II
“You see, Albert, it’s a possibility.”
“I see what you mean, madam, of course. But I don’t like the idea verymuch, I must say.”
“I think it might work.”
“Yes, madam, but it’s exposing yourself to attack—that’s what I don’tlike—and I’m sure the master wouldn’t like it.”
“We’ve tried all the usual ways. That is to say, we’ve done what wecould keeping under cover. It seems to me that now the only chance is tocome out into the open.”
“You are aware, madam, that thereby¹ you may be sacrificing an advant-age?”
“You’re frightfully BBC in your language this afternoon, Albert,” saidTuppence, with some exasperation².
Albert looked slightly taken aback and reverted³ to a more natural formof speech.
“I was listening to a very interesting talk on pond life last night,” he ex-plained.
“We’ve no time to think about pond life now,” said Tuppence.
“Where’s Captain Beresford, that’s what I’d like to know?”
“So should I,” said Tuppence, with a pang⁴.
“Don’t seem natural, his disappearing without a word. He ought to havetipped you the wink⁵ by now. That’s why—”
“Yes, Albert?”
“What I mean is, if he’s come out in the open, perhaps you’d better not.”
He paused to arrange his ideas and then went on.
“I mean, they’ve blown the gaff on him, but they mayn’t know about you—and so it’s up to you to keep under cover still.”
“I wish I could make up my mind,” sighed Tuppence.
“Which way were you thinking of managing it, madam?”
Tuppence murmured thoughtfully:
“I thought I might lose a letter I’d written—make a lot of fuss⁶ about it,seem very upset. Then it would be found in the hall and Beatrice wouldprobably put it on the hall table. Then the right person would get a look atit.”

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