Friday and Saturday passed uneventfully. Tuppence had received a briefanswer to her appeal from Mr. Carter. In it he pointed1 out that the YoungAdventurers had undertaken the work at their own risk, and had beenfully warned of the dangers. If anything had happened to Tommy he re-gretted it deeply, but he could do nothing.
This was cold comfort. Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour wentout of the adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt doubtful of suc-cess. While they had been together she had never questioned it for aminute. Although she was accustomed to take the lead, and to pride her-self on her quick-wittedness, in reality she had relied upon Tommy morethan she realized at the time. There was something so eminently2 soberand clearheaded about him, his common sense and soundness of visionwere so unvarying, that without him Tuppence felt much like a rudderlessship. It was curious that Julius, who was undoubtedly4 much cleverer thanTommy, did not give her the same feeling of support. She had accusedTommy of being a pessimist5, and it is certain that he always saw the disad-vantages and difficulties which she herself was optimistically given tooverlooking, but nevertheless she had really relied a good deal on hisjudgment. He might be slow, but he was very sure.
It seemed to the girl that, for the first time, she realized the sinister6 char-acter of the mission they had undertaken so lightheartedly. It had begunlike a page of romance. Now, shorn of its glamour7, it seemed to be turningto grim reality. Tommy—that was all that mattered. Many times in the dayTuppence blinked the tears out of her eyes resolutely9. “Little fool,” shewould 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 sentimentalabout it.”
In the meantime, nothing more was seen of Boris. He did not come tothe flat, and Julius and the car waited in vain. Tuppence gave herself overto new meditations11. Whilst admitting the truth of Julius’s objections, shehad nevertheless not entirely12 relinquished13 the idea of appealing to SirJames Peel Edgerton. Indeed, she had gone so far as to look up his addressin the Red Book. Had he meant to warn her that day? If so, why? Surelyshe was at least entitled to demand an explanation. He had looked at herso kindly14. Perhaps he might tell them something concerning Mrs. Vande-meyer which might lead to a clue to Tommy’s whereabouts.
Anyway, Tuppence decided15, with her usual shake of the shoulders, itwas worth trying, and try it she would. Sunday was her afternoon out. Shewould meet Julius, persuade him to her point of view, and they wouldbeard the lion in his den16.
When the day arrived Julius needed a considerable amount of persuad-ing, but Tuppence held firm. “It can do no harm,” was what she alwayscame back to. In the end Julius gave in, and they proceeded in the car toCarlton House Terrace.
The door was opened by an irreproachable17 butler. Tuppence felt a littlenervous. After all, perhaps it was colossal18 cheek on her part. She had de-cided not to ask if Sir James was “at home,” but to adopt a more personalattitude.
“Will you ask Sir James if I can see him for a few minutes? I have an im-portant message for him.”
The butler retired19, returning a moment or two later.
“Sir James will see you. Will you step this way?”
He ushered20 them into a room at the back of the house, furnished as alibrary. The collection of books was a magnificent one, and Tuppence no-ticed that all one wall was devoted21 to works on crime and criminology.
There were several deep-padded leather armchairs, and an old-fashionedopen hearth22. In the window was a big rolltop desk strewn with papers atwhich the master of the house was sitting.
He rose as they entered.
“You have a message for me? Ah”— he recognized Tuppence with asmile—“it’s you, is it? Brought a message from Mrs. Vandemeyer, I sup-pose?”
“Not exactly,” said Tuppence. “In fact, I’m afraid I only said that to bequite sure of getting in. Oh, by the way, this is Mr. Hersheimmer, Sir JamesPeel Edgerton.”
“Pleased to meet you,” said the American, shooting out a hand.
“Won’t you both sit down?” asked Sir James. He drew forward twochairs.
“Sir James,” said Tuppence, plunging23 boldly, “I daresay you will think itis most awful cheek of me coming here like this. Because, of course, it’snothing whatever to do with you, and then you’re a very important per-son, and of course Tommy and I are very unimportant.” She paused forbreath.
“Tommy?” queried24 Sir James, looking across at the American.
“No, that’s Julius,” explained Tuppence. “I’m rather nervous, and thatmakes me tell it badly. What I really want to know is what you meant bywhat 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 recollect25 I only mentioned that therewere 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 ahint.”
Sir James smiled at her earnestness.
