then paused open-mouthed at the effect 
of those two simple words.
     All the geniality had faded out of Whittington's face. It was purple with 
rage, and the veins stood out on the forehead. And behind it all there lurked a 
sort of incredulous dismay. He leaned forward and hissed savagely:
     "So that's your little game, is it?"
     Tuppence, though utterly taken aback, nevertheless kept her head. She had 
not the faintest comprehension of his meaning, but she was naturally 
quick-witted, and felt it imperative to "keep her end up" as she phrased it.
     Whittington went on:
     "Been playing with me, have you, all the time, like a cat and mouse? Knew 
all the time what I wanted you for, but kept up the comedy. Is that it, eh?"  He 
was cooling down.  The red colour was ebbing out of his face.  He eyed her 
keenly.  "Who's been blabbing?  Rita?"
     Tuppence shook her head.  She was doubtful as to how long she could sustain 
this illusion, but she realized the importance of not dragging an unknown Rita 
into it.
     "No," she replied with perfect truth.  "Rita knows nothing about me."
     His eyes still bored into her like gimlets.
     "How much do you know?" he shot out.
     "Very little indeed," answered Tuppence, and was pleased to note that 
Whittington's uneasiness was augmented instead of allayed. To have boasted that 
she knew a lot might have raised doubts in his mind.
     "Anyway," snarled Whittington, "you knew enough to come in here and plump 
out that name."
     "It might be my own name," Tuppence pointed out.
     "It's likely, isn't it, then there would be two girls with a name like 
that?"
     "Or I might just have hit upon it by chance," continued Tuppence, 
intoxicated with the success of truthfulness.
     Mr. Whittington brought his fist down upon the desk with a bang.
     "Quit fooling!  How much do you know?  And how much do you want?"
     The last five words took Tuppence's fancy mightily, especially after a 
meagre breakfast and a supper of buns the night before. Her present part was of 
the adventuress rather than the adventurous order, but she did not deny its 
possibilities. She sat up and smiled with the air of one who has the situation 
thoroughly well in hand.
     "My dear Mr. Whittington," she said, "let us by all means lay our cards 
upon the table.  And pray do not be so angry. You heard me say yesterday that I 
proposed to live by my wits. It seems to me that I have now proved I have some 
wits to live by! I admit I have knowledge of a certain name, but perhaps my 
knowledge ends there."
     "Yes--and perhaps it doesn't," snarled Whittington.
     "You insist on misjudging me," said Tuppence, and sighed gently.
     "As I said once before," said Whittington angrily, "quit fooling, and come 
to the point.  You can't play the innocent with me. You know a great deal more 
than you're willing to admit."
     Tuppence paused a moment to admire her own ingenuity, and then said softly:
     "I shouldn't like to contradict you, Mr. Whittington."
     "So we come to the usual question--how much?"
     Tuppence was in a dilemma.  So far she had fooled Whittington with complete 
success, but to mention a palpably impossible sum might awaken his suspicions.  
An idea flashed across her brain.
     "Suppose we say a little something down, and a fuller discussion of the 
matter later?"
     Whittington gave her an ugly glance.
     "Blackmail, eh?"
     Tuppence smiled sweetly.
     "Oh no!  Shall we say payment of services in advance?"
     Whittington grunted.
     "You see," explained Tuppence still sweetly, "I'm so very fond of money!"
     "You're about the limit, that's what you are," growled Whittington, with a 
sort of unwilling admiration.  "You took me in all right. Thought you were quite 
a meek little kid with just enough brains for my purpose."
     "Life," moralized Tuppence, "is full of surprises."
     "All the same," continued Whittington, "some one's been talking. You say it 
isn't Rita.  Was it----? Oh, come in."
     The clerk followed his discreet knock into the room, and laid a paper at 
his master's elbow.
     "Telephone message just come for you, sir."
     Whittington snatched it up and read it.  A frown gathered on his brow.
     "That'll do, Brown.  You can go."
     The clerk withdrew, closing the door behind him. Whittington turned to 
Tuppence.
     "Come to-morrow at the same time.  I'm busy now. Here's fifty to go on 
with."
     He rapidly sorted out some notes, and pushed them across the table to 
Tuppence, then stood up, obviously impatient for her to go.
     The girl counted the notes in a businesslike manner, secured them in her 
handbag, and rose.
     "Good morning, Mr. Whittington," she said politely. "At least, au revoir, I 
should say."
     "Exactly.  Au revoir!"  Whittington looked almost genial again, a reversion 
that aroused in Tuppence a faint misgiving. "Au revoir, my clever and charming 
young lady."
     Tuppence sped lightly down the stairs.  A wild elation possessed her. A 
neighbouring clock showed the time to be five minutes to twelve.
     "Let's give Tommy a surprise!" murmured Tuppence, and hailed a taxi.
     The cab drew up outside the tube station.  Tommy was just within the 
entrance.  His eyes opened to their fullest extent as he hurried forward to 
assist Tuppence to alight.  She smiled at him affectionately, and remarked in a 
slightly affected voice:
     "Pay the thing, will you, old bean?  I've got nothing smaller than a 
five-pound note!"
     
     CHAPTER III
     A SET BACK
     THE moment was not quite so triumphant as it ought to have been. To begin 
with, the resources of Tommy's pockets were somewhat limited. In the end the 
fare was managed, the lady recollecting a plebeian twopence, and the driver, 
still holding the varied assortment of coins in his hand, was prevailed upon to 
move on, which he did after one last hoarse demand as to what the gentleman 
thought he was giving him?
     "I think you've given him too much, Tommy," said Tuppence innocently. "I 
fancy he wants to give some of it back."
     It was possibly this remark which induced the driver to move away.
     "Well," said Mr. Beresford, at length able to relieve his feelings, "what 
the--dickens, did you want to take a taxi for?"
     "I was afraid I might be late and keep you waiting," said Tuppence gently.
     "Afraid--you--might--be--late!  Oh, Lord, I give it up!" said Mr. 
Beresford.
     "And really and truly," continued Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide, "I 
haven't got anything smaller than a five-pound note."
     "You did that part of it very well, old bean, but all the same the fellow 
wasn't taken in--not for a moment!"
     "No," said Tuppence thoughtfully, "he didn't believe it. That's the curious 
part about speaking the truth. No one does believe it.  I found that out this 
morning. Now let's go to lunch.  How about the Savoy?"
     Tommy grinned.
     "How about the Ritz?"
     "On second thoughts, I prefer the Piccadilly.  It's nearer. We shan't have 
to take another taxi.  Come along."
     "Is this a new brand of humour?  Or is your brain really unhinged?" 
inquired Tommy.
     "Your last supposition is the correct one.  I have come into money, and the 
shock has been too much for me!  For that 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 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 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 him Brown.  
You don't think----"
     Carter nodded thoughtfully.
     "Very likely.  A curious point is that the name is usually mentioned. An 
idiosyncrasy of genius.  Can you describe him at all?"
     "I really didn't notice.  He was quite ordinary--just like anyone else."
     Mr. Carter sighed in his tired manner.
     "That is the invariable description of Mr. Brown!  Brought a telephone 
message to the man Whittington, did he? Notice a telephone in the outer office?"
     Tuppence thought.
     "No, I don't think I did."
     "Exactly.  That 'message' was Mr. Brown's way of giving an order to his 
subordinate.  He overheard the whole conversation of course. Was it after that 
that Whittington handed you over the money, and told you to come the following 
day?"
     Tuppence nodded.
     "Yes, undoubtedly the hand of Mr. Brown!"  Mr. Carter paused. "Well, there 
it is, you see what you are pitting yourselves against? Possibly the finest 
criminal brain of the age.  I don't quite like it, you know.  You're such young 
things, both of you. I shouldn't like anything to happen to you."
     "It won't," Tuppence assured him positively.
     "I'll look after her, sir," said Tommy.
     "And I'll look after YOU," retorted Tuppence, resenting the manly 
assertion.
     "Well, then, look after each other," said Mr. Carter, smiling. "Now let's 
get back to business.  There's something mysterious about this draft treaty that 
we haven't fathomed yet. We've been threatened with it--in plain and 
unmistakable terms. The Revolutionary element as good as declare that it's in 
their hands, and that they intend to produce it at a given moment.  On the other 
hand, they are clearly at fault about many of its provisions. The Government 
consider it as mere bluff on their part, and, rightly or wrongly, have stuck to 
the policy of absolute denial. I'm not so sure.  There have been hints, 
indiscreet allusions, that seem to indicate that the menace is a real one.  The 
position is much as though they had got hold of an incriminating document, but 
couldn't read it because it was in cipher--but we know that the draft treaty 
wasn't in cipher--couldn't be in the nature of things--so that won't wash.  But 
there's SOMETHING.  Of course, Jane Finn may be dead for all we know--but I 
don't think so. The curious thing is that THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION 
ABOUT THE GIRL FROM US"
     "What?"
     "Yes.  One or two little things have cropped up.  And your story, little 
lady, confirms my idea.  They know we're looking for Jane Finn.  Well, they'll 
produce a Jane Finn of their own--say at a pensionnat in Paris."  Tuppence 
gasped, and Mr. Carter smiled. "No one knows in the least what she looks like, 
so that's all right. She's primed with a trumped-up tale, and her real business 
is to get as much information as possible out of us. See the idea?"
     "Then you think"--Tuppence paused to grasp the supposition fully--"that it 
WAS as Jane Finn that they wanted me to go to Paris?"
     Mr. Carter smiled more wearily than ever.
     "I believe in coincidences, you know," he said.
     
     CHAPTER V
     MR.  JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER
      "WELL," said Tuppence, recovering herself, "it really seems as though it 
were meant to be."
     Carter nodded.
     "I know what you mean.  I'm superstitious myself.  Luck, and all that sort 
of thing.  Fate seems to have chosen you out to be mixed up in this."
     Tommy indulged in a chuckle.
     "My word!  I don't wonder Whittington got the wind up when Tuppence plumped 
out that name!  I should have myself. But look here, sir, we're taking up an 
awful lot of your time. Have you any tips to give us before we clear out?"
     "I think not.  My experts, working in stereotyped ways, have failed. You 
will bring imagination and an open mind to the task. Don't be discouraged if 
that too does not succeed. For one thing there is a likelihood of the pace being 
forced."
     Tuppence frowned uncomprehendingly.
     "When you had that interview with Whittington, they had time before them. I 
have information that the big coup was planned for early in the new year. But 
the Government is contemplating legislative action which will deal effectually 
with the strike menace.  They'll get wind of it soon, if they haven't already, 
and it's possible that that may bring things to a head. I hope it will myself.  
The less time they have to mature their plans the better.  I'm just warning you 
that you haven't much time before you, and that you needn't be cast down if you 
fail.  It's not an easy proposition anyway.  That's all."
     Tuppence rose.
     I think we ought to be businesslike.  What exactly can we count upon you 
for, Mr. Carter?"  Mr. Carter's lips twitched slightly, but he replied 
succinctly:  "Funds within reason, detailed information on any point, and NO 
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION.  I mean that if you get yourselves into trouble with the 
police, I can't officially help you out of it. You're on your own."
     Tuppence nodded sagely.
     "I quite understand that.  I'll write out a list of the things I want to 
know when I've had time to think.  Now--about money----"
     "Yes, Miss Tuppence.  Do you want to say how much?"
     "Not exactly.  We've got plenty to go with for the present, but when we 
want more----"
     "It will be waiting for you."
     "Yes, but--I'm sure I don't want to be rude about the Government if you've 
got anything to do with it, but you know one really has the devil of a time 
getting anything out of it! And if we have to fill up a blue form and send it 
in, and then, after three months, they send us a green one, and so on--well, 
that won't be much use, will it?"
     Mr. Carter laughed outright.
     "Don't worry, Miss Tuppence.  You will send a personal demand to me here, 
and the money, in notes, shall be sent by return of post. As to salary, shall we 
say at the rate of three hundred a year? And an equal sum for Mr. Beresford, of 
course."
     Tuppence beamed upon him.
     "How lovely.  You are kind.  I do love money!  I'll keep beautiful accounts 
of our expenses all debit and credit, and the balance on the right side, and red 
line drawn sideways with the totals the same at the bottom. I really know how to 
do it when I think."
     "I'm sure you do.  Well, good-bye, and good luck to you both."
     He shook hands with them, and in another minute they were descending the 
steps of 27 Carshalton Terrace with their heads in a whirl.
     "Tommy!  Tell me at once, who is 'Mr. Carter'?"
     Tommy murmured a name in her ear.
     "Oh!" said Tuppence, impressed.
     "And I can tell you, old bean, he's IT!"
     "Oh!" said Tuppence again.  Then she added reflectively,
     "I like him, don't you?  He looks so awfully tired and bored, and yet you 
feel that underneath he's just like steel, all keen and flashing.  Oh!"  She 
gave a skip.  "Pinch me, Tommy, do pinch me. I can't believe it's real!"
     Mr. Beresford obliged.
     "Ow!  That's enough!  Yes, we're not dreaming.  We've got a job!"
     "And what a job!  The joint venture has really begun."
     "It's more respectable than I thought it would be," said Tuppence 
thoughtfully.
     "Luckily I haven't got your craving for crime!  What time is it? Let's have 
lunch--oh!"
     The same thought sprang to the minds of each.  Tommy voiced it first.
     "Julius P. Hersheimmer!"
     "We never told Mr. Carter about hearing from him."
     "Well, there wasn't much to tell--not till we've seen him. Come on, we'd 
better take a taxi."
     "Now who's being extravagant?"
     "All expenses paid, remember.  Hop in."
     "At any rate, we shall make a better effect arriving this way," said 
Tuppence, leaning back luxuriously.  "I'm sure blackmailers never arrive in 
buses!"
     "We've ceased being blackmailers," Tommy pointed out.
     "I'm not sure I have," said Tuppence darkly.
     On inquiring for Mr. Hersheimmer, they were at once taken up to his suite. 
An impatient voice cried "Come in" in answer to the page-boy's knock, and the 
lad stood aside to let them pass in.
     Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer was a great deal younger than either Tommy or 
Tuppence had pictured him.  The girl put him down as thirty-five. He was of 
middle height, and squarely built to match his jaw.  His face was pugnacious but 
pleasant. No one could have mistaken him for anything but an American, though he 
spoke with very little accent.
     "Get my note?  Sit down and tell me right away all you know about my 
cousin."
     "Your cousin?"
     "Sure thing.  Jane Finn."
     "Is she your cousin?"
     "My father and her mother were brother and sister," explained Mr. 
Hersheimmer meticulously.
     "Oh!" cried Tuppence.  "Then you know where she is?"
     "No!"  Mr. Hersheimmer brought down his fist with a bang on the table. "I'm 
darned if I do!  Don't you?"
     "We advertised to receive information, not to give it," said Tuppence 
severely.
     "I guess I know that.  I can read.  But I thought maybe it was her back 
history you were after, and that you'd know where she was now?"
     "Well, we wouldn't mind hearing her back history," said Tuppence guardedly.
     But Mr. Hersheimmer seemed to grow suddenly suspicious.
     "See here," he declared.  "This isn't Sicily!  No demanding ransom or 
threatening to crop her ears if I refuse. These are the British Isles, so quit 
the funny business, or I'll just sing out for that beautiful big British 
policeman I see out there in Piccadilly."  Tommy hastened to explain.
     "We haven't kidnapped your cousin.  On the contrary, we're trying to find 
her.  We're employed to do so."
     Mr. Hersheimmer leant back in his chair.
     "Put me wise," he said succinctly.
     Tommy fell in with this demand in so far as he gave him a guarded version 
of the disappearance of Jane Finn, and of the possibility of her having been 
mixed up unawares in "some political show." He alluded to Tuppence and himself 
as "private inquiry agents" commissioned to find her, and added that they would 
therefore be glad of any details Mr. Hersheimmer could give them.
     That gentleman nodded approval.
     "I guess that's all right.  I was just a mite hasty. But London gets my 
goat!  I only know little old New York.  Just trot out your questions and I'll 
answer."
     For the moment this paralysed the Young Adventurers, but Tuppence, 
recovering herself, plunged boldly into the breach with a reminiscence culled 
from detective fiction.
     "When did you last see the dece--your cousin, I mean?"
     "Never seen her," responded Mr. Hersheimmer.
     "What?" demanded Tommy, astonished.
     Hersheimmer turned to him.
     "No, sir.  As I said before, my father and her mother were brother and 
sister, just as you might be"--Tommy did not correct this view of their 
relationship--"but they didn't always get on together. And when my aunt made up 
her mind to marry Amos Finn, who was a poor school teacher out West, my father 
was just mad! Said if he made his pile, as he seemed in a fair way to do, she'd 
never see a cent of it.  Well, the upshot was that Aunt Jane went out West and 
we never heard from her again.
     "The old man DID pile it up.  He went into oil, and he went into steel, and 
he played a bit with railroads, and I can tell you he made Wall Street sit up!"  
He paused.  "Then he died--last fall--and I got the dollars.  Well, would you 
believe it, my conscience got busy!  Kept knocking me up and saying: What 
abour{sic} your Aunt Jane, way out West?  It worried me some. You see, I figured 
it out that Amos Finn would never make good. He wasn't the sort.  End of it was, 
I hired a man to hunt her down.  Result, she was dead, and Amos Finn was dead, 
but they'd left a daughter--Jane--who'd been torpedoed in the Lusitania on her 
way to Paris.  She was saved all right, but they didn't seem able to hear of her 
over this side. I guessed they weren't hustling any, so I thought I'd come along 
over, and speed things up.  I phoned Scotland Yard and the Admiralty first 
thing.  The Admiralty rather choked me off, but Scotland Yard were very 
civil--said they would make inquiries, even sent a man round this morning to get 
her photograph. I'm off to Paris to-morrow, just to see what the Prefecture is 
doing. I guess if I go to and fro hustling them, they ought to get busy!"
     The energy of Mr. Hersheimmer was tremendous.  They bowed before it.
     "But say now," he ended, "you're not after her for anything? Contempt of 
court, or something British?  A proud-spirited young American girl might find 
your rules and regulations in war time rather irksome, and get up against it.  
If that's the case, and there's such a thing as graft in this country, I'll buy 
her off."
     Tuppence reassured him.
     "That's good.  Then we can work together.  What about some lunch? Shall we 
have it up here, or go down to the restaurant?"
     Tuppence expressed a preference for the latter, and Julius bowed to her 
decision.
     Oysters had just given place to Sole Colbert when a card was brought to 
Hersheimmer.
     "Inspector Japp, C.I.D. Scotland Yard again.  Another man this time. What 
does he expect I can tell him that I didn't tell the first chap?  I hope they 
haven't lost that photograph. That Western photographer's place was burned down 
and all his negatives destroyed--this is the only copy in existence. I got it 
from the principal of the college there."
     An unformulated dread swept over Tuppence.
     "You--you don't know the name of the man who came this morning?"
     "Yes, I do.  No, I don't. Half a second.  It was on his card.  Oh, I know! 
Inspector Brown.  Quiet, unassuming sort of chap."
     
     CHAPTER VI
     A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
     A veil might with profit be drawn over the events of the next half-hour. 
Suffice it to say that no such person as "Inspector Brown" was known to Scotland 
Yard.  The photograph of Jane Finn, which would have been of the utmost value to 
the police in tracing her, was lost beyond recovery. Once again "Mr. Brown" had 
triumphed.
     The immediate result of this set back was to effect a rapprochement between 
Julius Hersheimmer and the Young Adventurers.  All barriers went down with a 
crash, and Tommy and Tuppence felt they had known the young American all their 
lives.  They abandoned the discreet reticence of "private inquiry agents," and 
revealed to him the whole history of the joint venture, whereat the young man 
declared himself "tickled to death."
     He turned to Tuppence at the close of the narration.
     "I've always had a kind of idea that English girls were just a mite 
moss-grown. Old-fashioned and sweet, you know, but scared to move round without 
a footman or a maiden aunt. I guess I'm a bit behind the times!"
     The upshot of these confidential relations was that Tommy and Tuppence took 
up their abode forthwith at the Ritz, in order, as Tuppence put it, to keep in 
touch with Jane Finn's only living relation. "And put like that," she added 
confidentially to Tommy, "nobody could boggle at the expense!"
     Nobody did, which was the great thing.
     "And now," said the young lady on the morning after their installation, "to 
work!"
     Mr. Beresford put down the Daily Mail, which he was reading, and applauded 
with somewhat unnecessary vigour.  He was politely requested by his colleague 
not to be an ass.
     "Dash it all, Tommy, we've got to DO something for our money."
     Tommy sighed.
     "Yes, I fear even the dear old Government will not support us at the Ritz 
in idleness for ever."
     "Therefore, as I said before, we must DO something."
     "Well," said Tommy, picking up the Daily Mail again, "DO it. I shan't stop 
you."
     "You see," continued Tuppence.  "I've been thinking----"
     She was interrupted by a fresh bout of applause.
     "It's all very well for you to sit there being funny, Tommy.  It would do 
you no harm to do a little brain work too."
     "My union, Tuppence, my union!  It does not permit me to work before 11 
a.m."
     "Tommy, do you want something thrown at you?  It is absolutely essential 
that we should without delay map out a plan of campaign."
     "Hear, hear!"
     "Well, let's do it."
     Tommy laid his paper finally aside.  "There's something of the simplicity 
of the truly great mind about you, Tuppence.  Fire ahead.  I'm listening."
     "To begin with," said Tuppence, "what have we to go upon?"
     "Absolutely nothing," said Tommy cheerily.
     "Wrong!"  Tuppence wagged an energetic finger.  "We have two distinct 
clues."
     "What are they?"
     "First clue, we know one of the gang."
     "Whittington?"
     "Yes.  I'd recognize him anywhere."
     "Hum," said Tommy doubtfully, "I don't call that much of a clue. You don't 
know where to look for him, and it's about a thousand to one against your 
running against him by accident."
     "I'm not so sure about that," replied Tuppence thoughtfully. "I've often 
noticed that once coincidences start happening they go on happening in the most 
extraordinary way. I dare say it's some natural law that we haven't found out. 
Still, as you say, we can't rely on that.  But there ARE places in London where 
simply every one is bound to turn up sooner or later. Piccadilly Circus, for 
instance.  One of my ideas was to take up my stand there every day with a tray 
of flags."
     "What about meals?" inquired the practical Tommy.
     "How like a man!  What does mere food matter?"
     "That's all very well.  You've just had a thundering good breakfast. No 
one's got a better appetite than you have, Tuppence, and by tea-time you'd be 
eating the flags, pins and all.  But, honestly, I don't think much of the idea.  
Whittington mayn't be in London at all."
     "That's true.  Anyway, I think clue No. 2 is more promising."
     "Let's hear it."
     "It's nothing much.  Only a Christian name--Rita.  Whittington mentioned it 
that day."
     "Are you proposing a third advertisement:  Wanted, female crook, answering 
to the name of Rita?"
     "I am not.  I propose to reason in a logical manner. That man, Danvers, was 
shadowed on the way over, wasn't he? And it's more likely to have been a woman 
than a man----"
     "I don't see that at all."
     "I am absolutely certain that it would be a woman, and a good-looking one," 
replied Tuppence calmly.
     "On these technical points I bow to your decision," murmured Mr. Beresford.
     "Now, obviously this woman, whoever she was, was saved."
     "How do you make that out?"
     "If she wasn't, how would they have known Jane Finn had got the papers?"
     "Correct.  Proceed, O Sherlock!"
     "Now there's just a chance, I admit it's only a chance, that this woman may 
have been 'Rita.' "
     "And if so?"
     "If so, we've got to hunt through the survivors of the Lusitania till we 
find her."
     "Then the first thing is to get a list of the survivors."
     "I've got it.  I wrote a long list of things I wanted to know, and sent it 
to Mr. Carter.  I got his reply this morning, and among other things it encloses 
the official statement of those saved from the Lusitania.  How's that for clever 
little Tuppence?"
     "Full marks for industry, zero for modesty.  But the great point is, is 
there a 'Rita' on the list?"
     "That's just what I don't know," confessed Tuppence.
     "Don't know?"
     "Yes.  Look here."  Together they bent over the list. "You see, very few 
Christian names are given.  They're nearly all Mrs. or Miss."
     Tommy nodded.
     "That complicates matters," he murmured thoughtfully.
     Tuppence gave her characteristic "terrier" shake.
     "Well, we've just got to get down to it, that's all. We'll start with the 
London area.  Just note down the addresses of any of the females who live in 
London or roundabout, while I put on my hat."
     Five minutes later the young couple emerged into Piccadilly, and a few 
seconds later a taxi was bearing them to The Laurels, Glendower Road, N.7, the 
residence of Mrs. Edgar Keith, whose name figured first in a list of seven 
reposing in Tommy's pocket-book.
     The Laurels was a dilapidated house, standing back from the road with a few 
grimy bushes to support the fiction of a front garden. Tommy paid off the taxi, 
and accompanied Tuppence to the front door bell. As she was about to ring it, he 
arrested her hand.
     "What are you going to say?"
     "What am I going to say?  Why, I shall say--Oh dear, I don't know. It's 
very awkward."
     "I thought as much," said Tommy with satisfaction. "How like a woman!  No 
foresight!  Now just stand aside, and see how easily the mere male deals with 
the situation." He pressed the bell.  Tuppence withdrew to a suitable spot.
     A slatternly looking servant, with an extremely dirty face and a pair of 
eyes that did not match, answered the door.
     Tommy had produced a notebook and pencil.
     "Good morning," he said briskly and cheerfully.  "From the Hampstead 
Borough Council.  The new Voting Register.  Mrs. Edgar Keith lives here, does 
she not?"
     "Yaas," said the servant.
     "Christian name?" asked Tommy, his pencil poised.
     "Missus's? Eleanor Jane."
     "Eleanor," spelt Tommy.  "Any sons or daughters over twenty-one?"
     "Naow."
     "Thank you."  Tommy closed the notebook with a brisk snap.  "Good morning."
     The servant volunteered her first remark:
     "I thought perhaps as you'd come about the gas," she observed cryptically, 
and shut the door.
     Tommy rejoined his accomplice.
     "You see, Tuppence," he observed.  "Child's play to the masculine mind."
     "I don't mind admitting that for once you've scored handsomely. I should 
never have thought of that."
     "Good wheeze, wasn't it?  And we can repeat it ad lib."
     Lunch-time found the young couple attacking a steak and chips in an obscure 
hostelry with avidity.  They had collected a Gladys Mary and a Marjorie, been 
baffled by one change of address, and had been forced to listen to a long 
lecture on universal suffrage from a vivacious American lady whose Christian 
name had proved to be Sadie.
     "Ah!" said Tommy, imbibing a long draught of beer, "I feel better. Where's 
the next draw?"
     The notebook lay on the table between them.  Tuppence picked it up.
     "Mrs. Vandemeyer," she read, "20 South Audley Mansions.  Miss Wheeler, 43 
Clapington Road, Battersea.  She's a lady's maid, as far as I remember, so 
probably won't be there, and, anyway, she's not likely."
     "Then the Mayfair lady is clearly indicated as the first port of call."
     "Tommy, I'm getting discouraged."
     "Buck up, old bean.  We always knew it was an outside chance. And, anyway, 
we're only starting.  If we draw a blank in London, there's a fine tour of 
England, Ireland and Scotland before us."
     "True," said Tuppence, her flagging spirits reviving. "And all expenses 
paid!  But, oh, Tommy, I do like things to happen quickly.  So far, adventure 
has succeeded adventure, but this morning has been dull as dull."
     "You must stifle this longing for vulgar sensation, Tuppence.  Remember 
that if Mr. Brown is all he is reported to be, it's a wonder that he has not ere 
now done us to death.  That's a good sentence, quite a literary flavour about 
it."
     "You're really more conceited than I am--with less excuse!  Ahem!  But it 
certainly is queer that Mr. Brown has not yet wreaked vengeance upon us. (You 
see, I can do it too.) We pass on our way unscathed."
     "Perhaps he doesn't think us worth bothering about," suggested the young 
man simply.
     Tuppence received the remark with great disfavour.
     "How horrid you are, Tommy.  Just as though we didn't count."
     "Sorry, Tuppence.  What I meant was that we work like moles in the dark, 
and that he has no suspicion of our nefarious schemes.  Ha ha!"
     "Ha ha!" echoed Tuppence approvingly, as she rose.
     South Audley Mansions was an imposing-looking block of flats just off Park 
Lane.  No. 20 was on the second floor.
     Tommy had by this time the glibness born of practice. He rattled off the 
formula to the elderly woman, looking more like a housekeeper than a servant, 
who opened the door to him.
     "Christian name?"
     "Margaret."
     Tommy spelt it, but the other interrupted him.
     "No, G U E."
     "Oh, Marguerite; French way, I see."  He paused, then plunged boldly. "We 
had her down as Rita Vandemeyer, but I suppose that's incorrect?"
     "She's mostly called that, sir, but Marguerite's her name."
     "Thank you.  That's all.  Good morning."
     Hardly able to contain his excitement, Tommy hurried down the stairs. 
Tuppence was waiting at the angle of the turn.
     "You heard?"
     "Yes.  Oh, TOMMY!"
     Tommy squeezed her arm sympathetically.
     "I know, old thing.  I feel the same."
     "It's--it's so lovely to think of things--and then for them really to 
happen!" cried Tuppence enthusiastically.
     Her hand was still in Tommy's. They had reached the entrance hall. There 
were footsteps on the stairs above them, and voices.
     Suddenly, to Tommy's complete surprise, Tuppence dragged him into the 
little space by the side of the lift where the shadow was deepest.
     "What the----"
     "Hush!"
     Two men came down the stairs and passed out through the entrance. 
Tuppence's hand closed tighter on Tommy's arm.
     "Quick--follow them.  I daren't. He might recognize me. I don't know who 
the other man is, but the bigger of the two was Whittington."
     
     CHAPTER VII
     THE HOUSE IN SOHO
     WHITTINGTON and his companion were walking at a good pace. Tommy started in 
pursuit at once, and was in time to see them turn the corner of the street.  His 
vigorous strides soon enabled him to gain upon them, and by the time he, in his 
turn, reached the corner the distance between them was sensibly lessened. The 
small Mayfair streets were comparatively deserted, and he judged it wise to 
content himself with keeping them in sight.
     The sport was a new one to him.  Though familiar with the technicalities 
from a course of novel reading, he had never before attempted to "follow" 
anyone, and it appeared to him at once that, in actual practice, the proceeding 
was fraught with difficulties. Supposing, for instance, that they should 
suddenly hail a taxi? In books, you simply leapt into another, promised the 
driver a sovereign--or its modern equivalent--and there you were. In actual 
fact, Tommy foresaw that it was extremely likely there would be no second taxi.  
Therefore he would have to run. What happened in actual fact to a young man who 
ran incessantly and persistently through the London streets?  In a main road he 
might hope to create the illusion that he was merely running for a bus. But in 
these obscure aristocratic byways he could not but feel that an officious 
policeman might stop him to explain matters.
     At this juncture in his thoughts a taxi with flag erect turned the corner 
of the street ahead.  Tommy held his breath. Would they hail it?
     He drew a sigh of relief as they allowed it to pass unchallenged. Their 
course was a zigzag one designed to bring them as quickly as possible to Oxford 
Street.  When at length they turned into it, proceeding in an easterly 
direction, Tommy slightly increased his pace. Little by little he gained upon 
them.  On the crowded pavement there was little chance of his attracting their 
notice, and he was anxious if possible to catch a word or two of their 
conversation. In this he was completely foiled; they spoke low and the din of 
the traffic drowned their voices effectually.
     Just before the Bond Street Tube station they crossed the road, Tommy, 
unperceived, faithfully at their heels, and entered the big Lyons'. There they 
went up to the first floor, and sat at a small table in the window.  It was 
late, and the place was thinning out. Tommy took a seat at the table next to 
them, sitting directly behind Whittington in case of recognition.  On the other 
hand, he had a full view of the second man and studied him attentively. He was 
fair, with a weak, unpleasant face, and Tommy put him down as being either a 
Russian or a Pole.  He was probably about fifty years of age, his shoulders 
cringed a little as he talked, and his eyes, small and crafty, shifted 
unceasingly.
     Having already lunched heartily, Tommy contented himself with ordering a 
Welsh rarebit and a cup of coffee.  Whittington ordered a substantial lunch for 
himself and his companion; then, as the waitress withdrew, he moved his chair a 
little closer to the table and began to talk earnestly in a low voice.  The 
other man joined in.  Listen as he would, Tommy could only catch a word here and 
there; but the gist of it seemed to be some directions or orders which the big 
man was impressing on his companion, and with which the latter seemed from time 
to time to disagree. Whittington addressed the other as Boris.
     Tommy caught the word "Ireland" several times, also "propaganda," but of 
Jane Finn there was no mention.  Suddenly, in a lull in the clatter of the room, 
he got one phrase entire.  Whittington was speaking. "Ah, but you don't know 
Flossie.  She's a marvel.  An archbishop would swear she was his own mother.  
She gets the voice right every time, and that's really the principal thing."
     Tommy did not hear Boris's reply, but in response to it Whittington said 
something that sounded like:  "Of course--only in an emergency...."
     Then he lost the thread again.  But presently the phrases became distinct 
again whether because the other two had insensibly raised their voices, or 
because Tommy's ears were getting more attuned, he could not tell. But two words 
certainly had a most stimulating effect upon the listener. They were uttered by 
Boris and they were:  "Mr. Brown."
     Whittington seemed to remonstrate with him, but he merely laughed.
     "Why not, my friend?  It is a name most respectable--most common. Did he 
not choose it for that reason?  Ah, I should like to meet him--Mr. Brown."
     There was a steely ring in Whittington's voice as he replied:
     "Who knows?  You may have met him already."
     "Bah!" retorted the other.  "That is children's talk--a fable for the 
police.  Do you know what I say to myself sometimes? That he is a fable invented 
by the Inner Ring, a bogy to frighten us with. It might be so."
     "And it might not."
     "I wonder ... or is it indeed true that he is with us and amongst us, 
unknown to all but a chosen few?  If so, he keeps his secret well. And the idea 
is a good one, yes.  We never know.  We look at each other--ONE OF US IS MR.  
BROWN--which?  He commands--but also he serves. Among us--in the midst of us.  
And no one knows which he is...."
     With an effort the Russian shook off the vagary of his fancy. He looked at 
his watch.
     "Yes," said Whittington.  "We might as well go."
     He called the waitress and asked for his bill.  Tommy did likewise, and a 
few moments later was following the two men down the stairs.
     Outside, Whittington hailed a taxi, and directed the driver to go to 
Waterloo.
     Taxis were plentiful here, and before Whittington's had driven off another 
was drawing up to the curb in obedience to Tommy's peremptory hand.
     "Follow that other taxi," directed the young man. "Don't lose it."
     The elderly chauffeur showed no interest.  He merely grunted and jerked 
down his flag.  The drive was uneventful. Tommy's taxi came to rest at the 
departure platform just after Whittington's. Tommy was behind him at the 
booking-office. He took a first-class single ticket to Bournemouth, Tommy did 
the same. As he emerged, Boris remarked, glancing up at the clock: "You are 
early.  You have nearly half an hour."
     Boris's words had aroused a new train of thought in Tommy's mind. Clearly 
Whittington was making the journey alone, while the other remained in London.  
Therefore he was left with a choice as to which he would follow.  Obviously, he 
could not follow both of them unless----Like Boris, he glanced up at the clock, 
and then to the announcement board of the trains. The Bournemouth train left at 
3.30. It was now ten past. Whittington and Boris were walking up and down by the 
bookstall. He gave one doubtful look at them, then hurried into an adjacent 
telephone box.  He dared not waste time in trying to get hold of Tuppence.  In 
all probability she was still in the neighbourhood of South Audley Mansions.  
But there remained another ally. He rang up the Ritz and asked for Julius 
Hersheimmer.  There was a click and a buzz.  Oh, if only the young American was 
in his room! There was another click, and then "Hello" in unmistakable accents 
came over the wire.
     "That you, Hersheimmer?  Beresford speaking. I'm at Waterloo.  I've 
followed Whittington and another man here. No time to explain.  Whittington's 
off to Bournemouth by the 3.30. Can you get there by then?"
     The reply was reassuring.
     "Sure.  I'll hustle."
     The telephone rang off.  Tommy put back the receiver with a sigh of relief. 
 His opinion of Julius's power of hustling was high. He felt instinctively that 
the American would arrive in time.
     Whittington and Boris were still where he had left them. If Boris remained 
to see his friend off, all was well. Then Tommy fingered his pocket 
thoughtfully.  In spite of the carte blanche assured to him, he had not yet 
acquired the habit of going about with any considerable sum of money on him. The 
taking of the first-class ticket to Bournemouth had left him with only a few 
shillings in his pocket. It was to be hoped that Julius would arrive better 
provided.
     In the meantime, the minutes were creeping by:  3.15, 3.20, 3.25, 3.27. 
Supposing Julius did not get there in time.  3.29.... Doors were banging.  Tommy 
felt cold waves of despair pass over him. Then a hand fell on his shoulder.
     "Here I am, son.  Your British traffic beats description! Put me wise to 
the crooks right away."
     "That's Whittington--there, getting in now, that big dark man. The other is 
the foreign chap he's talking to."
     "I'm on to them.  Which of the two is my bird?"
     Tommy had thought out this question.
     "Got any money with you?"
     Julius shook his head, and Tommy's face fell.
     "I guess I haven't more than three or four hundred dollars with me at the 
moment," explained the American.
     Tommy gave a faint whoop of relief.
     "Oh, Lord, you millionaires!  You don't talk the same language! Climb 
aboard the lugger.  Here's your ticket.  Whittington's your man."
     "Me for Whittington!" said Julius darkly.  The train was just starting as 
he swung himself aboard.  "So long, Tommy."  The train slid out of the station.
     Tommy drew a deep breath.  The man Boris was coming along the platform 
towards him.  Tommy allowed him to pass and then took up the chase once more.
     From Waterloo Boris took the tube as far as Piccadilly Circus.  Then he 
walked up Shaftesbury Avenue, finally turning off into the maze of mean streets 
round Soho.  Tommy followed him at a judicious distance.
     They reached at length a small dilapidated square.  The houses there had a 
sinister air in the midst of their dirt and decay. Boris looked round, and Tommy 
drew back into the shelter of a friendly porch.  The place was almost deserted. 
It was a cul-de-sac, and consequently no traffic passed that way. The stealthy 
way the other had looked round stimulated Tommy's imagination.  From the shelter 
of the doorway he watched him go up the steps of a particularly evil-looking 
house and rap sharply, with a peculiar rhythm, on the door.  It was opened 
promptly, he said a word or two to the doorkeeper, then passed inside. The door 
was shut to again.
     It was at this juncture that Tommy lost his head.  What he ought to have 
done, what any sane man would have done, was to remain patiently where he was 
and wait for his man to come out again. What he did do was entirely foreign to 
the sober common sense which was, as a rule, his leading characteristic. 
Something, as he expressed it, seemed to snap in his brain. Without a moment's 
pause for reflection he, too, went up the steps, and reproduced as far as he was 
able the peculiar knock.
     The door swung open with the same promptness as before. A villainous-faced 
man with close-cropped hair stood in the doorway.
     "Well?" he grunted.
     It was at that moment that the full realization of his folly began to come 
home to Tommy.  But he dared not hesitate. He seized at the first words that 
came into his mind.
     "Mr. Brown?" he said.
     To his surprise the man stood aside.
     "Upstairs," he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, "second door on 
your left."
     
