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The Secret Adversary, a fiction by Agatha Christie |
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Prologue |
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_ IT was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and fathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked straight ahead. "I beg your pardon." A man's voice beside her made her start and turn. She had She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads "Yes?" Her grave eyes met his inquiringly. He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution. "It must be!" he muttered to himself. "Yes--it is the only way." "Yes." "A patriotic one?" The girl flushed. "I guess you've no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!" "Don't be offended. You wouldn't be if you knew how much there "Why?" "Because of 'women and children first.' " He looked round and The girl held out her hand. "Wait--I must warn you. There may be a risk--if I've been The girl smiled. "I'll go through with it all right. And I'm real proud to be "Watch the newspapers! I'll advertise in the personal column of "Quite clear." "Then be ready--I'm going to say good-bye." He took her hand in Her hand closed on the oilskin packet that had lain in his palm. The Lusitania settled with a more decided list to starboard. In |