“Suppose the lady brings a libel action against me for defamation26 ofcharacter?”
“Of course,” said Tuppence. “I know lawyers are always dreadfully care-ful. But can’t we say ‘without prejudice’ first, and then say just what wewant to.”
“Well,” said Sir James, still smiling, “without prejudice, then, if I had ayoung sister forced to earn her living, I should not like to see her in Mrs.
Vandemeyer’s service. I felt it incumbent27 on me just to give you a hint. It isno 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 notreally inexperienced, you know. I knew perfectly29 that she was a bad lotwhen 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 per-haps I’d better tell you the whole story, Sir James. I’ve a sort of feeling thatyou’d know in a minute if I didn’t tell the truth, and so you might as wellknow all about it from the beginning. What do you think, Julius?”
“As you’re bent28 on it, I’d go right ahead with the facts,” replied theAmerican, who had so far sat in silence.
“Yes, tell me all about it,” said Sir James. “I want to know who Tommyis.”
Thus encouraged Tuppence plunged30 into her tale, and the lawyerlistened with close attention.
“Very interesting,” he said, when she finished. “A great deal of what youtell me, child, is already known to me. I’ve had certain theories of my ownabout this Jane Finn. You’ve done extraordinarily31 well so far, but it’srather too bad of—what do you know him as?—Mr. Carter to pitchforkyou 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 ofTommy?”
“H’m.” The lawyer rose, and paced slowly up and down. “When you ar-rived, young lady, I was just packing up my traps. Going to Scotland by thenight 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 youngchap.”
“Oh!” Tuppence clasped her hands ecstatically.
“All the same, as I said before, it’s too bad of—of Carter to set you twobabies on a job like this. Now, don’t get offended, Miss—er—”
“Cowley. Prudence32 Cowley. But my friends call me Tuppence.”
“Well, Miss Tuppence, then, as I’m certainly going to be a friend. Don’tbe offended because I think you’re young. Youth is a failing only too easilyoutgrown. Now, about this young Tommy of yours—”
“Yes.” Tuppence clasped her hands.
“Frankly, things look bad for him. He’s been butting33 in somewherewhere 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. “Andwhy was that?”
“I reckoned it would be no good worrying you with a petty little busi-ness 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 of you orMiss Tuppence know. If this boy is alive, he may have very valuable in-formation 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 probabilityknows 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 tomake 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 theway we do it, you know.”
He tapped with his fingers on the table, and Tuppence felt again the in-tense 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 unlikelyevent, there is always the possibility of bribery34.”
“Sure. And that’s where I come in!” cried Julius, bringing his fist downon the table with a bang. “You can count on me, if necessary, for one mil-lion dollars. Yes, sir, one million dollars!”
Sir James sat down and subjected Julius to a long scrutiny35.
“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 sixpenceto.”
“At the present rate of exchange it amounts to considerably36 over twohundred and fifty thousand pounds.”
“That’s so. Maybe you think I’m talking through my hat, but I can de-liver 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 de-tective.”
“Sorry. I guess I was just a mite37 hasty, but I’ve been feeling bad aboutthis money question. I wanted to offer a big reward for news of Jane somedays ago, but your crusted institution of Scotland Yard advised me againstit. Said it was undesirable38.”
“They were probably right,” said Sir James dryly.
“But it’s all O.K. about Julius,” put in Tuppence. “He’s not pulling yourleg. He’s got simply pots of money.”
“The old man piled it up in style,” explained Julius. “Now, let’s get downto 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 turnedto Tuppence. “Is Mrs. Vandemeyer dining out tonight, do you know?”
“Yes, I think so, but she will not be out late. Otherwise, she would havetaken the latchkey.”
“Good. I will call upon her about ten o’clock. What time are you sup-posed 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 youdid not stay out till the usual time. Be back by nine thirty. I will arrive atten. 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 gothere at once, taking Mrs. Vandemeyer with us if necessary. You under-stand?”
“Yes.” Tuppence rose to her feet with a skip of delight. “Oh, I feel somuch 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 thatright?”
“Perhaps that will be the best plan. It would be unnecessary to have twocars waiting about. Now, Miss Tuppence, my advice to you is to go andhave a good dinner, a really good one, mind. And don’t think ahead morethan 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 downthe steps. “Oh, Julius, isn’t he just a duck?”
