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The Secret Adversary, a fiction by Agatha Christie |
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Chapter XVI - Further Adventures of Tommy |
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_ FROM a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommy dragged his senses slowly back to life. When he at last opened his eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating pain through his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliar surroundings. Where was he? What had happened? He blinked feebly. This was not his bedroom at the Ritz. And what the devil was the matter with his head? "Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up. He had remembered. He "He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He "Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated his "Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up. In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to his He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had been "Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass. "Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully. "Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick. Tommy twisted his head round with an effort. "Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you? It strikes me the The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly: "He would have run no risk of that." "Just as you like," replied Tommy. "I know it's the fashion to His manner was nonchalant to the last degree. Tommy Beresford The cold accents of the German took up the conversation: "Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?" "Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity as "Do you deny that you were listening at that door?" "I do not. I must really apologize--but your conversation was so "How did you get in?" "Dear old Conrad here." Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "I Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with the "He gave the word. How was I to know?" "Yes," Tommy chimed in. "How was he to know? Don't blame the He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among the "Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly. "Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!" "You soon will be, my young friend," said the German. An assenting murmur came from the others. Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did not "I think not," he said firmly. "I should have a great objection He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor's "Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?" "Several," replied Tommy. "Look here, you've been asking me a The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage. "Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtained But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. He "You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed. "We will give you short There was a roar of applause. "You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy. "What have you "Say?" Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Pack of fools. Let them Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. His "That is true," said the working man suddenly. "Comrades, we An ugly murmur arose. Tommy smiled at them encouragingly. "That's better. How can you hope to make a success of any job if "You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German. "But "Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularly "And why not?" asked Boris. "Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," replied There was a momentary pause. It seemed as though Tommy's "He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly. Tommy hated him. Had the man seen through him? The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy. "What do you mean?" "What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperately Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy's "Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!" "Don't get so excited, my good fellow," said Tommy calmly. He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear the "No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not." "Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy. Aloud he "And why am I so confident? Because I know something that puts "A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply. "Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused. "Against what?" The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop. Slowly Tommy spoke. "The papers that Danvers brought over from America in the The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on his "Himmel! You have got them, then?" With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head. "You know where they are?" persisted the German. Again Tommy shook his head. "Not in the least." "Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him. Tommy looked round. He saw anger and bewilderment on every face, "I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can find "Pah!" Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust. "I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts that "And if we refuse?" said the German quietly. Tommy lay back on the couch. "The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnight For a moment the German hesitated. Then he made a sign to "Take him into the other room." For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room next At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously to "Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarked The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned to "We accept," he said harshly, "on terms. The papers must be "Idiot!" said Tommy amiably. "How do you think I can look for "What do you expect, then?" "I must have liberty to go about the business in my own way." The German laughed. "Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of here "No," said Tommy thoughtfully. "Though infinitely simpler for "We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remain "You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicate The German rapped the table. "Those are our terms. Otherwise, death!" Tommy leaned back wearily. "I like your style. Curt, but attractive. So be it, then. But "What girl?" "Jane Finn, of course." The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said "Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?" Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in coming "I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not "Then why see her?" Tommy paused. "To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not "She will not be able to answer your question." That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it." "And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a short Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His "There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not But the German's face had lightened a little. "Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, then "Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?" "That may perhaps be arranged." "It must be." "We will see about it. Only one person can decide that." "Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer. "Mr. Brown----" "Shall I see him?" "Perhaps." "Come," said Conrad harshly. Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned to He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room than With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to the "Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see the After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary. _ |