THE SECRET ADVERSARY BY AGATHA CHRISTIE

WE ARE TO LEAD HIM. But the Soho house is under police supervision night and

day. There are several men watching it. When we enter that house, Mr. Brown

will not draw back–he will risk all, on the chance of obtaining the spark to

fire his mine. And he fancies the risk not great–since he will enter in the

guise of a friend!”

Tuppence flushed, then opened her mouth impulsively.

“But there’s something you don’t know–that we haven’t told you.” Her eyes

dwelt on Jane in perplexity.

“What is that?” asked the other sharply. “No hesitations, Miss Tuppence.

We need to be sure of our going.”

But Tuppence, for once, seemed tongue-tied.

“It’s so difficult–you see, if I’m wrong–oh, it would be dreadful.” She

made a grimace at the unconscious Jane. “Never forgive me,” she observed

cryptically.

“You want me to help you out, eh?”

“Yes, please. YOU know who Mr. Brown is, don’t you?”

“Yes,” said Sir James gravely. “At last I do.”

“At last?” queried Tuppence doubtfully. “Oh, but I thought—-” She

paused.

“You thought correctly, Miss Tuppence. I have been morally certain of his

identity for some time–ever since the night of Mrs. Vandemeyer’s mysterious

death.”

“Ah!” breathed Tuppence.

“For there we are up against the logic of facts. There are only two

solutions. Either the chloral was administered by her own hand, which theory I

reject utterly, or else—-”

“Yes?”

“Or else it was administered in the brandy you gave her. Only three people

touched that brandy–you, Miss Tuppence, I myself, and one other–Mr. Julius

Hersheimmer!”

Jane Finn stirred and sat up, regarding the speaker with wide astonished

eyes.

“At first, the thing seemed utterly impossible. Mr. Hersheimmer, as the

son of a prominent millionaire, was a well-known figure in America. It seemed

utterly impossible that he and Mr. Brown could be one and the same. But you

cannot escape from the logic of facts. Since the thing was so–it must be

accepted. Remember Mrs. Vandemeyer’s sudden and inexplicable agitation. Another

proof, if proof was needed.

“I took an early opportunity of giving you a hint. From some words of Mr.

Hersheimmer’s at Manchester, I gathered that you had understood and acted on

that hint. Then I set to work to prove the impossible possible. Mr. Beresford

rang me up and told me, what I had already suspected, that the photograph of

Miss Jane Finn had never really been out of Mr. Hersheimmer’s possession—-”

But the girl interrupted. Springing to her feet, she cried out angrily:

“What do you mean? What are you trying to suggest? That Mr. Brown is

JULIUS? Julius–my own cousin!”

“No, Miss Finn,” said Sir James unexpectedly. “Not your cousin. The man

who calls himself Julius Hersheimmer is no relation to you whatsoever.”

CHAPTER XXVI

MR. BROWN

SIR James’s words came like a bomb-shell. Both girls looked equally

puzzled. The lawyer went across to his desk, and returned with a small newspaper

cutting, which he handed to Jane. Tuppence read it over her shoulder. Mr.

Carter would have recognized it. It referred to the mysterious man found dead

in New York.

“As I was saying to Miss Tuppence,” resumed the lawyer, “I set to work to

prove the impossible possible. The great stumbling-block was the undeniable

fact that Julius Hersheimmer was not an assumed name. When I came across this

paragraph my problem was solved. Julius Hersheimmer set out to discover what had

become of his cousin. He went out West, where he obtained news of her and her

photograph to aid him in his search. On the eve of his departure from New York

he was set upon and murdered. His body was dressed in shabby clothes, and the

face disfigured to prevent identification. Mr. Brown took his place. He sailed

immediately for England. None of the real Hersheimmer’s friends or intimates

saw him before he sailed–though indeed it would hardly have mattered if they

had, the impersonation was so perfect. Since then he had been hand and glove

with those sworn to hunt him down. Every secret of theirs has been known to

him. Only once did he come near disaster. Mrs. Vandemeyer knew his secret. It

was no part of his plan that that huge bribe should ever be offered to her. But