“Well, I allow he seems to be the goods all right. And I was wrong aboutits 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, willyou? Unless you’d like to come too?”
Julius shook his head.
“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. Ican’t show myself in these glad rags.”
“Sure. I’ll get Felix to help me choose the menu. He’s some headwaiter,that. So long.”
Tuppence walked briskly along towards the Serpentine39, first glancing ather watch. It was nearly six o’clock. She remembered that she had had notea, but felt too excited to be conscious of hunger. She walked as far asKensington Gardens and then slowly retraced40 her steps, feeling infinitelybetter for the fresh air and exercise. It was not so easy to follow SirJames’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 re-turn to South Audley Mansions41 was almost irresistible42.
At any rate, she decided, it would do no harm just to go and look at thebuilding. Perhaps, then, she could resign herself to waiting patiently forten o’clock.
South Audley Mansions looked exactly the same as usual. What Tup-pence had expected she hardly knew, but the sight of its redbrick solidityslightly assuaged43 the growing and entirely unreasonable44 uneasiness thatpossessed her. She was just turning away when she heard a piercingwhistle, and the faithful Albert came running from the building to joinher.
Tuppence frowned. It was no part of the programme to have attentioncalled to her presence in the neighbourhood, but Albert was purple withsuppressed excitement.
“I say, miss, she’s a-going!”
“Who’s going?” demanded Tuppence sharply.
“The crook45. Ready Rita. Mrs. Vandemeyer. She’s a-packing up, and she’sjust 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’dhave lost her.”
Albert flushed with pleasure at this tribute.
“There’s no time to lose,” said Tuppence, crossing the road. “I’ve got tostop 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 thecorner.”
“Go to it then, at once, and ring up the Ritz Hotel. Ask for Mr. Hersheim-mer, and when you get him tell him to get Sir James and come at once, asMrs. Vandemeyer is trying to hook it. If you can’t get him, ring up SirJames Peel Edgerton, you’ll find his number in the book, and tell himwhat’s happening. You won’t forget the names, will you?”
Albert repeated them glibly46. “You trust to me, miss, it’ll be all right. Butwhat 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 tothe door of No. 20. How she was to detain Mrs. Vandemeyer until the twomen arrived, she did not know, but somehow or other it had to be done,and she must accomplish the task single-handed. What had occasionedthis precipitate47 departure? Did Mrs. Vandemeyer suspect her?
Speculations48 were idle. Tuppence pressed the bell firmly. She mightlearn something from the cook.
Nothing happened and, after waiting some minutes, Tuppence pressedthe bell again, keeping her finger on the button for some little while. Atlast she heard footsteps inside, and a moment later Mrs. Vandemeyer her-self opened the door. She lifted her eyebrows49 at the sight of the girl.
“You?”
“I had a touch of toothache, ma’am,” said Tuppence glibly. “So thought itbetter to come home and have a quiet evening.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer said nothing, but she drew back and let Tuppencepass 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. “Isent her out. So you see you had better go to bed.”
Suddenly Tuppence felt afraid. There was a ring in Mrs. Vandemeyer’svoice that she did not like at all. Also, the other woman was slowly edgingher up the passage. Tuppence turned at bay.
“I don’t want—”
Then, in a flash, a rim8 of cold steel touched her temple, and Mrs. Vande-meyer’s voice rose cold and menacing:
“You damned little fool! Do you think I don’t know? No, don’t answer. Ifyou 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 myroom. In a minute, when I’ve done with you, you’ll go to bed as I told youto. And you’ll sleep—oh yes, my little spy, you’ll sleep all right!”
There was a sort of hideous50 geniality51 in the last words which Tuppencedid not at all like. For the moment there was nothing to be done, and shewalked obediently into Mrs. Vandemeyer’s bedroom. The pistol never lefther forehead. The room was in a state of wild disorder52, clothes were flungabout right and left, a suitcase and a hat box, half-packed, stood in themiddle of the floor.
Tuppence pulled herself together with an effort. Her voice shook a little,but she spoke53 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 youdon’t sing out for help, you’re all right—and I don’t think you will. You’re aclever girl. You deceived me all right. I hadn’t a suspicion of you! So I’ve nodoubt that you understand perfectly well that this is where I’m on top andyou’re underneath54. Now then—sit on the bed. Put your hands above yourhead, and if you value your life don’t move them.”
