Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History The Secret AdversaryThe Project Gutenberg eBook of The Secret Adversary This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: The Secret Adversary Author: Agatha Christie Release date: January 1, 1998 [eBook #1155] Most recently updated: October 29, 2024 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1155 Credits: Charles Keller and David Widger *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECRET ADVERSARY *** THE SECRET ADVERSARY By Agatha Christie TO ALL THOSE WHO LEAD MONOTONOUS LIVES IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE AT SECOND HAND THE DELIGHTS AND DANGERS OF ADVENTURE CONTENTS PROLOGUE CHAPTER I. THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD. CHAPTER II. MR. WHITTINGTON'S OFFER CHAPTER III. A SET BACK CHAPTER IV. WHO IS JANE FINN? CHAPTER V. MR. JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER CHAPTER VI. A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN CHAPTER VII. THE HOUSE IN SOHO CHAPTER VIII. THE ADVENTURES OF TOMMY CHAPTER IX. TUPPENCE ENTERS DOMESTIC SERVICE CHAPTER X. ENTER SIR JAMES PEEL EDGERTON CHAPTER XI. JULIUS TELLS A STORY CHAPTER XII. A FRIEND IN NEED CHAPTER XIII. THE VIGIL CHAPTER XIV. A CONSULTATION CHAPTER XV. TUPPENCE RECEIVES A PROPOSAL CHAPTER XVI. FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOMMY CHAPTER XVII. ANNETTE CHAPTER XVIII. THE TELEGRAM CHAPTER XIX. JANE FINN CHAPTER XX. TOO LATE CHAPTER XXI. TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY CHAPTER XXII. IN DOWNING STREET CHAPTER XXIII. A RACE AGAINST TIME CHAPTER XXIV. JULIUS TAKES A HAND CHAPTER XXV. JANE'S STORY CHAPTER XXVI. MR. BROWN CHAPTER XXVII. A SUPPER PARTY AT THE _SAVOY_ CHAPTER XXVIII. AND AFTER PROLOGUE IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The _Lusitania_ had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and fathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked straight ahead. "I beg your pardon." A man's voice beside her made her start and turn. She had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first-class passengers. There had been a hint of mystery about him which had appealed to her imagination. He spoke to no one. If anyone spoke to him he was quick to rebuff the overture. Also he had a nervous way of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance. She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads of perspiration on his brow. He was evidently in a state of overmastering fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet death! "Yes?" Her grave eyes met his inquiringly. He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution. "It must be!" he muttered to himself. "Yes--it is the only way." Then aloud he said abruptly: "You are an American?" "Yes." "A patriotic one?" The girl flushed. "I guess you've no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!" "Don't be offended. You wouldn't be if you knew how much there was at stake. But I've got to trust some one--and it must be a woman." "Why?" "Because of 'women and children first.'" He looked round and lowered his voice. "I'm carrying papers--vitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the war. You understand? These papers have _got_ to be saved! They've more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?" The girl held out her hand. "Wait--I must warn you. There may be a risk--if I've been followed. I don't think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?" The girl smiled. "I'll go through with it all right. And I'm real proud to be chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards?" "Watch the newspapers! I'll advertise in the personal column of the _Times_, beginning 'Shipmate.' At the end of three days if there's nothing--well, you'll know I'm down and out. Then take the packet to the American Embassy, and deliver it into the Ambassador's own hands. Is that clear?" "Quite clear." "Then be ready--I'm going to say good-bye." He took her hand in his. "Good-bye. Good luck to you," he said in a louder tone. Her hand closed on the oilskin packet that had lain in his palm. The _Lusitania_ settled with a more decided list to starboard. In answer to a quick command, the girl went forward to take her place in the boat. CHAPTER I. THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD. "TOMMY, old thing!" "Tuppence, old bean!" The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and momentarily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The adjective "old" was misleading. Their united ages would certainly not have totalled forty-five. "Not seen you for simply centuries," continued the young man. "Where are you off to? Come and chew a bun with me. We're getting a bit unpopular here--blocking the gangway as it were. Let's get out of it." The girl assenting, they started walking down Dover Street towards Piccadilly. "Now then," said Tommy, "where shall we go?" The very faint anxiety which underlay his tone did not escape the astute ears of Miss Prudence Cowley, known to her intimate friends for some mysterious reason as "Tuppence." She pounced at once. "Tommy, you're stony!" "Not a bit of it," declared Tommy unconvincingly. "Rolling in cash." "You always were a shocking liar," said Tuppence severely, "though you did once persuade Sister Greenbank that the doctor had ordered you beer as a tonic, but forgotten to write it on the chart. Do you remember?" Tommy chuckled. "I should think I did! Wasn't the old cat in a rage when she found out? Not that she was a bad sort really, old Mother Greenbank! Good old hospital--demobbed like everything else, I suppose?" Tuppence sighed. "Yes. You too?" Tommy nodded. "Two months ago." "Gratuity?" hinted Tuppence. "Spent." "Oh, Tommy!" "No, old thing, not in riotous dissipation. No such luck! The cost of living--ordinary plain, or garden living nowadays is, I assure you, if you do not know----" "My dear child," interrupted Tuppence, "there is nothing I do _not_ know about the cost of living. Here we are at Lyons', and we will each of us pay for our own. That's it!" And Tuppence led the way upstairs. The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table, catching odds and ends of conversation as they did so. "And--do you know, she sat down and _cried_ when I told her she couldn't have the flat after all." "It was simply |