II
The effect was so magical that she was quite taken aback.
Haydock jumped to his feet, his face went dark purple with rage, and ina second all likeness¹ to a hearty² British sailor had vanished. She saw whatTommy had once seen—an infuriated Prussian.
He swore at her fluently in German. Then, changing to English, heshouted:
“You infernal little fool! Don’t you realise you give yourself away com-pletely answering like that? You’ve done for yourself now—you and yourprecious husband.”
Raising his voice he called:
“Anna!”
The woman who had admitted Tuppence came into the room. Haydockthrust the pistol into her hand.
“Watch her. Shoot if necessary.”
He stormed out of the room.
Tuppence looked appealingly at Anna, who stood in front of her with animpassive face.
“Would you really shoot me?” said Tuppence.
Anna answered quietly:
“You need not try to get round me. In the last war my son was killed, myOtto. I was thirty-eight, then—I am sixty-two now—but I have not forgot-ten.”
Tuppence looked at the broad, impassive face. It reminded her of thePolish woman, Vanda Polonska. That same frightening ferocity and single-ness of purpose. Motherhood—unrelenting! So, no doubt, felt many quietMrs. Joneses and Mrs. Smiths all over England. There was no arguing withthe female of the species—the mother deprived of her young.
Something stirred in the recesses³ of Tuppence’s brain—some naggingrecollection—something that she had always known but had never suc-ceeded in getting into the forefront of her mind. Solomon—Solomon cameinto it somewhere. .?.?.
The door opened. Commander Haydock came back into the room.
He howled out, beside himself with rage:
“Where is it? Where have you hidden it?”
Tuppence stared at him. She was completely taken aback. What he wassaying did not make sense to her.
She had taken nothing and hidden nothing.
Haydock said to Anna:
“Get out.”
The woman handed the pistol to him and left the room promptly⁴.
Haydock dropped into a chair and seemed to be striving to pull himselftogether. He said:
“You can’t get away with it, you know. I’ve got you—and I’ve got ways ofmaking people speak—not pretty ways. You’ll have to tell the truth in theend. Now then, what have you done with it?”

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