The Greatest Murder Mysteries - Agatha Christie Edition. Agatha Christie

was a pause, and then came the soft, sibilant accents of Number One:

      “Good! You shall have the money. Boris, you will see to that.”

      Boris asked a question:

      “Via the Irish Americans, and Mr. Potter as usual?”

      “I guess that’ll be all right!” said a new voice, with a transatlantic intonation, “though I’d like to point out, here and now, that things are getting a mite difficult. There’s not the sympathy there was, and a growing disposition to let the Irish settle their own affairs without interference from America.”

      Tommy felt that Boris had shrugged his shoulders as he answered:

      “Does that matter, since the money only nominally comes from the States?”

      “The chief difficulty is the landing of the ammunition,” said the Sinn Feiner. “The money is conveyed in easily enough—thanks to our colleague here.”

      Another voice, which Tommy fancied was that of the tall, commanding-looking man whose face had seemed familiar to him, said:

      “Think of the feelings of Belfast if they could hear you!”

      “That is settled, then,” said the sibilant tones. “Now, in the matter of the loan to an English newspaper, you have arranged the details satisfactorily, Boris?”

      “I think so.”

      “That is good. An official denial from Moscow will be forthcoming if necessary.”

      There was a pause, and then the clear voice of the German broke the silence:

      “I am directed by—Mr. Brown, to place the summaries of the reports from the different unions before you. That of the miners is most satisfactory. We must hold back the railways. There may be trouble with the A.S.E.”

      For a long time there was a silence, broken only by the rustle of papers and an occasional word of explanation from the German. Then Tommy heard the light tap-tap of fingers, drumming on the table.

      “And—the date, my friend?” said Number One.

      “The 29th.”

      The Russian seemed to consider:

      “That is rather soon.”

      “I know. But it was settled by the principal Labour leaders, and we cannot seem to interfere too much. They must believe it to be entirely their own show.”

      The Russian laughed softly, as though amused.

      “Yes, yes,” he said. “That is true. They must have no inkling that we are using them for our own ends. They are honest men—and that is their value to us. It is curious—but you cannot make a revolution without honest men. The instinct of the populace is infallible.” He paused, and then repeated, as though the phrase pleased him: “Every revolution has had its honest men. They are soon disposed of afterwards.”

      There was a sinister note in his voice.

      The German resumed:

      “Clymes must go. He is too far-seeing. Number Fourteen will see to that.”

      There was a hoarse murmur.

      “That’s all right, gov’nor.” And then after a moment or two: “Suppose I’m nabbed.”

      “You will have the best legal talent to defend you,” replied the German quietly. “But in any case you will wear gloves fitted with the finger-prints of a notorious housebreaker. You have little to fear.”

      “Oh, I ain’t afraid, gov’nor. All for the good of the cause. The streets is going to run with blood, so they say.” He spoke with a grim relish. “Dreams of it, sometimes, I does. And diamonds and pearls rolling about in the gutter for anyone to pick up!”

      Tommy heard a chair shifted. Then Number One spoke:

      “Then all is arranged. We are assured of success?”

      “I—think so.” But the German spoke with less than his usual confidence.

      Number One’s voice held suddenly a dangerous quality:

      “What has gone wrong?”

      “Nothing; but——”

      “But what?”

      “The Labour leaders. Without them, as you say, we can do nothing. If they do not declare a general strike on the 29th——”

      “Why should they not?”

      “As you’ve said, they’re honest. And, in spite of everything we’ve done to discredit the Government in their eyes, I’m not sure that they haven’t got a sneaking faith and belief in it.”

      “But——”

      “I know. They abuse it unceasingly. But, on the whole, public opinion swings to the side of the Government. They will not go against it.”

      Again the Russian’s fingers drummed on the table.

      “To the point, my friend. I was given to understand that there was a certain document in existence which assured success.”

      “That is so. If that document were placed before the leaders, the result would be immediate. They would publish it broadcast throughout England, and declare for the revolution without a moment’s hesitation. The Government would be broken finally and completely.”

      “Then what more do you want?”

      “The document itself,” said the German bluntly.

      “Ah! It is not in your possession? But you know where it is?”

      “No.”

      “Does anyone know where it is?”

      “One person—perhaps. And we are not sure of that even.”

      “Who is this person?”

      “A girl.”

      Tommy held his breath.

      “A girl?” The Russian’s voice rose contemptuously. “And you have not made her speak? In Russia we have ways of making a girl talk.”

      “This case is different,” said the German sullenly.

      “How—different?” He paused a moment, then went on: “Where is the girl now?”

      “The girl?”

      “Yes.”

      “She is——”

      But Tommy heard no more. A crashing blow descended on his head, and all was darkness.

      Chapter 9

       Tuppence Enters Domestic Service

       Table of Contents

      WHEN Tommy set forth on the trail of the two men, it took all Tuppence’s self-command to refrain from accompanying him. However, she contained herself as best she might, consoled by the reflection that her reasoning had been justified by events. The two men had undoubtedly come from the second floor flat, and that one slender thread of the name “Rita” had set the Young Adventurers once more upon the track of the abductors of Jane Finn.

      The question was what to do next? Tuppence hated letting the grass grow under her feet. Tommy was amply employed, and debarred from joining him in the chase, the girl felt at a loose end. She retraced her steps to the entrance hall of the mansions. It was now tenanted by a small lift-boy, who was polishing brass fittings, and whistling the latest air with a good deal of vigour and a reasonable amount of accuracy.

      He glanced round at Tuppence’s entry. There was a certain amount of the gamin element in the girl, at all events she invariably got on well with small