CHAPTER XXI. TOMMY MAKES A DISCOVERY
FOR a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly, dazedwith the shock. Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown had forestalled them.Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius.
“How in tarnation did he get ahead of us? That’s what beats me!” heended up.
Tommy shook his head, and said dully:
“It accounts for the stitches being new. We might have guessed....”
“Never mind the darned stitches. How did he get ahead of us? We hustledall we knew. It’s downright impossible for anyone to get here quickerthan we did. And, anyway, how did he know? Do you reckon there was adictaphone in Jane’s room? I guess there must have been.”
But Tommy’s common sense pointed out objections.
“No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be in thathouse--much less that particular room.”
“That’s so,” admitted Julius. “Then one of the nurses was a crook andlistened at the door. How’s that?”
“I don’t see that it matters anyway,” said Tommy wearily. “He may havefound out some months ago, and removed the papers, then----No, by Jove,that won’t wash! They’d have been published at once.”
“Sure thing they would! No, some one’s got ahead of us to-day by an houror so. But how they did it gets my goat.”
“I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us,” said Tommythoughtfully.
“Why?” Julius stared. “The mischief was done when we came.”
“Yes----” Tommy hesitated. He could not explain his own feeling--theillogical idea that the K.C.’s presence would somehow have averted thecatastrophe. He reverted to his former point of view. “It’s no goodarguing about how it was done. The game’s up. We’ve failed. There’s onlyone thing for me to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Get back to London as soon as possible. Mr. Carter must be warned. It’sonly a matter of hours now before the blow falls. But, at any rate, heought to know the worst.”
The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention of shirkingit. He must report his failure to Mr. Carter. After that his work wasdone. He took the midnight mail to London. Julius elected to stay thenight at Holyhead.
Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood before hischief.
“I’ve come to report, sir. I’ve failed--failed badly.”
Mr. Carter eyed him sharply.
“You mean that the treaty----”
“Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir.”
“Ah!” said Mr. Carter quietly. The expression on his face did notchange, but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes. Itconvinced him as nothing else had done that the outlook was hopeless.
“Well,” said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, “we mustn’t sag at theknees, I suppose. I’m glad to know definitely. We must do what we can.”
Through Tommy’s mind flashed the assurance: “It’s hopeless, and he knowsit’s hopeless!”
The other looked up at him.
“Don’t take it to heart, lad,” he said kindly. “You did your best. Youwere up against one of the biggest brains of the century. And you camevery near success. Remember that.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s awfully decent of you.”
“I blame myself. I have been blaming myself ever since I heard thisother news.”
Something in his tone attracted Tommy’s attention. A new fear gripped athis heart.
“Is there--something more, sir?”
“I’m afraid so,” said Mr. Carter gravely. He stretched out his hand to asheet on the table.
“Tuppence----?” faltered Tommy.
“Read for yourself.”
The typewritten words danced before his eyes. The description of a greentoque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket marked P.L.C. He lookedan agonized question at Mr. Carter. The latter replied to it:
“Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury. I’m afraid--it looks verymuch like foul play.”
“My God!” gasped Tommy. “_Tuppence!_ Those devils--I’ll never rest tillI’ve got even with them! I’ll hunt them down! I’ll----”
The pity on Mr. Carter’s face stopped him.
“I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it’s no good. You’ll wasteyour strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but my advice to you is:Cut your losses. Time’s merciful. You’ll forget.”
“Forget Tuppence? Never!”