Agatha Christie: The Collection. Agatha Christie

right. Every moment’s of value. Fear we shall be too late anyway. They wouldn’t wait. Would clear out at once. Still, they may have left something behind them that will be a clue. You say you’ve recognized Number 1 to be Kramenin? That’s important. We want something against him badly to prevent the Cabinet falling on his neck too freely. What about the others? You say two faces were familiar to you? One’s a Labour man, you think? Just look through these photos, and see if you can spot him.”

      A minute later, Tommy held one up. Mr. Carter exhibited some surprise.

      “Ah, Westway! Shouldn’t have thought it. Poses as being moderate. As for the other fellow, I think I can give a good guess.” He handed another photograph to Tommy, and smiled at the other’s exclamation. “I’m right, then. Who is he? Irishman. Prominent Unionist M.P. All a blind, of course. We’ve suspected it – but couldn’t get any proof. Yes, you’ve done very well, young man. The 29th, you say, is the date. That gives us very little time – very little time indeed.”

      “But –” Tommy hesitated.

      Mr. Carter read his thoughts.

      “We can deal with the General Strike menace, I think. It’s a toss-up – but we’ve got a sporting chance! But if that draft treaty turns up – we’re done. England will be plunged in anarchy. Ah, what’s that? The car? Come on, Beresford, we’ll go and have a look at this house of yours.”

      Two constables were on duty in front of the house in Soho. An inspector reported to Mr. Carter in a low voice. The latter turned to Tommy.

      “The birds have flown – as we thought. We might as well go over it.”

      Going over the deserted house seemed to Tommy to partake of the character of a dream. Everything was just as it had been. The prison room with the crooked pictures, the broken jug in the attic, the meeting room with its long table. But nowhere was there a trace of papers. Everything of that kind had either been destroyed or taken away. And there was no sign of Annette.

      “What you tell me about the girl puzzled me,” said Mr. Carter. “You believe that she deliberately went back?”

      “It would seem so, sir. She ran upstairs while I was getting the door open.”

      “H’m, she must belong to the gang, then; but, being a woman, didn’t feel like standing by to see a personable young man killed. But evidently she’s in with them, or she wouldn’t have gone back.”

      “I can’t believe she’s really one of them, sir. She – seemed so different –”

      “Good-looking, I suppose?” said Mr. Carter with a smile that made Tommy flush to the roots of his hair. He admitted Annette’s beauty rather shamefacedly.

      “By the way,” observed Mr. Carter, “have you shown yourself to Miss Tuppence yet? She’s been bombarding me with letters about you.”

      “Tuppence? I was afraid she might get a bit rattled. Did she go to the police?”

      Mr. Carter shook his head.

      “Then I wonder how they twigged me.”

      Mr. Carter looked inquiringly at him, and Tommy explained. The other nodded thoughtfully.

      “True, that’s rather a curious point. Unless the mention of the Ritz was an accidental remark?”

      “It might have been, sir. But they must have found out about me suddenly in some way.”

      “Well,” said Mr. Carter, looking round him, “there’s nothing more to be done here. What about some lunch with me?”

      “Thanks awfully, sir. But I think I’d better get back and rout out Tuppence.”

      “Of course. Give her my kind regards and tell her not to believe you’re killed too readily next time.”

      Tommy grinned.

      “I take a lot of killing, sir.”

      “So I perceive,” said Mr. Carter dryly. “Well, good-bye. Remember you’re a marked man now, and take reasonable care of yourself.”

      “Thank you, sir.”

      Hailing a taxi briskly Tommy stepped in, and was swiftly borne to the Ritz, dwelling the while on the pleasurable anticipation of startling Tuppence.

      “Wonder what she’s been up to. Dogging ‘Rita’ most likely. By the way, I suppose that’s who Annette meant by Marguerite. I didn’t get it at the time.” The thought saddened him a little, for it seemed to prove that Mrs. Vandemeyer and the girl were on intimate terms.

      The taxi drew up at the Ritz. Tommy burst into its sacred portals eagerly, but his enthusiasm received a check. He was informed that Miss Cowley had gone out a quarter of an hour ago.

      Chapter 18 – The Telegram

      Baffled for the moment, Tommy strolled into the restaurant, and ordered a meal of surpassing excellence. His four days’ imprisonment had taught him anew to value good food.

      He was in the middle of conveying a particularly choice morsel of Sole à la Jeanette to his mouth, when he caught sight of Julius entering the room. Tommy waved a menu cheerfully, and succeeded in attracting the other’s attention. At the sight of Tommy, Julius’s eyes seemed as though they would pop out of his head. He strode across, and pump-handled Tommy’s hand with what seemed to the latter quite unnecessary vigour.

      “Holy snakes!” he ejaculated. “Is it really you?”

      “Of course it is. Why shouldn’t it be?”

      “Why shouldn’t it be? Say, man, don’t you know you’ve been given up for dead? I guess we’d have had a solemn requiem for you in another few days.”

      “Who thought I was dead?” demanded Tommy.

      “Tuppence.”

      “She remembered the proverb about the good dying young, I suppose. There must be a certain amount of original sin in me to have survived. Where is Tuppence, by the way?”

      “Isn’t she here?”

      “No, the fellows at the office said she’d just gone out.”

      “Gone shopping, I guess. I dropped her here in the car about an hour ago. But, say, can’t you shed that British calm of yours, and get down to it? What on God’s earth have you been doing all this time?”

      “If you’re feeding here,” replied Tommy, “order now. It’s going to be a long story.”

      Julius drew up a chair to the opposite side of the table, summoned a hovering waiter, and dictated his wishes. Then he turned to Tommy.

      “Fire ahead. I guess you’ve had some few adventures.”

      “One or two,” replied Tommy modestly, and plunged into his recital.

      Julius listened spellbound. Half the dishes that were placed before him he forgot to eat. At the end he heaved a long sigh.

      “Bully for you. Reads like a dime novel!”

      “And now for the home front,” said Tommy, stretching out his hand for a peach.

      “We-el,” drawled Julius, “I don’t mind admitting we’ve had some adventures too.”

      He, in his turn, assumed the rôle of narrator. Beginning with his unsuccessful reconnoitring at Bournemouth, he passed on to his return to London, the buying of the car, the growing anxieties of Tuppence, the call upon Sir James, and the sensational occurrences of the previous night.

      “But who killed her?” asked Tommy. “I don’t quite understand.”

      “The doctor kidded himself she took it herself,” replied Julius dryly.

      “And Sir James? What did he think?”

      “Being a legal luminary, he is likewise a human oyster,” replied Julius. “I should say he ‘reserved judgment.’” He went on to detail the events of the morning.

      “Lost