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"Well, my good fellow, what is it?" asked Tommy. "Might this be for you, sir?" The carter held out a very dirty folded note, on the outside of which was written: "Take this to the gentleman at the inn near Astley Priors. He will give you ten shillings." The handwriting was Tuppence's. Tommy appreciated her quick-wittedness in realizing that he might be staying at the inn under an assumed name.
A peculiar smile lingered for a moment on Julius's face. He threw the letter into the waste-paper basket. "The darned fool!" he murmured. AFTER ringing up Sir James, Tommy's next procedure was to make a call at South Audley Mansions. He found Albert discharging his professional duties, and introduced himself without more ado as a friend of Tuppence's. Albert unbent immediately.
It was a small gold brooch. "That's Tuppence's!" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely. I've often seen her wear it." Julius drew a deep breath. "I guess that settles it. She came as far as here, anyway. We'll make that pub our head-quarters, and raise hell round here until we find her. Somebody MUST have seen her." Forthwith the campaign began.
Most young women were terrified of the "old bear," as they termed him. Tuppence's pertness delighted the old misogynist. Then came the timid archdeacon, a little bewildered by the company in which he found himself, glad that his daughter was considered to have distinguished herself, but unable to help glancing at her from time to time with nervous apprehension. But Tuppence behaved admirably.
"Say," remarked Julius suddenly, "there's Tuppence's bright boy. I guess I'd better go down and ease his young mind. That's some lad, Tuppence." "How did you get in, by the way?" asked Tuppence suddenly. "I forgot to ask." "Well, Albert got me on the phone all right. I ran round for Sir James here, and we came right on.
Tommy and Julius worked separately and together, but the result was the same. Nobody answering to Tuppence's description had been seen in the vicinity. They were baffled but not discouraged. Finally they altered their tactics. Tuppence had certainly not remained long in the neighbourhood of the Moat House. That pointed to her having been overcome and carried away in a car. They renewed inquiries.
"I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young gentleman in Lyons'." "Well what of it?" "Nothing except that I think I may be of some use to you." Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind: "You followed me here?" "I took that liberty." "And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?" The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a bow.
The cold malignity of her manner sent an unpleasant chill down Tuppence's spine, but she was not going to give in to it. "Supposing we sit down," she said pleasantly. "Our present attitude is a little melodramatic. No not on the bed. Draw a chair up to the table, that's right. Now I'll sit opposite you with the revolver in front of me just in case of accidents. Splendid. Now, let's 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. WHEN Tommy set forth on the trail of the two men, it took all Tuppence's self-command to refrain from accompanying him.
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 boys. A sympathetic bond seemed instantly to be formed. She reflected that an ally in the enemy's camp, so to speak, was not to be despised.
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