     CHAPTER VIII
     THE ADVENTURES OF TOMMY
      TAKEN aback though he was by the man's words, Tommy did not hesitate. If 
audacity had successfully carried him so far, it was to be hoped it would carry 
him yet farther.  He quietly passed into the house and mounted the ramshackle 
staircase.  Everything in the house was filthy beyond words. The grimy paper, of 
a pattern now indistinguishable, hung in loose festoons from the wall.  In every 
angle was a grey mass of cobweb.
     Tommy proceeded leisurely.  By the time he reached the bend of the 
staircase, he had heard the man below disappear into a back room.  Clearly no 
suspicion attached to him as yet. To come to the house and ask for "Mr. Brown" 
appeared indeed to be a reasonable and natural proceeding.
     At the top of the stairs Tommy halted to consider his next move. In front 
of him ran a narrow passage, with doors opening on either side of it.  From the 
one nearest him on the left came a low murmur of voices.  It was this room which 
he had been directed to enter. But what held his glance fascinated was a small 
recess immediately on his right, half concealed by a torn velvet curtain. It was 
directly opposite the left-handed door and, owing to its angle, it also 
commanded a good view of the upper part of the staircase. As a hiding-place for 
one or, at a pinch, two men, it was ideal, being about two feet deep and three 
feet wide.  It attracted Tommy mightily. He thought things over in his usual 
slow and steady way, deciding that the mention of "Mr. Brown" was not a request 
for an individual, but in all probability a password used by the gang.  His 
lucky use of it had gained him admission.  So far he had aroused no suspicion. 
But he must decide quickly on his next step.
     Suppose he were boldly to enter the room on the left of the passage. Would 
the mere fact of his having been admitted to the house be sufficient? Perhaps a 
further password would be required, or, at any rate, some proof of identity.  
The doorkeeper clearly did not know all the members of the gang by sight, but it 
might be different upstairs. On the whole it seemed to him that luck had served 
him very well so far, but that there was such a thing as trusting it too far. To 
enter that room was a colossal risk.  He could not hope to sustain his part 
indefinitely; sooner or later he was almost bound to betray himself, and then he 
would have thrown away a vital chance in mere foolhardiness.
     A repetition of the signal knock sounded on the door below, and Tommy, his 
mind made up, slipped quickly into the recess, and cautiously drew the curtain 
farther across so that it shielded him completely from sight. There were several 
rents and slits in the ancient material which afforded him a good view.  He 
would watch events, and any time he chose could, after all, join the assembly, 
modelling his behaviour on that of the new arrival.
     The man who came up the staircase with a furtive, soft-footed tread was 
quite unknown to Tommy.  He was obviously of the very dregs of society. The low 
beetling brows, and the criminal jaw, the bestiality of the whole countenance 
were new to the young man, though he was a type that Scotland Yard would have 
recognized at a glance.
     The man passed the recess, breathing heavily as he went.  He stopped at the 
door opposite, and gave a repetition of the signal knock. A voice inside called 
out something, and the man opened the door and passed in, affording Tommy a 
momentary glimpse of the room inside. He thought there must be about four or 
five people seated round a long table that took up most of the space, but his 
attention was caught and held by a tall man with close-cropped hair and a short, 
pointed, naval-looking beard, who sat at the head of the table with papers in 
front of him. As the new-comer entered he glanced up, and with a correct, but 
curiously precise enunciation, which attracted Tommy's notice, he asked:
     "Your number, comrade?"
     "Fourteen, gov'nor," replied the other hoarsely.
     "Correct."
     The door shut again.
     "If that isn't a Hun, I'm a Dutchman!" said Tommy to himself. "And running 
the show darned systematically too--as they always do. Lucky I didn't roll in.  
I'd have given the wrong number, and there would have been the deuce to pay.  
No, this is the place for me. Hullo, here's another knock."
     This visitor proved to be of an entirely different type to the last. Tommy 
recognized in him an Irish Sinn Feiner.  Certainly Mr. Brown's organization was 
a far-reaching concern.  The common criminal, the well-bred Irish gentleman, the 
pale Russian, and the efficient German master of the ceremonies!  Truly a 
strange and sinister gathering! Who was this man who held in his finger these 
curiously variegated links of an unknown chain?
     In this case, the procedure was exactly the same.  The signal knock, the 
demand for a number, and the reply "Correct."
     Two knocks followed in quick succession on the door below.  The first man 
was quite unknown to Tommy, who put him down as a city clerk. A quiet, 
intelligent-looking man, rather shabbily dressed. The second was of the working 
classes, and his face was vaguely familiar to the young man.
     Three minutes later came another, a man of commanding appearance, 
exquisitely dressed, and evidently well born.  His face, again, was not unknown 
to the watcher, though he could not for the moment put a name to it.
     After his arrival there was a long wait.  In fact Tommy concluded that the 
gathering was now complete, and was just cautiously creeping out from his 
hiding-place, when another knock sent him scuttling back to cover.
     This last-comer came up the stairs so quietly that he was almost abreast of 
Tommy before the young man had realized his presence.
     He was a small man, very pale, with a gentle almost womanish air. The angle 
of the cheek-bones hinted at his Slavonic ancestry, otherwise there was nothing 
to indicate his nationality. As he passed the recess, he turned his head slowly. 
The strange light eyes seemed to burn through the curtain; Tommy could hardly 
believe that the man did not know he was there and in spite of himself he 
shivered. He was no more fanciful than the majority of young Englishmen, but he 
could not rid himself of the impression that some unusually potent force 
emanated from the man.  The creature reminded him of a venomous snake.
     A moment later his impression was proved correct.  The new-comer knocked on 
the door as all had done, but his reception was very different. The bearded man 
rose to his feet, and all the others followed suit. The German came forward and 
shook hands.  His heels clicked together.
     "We are honoured," he said.  "We are greatly honoured. I much feared that 
it would be impossible."
     The other answered in a low voice that had a kind of hiss in it:
     "There were difficulties.  It will not be possible again, I fear.  But one 
meeting is essential--to define my policy. I can do nothing without--Mr. Brown.  
He is here?"
     The change in the German's voice was audible as he replied with slight 
hesitation:
     "We have received a message.  It is impossible for him to be present in 
person."  He stopped, giving a curious impression of having left the sentence 
unfinished.
     A very slow smile overspread the face of the other. He looked round at a 
circle of uneasy faces.
     "Ah!  I understand.  I have read of his methods. He works in the dark and 
trusts no one.  But, all the same, it is possible that he is among us now...." 
He looked round him again, and again that expression of fear swept over the 
group. Each man seemed eyeing his neighbour doubtfully.
     The Russian tapped his cheek.
     "So be it.  Let us proceed."
     The German seemed to pull himself together.  He indicated the place he had 
been occupying at the head of the table. The Russian demurred, but the other 
insisted.
     "It is the only possible place," he said, "for--Number One. Perhaps Number 
Fourteen will shut the door?"
     In another moment Tommy was once more confronting bare wooden panels, and 
the voices within had sunk once more to a mere undistinguishable murmur.  Tommy 
became restive. The conversation he had overheard had stimulated his curiosity. 
He felt that, by hook or by crook, he must hear more.
     There was no sound from below, and it did not seem likely that the 
doorkeeper would come upstairs.  After listening intently for a minute or two, 
he put his head round the curtain. The passage was deserted.  Tommy bent down 
and removed his shoes, then, leaving them behind the curtain, he walked gingerly 
out on his stockinged feet, and kneeling down by the closed door he laid his ear 
cautiously to the crack. To his intense annoyance he could distinguish little 
more; just a chance word here and there if a voice was raised, which merely 
served to whet his curiosity still farther.
     He eyed the handle of the door tentatively.  Could he turn it by degrees so 
gently and imperceptibly that those in the room would notice nothing?  He 
decided that with great care it could be done.  Very slowly, a fraction of an 
inch at a time, he moved it round, holding his breath in his excessive care. A 
little more--a little more still--would it never be finished? Ah! at last it 
would turn no farther.
     He stayed so for a minute or two, then drew a deep breath, and pressed it 
ever so slightly inward.  The door did not budge.  Tommy was annoyed. If he had 
to use too much force, it would almost certainly creak. He waited until the 
voices rose a little, then he tried again. Still nothing happened.  He increased 
the pressure.  Had the beastly thing stuck?  Finally, in desperation, he pushed 
with all his might. But the door remained firm, and at last the truth dawned 
upon him. It was locked or bolted on the inside.
     For a moment or two Tommy's indignation got the better of him.
     "Well, I'm damned!" he said.  "What a dirty trick!"
     As his indignation cooled, he prepared to face the situation. Clearly the 
first thing to be done was to restore the handle to its original position.  If 
he let it go suddenly, the men inside would be almost certain to notice it, so, 
with the same infinite pains, he reversed his former tactics.  All went well, 
and with a sigh of relief the young man rose to his feet.  There was a certain 
bulldog tenacity about Tommy that made him slow to admit defeat. Checkmated for 
the moment, he was far from abandoning the conflict. He still intended to hear 
what was going on in the locked room. As one plan had failed, he must hunt about 
for another.
     He looked round him.  A little farther along the passage on the left was a 
second door.  He slipped silently along to it. He listened for a moment or two, 
then tried the handle. It yielded, and he slipped inside.
     The room, which was untenanted, was furnished as a bedroom. Like everything 
else in the house, the furniture was falling to pieces, and the dirt was, if 
anything, more abundant.
     But what interested Tommy was the thing he had hoped to find, a 
communicating door between the two rooms, up on the left by the window. 
Carefully closing the door into the passage behind him, he stepped across to the 
other and examined it closely.  The bolt was shot across it. It was very rusty, 
and had clearly not been used for some time. By gently wriggling it to and fro, 
Tommy managed to draw it back without making too much noise.  Then he repeated 
his former manoeuvres with the handle--this time with complete success.  The 
door swung open--a crack, a mere fraction, but enough for Tommy to hear what 
went on. There was a velvet portiere on the inside of this door which prevented 
him from seeing, but he was able to recognize the voices with a reasonable 
amount of accuracy.
     The Sinn Feiner was speaking.  His rich Irish voice was unmistakable:
     "That's all very well.  But more money is essential. No money--no results!"
     Another voice which Tommy rather thought was that of Boris replied:
     "Will you guarantee that there ARE results?"
     "In a month from now--sooner or later as you wish--I will guarantee you 
such a reign of terror in Ireland as shall shake the British Empire to its 
foundations."
     There was a pause, and then came the soft, sibilant accents of Number One:
     "Good!  You shall have the money.  Boris, you will see to that."
     Boris asked a question:
     "Via the Irish Americans, and Mr. Potter as usual?"
     "I guess that'll be all right!" said a new voice, with a transatlantic 
intonation, "though I'd like to point out, here and now, that things are getting 
a mite difficult. There's not the sympathy there was, and a growing disposition 
to let the Irish settle their own affairs without interference from America."
     Tommy felt that Boris had shrugged his shoulders as he answered:
     "Does that matter, since the money only nominally comes from the States?"
     "The chief difficulty is the landing of the ammunition," said the Sinn 
Feiner.  "The money is conveyed in easily enough--thanks to our colleague here."
     Another voice, which Tommy fancied was that of the tall, commanding-looking 
man whose face had seemed familiar to him, said:
     "Think of the feelings of Belfast if they could hear you!"
     "That is settled, then," said the sibilant tones. "Now, in the matter of 
the loan to an English newspaper, you have arranged the details satisfactorily, 
Boris?"
     "I think so."
     "That is good.  An official denial from Moscow will be forthcoming if 
necessary."
     There was a pause, and then the clear voice of the German broke the 
silence:
     "I am directed by--Mr. Brown, to place the summaries of the reports from 
the different unions before you.  That of the miners is most satisfactory. We 
must hold back the railways.  There may be trouble with the A.S.E."
     For a long time there was a silence, broken only by the rustle of papers 
and an occasional word of explanation from the German.  Then Tommy heard the 
light tap-tap of fingers, drumming on the table.
     "And--the date, my friend?" said Number One.
     "The 29th."
     The Russian seemed to consider:
     "That is rather soon."
     "I know.  But it was settled by the principal Labour leaders, and we cannot 
seem to interfere too much.  They must believe it to be entirely their own 
show."
     The Russian laughed softly, as though amused.
     "Yes, yes," he said.  "That is true.  They must have no inkling that we are 
using them for our own ends.  They are honest men--and that is their value to 
us.  It is curious--but you cannot make a revolution without honest men. The 
instinct of the populace is infallible."  He paused, and then repeated, as 
though the phrase pleased him:  "Every revolution has had its honest men. They 
are soon disposed of afterwards."
     There was a sinister note in his voice.
     The German resumed:
     "Clymes must go.  He is too far-seeing. Number Fourteen will see to that."
     There was a hoarse murmur.
     "That's all right, gov'nor." And then after a moment or two: "Suppose I'm 
nabbed."
     "You will have the best legal talent to defend you," replied the German 
quietly.  "But in any case you will wear gloves fitted with the finger-prints of 
a notorious housebreaker. You have little to fear."
     "Oh, I ain't afraid, gov'nor. All for the good of the cause. The streets is 
going to run with blood, so they say." He spoke with a grim relish.  "Dreams of 
it, sometimes, I does. And diamonds and pearls rolling about in the gutter for 
anyone to pick up!"
     Tommy heard a chair shifted.  Then Number One spoke:
     "Then all is arranged.  We are assured of success?"
     "I--think so."  But the German spoke with less than his usual confidence.
     Number One's voice held suddenly a dangerous quality:
     "What has gone wrong?"
     "Nothing; but----"
     "But what?"
     "The Labour leaders.  Without them, as you say, we can do nothing. If they 
do not declare a general strike on the 29th----"
     "Why should they not?"
     "As you've said, they're honest.  And, in spite of everything we've done to 
discredit the Government in their eyes, I'm not sure that they haven't got a 
sneaking faith and belief in it."
     "But----"
     "I know.  They abuse it unceasingly.  But, on the whole, public opinion 
swings to the side of the Government.  They will not go against it."
     Again the Russian's fingers drummed on the table.
     "To the point, my friend.  I was given to understand that there was a 
certain document in existence which assured success."
     "That is so.  If that document were placed before the leaders, the result 
would be immediate.  They would publish it broadcast throughout England, and 
declare for the revolution without a moment's hesitation. The Government would 
be broken finally and completely."
     "Then what more do you want?"
     "The document itself," said the German bluntly.
     "Ah!  It is not in your possession?  But you know where it is?"
     "No."
     "Does anyone know where it is?"
     "One person--perhaps.  And we are not sure of that even."
     "Who is this person?"
     "A girl."
     Tommy held his breath.
     "A girl?"  The Russian's voice rose contemptuously. "And you have not made 
her speak?  In Russia we have ways of making a girl talk."
     "This case is different," said the German sullenly.
     "How--different?"  He paused a moment, then went on: "Where is the girl 
now?"
     "The girl?"
     "Yes."
     "She is----"
     But Tommy heard no more.  A crashing blow descended on his head, and all 
was darkness.
     
     CHAPTER IX
     TUPPENCE ENTERS DOMESTIC SERVICE
     WHEN Tommy set forth on the trail of the two men, it took all Tuppence's 
self-command to refrain from accompanying him. However, she contained herself as 
best she might, consoled by the reflection that her reasoning had been justified 
by events. The two men had undoubtedly come from the second floor flat, and that 
one slender thread of the name "Rita" had set the Young Adventurers once more 
upon the track of the abductors of Jane Finn.
     The question was what to do next?  Tuppence hated letting the grass grow 
under her feet.  Tommy was amply employed, and debarred from joining him in the 
chase, the girl felt at a loose end. She retraced her steps to the entrance hall 
of the mansions. It was now tenanted by a small lift-boy, who was polishing 
brass fittings, and whistling the latest air with a good deal of vigour and a 
reasonable amount of accuracy.
     He glanced round at Tuppence's entry.  There was a certain amount of the 
gamin element in the girl, at all events she invariably got on well with small 
boys.  A sympathetic bond seemed instantly to be formed. She reflected that an 
ally in the enemy's camp, so to speak, was not to be despised.
     "Well, William," she remarked cheerfully, in the best approved 
hospital-early-morning style, "getting a good shine up?"
     The boy grinned responsively.
     "Albert, miss," he corrected.
     "Albert be it," said Tuppence.  She glanced mysteriously round the hall. 
The effect was purposely a broad one in case Albert should miss it. She leaned 
towards the boy and dropped her voice:  "I want a word with you, Albert."
     Albert ceased operations on the fittings and opened his mouth slightly.
     "Look!  Do you know what this is?"  With a dramatic gesture she flung back 
the left side of her coat and exposed a small enamelled badge. It was extremely 
unlikely that Albert would have any knowledge of it--indeed, it would have been 
fatal for Tuppence's plans, since the badge in question was the device of a 
local training corps originated by the archdeacon in the early days of the war. 
Its presence in Tuppence's coat was due to the fact that she had used it for 
pinning in some flowers a day or two before. But Tuppence had sharp eyes, and 
had noted the corner of a threepenny detective novel protruding from Albert's 
pocket, and the immediate enlargement of his eyes told her that her tactics were 
good, and that the fish would rise to the bait.
     "American Detective Force!" she hissed.
     Albert fell for it.
     "Lord!" he murmured ecstatically.
     Tuppence nodded at him with the air of one who has established a thorough 
understanding.
     "Know who I'm after?" she inquired genially.
     Albert, still round-eyed, demanded breathlessly:
     "One of the flats?"
     Tuppence nodded and jerked a thumb up the stairs.
     "No. 20.  Calls herself Vandemeyer.  Vandemeyer!  Ha! ha!"
     Albert's hand stole to his pocket.
     "A crook?" he queried eagerly.
     "A crook?  I should say so.  Ready Rita they call her in the States."
     "Ready Rita," repeated Albert deliriously.  "Oh, ain't it just like the 
pictures!"
     It was.  Tuppence was a great frequenter of the kinema.
     "Annie always said as how she was a bad lot," continued the boy.
     "Who's Annie?" inquired Tuppence idly.
     " 'Ouse-parlourmaid. She's leaving to-day. Many's the time Annie's said to 
me:  'Mark my words, Albert, I wouldn't wonder if the police was to come after 
her one of these days.' dust like that.  But she's a stunner to look at, ain't 
she?"
     "She's some peach," allowed Tuppence carelessly.  "Finds it useful in her 
lay-out, you bet.  Has she been wearing any of the emeralds, by the way?"
     "Emeralds?  Them's the green stones, isn't they?"
     Tuppence nodded.
     "That's what we're after her for.  You know old man Rysdale?"
     Albert shook his head.
     "Peter B. Rysdale, the oil king?"
     "It seems sort of familiar to me."
     "The sparklers belonged to him.  Finest collection of emeralds in the 
world. Worth a million dollars!"
     "Lumme!" came ecstatically from Albert.  "It sounds more like the pictures 
every minute."
     Tuppence smiled, gratified at the success of her efforts.
     "We haven't exactly proved it yet.  But we're after her.  And"--she 
produced a long-drawn-out wink--"I guess she won't get away with the goods this 
time."
     Albert uttered another ejaculation indicative of delight.
     "Mind you, sonny, not a word of this," said Tuppence suddenly. "I guess I 
oughtn't to have put you wise, but in the States we know a real smart lad when 
we see one."
     "I'll not breathe a word," protested Albert eagerly. "Ain't there anything 
I could do?  A bit of shadowing, maybe, or such like?"
     Tuppence affected to consider, then shook her head.
     "Not at the moment, but I'll bear you in mind, son.  What's this about the 
girl you say is leaving?"
     "Annie?  Regular turn up, they 'ad.  As Annie said, servants is some one 
nowadays, and to be treated accordingly, and, what with her passing the word 
round, she won't find it so easy to get another."
     "Won't she?" said Tuppence thoughtfully.  "I wonder----"
     An idea was dawning in her brain.  She thought a minute or two, then tapped 
Albert on the shoulder.
     "See here, son, my brain's got busy.  How would it be if you mentioned that 
you'd got a young cousin, or a friend of yours had, that might suit the place.  
You get me?"
     "I'm there," said Albert instantly.  "You leave it to me, miss, and I'll 
fix the whole thing up in two ticks."
     "Some lad!" commented Tuppence, with a nod of approval. "You might say that 
the young woman could come in right away. You let me know, and if it's O.K. I'll 
be round to-morrow at eleven o'clock."
     "Where am I to let you know to?"
     "Ritz," replied Tuppence laconically.  "Name of Cowley."
     Albert eyed her enviously.
     "It must be a good job, this tec business."
     "It sure is," drawled Tuppence, "especially when old man Rysdale backs the 
bill.  But don't fret, son.  If this goes well, you shall come in on the ground 
floor."
     With which promise she took leave of her new ally, and walked briskly away 
from South Audley Mansions, well pleased with her morning's work.
     But there was no time to be lost.  She went straight back to the Ritz and 
wrote a few brief words to Mr. Carter.  Having dispatched this, and Tommy not 
having yet returned--which did not surprise her--she started off on a shopping 
expedition which, with an interval for tea and assorted creamy cakes, occupied 
her until well after six o'clock, and she returned to the hotel jaded, but 
satisfied with her purchases.  Starting with a cheap clothing store, and passing 
through one or two second-hand establishments, she had finished the day at a 
well-known hairdresser's. Now, in the seclusion of her bedroom, she unwrapped 
that final purchase. Five minutes later she smiled contentedly at her reflection 
in the glass. With an actress's pencil she had slightly altered the line of her 
eyebrows, and that, taken in conjunction with the new luxuriant growth of fair 
hair above, so changed her appearance that she felt confident that even if she 
came face to face with Whittington he would not recognize her.  She would wear 
elevators in her shoes, and the cap and apron would be an even more valuable 
disguise. From hospital experience she knew only too well that a nurse out of 
uniform is frequently unrecognized by her patients.
     "Yes," said Tuppence aloud, nodding at the pert reflection in the glass, 
"you'll do."  She then resumed her normal appearance.
     Dinner was a solitary meal.  Tuppence was rather surprised at Tommy's 
non-return. Julius, too, was absent--but that to the girl's mind was more easily 
explained. His "hustling" activities were not confined to London, and his abrupt 
appearances and disappearances were fully accepted by the Young Adventurers as 
part of the day's work. It was quite on the cards that Julius P. Hersheimmer had 
left for Constantinople at a moment's notice if he fancied that a clue to his 
cousin's disappearance was to be found there. The energetic young man had 
succeeded in making the lives of several Scotland Yard men unbearable to them, 
and the telephone girls at the Admiralty had learned to know and dread the 
familiar "Hullo!"  He had spent three hours in Paris hustling the Prefecture, 
and had returned from there imbued with the idea, possibly inspired by a weary 
French official, that the true clue to the mystery was to be found in Ireland.
     "I dare say he's dashed off there now," thought Tuppence.  "All very well, 
but this is very dull for ME!  Here I am bursting with news, and absolutely no 
one to tell it to!  Tommy might have wired, or something. I wonder where he is.  
Anyway, he can't have 'lost the trail' as they say. That reminds me----" And 
Miss Cowley broke off in her meditations, and summoned a small boy.
     Ten minutes later the lady was ensconced comfortably on her bed, smoking 
cigarettes and deep in the perusal of Garnaby Williams, the Boy Detective, 
which, with other threepenny works of lurid fiction, she had sent out to 
purchase.  She felt, and rightly, that before the strain of attempting further 
intercourse with Albert, it would be as well to fortify herself with a good 
supply of local colour.
     The morning brought a note from Mr. Carter:
     "DEAR MISS TUPPENCE,
     "You have made a splendid start, and I congratulate you. I feel, though, 
that I should like to point out to you once more the risks you are running, 
especially if you pursue the course you indicate. Those people are absolutely 
desperate and incapable of either mercy or pity.  I feel that you probably 
underestimate the danger, and therefore warn you again that I can promise you no 
protection. You have given us valuable information, and if you choose to 
withdraw now no one could blame you.  At any rate, think the matter over well 
before you decide.
     "If, in spite of my warnings, you make up your mind to go through with it, 
you will find everything arranged.  You have lived for two years with Miss 
Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly, and Mrs. Vandemeyer can apply to her for a 
reference.
     "May I be permitted a word or two of advice?  Stick as near to the truth as 
possible--it minimizes the danger of 'slips.' I suggest that you should 
represent yourself to be what you are, a former V.A.D., who has chosen domestic 
service as a profession.  There are many such at the present time. That explains 
away any incongruities of voice or manner which otherwise might awaken 
suspicion.
     "Whichever way you decide, good luck to you.                     "Your 
sincere friend,                          "MR. CARTER."
      Tuppence's spirits rose mercurially.  Mr. Carter's warnings passed 
unheeded. The young lady had far too much confidence in herself to pay any heed 
to them.
     With some reluctance she abandoned the interesting part she had sketched 
out for herself.  Although she had no doubts of her own powers to sustain a role 
indefinitely, she had too much common sense not to recognize the force of Mr. 
Carter's arguments.
     There was still no word or message from Tommy, but the morning post brought 
a somewhat dirty postcard with the words: "It's O.K." scrawled upon it.
     At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed with pride a slightly battered tin trunk 
containing her new possessions. It was artistically corded.  It was with a 
slight blush that she rang the bell and ordered it to be placed in a taxi. She 
drove to Paddington, and left the box in the cloak room. She then repaired with 
a handbag to the fastnesses of the ladies' waiting-room. Ten minutes later a 
metamorphosed Tuppence walked demurely out of the station and entered a bus.
     It was a few minutes past eleven when Tuppence again entered the hall of 
South Audley Mansions.  Albert was on the look-out, attending to his duties in a 
somewhat desultory fashion. He did not immediately recognize Tuppence.  When he 
did, his admiration was unbounded.
     "Blest if I'd have known you!  That rig-out's top-hole."
     "Glad you like it, Albert," replied Tuppence modestly. "By the way, am I 
your cousin, or am I not?"
     "Your voice too," cried the delighted boy.  "It's as English as anything! 
No, I said as a friend of mine knew a young gal.  Annie wasn't best pleased. 
She's stopped on till to-day--to oblige, SHE said, but really it's so as to put 
you against the place."
     "Nice girl," said Tuppence.
     Albert suspected no irony.
     "She's style about her, and keeps her silver a treat--but, my word, ain't 
she got a temper.  Are you going up now, miss?  Step inside the lift. No. 20 did 
you say?"  And he winked.
     Tuppence quelled him with a stern glance, and stepped inside.
     As she rang the bell of No. 20 she was conscious of Albert's eyes slowly 
descending beneath the level of the floor.
     A smart young woman opened the door.
     "I've come about the place," said Tuppence.
     "It's a rotten place," said the young woman without hesitation. "Regular 
old cat--always interfering.  Accused me of tampering with her letters.  Me!  
The flap was half undone anyway. There's never anything in the waste-paper 
basket--she burns everything.  She's a wrong 'un, that's what she is. Swell 
clothes, but no class.  Cook knows something about her--but she won't 
tell--scared to death of her.  And suspicious! She's on to you in a minute if 
you as much as speak to a fellow. I can tell you----"
     But what more Annie could tell, Tuppence was never destined to learn, for 
at that moment a clear voice with a peculiarly steely ring to it called:
     "Annie!"
     The smart young woman jumped as if she had been shot.
     "Yes, ma'am."
     "Who are you talking to?"
     "It's a young woman about the situation, ma'am."
     "Show her in then.  At once."
     "Yes, ma'am."
     Tuppence was ushered into a room on the right of the long passage. A woman 
was standing by the fireplace.  She was no longer in her first youth, and the 
beauty she undeniably possessed was hardened and coarsened. In her youth she 
must have been dazzling.  Her pale gold hair, owing a slight assistance to art, 
was coiled low on her neck, her eyes, of a piercing electric blue, seemed to 
possess a faculty of boring into the very soul of the person she was looking at. 
Her exquisite figure was enhanced by a wonderful gown of indigo charmeuse. And 
yet, despite her swaying grace, and the almost ethereal beauty of her face, you 
felt instinctively the presence of something hard and menacing, a kind of 
metallic strength that found expression in the tones of her voice and in that 
gimletlike quality of her eyes.
     For the first time Tuppence felt afraid.  She had not feared Whittington, 
but this woman was different.  As if fascinated, she watched the long cruel line 
of the red curving mouth, and again she felt that sensation of panic pass over 
her.  Her usual self-confidence deserted her. Vaguely she felt that deceiving 
this woman would be very different to deceiving Whittington.  Mr. Carter's 
warning recurred to her mind. Here, indeed, she might expect no mercy.
     Fighting down that instinct of panic which urged her to turn tail and run 
without further delay, Tuppence returned the lady's gaze firmly and 
respectfully.
     As though that first scrutiny had been satisfactory, Mrs. Vandemeyer 
motioned to a chair.
     "You can sit down.  How did you hear I wanted a house-parlourmaid?"
      "Through a friend who knows the lift boy here.  He thought the place might 
suit me."
     Again that basilisk glance seemed to pierce her through.
     "You speak like an educated girl?"
     Glibly enough, Tuppence ran through her imaginary career on the lines 
suggested by Mr. Carter.  It seemed to her, as she did so, that the tension of 
Mrs. Vandemeyer's attitude relaxed.
     "I see," she remarked at length.  "Is there anyone I can write to for a 
reference?"
     "I lived last with a Miss Dufferin, The Parsonage, Llanelly.  I was with 
her two years."
     "And then you thought you would get more money by coming to London, I 
suppose?  Well, it doesn't matter to me. I will give you L50--L60--whatever you 
want.  You can come in at once?"
     "Yes, ma'am. To-day, if you like.  My box is at Paddington."
     "Go and fetch it in a taxi, then.  It's an easy place.  I am out a good 
deal. By the way, what's your name?"
     "Prudence Cooper, ma'am."
     "Very well, Prudence.  Go away and fetch your box.  I shall be out to 
lunch. The cook will show you where everything is."
     "Thank you, ma'am."
     Tuppence withdrew.  The smart Annie was not in evidence.  In the hall below 
a magnificent hall porter had relegated Albert to the background. Tuppence did 
not even glance at him as she passed meekly out.
     The adventure had begun, but she felt less elated than she had done earlier 
in the morning.  It crossed her mind that if the unknown Jane Finn had fallen 
into the hands of Mrs. Vandemeyer, it was likely to have gone hard with her.
     
     CHAPTER X
     ENTER SIR JAMES PEEL EDGERTON  TUPPENCE betrayed no awkwardness in her new 
duties. The daughters of the archdeacon were well grounded in household tasks. 
They were also experts in training a "raw girl," the inevitable result being 
that the raw girl, once trained, departed elsewhere where her newly acquired 
knowledge commanded a more substantial remuneration than the archdeacon's meagre 
purse allowed.
     Tuppence had therefore very little fear of proving inefficient. Mrs. 
Vandemeyer's cook puzzled her.  She evidently went in deadly terror of her 
mistress.  The girl thought it probable that the other woman had some hold over 
her.  For the rest, she cooked like a chef, as Tuppence had an opportunity of 
judging that evening. Mrs. Vandemeyer was expecting a guest to dinner, and 
Tuppence accordingly laid the beautifully polished table for two. She was a 
little exercised in her own mind as to this visitor. It was highly possible that 
it might prove to be Whittington.  Although she felt fairly confident that he 
would not recognize her, yet she would have been better pleased had the guest 
proved to be a total stranger. However, there was nothing for it but to hope for 
the best.
     At a few minutes past eight the front door bell rang, and Tuppence went to 
answer it with some inward trepidation. She was relieved to see that the visitor 
was the second of the two men whom Tommy had taken upon himself to follow.
     He gave his name as Count Stepanov.  Tuppence announced him, and Mrs. 
Vandemeyer rose from her seat on a low divan with a quick murmur of pleasure.
     "It is delightful to see you, Boris Ivanovitch," she said.
     "And you, madame!"  He bowed low over her hand.
     Tuppence returned to the kitchen.
     "Count Stepanov, or some such," she remarked, and affecting a frank and 
unvarnished curiosity:  "Who's he?"
     "A Russian gentleman, I believe."
     "Come here much?"
     "Once in a while.  What d'you want to know for?"
     "Fancied he might be sweet on the missus, that's all," explained the girl, 
adding with an appearance of sulkiness: "How you do take one up!"
     "I'm not quite easy in my mind about the souffle," explained the other.
     "You know something," thought Tuppence to herself, but aloud she only said: 
"Going to dish up now?  Right-o."
     Whilst waiting at table, Tuppence listened closely to all that was said. 
She remembered that this was one of the men Tommy was shadowing when she had 
last seen him.  Already, although she would hardly admit it, she was becoming 
uneasy about her partner. Where was he?  Why had no word of any kind come from 
him? She had arranged before leaving the Ritz to have all letters or messages 
sent on at once by special messenger to a small stationer's shop near at hand 
where Albert was to call in frequently. True, it was only yesterday morning that 
she had parted from Tommy, and she told herself that any anxiety on his behalf 
would be absurd. Still, it was strange that he had sent no word of any kind.
     But, listen as she might, the conversation presented no clue. Boris and 
Mrs. Vandemeyer talked on purely indifferent subjects: plays they had seen, new 
dances, and the latest society gossip. After dinner they repaired to the small 
boudoir where Mrs. Vandemeyer, stretched on the divan, looked more wickedly 
beautiful than ever. Tuppence brought in the coffee and liqueurs and unwillingly 
retired. As she did so, she heard Boris say:
     "New, isn't she?"
     "She came in to-day. The other was a fiend.  This girl seems all right. She 
waits well."
     Tuppence lingered a moment longer by the door which she had carefully 
neglected to close, and heard him say:
     "Quite safe, I suppose?"
     "Really, Boris, you are absurdly suspicious.  I believe she's the cousin of 
the hall porter, or something of the kind. And nobody even dreams that I have 
any connection with our--mutual friend, Mr. Brown."
     "For heaven's sake, be careful, Rita.  That door isn't shut."
     "Well, shut it then," laughed the woman.
     Tuppence removed herself speedily.
     She dared not absent herself longer from the back premises, but she cleared 
away and washed up with a breathless speed acquired in hospital.  Then she 
slipped quietly back to the boudoir door. The cook, more leisurely, was still 
busy in the kitchen and, if she missed the other, would only suppose her to be 
turning down the beds.
     Alas!  The conversation inside was being carried on in too low a tone to 
permit of her hearing anything of it.  She dared not reopen the door, however 
gently.  Mrs. Vandemeyer was sitting almost facing it, and Tuppence respected 
her mistress's lynx-eyed powers of observation.
     Nevertheless, she felt she would give a good deal to overhear what was 
going on.  Possibly, if anything unforeseen had happened, she might get news of 
Tommy.  For some moments she reflected desperately, then her face brightened. 
She went quickly along the passage to Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom, which had long 
French windows leading on to a balcony that ran the length of the flat.  
Slipping quickly through the window, Tuppence crept noiselessly along till she 
reached the boudoir window. As she had thought it stood a little ajar, and the 
voices within were plainly audible.
     Tuppence listened attentively, but there was no mention of anything that 
could be twisted to apply to Tommy.  Mrs. Vandemeyer and the Russian seemed to 
be at variance over some matter, and finally the latter exclaimed bitterly:
     "With your persistent recklessness, you will end by ruining us!"
     "Bah!" laughed the woman.  "Notoriety of the right kind is the best way of 
disarming suspicion.  You will realize that one of these days--perhaps sooner 
than you think!"
     "In the meantime, you are going about everywhere with Peel Edgerton.  Not 
only is he, perhaps, the most celebrated K.C. in England, but his special hobby 
is criminology! It is madness!"
     "I know that his eloquence has saved untold men from the gallows," said 
Mrs. Vandemeyer calmly.  "What of it? I may need his assistance in that line 
myself some day. If so, how fortunate to have such a friend at court--or perhaps 
it would be more to the point to say IN court."
     Boris got up and began striding up and down.  He was very excited.
     "You are a clever woman, Rita; but you are also a fool! Be guided by me, 
and give up Peel Edgerton."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head gently.
     "I think not."
     "You refuse?"  There was an ugly ring in the Russian's voice.
     "I do."
     "Then, by Heaven," snarled the Russian, "we will see----" But Mrs. 
Vandemeyer also rose to her feet, her eyes flashing.
     "You forget, Boris," she said.  "I am accountable to no one. I take my 
orders only from--Mr. Brown."
     The other threw up his hands in despair.
     "You are impossible," he muttered.  "Impossible!  Already it may be too 
late.  They say Peel Edgerton can SMELL a criminal! How do we know what is at 
the bottom of his sudden interest in you? Perhaps even now his suspicions are 
aroused.  He guesses----"
     Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scornfully.
     "Reassure yourself, my dear Boris.  He suspects nothing. With less than 
your usual chivalry, you seem to forget that I am commonly accounted a beautiful 
woman.  I assure you that is all that interests Peel Edgerton."
     Boris shook his head doubtfully.
     "He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studied it. Do 
you fancy that you can deceive him?"
     Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes narrowed.
     "If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!"
     "Good heavens, Rita----"
     "Besides," added Mrs. Vandemeyer, "he is extremely rich. I am not one who 
despises money.  The 'sinews of war,' you know, Boris!"
     "Money--money!  That is always the danger with you, Rita.  I believe you 
would sell your soul for money.  I believe----" He paused, then in a low, 
sinister voice he said slowly: "Sometimes I believe that you would sell--us!"
     Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
     "The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous," she said lightly. "It 
would be beyond the power of anyone but a millionaire to pay."
     "Ah!" snarled the Russian.  "You see, I was right!"
     "My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?"
     "Was it a joke?"
     "Of course."
     "Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, my dear 
Rita."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled.
     "Let us not quarrel, Boris.  Touch the bell.  We will have some drinks."
     Tuppence beat a hasty retreat.  She paused a moment to survey herself in 
Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and be sure that nothing was amiss with her 
appearance.  Then she answered the bell demurely.
     The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting in that it 
proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita and Boris, threw very little 
light on the present preoccupations. The name of Jane Finn had not even been 
mentioned.
     The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed her that 
nothing was waiting for her at the stationer's. It seemed incredible that Tommy, 
if all was well with him, should not send any word to her. A cold hand seemed to 
close round her heart.... Supposing ... She choked her fears down bravely.  It 
was no good worrying. But she leapt at a chance offered her by Mrs. Vandemeyer.
     "What day do you usually go out, Prudence?"
     "Friday's my usual day, ma'am."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows.
     "And to-day is Friday!  But I suppose you hardly wish to go out to-day, as 
you only came yesterday."
     "I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma'am."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled.
     "I wish Count Stepanov could hear you.  He made a suggestion about you last 
night."  Her smile broadened, catlike.  "Your request is very--typical.  I am 
satisfied.  You do not understand all this--but you can go out to-day. It makes 
no difference to me, as I shall not be dining at home."
     "Thank you, ma'am."
     Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of the other's 
presence. Once again she admitted to herself that she was afraid, horribly 
afraid, of the beautiful woman with the cruel eyes.
     In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver, Tuppence was 
disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, and went to answer it. This 
time the visitor was neither Whittington nor Boris, but a man of striking 
appearance.
     Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed the impression 
of a big man.  His face, clean-shaven and exquisitely mobile, was stamped with 
an expression of power and force far beyond the ordinary. Magnetism seemed to 
radiate from him.
     Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down as an actor 
or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gave her his name: Sir James 
Peel Edgerton.
     She looked at him with renewed interest.  This, then, was the famous K.C. 
whose name was familiar all over England.  She had heard it said that he might 
one day be Prime Minister.  He was known to have refused office in the interests 
of his profession, preferring to remain a simple Member for a Scotch 
constituency.
     Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully.  The great man had impressed 
her.  She understood Boris's agitation. Peel Edgerton would not be an easy man 
to deceive.
     In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppence repaired to the 
hall to show the visitor out.  He had given her a piercing glance before.  Now, 
as she handed him his hat and stick, she was conscious of his eyes raking her 
through. As she opened the door and stood aside to let him pass out, he stopped 
in the doorway.
     "Not been doing this long, eh?"
     Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished.  She read in his glance kindliness, 
and something else more difficult to fathom.
     He nodded as though she had answered.
     "V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?"
     "Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously.
     "No, child.  The look of you told me.  Good place here?"
     "Very good, thank you, sir."
     "Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change does no 
harm sometimes."
     "Do you mean----?" began Tuppence.
     But Sir James was already on the topmost stair.  He looked back with his 
kindly, shrewd glance.
     "Just a hint," he said.  "That's all."
     Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever.
     
     CHAPTER XI
     JULIUS TELLS A STORY
     DRESSED appropriately, Tuppence duly sallied forth for her "afternoon out." 
Albert was in temporary abeyance, but Tuppence went herself to the stationer's 
to make quite sure that nothing had come for her. Satisfied on this point, she 
made her way to the Ritz.  On inquiry she learnt that Tommy had not yet 
returned.  It was the answer she had expected, but it was another nail in the 
coffin of her hopes. She resolved to appeal to Mr. Carter, telling him when and 
where Tommy had started on his quest, and asking him to do something to trace 
him. The prospect of his aid revived her mercurial spirits, and she next 
inquired for Julius Hersheimmer.  The reply she got was to the effect that he 
had returned about half an hour ago, but had gone out immediately.
     Tuppence's spirits revived still more.  It would be something to see 
Julius.  Perhaps he could devise some plan for finding out what had become of 
Tommy.  She wrote her note to Mr. Carter in Julius's sitting-room, and was just 
addressing the envelope when the door burst open.
     "What the hell----" began Julius, but checked himself abruptly. "I beg your 
pardon, Miss Tuppence.  Those fools down at the office would have it that 
Beresford wasn't here any longer--hadn't been here since Wednesday.  Is that 
so?"
     Tuppence nodded.
     "You don't know where he is?" she asked faintly.
     "I?  How should I know?  I haven't had one darned word from him, though I 
wired him yesterday morning."
     "I expect your wire's at the office unopened."
     "But where is he?"
     "I don't know.  I hoped you might."
     "I tell you I haven't had one darned word from him since we parted at the 
depot on Wednesday."
     "What depot?"
     "Waterloo.  Your London and South Western road."
     "Waterloo?" frowned Tuppence.
     "Why, yes.  Didn't he tell you?"
     "I haven't seen him either," replied Tuppence impatiently. "Go on about 
Waterloo.  What were you doing there?"
     "He gave me a call.  Over the phone.  Told me to get a move on, and hustle. 
Said he was trailing two crooks."
     "Oh!" said Tuppence, her eyes opening.  "I see.  Go on."
     "I hurried along right away.  Beresford was there.  He pointed out the 
crooks.  The big one was mine, the guy you bluffed. Tommy shoved a ticket into 
my hand and told me to get aboard the cars. He was going to sleuth the other 
crook."  Julius paused. "I thought for sure you'd know all this."
     "Julius," said Tuppence firmly, "stop walking up and down. It makes me 
giddy.  Sit down in that armchair, and tell me the whole story with as few fancy 
turns of speech as possible."
     Mr. Hersheimmer obeyed.
     "Sure," he said.  "Where shall I begin?"
     "Where you left off.  At Waterloo."
     "Well," began Julius, "I got into one of your dear old-fashioned 
first-class British compartments.  The train was just off. First thing I knew a 
guard came along and informed me mighty politely that I wasn't in a 
smoking-carriage. I handed him out half a dollar, and that settled that. I did a 
bit of prospecting along the corridor to the next coach. Whittington was there 
right enough.  When I saw the skunk, with his big sleek fat face, and thought of 
poor little Jane in his clutches, I felt real mad that I hadn't got a gun with 
me. I'd have tickled him up some.
     "We got to Bournemouth all right.  Whittington took a cab and gave the name 
of an hotel.  I did likewise, and we drove up within three minutes of each 
other.  He hired a room, and I hired one too. So far it was all plain sailing.  
He hadn't the remotest notion that anyone was on to him.  Well, he just sat 
around in the hotel lounge, reading the papers and so on, till it was time for 
dinner. He didn't hurry any over that either.
     "I began to think that there was nothing doing, that he'd just come on the 
trip for his health, but I remembered that he hadn't changed for dinner, though 
it was by way of being a slap-up hotel, so it seemed likely enough that he'd be 
going out on his real business afterwards.
     "Sure enough, about nine o'clock, so he did.  Took a car across the 
town--mighty pretty place by the way, I guess I'll take Jane there for a spell 
when I find her--and then paid it off and struck out along those pine-woods on 
the top of the cliff. I was there too, you understand.  We walked, maybe, for 
half an hour.  There's a lot of villas all the way along, but by degrees they 
seemed to get more and more thinned out, and in the end we got to one that 
seemed the last of the bunch. Big house it was, with a lot of piny grounds 
around it.
     "It was a pretty black night, and the carriage drive up to the house was 
dark as pitch.  I could hear him ahead, though I couldn't see him. I had to walk 
carefully in case he might get on to it that he was being followed.  I turned a 
curve and I was just in time to see him ring the bell and get admitted to the 
house.  I just stopped where I was. It was beginning to rain, and I was soon 
pretty near soaked through. Also, it was almighty cold.
     "Whittington didn't come out again, and by and by I got kind of restive, 
and began to mouch around.  All the ground floor windows were shuttered tight, 
but upstairs, on the first floor (it was a two-storied house) I noticed a window 
with a light burning and the curtains not drawn.
     "Now, just opposite to that window, there was a tree growing. It was about 
thirty foot away from the house, maybe, and I sort of got it into my head that, 
if I climbed up that tree, I'd very likely be able to see into that room.  Of 
course, I knew there was no reason why Whittington should be in that room rather 
than in any other--less reason, in fact, for the betting would be on his being 
in one of the reception-rooms downstairs. But I guess I'd got the hump from 
standing so long in the rain, and anything seemed better than going on doing 
nothing. So I started up.
     "It wasn't so easy, by a long chalk!  The rain had made the boughs mighty 
slippery, and it was all I could do to keep a foothold, but bit by bit I managed 
it, until at last there I was level with the window.
     "But then I was disappointed.  I was too far to the left. I could only see 
sideways into the room.  A bit of curtain, and a yard of wallpaper was all I 
could command.  Well, that wasn't any manner of good to me, but just as I was 
going to give it up, and climb down ignominiously, some one inside moved and 
threw his shadow on my little bit of wall--and, by gum, it was Whittington!
     "After that, my blood was up.  I'd just got to get a look into that room. 
It was up to me to figure out how.  I noticed that there was a long branch 
running out from the tree in the right direction.  If I could only swarm about 
half-way along it, the proposition would be solved. But it was mighty uncertain 
whether it would bear my weight. I decided I'd just got to risk that, and I 
started.  Very cautiously, inch by inch, I crawled along.  The bough creaked and 
swayed in a nasty fashion, and it didn't do to think of the drop below, but at 
last I got safely to where I wanted to be.
     "The room was medium-sized, furnished in a kind of bare hygienic way. There 
was a table with a lamp on it in the middle of the room, and sitting at that 
table, facing towards me, was Whittington right enough.  He was talking to a 
woman dressed as a hospital nurse. She was sitting with her back to me, so I 
couldn't see her face. Although the blinds were up, the window itself was shut, 
so I couldn't catch a word of what they said.  Whittington seemed to be doing 
all the talking, and the nurse just listened. Now and then she nodded, and 
sometimes she'd shake her head, as though she were answering questions.  He 
seemed very emphatic--once or twice he beat with his fist on the table. The rain 
had stopped now, and the sky was clearing in that sudden way it does.
     "Presently, he seemed to get to the end of what he was saying.  He got up, 
and so did she.  He looked towards the window and asked something--I guess it 
was whether it was raining.  Anyway, she came right across and looked out. Just 
then the moon came out from behind the clouds.  I was scared the woman would 
catch sight of me, for I was full in the moonlight.  I tried to move back a bit. 
 The jerk I gave was too much for that rotten old branch. With an almighty 
crash, down it came, and Julius P. Hersheimmer with it!"
     "Oh, Julius," breathed Tuppence, "how exciting!  Go on."
     "Well, luckily for me, I pitched down into a good soft bed of earth--but it 
put me out of action for the time, sure enough. The next thing I knew, I was 
lying in bed with a hospital nurse (not Whittington's one) on one side of me, 
and a little black-bearded man with gold glasses, and medical man written all 
over him, on the other.  He rubbed his hands together, and raised his eyebrows 
as I stared at him.  'Ah!' he said. 'So our young friend is coming round again.  
Capital.  Capital.'
     "I did the usual stunt.  Said:  'What's happened?' And 'Where am I?'  But I 
knew the answer to the last well enough. There's no moss growing on my brain.  
'I think that'll do for the present, sister,' said the little man, and the nurse 
left the room in a sort of brisk well-trained way. But I caught her handing me 
out a look of deep curiosity as she passed through the door.
     "That look of hers gave me an idea.  'Now then, doc,' I said, and tried to 
sit up in bed, but my right foot gave me a nasty twinge as I did so. 'A slight 
sprain,' explained the doctor.  'Nothing serious. You'll be about again in a 
couple of days.'  "
     "I noticed you walked lame," interpolated Tuppence.
     Julius nodded, and continued:
     " 'How did it happen?'  I asked again.  He replied dryly. 'You fell, with a 
considerable portion of one of my trees, into one of my newly planted 
flower-beds.'
     "I liked the man.  He seemed to have a sense of humour. I felt sure that 
he, at least, was plumb straight.  'Sure, doc,' I said, 'I'm sorry about the 
tree, and I guess the new bulbs will be on me. But perhaps you'd like to know 
what I was doing in your garden?' 'I think the facts do call for an 
explanation,' he replied. 'Well, to begin with, I wasn't after the spoons.'
     "He smiled.  'My first theory.  But I soon altered my mind. By the way, you 
are an American, are you not?'  I told him my name. 'And you?'  'I am Dr. Hall, 
and this, as you doubtless know, is my private nursing home.'
     "I didn't know, but I wasn't going to put him wise. I was just thankful for 
the information.  I liked the man, and I felt he was straight, but I wasn't 
going to give him the whole story. For one thing he probably wouldn't have 
believed it.
     "I made up my mind in a flash.  'Why, doctor,' I said, 'I guess I feel an 
almighty fool, but I owe it to you to let you know that it wasn't the Bill Sikes 
business I was up to.' Then I went on and mumbled out something about a girl. I 
trotted out the stern guardian business, and a nervous breakdown, and finally 
explained that I had fancied I recognized her among the patients at the home, 
hence my nocturnal adventures. "I guess it was just the kind of story he was 
expecting. 'Quite a romance,' he said genially, when I'd finished. 'Now, doc,' I 
went on, 'will you be frank with me? Have you here now, or have you had here at 
any time, a young girl called Jane Finn?'  He repeated the name thoughtfully. 
'Jane Finn?' he said.  'No.'
     "I was chagrined, and I guess I showed it.  'You are sure?' 'Quite sure, 
Mr. Hersheimmer.  It is an uncommon name, and I should not have been likely to 
forget it.'
     "Well, that was flat.  It laid me out for a space.  I'd kind of hoped my 
search was at an end.  'That's that,' I said at last. 'Now, there's another 
matter.  When I was hugging that darned branch I thought I recognized an old 
friend of mine talking to one of your nurses.'  I purposely didn't mention any 
name because, of course, Whittington might be calling himself something quite 
different down here, but the doctor answered at once. 'Mr. Whittington, 
perhaps?'  'That's the fellow,' I replied. 'What's he doing down here?  Don't 
tell me HIS nerves are out of order?'
     "Dr. Hall laughed.  'No. He came down to see one of my nurses, Nurse Edith, 
who is a niece of his.'  'Why, fancy that!'  I exclaimed. 'Is he still here?'  
'No, he went back to town almost immediately.' 'What a pity!'  I ejaculated.  
'But perhaps I could speak to his niece--Nurse Edith, did you say her name was?'
     "But the doctor shook his head.  'I'm afraid that, too, is impossible. 
Nurse Edith left with a patient to-night also.'  'I seem to be real unlucky,' I 
remarked.  'Have you Mr. Whittington's address in town?  I guess I'd like to 
look him up when I get back.'  'I don't know his address. I can write to Nurse 
Edith for it if you like.'  I thanked him. 'Don't say who it is wants it.  I'd 
like to give him a little surprise.'
     "That was about all I could do for the moment.  Of course, if the girl was 
really Whittington's niece, she might be too cute to fall into the trap, but it 
was worth trying.  Next thing I did was to write out a wire to Beresford saying 
where I was, and that I was laid up with a sprained foot, and telling him to 
come down if he wasn't busy.  I had to be guarded in what I said. However, I 
didn't hear from him, and my foot soon got all right. It was only ricked, not 
really sprained, so to-day I said good-bye to the little doctor chap, asked him 
to send me word if he heard from Nurse Edith, and came right away back to town. 
Say, Miss Tuppence, you're looking mighty pale!"
     "It's Tommy," said Tuppence.  "What can have happened to him?"
     "Buck up, I guess he's all right really.  Why shouldn't he be? See here, it 
was a foreign-looking guy he went off after. Maybe they've gone abroad--to 
Poland, or something like that?"
     Tuppence shook her head.
     "He couldn't without passports and things.  Besides I've seen that man, 
Boris Something, since.  He dined with Mrs. Vandemeyer last night."
     "Mrs. Who?"
     "I forgot.  Of course you don't know all that."
     "I'm listening," said Julius, and gave vent to his favourite expression. 
"Put me wise."
     Tuppence thereupon related the events of the last two days. Julius's 
astonishment and admiration were unbounded.
     "Bully for you!  Fancy you a menial.  It just tickles me to death!" Then he 
added seriously:  "But say now, I don't like it, Miss Tuppence, I sure don't. 
You're just as plucky as they make 'em, but I wish you'd keep right out of this. 
These crooks we're up against would as soon croak a girl as a man any day."
     "Do you think I'm afraid?" said Tuppence indignantly, valiantly repressing 
memories of the steely glitter in Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes.
     "I said before you were darned plucky.  But that doesn't alter facts."
     "Oh, bother ME!" said Tuppence impatiently.  "Let's think about what can 
have happened to Tommy.  I've written to Mr. Carter about it," she added, and 
told him the gist of her letter.
     Julius nodded gravely.
     "I guess that's good as far as it goes.  But it's for us to get busy and do 
something."
     "What can we do?" asked Tuppence, her spirits rising.
     "I guess we'd better get on the track of Boris.  You say he's been to your 
place.  Is he likely to come again?"
     "He might.  I really don't know."
     "I see.  Well, I guess I'd better buy a car, a slap-up one, dress as a 
chauffeur and hang about outside.  Then if Boris comes, you could make some kind 
of signal, and I'd trail him.  How's that?"
     "Splendid, but he mightn't come for weeks."
     "We'll have to chance that.  I'm glad you like the plan."  He rose.
     "Where are you going?"
     "To buy the car, of course," replied Julius, surprised. "What make do you 
like?  I guess you'll do some riding in it before we've finished."
     "Oh," said Tuppence faintly, "I LIKE Rolls-Royces, but----"
     "Sure," agreed Julius.  "What you say goes.  I'll get one."
     "But you can't at once," cried Tuppence.  "People wait ages sometimes."
     "Little Julius doesn't," affirmed Mr. Hersheimmer.  "Don't you worry any. 
I'll be round in the car in half an hour."
     Tuppence got up.
     "You're awfully good, Julius.  But I can't help feeling that it's rather a 
forlorn hope.  I'm really pinning my faith to Mr. Carter."
     "Then I shouldn't."
     "Why?"
     "Just an idea of mine."
     "Oh; but he must do something.  There's no one else.  By the way, I forgot 
to tell you of a queer thing that happened this morning."
     And she narrated her encounter with Sir James Peel Edgerton. Julius was 
interested.
     "What did the guy mean, do you think?" he asked.
     "I don't quite know," said Tuppence meditatively.  "But I think that, in an 
ambiguous, legal, without prejudishish lawyer's way, he was trying to warn me."
     "Why should he?"
     "I don't know," confessed Tuppence.  "But he looked kind, and simply 
awfully clever.  I wouldn't mind going to him and telling him everything."
     Somewhat to her surprise, Julius negatived the idea sharply.
     "See here," he said, "we don't want any lawyers mixed up in this. That guy 
couldn't help us any."
     "Well, I believe he could," reiterated Tuppence obstinately.
     "Don't you think it.  So long.  I'll be back in half an hour."
     Thirty-five minutes had elapsed when Julius returned. He took Tuppence by 
the arm, and walked her to the window.
     "There she is."
     "Oh!" said Tuppence with a note of reverence in her voice, as she gazed 
down at the enormous car.
     "She's some pace-maker, I can tell you," said Julius complacently.
     "How did you get it?" gasped Tuppence.
     "She was just being sent home to some bigwig."
     "Well?"
     "I went round to his house," said Julius.  "I said that I reckoned a car 
like that was worth every penny of twenty thousand dollars. Then I told him that 
it was worth just about fifty thousand dollars to me if he'd get out."
     "Well?" said Tuppence, intoxicated.
     "Well," returned Julius, "he got out, that's all."
     
     CHAPTER XII
     A FRIEND IN NEED
     FRIDAY and Saturday passed uneventfully.  Tuppence had received a brief 
answer to her appeal from Mr. Carter.  In it he pointed out that the Young 
Adventurers had undertaken the work at their own risk, and had been fully warned 
of the dangers. If anything had happened to Tommy he regretted it deeply, but he 
could do nothing.
     This was cold comfort.  Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour went out of 
the adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt doubtful of success.  
While they had been together she had never questioned it for a minute.  Although 
she was accustomed to take the lead, and to pride herself on her 
quick-wittedness, in reality she had relied upon Tommy more than she realized at 
the time. There was something so eminently sober and clear-headed about him, his 
common sense and soundness of vision were so unvarying, that without him 
Tuppence felt much like a rudderless ship. It was curious that Julius, who was 
undoubtedly much cleverer than Tommy, did not give her the same feeling of 
support. She had accused Tommy of being a pessimist, and it is certain that he 
always saw the disadvantages and difficulties which she herself was 
optimistically given to overlooking, but nevertheless she had really relied a 
good deal on his judgment. He might be slow, but he was very sure.
     It seemed to the girl that, for the first time, she realized the sinister 
character of the mission they had undertaken so lightheartedly. It had begun 
like a page of romance.  Now, shorn of its glamour, it seemed to be turning to 
grim reality.  Tommy--that was all that mattered. Many times in the day Tuppence 
blinked the tears out of her eyes resolutely. "Little fool," she would 
apostrophize herself, "don't snivel. Of course you're fond of him.  You've known 
him all your life. But there's no need to be sentimental about it."
     In the meantime, nothing more was seen of Boris.  He did not come to the 
flat, and Julius and the car waited in vain.  Tuppence gave herself over to new 
meditations.  Whilst admitting the truth of Julius's objections, she had 
nevertheless not entirely relinquished the idea of appealing to Sir James Peel 
Edgerton.  Indeed, she had gone so far as to look up his address in the Red 
Book.  Had he meant to warn her that day? If so, why?  Surely she was at least 
entitled to demand an explanation. He had looked at her so kindly.  Perhaps he 
might tell them something concerning Mrs. Vandemeyer which might lead to a clue 
to Tommy's whereabouts.
     Anyway, Tuppence decided, with her usual shake of the shoulders, it was 
worth trying, and try it she would.  Sunday was her afternoon out. She would 
meet Julius, persuade him to her point of view, and they would beard the lion in 
his den.
     When the day arrived Julius needed a considerable amount of persuading, but 
Tuppence held firm.  "It can do no harm," was what she always came back to.  In 
the end Julius gave in, and they proceeded in the car to Carlton House Terrace.
     The door was opened by an irreproachable butler.  Tuppence felt a little 
nervous.  After all, perhaps it WAS colossal cheek on her part. She had decided 
not to ask if Sir James was "at home," but to adopt a more personal attitude.
     "Will you ask Sir James if I can see him for a few minutes? I have an 
important message for him."
     The butler retired, returning a moment or two later.
     "Sir James will see you.  Will you step this way?"
     He ushered them into a room at the back of the house, furnished as a 
library. The collection of books was a magnificent one, and Tuppence noticed 
that all one wall was devoted to works on crime and criminology.  There were 
several deep-padded leather arm-chairs, and an old-fashioned open hearth. In the 
window was a big roll-top desk strewn with papers at which the master of the 
house was sitting.
     He rose as they entered.
     "You have a message for me?  Ah"--he recognized Tuppence with a 
smile--"it's you, is it?  Brought a message from Mrs. Vandemeyer, I suppose?"
     "Not exactly," said Tuppence.  "In fact, I'm afraid I only said that to be 
quite sure of getting in.  Oh, by the way, this is Mr. Hersheimmer, Sir James 
Peel Edgerton."
     "Pleased to meet you," said the American, shooting out a hand.
     "Won't you both sit down?" asked Sir James.  He drew forward two chairs.
     "Sir James," said Tuppence, plunging boldly, "I dare say you will think it 
is most awful cheek of me coming here like this. Because, of course, it's 
nothing whatever to do with you, and then you're a very important person, and of 
course Tommy and I are very unimportant."  She paused for breath.
     "Tommy?" queried Sir James, looking across at the American.
     "No, that's Julius," explained Tuppence.  "I'm rather nervous, and that 
makes me tell it badly.  What I really want to know is what you meant by what 
you said to me the other day? Did you mean to warn me against Mrs. Vandemeyer?  
You did, didn't you?"
     "My dear young lady, as far as I recollect I only mentioned that there were 
equally good situations to be obtained elsewhere."
     "Yes, I know.  But it was a hint, wasn't it?"
     "Well, perhaps it was," admitted Sir James gravely.
     "Well, I want to know more.  I want to know just WHY you gave me a hint."
     Sir James smiled at her earnestness.
     "Suppose the lady brings a libel action against me for defamation of 
character?"
     "Of course," said Tuppence.  "I know lawyers are always dreadfully careful. 
But can't we say 'without prejudice' first, and then say just what we want to."
     "Well," said Sir James, still smiling, "without prejudice, then, if I had a 
young sister forced to earn her living, I should not like to see her in Mrs. 
Vandemeyer's service. I felt it incumbent on me just to give you a hint. It is 
no place for a young and inexperienced girl. That is all I can tell you."
     "I see," said Tuppence thoughtfully.  "Thank you very much. But I'm not 
REALLY inexperienced, you know.  I knew perfectly that she was a bad lot when I 
went there--as a matter of fact that's WHY I went----" She broke off, seeing 
some bewilderment on the lawyer's face, and went on: "I think perhaps I'd better 
tell you the whole story, Sir James.  I've a sort of feeling that you'd know in 
a minute if I didn't tell the truth, and so you might as well know all about it 
from the beginning. What do you think, Julius?"
     "As you're bent on it, I'd go right ahead with the facts," replied the 
American, who had so far sat in silence.
     "Yes, tell me all about it," said Sir James.  "I want to know who Tommy 
is."
     Thus encouraged Tuppence plunged into her tale, and the lawyer listened 
with close attention.
     "Very interesting," he said, when she finished.  "A great deal of what you 
tell me, child, is already known to me.  I've had certain theories of my own 
about this Jane Finn.  You've done extraordinarily well so far, but it's rather 
too bad of--what do you know him as?--Mr. Carter to pitchfork you two young 
things into an affair of this kind. By the way, where did Mr. Hersheimmer come 
in originally? You didn't make that clear?"
     Julius answered for himself.
     "I'm Jane's first cousin," he explained, returning the lawyer's keen gaze.
     "Ah!"
     "Oh, Sir James," broke out Tuppence, "what do you think has become of 
Tommy?"
     "H'm." The lawyer rose, and paced slowly up and down. "When you arrived, 
young lady, I was just packing up my traps. Going to Scotland by the night train 
for a few days' fishing. But there are different kinds of fishing.  I've a good 
mind to stay, and see if we can't get on the track of that young chap."
     "Oh!"  Tuppence clasped her hands ecstatically.
     "All the same, as I said before, it's too bad of--of Carter to set you two 
babies on a job like this.  Now, don't get offended, Miss--er----"
     "Cowley.  Prudence Cowley.  But my friends call me Tuppence."
     "Well, Miss Tuppence, then, as I'm certainly going to be a friend. Don't be 
offended because I think you're young.  Youth is a failing only too easily 
outgrown.  Now, about this young Tommy of yours----"
     "Yes."  Tuppence clasped her hands.
     "Frankly, things look bad for him.  He's been butting in somewhere where he 
wasn't wanted.  Not a doubt of it. But don't give up hope."
     "And you really will help us?  There, Julius!  He didn't want me to come," 
she added by way of explanation.
     "H'm," said the lawyer, favouring Julius with another keen glance. "And why 
was that?"
     "I reckoned it would be no good worrying you with a petty little business 
like this."
     "I see."  He paused a moment.  "This petty little business, as you call it, 
bears directly on a very big business, bigger perhaps than either you or Miss 
Tuppence know. If this boy is alive, he may have very valuable information to 
give us.  Therefore, we must find him."
     "Yes, but how?" cried Tuppence.  "I've tried to think of everything."
     Sir James smiled.
     "And yet there's one person quite near at hand who in all probability knows 
where he is, or at all events where he is likely to be."
     "Who is that?" asked Tuppence, puzzled.
     "Mrs. Vandemeyer."
     "Yes, but she'd never tell us."
     "Ah, that is where I come in.  I think it quite likely that I shall be able 
to make Mrs. Vandemeyer tell me what I want to know."
     "How?" demanded Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide.
     "Oh, just by asking her questions," replied Sir James easily. "That's the 
way we do it, you know."
     He tapped with his finger on the table, and Tuppence felt again the intense 
power that radiated from the man.
     "And if she won't tell?" asked Julius suddenly.
     "I think she will.  I have one or two powerful levers.  Still, in that 
unlikely event, there is always the possibility of bribery."
     "Sure.  And that's where I come in!" cried Julius, bringing his fist down 
on the table with a bang.  "You can count on me, if necessary, for one million 
dollars.  Yes, sir, one million dollars!"
     Sir James sat down and subjected Julius to a long scrutiny.
     "Mr. Hersheimmer," he said at last, "that is a very large sum."
     "I guess it'll have to be.  These aren't the kind of folk to offer sixpence 
to."
     "At the present rate of exchange it amounts to considerably over two 
hundred and fifty thousand pounds."
     "That's so.  Maybe you think I'm talking through my hat, but I can deliver 
the goods all right, with enough over to spare for your fee."
     Sir James flushed slightly.
     "There is no question of a fee, Mr. Hersheimmer.  I am not a private 
detective."
     "Sorry.  I guess I was just a mite hasty, but I've been feeling bad about 
this money question.  I wanted to offer a big reward for news of Jane some days 
ago, but your crusted institution of Scotland Yard advised me against it. Said 
it was undesirable."
     "They were probably right," said Sir James dryly.
     "But it's all O.K. about Julius," put in Tuppence.  "He's not pulling your 
leg.  He's got simply pots of money."
     "The old man piled it up in style," explained Julius.  "Now, let's get down 
to it.  What's your idea?"
     Sir James considered for a moment or two.
     "There is no time to be lost.  The sooner we strike the better." He turned 
to Tuppence.  "Is Mrs. Vandemeyer dining out to-night, do you know?"
     "Yes, I think so, but she will not be out late.  Otherwise, she would have 
taken the latchkey."
     "Good.  I will call upon her about ten o'clock. What time are you supposed 
to return?"
     "About nine-thirty or ten, but I could go back earlier."
     "You must not do that on any account.  It might arouse suspicion if you did 
not stay out till the usual time. Be back by nine-thirty. I will arrive at ten.  
Mr. Hersheimmer will wait below in a taxi perhaps."
     "He's got a new Rolls-Royce car," said Tuppence with vicarious pride.
     "Even better.  If I succeed in obtaining the address from her, we can go 
there at once, taking Mrs. Vandemeyer with us if necessary. You understand?"
     "Yes."  Tuppence rose to her feet with a skip of delight. "Oh, I feel so 
much better!"
     "Don't build on it too much, Miss Tuppence.  Go easy."
     Julius turned to the lawyer.
     "Say, then.  I'll call for you in the car round about nine-thirty. Is that 
right?"
     "Perhaps that will be the best plan.  It would be unnecessary to have two 
cars waiting about.  Now, Miss Tuppence, my advice to you is to go and have a 
good dinner, a REALLY good one, mind. And don't think ahead more than you can 
help."
     He shook hands with them both, and a moment later they were outside.
     "Isn't he a duck?" inquired Tuppence ecstatically, as she skipped down the 
steps.  "Oh, Julius, isn't he just a duck?"
     "Well, I allow he seems to be the goods all right. And I was wrong about 
its being useless to go to him. Say, shall we go right away back to the Ritz?"
     "I must walk a bit, I think.  I feel so excited.  Drop me in the park, will 
you?  Unless you'd like to come too?"
     "I want to get some petrol," he explained.  "And send off a cable or two."
     "All right.  I'll meet you at the Ritz at seven.  We'll have to dine 
upstairs.  I can't show myself in these glad rags."
     "Sure.  I'll get Felix help me choose the menu.  He's some head waiter, 
that.  So long."
     Tuppence walked briskly along towards the Serpentine, first glancing at her 
watch.  It was nearly six o'clock. She remembered that she had had no tea, but 
felt too excited to be conscious of hunger. She walked as far as Kensington 
Gardens and then slowly retraced her steps, feeling infinitely better for the 
fresh air and exercise. It was not so easy to follow Sir James's advice, and put 
the possible events of the evening out of her head.  As she drew nearer and 
nearer to Hyde Park corner, the temptation to return to South Audley Mansions 
was almost irresistible.
     At any rate, she decided, it would do no harm just to go and LOOK at the 
building.  Perhaps, then, she could resign herself to waiting patiently for ten 
o'clock.
     South Audley Mansions looked exactly the same as usual. What Tuppence had 
expected she hardly knew, but the sight of its red brick stolidity slightly 
assuaged the growing and entirely unreasonable uneasiness that possessed her. 
She was just turning away when she heard a piercing whistle, and the faithful 
Albert came running from the building to join her.
     Tuppence frowned.  It was no part of the programme to have attention called 
to her presence in the neighbourhood, but Albert was purple with suppressed 
excitement.
     "I say, miss, she's a-going!"
     "Who's going?" demanded Tuppence sharply.
     "The crook.  Ready Rita.  Mrs. Vandemeyer.  She's a-packing up, and she's 
just sent down word for me to get her a taxi."
     "What?"  Tuppence clutched his arm.
     "It's the truth, miss.  I thought maybe as you didn't know about it."
     "Albert," cried Tuppence, "you're a brick.  If it hadn't been for you we'd 
have lost her."
     Albert flushed with pleasure at this tribute.
     "There's no time to lose," said Tuppence, crossing the road. "I've got to 
stop her.  At all costs I must keep her here until----" She broke off.  "Albert, 
there's a telephone here, isn't there?"
     The boy shook his head.
     "The flats mostly have their own, miss.  But there's a box just round the 
corner."
     "Go to it then, at once, and ring up the Ritz Hotel.  Ask for Mr. 
Hersheimmer, and when you get him tell him to get Sir James and come on at once, 
as Mrs. Vandemeyer is trying to hook it. If you can't get him, ring up Sir James 
Peel Edgerton, you'll find his number in the book, and tell him what's 
happening. You won't forget the names, will you?"
     Albert repeated them glibly.  "You trust to me, miss, it'll be all right. 
But what about you?  Aren't you afraid to trust yourself with her?"
     "No, no, that's all right.  BUT GO AND TELEPHONE.  Be quick."
     Drawing a long breath, Tuppence entered the Mansions and ran up to the door 
of No. 20.  How she was to detain Mrs. Vandemeyer until the two men arrived, she 
did not know, but somehow or other it had to be done, and she must accomplish 
the task single-handed. What had occasioned this precipitate departure? Did Mrs. 
Vandemeyer suspect her?
     Speculations were idle.  Tuppence pressed the bell firmly. She might learn 
something from the cook.
     Nothing happened and, after waiting some minutes, Tuppence pressed the bell 
again, keeping her finger on the button for some little while. At last she heard 
footsteps inside, and a moment later Mrs. Vandemeyer herself opened the door.  
She lifted her eyebrows at the sight of the girl.
     "You?"
     "I had a touch of toothache, ma'am," said Tuppence glibly. "So thought it 
better to come home and have a quiet evening."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer said nothing, but she drew back and let Tuppence pass into 
the hall.
     "How unfortunate for you," she said coldly.  "You had better go to bed."
     "Oh, I shall be all right in the kitchen, ma'am. Cook will----"
     "Cook is out," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, in a rather disagreeable tone. "I sent 
her out.  So you see you had better go to bed."
     Suddenly Tuppence felt afraid.  There was a ring in Mrs. Vandemeyer's voice 
that she did not like at all. Also, the other woman was slowly edging her up the 
passage. Tuppence turned at bay.
     "I don't want----"
     Then, in a flash, a rim of cold steel touched her temple, and Mrs. 
Vandemeyer's voice rose cold and menacing:
     "You damned little fool!  Do you think I don't know?  No, don't answer. If 
you struggle or cry out, I'll shoot you like a dog."
     The rim of steel pressed a little harder against the girl's temple.
     "Now then, march," went on Mrs. Vandemeyer.  "This way--into my room. In a 
minute, when I've done with you, you'll go to bed as I told you to. And you'll 
sleep--oh yes, my little spy, you'll sleep all right!"
     There was a sort of hideous geniality in the last words which Tuppence did 
not at all like.  For the moment there was nothing to be done, and she walked 
obediently into Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom.  The pistol never left her forehead.  
The room was in a state of wild disorder, clothes were flung about right and 
left, a suit-case and a hat box, half-packed, stood in the middle of the floor.
     Tuppence pulled herself together with an effort.  Her voice shook a little, 
but she spoke out bravely.
     "Come now," she said.  "This is nonsense.  You can't shoot me. Why, every 
one in the building would hear the report."
     "I'd risk that," said Mrs. Vandemeyer cheerfully. "But, as long as you 
don't sing out for help, you're all right--and I don't think you will.  You're a 
clever girl. You deceived ME all right.  I hadn't a suspicion of you! So I've no 
doubt that you understand perfectly well that this is where I'm on top and 
you're underneath.  Now then--sit on the bed. Put your hands above your head, 
and if you value your life don't move them."
     Tuppence obeyed passively.  Her good sense told her that there was nothing 
else to do but accept the situation.  If she shrieked for help there was very 
little chance of anyone hearing her, whereas there was probably quite a good 
chance of Mrs. Vandemeyer's shooting her. In the meantime, every minute of delay 
gained was valuable.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer laid down the revolver on the edge of the washstand within 
reach of her hand, and, still eyeing Tuppence like a lynx in case the girl 
should attempt to move, she took a little stoppered bottle from its place on the 
marble and poured some of its contents into a glass which she filled up with 
water.
     "What's that?" asked Tuppence sharply.
     "Something to make you sleep soundly."
     Tuppence paled a little.
     "Are you going to poison me?" she asked in a whisper.
     "Perhaps," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, smiling agreeably.
     "Then I shan't drink it," said Tuppence firmly.  "I'd much rather be shot. 
At any rate that would make a row, and some one might hear it. But I won't be 
killed off quietly like a lamb."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer stamped her foot.
     "Don't be a little fool!  Do you really think I want a hue and cry for 
murder out after me?  If you've any sense at all, you'll realize that poisoning 
you wouldn't suit my book at all.  It's a sleeping draught, that's all.  You'll 
wake up to-morrow morning none the worse. I simply don't want the bother of 
tying you up and gagging you. That's the alternative--and you won't like it, I 
can tell you! I can be very rough if I choose.  So drink this down like a good 
girl, and you'll be none the worse for it."
     In her heart of hearts Tuppence believed her.  The arguments she had 
adduced rang true.  It was a simple and effective method of getting her out of 
the way for the time being. Nevertheless, the girl did not take kindly to the 
idea of being tamely put to sleep without as much as one bid for freedom. She 
felt that once Mrs. Vandemeyer gave them the slip, the last hope of finding 
Tommy would be gone.
     Tuppence was quick in her mental processes.  All these reflections passed 
through her mind in a flash, and she saw where a chance, a very problematical 
chance, lay, and she determined to risk all in one supreme effort.
     Accordingly, she lurched suddenly off the bed and fell on her knees before 
Mrs. Vandemeyer, clutching her skirts frantically.
     "I don't believe it," she moaned.  "It's poison--I know it's poison. Oh, 
don't make me drink it"--her voice rose to a shriek--"don't make me drink it!"
     Mrs. Vandemeyer, glass in hand, looked down with a curling lip at this 
sudden collapse.
     "Get up, you little idiot!  Don't go on drivelling there. How you ever had 
the nerve to play your part as you did I can't think." She stamped her foot.  
"Get up, I say."
     But Tuppence continued to cling and sob, interjecting her sobs with 
incoherent appeals for mercy.  Every minute gained was to the good. Moreover, as 
she grovelled, she moved imperceptibly nearer to her objective.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer gave a sharp impatient exclamation, and jerked the girl to 
her knees.
     "Drink it at once!"  Imperiously she pressed the glass to the girl's lips.
     Tuppence gave one last despairing moan.
     "You swear it won't hurt me?" she temporized.
     "Of course it won't hurt you.  Don't be a fool."
     "Will you swear it?"
     "Yes, yes," said the other impatiently.  "I swear it."
     Tuppence raised a trembling left hand to the glass.
     "Very well."  Her mouth opened meekly.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer gave a sigh of relief, off her guard for the moment. Then, 
quick as a flash, Tuppence jerked the glass upward as hard as she could.  The 
fluid in it splashed into Mrs. Vandemeyer's face, and during her momentary gasp, 
Tuppence's right hand shot out and grasped the revolver where it lay on the edge 
of the washstand. The next moment she had sprung back a pace, and the revolver 
pointed straight at Mrs. Vandemeyer's heart, with no unsteadiness in the hand 
that held it.
     In the moment of victory, Tuppence betrayed a somewhat unsportsmanlike 
triumph.
     "Now who's on top and who's underneath?" she crowed.
     The other's face was convulsed with rage.  For a minute Tuppence thought 
she was going to spring upon her, which would have placed the girl in an 
unpleasant dilemma, since she meant to draw the line at actually letting off the 
revolver. However, with an effort Mrs. Vandemeyer controlled herself, and at 
last a slow evil smile crept over her face.
     "Not a fool, then, after all!  You did that well, girl. But you shall pay 
for it--oh, yes, you shall pay for it! I have a long memory!"
     "I'm surprised you should have been gulfed so easily," said Tuppence 
scornfully.  "Did you really think I was the kind of girl to roll about on the 
floor and whine for mercy?"
     "You may do--some day!" said the other significantly.
     The cold malignity of her manner sent an unpleasant chill down Tuppence's 
spine, but she was not going to give in to it.
     "Supposing we sit down," she said pleasantly.  "Our present attitude is a 
little melodramatic.  No--not on the bed. Draw a chair up to the table, that's 
right.  Now I'll sit opposite you with the revolver in front of me--just in case 
of accidents.  Splendid.  Now, let's talk."
     "What about?" said Mrs. Vandemeyer sullenly.
     Tuppence eyed her thoughtfully for a minute.  She was remembering several 
things.  Boris's words, "I believe you would sell--us!" and her answer, "The 
price would have to be enormous," given lightly, it was true, yet might not 
there be a substratum of truth in it?  Long ago, had not Whittington asked: 
"Who's been blabbing?  Rita?"  Would Rita Vandemeyer prove to be the weak spot 
in the armour of Mr. Brown?
     Keeping her eyes fixed steadily on the other's face, Tuppence replied 
quietly:
     "Money----"
     Mrs. Vandemeyer started.  Clearly, the reply was unexpected.
     "What do you mean?"
     "I'll tell you.  You said just now that you had a long memory. A long 
memory isn't half as useful as a long purse!  I dare say it relieves your 
feelings a good deal to plan out all sorts of dreadful things to do to me, but 
is that PRACTICAL?  Revenge is very unsatisfactory. Every one always says so.  
But money"--Tuppence warmed to her pet creed--"well, there's nothing 
unsatisfactory about money, is there?"
     "Do you think," said Mrs. Vandemeyer scornfully, "that I am the kind of 
woman to sell my friends?"
     "Yes," said Tuppence promptly.  "If the price was big enough."
     "A paltry hundred pounds or so!"
     "No," said Tuppence.  "I should suggest--a hundred thousand!"
     Her economical spirit did not permit her to mention the whole million 
dollars suggested by Julius.
     A flush crept over Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
     "What did you say?" she asked, her fingers playing nervously with a brooch 
on her breast.  In that moment Tuppence knew that the fish was hooked, and for 
the first time she felt a horror of her own money-loving spirit. It gave her a 
dreadful sense of kinship to the woman fronting her.
     "A hundred thousand pounds," repeated Tuppence.
     The light died out of Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes.  She leaned back in her 
chair.
     "Bah!" she said.  "You haven't got it."
     "No," admitted Tuppence, "I haven't--but I know some one who has."
     "Who?"
     "A friend of mine."
     "Must be a millionaire," remarked Mrs. Vandemeyer unbelievingly.
     "As a matter of fact he is.  He's an American.  He'll pay you that without 
a murmur.  You can take it from me that it's a perfectly genuine proposition."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer sat up again.
     "I'm inclined to believe you," she said slowly.
     There was silence between them for some time, then Mrs. Vandemeyer looked 
up.
     "What does he want to know, this friend of yours?"
     Tuppence went through a momentary struggle, but it was Julius's money, and 
his interests must come first.
     "He wants to know where Jane Finn is," she said boldly.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer showed no surprise.
     "I'm not sure where she is at the present moment," she replied.
     "But you could find out?"
     "Oh, yes," returned Mrs. Vandemeyer carelessly.  "There would be no 
difficulty about that."
     "Then"--Tuppence's voice shook a little--"there's a boy, a friend of mine. 
I'm afraid something's happened to him, through your pal Boris."
     "What's his name?"
     "Tommy Beresford."
     "Never heard of him.  But I'll ask Boris.  He'll tell me anything he 
knows."
     "Thank you."  Tuppence felt a terrific rise in her spirits. It impelled her 
to more audacious efforts.  "There's one thing more."
     "Well?"
     Tuppence leaned forward and lowered her voice.
     "WHO IS MR. BROWN?"
     Her quick eyes saw the sudden paling of the beautiful face. With an effort 
Mrs. Vandemeyer pulled herself together and tried to resume her former manner.  
But the attempt was a mere parody.
     She shrugged her shoulders.
     "You can't have learnt much about us if you don't know that NOBODY KNOWS 
WHO MR. BROWN IS...."
     "You do," said Tuppence quietly.
     Again the colour deserted the other's face.
     "What makes you think that?"
     "I don't know," said the girl truthfully.  "But I'm sure."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer stared in front of her for a long time.
     "Yes," she said hoarsely, at last, "I know.  I was beautiful, you see--very 
beautiful--"
     "You are still," said Tuppence with admiration.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head.  There was a strange gleam in her 
electric-blue eyes.
     "Not beautiful enough," she said in a soft dangerous voice. 
"Not--beautiful--enough!  And sometimes, lately, I've been afraid.... It's 
dangerous to know too much!"  She leaned forward across the table.  "Swear that 
my name shan't be brought into it--that no one shall ever know."  "I swear it.  
And, once's he caught, you'll be out of danger."
     A terrified look swept across Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
     "Shall I?  Shall I ever be?"  She clutched Tuppence's arm. "You're sure 
about the money?"
     "Quite sure."
     "When shall I have it?  There must be no delay."
     "This friend of mine will be here presently.  He may have to send cables, 
or something like that.  But there won't be any delay--he's a terrific hustler."
     A resolute look settled on Mrs. Vandemeyer's face.
     "I'll do it.  It's a great sum of money, and besides"--she gave a curious 
smile--"it is not--wise to throw over a woman like me!"
     For a moment or two, she remained smiling, and lightly tapping her fingers 
on the table.  Suddenly she started, and her face blanched.
     "What was that?"
     "I heard nothing."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer gazed round her fearfully.
     "If there should be some one listening----"
     "Nonsense.  Who could there be?"
     "Even the walls might have ears," whispered the other. "I tell you I'm 
frightened.  You don't know him!"
     "Think of the hundred thousand pounds," said Tuppence soothingly.
     Mrs. Vandemeyer passed her tongue over her dried lips.
     "You don't know him," she reiterated hoarsely.  "He's--ah!"
     With a shriek of terror she sprang to her feet. Her outstretched hand 
pointed over Tuppence's head. Then she swayed to the ground in a dead faint.
     Tuppence looked round to see what had startled her.
     In the doorway were Sir James Peel Edgerton and Julius Hersheimmer.
     
     CHAPTER XIII
     THE VIGIL
     SIR James brushed past Julius and hurriedly bent over the fallen woman.
     "Heart," he said sharply.  "Seeing us so suddenly must have given her a 
shock.  Brandy--and quickly, or she'll slip through our fingers."
     Julius hurried to the washstand.
     "Not there," said Tuppence over her shoulder.  "In the tantalus in the 
dining-room. Second door down the passage."
     Between them Sir James and Tuppence lifted Mrs. Vandemeyer and carried her 
to the bed.  There they dashed water on her face, but with no result. The lawyer 
fingered her pulse.
     "Touch and go," he muttered.  "I wish that young fellow would hurry up with 
the brandy."
     At that moment Julius re-entered the room, carrying a glass half full of 
the spirit which he handed to Sir James.  While Tuppence lifted her head the 
lawyer tried to force a little of the spirit between her closed lips.  Finally 
the woman opened her eyes feebly. Tuppence held the glass to her lips.
     "Drink this."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer complied.  The brandy brought the colour back to her white 
cheeks, and revived her in a marvellous fashion. She tried to sit up--then fell 
back with a groan, her hand to her side.
     "It's my heart," she whispered.  "I mustn't talk."
     She lay back with closed eyes.
     Sir James kept his finger on her wrist a minute longer, then withdrew it 
with a nod.
     "She'll do now."
     All three moved away, and stood together talking in low voices. One and all 
were conscious of a certain feeling of anticlimax. Clearly any scheme for 
cross-questioning the lady was out of the question for the moment.  For the time 
being they were baffled, and could do nothing.
     Tuppence related how Mrs. Vandemeyer had declared herself willing to 
disclose the identity of Mr. Brown, and how she had consented to discover and 
reveal to them the whereabouts of Jane Finn.  Julius was congratulatory.
     "That's all right, Miss Tuppence.  Splendid!  I guess that hundred thousand 
pounds will look just as good in the morning to the lady as it did over night.  
There's nothing to worry over. She won't speak without the cash anyway, you 
bet!"
     There was certainly a good deal of common sense in this, and Tuppence felt 
a little comforted.
     "What you say is true," said Sir James meditatively. "I must confess, 
however, that I cannot help wishing we had not interrupted at the minute we did. 
 Still, it cannot be helped, it is only a matter of waiting until the morning."
     He looked across at the inert figure on the bed. Mrs. Vandemeyer lay 
perfectly passive with closed eyes. He shook his head.
     "Well," said Tuppence, with an attempt at cheerfulness, "we must wait until 
the morning, that's all.  But I don't think we ought to leave the flat."
     "What about leaving that bright boy of yours on guard?"
     "Albert?  And suppose she came round again and hooked it. Albert couldn't 
stop her."
     "I guess she won't want to make tracks away from the dollars."
     "She might.  She seemed very frightened of 'Mr. Brown.'  "
     "What?  Real plumb scared of him?"
     "Yes.  She looked round and said even walls had ears."
     "Maybe she meant a dictaphone," said Julius with interest.
     "Miss Tuppence is right," said Sir James quietly. "We must not leave the 
flat--if only for Mrs. Vandemeyer's sake."
     Julius stared at him.
     "You think he'd get after her?  Between now and to-morrow morning. How 
could he know, even?"
     "You forget your own suggestion of a dictaphone," said Sir James dryly. "We 
have a very formidable adversary.  I believe, if we exercise all due care, that 
there is a very good chance of his being delivered into our hands. But we must 
neglect no precaution.  We have an important witness, but she must be 
safeguarded.  I would suggest that Miss Tuppence should go to bed, and that you 
and I, Mr. Hersheimmer, should share the vigil."
     Tuppence was about to protest, but happening to glance at the bed she saw 
Mrs. Vandemeyer, her eyes half-open, with such an expression of mingled fear and 
malevolence on her face that it quite froze the words on her lips.
     For a moment she wondered whether the faint and the heart attack had been a 
gigantic sham, but remembering the deadly pallor she could hardly credit the 
supposition. As she looked the expression disappeared as by magic, and Mrs. 
Vandemeyer lay inert and motionless as before. For a moment the girl fancied she 
must have dreamt it. But she determined nevertheless to be on the alert.
     "Well," said Julius, "I guess we'd better make a move out of here any way."
     The others fell in with his suggestion.  Sir James again felt Mrs. 
Vandemeyer's pulse.
     "Perfectly satisfactory," he said in a low voice to Tuppence.  "She'll be 
absolutely all right after a night's rest."
     The girl hesitated a moment by the bed.  The intensity of the expression 
she had surprised had impressed her powerfully. Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her lids. 
 She seemed to be struggling to speak. Tuppence bent over her.
     "Don't--leave----" she seemed unable to proceed, murmuring something that 
sounded like "sleepy."  Then she tried again.
     Tuppence bent lower still.  It was only a breath.
     "Mr.--Brown----" The voice stopped.
     But the half-closed eyes seemed still to send an agonized message.
     Moved by a sudden impulse, the girl said quickly:
     "I shan't leave the flat.  I shall sit up all night."
     A flash of relief showed before the lids descended once more. Apparently 
Mrs. Vandemeyer slept.  But her words had awakened a new uneasiness in Tuppence. 
 What had she meant by that low murmur: "Mr. Brown?"  Tuppence caught herself 
nervously looking over her shoulder. The big wardrobe loomed up in a sinister 
fashion before her eyes. Plenty of room for a man to hide in that.... 
Half-ashamed of herself, Tuppence pulled it open and looked inside. No one--of 
course!  She stooped down and looked under the bed. There was no other possible 
hiding-place.
     Tuppence gave her familiar shake of the shoulders.  It was absurd, this 
giving way to nerves!  Slowly she went out of the room. Julius and Sir James 
were talking in a low voice. Sir James turned to her.
     "Lock the door on the outside, please, Miss Tuppence, and take out the key. 
There must be no chance of anyone entering that room."
     The gravity of his manner impressed them, and Tuppence felt less ashamed of 
her attack of "nerves."
     "Say," remarked Julius suddenly, "there's Tuppence's bright boy. I guess 
I'd better go down and ease his young mind. That's some lad, Tuppence."
     "How did you get in, by the way?" asked Tuppence suddenly. "I forgot to 
ask."
     "Well, Albert got me on the phone all right.  I ran round for Sir James 
here, and we came right on.  The boy was on the look out for us, and was just a 
mite worried about what might have happened to you.  He'd been listening outside 
the door of the flat, but couldn't hear anything.  Anyhow he suggested sending 
us up in the coal lift instead of ringing the bell. And sure enough we landed in 
the scullery and came right along to find you. Albert's still below, and must be 
just hopping mad by this time." With which Julius departed abruptly.
     "Now then, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "you know this place better than 
I do.  Where do you suggest we should take up our quarters?"
     Tuppence considered for a moment or two.
     "I think Mrs. Vandemeyer's boudoir would be the most comfortable," she said 
at last, and led the way there.
     Sir James looked round approvingly.
     "This will do very well, and now, my dear young lady, do go to bed and get 
some sleep."
     Tuppence shook her head resolutely.
     "I couldn't, thank you, Sir James.  I should dream of Mr. Brown all night!"
     "But you'll be so tired, child."
     "No, I shan't. I'd rather stay up--really."
     The lawyer gave in.
     Julius reappeared some minutes later, having reassured Albert and rewarded 
him lavishly for his services. Having in his turn failed to persuade Tuppence to 
go to bed, he said decisively:
     "At any rate, you've got to have something to eat right away. Where's the 
larder?"
     Tuppence directed him, and he returned in a few minutes with a cold pie and 
three plates.
     After a hearty meal, the girl felt inclined to pooh-pooh her fancies of 
half an hour before.  The power of the money bribe could not fail.
     "And now, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "we want to hear your 
adventures."
     "That's so," agreed Julius.
     Tuppence narrated her adventures with some complacence. Julius occasionally 
interjected an admiring "Bully."  Sir James said nothing until she had finished, 
when his quiet "well done, Miss Tuppence," made her flush with pleasure.
     "There's one thing I don't get clearly," said Julius.  "What put her up to 
clearing out?"
     "I don't know," confessed Tuppence.
     Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully.
     "The room was in great disorder.  That looks as though her flight was 
unpremeditated.  Almost as though she got a sudden warning to go from some one."
     "Mr. Brown, I suppose," said Julius scoffingly.
     The lawyer looked at him deliberately for a minute or two.
     "Why not?" he said.  "Remember, you yourself have once been worsted by 
him."
     Julius flushed with vexation.
     "I feel just mad when I think of how I handed out Jane's photograph to him 
like a lamb.  Gee, if I ever lay hands on it again, I'll freeze on to it 
like--like hell!"
     "That contingency is likely to be a remote one," said the other dryly.
     "I guess you're right," said Julius frankly.  "And, in any case, it's the 
original I'm out after.  Where do you think she can be, Sir James?"
     The lawyer shook his head.
     "Impossible to say.  But I've a very good idea where she has been."
     "You have?  Where?"
     Sir James smiled.
     "At the scene of your nocturnal adventures, the Bournemouth nursing home."
     "There?  Impossible.  I asked."
     "No, my dear sir, you asked if anyone of the name of Jane Finn had been 
there.  Now, if the girl had been placed there it would almost certainly be 
under an assumed name."
     "Bully for you," cried Julius.  "I never thought of that!"
     "It was fairly obvious," said the other.
     "Perhaps the doctor's in it too," suggested Tuppence.
     Julius shook his head.
     "I don't think so.  I took to him at once.  No, I'm pretty sure Dr. Hall's 
all right."
     "Hall, did you say?" asked Sir James.  "That is curious--really very 
curious."
     "Why?" demanded Tuppence.
     "Because I happened to meet him this morning.  I've known him slightly on 
and off for some years, and this morning I ran across him in the street.  
Staying at the Metropole, he told me." He turned to Julius.  "Didn't he tell you 
he was coming up to town?"
     Julius shook his head.
     "Curious," mused Sir James.  "You did not mention his name this afternoon, 
or I would have suggested your going to him for further information with my card 
as introduction."
     "I guess I'm a mutt," said Julius with unusual humility. "I ought to have 
thought of the false name stunt."
     "How could you think of anything after falling out of that tree?" cried 
Tuppence.  "I'm sure anyone else would have been killed right off."
     "Well, I guess it doesn't matter now, anyway," said Julius.  "We've got 
Mrs. Vandemeyer on a string, and that's all we need."
     "Yes," said Tuppence, but there was a lack of assurance in her voice.
     A silence settled down over the party.  Little by little the magic of the 
night began to gain a hold on them.  There were sudden creaks of the furniture, 
imperceptible rustlings in the curtains. Suddenly Tuppence sprang up with a cry.
     "I can't help it.  I know Mr. Brown's somewhere in the flat! I can FEEL 
him."
     "Sure, Tuppence, how could he be?  This door's open into the hall. No one 
could have come in by the front door without our seeing and hearing him."
     "I can't help it.  I FEEL he's here!"
     She looked appealingly at Sir James, who replied gravely:
     "With due deference to your feelings, Miss Tuppence (and mine as well for 
that matter), I do not see how it is humanly possible for anyone to be in the 
flat without our knowledge."
     The girl was a little comforted by his wards.
     "Sitting up at night is always rather jumpy," she confessed.
     "Yes," said Sir James.  "We are in the condition of people holding a 
seance. Perhaps if a medium were present we might get some marvellous results."
     "Do you believe in spiritualism?" asked Tuppence, opening her eyes wide.
     The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
     "There is some truth in it, without a doubt.  But most of the testimony 
would not pass muster in the witness-box."
     The hours drew on.  With the first faint glimmerings of dawn, Sir James 
drew aside the curtains.  They beheld, what few Londoners see, the slow rising 
of the sun over the sleeping city.  Somehow, with the coming of the light, the 
dreads and fancies of the past night seemed absurd. Tuppence's spirits revived 
to the normal.
     "Hooray!" she said.  "It's going to be a gorgeous day.  And we shall find 
Tommy.  And Jane Finn.  And everything will be lovely. I shall ask Mr. Carter if 
I can't be made a Dame!"
     At seven o'clock Tuppence volunteered to go and make some tea. She returned 
with a tray, containing the teapot and four cups.
     "Who's the other cup for?" inquired Julius.
     "The prisoner, of course.  I suppose we might call her that?"
     "Taking her tea seems a kind of anticlimax to last night," said Julius 
thoughtfully.
     "Yes, it does," admitted Tuppence.  "But, anyway, here goes. Perhaps you'd 
both come, too, in case she springs on me, or anything. You see, we don't know 
what mood she'll wake up in."
     Sir James and Julius accompanied her to the door.
     "Where's the key?  Oh, of course, I've got it myself."
     She put it in the lock, and turned it, then paused.
     "Supposing, after all, she's escaped?" she murmured in a whisper.
     "Plumb impossible," replied Julius reassuringly.
     But Sir James said nothing.
     Tuppence drew a long breath and entered.  She heaved a sigh of relief as 
she saw that Mrs. Vandemeyer was lying on the bed.
     "Good morning," she remarked cheerfully.  "I've brought you some tea."
     Mrs. Vandemeyer did not reply.  Tuppence put down the cup on the table by 
the bed and went across to draw up the blinds. When she turned, Mrs. Vandemeyer 
still lay without a movement. With a sudden fear clutching at her heart, 
Tuppence ran to the bed. The hand she lifted was cold as ice.... Mrs. Vandemeyer 
would never speak now....
     Her cry brought the others.  A very few minutes sufficed. Mrs. Vandemeyer 
was dead--must have been dead some hours. She had evidently died in her sleep.
     "If that isn't the cruellest luck," cried Julius in despair.
     The lawyer was calmer, but there was a curious gleam in his eyes.
     "If it is luck," he replied.
     "You don't think--but, say, that's plumb impossible--no one could have got 
in."
     "No," admitted the lawyer.  "I don't see how they could. And yet--she is on 
the point of betraying Mr. Brown, and--she dies. Is it only chance?"
     "But how----"
     "Yes, HOW!  That is what we must find out."  He stood there silently, 
gently stroking his chin.  "We must find out," he said quietly, and Tuppence 
felt that if she was Mr. Brown she would not like the tone of those simple 
words.
     Julius's glance went to the window.
     "The window's open," he remarked.  "Do you think----"
     Tuppence shook her head.
     "The balcony only goes along as far as the boudoir. We were there."
     "He might have slipped out----" suggested Julius.
     But Sir James interrupted him.
     "Mr. Brown's methods are not so crude.  In the meantime we must send for a 
doctor, but before we do so, is there anything in this room that might be of 
value to us?"
     Hastily, the three searched.  A charred mass in the grate indicated that 
Mrs. Vandemeyer had been burning papers on the eve of her flight. Nothing of 
importance remained, though they searched the other rooms as well.
     "There's that," said Tuppence suddenly, pointing to a small, old-fashioned 
safe let into the wall.  "It's for jewellery, I believe, but there might be 
something else in it."
     The key was in the lock, and Julius swung open the door, and searched 
inside. He was some time over the task.
     "Well," said Tuppence impatiently.
     There was a pause before Julius answered, then he withdrew his head and 
shut to the door.
     "Nothing," he said.
     In five minutes a brisk young doctor arrived, hastily summoned. He was 
deferential to Sir James, whom he recognized.
     "Heart failure, or possibly an overdose of some sleeping-draught." He 
sniffed.  "Rather an odour of chloral in the air."
     Tuppence remembered the glass she had upset.  A new thought drove her to 
the washstand.  She found the little bottle from which Mrs. Vandemeyer had 
poured a few drops.
     It had been three parts full.  Now--IT WAS EMPTY.
     
     CHAPTER XIV
     A CONSULTATION
     NOTHING was more surprising and bewildering to Tuppence than the ease and 
simplicity with which everything was arranged, owing to Sir James's skilful 
handling.  The doctor accepted quite readily the theory that Mrs. Vandemeyer had 
accidentally taken an overdose of chloral. He doubted whether an inquest would 
be necessary.  If so, he would let Sir James know.  He understood that Mrs. 
Vandemeyer was on the eve of departure for abroad, and that the servants had 
already left? Sir James and his young friends had been paying a call upon her, 
when she was suddenly stricken down and they had spent the night in the flat, 
not liking to leave her alone.  Did they know of any relatives? They did not, 
but Sir James referred him to Mrs. Vandemeyer's solicitor.
     Shortly afterwards a nurse arrived to take charge, and the other left the 
ill-omened building.
     "And what now?" asked Julius, with a gesture of despair. "I guess we're 
down and out for good."
     Sir James stroked his chin thoughtfully.
     "No," he said quietly.  "There is still the chance that Dr. Hall may be 
able to tell us something."
     "Gee!  I'd forgotten him."
     "The chance is slight, but it must not be neglected. I think I told you 
that he is staying at the Metropole.  I should suggest that we call upon him 
there as soon as possible. Shall we say after a bath and breakfast?"
     It was arranged that Tuppence and Julius should return to the Ritz, and 
call for Sir James in the car.  This programme was faithfully carried out, and a 
little after eleven they drew up before the Metropole.  They asked for Dr. Hall, 
and a page-boy went in search of him.  In a few minutes the little doctor came 
hurrying towards them.
     "Can you spare us a few minutes, Dr. Hall?" said Sir James pleasantly. "Let 
me introduce you to Miss Cowley.  Mr. Hersheimmer, I think, you already know."
     A quizzical gleam came into the doctor's eye as he shook hands with Julius.
     "Ah, yes, my young friend of the tree episode!  Ankle all right, eh?"
     "I guess it's cured owing to your skilful treatment, doc."
     "And the heart trouble?  Ha ha!"
     "Still searching," said Julius briefly.
     "To come to the point, can we have a word with you in private?" asked Sir 
James.
     "Certainly.  I think there is a room here where we shall be quite 
undisturbed."
     He led the way, and the others followed him.  They sat down, and the doctor 
looked inquiringly at Sir James.
     "Dr. Hall, I am very anxious to find a certain young lady for the purpose 
of obtaining a statement from her. I have reason to believe that she has been at 
one time or another in your establishment at Bournemouth.  I hope I am 
transgressing no professional etiquette in questioning you on the subject?"
     "I suppose it is a matter of testimony?"
     Sir James hesitated a moment, then he replied:
     "Yes."
     "I shall be pleased to give you any information in my power. What is the 
young lady's name?  Mr. Hersheimmer asked me, I remember----" He half turned to 
Julius.
     "The name," said Sir James bluntly, "is really immaterial. She would be 
almost certainly sent to you under an assumed one. But I should like to know if 
you are acquainted with a Mrs. Vandemeyer?"
     "Mrs. Vandemeyer, of 20 South Audley Mansions?  I know her slightly."
     "You are not aware of what has happened?"
     "What do you mean?"
     "You do not know that Mrs. Vandemeyer is dead?"  "Dear, dear, I had no idea 
of it!  When did it happen?"
     "She took an overdose of chloral last night."
     "Purposely?"
     "Accidentally, it is believed.  I should not like to say myself. Anyway, 
she was found dead this morning."
     "Very sad.  A singularly handsome woman.  I presume she was a friend of 
yours, since you are acquainted with all these details."
     "I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who found her 
dead."
     "Indeed," said the doctor, starting.
     "Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively.
     "This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do not see 
how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?"
     "It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs. Vandemeyer 
committed a young relative of hers to your charge?"
     Julius leaned forward eagerly.
     "That is the case," said the doctor quietly.
     "Under the name of----?"
     "Janet Vandemeyer.  I understood her to be a niece of Mrs. Vandemeyer's."
     "And she came to you?"
     "As far as I can remember in June or July of 1915."
     "Was she a mental case?"
     "She is perfectly sane, if that is what you mean. I understood from Mrs. 
Vandemeyer that the girl had been with her on the Lusitania when that ill-fated 
ship was sunk, and had suffered a severe shock in consequence."
     "We're on the right track, I think?"  Sir James looked round.
     "As I said before, I'm a mutt!" returned Julius.
     The doctor looked at them all curiously.
     "You spoke of wanting a statement from her," he said. "Supposing she is not 
able to give one?"
     "What?  You have just said that she is perfectly sane."
     "So she is.  Nevertheless, if you want a statement from her concerning any 
events prior to May 7, 1915, she will not be able to give it to you."
     They looked at the little man, stupefied.  He nodded cheerfully.
     "It's a pity," he said.  "A great pity, especially as I gather, Sir James, 
that the matter is important.  But there it is, she can tell you nothing."
     "But why, man?  Darn it all, why?"
     The little man shifted his benevolent glance to the excited young American.
     "Because Janet Vandemeyer is suffering from a complete loss of memory."
     "WHAT?"
     "Quite so.  An interesting case, a very interesting case. Not so uncommon, 
really, as you would think.  There are several very well known parallels.  It's 
the first case of the kind that I've had under my own personal observation, and 
I must admit that I've found it of absorbing interest." There was something 
rather ghoulish in the little man's satisfaction.
     "And she remembers nothing," said Sir James slowly.
     "Nothing prior to May 7, 1915.  After that date her memory is as good as 
yours or mine."
     "Then the first thing she remembers?"
     "Is landing with the survivors.  Everything before that is a blank. She did 
not know her own name, or where she had come from, or where she was. She 
couldn't even speak her own tongue."
     "But surely all this is most unusual?" put in Julius.
     "No, my dear sir.  Quite normal under the circumstances. Severe shock to 
the nervous system.  Loss of memory proceeds nearly always on the same lines.  I 
suggested a specialist, of course. There's a very good man in Paris--makes a 
study of these cases--but Mrs. Vandemeyer opposed the idea of publicity that 
might result from such a course."
     "I can imagine she would," said Sir James grimly.
     "I fell in with her views.  There is a certain notoriety given to these 
cases.  And the girl was very young--nineteen, I believe. It seemed a pity that 
her infirmity should be talked about--might damage her prospects.  Besides, 
there is no special treatment to pursue in such cases.  It is really a matter of 
waiting."
     "Waiting?"
     "Yes, sooner or later, the memory will return--as suddenly as it went. But 
in all probability the girl will have entirely forgotten the intervening period, 
and will take up life where she left off--at the sinking of the Lusitania."
     "And when do you expect this to happen?"
     The doctor shrugged his shoulders.
     "Ah, that I cannot say.  Sometimes it is a matter of months, sometimes it 
has been known to be as long as twenty years! Sometimes another shock does the 
trick.  One restores what the other took away."
     "Another shock, eh?" said Julius thoughtfully.
     "Exactly.  There was a case in Colorado----" The little man's voice trailed 
on, voluble, mildly enthusiastic.
     Julius did not seem to be listening.  He had relapsed into his own thoughts 
and was frowning.  Suddenly he came out of his brown study, and hit the table 
such a resounding bang with his fist that every one jumped, the doctor most of 
all.
     "I've got it!  I guess, doc, I'd like your medical opinion on the plan I'm 
about to outline.  Say Jane was to cross the herring pond again, and the same 
thing was to happen.  The submarine, the sinking ship, every one to take to the 
boats--and so on.  Wouldn't that do the trick? Wouldn't it give a mighty big 
bump to her subconscious self, or whatever the jargon is, and start it 
functioning again right away?"
     "A very interesting speculation, Mr. Hersheimmer.  In my own opinion, it 
would be successful.  It is unfortunate that there is no chance of the 
conditions repeating themselves as you suggest."
     "Not by nature, perhaps, doc.  But I'm talking about art."
     "Art?"
     "Why, yes.  What's the difficulty?  Hire a liner----"
     "A liner!" murmured Dr. Hall faintly.
     "Hire some passengers, hire a submarine--that's the only difficulty, I 
guess. Governments are apt to be a bit hidebound over their engines of war. They 
won't sell to the firstcomer.  Still, I guess that can be got over. Ever heard 
of the word 'graft,' sir?  Well, graft gets there every time! I reckon that we 
shan't really need to fire a torpedo.  If every one hustles round and screams 
loud enough that the ship is sinking, it ought to be enough for an innocent 
young girl like Jane.  By the time she's got a life-belt on her, and is being 
hustled into a boat, with a well-drilled lot of artistes doing the hysterical 
stunt on deck, why--she ought to be right back where she was in May, 1915.  
How's that for the bare outline?"
     Dr. Hall looked at Julius.  Everything that he was for the moment incapable 
of saying was eloquent in that look.
     "No," said Julius, in answer to it, "I'm not crazy. The thing's perfectly 
possible.  It's done every day in the States for the movies.  Haven't you seen 
trains in collision on the screen? What's the difference between buying up a 
train and buying up a liner? Get the properties and you can go right ahead!"
     Dr. Hall found his voice.
     "But the expense, my dear sir."  His voice rose.  "The expense! It will be 
COLOSSAL!"
     "Money doesn't worry me any," explained Julius simply.
     Dr. Hall turned an appealing face to Sir James, who smiled slightly.
     "Mr. Hersheimmer is very well off--very well off indeed."
     The doctor's glance came back to Julius with a new and subtle quality in 
it. This was no longer an eccentric young fellow with a habit of falling off 
trees.  The doctor's eyes held the deference accorded to a really rich man.
     "Very remarkable plan.  Very remarkable," he murmured.  "The movies--of 
course!  Your American word for the kinema.  Very interesting. I fear we are 
perhaps a little behind the times over here in our methods. And you really mean 
to carry out this remarkable plan of yours."
     "You bet your bottom dollar I do."
     The doctor believed him--which was a tribute to his nationality. If an 
Englishman had suggested such a thing, he would have had grave doubts as to his 
sanity.
     "I cannot guarantee a cure," he pointed out.  "Perhaps I ought to make that 
quite clear."
     "Sure, that's all right," said Julius.  "You just trot out Jane, and leave 
the rest to me."
     "Jane?"
     "Miss Janet Vandemeyer, then.  Can we get on the long distance to your 
place right away, and ask them to send her up; or shall I run down and fetch her 
in my car?"
     The doctor stared.
     "I beg your pardon, Mr. Hersheimmer.  I thought you understood."
     "Understood what?"
     "That Miss Vandemeyer is no longer under my care."
     
     CHAPTER XV
     TUPPENCE RECEIVES A PROPOSAL
     JULIUS sprang up.
     "What?"
     "I thought you were aware of that."
     "When did she leave?"
     "Let me see.  To-day is Monday, is it not?  It must have been last 
Wednesday--why, surely--yes, it was the same evening that you--er--fell out of 
my tree."
     "That evening?  Before, or after?"
     "Let me see--oh yes, afterwards.  A very urgent message arrived from Mrs. 
Vandemeyer.  The young lady and the nurse who was in charge of her left by the 
night train."
     Julius sank back again into his chair.
     "Nurse Edith--left with a patient--I remember," he muttered. "My God, to 
have been so near!"
     Dr. Hall looked bewildered.
     "I don't understand.  Is the young lady not with her aunt, after all?"
     Tuppence shook her head.  She was about to speak when a warning glance from 
Sir James made her hold her tongue. The lawyer rose.
     "I'm much obliged to you, Hall.  We're very grateful for all you've told 
us. I'm afraid we're now in the position of having to track Miss Vandemeyer 
anew. What about the nurse who accompanied her; I suppose you don't know where 
she is?"
     The doctor shook his head.
     "We've not heard from her, as it happens.  I understood she was to remain 
with Miss Vandemeyer for a while.  But what can have happened? Surely the girl 
has not been kidnapped."
     "That remains to be seen," said Sir James gravely.
     The other hesitated.
     "You do not think I ought to go to the police?"
     "No, no.  In all probability the young lady is with other relations."
     The doctor was not completely satisfied, but he saw that Sir James was 
determined to say no more, and realized that to try and extract more information 
from the famous K.C. would be mere waste of labour. Accordingly, he wished them 
goodbye, and they left the hotel. For a few minutes they stood by the car 
talking.
     "How maddening," cried Tuppence.  "To think that Julius must have been 
actually under the same roof with her for a few hours."
     "I was a darned idiot," muttered Julius gloomily.
     "You couldn't know," Tuppence consoled him.  "Could he?" She appealed to 
Sir James.
     "I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "No use crying 
over spilt milk, you know."
     "The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence the practical.
     Sir James shrugged his shoulders.
     "You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. That is the 
only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do not hope for much result.  
Otherwise there is nothing to be done."
     "Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly.  "And--Tommy?"
     "We must hope for the best," said Sir James.  "Oh yes, we must go on 
hoping."
     But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almost imperceptibly 
he shook his head.  Julius understood.  The lawyer considered the case hopeless. 
 The young American's face grew grave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand.
     "You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letters will 
always be forwarded."
     Tuppence stared at him blankly.
     "You are going away?"
     "I told you.  Don't you remember?  To Scotland."
     "Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated.
     Sir James shrugged his shoulders.
     "My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clues have all 
ended in thin air.  You can take my word for it that there is nothing more to be 
done.  If anything should arise, I shall be glad to advise you in any way I 
can."
     His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling.
     "I suppose you're right," she said.  "Anyway, thank you very much for 
trying to help us.  Good-bye."
     Julius was bending over the car.  A momentary pity came into Sir James's 
keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face.
     "Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a low voice. 
"Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. One sometimes manages to put 
in some work as well."
     Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shook his head 
with a smile.
     "No, I shan't say any more.  Great mistake to say too much. Remember that.  
Never tell all you know--not even to the person you know best.  Understand?  
Good-bye."
     He strode away.  Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning to understand 
Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her a hint in the same careless 
fashion. Was this a hint?  What exactly lay behind those last brief words? Did 
he mean that, after all, he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would 
be working on it still while----
     Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to "get right 
in."
     "You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they started off. "Did 
the old guy say anything more?"
     Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again. Sir James's 
words sounded in her ears:  "Never tell all you know--not even to the person you 
know best." And like a flash there came into her mind another memory. Julius 
before the safe in the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply, 
"Nothing."  Was there really nothing? Or had he found something he wished to 
keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, so could she.
     "Nothing particular," she replied.
     She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her.
     "Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?"
     "If you like."
     For a while they ran on under the trees in silence.  It was a beautiful 
day. The keen rush through the air brought a new exhilaration to Tuppence.
     "Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?"
     Julius spoke in a discouraged voice.  The mood was so alien to him that 
Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise.  He nodded.
     "That's so.  I'm getting down and out over the business. Sir James to-day 
hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. I don't like him--we don't gee 
together somehow--but he's pretty cute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there 
was any chance of success--now, would he?"
     Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her belief that Julius 
also had withheld something from her, she remained firm.
     "He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him.
     "Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice!  No--I'm about fed up. 
I've half a mind to go back to the States right away."
     "Oh no!" cried Tuppence.  "We've got to find Tommy."
     "I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely.  "That's so. We must 
find him.  But after--well, I've been day-dreaming ever since I started on this 
trip--and these dreams are rotten poor business. I'm quit of them.  Say, Miss 
Tuppence, there's something I'd like to ask you."
     "Yes?"
     "You and Beresford.  What about it?"
     "I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, adding rather 
inconsequently:  "And, anyway, you're wrong!"
     "Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?"
     "Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth.  "Tommy and I are 
friends--nothing more."
     "I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another," observed 
Julius.
     "Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence.  "Do I look the sort of girl that's always 
falling in love with every man she meets?"
     "You do not.  You look the sort of girl that's mighty often getting fallen 
in love with!"
     "Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback.  "That's a compliment, I suppose?"
     "Sure.  Now let's get down to this.  Supposing we never find Beresford 
and--and----"
     "All right--say it!  I can face facts.  Supposing he's--dead!  Well?"
     "And all this business fiddles out.  What are you going to do?"
     "I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly.
     "You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid."
     "I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usual resentment of any 
kind of pity.
     "What about marriage?" inquired Julius.  "Got any views on the subject?"
     "I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence.  "That is, if"--she 
paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and then stuck to her guns 
bravely--"I can find some one rich enough to make it worth my while. That's 
frank, isn't it?  I dare say you despise me for it."
     "I never despise business instinct," said Julius.  "What particular figure 
have you in mind?"
     "Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled.  "Do you mean tall or short?"
     "No. Sum--income."
     "Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out."
     "What about me?"
     "You?"
     "Sure thing."
     "Oh, I couldn't!"
     "Why not?"
     "I tell you I couldn't."
     "Again, why not?"
     "It would seem so unfair."
     "I don't see anything unfair about it.  I call your bluff, that's all. I 
admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girl I've ever met. You're so 
darned plucky.  I'd just love to give you a real, rattling good time.  Say the 
word, and we'll run round right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the 
ring business."
     "I can't," gasped Tuppence.
     "Because of Beresford?"
     "No, no, NO!"
     "Well then?"
     Tuppence merely continued to shake her head violently.
     "You can't reasonably expect more dollars than I've got."
     "Oh, it isn't that," gasped Tuppence with an almost hysterical laugh. "But 
thanking you very much, and all that, I think I'd better say no."
     "I'd be obliged if you'd do me the favour to think it over until 
to-morrow."
     "It's no use."
     "Still, I guess we'll leave it like that."
     "Very well," said Tuppence meekly.
     Neither of them spoke again until they reached the Ritz.
     Tuppence went upstairs to her room.  She felt morally battered to the 
ground after her conflict with Julius's vigorous personality. Sitting down in 
front of the glass, she stared at her own reflection for some minutes.
     "Fool," murmured Tuppence at length, making a grimace. "Little fool.  
Everything you want--everything you've ever hoped for, and you go and bleat out 
'no' like an idiotic little sheep. It's your one chance.  Why don't you take it? 
 Grab it? Snatch at it?  What more do you want?"
     As if in answer to her own question, her eyes fell on a small snapshot of 
Tommy that stood on her dressing-table in a shabby frame. For a moment she 
struggled for self-control, and then abandoning all presence, she held it to her 
lips and burst into a fit of sobbing.
     "Oh, Tommy, Tommy," she cried, "I do love you so--and I may never see you 
again...."
     At the end of five minutes Tuppence sat up, blew her nose, and pushed back 
her hair.
     "That's that," she observed sternly.  "Let's look facts in the face. I seem 
to have fallen in love--with an idiot of a boy who probably doesn't care two 
straws about me."  Here she paused. "Anyway," she resumed, as though arguing 
with an unseen opponent, "I don't KNOW that he does.  He'd never have dared to 
say so. I've always jumped on sentiment--and here I am being more sentimental 
than anybody.  What idiots girls are!  I've always thought so. I suppose I shall 
sleep with his photograph under my pillow, and dream about him all night.  It's 
dreadful to feel you've been false to your principles."
     Tuppence shook her head sadly, as she reviewed her backsliding.
     "I don't know what to say to Julius, I'm sure.  Oh, what a fool I feel! 
I'll have to say SOMETHING--he's so American and thorough, he'll insist upon 
having a reason.  I wonder if he did find anything in that safe----"
     Tuppence's meditations went off on another tack.  She reviewed the events 
of last night carefully and persistently.  Somehow, they seemed bound up with 
Sir James's enigmatical words....
     Suddenly she gave a great start--the colour faded out of her face. Her 
eyes, fascinated, gazed in front of her, the pupils dilated.
     "Impossible," she murmured.  "Impossible!  I must be going mad even to 
think of such a thing...."
     Monstrous--yet it explained everything....
     After a moment's reflection she sat down and wrote a note, weighing each 
word as she did so.  Finally she nodded her head as though satisfied, and 
slipped it into an envelope which she addressed to Julius.  She went down the 
passage to his sitting-room and knocked at the door.  As she had expected, the 
room was empty. She left the note on the table.
     A small page-boy was waiting outside her own door when she returned to it.
     "Telegram for you, miss."
     Tuppence took it from the salver, and tore it open carelessly. Then she 
gave a cry.  The telegram was from Tommy!
     
     CHAPTER XVI
     FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOMMY
     FROM a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommy dragged his 
senses slowly back to life.  When he at last opened his eyes, he was conscious 
of nothing but an excruciating pain through his temples. He was vaguely aware of 
unfamiliar surroundings.  Where was he? What had happened?  He blinked feebly.  
This was not his bedroom at the Ritz.  And what the devil was the matter with 
his head?
     "Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up.  He had remembered. He was in that 
sinister house in Soho.  He uttered a groan and fell back. Through his 
almost-closed lids he reconnoitred carefully.
     "He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He recognized it 
at once for that of the bearded and efficient German, and lay artistically 
inert.  He felt that it would be a pity to come round too soon; and until the 
pain in his head became a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of 
collecting his wits. Painfully he tried to puzzle out what had happened. 
Obviously somebody must have crept up behind him as he listened and struck him 
down with a blow on the head.  They knew him now for a spy, and would in all 
probability give him short shrift. Undoubtedly he was in a tight place.  Nobody 
knew where he was, therefore he need expect no outside assistance, and must 
depend solely on his own wits.
     "Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated his former 
remark.
     "Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up.
     In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to his lips, with 
the brief command "Drink."  Tommy obeyed. The potency of the draught made him 
choke, but it cleared his brain in a marvellous manner.
     He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had been held.  On 
one side of him was the German, on the other the villainous-faced doorkeeper who 
had let him in. The others were grouped together at a little distance away. But 
Tommy missed one face.  The man known as Number One was no longer of the 
company.
     "Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass.
     "Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully.
     "Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick. The good 
Conrad struck hard."  He indicated the evil-faced doorkeeper by a nod.  The man 
grinned.
     Tommy twisted his head round with an effort.
     "Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you?  It strikes me the thickness of 
my skull was lucky for you too. When I look at you I feel it's almost a pity 
I've enabled you to cheat the hangman."
     The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly:
     "He would have run no risk of that."
     "Just as you like," replied Tommy.  "I know it's the fashion to run down 
the police.  I rather believe in them myself."
     His manner was nonchalant to the last degree.  Tommy Beresford was one of 
those young Englishmen not distinguished by any special intellectual ability, 
but who are emphatically at their best in what is known as a "tight place." 
Their natural diffidence and caution fall from them like a glove. Tommy realized 
perfectly that in his own wits lay the only chance of escape, and behind his 
casual manner he was racking his brains furiously.
     The cold accents of the German took up the conversation:
     "Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?"
     "Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity as before.
     "Do you deny that you were listening at that door?"
     "I do not.  I must really apologize--but your conversation was so 
interesting that it overcame my scruples."
     "How did you get in?"
     "Dear old Conrad here."  Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "I hesitate to 
suggest pensioning off a faithful servant, but you really ought to have a better 
watchdog."
     Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the beard 
swung round upon him:
     "He gave the word.  How was I to know?"
     "Yes," Tommy chimed in.  "How was he to know?  Don't blame the poor fellow. 
His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeing you all face to face."
     He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among the group, but the 
watchful German stilled it with a wave of his hand.
     "Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly.
     "Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!"
     "You soon will be, my young friend," said the German.
     An assenting murmur came from the others.
     Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did not waver.
     "I think not," he said firmly.  "I should have a great objection to dying."
     He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor's face.
     "Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?" asked the 
German.
     "Several," replied Tommy.  "Look here, you've been asking me a lot of 
questions.  Let me ask you one for a change. Why didn't you kill me off at once 
before I regained consciousness?"
     The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage.
     "Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtained that 
knowledge.  If you kill me now, you never will know."
     But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. He stepped forward 
waving his arms.
     "You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed.  "We will give you short shrift. 
Kill him!  Kill him!"
     There was a roar of applause.
     "You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy.  "What have you to say to 
that?"
     "Say?"  Tommy shrugged his shoulders.  "Pack of fools.  Let them ask 
themselves a few questions.  How did I get into this place? Remember what dear 
old Conrad said--WITH YOUR OWN PASSWORD, wasn't it? How did I get hold of that?  
You don't suppose I came up those steps haphazard and said the first thing that 
came into my head?"
     Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. His only regret 
was that Tuppence was not present to appreciate its full flavour.
     "That is true," said the working man suddenly.  "Comrades, we have been 
betrayed!"
     An ugly murmur arose.  Tommy smiled at them encouragingly.
     "That's better.  How can you hope to make a success of any job if you don't 
use your brains?"
     "You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German.  "But that shall 
not save you--oh, no!  You shall tell us all that you know. Boris, here, knows 
pretty ways of making people speak!"
     "Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularly unpleasant feeling 
in the pit of his stomach.  "You will neither torture me nor kill me."
     "And why not?" asked Boris.
     "Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," replied Tommy 
quietly.
     There was a momentary pause.  It seemed as though Tommy's persistent 
assurance was at last conquering.  They were no longer completely sure of 
themselves. The man in the shabby clothes stared at Tommy searchingly.
     "He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly.
     Tommy hated him.  Had the man seen through him?
     The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy.
     "What do you mean?"
     "What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperately in his own 
mind.
     Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy's face.
     "Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!"  "Don't get so excited, my good 
fellow," said Tommy calmly. "That's the worst of you foreigners.  You can't keep 
calm. Now, I ask you, do I look as though I thought there were the least chance 
of your killing me?"
     He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear the 
persistent beating of his heart which gave the lie to his words.
     "No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not."
     "Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy.  Aloud he pursued his 
advantage:
     "And why am I so confident?  Because I know something that puts me in a 
position to propose a bargain."
     "A bargain?"  The bearded man took him up sharply.
     "Yes--a bargain.  My life and liberty against----" He paused.
     "Against what?"
     The group pressed forward.  You could have heard a pin drop.
     Slowly Tommy spoke.
     "The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the Lusitania."
     The effect of his words was electrical.  Every one was on his feet. The 
German waved them back.  He leaned over Tommy, his face purple with excitement.
     "Himmel! You have got them, then?"
     With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head.
     "You know where they are?" persisted the German.
     Again Tommy shook his head.  "Not in the least."
     "Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him.
     Tommy looked round.  He saw anger and bewilderment on every face, but his 
calm assurance had done its work--no one doubted but that something lay behind 
his words.
     "I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can find them. I 
have a theory----"
     "Pah!"
     Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust.
     "I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts that are known 
to no one but myself.  In any case what do you lose? If I can produce the 
papers--you give me my life and liberty in exchange. Is it a bargain?"
     "And if we refuse?" said the German quietly.
     Tommy lay back on the couch.
     "The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnight ahead----"
     For a moment the German hesitated.  Then he made a sign to Conrad.
     "Take him into the other room."
     For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room next door. His 
heart was beating violently.  He had risked all on this throw. How would they 
decide?  And all the while that this agonized questioning went on within him, he 
talked flippantly to Conrad, enraging the cross-grained doorkeeper to the point 
of homicidal mania.
     At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously to Conrad to 
return.
     "Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarked Tommy 
frivolously.  "That's right, Conrad, march me in. The prisoner is at the bar, 
gentlemen."
     The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned to Tommy to 
sit down opposite to him.
     "We accept," he said harshly, "on terms.  The papers must be delivered to 
us before you go free."
     "Idiot!" said Tommy amiably.  "How do you think I can look for them if you 
keep me tied by the leg here?"
     "What do you expect, then?"  "I must have liberty to go about the business 
in my own way."
     The German laughed.
     "Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here leaving us 
a pretty story full of promises?"
     "No," said Tommy thoughtfully.  "Though infinitely simpler for me, I did 
not really think you would agree to that plan. Very well, we must arrange a 
compromise.  How would it be if you attached little Conrad here to my person. 
He's a faithful fellow, and very ready with the fist."
     "We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remain here. One of 
our number will carry out your instructions minutely. If the operations are 
complicated, he will return to you with a report and you can instruct him 
further."
     "You're tying my hands," complained Tommy.  "It's a very delicate affair, 
and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not, and then where shall I 
be?  I don't believe one of you has got an ounce of tact."
     The German rapped the table.
     "Those are our terms.  Otherwise, death!"
     Tommy leaned back wearily.
     "I like your style.  Curt, but attractive.  So be it, then. But one thing 
is essential, I must see the girl."
     "What girl?"
     "Jane Finn, of course."
     The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said slowly, 
and as though choosing his words with care:
     "Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?"
     Tommy's heart beat a little faster.  Would he succeed in coming face to 
face with the girl he was seeking?
     "I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not in so many 
words, that is."
     "Then why see her?"
     Tommy paused.
     "To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at last.
     Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not quite 
understand.
     "She will not be able to answer your question."
     That does not matter.  I shall have seen her face when I ask it."
     "And you think that will tell you anything?"  He gave a short disagreeable 
laugh.  More than ever, Tommy felt that there was a factor somewhere that he did 
not understand. The German looked at him searchingly.  "I wonder whether, after 
all, you know as much as we think?" he said softly.
     Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His hold had 
slipped a little.  But he was puzzled. What had he said wrong?  He spoke out on 
the impulse of the moment.
     "There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not pretended to 
be aware of all the details of your show. But equally I've got something up my 
sleeve that you don't know about. And that's where I mean to score.  Danvers was 
a damned clever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much.
     But the German's face had lightened a little.
     "Danvers," he murmured.  "I see----" He paused a minute, then waved to 
Conrad.  "Take him away.  Upstairs--you know."
     "Wait a minute," said Tommy.  "What about the girl?"
     "That may perhaps be arranged."
     "It must be."
     "We will see about it.  Only one person can decide that."
     "Who?" asked Tommy.  But he knew the answer.
     "Mr. Brown----"
     "Shall I see him?"
     "Perhaps."
     "Come," said Conrad harshly.
     Tommy rose obediently.  Outside the door his gaoler motioned to him to 
mount the stairs.  He himself followed close behind. On the floor above Conrad 
opened a door and Tommy passed into a small room.  Conrad lit a hissing gas 
burner and went out. Tommy heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
     He set to work to examine his prison.  It was a smaller room than the one 
downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airless about the atmosphere of 
it.  Then he realized that there was no window. He walked round it.  The walls 
were filthily dirty, as everywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the 
wall representing scenes from Faust.  Marguerite with her box of jewels, the 
church scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust and Mephistopheles.  The latter 
brought Tommy's mind back to Mr. Brown again.  In this sealed and closed 
chamber, with its close-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and 
the sinister power of the arch-criminal seemed more real.  Shout as he would, no 
one could ever hear him. The place was a living tomb....
     With an effort Tommy pulled himself together.  He sank on to the bed and 
gave himself up to reflection.  His head ached badly; also, he was hungry. The 
silence of the place was dispiriting.
     "Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see the chief--the 
mysterious Mr. Brown and with a bit of luck in bluffing I shall see the 
mysterious Jane Finn also.  After that----"
     After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary.
     
     CHAPTER XVII
     ANNETTE
     THE troubles of the future, however, soon faded before the troubles of the 
present.  And of these, the most immediate and pressing was that of hunger.  
Tommy had a healthy and vigorous appetite. The steak and chips partaken of for 
lunch seemed now to belong to another decade.  He regretfully recognized the 
fact that he would not make a success of a hunger strike.
     He prowled aimlessly about his prison.  Once or twice he discarded dignity, 
and pounded on the door.  But nobody answered the summons.
     "Hang it all!" said Tommy indignantly.  "They can't mean to starve me to 
death."  A new-born fear passed through his mind that this might, perhaps, be 
one of those "pretty ways" of making a prisoner speak, which had been attributed 
to Boris.  But on reflection he dismissed the idea.
     "It's that sour faced brute Conrad," he decided.  "That's a fellow I shall 
enjoy getting even with one of these days. This is just a bit of spite on his 
part.  I'm certain of it."
     Further meditations induced in him the feeling that it would be extremely 
pleasant to bring something down with a whack on Conrad's egg-shaped head. Tommy 
stroked his own head tenderly, and gave himself up to the pleasures of 
imagination.  Finally a bright idea flashed across his brain. Why not convert 
imagination into reality?  Conrad was undoubtedly the tenant of the house.  The 
others, with the possible exception of the bearded German, merely used it as a 
rendezvous.  Therefore, why not wait in ambush for Conrad behind the door, and 
when he entered bring down a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on 
to his head. One would, of course, be careful not to hit too hard.  And 
then--and then, simply walk out!  If he met anyone on the way down, 
well----Tommy brightened at the thought of an encounter with his fists. Such an 
affair was infinitely more in his line than the verbal encounter of this 
afternoon.  Intoxicated by his plan, Tommy gently unhooked the picture of the 
Devil and Faust, and settled himself in position. His hopes were high.  The plan 
seemed to him simple but excellent.
     Time went on, but Conrad did not appear.  Night and day were the same in 
this prison room, but Tommy's wrist-watch, which enjoyed a certain degree of 
accuracy, informed him that it was nine o'clock in the evening. Tommy reflected 
gloomily that if supper did not arrive soon it would be a question of waiting 
for breakfast.  At ten o'clock hope deserted him, and he flung himself on the 
bed to seek consolation in sleep. In five minutes his woes were forgotten.
     The sound of the key turning in the lock awoke him from his slumbers. Not 
belonging to the type of hero who is famous for awaking in full possession of 
his faculties, Tommy merely blinked at the ceiling and wondered vaguely where he 
was.  Then he remembered, and looked at his watch. It was eight o'clock.
     "It's either early morning tea or breakfast," deduced the young man, "and 
pray God it's the latter!"
     The door swung open.  Too late, Tommy remembered his scheme of obliterating 
the unprepossessing Conrad.  A moment later he was glad that he had, for it was 
not Conrad who entered, but a girl. She carried a tray which she set down on the 
table.
     In the feeble light of the gas burner Tommy blinked at her.  He decided at 
once that she was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. Her hair was 
a full rich brown, with sudden glints of gold in it as though there were 
imprisoned sunbeams struggling in its depths. There was a wild-rose quality 
about her face.  Her eyes, set wide apart, were hazel, a golden hazel that again 
recalled a memory of sunbeams.
     A delirious thought shot through Tommy's mind.
     "Are you Jane Finn?" he asked breathlessly.
     The girl shook her head wonderingly.
     "My name is Annette, monsieur."
     She spoke in a soft, broken English.
     "Oh!" said Tommy, rather taken aback.  "Francaise?" he hazarded.
     "Oui, monsieur.  Monsieur parle francais?"
     "Not for any length of time," said Tommy.  "What's that?  Breakfast?"
     The girl nodded.  Tommy dropped off the bed and came and inspected the 
contents of the tray.  It consisted of a loaf, some margarine, and a jug of 
coffee.
     "The living is not equal to the Ritz," he observed with a sigh. "But for 
what we are at last about to receive the Lord has made me truly thankful.  
Amen."
     He drew up a chair, and the girl turned away to the door.
     "Wait a sec," cried Tommy.  "There are lots of things I want to ask you, 
Annette.  What are you doing in this house? Don't tell me you're Conrad's niece, 
or daughter, or anything, because I can't believe it."
     "I do the SERVICE, monsieur.  I am not related to anybody."
     "I see," said Tommy.  "You know what I asked you just now. Have you ever 
heard that name?"
     "I have heard people speak of Jane Finn, I think."
     "You don't know where she is?"
     Annette shook her head.
     "She's not in this house, for instance?"
     "Oh no, monsieur.  I must go now--they will be waiting for me."
     She hurried out.  The key turned in the lock.
     "I wonder who 'they' are," mused Tommy, as he continued to make inroads on 
the loaf.  "With a bit of luck, that girl might help me to get out of here. She 
doesn't look like one of the gang."
     At one o'clock Annette reappeared with another tray, but this time Conrad 
accompanied her.
     "Good morning," said Tommy amiably.  "You have NOT used Pear's soap, I 
see."
     Conrad growled threateningly.
     "No light repartee, have you, old bean?  There, there, we can't always have 
brains as well as beauty.  What have we for lunch?  Stew?  How did I know? 
Elementary, my dear Watson--the smell of onions is unmistakable."
     "Talk away," grunted the man.  "It's little enough time you'll have to talk 
in, maybe."
     The remark was unpleasant in its suggestion, but Tommy ignored it. He sat 
down at the table.
     "Retire, varlet," he said, with a wave of his hand. "Prate not to thy 
betters."
     That evening Tommy sat on the bed, and cogitated deeply.  Would Conrad 
again accompany the girl?  If he did not, should he risk trying to make an ally 
of her?  He decided that he must leave no stone unturned. His position was 
desperate.
     At eight o'clock the familiar sound of the key turning made him spring to 
his feet.  The girl was alone.
     "Shut the door," he commanded.  "I want to speak to you."  She obeyed.
     "Look here, Annette, I want you to help me get out of this." She shook her 
head.
     "Impossible.  There are three of them on the floor below."
     "Oh!"  Tommy was secretly grateful for the information. "But you would help 
me if you could?"
     "No, monsieur."
     "Why not?"
     The girl hesitated.
     "I think--they are my own people.  You have spied upon them. They are quite 
right to keep you here."
     "They're a bad lot, Annette.  If you'll help me, I'll take you away from 
the lot of them.  And you'd probably get a good whack of money."
     But the girl merely shook her head.
     "I dare not, monsieur; I am afraid of them."
     She turned away.
     "Wouldn't you do anything to help another girl?" cried Tommy.  "She's about 
your age too.  Won't you save her from their clutches?"
     "You mean Jane Finn?"
     "Yes."
     "It is her you came here to look for?  Yes?"
     "That's it."
     The girl looked at him, then passed her hand across her forehead.
     "Jane Finn.  Always I hear that name.  It is familiar."
     Tommy came forward eagerly.
     "You must know SOMETHING about her?"
     But the girl turned away abruptly.
     "I know nothing--only the name."  She walked towards the door. Suddenly she 
uttered a cry.  Tommy stared.  She had caught sight of the picture he had laid 
against the wall the night before. For a moment he caught a look of terror in 
her eyes. As inexplicably it changed to relief.  Then abruptly she went out of 
the room.  Tommy could make nothing of it. Did she fancy that he had meant to 
attack her with it? Surely not.  He rehung the picture on the wall thoughtfully.
     Three more days went by in dreary inaction.  Tommy felt the strain telling 
on his nerves.  He saw no one but Conrad and Annette, and the girl had become 
dumb.  She spoke only in monosyllables. A kind of dark suspicion smouldered in 
her eyes.  Tommy felt that if this solitary confinement went on much longer he 
would go mad. He gathered from Conrad that they were waiting for orders from 
"Mr. Brown."  Perhaps, thought Tommy, he was abroad or away, and they were 
obliged to wait for his return.
     But the evening of the third day brought a rude awakening.
     It was barely seven o'clock when he heard the tramp of footsteps outside in 
the passage.  In another minute the door was flung open. Conrad entered.  With 
him was the evil-looking Number 14. Tommy's heart sank at the sight of them.
     "Evenin', gov'nor," said the man with a leer.  "Got those ropes, mate?"
     The silent Conrad produced a length of fine cord.  The next minute Number 
14's hands, horribly dexterous, were winding the cord round his limbs, while 
Conrad held him down.
     "What the devil----?" began Tommy.
     But the slow, speechless grin of the silent Conrad froze the words on his 
lips.
     Number 14 proceeded deftly with his task.  In another minute Tommy was a 
mere helpless bundle.  Then at last Conrad spoke:
     "Thought you'd bluffed us, did you?  With what you knew, and what you 
didn't know.  Bargained with us!  And all the time it was bluff!  Bluff!  You 
know less than a kitten. But your number's up now all right, you b----swine."
     Tommy lay silent.  There was nothing to say.  He had failed. Somehow or 
other the omnipotent Mr. Brown had seen through his pretensions. Suddenly a 
thought occurred to him.
     "A very good speech, Conrad," he said approvingly. "But wherefore the bonds 
and fetters?  Why not let this kind gentleman here cut my throat without delay?"
     "Garn," said Number 14 unexpectedly.  "Think we're as green as to do you in 
here, and have the police nosing round?  Not 'alf! We've ordered the carriage 
for your lordship to-morrow mornin', but in the meantime we're not taking any 
chances, see!"
     "Nothing," said Tommy, "could be plainer than your words--unless it was 
your face."
     "Stow it," said Number 14.
     "With pleasure," replied Tommy.  "You're making a sad mistake--but yours 
will be the loss."
     "You don't kid us that way again," said Number 14.  "Talking as though you 
were still at the blooming Ritz, aren't you?"
     Tommy made no reply.  He was engaged in wondering how Mr. Brown had 
discovered his identity.  He decided that Tuppence, in the throes of anxiety, 
had gone to the police, and that his disappearance having been made public the 
gang had not been slow to put two and two together.
     The two men departed and the door slammed.  Tommy was left to his 
meditations.  They were not pleasant ones. Already his limbs felt cramped and 
stiff.  He was utterly helpless, and he could see no hope anywhere.
     About an hour had passed when he heard the key softly turned, and the door 
opened.  It was Annette.  Tommy's heart beat a little faster. He had forgotten 
the girl.  Was it possible that she had come to his help?
     Suddenly he heard Conrad's voice:
     "Come out of it, Annette.  He doesn't want any supper to-night."
     "Oui, oui, je sais bien.  But I must take the other tray. We need the 
things on it."
     "Well, hurry up," growled Conrad.
     Without looking at Tommy the girl went over to the table, and picked up the 
tray.  She raised a hand and turned out the light.
     "Curse you"--Conrad had come to the door--"why did you do that?"
     "I always turn it out.  You should have told me. Shall I relight it, 
Monsieur Conrad?"
     "No, come on out of it."
     "Le beau petit monsieur," cried Annette, pausing by the bed in the 
darkness.  "You have tied him up well, hein? He is like a trussed chicken!"  The 
frank amusement in her tone jarred on the boy; but at that moment, to his 
amazement, he felt her hand running lightly over his bonds, and something small 
and cold was pressed into the palm of his hand.
     "Come on, Annette."
     "Mais me voila."
     The door shut.  Tommy heard Conrad say:
     "Lock it and give me the key."
     The footsteps died away.  Tommy lay petrified with amazement. The object 
Annette had thrust into his hand was a small penknife, the blade open.  From the 
way she had studiously avoided looking at him, and her action with the light, he 
came to the conclusion that the room was overlooked. There must be a peep-hole 
somewhere in the walls. Remembering how guarded she had always been in her 
manner, he saw that he had probably been under observation all the time. Had he 
said anything to give himself away?  Hardly.  He had revealed a wish to escape 
and a desire to find Jane Finn, but nothing that could have given a clue to his 
own identity. True, his question to Annette had proved that he was personally 
unacquainted with Jane Finn, but he had never pretended otherwise. The question 
now was, did Annette really know more? Were her denials intended primarily for 
the listeners? On that point he could come to no conclusion.
     But there was a more vital question that drove out all others. Could he, 
bound as he was, manage to cut his bonds?  He essayed cautiously to rub the open 
blade up and down on the cord that bound his two wrists together.  It was an 
awkward business, and drew a smothered "Ow" of pain from him as the knife cut 
into his wrist. But slowly and doggedly he went on sawing to and fro. He cut the 
flesh badly, but at last he felt the cord slacken. With his hands free, the rest 
was easy.  Five minutes later he stood upright with some difficulty, owing to 
the cramp in his limbs. His first care was to bind up his bleeding wrist.  Then 
he sat on the edge of the bed to think.  Conrad had taken the key of the door, 
so he could expect little more assistance from Annette.  The only outlet from 
the room was the door, consequently he would perforce have to wait until the two 
men returned to fetch him. But when they did . . . Tommy smiled!  Moving with 
infinite caution in the dark room, he found and unhooked the famous picture. He 
felt an economical pleasure that his first plan would not be wasted. There was 
now nothing to do but to wait.  He waited.
     The night passed slowly.  Tommy lived through an eternity of hours, but at 
last he heard footsteps.  He stood upright, drew a deep breath, and clutched the 
picture firmly.
     The door opened.  A faint light streamed in from outside. Conrad went 
straight towards the gas to light it. Tommy deeply regretted that it was he who 
had entered first. It would have been pleasant to get even with Conrad. Number 
14 followed.  As he stepped across the threshold, Tommy brought the picture down 
with terrific force on his head. Number 14 went down amidst a stupendous crash 
of broken glass. In a minute Tommy had slipped out and pulled to the door. The 
key was in the lock.  He turned it and withdrew it just as Conrad hurled himself 
against the door from the inside with a volley of curses.
     For a moment Tommy hesitated.  There was the sound of some one stirring on 
the floor below.  Then the German's voice came up the stairs.
     "Gott im Himmel! Conrad, what is it?"
     Tommy felt a small hand thrust into his.  Beside him stood Annette.  She 
pointed up a rickety ladder that apparently led to some attics.
     "Quick--up here!"  She dragged him after her up the ladder. In another 
moment they were standing in a dusty garret littered with lumber. Tommy looked 
round.
     "This won't do.  It's a regular trap.  There's no way out."
     "Hush!  Wait."  The girl put her finger to her lips. She crept to the top 
of the ladder and listened.
     The banging and beating on the door was terrific. The German and another 
were trying to force the door in. Annette explained in a whisper:
     "They will think you are still inside.  They cannot hear what Conrad says. 
The door is too thick."
     "I thought you could hear what went on in the room?"
     "There is a peep-hole into the next room.  It was clever of you to guess. 
But they will not think of that--they are only anxious to get in."
     "Yes--but look here----"
     "Leave it to me."  She bent down.  To his amazement, Tommy saw that she was 
fastening the end of a long piece of string to the handle of a big cracked jug.  
She arranged it carefully, then turned to Tommy.
     "Have you the key of the door?"
     "Yes."
     "Give it to me."
     He handed it to her.
     "I am going down.  Do you think you can go halfway, and then swing yourself 
down BEHIND the ladder, so that they will not see you?"
     Tommy nodded.
     "There's a big cupboard in the shadow of the landing. Stand behind it.  
Take the end of this string in your hand. When I've let the others out--PULL!"
     Before he had time to ask her anything more, she had flitted lightly down 
the ladder and was in the midst of the group with a loud cry:
     "Mon Dieu!  Mon Dieu!  Qu'est-ce qu'il y a?"
     The German turned on her with an oath.
     "Get out of this.  Go to your room!"
     Very cautiously Tommy swung himself down the back of the ladder. So long as 
they did not turn round ... all was well. He crouched behind the cupboard.  They 
were still between him and the stairs.
     "AH!" Annette appeared to stumble over something.  She stooped. "Mon Dieu, 
voila la clef!"
     The German snatched it from her.  He unlocked the door. Conrad stumbled 
out, swearing.
     "Where is he?  Have you got him?"
     "We have seen no one," said the German sharply.  His face paled. "Who do 
you mean?"
     Conrad gave vent to another oath.
     "He's got away."
     "Impossible.  He would have passed us."
     At that moment, with an ecstatic smile Tommy pulled the string. A crash of 
crockery came from the attic above.  In a trice the men were pushing each other 
up the rickety ladder and had disappeared into the darkness above.  Quick as a 
flash Tommy leapt from his hiding-place and dashed down the stairs, pulling the 
girl with him. There was no one in the hall.  He fumbled over the bolts and 
chain. At last they yielded, the door swung open.  He turned. Annette had 
disappeared.
     Tommy stood spell-bound. Had she run upstairs again?  What madness 
possessed her!  He fumed with impatience, but he stood his ground. He would not 
go without her.
     And suddenly there was an outcry overhead, an exclamation from the German, 
and then Annette's voice, clear and high:
     "Ma foi, he has escaped!  And quickly!  Who would have thought it?"
     Tommy still stood rooted to the ground.  Was that a command to him to go? 
He fancied it was.
     And then, louder still, the words floated down to him:
     "This is a terrible house.  I want to go back to Marguerite. To Marguerite. 
TO MARGUERITE!"
     Tommy had run back to the stairs.  She wanted him to go and leave her. But 
why?  At all costs he must try and get her away with him. Then his heart sank.  
Conrad was leaping down the stairs, uttering a savage cry at the sight of him.  
After him came the others.
     Tommy stopped Conrad's rush with a straight blow with his fist. It caught 
the other on the point of the jaw and he fell like a log. The second man tripped 
over his body and fell.  From higher up the staircase there was a flash, and a 
bullet grazed Tommy's ear. He realized that it would be good for his health to 
get out of this house as soon as possible.  As regards Annette he could do 
nothing. He had got even with Conrad, which was one satisfaction. The blow had 
been a good one.
     He leapt for the door, slamming it behind him.  The square was deserted. In 
front of the house was a baker's van.  Evidently he was to have been taken out 
of London in that, and his body found many miles from the house in Soho.  The 
driver jumped to the pavement and tried to bar Tommy's way. Again Tommy's fist 
shot out, and the driver sprawled on the pavement.
     Tommy took to his heels and ran--none too soon.  The front door opened and 
a hail of bullets followed him.  Fortunately none of them hit him. He turned the 
corner of the square.
     "There's one thing," he thought to himself, "they can't go on shooting.  
They'll have the police after them if they do. I wonder they dared to there."
     He heard the footsteps of his pursuers behind him, and redoubled his own 
pace.  Once he got out of these by-ways he would be safe. There would be a 
policeman about somewhere--not that he really wanted to invoke the aid of the 
police if he could possibly do without it. It meant explanations, and general 
awkwardness.  In another moment he had reason to bless his luck.  He stumbled 
over a prostrate figure, which started up with a yell of alarm and dashed off 
down the street. Tommy drew back into a doorway.  In a minute he had the 
pleasure of seeing his two pursuers, of whom the German was one, industriously 
tracking down the red herring!
     Tommy sat down quietly on the doorstep and allowed a few moments to elapse 
while he recovered his breath. Then he strolled gently in the opposite 
direction. He glanced at his watch.  It was a little after half-past five. It 
was rapidly growing light.  At the next corner he passed a policeman.  The 
policeman cast a suspicious eye on him. Tommy felt slightly offended.  Then, 
passing his hand over his face, he laughed.  He had not shaved or washed for 
three days! What a guy he must look.
     He betook himself without more ado to a Turkish Bath establishment which he 
knew to be open all night. He emerged into the busy daylight feeling himself 
once more, and able to make plans.
     First of all, he must have a square meal.  He had eaten nothing since 
midday yesterday.  He turned into an A.B.C. shop and ordered eggs and bacon and 
coffee.  Whilst he ate, he read a morning paper propped up in front of him.  
Suddenly he stiffened. There was a long article on Kramenin, who was described 
as the "man behind Bolshevism" in Russia, and who had just arrived in 
London--some thought as an unofficial envoy.  His career was sketched lightly, 
and it was firmly asserted that he, and not the figurehead leaders, had been the 
author of the Russian Revolution.
     In the centre of the page was his portrait.
     "So that's who Number 1 is," said Tommy with his mouth full of eggs and 
bacon.  "Not a doubt about it, I must push on."
     He paid for his breakfast, and betook himself to Whitehall. There he sent 
up his name, and the message that it was urgent. A few minutes later he was in 
the presence of the man who did not here go by the name of "Mr. Carter."  There 
was a frown on his face.
     "Look here, you've no business to come asking for me in this way. I thought 
that was distinctly understood?"
     "It was, sir.  But I judged it important to lose no time."
     And as briefly and succinctly as possible he detailed the experiences of 
the last few days.
     Half-way through, Mr. Carter interrupted him to give a few cryptic orders 
through the telephone.  All traces of displeasure had now left his face. He 
nodded energetically when Tommy had finished.
     "Quite right.  Every moment's of value.  Fear we shall be too late anyway. 
They wouldn't wait.  Would clear out at once.  Still, they may have left 
something behind them that will be a clue.  You say you've recognized Number 1 
to be Kramenin?  That's important.  We want something against him badly to 
prevent the Cabinet falling on his neck too freely.  What about the others? You 
say two faces were familiar to you?  One's a Labour man, you think? Just look 
through these photos, and see if you can spot him."
     A minute later, Tommy held one up.  Mr. Carter exhibited some surprise.
     "Ah, Westway!  Shouldn't have thought it.  Poses as being moderate. As for 
the other fellow, I think I can give a good guess."  He handed another 
photograph to Tommy, and smiled at the other's exclamation. "I'm right, then.  
Who is he?  Irishman.  Prominent Unionist M.P. All a blind, of course.  We've 
suspected it--but couldn't get any proof. Yes, you've done very well, young man. 
 The 29th, you say, is the date. That gives us very little time--very little 
time indeed."
     "But----" Tommy hesitated.
     Mr. Carter read his thoughts.
     "We can deal with the General Strike menace, I think.  It's a toss-up--but 
we've got a sporting chance!  But if that draft treaty turns up--we're done.  
England will be plunged in anarchy.  Ah, what's that? The car?  Come on, 
Beresford, we'll go and have a look at this house of yours."
     Two constables were on duty in front of the house in Soho.  An inspector 
reported to Mr. Carter in a low voice. The latter turned to Tommy.
     "The birds have flown--as we thought.  We might as well go over it."
     Going over the deserted house seemed to Tommy to partake of the character 
of a dream.  Everything was just as it had been.  The prison room with the 
crooked pictures, the broken jug in the attic, the meeting room with its long 
table.  But nowhere was there a trace of papers. Everything of that kind had 
either been destroyed or taken away. And there was no sign of Annette.
     "What you tell me about the girl puzzled me," said Mr. Carter.  "You 
believe that she deliberately went back?"
     "It would seem so, sir.  She ran upstairs while I was getting. the door 
open."
     "H'm, she must belong to the gang, then; but, being a woman, didn't feel 
like standing by to see a personable young man killed. But evidently she's in 
with them, or she wouldn't have gone back."
     "I can't believe she's really one of them, sir.  She--seemed so 
different----"
     "Good-looking, I suppose?" said Mr. Carter with a smile that made Tommy 
flush to the roots of his hair.  He admitted Annette's beauty rather 
shamefacedly.
     "By the way," observed Mr. Carter, "have you shown yourself to Miss 
Tuppence yet?  She's been bombarding me with letters about you."
     "Tuppence?  I was afraid she might get a bit rattled. Did she go to the 
police?"
     Mr. Carter shook his head.
     "Then I wonder how they twigged me."
     Mr. Carter looked inquiringly at him, and Tommy explained. The other nodded 
thoughtfully.
     "True, that's rather a curious point.  Unless the mention of the Ritz was 
an accidental remark?"
     "It might have been, sir.  But they must have found out about me suddenly 
in some way."
     "Well," said Mr. Carter, looking round him, "there's nothing more to be 
done here.  What about some lunch with me?"
     "Thanks awfully, sir.  But I think I'd better get back and rout out 
Tuppence."
     "Of course.  Give her my kind regards and tell her not to believe you're 
killed too readily next time."
     Tommy grinned.
     "I take a lot of killing, sir."
     "So I perceive," said Mr. Carter dryly.  "Well, good-bye. Remember you're a 
marked man now, and take reasonable care of yourself."
     "Thank you, sir."
     Hailing a taxi briskly Tommy stepped in, and was swiftly borne to the Ritz' 
dwelling the while on the pleasurable anticipation of startling Tuppence.
     "Wonder what she's been up to.  Dogging 'Rita' most likely. By the way, I 
suppose that's who Annette meant by Marguerite.  I didn't get it at the time."  
The thought saddened him a little, for it seemed to prove that Mrs. Vandemeyer 
and the girl were on intimate terms.
     The taxi drew up at the Ritz.  Tommy burst into its sacred portals eagerly, 
but his enthusiasm received a check. He was informed that Miss Cowley had gone 
out a quarter of an hour ago.
     
     CHAPTER XVIII
     THE TELEGRAM
     BAFFLED for the moment, Tommy strolled into the restaurant, and ordered a 
meal of surpassing excellence.  His four days' imprisonment had taught him anew 
to value good food.
     He was in the middle of conveying a particularly choice morsel of Sole a la 
Jeanette to his mouth, when he caught sight of Julius entering the room.  Tommy 
waved a menu cheerfully, and succeeded in attracting the other's attention. At 
the sight of Tommy, Julius's eyes seemed as though they would pop out of his 
head.  He strode across, and pump-handled Tommy's hand with what seemed to the 
latter quite unnecessary vigour.
     "Holy snakes!" he ejaculated.  "Is it really you?"
     "Of course it is.  Why shouldn't it be?"
     "Why shouldn't it be?  Say, man, don't you know you've been given up for 
dead?  I guess we'd have had a solemn requiem for you in another few days."
     "Who thought I was dead?" demanded Tommy.
     "Tuppence."
     "She remembered the proverb about the good dying young, I suppose. There 
must be a certain amount of original sin in me to have survived. Where is 
Tuppence, by the way?"
     "Isn't she here?"
     "No, the fellows at the office said she'd just gone out."
     "Gone shopping, I guess.  I dropped her here in the car about an hour ago. 
But, say, can't you shed that British calm of yours, and get down to it? What on 
God's earth have you been doing all this time?"
     "If you're feeding here," replied Tommy, "order now. It's going to be a 
long story."
     Julius drew up a chair to the opposite side of the table, summoned a 
hovering waiter, and dictated his wishes. Then he turned to Tommy.
     "Fire ahead.  I guess you've had some few adventures."
     "One or two," replied Tommy modestly, and plunged into his recital.
     Julius listened spellbound.  Half the dishes that were placed before him he 
forgot to eat.  At the end he heaved a long sigh.
     "Bully for you.  Reads like a dime novel!"
     "And now for the home front," said Tommy, stretching out his hand for a 
peach.
     "We-el," drawled Julius, "I don't mind admitting we've had some adventures 
too."
     He, in his turn, assumed the role of narrator. Beginning with his 
unsuccessful reconnoitring at Bournemouth, he passed on to his return to London, 
the buying of the car, the growing anxieties of Tuppence, the call upon Sir 
James, and the sensational occurrences of the previous night.
     "But who killed her?" asked Tommy.  "I don't quite understand."
     "The doctor kidded himself she took it herself," replied Julius dryly.
     "And Sir James?  What did he think?"
     "Being a legal luminary, he is likewise a human oyster," replied Julius.  
"I should say he 'reserved judgment.' " He went on to detail the events of the 
morning.
     "Lost her memory, eh?" said Tommy with interest.  "By Jove, that explains 
why they looked at me so queerly when I spoke of questioning her. Bit of a slip 
on my part, that!  But it wasn't the sort of thing a fellow would be likely to 
guess."
     "They didn't give you any sort of hint as to where Jane was?"
     Tommy shook his head regretfully.
     "Not a word.  I'm a bit of an ass, as you know.  I ought to have got more 
out of them somehow."
     "I guess you're lucky to be here at all.  That bluff of yours was the goods 
all right.  How you ever came to think of it all so pat beats me to a frazzle!"
     "I was in such a funk I had to think of something," said Tommy simply.
     There was a moment's pause, and then Tommy reverted to Mrs. Vandemeyer's 
death.
     "There's no doubt it was chloral?"
     "I believe not.  At least they call it heart failure induced by an 
overdose, or some such claptrap.  It's all right. We don't want to be worried 
with an inquest.  But I guess Tuppence and I and even the highbrow Sir James 
have all got the same idea."
     "Mr. Brown?" hazarded Tommy.
     "Sure thing."
     Tommy nodded.
     "All the same," he said thoughtfully, "Mr. Brown hasn't got wings. I don't 
see how he got in and out."
     "How about some high-class thought transference stunt? Some magnetic 
influence that irresistibly impelled Mrs. Vandemeyer to commit suicide?"
     Tommy looked at him with respect.
     "Good, Julius.  Distinctly good.  Especially the phraseology. But it leaves 
me cold.  I yearn for a real Mr. Brown of flesh and blood. I think the gifted 
young detectives must get to work, study the entrances and exits, and tap the 
bumps on their foreheads until the solution of the mystery dawns on them.  Let's 
go round to the scene of the crime. I wish we could get hold of Tuppence.  The 
Ritz would enjoy the spectacle of the glad reunion."
     Inquiry at the office revealed the fact that Tuppence had not yet returned.
     "All the same, I guess I'll have a look round upstairs," said Julius.  "She 
might be in my sitting-room." He disappeared.
     Suddenly a diminutive boy spoke at Tommy's elbow:
     "The young lady--she's gone away by train, I think, sir," he murmured 
shyly.
     "What?"  Tommy wheeled round upon him.
     The small boy became pinker than before.
     "The taxi, sir.  I heard her tell the driver Charing Cross and to look 
sharp."
     Tommy stared at him, his eyes opening wide in surprise. Emboldened, the 
small boy proceeded.  "So I thought, having asked for an A.B.C. and a Bradshaw."
     Tommy interrupted him:
     "When did she ask for an A.B.C. and a Bradshaw?"
     "When I took her the telegram, sir."
     "A telegram?"
     "Yes, sir."
     "When was that?"
     "About half-past twelve, sir."
     "Tell me exactly what happened."
     The small boy drew a long breath.
     "I took up a telegram to No. 891--the lady was there. She opened it and 
gave a gasp, and then she said, very jolly like: 'Bring me up a Bradshaw, and an 
A.B.C., and look sharp, Henry.'  My name isn't Henry, but----"
     "Never mind your name," said Tommy impatiently.  "Go on."
     "Yes, sir.  I brought them, and she told me to wait, and looked up 
something. And then she looks up at the clock, and 'Hurry up,' she says. 'Tell 
them to get me a taxi,' and she begins a-shoving on of her hat in front of the 
glass, and she was down in two ticks, almost as quick as I was, and I seed her 
going down the steps and into the taxi, and I heard her call out what I told 
you."
     The small boy stopped and replenished his lungs.  Tommy continued to stare 
at him.  At that moment Julius rejoined him. He held an open letter in his hand.
     "I say, Hersheimmer"--Tommy turned to him--"Tuppence has gone off sleuthing 
on her own."
     " Shucks!"
     "Yes, she has.  She went off in a taxi to Charing Cross in the deuce of a 
hurry after getting a telegram."  His eye fell on the letter in Julius's hand.  
"Oh; she left a note for you.  That's all right. Where's she off to?"
     Almost unconsciously, he held out his hand for the letter, but Julius 
folded it up and placed it in his pocket. He seemed a trifle embarrassed.
     "I guess this is nothing to do with it.  It's about something 
else--something I asked her that she was to let me know about."
     "Oh!"  Tommy looked puzzled, and seemed waiting for more.
     "See here," said Julius suddenly, "I'd better put you wise. I asked Miss 
Tuppence to marry me this morning."
     "Oh!" said Tommy mechanically.  He felt dazed.  Julius's words were totally 
unexpected.  For the moment they benumbed his brain.
     "I'd like to tell you," continued Julius, "that before I suggested anything 
of the kind to Miss Tuppence, I made it clear that I didn't want to butt in in 
any way between her and you----
     Tommy roused himself.
     "That's all right," he said quickly.  "Tuppence and I have been pals for 
years.  Nothing more."  He lit a cigarette with a hand that shook ever so 
little.  "That's quite all right. Tuppence always said that she was looking out 
for----"
     He stopped abruptly, his face crimsoning, but Julius was in no way 
discomposed.
     "Oh, I guess it'll be the dollars that'll do the trick. Miss Tuppence put 
me wise to that right away.  There's no humbug about her.  We ought to gee along 
together very well."
     Tommy looked at him curiously for a minute, as though he were about to 
speak, then changed his mind and said nothing.  Tuppence and Julius!  Well, why 
not? Had she not lamented the fact that she knew no rich men?  Had she not 
openly avowed her intention of marrying for money if she ever had the chance? 
Her meeting with the young American millionaire had given her the chance--and it 
was unlikely she would be slow to avail herself of it. She was out for money.  
She had always said so.  Why blame her because she had been true to her creed?
     Nevertheless, Tommy did blame her.  He was filled with a passionate and 
utterly illogical resentment.  It was all very well to SAY things like that--but 
a REAL girl would never marry for money. Tuppence was utterly cold-blooded and 
selfish, and he would be delighted if he never saw her again!  And it was a 
rotten world!
     Julius's voice broke in on these meditations.
     "Yes, we ought to get along together very well.  I've heard that a girl 
always refuses you once--a sort of convention."
     Tommy caught his arm.
     "Refuses?  Did you say REFUSES?"
     "Sure thing.  Didn't I tell you that?  She just rapped out a 'no' without 
any kind of reason to it.  The eternal feminine, the Huns call it, I've heard.  
But she'll come round right enough. Likely enough, I hustled her some----"
     But Tommy interrupted regardless of decorum.
     "What did she say in that note?" he demanded fiercely.
     The obliging Julius handed it to him.
     "There's no earthly clue in it as to where she's gone," he assured Tommy.  
"But you might as well see for yourself if you don't believe me."
     The note, in Tuppence's well-known schoolboy writing, ran as follows:
      "DEAR JULIUS,
     "It's always better to have things in black and white.  I don't feel I can 
be bothered to think of marriage until Tommy is found. Let's leave it till then. 
               "Yours affectionately,                          "TUPPENCE."
      Tommy handed it back, his eyes shining.  His feelings had undergone a 
sharp reaction.  He now felt that Tuppence was all that was noble and 
disinterested.  Had she not refused Julius without hesitation? True, the note 
betokened signs of weakening, but he could excuse that. It read almost like a 
bribe to Julius to spur him on in his efforts to find Tommy, but he supposed she 
had not really meant it that way. Darling Tuppence, there was not a girl in the 
world to touch her! When he saw her----His thoughts were brought up with a 
sudden jerk.
     "As you say," he remarked, pulling himself together, "there's not a hint 
here as to what she's up to.  Hi--Henry!"
     The small boy came obediently.  Tommy produced five shillings.
     "One thing more.  Do you remember what the young lady did with the 
telegram?"
     Henry gasped and spoke.
     "She crumpled it up into a ball and threw it into the grate, and made a 
sort of noise like 'Whoop!' sir."
     "Very graphic, Henry," said Tommy.  "Here's your five shillings. Come on, 
Julius.  We must find that telegram."
     They hurried upstairs.  Tuppence had left the key in her door. The room was 
as she had left it.  In the fireplace was a crumpled ball of orange and white.  
Tommy disentangled it and smoothed out the telegram.
     "Come at once, Moat House, Ebury, Yorkshire, great developments--TOMMY."
     They looked at each other in stupefaction.  Julius spoke first:
     "You didn't send it?"
     "Of course not.  What does it mean?"
     "I guess it means the worst," said Julius quietly. "They've got her."
     "WHAT?"
     "Sure thing!  They signed your name, and she fell into the trap like a 
lamb."
     "My God!  What shall we do?"
     "Get busy, and go after her!  Right now!  There's no time to waste. It's 
almighty luck that she didn't take the wire with her. If she had we'd probably 
never have traced her.  But we've got to hustle. Where's that Bradshaw?"
     The energy of Julius was infectious.  Left to himself, Tommy would probably 
have sat down to think things out for a good half-hour before he decided on a 
plan of action. But with Julius Hersheimmer about, hustling was inevitable.
     After a few muttered imprecations he handed the Bradshaw to Tommy as being 
more conversant with its mysteries. Tommy abandoned it in favour of an A.B.C.
     "Here we are.  Ebury, Yorks.  From King's Cross.  Or St. Pancras. (Boy must 
have made a mistake.  It was King's Cross, not CHARING Cross.) 12.50, that's the 
train she went by.  2.10, that's gone. 3.20 is the next--and a damned slow train 
too."
     "What about the car?"
     Tommy shook his head.
     "Send it up if you like, but we'd better stick to the train. The great 
thing is to keep calm."
     Julius groaned.
     "That's so.  But it gets my goat to think of that innocent young girl in 
danger!"
     Tommy nodded abstractedly.  He was thinking.  In a moment or two, he said:
     "I say, Julius, what do they want her for, anyway?"
     "Eh?  I don't get you?"
     "What I mean is that I don't think it's their game to do her any harm," 
explained Tommy, puckering his brow with the strain of his mental processes. 
"She's a hostage, that's what she is.  She's in no immediate danger, because if 
we tumble on to anything, she'd be damned useful to them. As long as they've got 
her, they've got the whip hand of us.  See?"
     "Sure thing," said Julius thoughtfully.  "That's so."
     "Besides," added Tommy, as an afterthought, "I've great faith in Tuppence."
     The journey was wearisome, with many stops, and crowded carriages. They had 
to change twice, once at Doncaster, once at a small junction. Ebury was a 
deserted station with a solitary porter, to whom Tommy addressed himself:
     "Can you tell me the way to the Moat House?"
     "The Moat House?  It's a tidy step from here.  The big house near the sea, 
you mean?"
     Tommy assented brazenly.  After listening to the porter's meticulous but 
perplexing directions, they prepared to leave the station. It was beginning to 
rain, and they turned up the collars of their coats as they trudged through the 
slush of the road. Suddenly Tommy halted.
     "Wait a moment."  He ran back to the station and tackled the porter anew.
     "Look here, do you remember a young lady who arrived by an earlier train, 
the 12.50 from London?  She'd probably ask you the way to the Moat House."
     He described Tuppence as well as he could, but the porter shook his head.  
Several people had arrived by the train in question. He could not call to mind 
one young lady in particular. But he was quite certain that no one had asked him 
the way to the Moat House.
     Tommy rejoined Julius, and explained.  Depression was settling on him like 
a leaden weight.  He felt convinced that their quest was going to be 
unsuccessful.  The enemy had over three hours' start.  Three hours was more than 
enough for Mr. Brown.  He would not ignore the possibility of the telegram 
having been found.
     The way seemed endless.  Once they took the wrong turning and went nearly 
half a mile out of their direction. It was past seven o'clock when a small boy 
told them that "t' Moat House" was just past the next corner.
     A rusty iron gate swinging dismally on its hinges! An overgrown drive thick 
with leaves.  There was something about the place that struck a chill to both 
their hearts. They went up the deserted drive.  The leaves deadened their 
footsteps. The daylight was almost gone.  It was like walking in a world of 
ghosts. Overhead the branches flapped and creaked with a mournful note. 
Occasionally a sodden leaf drifted silently down, startling them with its cold 
touch on their cheek.
     A turn of the drive brought them in sight of the house. That, too, seemed 
empty and deserted.  The shutters were closed, the steps up to the door 
overgrown with moss. Was it indeed to this desolate spot that Tuppence had been 
decoyed? It seemed hard to believe that a human footstep had passed this way for 
months.
     Julius jerked the rusty bell handle.  A jangling peal rang discordantly, 
echoing through the emptiness within.  No one came. They rang again and 
again--but there was no sign of life. Then they walked completely round the 
house.  Everywhere silence, and shuttered windows.  If they could believe the 
evidence of their eyes the place was empty.
     "Nothing doing," said Julius.
     They retraced their steps slowly to the gate.
     "There must be a village handy," continued the young American.  "We'd 
better make inquiries there.  They'll know something about the place, and 
whether there's been anyone there lately."
     "Yes, that's not a bad idea."
     Proceeding up the road, they soon came to a little hamlet. On the outskirts 
of it, they met a workman swinging his bag of tools, and Tommy stopped him with 
a question.
     "The Moat House?  It's empty.  Been empty for years.  Mrs; Sweeny's got the 
key if you want to go over it--next to the post office."
     Tommy thanked him.  They soon found the post office, which was also a sweet 
and general fancy shop, and knocked at the door of the cottage next to it. A 
clean, wholesome-looking woman opened it.  She readily produced the key of the 
Moat House.
     "Though I doubt if it's the kind of place to suit you, sir. In a terrible 
state of repair.  Ceilings leaking and all. 'Twould need a lot of money spent on 
it."
     "Thanks," said Tommy cheerily.  "I dare say it'll be a washout, but houses 
are scarce nowadays."
     "That they are," declared the woman heartily.  "My daughter and son-in-law 
have been looking for a decent cottage for I don't know how long.  It's all the 
war.  Upset things terribly, it has. But excuse me, sir, it'll be too dark for 
you to see much of the house. Hadn't you better wait until to-morrow?"
     "That's all right.  We'll have a look around this evening, anyway. We'd 
have been here before only we lost our way.  What's the best place to stay at 
for the night round here?"
     Mrs. Sweeny looked doubtful.
     "There's the Yorkshire Arms, but it's not much of a place for gentlemen 
like you."
     "Oh, it will do very well.  Thanks.  By the way, you've not had a young 
lady here asking for this key to-day?"
     The woman shook her head.
     "No one's been over the place for a long time."
     "Thanks very much."
     They retraced their steps to the Moat House.  As the front door swung back 
on its hinges, protesting loudly, Julius struck a match and examined the floor 
carefully. Then he shook his head.
     "I'd swear no one's passed this way.  Look at the dust.  Thick.  Not a sign 
of a footmark."
     They wandered round the deserted house.  Everywhere the same tale. Thick 
layers of dust apparently undisturbed.
     "This gets me," said Julius.  "I don't believe Tuppence was ever in this 
house."
     "She must have been."
     Julius shook his head without replying.
     "We'll go over it again to-morrow," said Tommy.  "Perhaps we'll see more in 
the daylight."
     On the morrow they took up the search once more, and were reluctantly 
forced to the conclusion that the house had not been invaded for some 
considerable time.  They might have left the village altogether but for a 
fortunate discovery of Tommy's. As they were retracing their steps to the gate, 
he gave a sudden cry, and stooping, picked something up from among the leaves, 
and held it out to Julius.  It was a small gold brooch.
     "That's Tuppence's!"
     "Are you sure?"
     "Absolutely.  I've often seen her wear it."
     Julius drew a deep breath.
     "I guess that settles it.  She came as far as here, anyway.  We'll make 
that pub our head-quarters, and raise hell round here until we find her. 
Somebody MUST have seen her."
     Forthwith the campaign began.  Tommy and Julius worked separately and 
together, but the result was the same.  Nobody answering to Tuppence's 
description had been seen in the vicinity. They were baffled--but not 
discouraged.  Finally they altered their tactics.  Tuppence had certainly not 
remained long in the neighbourhood of the Moat House.  That pointed to her 
having been overcome and carried away in a car.  They renewed inquiries. Had 
anyone seen a car standing somewhere near the Moat House that day? Again they 
met with no success.
     Julius wired to town for his own car, and they scoured the neighbourhood 
daily with unflagging zeal.  A grey limousine on which they had set high hopes 
was traced to Harrogate, and turned out to be the property of a highly 
respectable maiden lady!
     Each day saw them set out on a new quest.  Julius was like a hound on the 
leash.  He followed up the slenderest clue.  Every car that had passed through 
the village on the fateful day was tracked down. He forced his way into country 
properties and submitted the owners of the motors to a searching 
cross-examination. His apologies were as thorough as his methods, and seldom 
failed in disarming the indignation of his victims; but, as day succeeded day, 
they were no nearer to discovering Tuppence's whereabouts. So well had the 
abduction been planned that the girl seemed literally to have vanished into thin 
air.
     And another preoccupation was weighing on Tommy's mind.
     "Do you know how long we've been here?" he asked one morning as they sat 
facing each other at breakfast.  "A week! We're no nearer to finding Tuppence, 
and NEXT SUNDAY IS THE 29TH!"
     "Shucks!" said Julius thoughtfully.  "I'd almost forgotten about the 29th. 
I've been thinking of nothing but Tuppence."
     "So have I. At least, I hadn't forgotten about the 29th, but it didn't seem 
to matter a damn in comparison to finding Tuppence.  But to-day's the 23rd, and 
time's getting short. If we're ever going to get hold of her at all, we must do 
it before the 29th--her life won't be worth an hour's purchase afterwards. The 
hostage game will be played out by then.  I'm beginning to feel that we've made 
a big mistake in the way we've set about this. We've wasted time and we're no 
forrader."
     "I'm with you there.  We've been a couple of mutts, who've bitten off a 
bigger bit than they can chew. I'm going to quit fooling right away!"
     "What do you mean?"
     "I'll tell you.  I'm going to do what we ought to have done a week ago. I'm 
going right back to London to put the case in the hands of your British police.  
We fancied ourselves as sleuths.  Sleuths!  It was a piece of damn-fool 
foolishness!  I'm through!  I've had enough of it. Scotland Yard for me!"
     "You're right," said Tommy slowly.  "I wish to God we'd gone there right 
away."
     "Better late than never.  We've been like a couple of babes playing 'Here 
we go round the Mulberry Bush.'  Now I'm going right along to Scotland Yard to 
ask them to take me by the hand and show me the way I should go. I guess the 
professional always scores over the amateur in the end. Are you coming along 
with me?"
     Tommy shook his head.
     "What's the good?  One of us is enough.  I might as well stay here and nose 
round a bit longer.  Something MIGHT turn up. One never knows."
     "Sure thing.  Well, so long.  I'll be back in a couple of shakes with a few 
inspectors along.  I shall tell them to pick out their brightest and best."
     But the course of events was not to follow the plan Julius had laid down. 
Later in the day Tommy received a wire:
      "Join me Manchester Midland Hotel.  Important news--JULIUS."
      At 7:30 that night Tommy alighted from a slow cross-country train. Julius 
was on the platform.
     "Thought you'd come by this train if you weren't out when my wire arrived."
     Tommy grasped him by the arm.
     "What is it?  Is Tuppence found?"
     Julius shook his head.
     "No. But I found this waiting in London.  Just arrived."
     He handed the telegraph form to the other.  Tommy's eyes opened as he read:
      "Jane Finn found.  Come Manchester Midland Hotel immediately--PEEL 
EDGERTON."
      Julius took the form back and folded it up.
     "Queer," he said thoughtfully.  "I thought that lawyer chap had quit!"
     
