Reading Help Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. Ch.I-XIII
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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 `
` `
` `
` `
` CONTENTS `
` `
` Prologue `
` I The Young Adventurers, Ltd. `
` II Mr. Whittington's Offer `
` III A Set Back `
` IV Who Is Jane Finn? `
` V Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer `
` VI A Plan of Campaign `
` VII The House in Soho `
` VIII The Adventures of Tommy `
` IX Tuppence Enters Domestic Service `
` X Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton `
` XI Julius Tells a Story `
` XII A Friend in Need `
` XIII The Vigil `
` XIV A Consultation `
` XV Tuppence Receives a Proposal `
` XVI Further Adventures of Tommy `
` XVII Annette `
` XVIII The Telegram `
` XIX Jane Finn `
` XX Too Late `
` XXI Tommy Makes a Discovery `
` XXII In Downing Street `
` XXIII A Race Against Time `
` XXIV Julius Takes a Hand `
` XXV Jane's Story `
` XXVI Mr. Brown `
` XXVII A Supper Party at the Savoy `
` XXVIII And After `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 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. `
` `
`
` 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 `
` `
` `
` `
` CONTENTS `
` `
` Prologue `
` I The Young Adventurers, Ltd. `
` II Mr. Whittington's Offer `
` III A Set Back `
` IV Who Is Jane Finn? `
` V Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer `
` VI A Plan of Campaign `
` VII The House in Soho `
` VIII The Adventures of Tommy `
` IX Tuppence Enters Domestic Service `
` X Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton `
` XI Julius Tells a Story `
` XII A Friend in Need `
` XIII The Vigil `
` XIV A Consultation `
` XV Tuppence Receives a Proposal `
` XVI Further Adventures of Tommy `
` XVII Annette `
` XVIII The Telegram `
` XIX Jane Finn `
` XX Too Late `
` XXI Tommy Makes a Discovery `
` XXII In Downing Street `
` XXIII A Race Against Time `
` XXIV Julius Takes a Hand `
` XXV Jane's Story `
` XXVI Mr. Brown `
` XXVII A Supper Party at the Savoy `
` XXVIII And After `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 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. `
` `
`