Tuppence obeyed passively. Her good sense told her that there wasnothing else to do but accept the situation. If she shrieked56 for help therewas very little chance of anyone hearing her, whereas there was probablyquite 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 washstandwithin reach of her hand, and, still eyeing Tuppence like a lynx in case thegirl should attempt to move, she took a little stoppered bottle from itsplace on the marble and poured some of its contents into a glass which shefilled 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 someone might hear it. But Iwon’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 hue58 and cry formurder out after me? If you’ve any sense at all, you’ll realize that poison-ing you wouldn’t suit my book at all. It’s a sleeping draught59, that’s all.
You’ll wake up tomorrow morning none the worse. I simply don’t wantthe bother of tying you up and gagging you. That’s the alternative—andyou won’t like it, I can tell you! I can be very rough if I choose. So drinkthis 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 hadadduced rang true. It was a simple and effective method of getting her outof the way for the time being. Nevertheless, the girl did not take kindly tothe idea of being tamely put to sleep without as much as one bid for free-dom. She felt that once Mrs. Vandemeyer gave them the slip, the last hopeof finding Tommy would be gone.
Tuppence was quick in her mental processes. All these reflectionspassed through her mind in a flash, and she saw where a chance, a veryproblematic chance, lay, and she determined60 to risk all in one supreme61 ef-fort.
Accordingly, she lurched suddenly off the bed and fell on her knees be-fore Mrs. Vandemeyer, clutching her skirts frantically62.
“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 shriek55 —“don’t make medrink it!”
Mrs. Vandemeyer, glass in hand, looked down with a curling lip at thissudden collapse63.
“Get up, you little idiot! Don’t go on drivelling there. How you ever hadthe 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 sob3, interjecting her sobs64 with in-coherent appeals for mercy. Every minute gained was to the good.
Moreover, as she grovelled65, she moved imperceptibly nearer to her object-ive.
Mrs. Vandemeyer gave a sharp impatient exclamation66, and jerked thegirl 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 temporized67.
“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 meekly68.
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 shecould. The fluid in it splashed into Mrs. Vandemeyer’s face, and duringher momentary69 gasp70, Tuppence’s right hand shot out and grasped the re-volver where it lay on the edge of the washstand. The next moment shehad sprung back a pace, and the revolver pointed straight at Mrs. Vande-meyer’s heart, with no unsteadiness in the hand that held it.
In the moment of victory, Tuppence betrayed a somewhat unsportsman-like triumph.
“Now who’s on top and who’s underneath?” she crowed.
The other’s face was convulsed with rage. For a minute Tuppencethought she was going to spring upon her, which would have placed thegirl in an unpleasant dilemma71, since she meant to draw the line at actuallyletting off the revolver. However, with an effort, Mrs. Vandemeyer con-trolled 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 gulled72 so easily,” said Tuppencescornfully. “Did you really think I was the kind of girl to roll about on thefloor and whine73 for mercy?”
“You may do—some day!” said the other significantly.
The cold malignity74 of her manner sent an unpleasant chill down Tup-pence’s spine75, but she was not going to give in to it.
“Supposing we sit down,” she said pleasantly. “Our present attitude is alittle 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—justin case of accidents. Splendid. Now, let’s talk.”
“What about?” said Mrs. Vandemeyer sullenly76.
Tuppence eyed her thoughtfully for a minute. She was rememberingseveral things. Boris’s words, “I believe you would sell—us!” and her an-swer, “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 Whit-tington asked: “Who’s been blabbing? Rita?” Would Rita Vandemeyerprove to be the weak spot in the armour77 of Mr. Brown?
Keeping her eyes fixed78 steadily79 on the other’s face, Tuppence repliedquietly:
“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 longmemory isn’t half as useful as a long purse! I daresay it relieves your feel-ings a good deal to plan out all sorts of dreadful things to do to me, but isthat practical? Revenge is very unsatisfactory. Everyone always says so.
But money”—Tuppence warmed to her pet creed—“well, there’s nothingunsatisfactory about money, is there?”
“Do you think,” said Mrs. Vandemeyer scornfully, “that I am the kind ofwoman to sell my friends?”
“Yes,” said Tuppence promptly80, “if the price was big enough.”
“A paltry81 hundred pounds or so!”