     CHAPTER XIX
     JANE FINN
     "MY train got in half an hour ago," explained Julius, as he led the way out 
of the station.  "I reckoned you'd come by this before I left London, and wired 
accordingly to Sir James.  He's booked rooms for us, and will be round to dine 
at eight."
     "What made you think he'd ceased to take any interest in the case?" asked 
Tommy curiously.
     "What he said," replied Julius dryly.  "The old bird's as close as an 
oyster! Like all the darned lot of them, he wasn't going to commit himself till 
he was sure he could deliver the goods."
     "I wonder," said Tommy thoughtfully.
     Julius turned on him.
     "You wonder what?"
     "Whether that was his real reason."
     "Sure.  You bet your life it was."
     Tommy shook his head unconvinced.
     Sir James arrived punctually at eight o'clock, and Julius introduced Tommy. 
 Sir James shook hands with him warmly.
     "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mr. Beresford.  I have heard so 
much about you from Miss Tuppence"--he smiled involuntarily--"that it really 
seems as though I already know you quite well."
     "Thank you, sir," said Tommy with his cheerful grin. He scanned the great 
lawyer eagerly.  Like Tuppence, he felt the magnetism of the other's 
personality. He was reminded of Mr. Carter.  The two men, totally unlike so far 
as physical resemblance went, produced a similar effect. Beneath the weary 
manner of the one and the professional reserve of the other, lay the same 
quality of mind, keen-edged like a rapier.
     In the meantime he was conscious of Sir James's close scrutiny. When the 
lawyer dropped his eyes the young man had the feeling that the other had read 
him through and through like an open book. He could not but wonder what the 
final judgment was, but there was little chance of learning that.  Sir James 
took in everything, but gave out only what he chose.  A proof of that occurred 
almost at once.
     Immediately the first greetings were over Julius broke out into a flood of 
eager questions.  How had Sir James managed to track the girl? Why had he not 
let them know that he was still working on the case? And so on.
     Sir James stroked his chin and smiled.  At last he said:
     "Just so, just so.  Well, she's found.  And that's the great thing, isn't 
it?  Eh!  Come now, that's the great thing?"
     "Sure it is.  But just how did you strike her trail? Miss Tuppence and I 
thought you'd quit for good and all."
     "Ah!"  The lawyer shot a lightning glance at him, then resumed operations 
on his chin.  "You thought that, did you?  Did you really? H'm, dear me."
     "But I guess I can take it we were wrong," pursued Julius.
     "Well, I don't know that I should go so far as to say that. But it's 
certainly fortunate for all parties that we've managed to find the young lady."
     "But where is she?" demanded Julius, his thoughts flying off on another 
tack. "I thought you'd be sure to bring her along?"
     "That would hardly be possible," said Sir James gravely.
     "Why?"
     "Because the young lady was knocked down in a street accident, and has 
sustained slight injuries to the head.  She was taken to the infirmary, and on 
recovering consciousness gave her name as Jane Finn.  When--ah!--I heard that, I 
arranged for her to be removed to the house of a doctor--a friend of mine, and 
wired at once for you. She relapsed into unconsciousness and has not spoken 
since."
     "She's not seriously hurt?"
     "Oh, a bruise and a cut or two; really, from a medical point of view, 
absurdly slight injuries to have produced such a condition. Her state is 
probably to be attributed to the mental shock consequent on recovering her 
memory."
     "It's come back?" cried Julius excitedly.
     Sir James tapped the table rather impatiently.
     "Undoubtedly, Mr. Hersheimmer, since she was able to give her real name. I 
thought you had appreciated that point."
     "And you just happened to be on the spot," said Tommy.  "Seems quite like a 
fairy tale."
     But Sir James was far too wary to be drawn.
     "Coincidences are curious things," he said dryly.
     Nevertheless Tommy was now certain of what he had before only suspected. 
Sir James's presence in Manchester was not accidental. Far from abandoning the 
case, as Julius supposed, he had by some means of his own successfully run the 
missing girl to earth. The only thing that puzzled Tommy was the reason for all 
this secrecy. He concluded that it was a foible of the legal mind.
     Julius was speaking.
     "After dinner," he announced, "I shall go right away and see Jane."
     "That will be impossible, I fear," said Sir James.  "It is very unlikely 
they would allow her to see visitors at this time of night. I should suggest 
to-morrow morning about ten o'clock."
     Julius flushed.  There was something in Sir James which always stirred him 
to antagonism.  It was a conflict of two masterful personalities.
     "All the same, I reckon I'll go round there to-night and see if I can't 
ginger them up to break through their silly rules."
     "It will be quite useless, Mr. Hersheimmer."
     The words came out like the crack of a pistol, and Tommy looked up with a 
start.  Julius was nervous and excited.  The hand with which he raised his glass 
to his lips shook slightly, but his eyes held Sir James's defiantly. For a 
moment the hostility between the two seemed likely to burst into flame, but in 
the end Julius lowered his eyes, defeated.
     "For the moment, I reckon you're the boss."
     "Thank you," said the other.  "We will say ten o'clock then?" With 
consummate ease of manner he turned to Tommy.  "I must confess, Mr. Beresford, 
that it was something of a surprise to me to see you here this evening.  The 
last I heard of you was that your friends were in grave anxiety on your behalf. 
Nothing had been heard of you for some days, and Miss Tuppence was inclined to 
think you had got into difficulties."
     "I had, sir!"  Tommy grinned reminiscently.  "I was never in a tighter 
place in my life."
     Helped out by questions from Sir James, he gave an abbreviated account of 
his adventures.  The lawyer looked at him with renewed interest as he brought 
the tale to a close.
     "You got yourself out of a tight place very well," he said gravely. "I 
congratulate you.  You displayed a great deal of ingenuity and carried your part 
through well."
     Tommy blushed, his face assuming a prawnlike hue at the praise.
     "I couldn't have got away but for the girl, sir."
     "No." Sir James smiled a little.  "It was lucky for you she happened 
to--er--take a fancy to you." Tommy appeared about to protest, but Sir James 
went on. "There's no doubt about her being one of the gang, I suppose?"
     "I'm afraid not, sir.  I thought perhaps they were keeping her there by 
force, but the way she acted didn't fit in with that. You see, she went back to 
them when she could have got away."
     Sir James nodded thoughtfully.
     "What did she say?  Something about wanting to be taken to Marguerite?"
     "Yes, sir.  I suppose she meant Mrs. Vandemeyer."
     "She always signed herself Rita Vandemeyer.  All her friends spoke of her 
as Rita.  Still, I suppose the girl must have been in the habit of calling her 
by her full name.  And, at the moment she was crying out to her, Mrs. Vandemeyer 
was either dead or dying! Curious!  There are one or two points that strike me 
as being obscure--their sudden change of attitude towards yourself, for 
instance. By the way, the house was raided, of course?"
     "Yes, sir, but they'd all cleared out."
     "Naturally," said Sir James dryly.
     "And not a clue left behind."
     "I wonder----" The lawyer tapped the table thoughtfully.
     Something in his voice made Tommy look up.  Would this man's eyes have seen 
something where theirs had been blind? He spoke impulsively:
     "I wish you'd been there, sir, to go over the house!"
     "I wish I had," said Sir James quietly.  He sat for a moment in silence. 
Then he looked up.  "And since then?  What have you been doing?"
     For a moment, Tommy stared at him.  Then it dawned on him that of course 
the lawyer did not know.
     "I forgot that you didn't know about Tuppence," he said slowly. The 
sickening anxiety, forgotten for a while in the excitement of knowing Jane Finn 
was found at last, swept over him again.
     The lawyer laid down his knife and fork sharply.
     "Has anything happened to Miss Tuppence?"  His voice was keen-edged.
     "She's disappeared," said Julius.
     "When?"
     "A week ago."
     "How?"
     Sir James's questions fairly shot out.  Between them Tommy and Julius gave 
the history of the last week and their futile search.
     Sir James went at once to the root of the matter.
     "A wire signed with your name?  They knew enough of you both for that. They 
weren't sure of how much you had learnt in that house. Their kidnapping of Miss 
Tuppence is the counter-move to your escape. If necessary they could seal your 
lips with a threat of what might happen to her."
     Tommy nodded.
     "That's just what I thought, sir."
     Sir James looked at him keenly.  "You had worked that out, had you? Not 
bad--not at all bad.  The curious thing is that they certainly did not know 
anything about you when they first held you prisoner. You are sure that you did 
not in any way disclose your identity?"
     Tommy shook his head.
     "That's so," said Julius with a nod.  "Therefore I reckon some one put them 
wise--and not earlier than Sunday afternoon."
     "Yes, but who?"
     "That almighty omniscient Mr. Brown, of course!"
     There was a faint note of derision in the American's voice which made Sir 
James look up sharply.
     "You don't believe in Mr. Brown, Mr. Hersheimmer?"
     "No, sir, I do not," returned the young American with emphasis. "Not as 
such, that is to say.  I reckon it out that he's a figurehead--just a bogy name 
to frighten the children with.  The real head of this business is that Russian 
chap Kramenin.  I guess he's quite capable of running revolutions in three 
countries at once if he chose! The man Whittington is probably the head of the 
English branch."
     "I disagree with you," said Sir James shortly.  "Mr. Brown exists." He 
turned to Tommy.  "Did you happen to notice where that wire was handed in?"
     "No, sir, I'm afraid I didn't."
     "H'm. Got it with you?"
     "It's upstairs, sir, in my kit."
     "I'd like to have a look at it sometime.  No hurry.  You've wasted a 
week"--Tommy hung his head--"a day or so more is immaterial. We'll deal with 
Miss Jane Finn first.  Afterwards, we'll set to work to rescue Miss Tuppence 
from bondage.  I don't think she's in any immediate danger.  That is, so long as 
they don't know that we've got Jane Finn, and that her memory has returned. We 
must keep that dark at all costs.  You understand?"
     The other two assented, and, after making arrangements for meeting on the 
morrow, the great lawyer took his leave.
     At ten o'clock, the two young men were at the appointed spot. Sir James had 
joined them on the doorstep.  He alone appeared unexcited. He introduced them to 
the doctor.
     "Mr. Hersheimmer--Mr. Beresford--Dr. Roylance.  How's the patient?"
     "Going on well.  Evidently no idea of the flight of time. Asked this 
morning how many had been saved from the Lusitania.  Was it in the papers yet?  
That, of course, was only what was to be expected. She seems to have something 
on her mind, though."
     "I think we can relieve her anxiety.  May we go up?"
     "Certainly."
     Tommy's heart beat sensibly faster as they followed the doctor upstairs. 
Jane Finn at last!  The long-sought, the mysterious, the elusive Jane Finn!  How 
wildly improbable success had seemed!  And here in this house, her memory almost 
miraculously restored, lay the girl who held the future of England in her hands. 
 A half groan broke from Tommy's lips. If only Tuppence could have been at his 
side to share in the triumphant conclusion of their joint venture!  Then he put 
the thought of Tuppence resolutely aside.  His confidence in Sir James was 
growing. There was a man who would unerringly ferret out Tuppence's whereabouts. 
In the meantime Jane Finn!  And suddenly a dread clutched at his heart. It 
seemed too easy.... Suppose they should find her dead ... stricken down by the 
hand of Mr. Brown?
     In another minute he was laughing at these melodramatic fancies. The doctor 
held open the door of a room and they passed in. On the white bed, bandages 
round her head, lay the girl. Somehow the whole scene seemed unreal.  It was so 
exactly what one expected that it gave the effect of being beautifully staged.
     The girl looked from one to the other of them with large wondering eyes. 
Sir James spoke first.
     "Miss Finn," he said, "this is your cousin, Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer."
     A faint flush flitted over the girl's face, as Julius stepped forward and 
took her hand.
     "How do, Cousin Jane?" he said lightly.
     But Tommy caught the tremor in his voice.
     "Are you really Uncle Hiram's son?" she asked wonderingly.
     Her voice, with the slight warmth of the Western accent, had an almost 
thrilling quality.  It seemed vaguely familiar to Tommy, but he thrust the 
impression aside as impossible.
     "Sure thing."
     "We used to read about Uncle Hiram in the papers," continued the girl, in 
her low soft tones.  "But I never thought I'd meet you one day. Mother figured 
it out that Uncle Hiram would never get over being mad with her."
     "The old man was like that," admitted Julius.  "But I guess the new 
generation's sort of different.  Got no use for the family feud business. First 
thing I thought about, soon as the war was over, was to come along and hunt you 
up."
     A shadow passed over the girl's face.
     "They've been telling me things--dreadful things--that my memory went, and 
that there are years I shall never know about--years lost out of my life."
     "You didn't realize that yourself?"
     The girl's eyes opened wide.
     "Why, no.  It seems to me as though it were no time since we were being 
hustled into those boats.  I can see it all now." She closed her eyes with a 
shudder.
     Julius looked across at Sir James, who nodded.
     "Don't worry any.  It isn't worth it.  Now, see here, Jane, there's 
something we want to know about.  There was a man aboard that boat with some 
mighty important papers on him, and the big guns in this country have got a 
notion that he passed on the goods to you. Is that so?"
     The girl hesitated, her glance shifting to the other two. Julius 
understood.
     "Mr. Beresford is commissioned by the British Government to get those 
papers back.  Sir James Peel Edgerton is an English Member of Parliament, and 
might be a big gun in the Cabinet if he liked. It's owing to him that we've 
ferreted you out at last. So you can go right ahead and tell us the whole story. 
Did Danvers give you the papers?"
     "Yes.  He said they'd have a better chance with me, because they would save 
the women and children first."
     "Just as we thought," said Sir James.
     "He said they were very important--that they might make all the difference 
to the Allies.  But, if it's all so long ago, and the war's over, what does it 
matter now?"
     "I guess history repeats itself, Jane.  First there was a great hue and cry 
over those papers, then it all died down, and now the whole caboodle's started 
all over again--for rather different reasons. Then you can hand them over to us 
right away?"
     "But I can't."
     "What?"
     "I haven't got them."
     "You--haven't--got them?"  Julius punctuated the words with little pauses.
     "No--I hid them."
     "You hid them?"
     "Yes.  I got uneasy.  People seemed to be watching me. It scared 
me--badly."  She put her hand to her head. "It's almost the last thing I 
remember before waking up in the hospital...."
     "Go on," said Sir James, in his quiet penetrating tones. "What do you 
remember?"
     She turned to him obediently.
     "It was at Holyhead.  I came that way--I don't remember why...."
     "That doesn't matter.  Go on."
     "In the confusion on the quay I slipped away.  Nobody saw me. I took a car. 
 Told the man to drive me out of the town. I watched when we got on the open 
road.  No other car was following us.  I saw a path at the side of the road. I 
told the man to wait."
     She paused, then went on.  "The path led to the cliff, and down to the sea 
between big yellow gorse bushes--they were like golden flames. I looked round.  
There wasn't a soul in sight.  But just level with my head there was a hole in 
the rock.  It was quite small--I could only just get my hand in, but it went a 
long way back. I took the oilskin packet from round my neck and shoved it right 
in as far as I could.  Then I tore off a bit of gorse--My! but it did prick--and 
plugged the hole with it so that you'd never guess there was a crevice of any 
kind there.  Then I marked the place carefully in my own mind, so that I'd find 
it again. There was a queer boulder in the path just there--for all the world 
like a dog sitting up begging.  Then I went back to the road. The car was 
waiting, and I drove back.  I just caught the train. I was a bit ashamed of 
myself for fancying things maybe, but, by and by, I saw the man opposite me wink 
at a woman who was sitting next to me, and I felt scared again, and was glad the 
papers were safe. I went out in the corridor to get a little air.  I thought I'd 
slip into another carriage.  But the woman called me back, said I'd dropped 
something, and when I stooped to look, something seemed to hit me--here."  She 
placed her hand to the back of her head. "I don't remember anything more until I 
woke up in the hospital."
     There was a pause.
     "Thank you, Miss Finn."  It was Sir James who spoke. "I hope we have not 
tired you?"
     "Oh, that's all right.  My head aches a little, but otherwise I feel fine."
     Julius stepped forward and took her hand again.
     "So long, Cousin Jane.  I'm going to get busy after those papers, but I'll 
be back in two shakes of a dog's tail, and I'll tote you up to London and give 
you the time of your young life before we go back to the States!  I mean it--so 
hurry up and get well."
     
      CHAPTER XX
     TOO LATE
     IN the street they held an informal council of war. Sir James had drawn a 
watch from his pocket.  "The boat train to Holyhead stops at Chester at 12.14. 
If you start at once I think you can catch the connection."
     Tommy looked up, puzzled.
     "Is there any need to hurry, sir?  To-day is only the 24th."
     "I guess it's always well to get up early in the morning," said Julius, 
before the lawyer had time to reply. "We'll make tracks for the depot right 
away."
     A little frown had settled on Sir James's brow.
     "I wish I could come with you.  I am due to speak at a meeting at two 
o'clock. It is unfortunate."
     The reluctance in his tone was very evident.  It was clear, on the other 
hand, that Julius was easily disposed to put up with the loss of the other's 
company.
     "I guess there's nothing complicated about this deal," he remarked. "Just a 
game of hide-and-seek, that's all."
     "I hope so," said Sir James.
     "Sure thing.  What else could it be?"
     "You are still young, Mr. Hersheimmer.  At my age you will probably have 
learnt one lesson.  'Never underestimate your adversary.'  "
     The gravity of his tone impressed Tommy, but had little effect upon Julius.
     "You think Mr. Brown might come along and take a hand? If he does, I'm 
ready for him."  He slapped his pocket. "I carry a gun.  Little Willie here 
travels round with me everywhere."  He produced a murderous-looking automatic, 
and tapped it affectionately before returning it to its home. "But he won't be 
needed this trip.  There's nobody to put Mr. Brown wise."
     The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
     "There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs. Vandemeyer 
meant to betray him.  Nevertheless, MRS. VANDEMEYER DIED WITHOUT SPEAKING."
     Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighter note:
     "I only want to put you on your guard.  Good-bye, and good luck. Take no 
unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. If there is any reason to 
believe that you have been shadowed, destroy them at once.  Good luck to you.  
The game is in your hands now." He shook hands with them both.
     Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-class carriage 
en route for Chester.
     For a long time neither of them spoke.  When at length Julius broke the 
silence, it was with a totally unexpected remark.
     "Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned fool of 
yourself over a girl's face?"
     Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind.
     "Can't say I have," he replied at last.  "Not that I can recollect, anyhow. 
 Why?"
     "Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimental idiot of 
myself over Jane!  First moment I clapped eyes on her photograph my heart did 
all the usual stunts you read about in novels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, 
but I came over here determined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back 
as Mrs. Julius P. Hersheimmer!"
     "Oh!" said Tommy, amazed.
     Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued:
     "Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! One look at 
the girl in the flesh, and I was cured!"
     Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again.
     "No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She's a real 
nice girl, and some fellow will fall in love with her right away."
     "I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding his tongue.
     "Sure she is.  But she's not like her photo one bit. At least I suppose she 
is in a way--must be--because I recognized her right off.  If I'd seen her in a 
crowd I'd have said 'There's a girl whose face I know' right away without any 
hesitation. But there was something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, 
and heaved a sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!"
     "It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here in love with 
one girl, and propose to another within a fortnight."
     Julius had the grace to look discomposed.
     "Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd never find 
Jane--and that it was all plumb foolishness anyway.  And then--oh, well, the 
French, for instance, are much more sensible in the way they look at things. 
They keep romance and marriage apart----"
     Tommy flushed.
     "Well, I'm damned!  If that's----"
     Julius hastened to interrupt.
     "Say now, don't be hasty.  I don't mean what you mean.  I take it Americans 
have a higher opinion of morality than you have even. What I meant was that the 
French set about marriage in a businesslike way--find two people who are suited 
to one another, look after the money affairs, and see the whole thing 
practically, and in a businesslike spirit."
     "If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslike nowadays. 
We're always saying, 'Will it pay?'  The men are bad enough, and the girls are 
worse!"
     "Cool down, son.  Don't get so heated."
     "I feel heated," said Tommy.
     Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more.
     However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before they reached 
Holyhead, and the cheerful grin had returned to his countenance as they alighted 
at their destination.
     After consultation, and with the aid of a road map, they were fairly well 
agreed as to direction, so were able to hire a taxi without more ado and drive 
out on the road leading to Treaddur Bay.  They instructed the man to go slowly, 
and watched narrowly so as not to miss the path. They came to it not long after 
leaving the town, and Tommy stopped the car promptly, asked in a casual tone 
whether the path led down to the sea, and hearing it did paid off the man in 
handsome style.
     A moment later the taxi was slowly chugging back to Holyhead.  Tommy and 
Julius watched it out of sight, and then turned to the narrow path.
     "It's the right one, I suppose?" asked Tommy doubtfully. "There must be 
simply heaps along here."
     "Sure it is.  Look at the gorse.  Remember what Jane said?"
     Tommy looked at the swelling hedges of golden blossom which bordered the 
path on either side, and was convinced.
     They went down in single file, Julius leading.  Twice Tommy turned his head 
uneasily.  Julius looked back.
     "What is it?"
     "I don't know.  I've got the wind up somehow.  Keep fancying there's some 
one following us."
     "Can't be," said Julius positively.  "We'd see him."
     Tommy had to admit that this was true.  Nevertheless, his sense of 
uneasiness deepened.  In spite of himself he believed in the omniscience of the 
enemy.
     "I rather wish that fellow would come along," said Julius.  He patted his 
pocket.  "Little William here is just aching for exercise!"
     "Do you always carry it--him--with you?" inquired Tommy with burning 
curiosity.
     "Most always.  I guess you never know what might turn up."
     Tommy kept a respectful silence.  He was impressed by little William. It 
seemed to remove the menace of Mr. Brown farther away.
     The path was now running along the side of the cliff, parallel to the sea. 
Suddenly Julius came to such an abrupt halt that Tommy cannoned into him.
     "What's up?" he inquired.
     "Look there.  If that doesn't beat the band!"
     Tommy looked.  Standing out half obstructing the path was a huge boulder 
which certainly bore a fanciful resemblance to a "begging" terrier.
     "Well," said Tommy, refusing to share Julius's emotion, "it's what we 
expected to see, isn't it?"
     Julius looked at him sadly and shook his head.
     "British phlegm!  Sure we expected it--but it kind of rattles me, all the 
same, to see it sitting there just where we expected to find it!"
     Tommy, whose calm was, perhaps, more assumed than natural, moved his feet 
impatiently.
     "Push on.  What about the hole?"
     They scanned the cliff-side narrowly.  Tommy heard himself saying 
idiotically:
     "The gorse won't be there after all these years."
     And Julius replied solemnly:
     "I guess you're right."
     Tommy suddenly pointed with a shaking hand.
     "What about that crevice there?"
     Julius replied in an awestricken voice:
     "That's it--for sure."
     They looked at each other.
     "When I was in France," said Tommy reminiscently, "whenever my batman 
failed to call me, he always said that he had come over queer.  I never believed 
it.  But whether he felt it or not, there IS such a sensation. I've got it now!  
Badly!"
     He looked at the rock with a kind of agonized passion.
     "Damn it!" he cried.  "It's impossible!  Five years!  Think of it! 
Bird's-nesting boys, picnic parties, thousands of people passing! It can't be 
there!  It's a hundred to one against its being there! It's against all reason!"
     Indeed, he felt it to be impossible--more, perhaps, because he could not 
believe in his own success where so many others had failed. The thing was too 
easy, therefore it could not be. The hole would be empty.
     Julius looked at him with a widening smile.
     "I guess you're rattled now all right," he drawled with some enjoyment.  
"Well, here goes!"  He thrust his hand into the crevice, and made a slight 
grimace.  "It's a tight fit. Jane's hand must be a few sizes smaller than mine. 
I don't feel anything--no--say, what's this?  Gee whiz!" And with a flourish he 
waved aloft a small discoloured packet. "It's the goods all right.  Sewn up in 
oilskin.  Hold it while I get my penknife."
     The unbelievable had happened.  Tommy held the precious packet tenderly 
between his hands.  They had succeeded!
     "It's queer," he murmured idly, "you'd think the stitches would have 
rotted. They look just as good as new."
     They cut them carefully and ripped away the oilskin.  Inside was a small 
folded sheet of paper.  With trembling fingers they unfolded it. The sheet was 
blank!  They stared at each other, puzzled.
     "A dummy?" hazarded Julius.  "Was Danvers just a decoy?"
     Tommy shook his head.  That solution did not satisfy him. Suddenly his face 
cleared.
     "I've got it!  SYMPATHETIC INK!"
     "You think so?"
     "Worth trying anyhow.  Heat usually does the trick.  Get some sticks. We'll 
make a fire."
     In a few minutes the little fire of twigs and leaves was blazing merrily. 
Tommy held the sheet of paper near the glow.  The paper curled a little with the 
heat.  Nothing more.
     Suddenly Julius grasped his arm, and pointed to where characters were 
appearing in a faint brown colour.
     "Gee whiz!  You've got it!  Say, that idea of yours was great. It never 
occurred to me."
     Tommy held the paper in position some minutes longer until he judged the 
heat had done its work.  Then he withdrew it. A moment later he uttered a cry.
     Across the sheet in neat brown printing ran the words: WITH THE COMPLIMENTS 
OF MR.  BROWN.
     
     CHAPTER XXI
     TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY
     FOR a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly, dazed with 
the shock.  Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown had forestalled them.  Tommy 
accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius.
     "How in tarnation did he get ahead of us?  That's what beats me!" he ended 
up.
     Tommy shook his head, and said dully:
     "It accounts for the stitches being new.  We might have guessed...."
     "Never mind the darned stitches.  How did he get ahead of us? We hustled 
all we knew.  It's downright impossible for anyone to get here quicker than we 
did.  And, anyway, how did he know? Do you reckon there was a dictaphone in 
Jane's room? I guess there must have been."
     But Tommy's common sense pointed out objections.
     "No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be in that 
house--much less that particular room."
     "That's so," admitted Julius.  "Then one of the nurses was a crook and 
listened at the door.  How's that?"
     "I don't see that it matters anyway," said Tommy wearily. "He may have 
found out some months ago, and removed the papers, then----No, by Jove, that 
won't wash! They'd have been published at once."
     "Sure thing they would!  No, some one's got ahead of us to-day by an hour 
or so.  But how they did it gets my goat."
     "I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us," said Tommy thoughtfully.
     "Why?"  Julius stared.  "The mischief was done when we came."
     "Yes----" Tommy hesitated.  He could not explain his own feeling--the 
illogical idea that the K.C.'s presence would somehow have averted the 
catastrophe.  He reverted to his former point of view. "It's no good arguing 
about how it was done.  The game's up. We've failed.  There's only one thing for 
me to do."
     "What's that?"
     "Get back to London as soon as possible.  Mr. Carter must be warned. It's 
only a matter of hours now before the blow falls.  But, at any rate, he ought to 
know the worst."
     The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention of shirking it. 
He must report his failure to Mr. Carter.  After that his work was done. He took 
the midnight mail to London.  Julius elected to stay the night at Holyhead.
     Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood before his chief.
     "I've come to report, sir.  I've failed--failed badly."
     Mr. Carter eyed him sharply.
     "You mean that the treaty----"
     "Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir."
     "Ah!" said Mr. Carter quietly.  The expression on his face did not change, 
but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes. It convinced him as nothing 
else had done that the outlook was hopeless.
     "Well," said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, "we mustn't sag at the 
knees, I suppose.  I'm glad to know definitely. We must do what we can."
     Through Tommy's mind flashed the assurance:  "It's hopeless, and he knows 
it's hopeless!"
     The other looked up at him.
     "Don't take it to heart, lad," he said kindly.  "You did your best. You 
were up against one of the biggest brains of the century. And you came very near 
success.  Remember that."
     "Thank you, sir.  It's awfully decent of you."
     "I blame myself.  I have been blaming myself ever since I heard this other 
news."
     Something in his tone attracted Tommy's attention. A new fear gripped at 
his heart.
     "Is there--something more, sir?"
     "I'm afraid so," said Mr. Carter gravely.  He stretched out his hand to a 
sheet on the table.
     "Tuppence----?" faltered Tommy.
     "Read for yourself."
     The typewritten words danced before his eyes.  The description of a green 
toque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket marked P.L.C. He looked an 
agonized question at Mr. Carter.  The latter replied to it:
     "Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury.  I'm afraid--it looks very 
much like foul play."
     "My God!" gasped Tommy.  "TUPPENCE!  Those devils--I'll never rest till 
I've got even with them!  I'll hunt them down!  I'll----"
     The pity on Mr. Carter's face stopped him.
     "I know what you feel like, my poor boy.  But it's no good. You'll waste 
your strength uselessly.  It may sound harsh, but my advice to you is:  Cut your 
losses.  Time's merciful. You'll forget."
     "Forget Tuppence?  Never!"
     Mr. Carter shook his head.
     "So you think now.  Well, it won't bear thinking of--that brave little 
girl! I'm sorry about the whole business--confoundedly sorry."
     Tommy came to himself with a start.
     "I'm taking up your time, sir," he said with an effort. "There's no need 
for you to blame yourself.  I dare say we were a couple of young fools to take 
on such a job. You warned us all right.  But I wish to God I'd been the one to 
get it in the neck.  Good-bye, sir."
     Back at the Ritz, Tommy packed up his few belongings mechanically, his 
thoughts far away.  He was still bewildered by the introduction of tragedy into 
his cheerful commonplace existence.  What fun they had had together, he and 
Tuppence!  And now--oh, he couldn't believe it--it couldn't be true!  
TUPPENCE--DEAD!  Little Tuppence, brimming over with life! It was a dream, a 
horrible dream.  Nothing more.
     They brought him a note, a few kind words of sympathy from Peel Edgerton, 
who had read the news in the paper.  (There had been a large headline: EX-V.A.D. 
FEARED DROWNED.) The letter ended with the offer of a post on a ranch in the 
Argentine, where Sir James had considerable interests.
     "Kind old beggar," muttered Tommy, as he flung it aside.
     The door opened, and Julius burst in with his usual violence. He held an 
open newspaper in his hand.
     "Say, what's all this?  They seem to have got some fool idea about 
Tuppence."
     "It's true," said Tommy quietly.
     "You mean they've done her in?"
     Tommy nodded.
     "I suppose when they got the treaty she--wasn't any good to them any 
longer, and they were afraid to let her go."
     "Well, I'm darned!" said Julius.  "Little Tuppence.  She sure was the 
pluckiest little girl----"
     But suddenly something seemed to crack in Tommy's brain. He rose to his 
feet.
     "Oh, get out!  You don't really care, damn you!  You asked her to marry you 
in your rotten cold-blooded way, but I LOVED her. I'd have given the soul out of 
my body to save her from harm. I'd have stood by without a word and let her 
marry you, because you could have given her the sort of time she ought to have 
had, and I was only a poor devil without a penny to bless himself with. But it 
wouldn't have been because I didn't care!"
     "See here," began Julius temperately.
     "Oh, go to the devil!  I can't stand your coming here and talking about 
'little Tuppence.'  Go and look after your cousin.  Tuppence is my girl! I've 
always loved her, from the time we played together as kids. We grew up and it 
was just the same.  I shall never forget when I was in hospital, and she came in 
in that ridiculous cap and apron! It was like a miracle to see the girl I loved 
turn up in a nurse's kit----"
     But Julius interrupted him.
     "A nurse's kit!  Gee whiz!  I must be going to Colney Hatch!  I could swear 
I've seen Jane in a nurse's cap too.  And that's plumb impossible! No, by gum, 
I've got it!  It was her I saw talking to Whittington at that nursing home in 
Bournemouth.  She wasn't a patient there! She was a nurse!"
     "I dare say," said Tommy angrily, "she's probably been in with them from 
the start.  I shouldn't wonder if she stole those papers from Danvers to begin 
with."
     "I'm darned if she did!" shouted Julius.  "She's my cousin, and as 
patriotic a girl as ever stepped."
     "I don't care a damn what she is, but get out of here!" retorted Tommy also 
at the top of his voice.
     The young men were on the point of coming to blows.  But suddenly, with an 
almost magical abruptness, Julius's anger abated.
     "All right, son," he said quietly, "I'm going.  I don't blame you any for 
what you've been saying.  It's mighty lucky you did say it.  I've been the most 
almighty blithering darned idiot that it's possible to imagine. Calm 
down"--Tommy had made an impatient gesture--"I'm going right away now--going to 
the London and North Western Railway depot, if you want to know."
     "I don't care a damn where you're going," growled Tommy.
     As the door closed behind Julius, he returned to his suit-case.
     "That's the lot," he murmured, and rang the bell.
     "Take my luggage down."
     "Yes, sir.  Going away, sir?"
     "I'm going to the devil," said Tommy, regardless of the menial's feelings.
     That functionary, however, merely replied respectfully:
     "Yes, sir.  Shall I call a taxi?"
     Tommy nodded.
     Where was he going?  He hadn't the faintest idea.  Beyond a fixed 
determination to get even with Mr. Brown he had no plans. He re-read Sir James's 
letter, and shook his head. Tuppence must be avenged.  Still, it was kind of the 
old fellow.
     "Better answer it, I suppose."  He went across to the writing-table. With 
the usual perversity of bedroom stationery, there were innumerable envelopes and 
no paper.  He rang.  No one came.  Tommy fumed at the delay. Then he remembered 
that there was a good supply in Julius's sitting-room. The American had 
announced his immediate departure, there would be no fear of running up against 
him.  Besides, he wouldn't mind if he did. He was beginning to be rather ashamed 
of the things he had said. Old Julius had taken them jolly well.  He'd apologize 
if he found him there.
     But the room was deserted.  Tommy walked across to the writing-table, and 
opened the middle drawer.  A photograph, carelessly thrust in face upwards, 
caught his eye.  For a moment he stood rooted to the ground. Then he took it 
out, shut the drawer, walked slowly over to an arm-chair, and sat down still 
staring at the photograph in his hand.
     What on earth was a photograph of the French girl Annette doing in Julius 
Hersheimmer's writing-table?
     
     CHAPTER XXII
     IN DOWNING STREET
     THE Prime Minister tapped the desk in front of him with nervous fingers. 
His face was worn and harassed.  He took up his conversation with Mr. Carter at 
the point it had broken off.  "I don't understand," he said. "Do you really mean 
that things are not so desperate after all?"
     "So this lad seems to think."
     "Let's have a look at his letter again."
     Mr. Carter handed it over.  It was written in a sprawling boyish hand.
     "DEAR MR.  CARTER,
     "Something's turned up that has given me a jar.  Of course I may be simply 
making an awful ass of myself, but I don't think so. If my conclusions are 
right, that girl at Manchester was just a plant. The whole thing was 
prearranged, sham packet and all, with the object of making us think the game 
was up--therefore I fancy that we must have been pretty hot on the scent.
     "I think I know who the real Jane Finn is, and I've even got an idea where 
the papers are.  That last's only a guess, of course, but I've a sort of feeling 
it'll turn out right. Anyhow, I enclose it in a sealed envelope for what it's 
worth. I'm going to ask you not to open it until the very last moment, midnight 
on the 28th, in fact.  You'll understand why in a minute. You see, I've figured 
it out that those things of Tuppence's are a plant too, and she's no more 
drowned than I am. The way I reason is this:  as a last chance they'll let Jane 
Finn escape in the hope that she's been shamming this memory stunt, and that 
once she thinks she's free she'll go right away to the cache. Of course it's an 
awful risk for them to take, because she knows all about them--but they're 
pretty desperate to get hold of that treaty. BUT IF THEY KNOW THAT THE PAPERS 
HAVE BEEN RECOVERED BY US, neither of those two girls' lives will be worth an 
hour's purchase. I must try and get hold of Tuppence before Jane escapes.
     "I want a repeat of that telegram that was sent to Tuppence at the Ritz.  
Sir James Peel Edgerton said you would be able to manage that for me.  He's 
frightfully clever.
     "One last thing--please have that house in Soho watched day and night.      
                    "Yours, etc.,                     "THOMAS BERESFORD."
      The Prime Minister looked up.
     "The enclosure?"
     Mr. Carter smiled dryly.
     "In the vaults of the Bank.  I am taking no chances."
     "You don't think"--the Prime Minister hesitated a minute--"that it would be 
better to open it now?  Surely we ought to secure the document, that is, 
provided the young man's guess turns out to be correct, at once. We can keep the 
fact of having done so quite secret."
     "Can we?  I'm not so sure.  There are spies all round us. Once it's known I 
wouldn't give that"--he snapped his fingers--"for the life of those two girls.  
No, the boy trusted me, and I shan't let him down."
     "Well, well, we must leave it at that, then.  What's he like, this lad?"
     "Outwardly, he's an ordinary clean-limbed, rather block-headed young 
Englishman.  Slow in his mental processes.  On the other hand, it's quite 
impossible to lead him astray through his imagination. He hasn't got any--so 
he's difficult to deceive.  He worries things out slowly, and once he's got hold 
of anything he doesn't let go. The little lady's quite different.  More 
intuition and less common sense. They make a pretty pair working together.  Pace 
and stamina."
     "He seems confident," mused the Prime Minister.
     "Yes, and that's what gives me hope.  He's the kind of diffident youth who 
would have to be VERY sure before he ventured an opinion at all."
     A half smile came to the other's lips.
     "And it is this--boy who will defeat the master criminal of our time?"
     "This--boy, as you say!  But I sometimes fancy I see a shadow behind."
     "You mean?"
     "Peel Edgerton."
     "Peel Edgerton?" said the Prime Minister in astonishment.
     "Yes.  I see his hand in THIS."  He struck the open letter. "He's 
there--working in the dark, silently, unobtrusively. I've always felt that if 
anyone was to run Mr. Brown to earth, Peel Edgerton would be the man.  I tell 
you he's on the case now, but doesn't want it known.  By the way, I got rather 
an odd request from him the other day."
     "Yes?"
     "He sent me a cutting from some American paper.  It referred to a man's 
body found near the docks in New York about three weeks ago. He asked me to 
collect any information on the subject I could."
     "Well?"
     Carter shrugged his shoulders.
     "I couldn't get much.  Young fellow about thirty-five--poorly dressed--face 
very badly disfigured.  He was never identified."
     "And you fancy that the two matters are connected in some way?"
     "Somehow I do.  I may be wrong, of course."
     There was a pause, then Mr. Carter continued:
     "I asked him to come round here.  Not that we'll get anything out of him he 
doesn't want to tell.  His legal instincts are too strong. But there's no doubt 
he can throw light on one or two obscure points in young Beresford's letter.  
Ah, here he is!"
     The two men rose to greet the new-comer. A half whimsical thought flashed 
across the Premier's mind.  "My successor, perhaps!"
     "We've had a letter from young Beresford," said Mr. Carter, coming to the 
point at once.  "You've seen him, I suppose?"
     "You suppose wrong," said the lawyer.
     "Oh!"  Mr. Carter was a little nonplussed.
     Sir James smiled, and stroked his chin.
     "He rang me up," he volunteered.
     "Would you have any objection to telling us exactly what passed between 
you?"
     "Not at all.  He thanked me for a certain letter which I had written to 
him--as a matter of fact, I had offered him a job. Then he reminded me of 
something I had said to him at Manchester respecting that bogus telegram which 
lured Miss Cowley away. I asked him if anything untoward had occurred.  He said 
it had--that in a drawer in Mr. Hersheimmer's room he had discovered a 
photograph."  The laywer{sic} paused, then continued: "I asked him if the 
photograph bore the name and address of a Californian photographer.  He replied: 
 'You're on to it, sir. It had.'  Then he went on to tell me something I DIDN'T 
know. The original of that photograph was the French girl, Annette, who saved 
his life."
     "What?"
     "Exactly.  I asked the young man with some curiosity what he had done with 
the photograph.  He replied that he had put it back where he found it." The 
lawyer paused again.  "That was good, you know--distinctly good. He can use his 
brains, that young fellow.  I congratulated him. The discovery was a 
providential one.  Of course, from the moment that the girl in Manchester was 
proved to be a plant everything was altered. Young Beresford saw that for 
himself without my having to tell it him. But he felt he couldn't trust his 
judgment on the subject of Miss Cowley.  Did I think she was alive?  I told him, 
duly weighing the evidence, that there was a very decided chance in favour of 
it. That brought us back to the telegram."
     "Yes?"
     "I advised him to apply to you for a copy of the original wire. It had 
occurred to me as probable that, after Miss Cowley flung it on the floor, 
certain words might have been erased and altered with the express intention of 
setting searchers on a false trail."
     Carter nodded.  He took a sheet from his pocket, and read aloud:
      "Come at once, Astley Priors, Gatehouse, Kent.  Great developments--TOMMY.
      "Very simple," said Sir James, "and very ingenious. Just a few words to 
alter, and the thing was done. And the one important clue they overlooked."
     "What was that?"
     "The page-boy's statement that Miss Cowley drove to Charing Cross.  They 
were so sure of themselves that they took it for granted he had made a mistake."
     "Then young Beresford is now?"
     "At Gatehouse, Kent, unless I am much mistaken."
     Mr. Carter looked at him curiously.
     "I rather wonder you're not there too, Peel Edgerton?"
     "Ah, I'm busy on a case."
     "I thought you were on your holiday?"
     "Oh, I've not been briefed.  Perhaps it would be more correct to say I'm 
preparing a case.  Any more facts about that American chap for me?"
     "I'm afraid not.  Is it important to find out who he was?"
     "Oh, I know who he was," said Sir James easily.  "I can't prove it yet--but 
I know."
     The other two asked no questions.  They had an instinct that it would be 
mere waste of breath.
     "But what I don't understand," said the Prime-Minister suddenly, "is how 
that photograph came to be in Mr. Hersheimmer's drawer?"
     "Perhaps it never left it," suggested the lawyer gently.
     "But the bogus inspector?  Inspector Brown?"
     "Ah!" said Sir James thoughtfully.  He rose to his feet. "I mustn't keep 
you.  Go on with the affairs of the nation. I must get back to--my case."
     Two days later Julius Hersheimmer returned from Manchester.  A note from 
Tommy lay on his table:
     "DEAR HERSHEIMMER,
     "Sorry I lost my temper.  In case I don't see you again, good-bye. I've 
been offered a job in the Argentine, and might as well take it.                  
        "Yours,                     "TOMMY BERESFORD."
      A peculiar smile lingered for a moment on Julius's face. He threw the 
letter into the waste-paper basket.
     "The darned fool!" he murmured.
     
