“He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studied it. Doyou fancy that you can deceive him?”
Mrs. Vandemeyer’s eyes narrowed.
“If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!”
“Good heavens, Rita----”
“Besides,” added Mrs. Vandemeyer, “he is extremely rich. I am not onewho despises money. The ‘sinews of war,’ you know, Boris!”
“Money--money! That is always the danger with you, Rita. I believe youwould sell your soul for money. I believe----” He paused, then in alow, sinister voice he said slowly: “Sometimes I believe that you wouldsell-- _us!_”
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
“The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous,
” she said lightly.“It would be beyond the power of anyone but a millionaire to pay.”
“Ah!” snarled the Russian. “You see, I was right!”
“My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?”
“Was it a joke?”
“Of course.”
“Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, my dearRita.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled.
“Let us not quarrel, Boris. Touch the bell. We will have some drinks.”
Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She paused a moment to survey herself inMrs. Vandemeyer’s long glass, and be sure that nothing was amiss withher appearance. Then she answered the bell demurely.
The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting in thatit proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita and Boris, threw verylittle light on the present preoccupations. The name of Jane Finn hadnot even been mentioned.
The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed her thatnothing was waiting for her at the stationer’s. It seemed incrediblethat Tommy, if all was well with him, should not send any word to her.A cold hand seemed to close round her heart.... Supposing.... She chokedher fears down bravely. It was no good worrying. But she leapt at achance offered her by Mrs. Vandemeyer.
“What day do you usually go out, Prudence?”
“Friday’s my usual day, ma’am.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows.
“And to-day is Friday! But I suppose you hardly wish to go out to-day,as you only came yesterday.”
“I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma’am.”
Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled.
“I wish Count Stepanov could hear you. He made a suggestion aboutyou last night.” Her smile broadened, catlike. “Your request isvery--typical. I am satisfied. You do not understand all this--butyou can go out to-day. It makes no difference to me, as I shall not bedining at home.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of the other’spresence. Once again she admitted to herself that she was afraid,horribly afraid, of the beautiful woman with the cruel eyes.
In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver, Tuppence wasdisturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, and went to answer it.This time the visitor was neither Whittington nor Boris, but a man ofstriking appearance.
Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed theimpression of a big man. His face, clean-shaven and exquisitely mobile,was stamped with an expression of power and force far beyond theordinary. Magnetism seemed to radiate from him.
Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down as anactor or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gave her hisname: Sir James Peel Edgerton.
She looked at him with renewed interest. This, then, was the famous K.C.whose name was familiar all over England. She had heard it said that hemight one day be Prime Minister. He was known to have refused office inthe interests of his profession, preferring to remain a simple Memberfor a Scotch constituency.
Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully. The great man hadimpressed her. She understood Boris’s agitation. Peel Edgerton would notbe an easy man to deceive.
In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppence repaired tothe hall to show the visitor out. He had given her a piercing glancebefore. Now, as she handed him his hat and stick, she was conscious ofhis eyes raking her through. As she opened the door and stood aside tolet him pass out, he stopped in the doorway.
“Not been doing this long, eh?”
Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished. She read in his glance kindliness,and something else more difficult to fathom.
He nodded as though she had answered.
“V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?”
“Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?” asked Tuppence suspiciously.
“No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?”
“Very good, thank you, sir.”
“Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a change does noharm sometimes.”
“Do you mean----?” began Tuppence.
But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked back with hiskindly, shrewd glance.
“Just a hint,” he said. “That’s all.”
Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever.