THE SECRET ADVERSARY
AGATHA CHRISTIE
THE SECRET ADVERSARY
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
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.