The Secret Adversary (Tommy & Tuppence 1)

CHAPTER III. A SET BACK

THE moment was not quite so triumphant as it ought to have been. Tobegin with, the resources of Tommy’s pockets were somewhat limited. Inthe end the fare was managed, the lady recollecting a plebeian twopence,and the driver, still holding the varied assortment of coins in hishand, was prevailed upon to move on, which he did after one last hoarsedemand as to what the gentleman thought he was giving him?

“I think you’ve given him too much, Tommy,” said Tuppence innocently. “Ifancy he wants to give some of it back.”

It was possibly this remark which induced the driver to move away.

“Well,” said Mr. Beresford, at length able to relieve his feelings,“what the--dickens, did you want to take a taxi for?”

“I was afraid I might be late and keep you waiting,” said Tuppencegently.

“Afraid--you--might--be--late! Oh, Lord, I give it up!” said Mr.Beresford.

“And really and truly,” continued Tuppence, opening her eyes very wide,“I haven’t got anything smaller than a five-pound note.”

“You did that part of it very well, old bean, but all the same thefellow wasn’t taken in--not for a moment!”

“No,” said Tuppence thoughtfully, “he didn’t believe it. That’s thecurious part about speaking the truth. No one does believe it. I foundthat out this morning. Now let’s go to lunch. How about the _Savoy?_”

Tommy grinned.

“How about the _Ritz?_”

“On second thoughts, I prefer the _Piccadilly_. It’s nearer. We shan’thave to take another taxi. Come along.”

“Is this a new brand of humour? Or is your brain really unhinged?” inquired Tommy.

“Your last supposition is the correct one. I have come into money, andthe shock has been too much for me! For that particular form of mentaltrouble an eminent physician recommends unlimited _Hors d’œuvre_,Lobster _à l’américane_, Chicken Newberg, and Pêche Melba! Let’s goand get them!”

“Tuppence, old girl, what has really come over you?”

“Oh, unbelieving one!” Tuppence wrenched open her bag. “Look here, andhere, and here!”

“Great Jehosaphat! My dear girl, don’t wave Fishers aloft like that!”

“They’re not Fishers. They’re five times better than Fishers, and thisone’s ten times better!”

Tommy groaned.

“I must have been drinking unawares! Am I dreaming, Tuppence, or do Ireally behold a large quantity of five-pound notes being waved about ina dangerous fashion?”

“Even so, O King! _Now_, will you come and have lunch?”

“I’ll come anywhere. But what have you been doing? Holding up a bank?”

“All in good time. What an awful place Piccadilly Circus is. There’s ahuge bus bearing down on us. It would be too terrible if they killed thefive-pound notes!”

“Grill room?” inquired Tommy, as they reached the opposite pavement insafety.

“The other’s more expensive,” demurred Tuppence.

“That’s mere wicked wanton extravagance. Come on below.”

“Are you sure I can get all the things I want there?”

“That extremely unwholesome menu you were outlining just now? Of courseyou can--or as much as is good for you, anyway.”

“And now tell me,” said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up curiosityany longer, as they sat in state surrounded by the many _hors d’œuvre_of Tuppence’s dreams.

Miss Cowley told him.

“And the curious part of it is,” she ended, “that I really did inventthe name of Jane Finn! I didn’t want to give my own because of poorfather--in case I should get mixed up in anything shady.”

“Perhaps that’s so,” said Tommy slowly. “But you didn’t invent it.”

“What?”

“No. _I_ told it to you. Don’t you remember, I said yesterday I’doverheard two people talking about a female called Jane Finn? That’swhat brought the name into your mind so pat.”

“So you did. I remember now. How extraordinary----” Tuppence tailed offinto silence. Suddenly she aroused herself. “Tommy!”

“Yes?”

“What were they like, the two men you passed?”

Tommy frowned in an effort at remembrance.

“One was a big fat sort of chap. Clean shaven, I think--and dark.”

“That’s him,” cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatical squeal. “That’sWhittington! What was the other man like?”

“I can’t remember. I didn’t notice him particularly. It was really theoutlandish name that caught my attention.”

“And people say that coincidences don’t happen!” Tuppence tackled herPêche Melba happily.

But Tommy had become serious.

“Look here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?”

“More money,” replied his companion.

“I know that. You’ve only got one idea in your head. What I mean is,what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game up?”

“Oh!” Tuppence laid down her spoon. “You’re right, Tommy, it is a bit ofa poser.”

“After all, you know, you can’t bluff him forever. You’re sure to slipup sooner or later. And, anyway, I’m not at all sure that it isn’tactionable--blackmail, you know.”

“Nonsense. Blackmail is saying you’ll tell unless you are givenmoney. Now, there’s nothing I could tell, because I don’t really knowanything.”

“Hm,” said Tommy doubtfully. “Well, anyway, what _are_ we going to do?Whittington was in a hurry to get rid of you this morning, but next timehe’ll want to know something more before he parts with his money. He’llwant to know how much _you_ know, and where you got your informationfrom, and a lot of other things that you can’t cope with. What are yougoing to do about it?”

Tuppence frowned severely.