     CHAPTER XXIII
     A RACE AGAINST TIME
     AFTER ringing up Sir James, Tommy's next procedure was to make a call at 
South Audley Mansions.  He found Albert discharging his professional duties, and 
introduced himself without more ado as a friend of Tuppence's. Albert unbent 
immediately.
     "Things has been very quiet here lately," he said wistfully. "Hope the 
young lady's keeping well, sir?"
     "That's just the point, Albert.  She's disappeared." You don't mean as the 
crooks have got her?"
     "In the Underworld?"
     "No, dash it all, in this world!"
     "It's a h'expression, sir," explained Albert.  "At the pictures the crooks 
always have a restoorant in the Underworld.  But do you think as they've done 
her in, sir?"
     "I hope not.  By the way, have you by any chance an aunt, a cousin, a 
grandmother, or any other suitable female relation who might be represented as 
being likely to kick the bucket?"
     A delighted grin spread slowly over Albert's countenance.
     "I'm on, sir.  My poor aunt what lives in the country has been mortal bad 
for a long time, and she's asking for me with her dying breath."
     Tommy nodded approval.
     "Can you report this in the proper quarter and meet me at Charing Cross in 
an hour's time?"
     "I'll be there, sir.  You can count on me."
     As Tommy had judged, the faithful Albert proved an invaluable ally. The two 
took up their quarters at the inn in Gatehouse.  To Albert fell the task of 
collecting information There was no difficulty about it.
     Astley Priors was the property of a Dr. Adams.  The doctor no longer 
practiced, had retired, the landlord believed, but he took a few private 
patients--here the good fellow tapped his forehead knowingly--"balmy ones!  You 
understand!" The doctor was a popular figure in the village, subscribed freely 
to all the local sports--"a very pleasant, affable gentleman." Been there long?  
Oh, a matter of ten years or so--might be longer. Scientific gentleman, he was.  
Professors and people often came down from town to see him.  Anyway, it was a 
gay house, always visitors.
     In the face of all this volubility, Tommy felt doubts. Was it possible that 
this genial, well-known figure could be in reality a dangerous criminal?  His 
life seemed so open and aboveboard. No hint of sinister doings.  Suppose it was 
all a gigantic mistake? Tommy felt a cold chill at the thought.
     Then he remembered the private patients--"balmy ones." He inquired 
carefully if there was a young lady amongst them, describing Tuppence.  But 
nothing much seemed to be known about the patients--they were seldom seen 
outside the grounds. A guarded description of Annette also failed to provoke 
recognition.
     Astley Priors was a pleasant red-brick edifice, surrounded by well-wooded 
grounds which effectually shielded the house from observation from the road.
     On the first evening Tommy, accompanied by Albert, explored the grounds. 
Owing to Albert's insistence they dragged themselves along painfully on their 
stomachs, thereby producing a great deal more noise than if they had stood 
upright.  In any case, these precautions were totally unnecessary. The grounds, 
like those of any other private house after nightfall, seemed untenanted.  Tommy 
had imagined a possible fierce watchdog. Albert's fancy ran to a puma, or a tame 
cobra.  But they reached a shrubbery near the house quite unmolested.
     The blinds of the dining-room window were up.  There was a large company 
assembled round the table.  The port was passing from hand to hand. It seemed a 
normal, pleasant company.  Through the open window scraps of conversation 
floated out disjointedly on the night air. It was a heated discussion on county 
cricket!
     Again Tommy felt that cold chill of uncertainty.  It seemed impossible to 
believe that these people were other than they seemed. Had he been fooled once 
more?  The fair-bearded, spectacled gentleman who sat at the head of the table 
looked singularly honest and normal.
     Tommy slept badly that night.  The following morning the indefatigable 
Albert, having cemented an alliance with the greengrocer's boy, took the 
latter's place and ingratiated himself with the cook at Malthouse.  He returned 
with the information that she was undoubtedly "one of the crooks," but Tommy 
mistrusted the vividness of his imagination.  Questioned, he could adduce 
nothing in support of his statement except his own opinion that she wasn't the 
usual kind.  You could see that at a glance.
     The substitution being repeated (much to the pecuniary advantage of the 
real greengrocer's boy) on the following day, Albert brought back the first 
piece of hopeful news.  There WAS a French young lady staying in the house.  
Tommy put his doubts aside. Here was confirmation of his theory.  But time 
pressed. To-day was the 27th.  The 29th was the much-talked-of "Labour Day," 
about which all sorts of rumours were running riot. Newspapers were getting 
agitated.  Sensational hints of a Labour coup d'etat were freely reported.  The 
Government said nothing. It knew and was prepared.  There were rumours of 
dissension among the Labour leaders.  They were not of one mind. The more 
far-seeing among them realized that what they proposed might well be a 
death-blow to the England that at heart they loved. They shrank from the 
starvation and misery a general strike would entail, and were willing to meet 
the Government half-way. But behind them were subtle, insistent forces at work, 
urging the memories of old wrongs, deprecating the weakness of half-and-half 
measures, fomenting misunderstandings.
     Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr. Carter, he understood the position fairly 
accurately.  With the fatal document in the hands of Mr. Brown, public opinion 
would swing to the side of the Labour extremists and revolutionists. Failing 
that, the battle was an even chance.  The Government with a loyal army and 
police force behind them might win--but at a cost of great suffering.  But Tommy 
nourished another and a preposterous dream. With Mr. Brown unmasked and captured 
he believed, rightly or wrongly, that the whole organization would crumble 
ignominiously and instantaneously. The strange permeating influence of the 
unseen chief held it together. Without him, Tommy believed an instant panic 
would set in; and, the honest men left to themselves, an eleventh-hour 
reconciliation would be possible.
     "This is a one-man show," said Tommy to himself. "The thing to do is to get 
hold of the man."
     It was partly in furtherance of this ambitious design that he had requested 
Mr. Carter not to open the sealed envelope. The draft treaty was Tommy's bait.  
Every now and then he was aghast at his own presumption.  How dared he think 
that he had discovered what so many wiser and clever men had overlooked? 
Nevertheless, he stuck tenaciously to his idea.
     That evening he and Albert once more penetrated the grounds of Astley 
Priors.  Tommy's ambition was somehow or other to gain admission to the house 
itself.  As they approached cautiously, Tommy gave a sudden gasp.
     On the second floor window some one standing between the window and the 
light in the room threw a silhouette on the blind. It was one Tommy would have 
recognized anywhere! Tuppence was in that house!
     He clutched Albert by the shoulder.
     "Stay here!  When I begin to sing, watch that window."
     He retreated hastily to a position on the main drive, and began in a deep 
roar, coupled with an unsteady gait, the following ditty:
               I am a Soldier           A jolly British Soldier;           You 
can see that I'm a Soldier by my feet . . .
      It had been a favourite on the gramophone in Tuppence's hospital days.  He 
did not doubt but that she would recognize it and draw her own conclusions. 
Tommy had not a note of music in his voice, but his lungs were excellent. The 
noise he produced was terrific.
     Presently an unimpeachable butler, accompanied by an equally unimpeachable 
footman, issued from the front door. The butler remonstrated with him.  Tommy 
continued to sing, addressing the butler affectionately as "dear old whiskers." 
The footman took him by one arm, the butler by the other. They ran him down the 
drive, and neatly out of the gate. The butler threatened him with the police if 
he intruded again. It was beautifully done--soberly and with perfect decorum. 
Anyone would have sworn that the butler was a real butler, the footman a real 
footman--only, as it happened, the butler was Whittington!
     Tommy retired to the inn and waited for Albert's return. At last that 
worthy made his appearance.
     "Well?" cried Tommy eagerly.
     "It's all right.  While they was a-running of you out the window opened, 
and something was chucked out."  He handed a scrap of paper to Tommy.  "It was 
wrapped round a letterweight."
     On the paper were scrawled three words:  "To-morrow--same time."
     "Good egg!" cried Tommy.  "We're getting going."
     "I wrote a message on a piece of paper, wrapped it round a stone, and 
chucked it through the window," continued Albert breathlessly.
     Tommy groaned.
     "Your zeal will be the undoing of us, Albert.  What did you say?"
     "Said we was a-staying at the inn.  If she could get away, to come there 
and croak like a frog."
     "She'll know that's you," said Tommy with a sigh of relief. "Your 
imagination runs away with you, you know, Albert.  Why, you wouldn't recognize a 
frog croaking if you heard it."
     Albert looked rather crest-fallen.
     "Cheer up," said Tommy.  "No harm done.  That butler's an old friend of 
mine--I bet he knew who I was, though he didn't let on. It's not their game to 
show suspicion.  That's why we've found it fairly plain sailing.  They don't 
want to discourage me altogether. On the other hand, they don't want to make it 
too easy. I'm a pawn in their game, Albert, that's what I am.  You see, if the 
spider lets the fly walk out too easily, the fly might suspect it was a put-up 
job.  Hence the usefulness of that promising youth, Mr. T. Beresford, who's 
blundered in just at the right moment for them. But later, Mr. T. Beresford had 
better look out!"
     Tommy retired for the night in a state of some elation. He had elaborated a 
careful plan for the following evening. He felt sure that the inhabitants of 
Astley Priors would not interfere with him up to a certain point.  It was after 
that that Tommy proposed to give them a surprise.
     About twelve o'clock, however, his calm was rudely shaken. He was told that 
some one was demanding him in the bar. The applicant proved to be a rude-looking 
carter well coated with mud.
     "Well, my good fellow, what is it?" asked Tommy.
     "Might this be for you, sir?"  The carter held out a very dirty folded 
note, on the outside of which was written:  "Take this to the gentleman at the 
inn near Astley Priors.  He will give you ten shillings."
     The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her quick-wittedness in 
realizing that he might be staying at the inn under an assumed name. He snatched 
at it.
     "That's all right."
     The man withheld it.
     "What about my ten shillings?"
     Tommy hastily produced a ten-shilling note, and the man relinquished his 
find.  Tommy unfastened it.
     "DEAR TOMMY,
     "I knew it was you last night.  Don't go this evening. They'll be lying in 
wait for you.  They're taking us away this morning.  I heard something about 
Wales--Holyhead, I think. I'll drop this on the road if I get a chance.  Annette 
told me how you'd escaped.  Buck up.                          "Yours,            
              "TWOPENCE."
      Tommy raised a shout for Albert before he had even finished perusing this 
characteristic epistle.
     "Pack my bag!  We're off!"
     "Yes, sir."  The boots of Albert could be heard racing upstairs. Holyhead?  
Did that mean that, after all----Tommy was puzzled. He read on slowly.
     The boots of Albert continued to be active on the floor above.
     Suddenly a second shout came from below.
     "Albert!  I'm a damned fool!  Unpack that bag!"
     "Yes, sir."
     Tommy smoothed out the note thoughtfully.
     "Yes, a damned fool," he said softly.  "But so's some one else! And at last 
I know who it is!"
     
     CHAPTER XXIV
     JULIUS TAKES A HAND
     IN his suite at Claridge's, Kramenin reclined on a couch and dictated to 
his secretary in sibilant Russian.
     Presently the telephone at the secretary's elbow purred, and he took up the 
receiver, spoke for a minute or two, then turned to his employer.
     "Some one below is asking for you."
     "Who is it?"
     "He gives the name of Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer."
     "Hersheimmer," repeated Kramenin thoughtfully.  "I have heard that name 
before."
     "His father was one of the steel kings of America," explained the 
secretary, whose business it was to know everything. "This young man must be a 
millionaire several times over."
     The other's eyes narrowed appreciatively.
     "You had better go down and see him, Ivan.  Find out what he wants."
     The secretary obeyed, closing the door noiselessly behind him. In a few 
minutes he returned.
     "He declines to state his business--says it is entirely private and 
personal, and that he must see you."
     "A millionaire several times over," murmured Kramenin.  "Bring him up, my 
dear Ivan."
     The secretary left the room once more, and returned escorting Julius.
     "Monsieur Kramenin?" said the latter abruptly.
     The Russian, studying him attentively with his pale venomous eyes, bowed.
     "Pleased to meet you," said the American.  "I've got some very important 
business I'd like to talk over with you, if I can see you alone." He looked 
pointedly at the other.
     "My secretary, Monsieur Grieber, from whom I have no secrets."
     "That may be so--but I have," said Julius dryly. "So I'd be obliged if 
you'd tell him to scoot."
     "Ivan," said the Russian softly, "perhaps you would not mind retiring into 
the next room----"
     "The next room won't do," interrupted Julius.  "I know these ducal 
suites--and I want this one plumb empty except for you and me. Send him round to 
a store to buy a penn'orth of peanuts."
     Though not particularly enjoying the American's free and easy manner of 
speech, Kramenin was devoured by curiosity. "Will your business take long to 
state?"
     "Might be an all night job if you caught on."
     "Very good, Ivan.  I shall not require you again this evening. Go to the 
theatre--take a night off."
     "Thank you, your excellency."
     The secretary bowed and departed.
     Julius stood at the door watching his retreat.  Finally, with a satisfied 
sigh, he closed it, and came back to his position in the centre of the room.
     "Now, Mr. Hersheimmer, perhaps you will be so kind as to come to the 
point?"
     "I guess that won't take a minute," drawled Julius.  Then, with an abrupt 
change of manner:  "Hands up--or I shoot!"
     For a moment Kramenin stared blindly into the big automatic, then, with 
almost comical haste, he flung up his hands above his head.  In that instant 
Julius had taken his measure. The man he had to deal with was an abject physical 
coward--the rest would be easy.
     "This is an outrage," cried the Russian in a high hysterical voice. "An 
outrage!  Do you mean to kill me?"
     "Not if you keep your voice down.  Don't go edging sideways towards that 
bell.  That's better."
     "What do you want?  Do nothing rashly.  Remember my life is of the utmost 
value to my country.  I may have been maligned----"
     "I reckon," said Julius, "that the man who let daylight into you would be 
doing humanity a good turn.  But you needn't worry any. I'm not proposing to 
kill you this trip--that is, if you're reasonable."
     The Russian quailed before the stern menace in the other's eyes. He passed 
his tongue over his dry lips.
     "What do you want?  Money?"
     "No. I want Jane Finn."
     "Jane Finn?  I--never heard of her!"
     "You're a darned liar!  You know perfectly who I mean."
     "I tell you I've never heard of the girl."
     "And I tell you," retorted Julius, "that Little Willie here is just hopping 
mad to go off!"
     The Russian wilted visibly.
     "You wouldn't dare----"
     "Oh, yes, I would, son!"
     Kramenin must have recognized something in the voice that carried 
conviction, for he said sullenly:
     "Well?  Granted I do know who you mean--what of it?"
     "You will tell me now--right here--where she is to be found."
     Kramenin shook his head.
     "I daren't."
     "Why not?"
     "I daren't. You ask an impossibility."
     "Afraid, eh?  Of whom?  Mr. Brown?  Ah, that tickles you up! There is such 
a person, then?  I doubted it.  And the mere mention of him scares you stiff!"
     "I have seen him," said the Russian slowly.  "Spoken to him face to face. I 
did not know it until afterwards.  He was one of a crowd. I should not know him 
again.  Who is he really?  I do not know. But I know this--he is a man to fear."
     "He'll never know," said Julius.
     "He knows everything--and his vengeance is swift. Even I--Kramenin!--would 
not be exempt!"
     "Then you won't do as I ask you?"
     "You ask an impossibility."
     "Sure that's a pity for you," said Julius cheerfully. "But the world in 
general will benefit."  He raised the revolver.
     "Stop," shrieked the Russian.  "You cannot mean to shoot me?"
     "Of course I do.  I've always heard you Revolutionists held life cheap, but 
it seems there's a difference when it's your own life in question. I gave you 
just one chance of saving your dirty skin, and that you wouldn't take!"
     "They would kill me!"
     "Well," said Julius pleasantly, "it's up to you.  But I'll just say this. 
Little Willie here is a dead cert, and if I was you I'd take a sporting chance 
with Mr. Brown!"
     "You will hang if you shoot me," muttered the Russian irresolutely.
     "No, stranger, that's where you're wrong.  You forget the dollars. A big 
crowd of solicitors will get busy, and they'll get some high-brow doctors on the 
job, and the end of it all will be that they'll say my brain was unhinged.  I 
shall spend a few months in a quiet sanatorium, my mental health will improve, 
the doctors will declare me sane again, and all will end happily for little 
Julius.  I guess I can bear a few months' retirement in order to rid the world 
of you, but don't you kid yourself I'll hang for it!"
     The Russian believed him.  Corrupt himself, he believed implicitly in the 
power of money.  He had read of American murder trials running much on the lines 
indicated by Julius.  He had bought and sold justice himself. This virile young 
American, with the significant drawling voice, had the whip hand of him.
     "I'm going to count five," continued Julius, "and I guess, if you let me 
get past four, you needn't worry any about Mr. Brown.  Maybe he'll send some 
flowers to the funeral, but YOU won't smell them!  Are you ready? I'll begin.  
One--two three--four----"
     The Russian interrupted with a shriek:
     "Do not shoot.  I will do all you wish."
     Julius lowered the revolver.
     "I thought you'd hear sense.  Where is the girl?"
     "At Gatehouse, in Kent.  Astley Priors, the place is called."
     "Is she a prisoner there?"
     "She's not allowed to leave the house--though it's safe enough really. The 
little fool has lost her memory, curse her!"
     "That's been annoying for you and your friends, I reckon. What about the 
other girl, the one you decoyed away over a week ago?"
     "She's there too," said the Russian sullenly.
     "That's good," said Julius.  "Isn't it all panning out beautifully? And a 
lovely night for the run!"
     "What run?" demanded Kramenin, with a stare.
     "Down to Gatehouse, sure.  I hope you're fond of motoring?"
     "What do you mean?  I refuse to go."
     "Now don't get mad.  You must see I'm not such a kid as to leave you here. 
You'd ring up your friends on that telephone first thing!  Ah!"  He observed the 
fall on the other's face.  "You see, you'd got it all fixed. No, sir, you're 
coming along with me.  This your bedroom next door here? Walk right in.  Little 
Willie and I will come behind.  Put on a thick coat, that's right.  Fur lined?  
And you a Socialist!  Now we're ready. We walk downstairs and out through the 
hall to where my car's waiting. And don't you forget I've got you covered every 
inch of the way. I can shoot just as well through my coat pocket.  One word, or 
a glance even, at one of those liveried menials, and there'll sure be a strange 
face in the Sulphur and Brimstone Works!"
     Together they descended the stairs, and passed out to the waiting car. The 
Russian was shaking with rage.  The hotel servants surrounded them. A cry 
hovered on his lips, but at the last minute his nerve failed him. The American 
was a man of his word.
     When they reached the car, Julius breathed a sigh of relief. The 
danger-zone was passed.  Fear had successfully hypnotized the man by his side.
     "Get in," he ordered.  Then as he caught the other's sidelong glance, "No, 
the chauffeur won't help you any.  Naval man. Was on a submarine in Russia when 
the Revolution broke out. A brother of his was murdered by your people.  
George!"
     "Yes, sir?"  The chauffeur turned his head.
     "This gentleman is a Russian Bolshevik.  We don't want to shoot him, but it 
may be necessary.  You understand?"
     "Perfectly, sir."
     "I want to go to Gatehouse in Kent.  Know the road at all?"
     "Yes, sir, it will be about an hour and a half's run."
     "Make it an hour.  I'm in a hurry."
     "I'll do my best, sir."  The car shot forward through the traffic.
     Julius ensconced himself comfortably by the side of his victim. He kept his 
hand in the pocket of his coat, but his manner was urbane to the last degree.
     "There was a man I shot once in Arizona----" he began cheerfully.
     At the end of the hour's run the unfortunate Kramenin was more dead than 
alive.  In succession to the anecdote of the Arizona man, there had been a tough 
from 'Frisco, and an episode in the Rockies.  Julius's narrative style, if not 
strictly accurate, was picturesque!
     Slowing down, the chauffeur called over his shoulder that they were just 
coming into Gatehouse.  Julius bade the Russian direct them.  His plan was to 
drive straight up to the house. There Kramenin was to ask for the two girls.  
Julius explained to him that Little Willie would not be tolerant of failure. 
Kramenin, by this time, was as putty in the other's hands. The terrific pace 
they had come had still further unmanned him. He had given himself up for dead 
at every corner.
     The car swept up the drive, and stopped before the porch. The chauffeur 
looked round for orders.
     "Turn the car first, George.  Then ring the bell, and get back to your 
place. Keep the engine going, and be ready to scoot like hell when I give the 
word."
     "Very good, sir."
     The front door was opened by the butler.  Kramenin felt the muzzle of the 
revolver pressed against his ribs.
     "Now," hissed Julius.  "And be careful."
     The Russian beckoned.  His lips were white, and his voice was not very 
steady:
     "It is I--Kramenin!  Bring down the girl at once! There is no time to 
lose!"
     Whittington had come down the steps.  He uttered an exclamation of 
astonishment at seeing the other.
     "You!  What's up?  Surely you know the plan----"
     Kramenin interrupted him, using the words that have created many 
unnecessary panics:
     "We have been betrayed!  Plans must be abandoned. We must save our own 
skins.  The girl!  And at once! It's our only chance."
     Whittington hesitated, but for hardly a moment.
     "You have orders--from HIM?"
     "Naturally!  Should I be here otherwise?  Hurry!  There is no time to be 
lost. The other little fool had better come too."
     Whittington turned and ran back into the house. The agonizing minutes went 
by.  Then--two figures hastily huddled in cloaks appeared on the steps and were 
hustled into the car. The smaller of the two was inclined to resist and 
Whittington shoved her in unceremoniously.  Julius leaned forward, and in doing 
so the light from the open door lit up his face. Another man on the steps behind 
Whittington gave a startled exclamation. Concealment was at an end.
     "Get a move on, George," shouted Julius.
     The chauffeur slipped in his clutch, and with a bound the car started.
     The man on the steps uttered an oath.  His hand went to his pocket. There 
was a flash and a report.  The bullet just missed the taller girl by an inch.
     "Get down, Jane," cried Julius.  "Flat on the bottom of the car." He thrust 
her sharply forward, then standing up, he took careful aim and fired.
     "Have you hit him?" cried Tuppence eagerly.
     "Sure," replied Julius.  "He isn't killed, though.  Skunks like that take a 
lot of killing.  Are you all right, Tuppence?"
     "Of course I am.  Where's Tommy?  And who's this?" She indicated the 
shivering Kramenin.
     "Tommy's making tracks for the Argentine.  I guess he thought you'd turned 
up your toes.  Steady through the gate, George!  That's right. It'll take 'em at 
least five minutes to get busy after us. They'll use the telephone, I guess, so 
look out for snares ahead--and don't take the direct route.  Who's this, did you 
say, Tuppence?  Let me present Monsieur Kramenin.  I persuaded him to come on 
the trip for his health."
     The Russian remained mute, still livid with terror.
     "But what made them let us go?" demanded Tuppence suspiciously.
     "I reckon Monsieur Kramenin here asked them so prettily they just couldn't 
refuse!"
     This was too much for the Russian.  He burst out vehemently:
     "Curse you--curse you!  They know now that I betrayed them. My life won't 
be safe for an hour in this country."
     "That's so," assented Julius.  "I'd advise you to make tracks for Russia 
right away."
     "Let me go, then," cried the other.  "I have done what you asked. Why do 
you still keep me with you?"
     "Not for the pleasure of your company.  I guess you can get right off now 
if you want to.  I thought you'd rather I tooled you back to London."
     "You may never reach London," snarled the other. "Let me go here and now."
     "Sure thing.  Pull up, George.  The gentleman's not making the return trip. 
If I ever come to Russia, Monsieur Kramenin, I shall expect a rousing welcome, 
and----"
     But before Julius had finished his speech, and before the car had finally 
halted, the Russian had swung himself out and disappeared into the night.
     "Just a mite impatient to leave us," commented Julius, as the car gathered 
way again.  "And no idea of saying good-bye politely to the ladies. Say, Jane, 
you can get up on the seat now."
     For the first time the girl spoke.
     "How did you 'persuade' him?" she asked.
     Julius tapped his revolver.
     "Little Willie here takes the credit!"
     "Splendid!" cried the girl.  The colour surged into her face, her eyes 
looked admiringly at Julius.
     "Annette and I didn't know what was going to happen to us," said Tuppence.  
"Old Whittington hurried us off. We thought it was lambs to the slaughter."
     "Annette," said Julius.  "Is that what you call her?"
     His mind seemed to be trying to adjust itself to a new idea.
     "It's her name," said Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide.
     "Shucks!" retorted Julius.  "She may think it's her name, because her 
memory's gone, poor kid.  But it's the one real and original Jane Finn we've got 
here."
     "What?" cried Tuppence.
     But she was interrupted.  With an angry spurt, a bullet embedded itself in 
the upholstery of the car just behind her head.
     "Down with you," cried Julius.  "It's an ambush.  These guys have got busy 
pretty quickly.  Push her a bit, George."
     The car fairly leapt forward.  Three more shots rang out, but went happily 
wide.  Julius, upright, leant over the back of the car.
     "Nothing to shoot at," he announced gloomily.  "But I guess there'll be 
another little picnic soon.  Ah!"
     He raised his hand to his cheek.
     "You are hurt?" said Annette quickly.
     "Only a scratch."
     The girl sprang to her feet.
     "Let me out!  Let me out, I say!  Stop the car.  It is me they're after. 
I'm the one they want.  You shall not lose your lives because of me. Let me go." 
 She was fumbling with the fastenings of the door.
     Julius took her by both arms, and looked at her. She had spoken with no 
trace of foreign accent.
     "Sit down, kid," he said gently.  "I guess there's nothing wrong with your 
memory.  Been fooling them all the time, eh?"
     The girl looked at him, nodded, and then suddenly burst into tears. Julius 
patted her on the shoulder.
     "There, there--just you sit tight.  We're not going to let you quit."
     Through her sobs the girl said indistinctly:
     "You're from home.  I can tell by your voice.  It makes me home-sick."
     "Sure I'm from home.  I'm your cousin--Julius Hersheimmer.  I came over to 
Europe on purpose to find you--and a pretty dance you've led me."
     The car slackened speed.  George spoke over his shoulder:
     "Cross-roads here, sir.  I'm not sure of the way."
     The car slowed down till it hardly moved.  As it did so a figure climbed 
suddenly over the back, and plunged head first into the midst of them.
     "Sorry," said Tommy, extricating himself.
     A mass of confused exclamations greeted him.  He replied to them severally:
     "Was in the bushes by the drive.  Hung on behind.  Couldn't let you know 
before at the pace you were going.  It was all I could do to hang on. Now then, 
you girls, get out!"
     "Get out?"
     "Yes.  There's a station just up that road.  Train due in three minutes. 
You'll catch it if you hurry."
     "What the devil are you driving at?" demanded Julius.  "Do you think you 
can fool them by leaving the car?"
     "You and I aren't going to leave the car.  Only the girls."
     "You're crazed, Beresford.  Stark staring mad!  You can't let those girls 
go off alone.  It'll be the end of it if you do."
     Tommy turned to Tuppence.
     "Get out at once, Tuppence.  Take her with you, and do just as I say. No 
one will do you any harm.  You're safe.  Take the train to London.  Go straight 
to Sir James Peel Edgerton.  Mr. Carter lives out of town, but you'll be safe 
with him."
     "Darn you!" cried Julius.  "You're mad.  Jane, you stay where you are."
     With a sudden swift movement, Tommy snatched the revolver from Julius's 
hand, and levelled it at him.
     "Now will you believe I'm in earnest?  Get out, both of you, and do as I 
say--or I'll shoot!"
     Tuppence sprang out, dragging the unwilling Jane after her.
     "Come on, it's all right.  If Tommy's sure--he's sure.  Be quick. We'll 
miss the train."
     They started running.
     Julius's pent-up rage burst forth.
     "What the hell----"
     Tommy interrupted him.
     "Dry up!  I want a few words with you, Mr. Julius Hersheimmer."
     
     CHAPTER
     XXV
     JANE'S STORY
     HER arm through Jane's, dragging her along, Tuppence reached the station. 
Her quick ears caught the sound of the approaching train.
     "Hurry up," she panted, "or we'll miss it."
     They arrived on the platform just as the train came to a standstill. 
Tuppence opened the door of an empty first-class compartment, and the two girls 
sank down breathless on the padded seats.
     A man looked in, then passed on to the next carriage. Jane started 
nervously.  Her eyes dilated with terror. She looked questioningly at Tuppence.
     "Is he one of them, do you think?" she breathed.
     Tuppence shook her head.
     "No, no.  It's all right."  She took Jane's hand in hers. "Tommy wouldn't 
have told us to do this unless he was sure we'd be all right."
     "But he doesn't know them as I do!"  The girl shivered. "You can't 
understand.  Five years!  Five long years! Sometimes I thought I should go mad."
     "Never mind.  It's all over."  "Is it?"
     The train was moving now, speeding through the night at a gradually 
increasing rate.  Suddenly Jane Finn started up.
     "What was that?  I thought I saw a face--looking in through the window."
     "No, there's nothing.  See."  Tuppence went to the window, and lifting the 
strap let the pane down.
     "You're sure?"
     "Quite sure."
     The other seemed to feel some excuse was necessary:
     "I guess I'm acting like a frightened rabbit, but I can't help it. If they 
caught me now they'd----" Her eyes opened wide and staring.
     "DON'T!" implored Tuppence.  "Lie back, and DON'T THINK.  You can be quite 
sure that Tommy wouldn't have said it was safe if it wasn't."
     "My cousin didn't think so.  He didn't want us to do this."
     "No," said Tuppence, rather embarrassed.
     "What are you thinking of?" said Jane sharply.
     "Why?"
     "Your voice was so--queer!"
     "I WAS thinking of something," confessed Tuppence.  "But I don't want to 
tell you--not now.  I may be wrong, but I don't think so. It's just an idea that 
came into my head a long time ago. Tommy's got it too--I'm almost sure he has.  
But don't YOU worry--there'll be time enough for that later.  And it mayn't be 
so at all! Do what I tell you--lie back and don't think of anything."
     "I'll try."  The long lashes drooped over the hazel eyes.
     Tuppence, for her part, sat bolt upright--much in the attitude of a 
watchful terrier on guard.  In spite of herself she was nervous. Her eyes 
flashed continually from one window to the other. She noted the exact position 
of the communication cord. What it was that she feared, she would have been hard 
put to it to say. But in her own mind she was far from feeling the confidence 
displayed in her words.  Not that she disbelieved in Tommy, but occasionally she 
was shaken with doubts as to whether anyone so simple and honest as he was could 
ever be a match for the fiendish subtlety of the arch-criminal.
     If they once reached Sir James Peel Edgerton in safety, all would be well. 
But would they reach him?  Would not the silent forces of Mr. Brown already be 
assembling against them?  Even that last picture of Tommy, revolver in hand, 
failed to comfort her.  By now he might be overpowered, borne down by sheer 
force of numbers.... Tuppence mapped out her plan of campaign.
     As the train at length drew slowly into Charing Cross, Jane Finn sat up 
with a start.
     "Have we arrived?  I never thought we should!"
     "Oh, I thought we'd get to London all right.  If there's going to be any 
fun, now is when it will begin.  Quick, get out. We'll nip into a taxi."
     In another minute they were passing the barrier, had paid the necessary 
fares, and were stepping into a taxi.
     "King's Cross," directed Tuppence.  Then she gave a jump. A man looked in 
at the window, just as they started. She was almost certain it was the same man 
who had got into the carriage next to them.  She had a horrible feeling of being 
slowly hemmed in on every side.
     "You see," she explained to Jane, "if they think we're going to Sir James, 
this will put them off the scent. Now they'll imagine we're going to Mr. Carter. 
 His country place is north of London somewhere."
     Crossing Holborn there was a block, and the taxi was held up. This was what 
Tuppence had been waiting for.
     "Quick," she whispered.  "Open the right-hand door!"
     The two girls stepped out into the traffic.  Two minutes later they were 
seated in another taxi and were retracing their steps, this time direct to 
Carlton House Terrace.
     "There," said Tuppence, with great satisfaction, "this ought to do them. I 
can't help thinking that I'm really rather clever!  How that other taxi man will 
swear!  But I took his number, and I'll send him a postal order to-morrow, so 
that he won't lose by it if he happens to be genuine. What's this thing 
swerving----Oh!"
     There was a grinding noise and a bump.  Another taxi had collided with 
them.
     In a flash Tuppence was out on the pavement.  A policeman was approaching. 
Before he arrived Tuppence had handed the driver five shillings, and she and 
Jane had merged themselves in the crowd.
     "It's only a step or two now," said Tuppence breathlessly. The accident had 
taken place in Trafalgar Square.
     "Do you think the collision was an accident, or done deliberately?"
     "I don't know.  It might have been either."
     Hand-in-hand, the two girls hurried along.
     "It may be my fancy," said Tuppence suddenly, "but I feel as though there 
was some one behind us."
     "Hurry!" murmured the other.  "Oh, hurry!"
     They were now at the corner of Carlton House Terrace, and their spirits 
lightened.  Suddenly a large and apparently intoxicated man barred their way.
     "Good evening, ladies," he hiccupped.  "Whither away so fast?"
     "Let us pass, please," said Tuppence imperiously.
     "Just a word with your pretty friend here."  He stretched out an unsteady 
hand, and clutched Jane by the shoulder. Tuppence heard other footsteps behind.  
She did not pause to ascertain whether they were friends or foes. Lowering her 
head, she repeated a manoeuvre of childish days, and butted their aggressor full 
in the capacious middle. The success of these unsportsmanlike tactics was 
immediate. The man sat down abruptly on the pavement.  Tuppence and Jane took to 
their heels.  The house they sought was some way down. Other footsteps echoed 
behind them.  Their breath was coming in choking gasps as they reached Sir 
James's door. Tuppence seized the bell and Jane the knocker.
     The man who had stopped them reached the foot of the steps. For a moment he 
hesitated, and as he did so the door opened. They fell into the hall together.  
Sir James came forward from the library door.
     "Hullo!  What's this?"
     He stepped forward, and put his arm round Jane as she swayed uncertainly. 
He half carried her into the library, and laid her on the leather couch. From a 
tantalus on the table he poured out a few drops of brandy, and forced her to 
drink them.  With a sigh she sat up, her eyes still wild and frightened.
     "It's all right.  Don't be afraid, my child.  You're quite safe."
     Her breath came more normally, and the colour was returning to her cheeks. 
Sir James looked at Tuppence quizzically.
     "So you're not dead, Miss Tuppence, any more than that Tommy boy of yours 
was!"
     "The Young Adventurers take a lot of killing," boasted Tuppence.
     "So it seems," said Sir James dryly.  "Am I right in thinking that the 
joint venture has ended in success, and that this"--he turned to the girl on the 
couch--"is Miss Jane Finn?"
     Jane sat up.
     "Yes," she said quietly, "I am Jane Finn.  I have a lot to tell you."
     "When you are stronger----"
     "No--now!"  Her voice rose a little.  "I shall feel safer when I have told 
everything."
     "As you please," said the lawyer.
     He sat down in one of the big arm-chairs facing the couch. In a low voice 
Jane began her story.
     "I came over on the Lusitania to take up a post in Paris.  I was fearfully 
keen about the war, and just dying to help somehow or other. I had been studying 
French, and my teacher said they were wanting help in a hospital in Paris, so I 
wrote and offered my services, and they were accepted.  I hadn't got any folk of 
my own, so it made it easy to arrange things.
     "When the Lusitania was torpedoed, a man came up to me. I'd noticed him 
more than once--and I'd figured it out in my own mind that he was afraid of 
somebody or something.  He asked me if I was a patriotic American, and told me 
he was carrying papers which were just life or death to the Allies.  He asked me 
to take charge of them. I was to watch for an advertisement in the Times.  If it 
didn't appear, I was to take them to the American Ambassador.
     "Most of what followed seems like a nightmare still. I see it in my dreams 
sometimes.... I'll hurry over that part. Mr. Danvers had told me to watch out.  
He might have been shadowed from New York, but he didn't think so.  At first I 
had no suspicions, but on the boat to Holyhead I began to get uneasy. There was 
one woman who had been very keen to look after me, and chum up with me 
generally--a Mrs. Vandemeyer.  At first I'd been only grateful to her for being 
so kind to me; but all the time I felt there was something about her I didn't 
like, and on the Irish boat I saw her talking to some queer-looking men, and 
from the way they looked I saw that they were talking about me. I remembered 
that she'd been quite near me on the Lusitania when Mr. Danvers gave me the 
packet, and before that she'd tried to talk to him once or twice.  I began to 
get scared, but I didn't quite see what to do.
     "I had a wild idea of stopping at Holyhead, and not going on to London that 
day, but I soon saw that that would be plumb foolishness. The only thing was to 
act as though I'd noticed nothing, and hope for the best.  I couldn't see how 
they could get me if I was on my guard. One thing I'd done already as a 
precaution--ripped open the oilskin packet and substituted blank paper, and then 
sewn it up again. So, if anyone did manage to rob me of it, it wouldn't matter.
     "What to do with the real thing worried me no end. Finally I opened it out 
flat--there were only two sheets--and laid it between two of the advertisement 
pages of a magazine. I stuck the two pages together round the edge with some gum 
off an envelope.  I carried the magazine carelessly stuffed into the pocket of 
my ulster.
     "At Holyhead I tried to get into a carriage with people that looked all 
right, but in a queer way there seemed always to be a crowd round me shoving and 
pushing me just the way I didn't want to go. There was something uncanny and 
frightening about it.  In the end I found myself in a carriage with Mrs. 
Vandemeyer after all. I went out into the corridor, but all the other carriages 
were full, so I had to go back and sit down.  I consoled myself with the thought 
that there were other people in the carriage--there was quite a nice-looking man 
and his wife sitting just opposite. So I felt almost happy about it until just 
outside London.  I had leaned back and closed my eyes.  I guess they thought I 
was asleep, but my eyes weren't quite shut, and suddenly I saw the nice-looking 
man get something out of his bag and hand it to Mrs. Vandemeyer, and as he did 
so he WINKED....
     "I can't tell you how that wink sort of froze me through and through. My 
only thought was to get out in the corridor as quick as ever I could. I got up, 
trying to look natural and easy.  Perhaps they saw something--I don't know--but 
suddenly Mrs. Vandemeyer said 'Now,' and flung something over my nose and mouth 
as I tried to scream.  At the same moment I felt a terrific blow on the back of 
my head...."
     She shuddered.  Sir James murmured something sympathetically. In a minute 
she resumed:
     "I don't know how long it was before I came back to consciousness. I felt 
very ill and sick.  I was lying on a dirty bed. There was a screen round it, but 
I could hear two people talking in the room.  Mrs. Vandemeyer was one of them. I 
tried to listen, but at first I couldn't take much in. When at last I did begin 
to grasp what was going on--I was just terrified!  I wonder I didn't scream 
right out there and then.
     "They hadn't found the papers.  They'd got the oilskin packet with the 
blanks, and they were just mad!  They didn't know whether I'd changed the 
papers, or whether Danvers had been carrying a dummy message, while the real one 
was sent another way. They spoke of"--she closed her eyes--"torturing me to find 
out!
     "I'd never known what fear--really sickening fear--was before! Once they 
came to look at me.  I shut my eyes and pretended to be still unconscious, but I 
was afraid they'd hear the beating of my heart. However, they went away again.  
I began thinking madly.  What could I do? I knew I wouldn't be able to stand up 
against torture very long.
     "Suddenly something put the thought of loss of memory into my head. The 
subject had always interested me, and I'd read an awful lot about it.  I had the 
whole thing at my finger-tips. If only I could succeed in carrying the bluff 
through, it might save me. I said a prayer, and drew a long breath.  Then I 
opened my eyes and started babbling in FRENCH!
     "Mrs. Vandemeyer came round the screen at once.  Her face was so wicked I 
nearly died, but I smiled up at her doubtfully, and asked her in French where I 
was.
     "It puzzled her, I could see.  She called the man she had been talking to.  
He stood by the screen with his face in shadow. He spoke to me in French.  His 
voice was very ordinary and quiet, but somehow, I don't know why, he scared me 
worse than the woman. I felt he'd seen right through me, but I went on playing 
my part. I asked again where I was, and then went on that there was something I 
MUST remember--MUST remember--only for the moment it was all gone. I worked 
myself up to be more and more distressed.  He asked me my name. I said I didn't 
know--that I couldn't remember anything at all.
     "Suddenly he caught my wrist, and began twisting it.  The pain was awful. I 
screamed.  He went on.  I screamed and screamed, but I managed to shriek out 
things in French.  I don't know how long I could have gone on, but luckily I 
fainted.  The last thing I heard was his voice saying: 'That's not bluff!  
Anyway, a kid of her age wouldn't know enough.' I guess he forgot American girls 
are older for their age than English ones, and take more interest in scientific 
subjects.
     "When I came to, Mrs. Vandemeyer was sweet as honey to me. She'd had her 
orders, I guess.  She spoke to me in French--told me I'd had a shock and been 
very ill.  I should be better soon. I pretended to be rather dazed--murmured 
something about the 'doctor' having hurt my wrist.  She looked relieved when I 
said that.
     "By and by she went out of the room altogether. I was suspicious still, and 
lay quite quiet for some time. In the end, however, I got up and walked round 
the room, examining it. I thought that even if anyone WAS watching me from 
somewhere, it would seem natural enough under the circumstances.  It was a 
squalid, dirty place.  There were no windows, which seemed queer. I guessed the 
door would be locked, but I didn't try it. There were some battered old pictures 
on the walls, representing scenes from Faust."
     Jane's two listeners gave a simultaneous "Ah!"  The girl nodded.
     "Yes--it was the place in Soho where Mr. Beresford was imprisoned. Of 
course, at the time I didn't even know if I was in London.  One thing was 
worrying me dreadfully, but my heart gave a great throb of relief when I saw my 
ulster lying carelessly over the back of a chair. AND THE MAGAZINE WAS STILL 
ROLLED UP IN THE POCKET!
     "If only I could be certain that I was not being overlooked! I looked 
carefully round the walls.  There didn't seem to be a peep-hole of any 
kind--nevertheless I felt kind of sure there must be. All of a sudden I sat down 
on the edge of the table, and put my face in my hands, sobbing out a 'Mon Dieu!  
Mon Dieu!' I've got very sharp ears. I distinctly heard the rustle of a dress, 
and slight creak. That was enough for me.  I was being watched!
     "I lay down on the bed again, and by and by Mrs. Vandemeyer brought me some 
supper.  She was still sweet as they make them. I guess she'd been told to win 
my confidence.  Presently she produced the oilskin packet, and asked me if I 
recognized it, watching me like a lynx all the time.
     "I took it and turned it over in a puzzled sort of way. Then I shook my 
head.  I said that I felt I OUGHT to remember something about it, that it was 
just as though it was all coming back, and then, before I could get hold of it, 
it went again. Then she told me that I was her niece, and that I was to call her 
'Aunt Rita.'  I did obediently, and she told me not to worry--my memory would 
soon come back.
     "That was an awful night.  I'd made my plan whilst I was waiting for her. 
The papers were safe so far, but I couldn't take the risk of leaving them there 
any longer.  They might throw that magazine away any minute. I lay awake waiting 
until I judged it must be about two o'clock in the morning.  Then I got up as 
softly as I could, and felt in the dark along the left-hand wall.  Very gently, 
I unhooked one of the pictures from its nail--Marguerite with her casket of 
jewels. I crept over to my coat and took out the magazine, and an odd envelope 
or two that I had shoved in.  Then I went to the washstand, and damped the brown 
paper at the back of the picture all round. Presently I was able to pull it 
away.  I had already torn out the two stuck-together pages from the magazine, 
and now I slipped them with their precious enclosure between the picture and its 
brown paper backing. A little gum from the envelopes helped me to stick the 
latter up again. No one would dream the picture had ever been tampered with. I 
rehung it on the wall, put the magazine back in my coat pocket, and crept back 
to bed.  I was pleased with my hiding-place. They'd never think of pulling to 
pieces one of their own pictures. I hoped that they'd come to the conclusion 
that Danvers had been carrying a dummy all along, and that, in the end, they'd 
let me go.
     "As a matter of fact, I guess that's what they did think at first, and, in 
a way, it was dangerous for me.  I learnt afterwards that they nearly did away 
with me then and there--there was never much chance of their 'letting me 
go'--but the first man, who was the boss, preferred to keep me alive on the 
chance of my having hidden them, and being able to tell where if I recovered my 
memory. They watched me constantly for weeks.  Sometimes they'd ask me questions 
by the hour--I guess there was nothing they didn't know about the third 
degree!--but somehow I managed to hold my own. The strain of it was awful, 
though . . .
     "They took me back to Ireland, and over every step of the Journey again, in 
case I'd hidden it somewhere en route. Mrs. Vandemeyer and another woman never 
left me for a moment. They spoke of me as a young relative of Mrs. Vandemeyer's 
whose mind was affected by the shock of the Lusitania.  There was no one I could 
appeal to for help without giving myself away to THEM, and if I risked it and 
failed--and Mrs. Vandemeyer looked so rich, and so beautifully dressed, that I 
felt convinced they'd take her word against mine, and think it was part of my 
mental trouble to think myself 'persecuted'--I felt that the horrors in store 
for me would be too awful once they knew I'd been only shamming."
     Sir James nodded comprehendingly.
     "Mrs. Vandemeyer was a woman of great personality. With that and her social 
position she would have had little difficulty in imposing her point of view in 
preference to yours. Your sensational accusations against her would not easily 
have found credence."
     "That's what I thought.  It ended in my being sent to a sanatorium at 
Bournemouth.  I couldn't make up my mind at first whether it was a sham affair 
or genuine.  A hospital nurse had charge of me. I was a special patient.  She 
seemed so nice and normal that at last I determined to confide in her.  A 
merciful providence just saved me in time from falling into the trap.  My door 
happened to be ajar, and I heard her talking to some one in the passage. SHE WAS 
ONE OF THEM!  They still fancied it might be a bluff on my part, and she was put 
in charge of me to make sure! After that, my nerve went completely.  I dared 
trust nobody.
     "I think I almost hypnotized myself.  After a while, I almost forgot that I 
was really Jane Finn.  I was so bent on playing the part of Janet Vandemeyer 
that my nerves began to play me tricks. I became really ill--for months I sank 
into a sort of stupor. I felt sure I should die soon, and that nothing really 
mattered. A sane person shut up in a lunatic asylum often ends by becoming 
insane, they say.  I guess I was like that. Playing my part had become second 
nature to me.  I wasn't even unhappy in the end--just apathetic.  Nothing seemed 
to matter. And the years went on.
     "And then suddenly things seemed to change.  Mrs. Vandemeyer came down from 
London.  She and the doctor asked me questions, experimented with various 
treatments.  There was some talk of sending me to a specialist in Paris.  In the 
end, they did not dare risk it.  I overheard something that seemed to show that 
other people--friends--were looking for me. I learnt later that the nurse who 
had looked after me went to Paris, and consulted a specialist, representing 
herself to be me.  He put her through some searching tests, and exposed her loss 
of memory to be fraudulent; but she had taken a note of his methods and 
reproduced them on me. I dare say I couldn't have deceived the specialist for a 
minute--a man who has made a lifelong study of a thing is unique--but I managed 
once again to hold my own with them. The fact that I'd not thought of myself as 
Jane Finn for so long made it easier.
     "One night I was whisked off to London at a moment's notice. They took me 
back to the house in Soho.  Once I got away from the sanatorium I felt 
different--as though something in me that had been buried for a long time was 
waking up again.
     "They sent me in to wait on Mr. Beresford.  (Of course I didn't know his 
name then.) I was suspicious--I thought it was another trap. But he looked so 
honest, I could hardly believe it.  However, I was careful in all I said, for I 
knew we could be overheard. There's a small hole, high up in the wall.
     "But on the Sunday afternoon a message was brought to the house. They were 
all very disturbed.  Without their knowing, I listened. Word had come that he 
was to be killed.  I needn't tell the next part, because you know it.  I thought 
I'd have time to rush up and get the papers from their hiding-place, but I was 
caught. So I screamed out that he was escaping, and I said I wanted to go back 
to Marguerite.  I shouted the name three times very loud. I knew the others 
would think I meant Mrs. Vandemeyer, but I hoped it might make Mr. Beresford 
think of the picture. He'd unhooked one the first day--that's what made me 
hesitate to trust him."
     She paused.
     "Then the papers," said Sir James slowly, "are still at the back of the 
picture in that room."
     "Yes."  The girl had sunk back on the sofa exhausted with the strain of the 
long story.
     Sir James rose to his feet.  He looked at his watch.
     "Come," he said, "we must go at once."
     "To-night?" queried Tuppence, surprised.
     "To-morrow may be too late," said Sir James gravely. "Besides, by going 
to-night we have the chance of capturing that great man and super-criminal--Mr. 
Brown!"
     There was dead silence, and Sir James continued:
     "You have been followed here--not a doubt of it.  When we leave the house 
we shall be followed again, but not molested, FOR IT IS MR.  BROWN'S PLAN THAT 
WE ARE TO LEAD HIM.  But the Soho house is under police supervision night and 
day. There are several men watching it.  When we enter that house, Mr. Brown 
will not draw back--he will risk all, on the chance of obtaining the spark to 
fire his mine.  And he fancies the risk not great--since he will enter in the 
guise of a friend!"
     Tuppence flushed, then opened her mouth impulsively.
     "But there's something you don't know--that we haven't told you." Her eyes 
dwelt on Jane in perplexity.
     "What is that?" asked the other sharply.  "No hesitations, Miss Tuppence.  
We need to be sure of our going."
     But Tuppence, for once, seemed tongue-tied.
     "It's so difficult--you see, if I'm wrong--oh, it would be dreadful." She 
made a grimace at the unconscious Jane.  "Never forgive me," she observed 
cryptically.
     "You want me to help you out, eh?"
     "Yes, please.  YOU know who Mr. Brown is, don't you?"
     "Yes," said Sir James gravely.  "At last I do."
     "At last?" queried Tuppence doubtfully.  "Oh, but I thought----" She 
paused.
     "You thought correctly, Miss Tuppence.  I have been morally certain of his 
identity for some time--ever since the night of Mrs. Vandemeyer's mysterious 
death."
     "Ah!" breathed Tuppence.
     "For there we are up against the logic of facts.  There are only two 
solutions.  Either the chloral was administered by her own hand, which theory I 
reject utterly, or else----"
     "Yes?"
     "Or else it was administered in the brandy you gave her. Only three people 
touched that brandy--you, Miss Tuppence, I myself, and one other--Mr. Julius 
Hersheimmer!"
     Jane Finn stirred and sat up, regarding the speaker with wide astonished 
eyes.
     "At first, the thing seemed utterly impossible.  Mr. Hersheimmer, as the 
son of a prominent millionaire, was a well-known figure in America.  It seemed 
utterly impossible that he and Mr. Brown could be one and the same.  But you 
cannot escape from the logic of facts.  Since the thing was so--it must be 
accepted. Remember Mrs. Vandemeyer's sudden and inexplicable agitation. Another 
proof, if proof was needed.
     "I took an early opportunity of giving you a hint. From some words of Mr. 
Hersheimmer's at Manchester, I gathered that you had understood and acted on 
that hint. Then I set to work to prove the impossible possible. Mr. Beresford 
rang me up and told me, what I had already suspected, that the photograph of 
Miss Jane Finn had never really been out of Mr. Hersheimmer's possession----"
     But the girl interrupted.  Springing to her feet, she cried out angrily:
     "What do you mean?  What are you trying to suggest? That Mr. Brown is 
JULIUS?  Julius--my own cousin!"
     "No, Miss Finn," said Sir James unexpectedly.  "Not your cousin. The man 
who calls himself Julius Hersheimmer is no relation to you whatsoever."
     
     CHAPTER XXVI
     MR.  BROWN
     SIR James's words came like a bomb-shell. Both girls looked equally 
puzzled. The lawyer went across to his desk, and returned with a small newspaper 
cutting, which he handed to Jane.  Tuppence read it over her shoulder. Mr. 
Carter would have recognized it.  It referred to the mysterious man found dead 
in New York.
     "As I was saying to Miss Tuppence," resumed the lawyer, "I set to work to 
prove the impossible possible.  The great stumbling-block was the undeniable 
fact that Julius Hersheimmer was not an assumed name. When I came across this 
paragraph my problem was solved. Julius Hersheimmer set out to discover what had 
become of his cousin. He went out West, where he obtained news of her and her 
photograph to aid him in his search.  On the eve of his departure from New York 
he was set upon and murdered.  His body was dressed in shabby clothes, and the 
face disfigured to prevent identification.  Mr. Brown took his place. He sailed 
immediately for England.  None of the real Hersheimmer's friends or intimates 
saw him before he sailed--though indeed it would hardly have mattered if they 
had, the impersonation was so perfect. Since then he had been hand and glove 
with those sworn to hunt him down.  Every secret of theirs has been known to 
him. Only once did he come near disaster.  Mrs. Vandemeyer knew his secret. It 
was no part of his plan that that huge bribe should ever be offered to her.  But 
for Miss Tuppence's fortunate change of plan, she would have been far away from 
the flat when we arrived there. Exposure stared him in the face.  He took a 
desperate step, trusting in his assumed character to avert suspicion.  He nearly 
succeeded--but not quite."
     "I can't believe it," murmured Jane.  "He seemed so splendid."
     "The real Julius Hersheimmer WAS a splendid fellow! And Mr. Brown is a 
consummate actor.  But ask Miss Tuppence if she also has not had her 
suspicions."
     Jane turned mutely to Tuppence.  The latter nodded.
     "I didn't want to say it, Jane--I knew it would hurt you.  And, after all, 
I couldn't be sure.  I still don't understand why, if he's Mr. Brown, he rescued 
us."
     "Was it Julius Hersheimmer who helped you to escape?"
     Tuppence recounted to Sir James the exciting events of the evening, ending 
up:  "But I can't see WHY!"
     "Can't you?  I can.  So can young Beresford, by his actions. As a last hope 
Jane Finn was to be allowed to escape--and the escape must be managed so that 
she harbours no suspicions of its being a put-up job.  They're not averse to 
young Beresford's being in the neighbourhood, and, if necessary, communicating 
with you. They'll take care to get him out of the way at the right minute. Then 
Julius Hersheimmer dashes up and rescues you in true melodramatic style. Bullets 
fly--but don't hit anybody.  What would have happened next? You would have 
driven straight to the house in Soho and secured the document which Miss Finn 
would probably have entrusted to her cousin's keeping. Or, if he conducted the 
search, he would have pretended to find the hiding-place already rifled.  He 
would have had a dozen ways of dealing with the situation, but the result would 
have been the same. And I rather fancy some accident would have happened to both 
of you. You see, you know rather an inconvenient amount.  That's a rough 
outline. I admit I was caught napping; but somebody else wasn't."
     "Tommy," said Tuppence softly.
     "Yes.  Evidently when the right moment came to get rid of him--he was too 
sharp for them.  All the same, I'm not too easy in my mind about him."
     "Why?"
     "Because Julius Hersheimmer is Mr. Brown," said Sir James dryly. "And it 
takes more than one man and a revolver to hold up Mr. Brown...."
     Tuppence paled a little.
     "What can we do?"
     "Nothing until we've been to the house in Soho.  If Beresford has still got 
the upper hand, there's nothing to fear.  If otherwise, our enemy will come to 
find us, and he will not find us unprepared!" From a drawer in the desk, he took 
a service revolver, and placed it in his coat pocket.
     "Now we're ready.  I know better than even to suggest going without you, 
Miss Tuppence----"
     "I should think so indeed!"
     "But I do suggest that Miss Finn should remain here. She will be perfectly 
safe, and I am afraid she is absolutely worn out with all she has been through."
     But to Tuppence's surprise Jane shook her head.
     "No. I guess I'm going too.  Those papers were my trust. I must go through 
with this business to the end. I'm heaps better now anyway."
     Sir James's car was ordered round.  During the short drive Tuppence's heart 
beat tumultuously.  In spite of momentary qualms of uneasiness respecting Tommy, 
she could not but feel exultation. They were going to win!
     The car drew up at the corner of the square and they got out. Sir James 
went up to a plain-clothes man who was on duty with several others, and spoke to 
him.  Then he rejoined the girls.
     "No one has gone into the house so far.  It is being watched at the back as 
well, so they are quite sure of that.  Anyone who attempts to enter after we 
have done so will be arrested immediately. Shall we go in?"
     A policeman produced a key.  They all knew Sir James well. They had also 
had orders respecting Tuppence.  Only the third member of the party was unknown 
to them.  The three entered the house, pulling the door to behind them.  Slowly 
they mounted the rickety stairs. At the top was the ragged curtain hiding the 
recess where Tommy had hidden that day.  Tuppence had heard the story from Jane 
in her character of "Annette."  She looked at the tattered velvet with interest. 
Even now she could almost swear it moved--as though some one was behind it. So 
strong was the illusion that she almost fancied she could make out the outline 
of a form.... Supposing Mr. Brown--Julius--was there waiting....
     Impossible of course!  Yet she almost went back to put the curtain aside 
and make sure....
     Now they were entering the prison room.  No place for anyone to hide here, 
thought Tuppence, with a sigh of relief, then chided herself indignantly. She 
must not give way to this foolish fancying--this curious insistent feeling that 
MR. BROWN WAS IN THE HOUSE.... Hark! what was that? A stealthy footstep on the 
stairs?  There WAS some one in the house! Absurd!  She was becoming hysterical.
     Jane had gone straight to the picture of Marguerite.  She unhooked it with 
a steady hand.  The dust lay thick upon it, and festoons of cobwebs lay between 
it and the wall.  Sir James handed her a pocket-knife, and she ripped away the 
brown paper from the back.... The advertisement page of a magazine fell out.  
Jane picked it up. Holding apart the frayed inner edges she extracted two thin 
sheets covered with writing!
     No dummy this time!  The real thing!
     "We've got it," said Tuppence.  "At last...."
     The moment was almost breathless in its emotion. Forgotten the faint 
creakings, the imagined noises of a minute ago. None of them had eyes for 
anything but what Jane held in her hand.
     Sir James took it, and scrutinized it attentively.
     "Yes," he said quietly, "this is the ill-fated draft treaty!"
     "We've succeeded," said Tuppence.  There was awe and an almost wondering 
unbelief in her voice.
     Sir James echoed her words as he folded the paper carefully and put it away 
in his pocket-book, then he looked curiously round the dingy room.
     "It was here that our young friend was confined for so long, was it not?" 
he said.  "A truly sinister room.  You notice the absence of windows, and the 
thickness of the close-fitting door.  Whatever took place here would never be 
heard by the outside world."
     Tuppence shivered.  His words woke a vague alarm in her. What if there WAS 
some one concealed in the house? Some one who might bar that door on them, and 
leave them to die like rats in a trap?  Then she realized the absurdity of her 
thought.  The house was surrounded by police who, if they failed to reappear, 
would not hesitate to break in and make a thorough search.  She smiled at her 
own foolishness--then looked up with a start to find Sir James watching her. He 
gave her an emphatic little nod.
     "Quite right, Miss Tuppence.  You scent danger.  So do I. So does Miss 
Finn."
     "Yes," admitted Jane.  "It's absurd--but I can't help it."
     Sir James nodded again.
     "You feel--as we all feel--THE PRESENCE OF MR. BROWN.  Yes"--as Tuppence 
made a movement--"not a doubt of it--MR. BROWN IS HERE...."
     "In this house?"
     "In this room.... You don't understand?  I AM MR. BROWN...."
     Stupefied, unbelieving, they stared at him.  The very lines of his face had 
changed.  It was a different man who stood before them. He smiled a slow cruel 
smile.
     "Neither of you will leave this room alive!  You said just now we had 
succeeded.  I have succeeded!  The draft treaty is mine." His smile grew wider 
as he looked at Tuppence.  "Shall I tell you how it will be?  Sooner or later 
the police will break in, and they will find three victims of Mr. Brown--three, 
not two, you understand, but fortunately the third will not be dead, only 
wounded, and will be able to describe the attack with a wealth of detail! The 
treaty?  It is in the hands of Mr. Brown.  So no one will think of searching the 
pockets of Sir James Peel Edgerton!"
     He turned to Jane.
     "You outwitted me.  I make my acknowledgments.  But you will not do it 
again."
     There was a faint sound behind him, but, intoxicated with success, he did 
not turn his head.
     He slipped his hand into his pocket.
     "Checkmate to the Young Adventurers," he said, and slowly raised the big 
automatic.
     But, even as he did so, he felt himself seized from behind in a grip of 
iron.  The revolver was wrenched from his hand, and the voice of Julius 
Hersheimmer said drawlingly:
     "I guess you're caught redhanded with the goods upon you."
     The blood rushed to the K.C.'s face, but his self-control was marvellous, 
as he looked from one to the other of his two captors. He looked longest at 
Tommy.
     "You," he said beneath his breath.  "YOU!  I might have known."
     Seeing that he was disposed to offer no resistance, their grip slackened. 
Quick as a flash his left hand, the hand which bore the big signet ring, was 
raised to his lips....
     " 'Ave, Caesar! te morituri salutant,' " he said, still looking at Tommy.
     Then his face changed, and with a long convulsive shudder he fell forward 
in a crumpled heap, whilst an odour of bitter almonds filled the air.
     
     CHAPTER XXVII
     A SUPPER PARTY AT THE SAVOY
     THE supper party given by Mr. Julius Hersheimmer to a few friends on the 
evening of the 30th will long be remembered in catering circles. It took place 
in a private room, and Mr. Hersheimmer's orders were brief and forcible.  He 
gave carte blanche--and when a millionaire gives carte blanche he usually gets 
it!
     Every delicacy out of season was duly provided.  Waiters carried bottles of 
ancient and royal vintage with loving care. The floral decorations defied the 
seasons, and fruits of the earth as far apart as May and November found 
themselves miraculously side by side.  The list of guests was small and select. 
The American Ambassador, Mr. Carter, who had taken the liberty, he said, of 
bringing an old friend, Sir William Beresford, with him, Archdeacon Cowley, Dr. 
Hall, those two youthful adventurers, Miss Prudence Cowley and Mr. Thomas 
Beresford, and last, but not least, as guest of honour, Miss Jane Finn.
     Julius had spared no pains to make Jane's appearance a success. A 
mysterious knock had brought Tuppence to the door of the apartment she was 
sharing with the American girl. It was Julius.  In his hand he held a cheque.
     "Say, Tuppence," he began, "will you do me a good turn? Take this, and get 
Jane regularly togged up for this evening. You're all coming to supper with me 
at the Savoy.  See?  Spare no expense. You get me?"
     "Sure thing," mimicked Tuppence.  "We shall enjoy ourselves. It will be a 
pleasure dressing Jane.  She's the loveliest thing I've ever seen."
     "That's so," agreed Mr. Hersheimmer fervently.
     His fervour brought a momentary twinkle to Tuppence's eye.
     "By the way, Julius," she remarked demurely, "I--haven't given you my 
answer yet."
     "Answer?" said Julius.  His face paled.
     "You know--when you asked me to--marry you," faltered Tuppence, her eyes 
downcast in the true manner of the early Victorian heroine, "and wouldn't take 
no for an answer.  I've thought it well over----"
     "Yes?" said Julius.  The perspiration stood on his forehead.
     Tuppence relented suddenly.
     "You great idiot!" she said.  "What on earth induced you to do it? I could 
see at the time you didn't care a twopenny dip for me!"
     "Not at all.  I had--and still have--the highest sentiments of esteem and 
respect--and admiration for you----"
     "H'm!" said Tuppence.  "Those are the kind of sentiments that very soon go 
to the wall when the other sentiment comes along! Don't they, old thing?"
     "I don't know what you mean," said Julius stiffly, but a large and burning 
blush overspread his countenance.
     "Shucks!" retorted Tuppence.  She laughed, and closed the door, reopening 
it to add with dignity:  "Morally, I shall always consider I have been jilted!"
     "What was it?" asked Jane as Tuppence rejoined her.
     "Julius."
     "What did he want?"
     "Really, I think, he wanted to see you, but I wasn't going to let him.  Not 
until to-night, when you're going to burst upon every one like King Solomon in 
his glory!  Come on! WE'RE GOING TO SHOP!"
     To most people the 29th, the much-heralded "Labour Day," had passed much as 
any other day.  Speeches were made in the Park and Trafalgar Square.  Straggling 
processions, singing the Red Flag, wandered through the streets in a more or 
less aimless manner. Newspapers which had hinted at a general strike, and the 
inauguration of a reign of terror, were forced to hide their diminished heads. 
The bolder and more astute among them sought to prove that peace had been 
effected by following their counsels. In the Sunday papers a brief notice of the 
sudden death of Sir James Peel Edgerton, the famous K.C., had appeared. Monday's 
paper dealt appreciatively with the dead man's career. The exact manner of his 
sudden death was never made public.
     Tommy had been right in his forecast of the situation.  It had been a 
one-man show.  Deprived of their chief, the organization fell to pieces. 
Kramenin had made a precipitate return to Russia, leaving England early on 
Sunday morning.  The gang had fled from Astley Priors in a panic, leaving 
behind, in their haste, various damaging documents which compromised them 
hopelessly.  With these proofs of conspiracy in their hands, aided further by a 
small brown diary taken from the pocket of the dead man which had contained a 
full and damning resume of the whole plot, the Government had called an 
eleventh-hour conference.  The Labour leaders were forced to recognize that they 
had been used as a cat's paw. Certain concessions were made by the Government, 
and were eagerly accepted. It was to be Peace, not War!
     But the Cabinet knew by how narrow a margin they had escaped utter 
disaster. And burnt in on Mr. Carter's brain was the strange scene which had 
taken place in the house in Soho the night before.
     He had entered the squalid room to find that great man, the friend of a 
lifetime, dead--betrayed out of his own mouth. From the dead man's pocket-book 
he had retrieved the ill-omened draft treaty, and then and there, in the 
presence of the other three, it had been reduced to ashes.... England was saved!
     And now, on the evening of the 30th, in a private room at the Savoy, Mr. 
Julius P. Hersheimmer was receiving his guests.
     Mr. Carter was the first to arrive.  With him was a choleric-looking old 
gentleman, at sight of whom Tommy flushed up to the roots of his hair. He came 
forward.
     "Ha!" said the old gentleman, surveying him apoplectically. "So you're my 
nephew, are you?  Not much to look at--but you've done good work, it seems.  
Your mother must have brought you up well after all. Shall we let bygones be 
bygones, eh?  You're my heir, you know; and in future I propose to make you an 
allowance--and you can look upon Chalmers Park as your home."
     "Thank you, sir, it's awfully decent of you."
     "Where's this young lady I've been hearing such a lot about?"
     Tommy introduced Tuppence.
     "Ha!" said Sir William, eyeing her.  "Girls aren't what they used to be in 
my young days."
     "Yes, they are," said Tuppence.  "Their clothes are different, perhaps, but 
they themselves are just the same."
     "Well, perhaps you're right.  Minxes then--minxes now!"
     "That's it," said Tuppence.  "I'm a frightful minx myself."
     "I believe you," said the old gentleman, chuckling, and pinched her ear in 
high good-humour. Most young women were terrified of the "old bear," as they 
termed him.  Tuppence's pertness delighted the old misogynist.
     Then came the timid archdeacon, a little bewildered by the company in which 
he found himself, glad that his daughter was considered to have distinguished 
herself, but unable to help glancing at her from time to time with nervous 
apprehension. But Tuppence behaved admirably.  She forbore to cross her legs, 
set a guard upon her tongue, and steadfastly refused to smoke.
     Dr. Hall came next, and he was followed by the American Ambassador.
     "We might as well sit down," said Julius, when he had introduced all his 
guests to each other.  "Tuppence, will you "
     He indicated the place of honour with a wave of his hand.
     But Tuppence shook her head.
     "No--that's Jane's place!  When one thinks of how she's held out all these 
years, she ought to be made the queen of the feast to-night."
     Julius flung her a grateful glance, and Jane came forward shyly to the 
allotted seat.  Beautiful as she had seemed before, it was as nothing to the 
loveliness that now went fully adorned. Tuppence had performed her part 
faithfully.  The model gown supplied by a famous dressmaker had been entitled "A 
tiger lily." It was all golds and reds and browns, and out of it rose the pure 
column of the girl's white throat, and the bronze masses of hair that crowned 
her lovely head.  There was admiration in every eye, as she took her seat.
     Soon the supper party was in full swing, and with one accord Tommy was 
called upon for a full and complete explanation.
     "You've been too darned close about the whole business," Julius accused 
him.  "You let on to me that you were off to the Argentine--though I guess you 
had your reasons for that. The idea of both you and Tuppence casting me for the 
part of Mr. Brown just tickles me to death!"
     "The idea was not original to them," said Mr. Carter gravely. "It was 
suggested, and the poison very carefully instilled, by a past-master in the art. 
 The paragraph in the New York paper suggested the plan to him, and by means of 
it he wove a web that nearly enmeshed you fatally."
     "I never liked him," said Julius.  "I felt from the first that there was 
something wrong about him, and I always suspected that it was he who silenced 
Mrs. Vandemeyer so appositely. But it wasn't till I heard that the order for 
Tommy's execution came right on the heels of our interview with him that Sunday 
that I began to tumble to the fact that he was the big bug himself."
     "I never suspected it at all," lamented Tuppence.  "I've always thought I 
was so much cleverer than Tommy--but he's undoubtedly scored over me 
handsomely."
     Julius agreed.
     "Tommy's been the goods this trip!  And, instead of sitting there as dumb 
as a fish, let him banish his blushes, and tell us all about it."
     "Hear! hear!"
     "There's nothing to tell," said Tommy, acutely uncomfortable. "I was an 
awful mug--right up to the time I found that photograph of Annette, and realized 
that she was Jane Finn.  Then I remembered how persistently she had shouted out 
that word 'Marguerite'--and I thought of the pictures, and--well, that's that. 
Then of course I went over the whole thing to see where I'd made an ass of 
myself."
     "Go on," said Mr. Carter, as Tommy showed signs of taking refuge in silence 
once more.
     "That business about Mrs. Vandemeyer had worried me when Julius told me 
about it.  On the face of it, it seemed that he or Sir James must have done the 
trick.  But I didn't know which.  Finding that photograph in the drawer, after 
that story of how it had been got from him by Inspector Brown, made me suspect 
Julius.  Then I remembered that it was Sir James who had discovered the false 
Jane Finn.  In the end, I couldn't make up my mind--and just decided to take no 
chances either way.  I left a note for Julius, in case he was Mr. Brown, saying 
I was off to the Argentine, and I dropped Sir James's letter with the offer of 
the job by the desk so that he would see it was a genuine stunt.  Then I wrote 
my letter to Mr. Carter and rang up Sir James.  Taking him into my confidence 
would be the best thing either way, so I told him everything except where I 
believed the papers to be hidden. The way he helped me to get on the track of 
Tuppence and Annette almost disarmed me, but not quite.  I kept my mind open 
between the two of them. And then I got a bogus note from Tuppence--and I knew!"
     "But how?"
     Tommy took the note in question from his pocket and passed it round the 
table.
     "It's her handwriting all right, but I knew it wasn't from her because of 
the signature.  She'd never spell her name 'Twopence,' but anyone who'd never 
seen it written might quite easily do so. Julius HAD seen it--he showed me a 
note of hers to him once--but SIR JAMES HADN'T! After that everything was plain 
sailing. I sent off Albert post-haste to Mr. Carter.  I pretended to go away, 
but doubled back again.  When Julius came bursting up in his car, I felt it 
wasn't part of Mr. Brown's plan--and that there would probably be trouble.  
Unless Sir James was actually caught in the act, so to speak, I knew Mr. Carter 
would never believe it of him on my bare word----"
     "I didn't," interposed Mr. Carter ruefully.
     "That's why I sent the girls off to Sir James.  I was sure they'd fetch up 
at the house in Soho sooner or later. I threatened Julius with the revolver, 
because I wanted Tuppence to repeat that to Sir James, so that he wouldn't worry 
about us. The moment the girls were out of sight I told Julius to drive like 
hell for London, and as we went along I told him the whole story. We got to the 
Soho house in plenty of time and met Mr. Carter outside. After arranging things 
with him we went in and hid behind the curtain in the recess.  The policemen had 
orders to say, if they were asked, that no one had gone into the house.  That's 
all."
     And Tommy came to an abrupt halt.
     There was silence for a moment.
     "By the way," said Julius suddenly, "you're all wrong about that photograph 
of Jane.  It WAS taken from me, but I found it again."
     "Where?" cried Tuppence.
     "In that little safe on the wall in Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom."
     "I knew you found something," said Tuppence reproachfully. "To tell you the 
truth, that's what started me off suspecting you. Why didn't you say?"
     "I guess I was a mite suspicious too.  It had been got away from me once, 
and I determined I wouldn't let on I'd got it until a photographer had made a 
dozen copies of it!"
     "We all kept back something or other," said Tuppence thoughtfully. "I 
suppose secret service work makes you like that!"
     In the pause that ensued, Mr. Carter took from his pocket a small shabby 
brown book.
     "Beresford has just said that I would not have believed Sir James Peel 
Edgerton to be guilty unless, so to speak, he was caught in the act.  That is 
so.  Indeed, not until I read the entries in this little book could I bring 
myself fully to credit the amazing truth.  This book will pass into the 
possession of Scotland Yard, but it will never be publicly exhibited. Sir 
James's long association with the law would make it undesirable. But to you, who 
know the truth, I propose to read certain passages which will throw some light 
on the extraordinary mentality of this great man."
     He opened the book, and turned the thin pages.
      ". . . It is madness to keep this book.  I know that.  It is documentary 
evidence against me.  But I have never shrunk from taking risks. And I feel an 
urgent need for self-expression.... The book will only be taken from my dead 
body....
     ". . . From an early age I realized that I had exceptional abilities. Only 
a fool underestimates his capabilities.  My brain power was greatly above the 
average.  I know that I was born to succeed. My appearance was the only thing 
against me.  I was quiet and insignificant--utterly nondescript....
     ". . . When I was a boy I heard a famous murder trial.  I was deeply 
impressed by the power and eloquence of the counsel for the defence. For the 
first time I entertained the idea of taking my talents to that particular 
market.... Then I studied the criminal in the dock.... The man was a fool--he 
had been incredibly, unbelievably stupid. Even the eloquence of his counsel was 
hardly likely to save him. I felt an immeasurable contempt for him.... Then it 
occurred to me that the criminal standard was a low one.  It was the wastrels, 
the failures, the general riff-raff of civilization who drifted into crime.... 
Strange that men of brains had never realized its extraordinary 
opportunities.... I played with the idea.... What a magnificent field--what 
unlimited possibilities! It made my brain reel....
     ". . . I read standard works on crime and criminals. They all confirmed my 
opinion.  Degeneracy, disease--never the deliberate embracing of a career by a 
far-seeing man. Then I considered.  Supposing my utmost ambitions were 
realized--that I was called to the bar, and rose to the height of my profession? 
 That I entered politics--say, even, that I became Prime Minister of England?  
What then?  Was that power? Hampered at every turn by my colleagues, fettered by 
the democratic system of which I should be the mere figurehead!  No--the power I 
dreamed of was absolute!  An autocrat!  A dictator! And such power could only be 
obtained by working outside the law. To play on the weaknesses of human nature, 
then on the weaknesses of nations--to get together and control a vast 
organization, and finally to overthrow the existing order, and rule! The thought 
intoxicated me....
     ". . . I saw that I must lead two lives.  A man like myself is bound to 
attract notice.  I must have a successful career which would mask my true 
activities.... Also I must cultivate a personality. I modelled myself upon 
famous K.C.'s. I reproduced their mannerisms, their magnetism.  If I had chosen 
to be an actor, I should have been the greatest actor living!  No disguises--no 
grease paint--no false beards!  Personality!  I put it on like a glove!  When I 
shed it, I was myself, quiet, unobtrusive, a man like every other man. I called 
myself Mr. Brown.  There are hundreds of men called Brown--there are hundreds of 
men looking just like me....
     ". . . I succeeded in my false career.  I was bound to succeed. I shall 
succeed in the other.  A man like me cannot fail....
     ". . . I have been reading a life of Napoleon.  He and I have much in 
common....
     ". . . I make a practice of defending criminals. A man should look after 
his own people....
     ". . . Once or twice I have felt afraid.  The first time was in Italy.  
There was a dinner given.  Professor D----, the great alienist, was present.  
The talk fell on insanity. He said, 'A great many men are mad, and no one knows 
it. They do not know it themselves.'  I do not understand why he looked at me 
when he said that.  His glance was strange.... I did not like it....
     ". . . The war has disturbed me.... I thought it would further my plans. 
The Germans are so efficient.  Their spy system, too, was excellent. The streets 
are full of these boys in khaki.  All empty-headed young fools.... Yet I do not 
know.... They won the war.... It disturbs me....
     ". . . My plans are going well.... A girl butted in--I do not think she 
really knew anything.... But we must give up the Esthonia.... No risks now....
     ". . . . All goes well.  The loss of memory is vexing.  It cannot be a 
fake. No girl could deceive ME! . . .
     ". . .The 29th.... That is very soon...." Mr. Carter paused.
     "I will not read the details of the coup that was planned. But there are 
just two small entries that refer to the three of you. In the light of what 
happened they are interesting.
     ". . . By inducing the girl to come to me of her own accord, I have 
succeeded in disarming her.  But she has intuitive flashes that might be 
dangerous.... She must be got out of the way.... I can do nothing with the 
American.  He suspects and dislikes me. But he cannot know.  I fancy my armour 
is impregnable.... Sometimes I fear I have underestimated the other boy. He is 
not clever, but it is hard to blind his eyes to facts...."
      Mr. Carter shut the book.
     "A great man," he said.  "Genius, or insanity, who can say?"
     There was silence.
     Then Mr. Carter rose to his feet.
     "I will give you a toast.  The Joint Venture which has so amply justified 
itself by success!"
     It was drunk with acclamation.
     "There's something more we want to hear," continued Mr. Carter.  He looked 
at the American Ambassador.  "I speak for you also, I know. We'll ask Miss Jane 
Finn to tell us the story that only Miss Tuppence has heard so far--but before 
we do so we'll drink her health. The health of one of the bravest of America's 
daughters, to whom is due the thanks and gratitude of two great countries!"
     
     CHAPTER XXVIII
     AND AFTER
     "THAT was a mighty good toast, Jane," said Mr. Hersheimmer, as he and his 
cousin were being driven back in the Rolls-Royce to the Ritz.
     "The one to the joint venture?"
     "No--the one to you.  There isn't another girl in the world who could have 
carried it through as you did.  You were just wonderful! "
     Jane shook her head.
     "I don't feel wonderful.  At heart I'm just tired and lonesome--and longing 
for my own country."
     "That brings me to something I wanted to say.  I heard the Ambassador 
telling you his wife hoped you would come to them at the Embassy right away. 
That's good enough, but I've got another plan.  Jane--I want you to marry me! 
Don't get scared and say no at once.  You can't love me right away, of course, 
that's impossible.  But I've loved you from the very moment I set eyes on your 
photo--and now I've seen you I'm simply crazy about you! If you'll only marry 
me, I won't worry you any--you shall take your own time. Maybe you'll never come 
to love me, and if that's the case I'll manage to set you free.  But I want the 
right to look after you, and take care of you."
     "That's what I want," said the girl wistfully.  "Some one who'll be good to 
me.  Oh, you don't know how lonesome I feel!"
     "Sure thing I do.  Then I guess that's all fixed up, and I'll see the 
archbishop about a special license to-morrow morning."
     "Oh, Julius!"
     "Well, I don't want to hustle you any, Jane, but there's no sense in 
waiting about.  Don't be scared--I shan't expect you to love me all at once."
     But a small hand was slipped into his.
     "I love you now, Julius," said Jane Finn.  "I loved you that first moment 
in the car when the bullet grazed your cheek...."
     Five minutes later Jane murmured softly:
     "I don't know London very well, Julius, but is it such a very long way from 
the Savoy to the Ritz?"
     "It depends how you go," explained Julius unblushingly. "We're going by way 
of Regent's Park!"
     "Oh, Julius--what will the chauffeur think?"
     "At the wages I pay him, he knows better than to do any independent 
thinking.  Why, Jane, the only reason I had the supper at the Savoy was so that 
I could drive you home. I didn't see how I was ever going to get hold of you 
alone. You and Tuppence have been sticking together like Siamese twins. I guess 
another day of it would have driven me and Beresford stark staring mad!"
     "Oh.  Is he----?"
     "Of course he is.  Head over ears."
     "I thought so," said Jane thoughtfully.
     "Why?"
     "From all the things Tuppence didn't say!"
     "There you have me beat," said Mr. Hersheimmer.  But Jane only laughed.
     In the meantime, the Young Adventurers were sitting bolt upright, very 
stiff and ill at ease, in a taxi which, with a singular lack of originality, was 
also returning to the Ritz via Regent's Park.
     A terrible constraint seemed to have settled down between them. Without 
quite knowing what had happened, everything seemed changed. They were 
tongue-tied--paralysed.  All the old camaraderie was gone.
     Tuppence could think of nothing to say.
     Tommy was equally afflicted.
     They sat very straight and forbore to look at each other.
     At last Tuppence made a desperate effort.
     "Rather fun, wasn't it?"
     "Rather."
     Another silence.
     "I like Julius," essayed Tuppence again.
     Tommy was suddenly galvanized into life.
     "You're not going to marry him, do you hear?" he said dictatorially. "I 
forbid it."
     "Oh!" said Tuppence meekly.
     "Absolutely, you understand."
     "He doesn't want to marry me--he really only asked me out of kindness."
     "That's not very likely," scoffed Tommy.
     "It's quite true.  He's head over ears in love with Jane.  I expect he's 
proposing to her now."
     "She'll do for him very nicely," said Tommy condescendingly.
     "Don't you think she's the most lovely creature you've ever seen?"
     "Oh, I dare say."
     "But I suppose you prefer sterling worth," said Tuppence demurely.
     "I--oh, dash it all, Tuppence, you know!"
     "I like your uncle, Tommy," said Tuppence, hastily creating a diversion. 
"By the way, what are you going to do, accept Mr. Carter's offer of a Government 
job, or accept Julius's invitation and take a richly remunerated post in America 
on his ranch?"
     "I shall stick to the old ship, I think, though it's awfully good of 
Hersheimmer.  But I feel you'd be more at home in London."
     "I don't see where I come in."
     "I do," said Tommy positively.
     Tuppence stole a glance at him sideways.
     "There's the money, too," she observed thoughtfully.
     "What money?"
     "We're going to get a cheque each.  Mr. Carter told me so."
     "Did you ask how much?" inquired Tommy sarcastically.
     "Yes," said Tuppence triumphantly.  "But I shan't tell you."
     "Tuppence, you are the limit!"
     "It has been fun, hasn't it, Tommy?  I do hope we shall have lots more 
adventures."
     "You're insatiable, Tuppence.  I've had quite enough adventures for the 
present."
     "Well, shopping is almost as good," said Tuppence dreamily.
     "Think of buying old furniture, and bright carpets, and futurist silk 
curtains, and a polished dining-table, and a divan with lots of cushions "
     "Hold hard," said Tommy.  "What's all this for?"
     "Possibly a house--but I think a flat."
     "Whose flat?"
     "You think I mind saying it, but I don't in the least! OURS, so there!"
     "You darling!" cried Tommy, his arms tightly round her. "I was determined 
to make you say it.  I owe you something for the relentless way you've squashed 
me whenever I've tried to be sentimental."
     Tuppence raised her face to his.  The taxi proceeded on its course round 
the north side of Regent's Park.
     "You haven't really proposed now," pointed out Tuppence.  "Not what our 
grandmothers would call a proposal.  But after listening to a rotten one like 
Julius's, I'm inclined to let you off."
     "You won't be able to get out of marrying me, so don't you think it."
     "What fun it will be," responded Tuppence.  "Marriage is called all sorts 
of things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory, and a state of bondage, 
and lots more.  But do you know what I think it is?"
     "What?"
     "A sport!"
     "And a damned good sport too," said Tommy.