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 retraced4 her steps to the entrance hall of the mansions5. It was now tenanted by a small lift-boy, who was polishing brass6 fittings, and whistling the latest air with a good deal of vigour7 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 corps9 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 noted10 the corner of a threepenny detective novel protruding11 from Albert’s pocket, and the immediate12 enlargement of his eyes told her that her tactics were good, and that the fish would rise to the bait.
Albert fell for it.
“Lord!” he murmured ecstatically.
Tuppence nodded at him with the air of one who has established a thorough understanding.
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? I should say so. Ready Rita they call her in the States.”
“Ready Rita,” repeated Albert deliriously18. “Oh, ain’t it just like the pictures!”
It was. Tuppence was a great frequenter of the cinema.
“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.’ Just 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?”
“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 laconically20. “Name of Cowley.”
“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 fret22, 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 interval23 for tea and assorted24 creamy cakes, occupied her until well after six o’clock, and she returned to the hotel jaded25, but satisfied with her purchases. Starting with a cheap clothing store, and passing through one or two second-hand26 establishments, she had finished the day at a well-known hairdresser’s. Now, in the seclusion27 of her bedroom, she unwrapped that final purchase. Five minutes later she smiled contentedly28 at her reflection in the glass. With an actress’s pencil she had slightly altered the line of her eyebrows29, 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 apron30 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 solitary31 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 “hustling32” activities were not confined to London, and his abrupt33 appearances and disappearances35 were fully8 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 disappearance34 was to be found there. The energetic young man had succeeded in making the lives of several Scotland Yard men unbearable36 to them, and the telephone girls at the Admiralty had learned to know and dread37 the familiar “Hullo!” He had spent three hours in Paris hustling the Prefecture, and had returned from there imbued38 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 meditations39, and summoned a small boy.
Ten minutes later the lady was ensconced comfortably on her bed, smoking cigarettes and deep in the perusal40 of Garnaby Williams, the Boy Detective, which, with other threepenny works of lurid41 fiction, she had sent out to purchase. She felt, and rightly, that before the strain of attempting further intercourse42 with Albert, it would be as well to fortify43 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 incapable44 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 incongruities45 of voice or manner which otherwise might awaken46 suspicion.
“Whichever way you decide, good luck to you.
“Your sincere friend,
“MR. CARTER.”
Tuppence’s spirits rose mercurially47. Mr. Carter’s warnings passed unheeded. The young lady had far too much confidence in herself to pay any heed48 to them.
With some reluctance49 she abandoned the interesting part she had sketched50 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.” scrawled51 upon it.
At ten-thirty Tuppence surveyed with pride a slightly battered52 tin trunk containing her new possessions. It was artistically53 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 demurely54 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 desultory55 fashion. He did not immediately recognize Tuppence. When he did, his admiration56 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 gal57. 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.
“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 winked59.
As she rang the bell of No. 20 she was conscious of Albert’s eyes slowly descending61 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 hesitation62. “Regular old cat—always interfering63. Accused me of tampering64 with her letters. Me! The flap was half undone65 anyway. There’s never anything in the waste-paper basket—she burns everything. She’s a wrong ‘un, that’s what she is. Swell66 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 destined67 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 ushered68 into a room on the right of the long passage. A woman was standing14 by the fireplace. She was no longer in her first youth, and the beauty she undeniably possessed69 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 faculty70 of boring into the very soul of the person she was looking at. Her exquisite71 figure was enhanced by a wonderful gown of indigo72 charmeuse. And yet, despite her swaying grace, and the almost ethereal beauty of her face, you felt instinctively73 the presence of something hard and menacing, a kind of metallic74 strength that found expression in the tones of her voice and in that gimlet-like 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 deserted75 her. Vaguely76 she felt that deceiving this woman would be very different to deceiving Whittington. Mr. Carter’s warning recurred77 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.
“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?”
Glibly79 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 ￡50—￡60—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?”
“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 relegated81 Albert to the background. Tuppence did not even glance at him as she passed meekly82 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.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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deliriously
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| adv.谵妄（性）；发狂；极度兴奋/亢奋；说胡话 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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assorted
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| adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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hustling
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| 催促（hustle的现在分词形式） | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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disappearances
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| n.消失( disappearance的名词复数 )；丢失；失踪；失踪案 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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incongruities
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| n.不协调( incongruity的名词复数 )；不一致；不适合；不协调的东西 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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mercurially
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| adj.（指人）反复无常的；水银的；（指人或性质）灵活的；易变的 | |
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48
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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50
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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53
artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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55
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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56
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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57
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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59
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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64
tampering
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| v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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indigo
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| n.靛青，靛蓝 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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relegated
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| v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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