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 IX
TUPPENCE ENTERS DOMESTIC SERVICE
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
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.
“Well, William,” she remarked cheerfully, in the best approved
hospital-early-morning style, “getting a good shine up?”
The boy grinned responsively.
“Albert, miss,” he corrected.
“Albert be it,” said Tuppence. She glanced mysteriously round the hall.
The effect was purposely a broad one in case Albert should miss it. She leaned
towards the boy and dropped her voice: “I want a word with you, Albert.”
Albert ceased operations on the fittings and opened his mouth slightly.
“Look! Do you know what this is?” With a dramatic gesture she flung back
the left side of her coat and exposed a small enamelled badge. It was extremely
unlikely that Albert would have any knowledge of it–indeed, it would have been