“No,” said Tuppence. “I should suggest—a hundred thousand!”
Her economical spirit did not permit her to mention the whole milliondollars suggested by Julius.
A flush crept over Mrs. Vandemeyer’s face.
“What did you say?” she asked, her fingers playing nervously82 with abrooch on her breast. In that moment Tuppence knew that the fish washooked, and for the first time she felt a horror of her own money-lovingspirit. 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 herchair.
“Bah!” she said. “You haven’t got it.”
“No,” admitted Tuppence, “I haven’t—but I know someone 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 amurmur. You can take it from me that it’s a perfectly genuine proposi-tion.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer sat up again.
“I’m inclined to believe you,” she said slowly.
There was silence between them for some time, then Mrs. Vandemeyerlooked up.
“What does he want to know, this friend of yours?”
Tuppence want through a momentary struggle, but it was Julius’smoney, 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 nodifficulty about that.”
“Then”— Tuppence’s voice shook a little —“there’s a boy, a friend ofmine. I’m afraid something’s happened to him, through your pal57, 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 impelled83 herto 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 ef-fort Mrs. Vandemeyer pulled herself together and tried to resume herformer manner. But the attempt was a mere84 parody85.
She shrugged86 her shoulders.
“You can’t have learnt much about us if you don’t know that nobodyknows who Mr. Brown is. .?.?.”
“You do,” said Tuppence quietly.
Again the colour deserted87 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 hoarsely88, at last, “I know. I was beautiful, you see—verybeautiful—”
“You are still,” said Tuppence with admiration89.
Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head. There was a strange gleam in herelectric-blue eyes.
“Not beautiful enough,” she said in a soft dangerous voice. “Not—beauti-ful—enough! And sometimes, lately, I’ve been afraid .?.?. It’s dangerous toknow too much!” She leaned forward across the table. “Swear that myname shan’t be brought into it—that no one shall ever know.”
“I swear it. And, once he’s 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 sureabout 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 hust-ler.”
A resolute10 look settled on Mrs. Vandemeyer’s face.
“I’ll do it. It’s a great sum of money, and besides”—she gave a curioussmile—“it is not—wise to throw over a woman like me!”
For a moment or two, she remained smiling, and lightly tapping her fin-gers on the table. Suddenly she started, and her face blanched90.
“What was that?”
“I heard nothing.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer gazed round her fearfully.
“If there should be someone listening—”
“Nonsense. Who could there be?”
“Even the walls might have ears,” whispered the other. “I tell you I’mfrightened. You don’t know him!”
“Think of the hundred thousand pounds,” said Tuppence soothingly91.
Mrs. Vandemeyer passed her tongue over her dried lips.
“You don’t know him,” she reiterated92 hoarsely. “He’s—ah!”
With a shriek of terror she sprang to her feet. Her outstretched handpointed over Tuppence’s head. Then she swayed to the ground in a deadfaint.
Tuppence looked round to see what had startled her.
In the doorway93 were Sir James Peel Edgerton and Julius Hersheimmer.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eminently
|
|
| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
pessimist
|
|
| n.悲观者；悲观主义者；厌世 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
glamour
|
|
| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rim
|
|
| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
resolute
|
|
| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
meditations
|
|
| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
relinquished
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
irreproachable
|
|
| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hearth
|
|
| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
defamation
|
|
| n.诽谤；中伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
incumbent
|
|
| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
extraordinarily
|
|
| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
butting
|
|
| 用头撞人（犯规动作） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
bribery
|
|
| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
mite
|
|
| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
undesirable
|
|
| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
serpentine
|
|
| adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
mansions
|
|
| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
assuaged
|
|
| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
crook
|
|
| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
glibly
|
|
| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
precipitate
|
|
| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
geniality
|
|
| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
shrieked
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
sobs
|
|
| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
grovelled
|
|
| v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的过去式和过去分词 )；趴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
temporized
|
|
| v.敷衍( temporize的过去式和过去分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
dilemma
|
|
| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
gulled
|
|
| v.欺骗某人( gull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
whine
|
|
| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
malignity
|
|
| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
sullenly
|
|
| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
paltry
|
|
| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
parody
|
|
| n.打油诗文，诙谐的改编诗文，拙劣的模仿；v.拙劣模仿，作模仿诗文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
blanched
|
|
| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
soothingly
|
|
| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |