After ringing up Sir James, Tommy’s next procedure was to make a call atSouth Audley Mansions1. He found Albert discharging his professional du-ties, 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 theyoung lady’s keeping well, sir?”
“That’s just the point, Albert. She’s disappeared.”
“You don’t mean as the crooks2 have got her?”
“They have.”
“In the Underworld?”
“No, dash it all, in this world!”
“It’s a h’expression, sir,” explained Albert. “At the pictures the crooks al-ways have a restoorant in the Underworld. But do you think as they’vedone her in, sir?”
“I hope not. By the way, have you by any chance an aunt, a cousin,grandmother, or any other suitable female relation who might be repres-ented as being likely to kick the bucket?”
A delighted grin spread slowly over Albert’s countenance5.
“I’m on, sir. My poor aunt what lives in the country has been mortal badfor 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 Charing6 Crossin an hour’s time?”
“I’ll be there, sir. You can count on me.”
As Tommy had judged, the faithful Albert proved an invaluable7 ally. Thetwo took up their quarters at the inn in Gatehouse. To Albert fell the taskof collecting information. There was no difficulty about it.
Astley Priors was the property of a Dr. Adams. The doctor no longerpractised, had retired8, the landlord believed, but he took a few private pa-tients — here the good fellow tapped his forehead knowingly —“Balmyones! You understand!” The doctor was a popular figure in the village,subscribed freely to all the local sports—“a very pleasant affable gentle-man.” Been there long? Oh, a matter of ten years or so—might be longer.
Scientific gentleman, he was. Professors and people often came downfrom 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 thatthis genial9, well-known figure could be in reality a dangerous criminal?
His life seemed so open and aboveboard. No hint of sinister10 doings. Sup-pose it was all a gigantic mistake? Tommy felt a cold chill at the thought.
Then he remembered the private patients—“balmy ones.” He inquiredcarefully if there was a young lady amongst them, describing Tuppence.
But nothing much seemed to be known about the patients—they were sel-dom seen outside the grounds. A guarded description of Annette alsofailed to provoke recognition.
Astley Priors was a pleasant redbrick edifice11, surrounded by well-wooded grounds which effectually shielded the house from observationfrom the road.
On the first evening Tommy, accompanied by Albert, explored thegrounds. Owing to Albert’s insistence12 they dragged themselves along pain-fully on their stomachs, thereby13 producing a great deal more noise than ifthey had stood upright. In any case, these precautions were totally unne-cessary. The grounds, like those of any other private house after nightfall,seemed untenanted. Tommy had imagined a possible fierce watchdog. Al-bert’s fancy ran to a puma14, or a tame cobra. But they reached a shrubberynear the house quite unmolested.
The blinds of the dining room window were up. There was a large com-pany assembled round the table. The port was passing from hand to hand.
It seemed a normal, pleasant company. Through the open window scrapsof conversation floated out disjointedly on the night air. It was a heateddiscussion on county cricket!
Again Tommy felt that cold chill of uncertainty16. It seemed impossible tobelieve that these people were other than they seemed. Had he beenfooled once more? The fair-bearded, spectacled gentleman who sat at thehead of the table looked singularly honest and normal.
Tommy slept badly that night. The following morning the indefatigableAlbert, having cemented an alliance with the greengrocer’s boy, took thelatter’s place and ingratiated himself with the cook at Malthouse. He re-turned with the information that she was undoubtedly17 “one of thecrooks,” but Tommy mistrusted the vividness of his imagination. Ques-tioned, he could adduce nothing in support of his statement except hisown opinion that she wasn’t the usual kind. You could see that at a glance.
The substitution being repeated (much to the pecuniary18 advantage ofthe real greengrocer’s boy) on the following day, Albert brought back thefirst piece of hopeful news. There was a French young lady staying in thehouse. Tommy put his doubts aside. Here was confirmation19 of his theory.
But time pressed. Today was the 27th. The 29th was the much-talked-of“Labour Day,” about which all sorts of rumours20 were running riot. News-papers were getting agitated21. Sensational22 hints of a Labour coup23 d’étatwere freely reported. The Government said nothing. It knew and was pre-pared. There were rumours of dissension among the Labour leaders. Theywere not of one mind. The more farseeing among them realized that whatthey proposed might well be a deathblow to the England that at heart theyloved. They shrank from the starvation and misery24 a general strike wouldentail, and were willing to meet the Government halfway25. But behindthem were subtle, insistent26 forces at work, urging the memories of oldwrongs, deprecating the weakness of half-and-half measures, fomentingmisunderstandings.
Tommy felt that, thanks to Mr. Carter, he understood the position fairlyaccurately. With the fatal document in the hands of Mr. Brown, publicopinion would swing to the side of the Labour extremists and revolution-ists. Failing that, the battle was an even chance. The Government with aloyal army and police force behind them might win—but at a cost of greatsuffering. But Tommy nourished another and a preposterous28 dream. WithMr. Brown unmasked and captured he believed, rightly or wrongly, thatthe whole organization would crumble29 ignominiously30 and instantan-eously. The strange permeating31 influence of the unseen chief held it to-gether. Without him, Tommy believed an instant panic would set in; and,the honest men left to themselves, an eleventh-hour reconciliation32 wouldbe possible.
“This is a one-man show,” said Tommy to himself. “The thing to do is toget hold of the man.”
It was partly in furtherance of this ambitious design that he had reques-ted Mr. Carter not to open the sealed envelope. The draft treaty wasTommy’s bait. Every now and then he was aghast at his own presumption33.
How dared he think that he had discovered what so many wiser andcleverer men had overlooked? Nevertheless, he stuck tenaciously34 to hisidea.
That evening he and Albert once more penetrated35 the grounds of AstleyPriors. Tommy’s ambition was somehow or other to gain admission to thehouse itself. As they approached cautiously, Tommy gave a sudden gasp36.
On the second floor window someone standing27 between the windowand the light in the room threw a silhouette37 on the blind. It was oneTommy 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 deeproar, 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 con-clusions. Tommy had not a note of music in his voice, but his lungs wereexcellent. The noise he produced was terrific.
Presently an unimpeachable38 butler, accompanied by an equally unim-peachable footman, issued from the front door. The butler remonstratedwith him. Tommy continued to sing, addressing the butler affectionatelyas “dear old whiskers.” The footman took him by one arm, the butler bythe other. They ran him down the drive, and neatly39 out of the gate. Thebutler threatened him with the police if he intruded40 again. It was beauti-fully done—soberly and with perfect decorum. Anyone would have swornthat the butler was a real butler, the footman a real footman—only, as ithappened, the butler was Whittington!
Tommy retired to the inn and waited for Albert’s return. At last thatworthy 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 scrap15 of paper to Tommy.
“It was wrapped round a letter weight.”
On the paper were scrawled41 three words: “Tomorrow—same time.”
“Good egg!” cried Tommy. “We’re getting going.”
“I wrote a message on a piece of paper, wrapped it round a stone, andchucked it through the window,” continued Albert breathlessly.
Tommy groaned42.
“Your zeal43 will be the undoing44 of us, Albert. What did you say?”
“Said we was a-staying at the inn. If she could get away, to come thereand croak45 like a frog.”
“She’ll know that’s you,” said Tommy with a sigh of relief. “Your imagin-ation runs away with you, you know, Albert. Why, you wouldn’t recognizea frog croaking46 if you heard it.”
Albert looked rather crestfallen47.
“Cheer up,” said Tommy. “No harm done. That butler’s an old friend ofmine—I bet he knew who I was, though he didn’t let on. It’s not their gameto show suspicion. That’s why we’ve found it fairly plain sailing. Theydon’t want to discourage me altogether. On the other hand, they don’twant to make it too easy. I’m a pawn48 in their game, Albert, that’s what Iam. You see, if the spider lets the fly walk out too easily, the fly might sus-pect it was a put-up job. Hence the usefulness of that promising49 youth, Mr.
T. Beresford, who’s blundered in just at the right moment for them. Butlater, Mr. T. Beresford had better look out!”
Tommy retired for the night in a state of some elation3. He had elabor-ated a careful plan for the following evening. He felt sure that the inhabit-ants of Astley Priors would not interfere50 with him up to a certain point. Itwas after that that Tommy proposed to give them a surprise.
About twelve o’clock, however, his calm was rudely shaken. He was toldthat someone was demanding him in the bar. The applicant51 proved to be arude-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 innnear Astley Priors. He will give you ten shillings.”
The handwriting was Tuppence’s. Tommy appreciated her quick-witted-ness in realizing that he might be staying at the inn under an assumedname. He snatched at it.
“That’s all right.”
The man withheld52 it.
“What about my ten shillings?”
Tommy hastily produced a ten-shilling note, and the man relinquishedhis 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 awaythis morning. I heard something about Wales — Holy-head, I think. I’ll drop this on the road if I get a chance.
Annette told me how you’d escaped. Buck4 up.
Yours,
Twopence.
Tommy raised a shout for Albert before he had even finished perusingthis characteristic epistle.
“Pack my bag! We’re off!”
“Yes, sir.” The boots of Albert could be heard racing53 upstairs.
Holyhead? Did that mean that, after all—Tommy was puzzled. He readon 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! Unpack54 that bag!”
“Yes, sir.”
Tommy smoothed out the note thoughtfully.
“Yes, a damned fool,” he said softly. “But so’s someone else! And at last Iknow who it is!”
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收听单词发音
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1
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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crooks
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| n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 ) | |
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elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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7
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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13
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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puma
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| 美洲豹 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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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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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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permeating
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| 弥漫( permeate的现在分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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unimpeachable
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| adj.无可指责的；adv.无可怀疑地 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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40
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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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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42
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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43
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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44
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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45
croak
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| vi.嘎嘎叫，发牢骚 | |
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46
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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47
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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pawn
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| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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50
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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51
applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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52
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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53
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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54
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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